The University of Texas at Dallas student-athletes will now compete in NCAA Division II after the university officially changed its classification July 10. After approval by the Division II Membership Committee and Management Council, UT Dallas will begin full Division II membership Sept. 1, according to a news release from the university.

Why it matters: UT Dallas has competed as a Division III university since its athletic department was established. Scholarships are not offered under Division III, so as a Division II school, UT Dallas will be able to offer athletic scholarships to its student-athletes for the first time.

“Our transition to Division II positions us to compete at a higher level while staying true to our commitment to academic excellence and the success of our student-athletes," UT Dallas President Prabhas Moghe said in the release.

How we got here: In 2023, the university accepted an invitation to join the Division II Lone Star Conference and began the process of changing its sports classification, which included a two-year provisional period.

Fancy Curves N More has relocated from Dallas to a new location in Richardson.

The specifics: The business offers IV therapy, face injections and lip fillers, weight loss treatments, post-surgery nurse care and other services, according to its website.

American Airlines and Tarrant County College have created a partnership for aspiring aviation maintenance technicians to launch careers working for the Fort Worth-based airline.

During a June 29 news conference in Fort Worth, a memorandum of understanding was announced, allowing top candidates from Tarrant County College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program to have priority access to interviews, mentorship and engagement opportunities with American’s maintenance professionals and exposure to the airline’s maintenance facilities, according to a news release.

What they’re saying: “Our students are preparing for careers in one of the nation’s most critical industries,” said Zarina Blankenbaker, Tarrant County College’s Northwest Campus President for the Fort Worth location. “This partnership provides direct access to professional expectations and meaningful career opportunities with a world-renowned aviation leader.”

Zooming in: Aviation maintenance technicians normally study for 18 to 24 months at a Federal Aviation Administration-certified technician school, such as the one TCC has, and must pass exams to earn an FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate before starting to work on maintaining aircraft, according to a news release.

Check out five upcoming and ongoing transportation projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

This list is not comprehensive.

Upcoming projects

1. Laud Howell Parkway extension

Project: Construction will build two lanes of Laud Howell Parkway between Trinity Falls Parkway and Lake Forest Drive. Private development firm Republic Property Group is constructing Lanes 1 and 2 of the roadway, and the city will construct Lanes 3 and 4.

Update: McKinney City Council approved a design contract with LJA Engineering in June, and design is underway. Construction of Lanes 1 and 2 by Republic Property Group is already underway.

• Timeline: Design is expected to take about 12 months to complete. Construction of Lanes 3 and 4 is expected to begin in 2028.
• Cost: $18 million
• Funding source: city of McKinney, Federal Surface Transportation Block Grant funds