Every year, children in our communities are placed in foster care due to unsafe or unstable home environments. While foster care provides temporary, safe homes, there are not enough foster parents to support every child who needs one.

Foster care is often seen as a response to crisis, but it is also part of a larger system focused on early intervention and prevention. When families have access to support such as counseling, financial resources, and community guidance, many challenges can be addressed before they reach a breaking point. Strong community networks can help keep families together when it is safe to do so.

For children who do enter foster care, stability is critical. A consistent, supportive home can help a child continue school, maintain routines, and feel a sense of normalcy during a difficult time. Foster parents play an essential role not just by providing shelter, but by offering care, patience, and advocacy.

Supporting foster care does not always mean becoming a foster parent. It can also look like mentoring families, volunteering with local organizations, or simply raising awareness about the need. Small, consistent actions across a community can make a meaningful difference.

At its core, foster care is about ensuring that every child has a safe place to land. When communities invest in early support and step in when it is needed most, they help create stronger, more stable futures for children and families alike.

To learn more about fostering a child or how to get involved, click here!

Frisco has become one of North Texas’ most talked-about places to live, and it’s easy to see why. With its mix of new development, access to golf and entertainment, and a steady energy that keeps growing, the area around PGA Parkway continues to draw attention.

Tucked into this part of the city, The Links on PGA Parkway reflects that same balance of ease and activity. The community leans into its surroundings in a way that feels intentional. There’s a golf simulator room that nods to the area’s strong connection to the sport, along with shared spaces like a clubhouse and pool that make it easy to spend time outside or with neighbors.

The apartments themselves focus on simple, functional details that make a difference day to day. Kitchens are open and spacious, with large islands that naturally become a gathering point. Private balconies or patios add a bit of breathing room, while features like garden tubs and generous storage bring a level of comfort that feels considered rather than overdone.

There’s also a practical side to it all. An on-site fitness center makes routines easier to keep, and small touches like a pet spa speak to how people actually live.

More than anything, it’s the location that ties it together. Being near PGA Parkway means you’re close to some of Frisco’s most active and evolving areas, while still having a sense of separation from the busier pockets of the city.

For those keeping an eye on how Frisco is growing, communities like The Links offer a glimpse into what modern living in this part of North Texas is starting to look like.

On Saturday, April 25, for one night only, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra invites audiences to experience Stravinsky X Kendrick Lamar, a boundary-pushing concert at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center that blends Igor Stravinsky’s Petrouchka with tracks from Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning album DAMN.

Conductor-composer Steve Hackman creates an unexpected musical conversation between two icons separated by a century, weaving themes of identity, struggle, love, fear, and redemption into a single narrative arc. As the DSO performs Stravinsky’s vibrant, character-driven ballet score, the music seamlessly transitions into Lamar’s classics like “LOYALTY.,” “XXX.,” and “HUMBLE.,” reimagined through vocalists Ajani NaNaBuluku, Jecorey Arthur, and Khalil Overton, and the additions from the rhythm section by Gabe Globus-Hoenich and Nick Clark.

This program is designed to challenge assumptions about what a symphony concert can be, making classical music accessible to hip-hop fans, while inviting traditional audiences to hear Stravinsky through fresh lens.

Tickets start at $68. Secure your spots now at dallassymphony.org. Images are available here.

Following the performance, guests can continue the experience at the energetic Young Professionals After-Party in the Meyerson lobby! Keep the night going in a chic lounge setting, featuring a DJ and dance floor. Tickets are $75 and include a complimentary drink and appetizers, all while supporting the DSO’s concerts and community programs.

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center is located in Downtown Dallas at 2301 Flora St, Dallas, TX 75201.

If you’ve been browsing real estate listings lately and felt your jaw drop, you’re not alone.

Home prices across Texas have started to level out, but they are still sitting higher than what most people would call a great deal. And while we all love an upgrade, paying more for less space is not exactly the dream when you are trying to find your next home.

Here is the good news. You may not need to move at all to get the home you have been dreaming about.

Remodeling your current space can give you the lifestyle upgrade you want without bidding wars, packing boxes, or losing out to another offer at the last minute.

Let’s break down why remodeling might be one of the smartest financial and emotional decisions you can make this year.

Over the past few years, home prices across Texas have climbed significantly. Even with some recent cooling, buying a new home is still far more expensive than it was just a short time ago.

When you combine higher interest rates, limited inventory, and strong competition, it creates a challenging environment for buyers. A home that might have cost $450,000 a few years ago could now be closer to $600,000, often with fewer updates or less space.

