The Dallas Public Library is at risk.

The City of Dallas has proposed a $4.5 million cut to the library system over the next two years. While that number may sound small at just 0.02% of the City’s overall budget, the impact would be devastating. These cuts could lead to the closure of up to five beloved neighborhood branches, result in staff reductions, and eliminate vital community services.

Dallas residents deserve better. A strong library system costs the city little but delivers extraordinary returns for everyone who calls Dallas home.

Why It Matters:

Libraries fuel opportunity and growth.

• They connect people to career resources, job training, and internet access, especially for those who lack access at home.

• They help children thrive through early literacy programs, summer reading, and after-school support.

• They provide free, safe, welcoming spaces for everyone.

Libraries strengthen communities.

• Research shows that neighborhoods with libraries have lower crime rates and stronger community ties.

• Closing branches erodes trust between residents and the city, leaving fewer safe gathering places for learning and connection.

Cuts cost people.

• Closing branches and eliminating programs will disproportionately affect low-income families and students who rely on free educational resources.

• Staff reductions mean job losses for librarians and community specialists who are the heart of our libraries.

How You Can Help:

Dallas libraries belong to all of us. Together, we can stop these cuts and ensure that every resident has access to the resources, opportunities, and safe spaces that libraries provide.

• Attend a Town Hall Meeting and speak up for your library. Free and open to the public.

• Email the Mayor and your City Councilmember to urge them to keep library funding whole and protect our neighborhood branches.

• Join the Friends of the Dallas Public Library and support DPL year-round, ensuring our libraries have the funding, volunteers, and engagement they need.

A city is only as strong as its libraries. Let’s make sure Dallas invests in opportunity, equity, and community, not cuts.

Bring the whole family back to Oz for an Afro-twist on the classic American story, The Wizard of Oz. The Wiz has blown back into town after forty years, and it’s groovier than ever. Catch this whirlwind of a show September 9th-21st at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Get tickets here!

What is The Wiz?

The Wiz is an All-Black musical take on The Wizard of Oz that enraptured Broadway with its groundbreaking debut forty-nine years ago. In this retelling of the widely known 1939 film, Dorothy and her ragtag band of unlikely friends must make their way across the treacherous land of Oz to find the Wiz and fulfill their hearts’ desires while eluding the nasty witch, Evilene. The classic story is infused with a love for Black music history from gospel to rock to soul that pulls it into the world of the next generation. Famous songs like “Ease on Down the Road”, “He’s the Wizard” and “Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News” pull from all over and come together to create a show full of tunes that will make you want to stand up and dance.

Lead Dana Cimone, Glinda actress Sheherazade, and Aunt Em/Evilene actress Kyla Jade make their national tour debuts, and they are accompanied by a seasoned cast including Alan Mingo Jr, returning to his role as the Wiz. This design team worked on many other famous and highly acclaimed Black projects such as scenic designer Hannah Beachler (Black Panther, Beyoncé’s Black is King and Lemonade), costume designer Sharen Davis (Ray, Dreamgirls), lighting designer Ryan J. O’Gara (Thoughts of a Colored Man), video and projection design by Daniel Brodie (Motown the Musical), wig design by Charles LaPointe (MJ the Musical) and make-up design by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche (The Piano Lesson). This all-star cast and crew have come together to create a spectacle like few others. 

Everyone, rejoice! Tickets are available for The Wiz now from September 9th through 21st at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Get yours now!

What?

The Wiz

When?

September 9th - 21st

Run time: 2 hours and 20 minutes, 1 intermission

Where?

The Music Hall at Fair Park

Tickets

Available here

Allen native and descendant of pioneer families Kenneth (Ken) Ray Byler of Allen, Texas, passed away on July 17, 2025, at the age of 91.  A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, August 30th at 3 p.m. at the Allen Christian Church, located in Allen Heritage Village, 450 E. St. Mary Dr.

In 2024, the Collin County Historical Commission awarded the Living Legacy award to Ken.  His achievement as an individual citizen of Collin County who has significantly enriched cultural heritage through a lifetime of dedicated service to the ideals of preservation, education and respect of the county’s rich past was recognized. 

