North Texas Wildlife Center rehabs orphaned, injured wildlife in Plano
In addition to rescuing and feeding injured or abandoned wildlife, staff and volunteers at the North Texas Wildlife Center—a nonprofit in Plano—also treat animals’ injuries, rehabilitate them during recovery and release them back into the wild.
“Release day is a lot of hard work by our staff who secures the animals a very stinky ride and then a very beautiful moment where we open the kennels and they fly, crawl, walk and run out,” NTXWC President Rebecca Hamlin said.
The setup: When an animal arrives at NTXWC triage will be the first step in creating a custom care plan.
Le Beef Steak & Frites offers French cuisine in Plano
Le Beef Steak & Frites recently opened in Plano’s Shops at Legacy North, a company representative said.
On the menu: The French cuisine restaurant, which is owned and operated by brothers Alex Nunes and David Jeil, serves a prix fixe menu including an artisan salad, 50-day wet-aged, USDA Prime top blade steak, signature fries and a proprietary Le Beef sauce. Other protein options include chicken breast and sausage. A vegetarian plate is also available.
The University of Texas at Dallas is now offering a Bachelor of Science in systems engineering, according to a news release from the university.
What you need to know: UT Dallas launched the new degree program to meet industry demands and prepare students for a variety of fields that require interdisciplinary engineering experience, according to the release. The degree will include fundamental courses in mathematics and systems and a secondary field determined by the students’ interests.
Some context: Reza Moheimani, professor and department head of systems engineering, said in the release systems engineering graduates are often competitive candidates in North Texas industries. Moheimani said the new bachelor’s program builds on the success of UT Dallas’s master’s degree in systems engineering, which has been in practice for more than a decade.
Texas to overhaul STAAR, launch 3 new exams in 2027
The Texas Education Agency will begin transitioning to a new standardized testing system after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law Sept. 17 to replace the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness with three shorter exams.
The overview: Through the 2026-27 school year, Texas public school students in third through 12th grade will continue taking the STAAR each spring. Beginning in fall 2027, students will take three tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year under House Bill 8, the new law.
Students’ results will be released within 48 hours after each new test is administered. STAAR scores are currently released about six weeks after a test ends, according to the TEA.
The debate: Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said the new system will reduce test-related anxiety; give students and teachers feedback throughout the school year; and increase legislative oversight of Texas’ assessment and accountability systems. Critics of the plan said it would increase the amount of time students spend taking exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the TEA.
