Maxie Johnson

Council Accepts Compromise Atmos Rate Increase Amid Fears of Larger Hike

By Charles Grand / May 28, 2026 /

Natural gas utility rates are going up again following a vote by the Dallas City Council on Wednesday approving a negotiated settlement with Atmos Energy. The company filed its annual rate review earlier this year, requesting an additional $38.1 million in citywide revenues. After some wrangling with city staff and consultants, Atmos agreed to lower…

Dallas Weighs Slower, Cheaper Path to Repairing City Hall

By Charles Grand / May 21, 2026 /

Dallas City Council on Wednesday heard new phased repair strategies and a brand new estimate for City Hall repairs — for less than half the original $1 billion assessment. Consultants Gresham Smith and WM2 Company were hired after a March 4 city council resolution called for phased repair scenarios and a corresponding funding strategy for…

Oak Cliff Viaduct Backlash Forces Dallas to Reconsider Dallas Convention Center Plans

By Charles Grand / May 21, 2026 /

The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center redevelopment is going back to Dallas City Council after the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee realized the current plan might unnecessarily inhibit the southern sector’s access to downtown. In a 4-2 vote on Tuesday, the committee recommended to city council that the convention center project be reverted to the earlier…

Oak Cliff Residents Up in Arms Over Plans To Reroute Viaduct Traffic

By Charles Grand / May 17, 2026 /

Virtually no one was happy at a community meeting over city staff’s latest proposal to reroute traffic on the Houston Street and Jefferson Boulevard Viaducts, which connect Oak Cliff to downtown. And the upset went beyond the specific plan presented. Several dozen people turned out to the Eloise Lundy Recreation Center on Friday for the…

Dallas Leaders Are Divided Over Whether the City Has a Housing Crisis — and What to Do About It

By Charles Grand / April 5, 2026 /

City leaders are divided over whether Dallas is really facing a housing affordability crisis — and if so, what should officials be doing about it? That question surfaced Wednesday as council members were briefed on the state of housing in Dallas and a new strategic plan aimed at making housing more attainable across the city.…