That is not just frustrating. It can feel discouraging.

Buying vs. remodeling: where does your money go?

It is easy to assume moving is the best way to get what you want. But the hidden costs add up quickly:

• Closing costs, often 3 to 6 percent of the purchase price

• Real estate commissions

• Moving expenses

• Inspections and appraisals

• Immediate repairs or updates in the new home

And that does not even account for the emotional side of leaving a home filled with memories.

With remodeling, those same dollars go directly into your own space. Instead of spending tens of thousands just to move, you can invest in a kitchen you love, a bathroom that feels like a retreat, or storage that actually works for your life.

When you buy a new home, there is almost always compromise. The layout may not flow quite right. The finishes may not match your style. You may find yourself planning renovations before you even unpack.

Remodeling flips that dynamic.

You choose the materials, the layout, and the details. You can create a kitchen that functions the way you cook, add storage where you need it, or design a space that truly reflects your style. It is about building a home that fits your life, not adjusting your life to fit the home.

Remodeling is not just about how your home looks and feels today. It can also be a smart long-term investment.

Updates like kitchen and bathroom renovations or opening up living spaces can increase your home’s value and appeal. If you decide to sell in the future, buyers are often drawn to homes that feel updated and move-in ready.

In a competitive market, that can make a meaningful difference.

Moving can be overwhelming. Between searching for the right home, handling paperwork, coordinating timelines, and physically relocating, it can quickly become exhausting.

Remodeling is still a process, but it is one you can manage with the right team. You get to stay in the neighborhood you love, keep your daily routines, and avoid the disruption that comes with starting over somewhere new.

Instead of leaving behind what works, you improve what does not.

When compared to today’s housing market and the cost of moving, remodeling is often the more cost-effective choice.

DALLAS – Patriot PAWS will host its 3rd Annual Clays Shoot on April 10, bringing together North Texas supporters for a day of competition and community to raise funds for Service Dogs provided at no cost to disabled American Veterans and service members living with disabilities. The event kicks off celebrations of the organization’s 20th anniversary in 2026.

The Clays Shoot will take place at the Dallas Gun Club on 3601 N Stemmons Fwy in Lewisville from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Attendees will begin the morning with breakfast and coffee before the first flight of sporting clays at 9 a.m. The competition will feature two 12-station courses, along with raffle prizes, a 50/50 cash drawing, and a barbecue lunch. Awards will be presented to the top three teams at the end of the day. Carts and ammo are provided, but participants must bring their own shotgun.

The event supports Patriot PAWS’ mission to restore independence and quality of life through highly trained Service Dogs that assist Veterans living with mobility disabilities, post-traumatic stress, military sexual trauma, and traumatic brain injury. 

“The Clays Shoot is a great opportunity for people to get involved with Patriot PAWS, whether by sponsoring the event, registering a team, or simply coming out to support the cause,” said Lauren Vaughan, Director of Development of Patriot PAWS. “Our Veteran clients will be there as well, sharing mission moments and the real impact a Service Dog has on daily life. It’s a chance to spend time together, hear their stories, and see firsthand how community support helps us continue this work.”

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities range from $250 individual shooter entries to $15,000 presenting sponsorships, with all proceeds supporting the training and placement of Service Dogs at no cost to the Veterans who receive them. To purchase a ticket or become a sponsor, visit www.PatriotPAWS.org/clays-shoot/.

“This year marks Patriot PAWS’ 20th anniversary, and it’s incredible to reflect on how many lives have been changed through the Service Dogs placed with Veterans across the country,” said Rick Stevens, Executive Director of Patriot PAWS. “Today, more than 80 active Service Dogs are supporting Veterans nationwide, while more than 50 Veterans remain on our waiting list as we work to meet the growing need. Preparing each dog takes thousands of hours and the support of an entire community, which is why events like the Clays Shoot are so important.”

Since its founding in 2006, Patriot PAWS Service Dogs has grown into a nationally recognized provider of highly trained Service Dogs for disabled Veterans at no cost to them. Through partnerships with universities like Texas A&M and the Trained to Heal program within Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities, Patriot PAWS prepares Service Dogs for Veterans living with both visible and invisible wounds of service. The result is Service Dogs that restore independence, strengthen families, and change daily life for the people they serve. In honor of its 20th anniversary, Patriot PAWS is aiming to have 120 Service Dogs in their 2026 training program, a significant increase from their 80 to 100 dogs trained annually. Patriot PAWS welcomes community members to become a Puppy Raiser and provide critical socialization to Service Dogs in Training, with all costs covered by Patriot PAWS.