Grapevine officials plan to fix and replace broken water valves and other parts of the city's water distribution system.

Grapevine City Council approved a $3.5 million contract with Ruts Construction for water and sewer main replacements as well as storm drainage improvements Oct. 20. 

The public works department requested a contractor for work that includes citywide valve and manhole replacements after it discovered several valves were not functioning.

About the project: Last winter, a 20-inch water main broke at the service center and staff had to conduct a costly emergency repair due to a broken valve being stuck in the open position, Public Works Director Bryan Beck said.

Afterward, over 9,000 valves in the water distribution system were tested and work completed in August showed 32 were non-functional.

Italian restaurant Ristorante Mulino received approval at the Oct. 6 city council meeting to enclose its existing patio space.

The 522-square-foot patio will be enclosed with a permanent roof and walls with large windows and the new area will be air conditioned.

On the menu: Ristorante Mulino offers a lunch and dinner menu with housemade Italian classics like wood-fired pizza, lasagna, pastas, salads and soups.

Owner Besi Iseberi said the restaurant’s wood-fired brick oven is imported from Italy along with the flour and yeast to help create an authentic Italian taste.

North Texans report greater affordability pressures, less neighborhood connectedness and unease about artificial intelligence in a new quality-of-life survey from the University of Texas at Dallas.

The overview: Researchers from the university’s School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences presented results from the 2026 William C. Short Quality of Life Survey on Oct. 21. They have conducted the survey annually since 2024 to identify issues important to North Texans and bring community members together, said Jennifer Holmes, dean of the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.

A closer look: Respondents identified inflation and prices and housing affordability and availability as the most important issues currently facing their communities.

Quote of note: “The challenge we face as a region is we need faster, more accurate, more accessible data,” project director Timothy Bray said. “We begin by listening to North Texas, asking the folks who live in our communities what they think.”

Early voting for the Nov. 3 midterm election started Oct. 19, while Frisco ISD introduced a new fare-based busing service. Check out six trending stories from Community Impact’s Dallas-Fort Worth coverage areas.

1. Frisco ISD introduces fare-based busing at 29 campuses

2. Early voting begins Oct. 19: Here is what Collin County residents need to know

3. Q&A: Meet the candidates running for Place 2 on the Collin Central Appraisal District board

4. Q&A: Meet the candidates running for the Tarrant Appraisal District board of directors

5. India Bazaar opens new store on Frisco, Prosper border

6. Avelo Airlines adds 2 more Florida destinations from DTX