Latest News
Collin County commissioners adopted a $633.8 million budget and a higher property tax rate for fiscal year 2027, marking the first increase in the county’s overall tax rate in more than three decades. Commissioners approved a combined property tax rate of $0.151414...
Texas is home to the Top 5 fastest-growing cities by percentage of population, the U.S. Census Bureau reports. Celina, which had been No. 1 in 2023, stole the spotlight from Princeton for the period July 2024 to July 2026. The Census Bureau estimated Celina grew...
Carter BloodCare is encouraging Texans to roll up their sleeves this month as the nonprofit works to replenish blood supplies and meet patient needs across the state. Health officials said all blood types are currently needed, with particular demand for O negative and...
The Art Gallery at Collin College will host “Between the Frames: Student Photography Portfolio Exhibition,” an annual student photography showcase, beginning Tuesday, June 10, at the Plano Campus. A closing reception is planned from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, in the...
Stop signs and turn arrows are intended to prevent eastbound traffic on Renner Road from running into a house at Tall Tree Drive. Bob Wieland/Murphy Monitor After a series of car accidents where Renner Road dead-ends into the 600 block of Tall Tree Drive, the city of...
Sports
Plano East freshman Ava Nzegwu helped lead the Lady Panthers to a 5-3 record at the prestigious Volleypalooza tournament in Austin last weekend. Photo by David Wolman / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] Plano East went 5-3 at Volleypalooza last...
Plano East sophomore Arianna Robinson (11) scored 22 points in the Lady Panthers’ 56-33 win at Princeton on Dec. 2. Photo by Jerry Winfrey / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] The Plano East girls basketball team got off to a fast start last Friday...
Plano East sophomore Alexander Brewington, pictured in previous action, was named to the all-tournament team at the 13th Annual Craig Bowers Memorial Tournament in Royse City. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] Through a 10-2...
Plano East senior point guard Jayden Parker dribbles the ball past two Rowlett defenders on Nov. 25. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] Plano East pulled away late to earn a 51-46 win over Rowlett at McMillen High School on...
Plano East seniors, from left, Reagan Noel, Courtney Shults, Simone Heard, Emma Reeves and Chandler Israel each signed a National Letter of Intent on Nov. 12. Photo by David Wolman / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] Last week was the first week of...
Education
More than a month after an incident at Wylie East High School sparked public outcry, roughly 20 speakers returned to the Wylie ISD Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday, March 24, as district leaders continued addressing routine business. During the public forum, speakers...
Trustees of the Plano Independent School District have voted to award all staff members a 3% pay raise for the 2024-2025 school year. “With an anticipated budget impact of $7,594,301, this increase highlights the school board’s long-standing tradition of working to...
Each June Wylie ISD adopts its operating budget for the next school year, July 1 through June 30. Last week, as part of the planning process, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Scott Roderick gave an update on the 2024-2025 proposed budget. For more on...
Executive Director of Fine Arts Glenn Lambert presented what he called a “State of the Arts” in Wylie ISD last week to the Wylie ISD board of trustees. Five years ago, an initiative to add extracurricular activities, evaluate instructors and programs, facilities and...
The highlight of Saturday night’s 21st annual Boots ‘N Barbecue gala was the presentation of the 2024 Elisabeth W. Garrison Legacy Award to former Wylie High School football Coach Bill Howard. The lifetime achievement award is bestowed upon individuals who exemplify...
Life & Style
A blue jay perches near a snow-dusted backyard feeder, a familiar winter sight across North Texas. With the right feeder and food, homeowners can attract a variety of birds — from cardinals to finches — throughout the year. Few things bring a yard to life quite like...
Home gardener Catherine “Cathi” Banks has learned by trial and error how to get the most from the raised bed gardens that have lined her backyard in Murphy for the last six years. In fact, Banks’ has not only had good luck with her gardening adventure, she...
After a few years of growing the typical Texas flowers; pansies in the winter, impatiens in the summer in the normal front flowerbeds, homeowner Kori Hendrix realized she wanted more variety and more gardens at her Wylie home. There was ample opportunity to make...
Students and families faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The shift to remote learning and shortened school days, forced students to adapt to virtual school on the fly as parents adjusted to working from home full-time and managing their children’s...
Now that you’ve closed on your first house, you’re officially a homeowner. However, before you can get comfy in your new place, you need to actually move in. If you’ve never moved into a new house, there are a few things you may not be aware of. As you make plans to...
Opinion
Columnist John Moore still listens to the albums he bought over 50 years ago. Photo John Moore New music coming out used to be an event. Most of the time, you and your friends knew it was coming and you were waiting, money-in-hand, at the record shop to buy it. I...
Columnist John Moore’s sister took first place at the county fair with a photo she snapped on a Colorado train trip. Photo courtesy John Moore The photo was taken quickly with little thought of its future impact. It was just one on the 36-count roll of Kodak color...
Lying on the deck behind the backseat and staring upward through the rear glass of a Buick gave a kid the perfect view of the sky and clouds. A cloud could look like a bear one moment, and a crocodile the next. Family road trips of the 1960s and 70s obviously did not...
Columnist John Moore takes sopping seriously. Courtesy John Moore Southerner’s are big on sopping. We like to sop our biscuits in lots of things. There isn’t much that’s better than sopping a cathead biscuit in gravy. Especially if your mom made both. My mother worked...
About 40 years ago, my dad gave me a radio. Not just any radio. It is what’s called a farm radio. According to Texas Co-op Power Magazine, in 1936 just three out of 100 farms had electricity. By the mid-1940’s it was three out of 10. That still left most farm...
