The Dallas Morning News

Keeping a school up and running can come with challenges, especially for one like Mount St. Michael Catholic School, where roughly 70% of its students are lower-income. About a quarter of the school’s funding comes from donations. The school sees the Texas Education Freedom Accounts, set to launch this fall, as a lifeline and a chance for expansion. The school voucher-like program will give parents about $10,500 to support private schooling for their child. That’s enough to cover the entirety of Mount St. Michael Catholic School’s tuition — and leave extra for parents to spend on school-related items. By Jessica Ma https://lnkd.in/gUwKs4UQ

Nvidia, the most valuable company in the world, secured at least $23 million in incentives from Irving earlier this month as the chipmaking giant aims to produce supercomputers domestically. Irving City Council approved the incentives and tax breaks for ten years. City leaders also lent support for a foreign trade designation for Nvidia’s facility. A price tag for the incentive package was not provided during public meetings or in associated city documents. Officials provided The Dallas Morning News with the projections Thursday. City officials estimate the value of the tax rebate at least $23 million over the next decade. Additional breaks will be provided based on any increase in the taxable value of the company’s equipment and property at 1101 Valley View Lane. By Nick Wooten

President Donald Trump swiftly signed a bipartisan legislation Thursday to fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, but not its immigration enforcement operations, shortly after the package won final approval in the House, ending the longest agency shutdown in history. The quick action after weeks of political blame brought an abrupt end to the months-long standoff that began after Trump’s deadly immigration crackdown in Minneapolis launched a reckoning on Capitol Hill over the funding for the president’s agenda. DHS has been without routine funds since Feb. 14, causing hardship for workers, though many of the immigration enforcement operations were able to keep running with separate funding sources. The White House had warned that temporary funding Trump had tapped to pay Transportation Security Administration and other agency personnel would “soon run out.” Some employees risked missed paychecks in May.

Ospi is an Italian restaurant opening May 1 in the Design District. Dallas foodies will recognize the location, which was formerly home to the Meddlesome Moth. It's the first Texas restaurant from "Top Chef" contestant Jackson Kalb. “We come from a Michelin background,” Kalb said, “but we don’t put pretension in our food.” bit.ly/3OQf0De

The University of North Texas approved voluntary buyouts for 40 faculty members as it looks to trim costs and close a projected $45 million shortfall. The buyouts could save the Denton campus an estimated $4.7 million, according to a UNT spokesperson. UNT does not expect to issue "university-wide layoffs." bit.ly/429G5UV

🚨 Last call, DFW 🚨 Nominations for Best in DFW close today. This is your final chance to: ✔️ Support local ✔️ Celebrate your favorites ✔️ Make sure they get recognized Don’t miss it. 👉 Get your nominations in today: bestindfw.com bit.ly/3O9r5D4

Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he is investigating nearly 30 North Texas businesses for visa fraud, an escalation of a probe he announced earlier this year. Paxton is specifically targeting H-1B visas, which allow companies to recruit and hire foreign workers in specialized fields such as information technology and medicine. Paxton’s announcement Thursday comes after conservative influencers flooded Frisco and other North Texas cities, alleging visa fraud and an “Indian takeover.” Indian applicants account for nearly two-thirds of approved H-1B visas. bit.ly/3OEmGZb

North Texas-based FreshRealm, the exclusive maker of Blue Apron's popular meal kits, filed for bankruptcy this week and is laying off more than 1,000 employees nationwide. The implosion comes after listeria-related recalls hit FreshRealm products last year. According to WARN filings, FreshRealm is laying off 161 employees in Texas as it closes its Lancaster facility. The company announced it would move its headquarters to Dallas-Fort Worth in 2024. bit.ly/4vWNlRz

Camp Mystic said Thursday it will not reopen this summer following last year's catastrophic floods that killed 25 girls and two camp counselors. The surprise announcement comes just one month before the camp planned to welcome roughly 850 girls, a decision that prompted an outcry among many, including families of the victims. Camp Mystic leaders faced deepening scrutiny over their preparation and response to the floods that tore through Hill Country and backlash for their plan to reopen. The camp’s owner, Dick Eastland, also died in the floods. bit.ly/4tTIoYn

Last year, state lawmakers passed new rules clamping down on the number of uncertified teachers working in Texas schools and created programs designed to help districts put more well-prepared educators in classrooms. A year later, new data suggests those efforts are beginning to pay off. The state saw more experienced teachers returning to the classroom after leaving the profession years before and a small but substantial decline in the number of uncertified teachers hired for the current school year, according to data released by the Texas Education Agency. By Silas Allen https://lnkd.in/gUVBaiPz