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Patients at Medical City McKinney have a new option for cardiovascular care.

Medical City McKinney is offering a new procedure called Left Atrial Appendage Closure, which is designed to reduce the risk of stroke without blood-thinning medication, according to an April 9 news release.

A closer look: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that more than eight million Americans take blood thinners to prevent blood clots, the release states. This surgery provides another option to manage cardiovascular health.

The surgery involves inserting implants into the heart through a catheter that closes off the left atrial appendage, which can reduce the risk of stroke, the release states. Eligible patients can also undergo the procedure at the same time as a cardiac atrial fibrillation ablation, per the release.

Developers are seeking approval from the city for development of a car rental facility in north McKinney.

At a glance: McKinney’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a specific use permit request for the project during a June 23 meeting. The recommendation will be forwarded to McKinney City Council for final consideration at a July 21 meeting, according to a city document.

If approved, the permit would enable development of an Enterprise Rent-A-Car facility on about 1.5 acres along James Pitts Drive. Current development plans include construction of a 1,800-square-foot main building and another 1,200-square-foot building for servicing rental cars, according to the city document. The 1,200-square-foot building will not be open or available to the general public, according to a letter of intent.

Zooming out: The development is surrounded by different land uses on all sides. A hotel is located directly north, and a church is located directly south. Scott Johnson Middle School is located to the west, and vacant land zoned for commercial use is located to the east.

Cafe Brazil is now open in McKinney, CEO and owner Lindsay Pultz confirmed.

The details: The McKinney restaurant will offer the same menu as the company’s five other North Texas locations, including all-day breakfast items and a bottomless coffee bar.

Also of note: Cafe Brazil is a 24-hour coffeehouse and eatery. The McKinney location will have limited hours on Sunday through Tuesday for the first few weeks of operations, but operations on Wednesday through Saturday will follow the 24-hour schedule, Pultz said. 

What they're saying: “We are so excited to be a part of this community,” Pultz said in an email.

• 318 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 318, McKinney

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

Texas' Republican-led State Board of Education approved a sweeping rewrite of the state's social studies curriculum standards and a list of dozens of books that students will be required to read each school year, both of which are infused with biblical references. The new requirements will begin rolling out to public school classrooms in the 2030-31 school year.

The details: As many as 25 texts will be read each year in early elementary school grades, with about 10 books required in later grades. The reading list was created under a 2023 state law requiring “at least one literary work” per grade.

The new social studies curriculum standards will expand lessons about Texas and American history, deemphasizing some teachings about world cultures and people of color. The standards also expand the amount of content students will be expected to learn each year.

The debate: Proponents of the new standards and reading list said they will teach students to love their state and country, while critics said the policies do not include diverse perspectives.