Safe and Sound

Dallas suburb named one of the safest cities to raise kids

Flower Mound kids came together for Dorothy's Dash, a charity run, in mid-November.

The National Council for Home Safety and Security ranks Flower Mound as the fifth safest U.S. city to raise kids, but it sure has a funny way of expressing it.

In a blog post about the ranking, the council claims that “Flower Mound’s name is probably its finest quality” and that “Flower Mound may not seem remarkable in any distinct way.”

On its website, the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce makes the case for the suburb’s remarkability by noting it “balances a unique blend of country atmosphere with a dynamic environment for economic development, and takes pride in being a leader in managed growth, quality of life, and environmental sensitivity.”

Additionally, the chamber points out Flower Mound is “one of the safest communities in Texas and continues to explore ways to improve public safety through a variety of programs, partnerships, and technology.”

The safety and security council does give props to Flower Mound for its family-friendly feel and its SMARTGrowth Program, which helps the suburb wisely manage its growth.

“The careful planning and regulation of the city’s growth has resulted in a community with a fine-tuned balance of commerce, public facilities, residential zones, and parkland,” the council says.

The only other Texas city among the council’s top 30 safest cities for raising kids is Pearland, at No. 27.

Among the top 100, Frisco shows up at No. 68, Allen at No. 79, and Missouri City at No. 85.

The council based its ranking on data in four categories: education, income, crime, and health insurance.

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E-Cigarette News

Dallas City Council places restrictions on vaping in public

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Man vaping

Vaping will now be banned exactly like smoking, thanks to a new ordinance from the Dallas City Council.

At their December 11 meeting, the council passed an ordinance to ban vaping in all the same areas where smoking is not allowed. It'll go into effect on December 11, 2025 — giving everyone a year to get into compliance.

Proposed by City of Dallas Environmental Commission (EVC) and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability (OEQS), the ordinance amends the definition of “smoking” in the Dallas City Code to include the use of vaping devices.

The ordinance does not ban vaping — it only bans where you can vape: no vaping in all indoor and enclosed spaces; within 15 feet of building entrances; and on park property. The ordinance also bans marijuana smoking in those same places.

In addition, the amendment requires restaurants, hotels, fitness centers and other businesses to update their signage to clearly state that both smoking and electronic smoking devices are prohibited.

The ordinance already earned widespread support from health organizations such as the Dallas County Health and Human Services, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association. These organizations, along with the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Surgeon General, have all raised concerns about the health risks of direct and second-hand exposure to vaping aerosols, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and older adults.

Dallas is not the first city to impose such a ban: San Antonio enacted a similar ban in October. Theirs goes into effect on January 1, 2025.

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