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    Shutdown Specials

    All the Dallas-Fort Worth hot spots with special deals for furloughed federal workers

    Alex Bentley
    Jan 17, 2019 | 2:17 pm
    Alamo Drafthouse Dallas
    Alamo Drafthouse and other businesses around Dallas-Fort Worth are offering deals for federal works affected by the government shutdown.
    Photo by Stephen Duffy/Selig Polyscope Company

    As the partial shutdown of federal government continues, a number of businesses around Dallas-Fort Worth are offering discounts and/or free admission for furloughed workers. Below is a list of businesses that have already announced deals; more specials will added as they come up. All deals are good for anyone with a valid, current federal government I.D.

    • Alamo Drafthouse: All locations of Alamo Drafthouse in Dallas-Fort Worth are offering federal workers free movies, Mondays through Thursdays throughout the month of January. The deal is good for one free ticket per day and is valid for any new or current release. Workers must buy tickets for any guests, and free tickets cannot be used for any specialty programming.
    • Boston's Pizza Restaurant and Bar: Boston's, which has locations in Irving and Arlington, is offering federal workers 50 percent off in-restaurant purchases until the shutdown is over. The deal is valid for dine-in only and can be used solely for food purchases.
    • Dallas Symphony Orchestra: The DSO is offering two free tickets for an employee and guest to any of their concerts through mid-February, including DSO on the GO Frisco on January 20; The Music of ABBA, January 25-27; John Adams Conducts Adams, Debussy and Respighi, January 31-February 2; ReMix: Alexander Kerr, February 8-9; DSO on the GO Denton on February 10; and Opus 100: James O’Donnell on February 17. Tickets must be obtained in person at the Dallas Symphony Guest Services Center at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.
    • Dallas Holocaust Museum: The Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance is offering free admission for an employee and guest to view the permanent exhibition, "One Day in the Holocaust: April 14, 1943," or the special exhibition, "Let Me Be Myself: The Life Story of Anne Frank." This special exhibition has a VR component that allows you to “virtually” visit Anne’s “Secret Annex.”
    • Fort Brewery & Pizza: The Fort Worth restaurant-bar is giving a free full- or individual-size pizza (excluding H-Bomb), along with non-alcoholic drinks, to federal workers and their families.
    • Fort Worth Bike Sharing: Federal workers can ride bikes for free in Fort Worth by calling Fort Worth Bike Sharing at 817-348-0043 and asking for a promo code.
    • Great Harvest Bread Company: The Magnolia Avenue bakery in Fort Worth has a "Shutdown Shelf" with free loaves of bread for furloughed workers. Just present ID at the counter to claim a loaf.
    • Hopdoddy Burger Bar: On Wednesday, January 23, all six area Hopdoddy locations will be offering federal workers a free meal, including a burger, regular fries and a non-alcoholic beverage. For the remainder of the shutdown, federal workers will be able to get 25 percent off their meal.
    • The Joy of Waxing: Aesthetician Allison Herrold, who provides full body waxing, eyebrow/eyelash tinting, spray tanning, and makeup application, is offering federal workers a 50 percent discount on any service. The deal is also good for current or past military members. Located in Dallas near Scottish Rite Hospital, reservations can be made at www.joyofwaxing.com.
    • Knife Burger: Beginning Friday, January 18, Chef John Tesar will offer Ozersky Hamburgers for only $1 to federal workers throughout the government shutdown. The deal will be available at Knife Burger at The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano and Knife Burger at Food Hall at Crockett Row in Fort Worth. Any add ons or sides are not included in the deal.
    • Macaroni Grill: All furloughed federal workers can get a free Mom's Ricotta Meatballs + Spaghetti. The deal is good 11 am-4 pm every day through January 23 or until the government shutdown ends.
    • Magnolia Hotel - Park Cities: The hotel, located near Mockingbird and 75, is offering a complimentary breakfast buffet in the Park Cities Grill for all Love Field airport TSA workers and air traffic controllers.
    • Minnie's Pantry: The food bank in Plano provides free non-perishable items, fresh meats, fresh produce, and dairy products to any federal worker that shows his or her zeroed out paystub, a photo ID, and proof of residency. They are open Wednesdays through Saturdays, and will hold an extra service day on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day from 8:30-11:30 am.
    • Operation Kindness: Operation Kindness’ Pet Food Pantry in Addison is offering free bags of food and cat litter to federal workers. The Food Pantry program provides temporary food assistance, so owners can keep their pets. The offer is good on January 17 from 12-3 pm, January 19 from 10 am-2 pm, and January 26 from 10 am-2 pm.
    • Perot Museum of Nature and Science: The Perot Museum is offering free general admission to federal workers and one guest through January 31. The offer must be redeemed in-person and is not valid for parking or films.
    • Righteous Foods: The Fort Worth restaurant, featuring Chef Lanny Lancarte, Chef of the Year at the 2018 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, is offering free tacos for federal workers through January 25.
    • Ruthie's Rolling Cafe: In partnership with Lyda Hill Philanthropies, the local food truck will be providing free meals to federal workers for the duration of the shutdown. The truck, often found at Klyde Warren Park, sets up shop at various locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area; check their site for their daily schedule.
    • Start Restaurant: Start will be providing a discounted "Lunch Bag" at $6.50 for federal workers. The "Lunch Bag" includes a turkey swiss wrap, tots, and a fountain drink. They are also encouraging workers to ask about temporary work if needed.
    • Sky Zone: The trampoline park, which has a location in Irving, is offering federal workers and their immediate families a free 60-minute jump every Tuesday through Thursday through January 31. Sky Zone socks are required and not included in this offer, but guests can always bring back SkySocks from previous visits to use again.
    • Taco Cabana: The Mexican chain is offering 20 percent off its entire menu (with a max of $20 in savings) for all federal workers. The offer is valid at all participating Taco Cabana locations, dine-in, or drive thru, but is not valid for online orders. The discount will continue through the period of the shutdown, unless otherwise announced.
    • Tangers Outlet Fort Worth: The outlet mall will be offering free TANGERCARES $20 gift cards to federal workers through January 28. Only one gift card per employee. TangerCARES is Tanger’s program dedicated to demonstrating their commitment to the communities in which they operate through volunteerism, fund-raising efforts, and charitable donations.
    • Twisted Trompo: The new Dallas taqueria (which will open a location in Garland on January 22) is offering $1 tacos for federal workers every day until the shutdown ends.
    • Whataburger: Starting Saturday, January 26, Whataburger is offering federal workers a free Taquito and coffee from 6-11 am every morning until further notice. The offer is available at participating locations, in-restaurant only. One breakfast per federal ID. Offer does not apply to drive thru or mobile orders.
    • YMCA: Both the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas and YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth are waiving a month of membership dues for any federal worker who is already a member. The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas is also offering free workouts for federal workers who are not members.
    musictacosmuseums
    news/city-life

