🌱 DART To Receive $130M Grant + Dallas Ranks High For Retirement

Hello all. It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Patch newsletter. Let's get this Friday started off right, with a quick guide to the most important things happening around town.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny and very warm. High: 99 Low: 78.

Here are the top three stories in Dallas today:

1. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is set to receive almost $130 million in federal funds through a Federal Transportation Administration grant. The funds will be used to improve the agency's fleet of buses and replace some of the older models with low or no-emission vehicles. DART spokesperson Gordon Shattles said the new buses will be equipped with USB charging ports and vinyl seats. (KERA News)
2. Dallas was recently ranked in a study by Home Bay as the third-best retirement destination in Texas. Dallas ranked high on the list thanks to its existing retirement communities, recreation options, and healthcare that is more accessible than other cities in the state. Retirees are also reportedly drawn to the state's tax benefits, such as low property taxes and no taxes on Social Security retirement benefits. (Star-Telegram)
3. Dallas city officials are concerned about a new state law going into effect on Sep. 1 that could limit what regulations can be made by cities and counties. House Bill 2127, also called the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, prevents local governments from creating or enforcing ordinances that would go beyond existing state law. This act will apply to state laws regarding agriculture, insurance, labor, property, occupations, and more. Dallas council member Paul Ridley called the act, "an attack on home rule cities," although it is unclear what, if any, legal action Dallas officials will take to fight the new law. (Subscription: Dallas News)

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Today in Dallas:

Friday, July 7

• Cine Familiar De Verano: Kung Fu Panda At Pleasant Grove Branch Library (1:30 PM)
• Shelley Carroll Quartet At The Free Man (6:00 PM)
• And Then Came Humans At Vector Brewing (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• This evening, Jul. 7, Dallas Parks and Recreation is hosting a Dive-In Movie Night. Attendees will watch the movie "Lightyear" while also enjoying the pool at the Tietze Aquatic Center. The movie will start at 8:00 p.m., and you can learn more here. (Dallas Parks and Recreation Department via Facebook)
• The Dallas Zoo shared pictures of Izwi the lion. He might be the youngest lion in the zoo's pride, but he is also the biggest, weighing in at a whopping 450 pounds! (Dallas Zoo via Facebook)
• The Dallas Public Library has shared its ultimate summer road trip playlist! You can check out the titles and download your picks from Hoopla. (Dallas Public Library via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.