Ken was known in the community as a writer and historian with an unsurpassed knowledge of the City of Allen and Collin County. In 2015, he was selected by Texas State Representative Jodie Laubenberg, (District 89 in Collin County, Jan. 2003 - Jan. 2018), to be included in the Bob Bullock Museum of Texas History’s “The Texas Story Project” as a Collin County writer and storyteller.  Ken has written several novellas, magazine articles and essays on the Southwest and most recently he has written a weekly opinion column for several weekly newspapers including the Allen American. These stories are now all captured on The Portal to Texas History in the Allen American newspapers that have been placed there.

Artists without formal training, who learned from family, community, and personal journeys, have long been a presence in American art, and local artist Ken Byler was no exception. Ken Byler painted architectural structures, natural landscapes and nostalgic scenes of Texas and the Southwest. 

The son of Ray and Marzee Byler, Ken was raised on the Ingram farm--Cottonwood Bend--which had been in the family for three generations.  During the Depression, family members that lost their farms or jobs took refuge on the Ingram farm.  Ken described it “an island of comfort in a river of misery.  Ken was the only Allenite who could declare that both parents and grandparents could call Allen their home. 

Ken is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Klay and Tarsy Byler; his son, Keith Byler; his grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Ryan and Karla Byler; his granddaughter, Brooke Byler; and his great-grandchildren, Holly, Evelyn, Victor, Dallas, Ryder, and Brayson. He is also survived by his sisters, Betty Ann Byler and Judy Reyna, and his sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Bruce Anderson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; his daughter, Carol Byler; his sister, Shirley Kay Byler; his brother, Dave Byler; and his parents, Ray and Margie Byler.

As a contractor serving Dallas–Fort Worth for years, we’ve had a front-row seat to the region’s growth. Lately, that growth has brought both opportunity and challenge: it’s been especially hard to find qualified plumbers—as well as electricians, HVAC technicians, and other skilled tradespeople. And we’re not alone—this shortage is reshaping how projects are staffed and delivered across North Texas.

A Metro on the Move

The Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metro added 46,800 nonfarm jobs over the past year, one of the fastest gains in the country, with construction growth remaining strong (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Statewide, Texas recorded its sixth straight month of record-high job counts this summer, underscoring continued demand across sectors including construction (Texas Workforce Commission).

That boom is visible everywhere—from new commercial developments in Frisco and Fort Worth to large-scale restoration and retrofit projects after severe weather. But behind the cranes and concrete is a persistent reality: the crews needed to do the work simply aren’t keeping up with demand.

Why Workers Are in Short Supply

• Hiring challenges are widespread. In recent surveys, a large majority of Texas contractors report difficulty filling hourly craft roles, and many cite schedule impacts from those gaps (Associated General Contractors of America – Texas results).
• An aging workforce. Many experienced tradespeople are retiring without enough new entrants training to replace them (noted across AGC and state labor updates).
• Policy headwinds. Local industry leaders estimate recent immigration enforcement has taken roughly 30% of construction labor out of the Metroplex, tightening supply even further (CBS Texas report and CBS Texas interview).
• Awareness and training gaps. For years, high school pathways emphasized four-year degrees over career and technical education, limiting the pipeline into licensed trades.

Local Efforts to Build a Pipeline

The good news: DFW organizations are stepping up. In Fort Worth, a mayor-backed initiative is graduating high schoolers with both diplomas and industry certifications—creating direct routes into in-demand jobs (Axios Dallas / Axios newsletter).

Industry groups are investing too. The TEXO Foundation provides scholarships and outreach to help students enter North Texas construction careers (program overview). The nonprofit CIEF North Texas runs design-build competitions and hands-on workshops that expose teens to real jobsite skills (North Texas Giving Day hub).

Corporate partners are contributing as well. Sam’s Club committed $1.5 million to Dallas-based Big Thought to expand workforce training for young people—part of a broader $3 million initiative (Axios Dallas; Dallas Innovates).

Why It Matters for North Texas

Without enough skilled tradespeople, projects slow down, costs increase, and quality can suffer. In a high-growth region like DFW, that’s more than an inconvenience—it’s a risk to the area’s momentum. The skyline tells one story, but the real story is on the ground: recruiting, training, and retaining the people who keep projects moving.

Our View from the Field

At Finish Line Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP), we see this challenge every day. Meeting North Texas’ demand requires collaboration between contractors, schools, nonprofits, and policymakers—and a renewed focus on career pathways into the trades. If your organization is exploring partnerships, internships, or training-aligned project work, we’re ready to be part of the solution.

Learn more about our work across Dallas–Fort Worth at Finish Line Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP).