Thousands of attendees gathered at the 2026 Allen USA event held June 27 at Celebration Park.

The gist: The event, which was sponsored by H-E-B and other local businesses, featured live music, vendors and promotional booths, food trucks and more. The event concluded with a roughly half-hour long fireworks display.

“For one unforgettable evening, memories were made and community pride was on full display. Here’s to the traditions that bring us together and the moments that make Allen shine,” a city of Allen Facebook post states about the event.

Dive in deeper: Check out photos from this year's Allen USA event.

Allen residents interested in serving on a city board or commission have an opportunity to share their interest with the city.

Applications to serve on a city commission or board are now open.

What you need to know: Each year, Allen City Council appoints members to serve on city boards and commissions. Most board and commission members serve two-year terms with no term limits, and appointments are staggered to have half of each board appointed annually, the city’s website states. To serve on most boards or commissions, applicants are required to be registered voters and have lived in Allen for one year. The city of Allen has 14 boards and commissions, its website states.

Quote of note: “Serving on a board or commission is a great way to learn more about city government, share expertise and help guide decisions that shape the community,” a city news release states.

Check out five upcoming and ongoing transportation projects around Dallas-Fort Worth.

1. Plano residential paving
Project: The city will be replacing 4,900 linear feet of street paving, sidewalks and barrier-free ramps, along with 250 linear feet of water line in some neighborhoods near Independence Parkway.
Update: Plano city council approved a construction contract for the project at a June 22 meeting, and work is expected to start in July.

• Timeline: July 2026-summer 2027

• Cost: $2.7 million

• Funding source: city of Plano

2. Legacy Drive widening
Project: Legacy Drive will be widened from Lebanon Road to Stonebrook Parkway. As part of the project, Stonebrook Parkway will also be widened from Legacy Drive to 4th Army Drive. The roadways will also be reconstructed along with the widening.
Update: The project is in the design phase and is expected to start construction later this year.

• Timeline: mid 2026-mid 2028

• Cost: $20 million

• Funding source: city of Frisco

Area libraries throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area provided space for children and teenagers during the summer. Many offer summer reading programs and other scheduled activities for children and adults.

Allen Public Library
The library is running a summer program for all ages through July 31. The program is broken down by the following age groups: 0 to sixth grade, seventh to 12th grade and adults age 18 and up. Prizes and free books are awarded for preschoolers (ages 0 to 5), elementary school-age kids (kindergarten-sixth grade) and teens (seventh to 12th grade). Adults will be entered into a drawing for one of five prize bags.

• 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen
• Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m, Friday-Saturday; 2-6 p.m., Sunday

State lawmakers are considering water use impacts tied to the spread of new data center developments across Texas, and recently heard input from industry representatives and residents as they plan for next year's legislative session.

The initial review may preview proposed state laws regarding data centers and their local impacts. Ahead of the hearing, Gov. Greg Abbott also stated his "bottom line" expectations for data centers going forward: providing their own power, reusing water and reducing electricity costs for their neighbors.

Testimony from regulators revealed that Texas lacks accurate information about the water use of most data centers now operating statewide, despite mandates to submit those details. Representatives suggested data centers' self-reporting on utility use could be one topic to address next year. Many impacted residents and elected officials also raised concerns with public notice and local regulatory authority in relation to the high-profile developments.