Latest News
You wouldn’t know it from the thermometer, but the calendar says fall begins later this month — and so do a plethora of crowd-pleasing annual events. Based on the astronomical Autumnal Equinox, the first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere is Tuesday, Sept. 22. But...
Property taxes on a median value home in Murphy will increase by $165 if City Council gives final approval to the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 tax rate.Council gave preliminary approval to a 1.2% tax increase — $.004 — at the regular Tuesday, Aug. 18, meeting and...
Collin County voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to authorize up to $817.5 million in bonds for county facilities, roads and bridges, parks and open space, and a new elections and records storage facility. The Collin County Commissioners Court called the bond election...
Plano Independent School District earned a grade of B, 85 out of 100 points, in the latest 2025-2026 school accountability rankings released by the Texas Education Agency. The district’s overall ranking improved 3 points from last year. “This measures how much...
The Wylie Historical Society will celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary with history, fashion and a look at how family stories can become historical works during its Celebrate America 250 BBQ Luncheon Saturday, Aug. 29. The luncheon begins at 11 a.m. at St....
Sports
Plano East freshman Ava Nzegwu attempts to hit the ball around the hands of Wylie defenders Keelyn Green (10) and Isabella Moreno (14) on Tuesday. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] For as many wins as the Plano East...
Plano East junior Addison Tucker serves during a match against Garland ISD Tournament. Photo by Tina Lopez / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] Two days after winning the Garland ISD Volleyball Tournament for the third time in the last four years,...
Plano East senior Meena Mulford earned third place with a time of 12:01 at the Plano ISD Invitational on Saturday. Photo by David Wolman / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] PLANO – Plano East and Sachse’s cross country teams have high expectations...
A Plano East defender tips the ball away from a Panthers wide receiver during a one-on-one drill during Monday morning’s practice. Photo by David Wolman / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] Plano East head football coach Tony Benedetto and his...
Plano East incoming senior Bilal Habib earned fifth place at 106 pounds at the Class 6A state wrestling tournament. Photo by Niall Morga Media By David Wolman [email protected] Plano East remained one of the premier athletic programs in Plano ISD during the...
Education
Plano Independent School District earned a grade of B, 85 out of 100 points, in the latest 2025-2026 school accountability rankings released by the Texas Education Agency. The district’s overall ranking improved 3 points from last year. “This measures how much...
The Plano Independent School District will hold a public meeting June 23 to discuss the district’s proposed 2026-27 budget and tax rate. The hearing was set by the PISD Board of Trustees at the board’s regular meeting on May 19. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30...
Graduating PESH seniors stand for the Pledge of Allegiance at the Thursday, May 28, commencement exercise in the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco. Andy Redmond/Murphy Monitor With the toss of a cap, a chapter ended for nearly 1,300 members of the Plano East Senior...
PESH Class of 2026 Valedictorian Haosu Zhu and Salutatorian Vedant Sundar pose by the panther outside Plano East Senior High School. Courtesy photo The top two students in the Plano East Senior High School Class of 2026 have both attended Plano ISD schools since...
Six projects by Plano ISD students advanced this year to the 76th annual International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition. Four projects captured category grand awards. One student placed first and...
Life & Style
The countdown to a new school year has begun, and for many families, the final days of summer are filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. While children may be eager to reunite with friends, join a sports team or move up to a new grade, they also may feel...
By Carrie Dunlea Backyards have evolved far beyond basic patios and grills. Today’s outdoor spaces are increasingly designed as extensions of the home — places where families can stream movies, host game-day gatherings or simply unwind outdoors without sacrificing...
Getty images Longer days and lighter schedules make summer perfect for relaxing, having fun outdoors and spending time with loved ones. However, more physical activity and time spent in the sun can also translate to increased health and safety risks. As you and your...
Simple lifestyle changes may help improve rest, overall wellness By Carrie Dunlea A good night’s sleep can make all the difference between starting the day energized and focused or dragging through it feeling irritable, distracted and exhausted. Yet for many people,...
Where to travel before Summer crowds hit By Carrie Dunlea May sits in a sweet spot on the travel calendar — that fleeting window when spring is still in full bloom, temperatures are comfortable across much of the country and summer crowds haven’t yet arrived in force....
Opinion
Thanks to his grandmother, columnist John Moore knows the price of most items. Which will help if he's ever selected as a contestant on The Price Is Right. Photo John Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com Long before anyone knew who Drew Carey was,...
Columnist John Moore still isn’t allowed to use the good towels. His is behind the bathroom door. Photo: John Moore As a kid, I was fairly certain I’d never get any couth. I wasn’t sure what couth was, but it seemed to be important to my grandparents. If you made a...
Columnist John Moore is offering to teach anyone who's visiting the US how to eat biscuits and gravy. Photo John Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com I’m not much on soccer, but it seems the rest of the world is. As I write this, America is covered up...
Columnist John Moore still has and uses the radio that kept him, his cousin, and best friend company during the summer of the 1976 American Bicentennial celebrations. Photo John Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com Author’s note: This week’s column was...
Columnist John Moore's great grandfather, Thornton Parmer Moore, is pictured circa 1935 in his blacksmith shop. Like most of the era, he made just about everything he needed. Photo John Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com As a kid, I often heard the...
