Denton County purchases Ponder fire station for $2.1M
Denton County commissioners approved the $2.1 million purchase of the Ponder Volunteer Fire Station at a Sept. 9 meeting as part of an effort to improve emergency services to unincorporated areas, according to a news release.
The gist: Proceeds from the sale will fund 24/7 staffing for emergency services at the Ponder fire station through October 2028, the release states. Denton County will lease the fire station to the Ponder Fire Department for $1 a year, according to county documents, and provide an ambulance to serve the town’s emergency response zone, per the news release.
Eligible K-12 students receive free school meals after legislature approves funding
This school year, students who are eligible for reduced-price meals can receive free breakfast and lunch at public schools across Texas.
The overview: During the recent legislative session, state lawmakers approved $19.8 million to cover the cost of reduced-price meals for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years.
What parents should know: Eligibility for free school meals is determined based on a family’s income through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.
Families can contact their school district to fill out an application for free or reduced-price meals at any time during the school year. Students who are deemed eligible for reduced-price meals will receive them at no cost through the 2026-27 school year.
What they're saying: “Kids who would have paid a small fee for meals will now receive them at no cost,” said Stacie Sanchez Hare, director of No Kid Hungry Texas. “[School] is where we know so many kids get their meals—it is a guaranteed place for kids to have access to free and nutritional meals.”
