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Custody and family law basics in Texas: What DFW parents need to know

Not legal advice — but the basics every DFW parent should understand.

• Texas uses "conservatorship" not "custody." Source: Texas Family Code Chapter 153.
• Joint Managing Conservators (JMC) — both parents share rights and duties. This is the default in Texas.
• Sole Managing Conservator (SMC) — one parent has primary decision-making. Courts rarely grant this without evidence of danger.

DFW holiday markets and artisan fairs: Support local this season

Skip Amazon. Buy from DFW makers at these holiday markets.

• Dallas Farmers Market Holiday Market — November-December weekends. Extended vendor list. Free entry. Source: dallasfarmersmarket.org
• Bishop Arts Holiday Market — December weekends. Local artisans, food, music. Source: bishopartsdistrict.com
• Cowtown Christmas Market (Fort Worth) — Will Rogers Memorial Center. 200+ vendors. $10 admission. Source: cowtownchristmasmarket.com

Teachers in Texas -- how are y'all surviving on that salary?

Genuine question, no disrespect intended. I looked up the average teacher salary in Texas. It's around $57K. In a state where rent is $1,500+, property taxes are insane, and everything keeps going up.

Landlord won't fix AC in July. What are my rights?

AC has been out for 4 days. It's over 100 degrees outside and my apartment is hitting 90+ inside. I've called maintenance three times. They came once, said they "ordered a part," and I haven't heard back since.

Active police situation on Greenville Ave near Lowest Greenville — area blocked off

Dallas PD has blocked off a section of Greenville Ave between Belmont and Prospect. Multiple units on scene.

• Police arrived around 2:30 PM
• Several blocks cordoned off with yellow tape
• SWAT truck spotted heading toward the area

Trade jobs vs college degree: Texas edition

I'm 19. Everyone in my family says college. But I've been looking at the numbers and I'm not sure it makes sense anymore.

Coding bootcamps in DFW: Which ones are worth the money?

I went through a bootcamp in DFW and now work as a developer. Here's the honest breakdown.

• Tech Elevator (Dallas) — 14-week full-stack (Java or C#). $15,500. 90%+ job placement rate. My bootcamp. Highly recommend. Source: techelevator.com
• Coding Dojo (online with DFW events) — 14-week, multiple stacks. $14,000-16,000. Source: codingdojo.com
• Flatiron School (online, DFW career support) — 15-week, multiple tracks. $16,900. Source: flatironschool.com

Amber Alert: 6-year-old girl missing from Arlington — last seen near Parks Mall

An Amber Alert has been issued for a 6-year-old girl last seen in the Parks Mall area of Arlington.

• Name: [Details per official Amber Alert]
• Age: 6 years old
• Last seen: Parks Mall parking lot, approximately 3:15 PM

ERCOT is going to get someone killed one of these summers

Every summer the same thing happens. Heat wave rolls in. ERCOT issues a conservation alert. They ask everyone to set thermostats to 78+ and avoid running major appliances during peak hours. Meanwhile it's 108 outside.

Fake charity scams in DFW: How to verify before you donate

After every tornado, hail storm, or tragedy in DFW, fake charities appear instantly. Here's how to vet them.

• The name sounds like a well-known charity but isn't (e.g., "American Red Crossing" vs. American Red Cross)
• Pressure to donate immediately
• Cash or gift card only

DFW tech scene: Where to work if you're a software engineer

DFW is not Austin or the Bay Area. But the tech scene is growing fast and the cost-of-living math works in your favor. Here's the landscape.

• Meta — Offices in Dallas. Infra and AR/VR teams. $180-300K TC depending on level.
• Google — Limited DFW presence but remote-friendly for TX residents.
• Amazon — Warehouse tech + some AWS roles. $130-200K TC.

Texas inspection failed for the dumbest reason

Took my car for annual inspection. Everything works fine. Brakes good. Lights good. Emissions good. Failed because one of my tire pressure monitoring sensors is malfunctioning.

Amber Alert: 6-year-old girl missing from Arlington — last seen near Parks Mall

An Amber Alert has been issued for a 6-year-old girl last seen in the Parks Mall area of Arlington.

