Richardson ISD is moving up the enrollment timeline for its magnet programs to remain competitive with private and charter schools in the area.

The overview: RISD operates three elementary magnet schools, two magnet junior highs and a variety of magnet programs at Richardson High School. Magnet schools offer specialized, focused learning pathways in the arts, law, technology, advanced math and sciences and other fields.

The details: Applications for magnet programs at all levels for the 2027-28 school year will now open Nov. 1 and close Dec. 18, with decisions expected to be announced to families in February, according to a presentation by district officials at the Oct. 15 school board meeting.

Quote of note: “It’s just critically important that we move up our timeline to make faster decisions and to protect our district’s enrollment and retain our families,” Executive Director of Enrollment Cecilia Galvan said.

Ajeena Mediterranean Café & Bakery is now open in Richardson. The bakery hosted a soft opening on Oct. 17.

The details: Owner Abdul Rahman said the café is rooted in Palestinian and Lebanese heritage and will offer a mix of traditional and modern Mediterranean cuisine, including sweet and savory baked goods.

The name “Ajeena” means dough, Rahman said in an email, and the café’s menu includes puff pastries and rolls, as well as lattes and matcha drinks.

Quote of note: “Beyond its food, Ajeena emphasizes community and hospitality, aiming to create a welcoming space where guests can gather and connect,” Rahman said.

• 515 W. Campbell Road, Ste. 109, Richardson

Officials with the Perot Museum of Nature and Science released plans for a transformation of its four-acre Dallas campus to double the museum’s exhibition space and improve parking and arrival infrastructure. 

The $185 million project recently reached $135 million in fundraising through the museum’s Curiosity Unbound campaign, according to an Oct. 20 press release. Groundbreaking for the project is expected in early 2027.

About the project: The new outdoor exhibition space, which is set to open in late 2028, will feature 25 large-scale exhibits and many experiential learning activities themed around the forces of nature, including a lightning and thunder pavilion, a mist maze and a fire tornado, according to the release.

The landscaping will also be a part of the exhibit, featuring a river, a pollinator garden and extensive shade trees

AT&T is building its new headquarters in Plano and West Coast University in Richardson is planning renovations. Check out some of the latest construction filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

1. AT&T headquarters Central Utility Plant

Several TDLR filings were submitted for the new AT&T headquarters planned in Plano, including for a central utility plant to be used by the campus. A total of seven other buildings and three garages are included in filed plans for the headquarters, per previous reporting.

• Location: 5500 Legacy Drive, Plano

• Estimated timeline: Dec. 1, 2026-March 31, 2029

• Estimated cost: $1.05 billion (total from current filings)

2. Alliance Westport 12

AllianceTexas will have a new 600,000 square-foot facility to support 3 manufacturing lines, per a TDLR filing. The facility was first announced in March, per previous reporting. The facility will be near multiple logistics hubs, like BNSF’s Alliance Intermodal Facility, FedEx Ground Hub and Amazon Air Regional Hub.

• Location: 1501 Distribution Drive, Fort Worth

• Estimated timeline: Dec. 1, 2026-Sept. 1, 2027

• Estimated cost: $500 million

As Election Day nears, candidates seeking to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate are raising—and spending—large sums of money, their campaign finance reports show.

The details: Candidates and political action committees, or PACs, involved in federal races had until midnight Oct. 15 to submit reports detailing their fundraising and spending from the third quarter of 2026—July 1 through Sept. 30.

• Democrat James Talarico raised $60.2 million and spent $67.2 million, according to his campaign finance report.

• Republican Ken Paxton, the state's current attorney general, reported raising $10.2 million and spending $7.1 million

• Libertarian Ted Brown's campaign finance report shows he raised about $5,208 and spent $3,410

Preparing for the polls: Early voting in Texas' midterm election runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.

Texans can view a personalized sample ballot with information about dozens of candidates and local propositions at communityimpact.com/voter-guide.