    Pestilence News

    New invasive pest in Texas is destroying grasses and pasture

    Teresa Gubbins
    Dec 12, 2025 | 10:14 am
    Mealyworm
    TAMU
    Mealyworm is small but damaging.

    Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has issued an urgent alert to farmers to inspect their pastures for a newly detected and highly damaging pest: the pasture mealybug (Helicococcus summervillei).

    According to a release from the Department of Agriculture (TDA), this invasive species, never before reported in North America, has been confirmed in multiple Texas counties and is already causing significant damage to pasture acreage across the southeast portion of the state.

    The pasture mealybug causes “pasture dieback,” leaving expanding patches of yellowing, weakened, and ultimately dead turf.

    This pest was first detected in Australia in 1928; its first detection in the Western Hemisphere occurred in the Caribbean between 2019 and 2020.

    The TDA is working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to coordinate a rapid response and protect Texas producers.

    Mealybug history
    Although the mealybug is just now being spotted, researchers suspect it may have been introduced before 2022.

    Since mid-April 2025, southern Texas pasture and hay producers have been reporting problems in their fields. These fields show grass patches becoming brown or necrotic, or patches that are completely dead. Originally, it was presumed that symptoms were caused by another mealybug called the Rhodes grass mealybug, which has been reported in the U.S. since 1942. However, further investigations confirm that it's this new pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei).

    It has devastated millions of acres of grazing land in Australia and has since spread globally. Its rapid reproduction, hidden soil-level feeding, and broad host range make it a significant threat to pasture health and livestock operations.

    Mealybug MealybugTAMU

    Adult females are approximately 2-5 mm long, covered in a white, waxy coating. They are capable of producing nearly 100 offspring within 24 hours, resulting in several generations per season. While adult females can live for up to 100 days, most damage is inflicted by the youngest nymphs, which feed on plant sap and inject toxic saliva that causes grass to yellow, weaken, and die.

    “This is a completely new pest to our continent, and Texas is once again on the front lines,” Commissioner Miller says. “If the pasture mealybug spreads across Texas grazing lands like it has in eastern Australia, it could cost Texas agriculture dearly in lost productivity and reduced livestock capacity. TDA is working hand-in-hand with federal and university partners to respond swiftly and protect our producers from this unprecedented threat.”

    Houston has a problem
    The estimated impact area currently covers 20 counties, primarily in the Houston area, including: Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria, Goliad, Dewitt, Lavaca, Fayette, Jackson, Matagorda, Brazoria, Galveston, Wharton, Colorado, Austin, Washington, Burleson, Brazos, and Robertson. AgriLife entomologists have submitted a formal Pest Incident Worksheet documenting significant damage to pastures and hayfields in Victoria County.

    Research trials are underway to determine the best integrated pest management options. Currently, there is no known effective labeled insecticide for pasture mealybug.

    Affected plants include: Bermudagrass, Bahia grass, Johnsongrass, hay grazer (sorghum–sudangrass), St. Augustine grass, various bluestem species, and other tropical or subtropical grasses. Damage can occur in leaves, stems, and roots.

    Symptoms:


    • Yellowing and discoloration of leaves within a week of infestation
    • Purpling or reddening of foliage
    • Stunted growth and drought stress despite rainfall
    • Poorly developed root systems
    • Dieback starting at leaf tips and progressing downward
    • Premature aging, making plants more vulnerable to pathogens
    How to spot it
    • Scout regularly for mealybugs on grass leaves, stems, soil surface, leaf litter, and under cow patties
    • Focus on unmanaged areas such as fence lines, ungrazed patches, and roadsides
    • Look for fluffy, white, waxy, or “fuzzy” insects on blades and stems
    • If plants appear unhealthy and insects match this description, investigate further

    “Early identification is critical, and we need every producer’s eyes on the ground,” Commissioner Miller added. “We are working diligently with our federal and state partners to determine how to best combat this novel threat and stop it in its tracks.”

    If you observe suspicious symptoms or insects matching the descriptions above, contact TDA at 1-800-TELL-TDA immediately.

    nature
    news/city-life

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