Wendy Michaelis and her daughter, Anna Bell, are the owners and operators of FixAIRx, a forensic indoor environmental health company based in Denton County, which is dedicated to assessing the air quality to address complex indoor health concerns. 

Zooming in: Elevated mold exposure can affect health, especially for people who are sensitive, allergic, asthmatic, immunocompromised or already dealing with other health concerns, Michaelis said. Damp or moldy buildings are associated with respiratory symptoms, asthma concerns, allergic rhinitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, respiratory infections and eczema. 

“It’s crazy that 13 years ago, I started this company to find solutions for Anna’s asthma. I never expected that this would become our journey together.” Michaelis said.

Diving in deeper: Community Impact spoke with Michaelis, a licensed mold assessment consultant, on how to monitor a home’s air quality, especially when it comes to mold assessment and mold remediation.

This article is based on a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations filing. Community Impact will update this story when more information is available.

The overview: Crash Champions is expected to open in east Denton. According to the TDLR filing, construction is expected to finish Sept. 16.

The new construction of the 17,243-square-foot building is expected to cost $4.5 million, according to the filing.

Crash Champions offers dent repair, auto glass repair, paint refinishing and on-site rentals, according to the business website.

• 3333 E. University Drive, Denton

Medical City Healthcare facilities in Dallas-Fort Worth will host nearly 30 blood drives May through July to help address seasonal shortages and prepare for the FIFA World Cup, according to an April 28 news release.

The details: In partnership with the American Red Cross North Texas Region and Carter BloodCare, Medical City Healthcare will hold drives at hospitals across the region.

Summer months typically bring a decline in blood donations due to vacations and school closures while trauma cases often increase around holidays and large events, according to the release. Officials said demand may rise further this year as North Texas prepares to host the World Cup from June 11-July 19.

“That support is especially critical this summer as we anticipate an influx of visitors and soccer fans and know blood supplies are often strained during the summer months,” said Linda Braddy, CEO of the American Red Cross North Texas Region.

Stay informed on five road projects happening around Dallas-Fort Worth.

Collin County
Spring Creek Corridor intersection improvements
Project: The Spring Creek Corridor will receive additional turning lanes, new concrete pavement, barrier-free ramp reconstruction, sidewalk replacements and signal modifications in Plano.

Update: The southbound right lane from SH 121 to 800 feet south of Headquarters Drive will be closed. The project is in final design and is awaiting property acquisition before construction can move forward. Public Works Community Investment Program Manager Drew Zaeske said construction is estimated to be completed in the second quarter of 2029.

• Timeline: May 2026-May 2029

• Cost: $8 million

• Funding source: city of Plano

Tarrant County
Lipscomb Street and Forest Street
Project: The outline for the work is replacing the waterline, sanitary sewer lines, storm drainage and adding sidewalks, according to city documents.

Update: The project has a contract completion date by the end of May.

• Timeline: June 2025-May 2026

• Cost: $1.5 million

• Funding sources: city of Grapevine, Tarrant County

More than 53,000 students will be invited to join Texas’ education savings account program this week, the state comptroller’s office said May 4.

The details: Families will be notified by email between May 4-6 if they were awarded funds in the second round of the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, per a news release from the comptroller’s office.

To date, nearly 96,000 students have been selected to participate, with these students set to receive about $820 million of the $1 billion state lawmakers allocated for the program, an agency spokesperson said. Of the 53,000 second-round awardees, over 51,000 are from low-income families. The other 2,000 students accepted this week were found to qualify for disability-related funding, the agency said.

The background: Families accepted to the TEFA program will receive state funds to send their children to private schools or homeschool them for the 2026-27 school year.

Proponents of the new program have said it will expand educational opportunities, while critics have expressed concerns that the program will unfairly benefit students already enrolled in private schools.