As visitors to downtown McKinney take in the scenery and visit local merchants, they are met with murals spanning alley walls, sculptures on street corners and tiny doors adorning the entrances to various businesses.

Adding public art installations in McKinney has served as a way to support professional artists while also engaging residents and visitors through art and art-focused events, McKinney Cultural District Director Andrew Jones said.

In a nutshell: The community’s public art collection continues to grow with support from the McKinney Arts Commission, a city-funded commission created in 2013 that awards grants, Jones said.

The commission has granted over $112,000 to 10 public art projects since 2023, city documents state. New public art installations are planned for McKinney National Airport and Roy & Helen Hall Memorial Library.

“When we talk with potential artists, we push them to do something innovative, to do something neat and different that hasn’t been done before,” Jones said, highlighting the Tiny Doors initiative and McKinney Silos mural as examples of creative projects.

McKinney resident Deanna Kuykendall will serve in the Place 8 seat on the Collin College Board of Trustees until the May 2027 election, according to an Aug. 26 news release from the college.

Kuykendall was appointed to the seat and sworn in at an Aug. 25 board meeting following an application process that was conducted to fill the vacant seat.

The details: Kuykendall is an Eastern New Mexico University graduate and currently serves as the director of government affairs for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.

“We were fortunate to have an outstanding group of community members interested in serving Collin College,” board chair Jay Saad said in the release. “Deanna’s experience, leadership, and commitment to Collin County will be valuable assets to the Board.”

The context: The Place 8 seat became vacant following the retirement of J. Robert “Bob” Collins, a founding member of the Collin College Board of Trustees who served for 41 years, a May news release from the college states.

Celebrate fall with 14 Oktoberfests, harvest fairs, Halloween festivals and more events happening across Dallas-Fort Worth. This list is not comprehensive.

GrapeFest in Grapevine
Explore Texas winemaking at the 40th annual GrapeFest in Downtown Grapevine. The festival will include food and drink, live music and entertainment and activities for all ages.

• Sept. 17, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sept. 18-19, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sept. 20, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• $6-$25 (admission)
• 705 S. Main St., Grapevine

• Sept. 25, 2-11 p.m.; Sept. 26, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sept. 27, 12-5 p.m.
• Free admission
• 111 N. Tennessee St., McKinney

• Oct. 23, 7 p.m.; Oct. 24, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Oct. 25, 12-5 p.m.
• Free admission
• 225 W. Hickory St., Denton

Bella Prosper, a $240 million planned mixed-use development, heads to a 2027 groundbreaking, while an Allen commission approved plans for an 11-acre retail center. Check out six trending stories from Community Impact’s Dallas-Fort Worth coverage areas.

1. La Rue Doughnuts opens Frisco location
2. Plans move forward for 11-acre, grocer-anchored retail center in Allen
3. $240M Bella Prosper looks to 2027 groundbreaking
4. Frisco approves $4.7M in contract for Frisco on the Green park construction
5. Long John Silver’s reopens, debuts renovated East McKinney restaurant
6. Check out the latest on 5 Dallas Fort Worth International Airport lounges

Democrat Gina Hinojosa, an Austin state representative, and Libertarian Pat Dixon, a professional engineer, are challenging Republican incumbent Greg Abbott in the Nov. 3 election. Abbott is seeking a fourth term in the governor's mansion.

The big picture: As Texas’ top elected official, the governor signs and vetoes legislation, serves as commander-in-chief of the state military and appoints members of state agencies or advisory boards. Community Impact asked the three gubernatorial candidates for their perspectives on data centers, education, the cost of living and other topics.

The background: Abbott beat 10 Republican challengers in the March primary election, while Hinojosa beat eight other Democratic candidates to advance to the November election. Dixon was selected as the Texas Libertarian Party's candidate during an April nominating convention.

Looking ahead: Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.