🌱 Dallas ISD Requests More Funds From State + Cabana Hotel Dev. Deal

Hi all! Nicole Fallon-Peek here with your Saturday edition of the Dallas Patch newsletter, filled with all the things you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Hot. High: 97 Low: 71.

Here are the top three stories in Dallas today:

1. This week, the Dallas City Council green-lit a $41 million development deal to turn the historic Cabana Hotel into apartments. The cash infusion will be paid through the Design District tax increment financing (TIF) is a steep increase from a $15.5 million incentive, approved in 2019. At its completion, the complex — where The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Richard Nixon all famously stayed — will be a $116 million project, including 160-unit mixed-income apartments. (CultureMap Dallas)
2. Yesterday, ATF Dallas announced that it is offering up to $15,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect responsible for killing a 2-year-old earlier this week. The child was killed in a drive-by shooting outside Fair Park in South Dallas last weekend. The family hosted a candlelight vigil on Thursday as investigators continued to seek information surrounding this senseless crime. (CBS Dallas)
3. On Thursday during a board meeting, Trustees for the Dallas ISD unanimously approved a resolution that requests more funding from the Texas Legislature, highlighting the lack of funding in the public school system. Among other issues, the new resolution opposes the diversion of taxpayer dollars to private schools through vouchers or Education Savings Accounts—a practice that benefits wealthier students. Texas currently ranks 42nd out of 50 states in terms of public education funding, and the Texas Legislature has not made adjustments to state funding allotments for public schools since 2019. (Dallas ISD)

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Today in Dallas:

Saturday, September 30

• Battle Of The Bands At Sprague Athletic Complex (8:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Film photography enthusiasts take note: the Instant Film Society (IFS)'s annual "PolaCon" returns to Dallas this weekend. The weekend will include over 25 photography events and over 25 musical components, with something for everyone. The full list of events and schedule is available online. (Dallas Observer)
• The State Fair of Texas kicked off yesterday — have you gotten your tickets yet? As part of the fun this year, there are tons of family-friendly activities and exhibits, all of which are FREE with an admission ticket. New this year will be a Soap Bubble Circus and Street Circus, a "Dinosaurs at the Lagoon" installation, and a "Home for the Holidays" experience. (State Fair of Texas)
• Parents and students, mark your calendars: the Dallas ISD campuses will be closed on Thursday, Oct. 12, and Friday, Oct. 13 for Fall Break. After the break, teachers will return on Monday, Oct. 16 for a day of professional development, with students returning to school on Tuesday, Oct. 17 (Dallas ISD via Facebook)

You're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— 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.