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KERA News •

Grapevine astronaut Wally Funk, oldest person to go to space, dies at 87

Wally Funk, a North Texas aviation pioneer and the oldest person to ever go to space, has died. She was 87.The city of Grapevine announced her death Thursday, calling her a “global symbol of determination, perseverance and excellence.”Funk, born in 1939, was known for breaking gender barriers for women in aviation. She earned her pilot's license at 17.She was one of 13 women selected the First Lady Astronaut Trainees program — also known as Mercury 13 — passing the same physical and mental tests...
KERA News •

Data center developer donates millions for Ellis County animal shelter, college as pushback grows

As concerns grow around the influx of data centers being built across Texas – including from the state’s governor – one company in Ellis County is trying to better its relationship with the community.Compass Datacenters recently made a $15 million donation for a new animal shelter in Ellis County after the SPCA ended its contract there last year."One of the things we always try to do in communities is if there's a need for any infrastructure, we always want to kind of know about it as a long-ter...
KERA News •

North Texas foundation awards millions to support education initiatives

The Communities Foundation of Texas awarded $10 million in grants to several Dallas-area nonprofits in support of education initiatives.The grants will go toward efforts to reduce absenteeism, develop responsible AI adoption in classrooms, and support “disconnected” young adults who are out of school but under- or unemployed.“Some of the greatest challenges in education are not just academic,” Robert Kent, chief philanthropy officer at the foundation, said during an announcement Wednesday. "They...
KERA News •

DeSoto City Council opts not to explore bringing DART to the city

DeSoto city leaders have rejected a proposal to look at bringing in Dallas Area Rapid Transit on-demand services.The city council on Tuesday voted against exploring DART’s GoLink service to supplement local STAR Transit.The Kaufman-based transportation service has operated in DeSoto since 2018, providing pre-scheduled rides for seniors, medical riders and residents who depend on transit. It also operates in nearby areas including Seagoville, Cedar Hill, Balch Springs and Rockwall County. Two DeS...
KERA News •

Wylie ISD principal resigns after months of controversy over Islamic event at high school

A Wylie ISD principal has resigned after receiving months of backlash over a campus visit from a group that provided informational material on Islam.The district said Wylie East High school principal Tiffany Doolan informed them of her resignation on May 26. In February a group called Why Islam provided copies of the Quran, informational pamphlets and henna to students and allowed them to try on hijabs during lunch.Wylie ISD told the Dallas Morning News at the time a student club had invited the...
KERA News •

Texas A&M expands low-income dental care program to North Texas seniors

The Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas is expanding its low-income dental program to seniors expanding its dental care assistance program to seniors.The Empowering Smiles Oral Health Initiative Program started in 2024 providing dental screenings and oral health education to students in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD in partnership with Metrocrest Hospital Authority. Now, with a $246,000 grant from Metrocrest, the college will expand the initiative to older patients.“Community mem...
KERA News •

Counseling center’s Garland popup invites people to check out mental health resources

A temporary pop-up in downtown Garland is inviting people to learn about mental health resources in a relaxed, no-pressure space.Room for Change, a counselling center with locations in Dallas, Garland and Houston, hosts “Room to Bloom” through the end of May. The pop-up offers free resources for all ages and backgrounds with the goal of reducing the stigma surrounding mental health treatment.“My hope is that people see us, it plants a seed for them, that we are accessible and that if they need h...
KERA News •

City of Rowlett 'retools' search for fire chief after losing first slate of finalists

The city of Rowlett said it's retooling its search for a new permanent fire chief amid a dispute with the firefighters' association over the recruitment process.The city last week named Mitchell Randles from Temple, Texas, as its new interim chief. He replaces former interim chief Chris Ensley, who served in the role for two months and has the backing of the association but was not considered a finalist for the role.“The interim appointment is intended to ensure uninterrupted fire and emergency...
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