🌱 Patch AM: Remember when a monkey went wild in a Plano Halloween store?

Hey there, Plano! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Remember when a monkey went wild in a Plano Halloween store?
• Why did Plano mail thefts spike just before this suspect’s arrest?
• Why was Plano hit as FedEx added more foreign workers?

Also on today's calendar: Crain & Wooley: Free Estate Planning Webinar and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the windowsill say to the glass? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Warmer with clouds and sun, with a high of 75 and low of 64 degrees.
• Tuesday: Very warm with sun and clouds, temps: high: 77, low: 64.
• Wednesday: Very warm with periods of sun, with a high of 79 and low of 63 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Viral Video Shows Horse Strolling Through Dallas Target (keyj.com) — A viral video of a shopper bringing a horse into a Dallas Target has people debating common sense rules for animals in stores, and it may remind Plano residents of the recent loose pet monkey at a local Spirit Halloween. The story uses both incidents to argue that, outside of true service animals, pets don’t belong in most retail spaces.
   

• Polk County Investigators Break Up Ongoing Mail Theft Ring; Suspect Arrested (easttexasbanner.com) — Plano police recently arrested a parolee wanted in Polk County after local detectives flagged his presence in the city, following a pattern where mail thefts spiked wherever he traveled. Authorities in Texas say his December stay in Plano coincided with a brief surge in local mail theft reports before he was taken into custody on a warrant and drug charge. Polk County investigators are now pursuing additional mail-theft charges and more suspects.
   

• FedEx Wins $2.2B Federal Contract, Then Hires Hundreds Of H-1B Workers While Laying Off Americans (dallasexpress.com) — Plano is cited among several North Texas cities where FedEx reported layoffs while also seeking H‑1B visa workers for Texas roles after winning a $2.2 billion federal delivery contract. The piece details hundreds of job cuts in Coppell, Fort Worth, Garland, Plano and other states, and examines broader political debate over H‑1B visas without clearly linking the federal contract to specific workforce decisions.
   

📸 Around Plano

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Plano

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday December 24

• Crain & Wooley: Free Estate Planning Webinar
  Online,
  12:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• The International Gem & Jewelry Show - Dallas, TX (January 2026)
  Dallas Market Hall, 2200 N Stemmons Fwy, Dallas
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 25

• Christmas Day
  Plano Chamber of Commerce , 5400 Independence Pkwy #200 , Plano

Wednesday December 31

• Crain & Wooley: Free Estate Planning Webinar
  Online
  12:00 pm

Sunday January 4

• West Plano ER - Blood Drive
  West Plano Emergency Room , 2000 Dallas Pkwy Ste 100 , Plano
  8:00 am

📣 Plano Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 23

• NTFB Application Assistance for Social Services
  J. Erik Jonsson Central Library , 1515 Young Street , Dallas
  9:30 am
• Connected Dallas: Stay Connected, Get Empowered!
  J. Erik Jonsson Central Library , 1515 Young Street , Dallas
  10:30 am
• Technology and Media Literacy
  Fretz Park Branch Library , 6990 Belt Line Road , Dallas
  12:00 pm
• Winterween (Holiday Movie Series)
  J. Erik Jonsson Central Library , 1515 Young Street , Dallas
  1:00 pm
• A Visit from Santa
  Martin Luther King Jr Library and Learning Center , 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. , Dallas
  1:00 pm
• Movie of the Month
  Martin Luther King Jr Library and Learning Center , 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. , Dallas
  1:00 pm
• Career Launch Pad
  Fretz Park Branch Library , 6990 Belt Line Road , Dallas
  2:00 pm
• English Conversation / Ingles Conversación
  Fretz Park Branch Library , 6990 Belt Line Road , Dallas
  2:00 pm
• Christmas Spectacular Light Show - City of The Colony
  The Colony Fire Department , 4900 Blair Oaks Dr , The Colony
  5:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Plano PatchAM possible:

• PeakPower Learners — (469) 396-6182
  The Power Of Two: Online Classes for Dual Language Students
• Crain & Wooley — (972) 560-6288
  Estate Planning and Probate Attorneys serving DFW

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• The Heights Church in Richardson to Hold Christmas Eve Services at 3 and 5 pm —Carolyn Alvey Read on Patch
• Healthy Holidays: Plano Doctors Provide Simple Tips to Relieve Stress, Back Pain —Krista Simmons Read on Patch

• Merry Christmas 🎄
  Don’t miss out on your kids getting their pictures taken with Mrs. Claus. She is handing out goody bags and candy canes. Tonight, Sunday, Monday and… (Nextdoor Jackson)
• Friendly reminder to everyone visiting Deerfield this time of year:
  We absolutely love the holiday magic here — children’s giggles, Christmas music echoing from cars, the clip-clop of horse hooves, and yes, even the… (Nextdoor Deerfield)

• City of Plano posted a job opening for Recreation Coordinator - Preschool & Youth Programming in Plano. Apply here.
• Harvard Maintenance, Inc. posted a job opening for Janitorial Cleaner - Portero- Plano, TX- 32871 in Plano. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Plano here.

🗞 Nearby News

Allen

• ECHL Transactions - Dec. 21 (echl.com)

Frisco

• First-of-its-kind Universal Studios resort to open soon in Texas (mysanantonio.com)
• When Is The 2025 FCS Championship Game? (herosports.com)

McKinney

Ok Plano! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I feel your pane.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook