The Public Won’t Be Seeing the State’s Report on Foster Care Problems
A judge this week allowed a report on North Texas’ troubled foster care provider to be sealed.

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OUR REPORTING
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A New Park Is Coming Near You
The Trust for Public Land is juggling 300-acre nature preserves and smaller neighborhood parks across Dallas. Its Texas director explains why both matter.
In Dallas County, Stalled Paperwork Keeps Teens Homeless
Many young people aging out of foster care can’t access housing assistance because of the failures of government officials.
Dallas’ Juvenile Justice System Was Broken. Have County Leaders Fixed It?
Kids were spending months incarcerated when their cases shouldn’t have reached a judge in the first place. A new analysis points toward progress.
This Is What It Takes to Keep the Jail From Overflowing
A little-known team inside the Frank Crowley Courts Building helps bridge the gaps in Dallas’ fractured criminal justice system.
The Present Danger of Foster Care in North Texas
After two deaths, the state says third-party case managers are failing foster kids. What happens in this courtroom helps explain why.
What We're Reading
How a Humble Tax Tool Protects Neighborhoods
Consider the homestead exemption, because many people don’t. The spectrum of awareness is bookended on one side by homeowners who have had one on file so long that they forget about the thousands of dollars it saves from their tax bills each year. The opposite end is packed with tens of thousands who have not…
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
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These Stories Will Shape Dallas in 2026
The new year is here, and we are highlighting seven topics we’ll be watching closely.
NEIGHBORHOODS
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Here’s to 2026
The Lab Report is taking a break, but we want to hear from you!
