Awards Time

Dallas Public Library makes top 10 list for its program helping workers

Dallas Public Library was one of 10 libraries to be recognized.

Courtesy photo

The Dallas Public Library won a top award for innovation for its GED Testing and Workforce Development Project, which helps Dallas adults earn their GED.

The award came from the Urban Libraries Council, the membership association of North America's public libraries. Their panel of experts selected Dallas from a pool of over 250 submissions. The library was one of 10 libraries to win an award, representing the 21st century library's role as a leader and pioneer for change.

Having a GED allows residents to hold better jobs and earn high wages. In some parts of Dallas, nearly 50 percent of adults over the age of 25 have less than a high school education.

Dallas Public Library's GED Testing and Workforce Development Project was created to address the needs of the nearly 28 percent of Dallas County adults with less than a high-school education. Dallas Public Library opened the first GED testing center in a public library in Texas. They've since become the leader among Dallas-area certified testing centers.

In 2016, the library administered the most exams (870) with the most graduates (131) and highest pass rate (79 percent). The library also offers scholarships for qualifying learners.

"By offering GED testing in our Central Library and full scholarships in partnership with Atmos Energy, we have lowered barriers for adults seeking to change their lives, says Jo Giudice, Director of Libraries. "The testing center allows the library to walk with adults through their GED journey and beyond to pursuing better jobs or higher education."

This program consistently surpasses qualitative and quantitative goals, ultimately serving as a catalyst for change among test-takers by introducing them to DPL’s vast array of resources and helping them to secure jobs and pursue secondary education.

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happy go lucky plano

Dallas neighbor dazzles on new list of happiest cities in America

Photo courtesy of Visit Plano

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A new happiness study has ranked Plano one of the happiest cities in America this year, and it once again landed on top as the happiest city in Texas.

Plano has moved up on the list and ranks as the 16th happiest U.S. city in 2026. Last year, it was 17th.

WalletHub determined the happiest cities in America based on 29 relevant metrics based on "positive-psychology research" across three main categories: emotional and physical wellbeing, income and employment, and community and environment. As with most WalletHub studies, it compared the 182 most populous U.S. cities.

Fremont, California claimed the top spot as the happiest city nationwide for another year. Bismark, North Dakota and Scottsdale, Arizona, respectfully, rounded out the top three.

Here's how WalletHub ranked Plano across the three key dimensions:

No. 15 – Emotional and physical wellbeing
No. 22 – Community and environment
No. 72 – Income and employment

Plano and its residents have continued improving their city year after year, whether its through opening new bakeries and restaurants, inviting fun pop-ups for locals, or having a strong job market.

Plano's happiness far outshines the rest of North Texas; according to WalletHub, Irving is the 70th happiest city in the country, the third-happiest in Texas, and the second-happiest city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. Garland ranked farther behind as No. 92 nationally, and more DFW cities ranked even lower: Grand Prairie (No. 106), Dallas (No. 111), Fort Worth (No. 113), and Arlington (No. 119).

The report additionally found that Dallasites spend the third-most amount of time at work in the nation. The city ranked No. 180 in the national analysis of U.S. cities with the "fewest work hours."

WalletHub also emphasized that money doesn't buy happiness — after a certain point.

"For decades, researchers have explored the science of happiness and identified several core factors, including mental well-being, physical health, strong social ties, job satisfaction, and financial stability," the report said. "Still, income has its limits — studies show that earning more than $75,000 a year does not lead to greater happiness."

Six-figure earners in Plano aren't necessarily as happy as those who don't make as much, as a separate financial study from SmartAsset revealed these big earners are only taking home about $72,653 after taxes and adjusted for the cost of living.

This is how other Texas cities ranked in the report:

No. 39 – Austin
No. 128 – Houston
No. 135 – Lubbock
No. 137 – El Paso
No. 140 – Laredo
No. 143 – Amarillo
No. 150 – Brownsville
No. 154 – San Antonio
No. 155 – Corpus Christi

wallethub plano reports

Awards Time

Dallas Public Library makes top 10 list for its program helping workers

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A $100,000 salary in 2026 goes further in Dallas than it did last year

happy go lucky plano

Dallas neighbor dazzles on new list of happiest cities in America