Latest News
With early voting underway, Collin County voters will decide whether to approve a $600 million Collin College bond proposal and four Collin County bond propositions totaling $817.5 million, with different potential effects on property taxes. The college anticipates no...
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...
When the State Fair of Texas opens Friday, Sept. 25, visitors will find plenty of local talent among the award-winning entries inside the Creative Arts Building. From an intricate crocheted blanket and a landscape made from nearly 58,000 seed beads to handmade...
The Murphy City Council has voted to adopt a Fiscal Year 2027 budget of $67.2 million and a property tax rate of $0.361832 per $100 of taxable appraised value, an increase of four-tenths of a penny per $100. Both items passed 5-2, with “aye” votes coming from Mayor...
Murphy Public Works Superintendent Daniel Paredez has updated the City Council on the city’s Stormwater Management Program, outlining state requirements and the steps the city takes to prevent pollutants from entering area waterways. Council also voted at the Tuesday,...
Sports
Plano East sophomore running back Treyce Seldon hurdles over a Berkner defender on Friday at Wildcat-Ram Stadium. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] (Click on the link to view a photo gallery from the game:...
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 running back Treyce Seldon finished with 186 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns in the Panthers' 55-21 season-opening win over Mesquite Horn on Thursday, Aug. 27. Photo by Andy Redmond / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected]...
Plano East sophomore Anna Lukas attempts to tip the ball past the hands of a Cornerstone Christian defender on Friday. Photo by David Wolman / C&S Media By David Wolman [email protected] With district play for the Plano East volleyball team not beginning...
The Plano East boys and girls cross country teams pose for pictures with the first-place trophies at the Texoma Invitational. Photo courtesy Owen McCullough By David Wolman [email protected] Another week on the course produced another championship-level effort...
Education
Workers continue construction on Building D adjacent to Rusty Franklin Field at Plano East Senior High School. Photo Bob Wieland/Murphy Monitor Renovation work at Plano East Senior High School begun in February of 2025 is scheduled for completion in the first half of...
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...
The new Texas school voucher program has received applications for more than 160,000 students, Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock said. Tuesday, March 17, was the deadline for families to apply, but it was extended to March 31 by a court order. “Demand is strong for the...
File Art The 59th Annual Wylie Show & Sale is scheduled for March 22–28, 2026, at the F.O. Birmingham Agricultural Center in Wylie. The weeklong event highlights the work of area youth exhibitors and features livestock shows, student shop projects, horticulture...
Wylie ISD trustees opened last week’s regular meeting with public comments centered on a controversy involving the distribution of religious materials at Wylie East High School. According to the district, women affiliated with the organization Why Islam, along with...
Life & Style
Few things are as delicious and refreshing as watermelon on a warm day. Watermelon grows quite readily in summer and is often ready to pick after three months of growing time. Harvesters look for a pale buttery yellow spot on the bottom of watermelon (the ground...
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...
Book lovers visiting Vancouver, Canada should stop and visit the Central Library Vancouver, one of many remarkable libraries in the world. Libraries have always held a certain magic—quiet places where stories, ideas and histories live side by side, waiting for someone...
Participating in recreational sports leagues such as pickleball is just one way for seniors to get out and meet others. January has a way of inviting reflection—and renewal. As calendars turn and routines reset, many people feel a renewed desire to reconnect with the...
Community Quilters stay busy on a Wednesday workday at the new 5,000-square-foot workshop located in Royse City near Josephine. Courtesy Community Quilters Each week, a community of quilters comes together with a shared purpose: creating new, handmade blankets that...
Opinion
Columnist John Moore's mom always made the same dessert in the same bowl. The proof was in the pudding. Photo Mary Moore By John Moore | TheCountryWriter.com Early in life, I learned that adults had their own language. They spoke English, but it was interspersed with...
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 has endured many difficulties, but nothing's worse than wallpaper. Photo by John Moore There are two true tests for how solid your marriage is — COVID-19 and hanging wallpaper together. As I awoke from 9½ hours of sleep, all rested and ready for...
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warned last week that the GOP risks losing its majority in the state House this November and urged party unity behind the winner of the May runoff between U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton. Without that unity, Patrick said that...
Columnist John Moore grew up eating at cafeterias. Today, if he wants those dishes, he has to make them himself. Photo: John Moore Luby’s. Bryce’s. Wyatt’s. Piccadilly. All cafeterias. Many gone. If you grew up in the South in the 50s, 60s, or 70s, odds are you had a...
