The city of Frisco is moving forward with plans for a proposed 18,101-square-foot animal shelter.

What we know: Frisco City Council agreed to pursue an 18,101-square-foot animal shelter with 91 kennels and capacity for limited partnerships with nearby cities. City documents state the proposed animal shelter poses “far less risk” than a large-scale regional partnership and provides opportunities to reduce operating and maintenance costs compared to Frisco’s current and projected needs.

What they're saying: Frisco Mayor Pro Tem Laura Rummel said operating a large-scale facility shared with cities like McKinney, Prosper and Celina would risk “biting off more than we can chew,” while risking budget integrity.

“As much as I would love to have the biggest shelter that we could possibly imagine, that’s not practical,” she said. “I think (the proposed shelter) gives us the most ability to keep our operating costs at a minimum, which is where the biggest challenges on our budget come from.”

Kyndryl opened its first United States artificial intelligence innovation lab in Frisco on Sept. 30.

The details: The Kyndryl Frisco lab will focus on helping customers modernize technology environments for AI use. The lab will use a four-phase process – customer immersion, co-design, building and roadmap development – to help businesses identify AI opportunities and create working prototypes, according to a company press release.

What else to know: Beyond accelerating customers’ AI adoption journeys, the Frisco lab will catalyze workforce development, community engagement and public sector innovation across Texas, according to the release.

Pho Republic will open its first location in West Frisco Oct. 8.

What to know: Developed by the team at Sayuri Asian Cuisine, Pho Republic will offer iced coffee, fresh smoothies, hojicha, matcha, rice dishes, bánh mì and daily-made pho.

The business' Oct. 8 soft opening will feature a limited menu that is set to expand after Pho Republic’s grand opening.

• 2525 Main St., Ste. 400, Frisco

Voters in North Texas, including Denton County voters, will choose between two candidates for the State Board of Education, District 14 seat, which will be on the ballot for the Nov. 3 election.

What you need to know: The candidates running for the position are Republican Mindy Bumgarner and Democrat Amy Taylor. The District 14 seat is currently held by Republican Evelyn Brooks, who is not running for reelection this year.

Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

What else? Oct. 5 is the last day for residents to register to vote, according to the Texas Secretary of State website. Early voting will take place from Oct. 19-30.

In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a law changing the amount of time students are required to spend in public schools from 180 days to 75,600 minutes per school year.

More than a decade later, some state senators are considering again mandating the number of days schools are open, citing concerns about student performance in districts that use condensed weekly schedules.

The details: At least 181 districts and 572 campuses used four-day school weeks in the 2024-25 school year, per Texas Education Agency data.

A TEA study found that during the 2022-23 school year, students attending school four days per week had lower performance in certain subjects on the annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness than students at five-day schools.

"There is not a benefit that I see for a four-day school week for the child," Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, said. "We know there's learning loss. What is the advantage of a four-day [week]? Because I see none except to please somebody who wants to be off more days."