Author: Dallas Dispatch Staff
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Check Your Car for Open Recalls in About Two Minutes
NHTSA’s free VIN lookup shows whether your car has an open safety recall, and dealers must fix it at no charge. Here is how DFW drivers can check today.
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Applying for SNAP in Texas Without a Trip Downtown
Texans can apply for SNAP food benefits online at YourTexasBenefits.com, do the interview by phone and get the Lone Star Card by mail. Here is the whole process.
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DART Fares in 2026: What Riders Pay and Who Gets Discounts
DART’s 2026 fares explained: the $3 three-hour pass, $6 day pass, the cheaper $9 regional day pass, GoPass fare capping, and who qualifies for half-price rides.
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Where to Cool Off for Free When DFW Hits Triple Digits
Libraries, rec centers and county cooling locations across Dallas and Tarrant counties offer free air conditioning in extreme heat. Here is where to go and who to call.
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Before Switching Electric Plans, Read the Fact Label
Every Texas electric plan comes with an Electricity Facts Label showing the real price at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh. Here is how to read it before you switch.
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That Text About Unpaid Tolls Is Almost Always a Scam
Fake “unpaid toll” texts are blanketing North Texas phones. How NTTA really bills drivers, the only safe ways to check a balance, and where to report.
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How to Sign Up to Speak at Dallas City Council
Registering to address Dallas City Council: the four ways to sign up, the deadlines, the three-minute rule, and how the videoconference option works.
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Juneteenth in DFW: What’s Closed and What’s Free
Juneteenth falls on Friday this year. What closes across Dallas-Fort Worth on June 19, what stays open, and the free ways to mark the holiday.
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Visiting a Dallas Social Security Office? Book Ahead
SSA field offices now run on appointments. How Dallas-area residents can book one, what to bring, and the errands you can skip entirely online.
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Free Summer Meals for Kids: How to Find a DFW Site
Summer meal sites are open across DFW. Kids 18 and under eat free, no paperwork required. How to find a site by map, text, or a call to 211.
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Missed the Protest Deadline? Your Late Options at DCAD
The May 15 protest window at DCAD has closed, but Texas Tax Code 25.25 corrections and good-cause late protests can still cut an unfair appraisal.
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What a Heat Advisory Actually Means in North Texas
NWS Fort Worth explains when heat advisories are issued for DFW, how they differ from Extreme Heat Warnings, and what each asks of your household.