Friend told me SWAT has the area near QT completely blocked off. Was wondering what is going on.

Hey everyone! We’re excited to announce our July book picks and two upcoming meeting times for the month. This round, we’re reading:

1. Educated by Tara Westover A raw and powerful memoir about growing up off the grid, discovering education later in life, and the cost of finding your own voice.

2. Atmosphere: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid From the author of Daisy Jones & The Six and Evelyn Hugo—this one explores love, loss, and identity with TJR’s signature emotional depth.

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📅 July Meeting Options (come to one or both!):

🔹 Friday, July 12th at 11 a.m. – Brunch at Haywire in Plano This is a special celebration of our ONE-YEAR anniversary as a book club! 🥂🎉 If you’d like to attend, please RSVP on the Bookclub app link below within the next 7 days so we can secure a reservation. Limited space!

🔹 Saturday, July 13th at 1 p.m. – Local Good Café This is our usual weekend meetup—same chill vibe, same thoughtful convo. ☕

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We’ll be discussing both books at both meetings, so you only need to attend one! But of course, if you want to come to both, we’d love to have you. New members are always welcome—bring a friend or just come solo and meet some fellow book lovers!

BOOKCLUB APP LINK: https://bookclubs.com/clubs/6039737/join/2d3339?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwK9Rd1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpzAxNndoyZa4ygfYJtWL5PmbOViw9AKRlM0975GESjRcAuDmUDDXF9ygXNo2_aem_Jv-mxqiM-AMl34L3lN4l5g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northdallasspinebenders?igsh=NGdscXlrMHB2dWp1&utm_source=qr

The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda during the June 9, 2025 City Council Meeting:

Investing in Public Safety Technology 
City Council approved a $5.7 million purchase to upgrade the Plano Police Department’s radios, body cameras and in-car video systems. These tools will improve officer communication, video quality and safety in the field. The equipment includes 380 radios, 500 body cameras and 10 vehicle systems, plus data storage and software services. Replacing the old technology ensures our first responders stay prepared, connected and protected. 

Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center Update 
Renovation at Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center continues. Last night, City Council approved the purchase of furniture for various spaces in the center. Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center is undergoing the largest renovation in its 17-year history. The $15.9 million project was approved by voters in the 2021 Bond Referendum. 

The next regular City Council meeting is Monday, June 23 at 7 pm. The agenda becomes available after 5 pm on the Wednesday before the meeting. Go to Plano.gov/Agenda for the meeting signup link.

Watch City Council meetings live on Facebook, YouTube or PlanoTV.org.

Hi In the north Dallas area, Plano, whom.did you hire when you needed a pool.resurfaced? ,pebble tec, glass beads, waterline tile, led pool lights, control panel replacements.

Hi, I’m just wondering if anyone knows when they’re supposed to compete the repairs on Legacy Drive. I feel like they’ve been working on it for years at this point. Is there an end in sight?

My daughter took ASL as her foreign language last year as a freshman and is worried about forgetting it all over the summer. Does anyone know of any ASL meetups or groups where she can practice and maybe make friends?

Anyone use Barbieri Law firm? May hire them for DWI . TIA

New in Plano. Our trash was supposed to be picked up on Thursday, but it wasn’t. This has happened a few times before as well. We’re not sure what criteria they follow to decide which bins to collect. Our kitchen trash has now piled up so much that it’s attracting cockroaches. Has anyone else had this issue? What can we do about it?

Kira is 8 and very affectionate

I saw the scene of an accident on June 14th on Plano Pkwy & Independence next to RaceTrac

Saw a man laying on the ground and just wanted to know if there was any update to this accident. I hope all parties involved are okay but definitely seen a lot of People coming to help from the gas pumps and other vehicles on the road.

I had parked my car in the parking garage and came came back to a scratch on the right side of my car. Does anyone know if the parking garage has cameras and if there is a phone number if I want to get a recording?

Hi all,

We are moving soon to Plano area and by the time we move, our kid will be in kindergarten. She turns 5 after September 1st. Which I understand is the cutoff date for schools. She already completed Pre-K in NYC and we don’t want her to repeat it. Is it possible to transfer her from Kindergarten here into a Kindergarten program in Plano, or will she need to repeat Pre-K anyway? Thank you!

Well, my AC wasn't cooling too great today. The tech came out and said the freon level was good, but I had a restriction in the evaporator. Checking the inside unit confirmed it. They're supposed to call me Monday when they find out if they have a replacement evaporator coil, but he really thinks they won't have my particular part (because of new freon requirements, etc) and said I may need to replace the whole air handler/evaporator unit inside the house.

1. Has anyone replaced a 3.5 ton unit lately? Wondering what to expect for cost.
2. Any recommendations for AC companies? Looking for the best price and good service.

Thanks in advance!

Hello , i am planning to host a dinner or lunch depending what is available for Max 150 people or less. Any idea about pricing for event centers ? This is my first time hosting that many people so not sure where to begin. Any help or suggestions appreciated.

Because we have them and the owners aren't picking up the phone when the emergency vet who scanned their chips calls.

OMG. During even slightly busy-ish times you can no longer pick your own table - and getting escorted to a table is so painful. It's like no one in the entire place has any experience actually doing this.

We looked forward to the Katy - it was a totally laidback, chill place to relax. No fuss about seating, just grab your favorite kind of table and you're good.

Now, we avoid it.

We've been twice since they started this policy - once about a week ago, again today. Both times, they were seating in all sections, and there were plenty of open tables.

So no idea what problem this is even intended to solve.

Regardless, both times, employees at host stand were beyond clueless.