• Name: [Details per official Amber Alert]
• Age: 6 years old
• Last seen: Parks Mall parking lot, approximately 3:15 PM

EV charging situation here is actually improving

Got an EV last year and was worried about charging infrastructure. Honestly it's gotten way better around here even in the last 12 months.

Remote work in DFW: How to earn Bay Area salaries while living in Texas

The dream: Bay Area or NYC salary, DFW cost of living. Here's how to actually make it happen.

• Most companies now adjust for location. The full SF salary in DFW is rare.
• Typical adjustment: 10-20% below SF rates (still great for DFW)
• Some companies pay the same everywhere: Netflix, Airbnb, some startups

Gas leak forces evacuation of several blocks in Oak Cliff — Atmos Energy responding

A significant natural gas leak has been reported in the 400 block of West Davis Street in Oak Cliff. Atmos Energy crews are on scene.

• West Davis between Beckley and Zang
• Surrounding residential streets within 2-block radius
• Approximately 50 homes and 15 businesses evacuated

DFW vehicle inspection and registration guide: Don't get caught with expired tags

Texas vehicle registration and inspection can trip you up if you're new or forgetful.

• Required every year in Texas. Cost: $7 for non-commercial vehicles (state maximum). Source: dps.texas.gov
• Emissions testing required in Dallas and Tarrant counties ($14.50 added). Source: tceq.texas.gov
• You need a passing inspection to register your vehicle.

Best gym that isn't Planet Fitness?

Planet Fitness is fine for what it is but I've outgrown it. No squat racks, no deadlift platforms, the lunk alarm is embarrassing, and the gym is packed from 5-8pm every weekday.

Parks and outdoor spots that are actually worth going to?

I've been here a while but I feel like I've only scratched the surface of outdoor stuff to do. I default to the same two parks every weekend and I'm getting bored.

Domestic violence resources in DFW: Where to go and what your rights are

If you or someone you know is in an abusive situation in DFW, here are the real resources. No judgment, just information.

• National DV Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (24/7, multilingual)
• Genesis Women's Shelter (Dallas): 214-946-HELP (4357) — shelter, counseling, legal assistance
• SafeHaven of Tarrant County: 1-877-701-SAFE (7233) — shelter, 24/7 hotline

DFW free concert series summer 2026: Live music that costs nothing

DFW has multiple free outdoor concert series every summer. Here's the complete list.

• Klyde Warren Park concert series — select evenings. Local and regional acts. Free. Source: klydewarrenpark.org
• The Rustic (Uptown) — free live music most nights on the outdoor stage. Texas country, Americana. Source: therustic.com
• AllGood Cafe (Deep Ellum) — Sunday open mics, free. Weekly live music. Source: allgoodcafe.com

Dating scene here is... something else

Been single for about 6 months. Back on the apps. Some observations about dating around here.

• Every third profile is someone holding a fish they caught
• The question "what church do you go to" comes up on the first date more often than I expected
• Distances are insane. Matched with someone who seemed great — they live 45 minutes away. That's a 90-minute round trip for a dinner date

Texas heat survival tips for people who aren't from here

Your first Texas summer is going to be a shock. Here's what got me through mine.

• Hydrate before you're thirsty. By the time you feel thirsty you're already dehydrated. Keep water with you always.
• Car prep matters. Windshield sunshade, tinted windows, and a remote start if your car has it. Your steering wheel at 3pm is a branding iron without a shade.
• Plan around the heat. Outdoor stuff before 10am or after 7pm. Midday is for indoor errands and AC.

Is anyone else spending $400+/month on gas commuting?

My commute is 35 miles each way. That's 70 miles a day, 350 miles a week. My truck gets 20 mpg on a good day. Gas is hovering around $3.20.

DFW influencer marketing scams: When the "collaboration" is actually theft

Small business owners in DFW are getting burned by fake influencers demanding free products and services. Here's the playbook and how to protect yourself.

• Follower-to-engagement ratio: Real accounts average 1-3% engagement rate. 50K followers with 100 likes per post = purchased followers.
• Comment quality: "Nice!" "Love this!" "Fire" from random accounts = bot comments. Real engagement has specific, detailed comments.
• Growth pattern: Use Social Blade (socialblade.com) to check follower growth. Sudden spikes of thousands = purchased followers.