Texas House Rep Refuses Hearing for Bipartisan Paid Parental Leave Program
Texas Representative Angie Chen Button refuses to have a hearing for a bipartisan paid parental leave bill in the Texas House. This decision is the likely end for the bill, which had bipartisan support for creating a paid parental leave program through the Texas Workforce Commission.
Read full storyDFW Saw the Country's 2nd-Biggest Grocery Price Inflation Rate, According to New GAO Report
The DFW metroplex saw the country’s second-biggest grocery price inflation rate from August 2021 to August 2022, according to a recent report released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Dallas residents saw an average increase in grocery prices of 14.03%. If your grocery budget used to be $1,000, that means you would have to spend $1,140.30 each month to get the same cart—or even more if your diet features some of the products that saw the most inflation.
Read full storyTexas Ranks Fifth Highest in Lead-Based Water Service Lines in US
Texas has approximately 9.2 million water service lines across the state—and over 647,000 are lead-based. A recent assessment by the EPA found that significant numbers of Texans (and residents in other states) are at risk of exposure to lead-based water lines. The agency placed the estimate at over 7% of our state’s service lines, giving Texas the fifth-highest percentage of lead-based water lines after Florida (13%), Illinois (11%), Ohio (8%), and Pennsylvania (7.5%).
Read full storyTexas House Passes Spending Plan: What It Does and Doesn't Include
Yesterday (April 6), the House passed a $302.6 billion state budget. It outlines the House’s agreed-upon plan for state spending across the next two years. Some of the big-ticket items it includes are:
Read full storyNAR Report: Outdoor Renovations With the Biggest ROI in 2023
Which landscaping projects are worth the cost—and what does ‘worth the cost’ even mean? The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) recently released its annual report on landscape renovations and backyard features with the biggest return on investment (ROI). It reveals the top picks for homeowners who want to get as much value as possible for landscape remodeling over time or for people who want to sell their home and maximize the selling price by increasing curb appeal. Whether you want to put your home on the market, want to use financial trends to guide your next remodeling project, or just want to know which projects get the biggest return, either download the report or check out the top picks below.
Read full storyTexas Senate Approves Property Tax Legislation: Homestead Exemptions May Nearly Double
Worried about escalating property values and property tax bills? In March 2023, the Texas Senate passed provisions that will increase homestead exemptions and decrease homeowner property tax bills for school district taxes. While these measures have not yet been enacted, they are expected to be on the November ballot. Take a quick look at:
Read full storyWhat to Do in Collin County This Weekend (October 1-2)
Fall is here, the weather is cooling down, and towns across the county are scheduling their fall festivals! If you’re ready to celebrate the spooky season or just explore the county, check out some of these top to-dos in Collin County this weekend:
Read full storyPeanut Butter Drive Continues Through the End of September
jar of peanut butter and spoonPhoto by Tetiana Bykovets on Unsplash. Fall is here, and local community food drives will soon be turning their attention to seasonal and winter food drives for the rest of the year. But The North Texas Food Bank’s 2022 Peanut Butter Drive is continuing to collect peanut butter through the end of September (this Friday). Local community members can help the organization reach its goal of collecting 500,000 pounds of peanut butter.
Read full storyLabor Day Closures in Allen — And What to Do This Holiday Weekend
Barbecuing at an Allen parkAral Tasher on Unsplash. Labor Day is Monday, September 5. While many businesses are opening their doors with sales and promotions, the City of Allen itself is closing many of its facilities for the day. So before you plan out your long Labor Day weekend, take note of these closures and limited hours:
Read full storyWalletHub Names Allen as the Second-Best Real Estate Market in the Country
House on a sunny half-acrePhoto by Johnson Johnson on Unsplash. It’s no secret that Allen, Texas, is in the middle of a red hot real estate market. Home prices rose 24.8% from July 2021 to July 2022, and, while the meteoric rise may be less steep, there’s no sign of the market facing a downturn. In fact, Allen took second place in WalletHub’s comparison of 300 markets across the United States. Its full ranking is:
Read full storyCollin County 2022 Property Tax Rates Are Out — File a General Homestead Exemption to Reduce Your Bill in the Future
Collin County homeowner starting their general residence homestead exemption applicationPhoto by Christine Hume. Collin County will soon be releasing property tax bills to property owners across the county. You can calculate your anticipated taxes by reviewing Collin County's 2022 tax rates. Your total property tax rate will likely include:
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