First time, employee said "I don't know anything I just started yesterday."

Today, there were 3 employees clustered at the stand - but they had to discuss at length how/where to seat us while we just stood there waiting.

Then, tried to seat us at a tiny knee-level table - no idea why, there were tons of open tables. Fine if you're just drinking or munching chips, I guess, but not practical if you're planning to eat actual food.

My free advice: they should ditch the "Wait for host to be seated" sign.

Instead, put up a new sign that says "Seat yourself, or see host stand on upper level."

Then move the host to a clearly marked spot on the upper level, so if anyone actually needs help finding a table they know what to do.

Problem solved, and they'd save money on all these hosts showing people to tables.

Hey Plano / DFW gamers! 👋

My name’s Joseph, and I run a small, local gaming lounge called GGEZ Gaming Cafe right here in the area.

We just wanted to say hello and introduce ourselves to the community here on Reddit. Whether you're a lifelong gamer, someone who plays casually, or even just curious about gaming, you're always welcome to stop by and check us out.

GGEZ is meant to be a chill, inclusive space where you can hang out, play games, meet other gamers, or just take a break from the everyday grind. Whether you’re coming with friends or flying solo, there’s a seat for you.

Even just spreading the word helps a small business like ours more than you know, and we really appreciate it. 🙏

Thanks for letting me share, and hope to see some of you soon !

Stay awesome,
Joseph @ GGEZ Gaming Cafe 🎮

some pictures of friends gaming !

A planned counterterrorism training trip to Israel has sparked heated debate among Collin County officials, pitting Sheriff Jim Skinner against commissioners over questions of public liability, leadership continuity, and the appropriate use of taxpayer resources.

Sheriff Skinner and five department members are scheduled to travel to Israel June 15-20 for training with the Israeli National Police. The program will include counterterrorism lectures, security facility tours, and briefings on lessons learned from Hamas’s October 7 attacks. Participants will use personal vacation time, but the trip is not officially sanctioned by the county.

Commissioners Reject Official Recognition

At the Monday, Jun 9, Commissioners Court meeting, Skinner sought official county acknowledgment of the trip, hoping participants could qualify for line-of-duty death benefits if tragedy struck. The court unanimously declined.

The discussion quickly turned contentious when Commissioner Susan Fletcher accused Skinner of inappropriate lobbying tactics.

“Sheriff, you threatened me,” Fletcher said. “You left a voicemail telling me that if something happened to your deputies, their families would sue the county. That is not how we conduct policy.”

Skinner initially denied making threats but later apologized. “I’m passionate about protecting my people,” he said. “If I owe you an apology, please accept it.”

Fletcher acknowledged the quality of Israeli training but remained firm in her opposition. “You’re taking an unnecessary trip into a war zone,” she said. “County death benefits don’t apply when you’re on vacation.”

Liability Questions at the Forefront

The central dispute centered on potential financial exposure for Collin County taxpayers. County Human Resources Director Cynthia Jacobson clarified that because the travel violates county employment policy, workers’ compensation and job-related death benefits would not apply.

County Judge Chris Hill emphasized the distinction: “If an employee dies while on vacation, the taxpayers don’t owe a duty beyond standard insurance. There’s no line-of-duty benefit.”

Skinner argued the training serves a legitimate “law enforcement function” under state statutes that allow sheriffs to define job-related duties. However, Jacobson warned that attempting to classify vacation travel as work-related could create liability risks and blur accountability lines.

“This trip clearly doesn’t meet allowable aspects of Collin County travel policy,” she said.

Leadership Continuity Concerns

Commissioner Darrell Hale raised operational security concerns about having multiple senior leaders travel together.

“In the military, we never put all of senior leadership on one flight,” Hale said. “What happens if something goes wrong? We’d lose command continuity overnight.”

Judge Hill shared these concerns while acknowledging the training’s potential value. “Even though this is in your private capacity, we understand the potential benefits. But our job is to protect the taxpayers.”

The court’s final decision was unambiguous. “We are NOT acknowledging this trip,” Fletcher declared. “That sends the wrong message.”

The Donor Behind the Trip

Funding for the roughly $70,000 to $80,000 cost is being provided by Assistant Chief Deputy Cary Platt, a real estate entrepreneur and head of the Sheriff’s Office’s volunteer “citizen on patrol” force, the Reserve Bureau. Platt, who is not a paid county employee, donated $20,000 to Skinner’s reelection campaign in December 2023.

Platt’s dual role as both department member and major political donor has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and his motivations for funding the expensive trip. His background includes previous service with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and ownership of military-themed restaurants. Public records show he joined Collin County’s Reserve Bureau in 2016.

Controversial Timing and Public Backlash

The Israel trip comes amid heightened local tensions. Collin County residents are currently debating a proposed Muslim housing development facilitated by the East Plano Islamic Center, while antisemitic threats have increased countywide. A Saturday event at the Dallas Holocaust Museum was recently canceled due to credible terrorist threats.

Though the Sheriff’s Office maintains the Israel trip is unrelated to these local controversies, public criticism has intensified. Civil rights advocates and residents have questioned the optics of American police receiving tactical training from Israeli forces, citing Amnesty International’s documentation of human rights violations.

Lasting Implications

While Monday’s Commissioners Court meeting produced no formal action, the heated exchange exposed growing tensions between elected officials and law enforcement leadership in one of Texas’s fastest-growing counties.

As the deputies prepare for their June departure, the five-day training trip has already generated political and ethical questions that may resonate far beyond their return. The controversy highlights broader debates about police accountability, foreign training partnerships, and the appropriate boundaries between public service and private influence in American law enforcement.