salute to service members

Texas ranks among best states for military retirees in 2025

Veterans deserve better healthcare and support no matter where they live.

Military veterans looking to settle down in their retirement years may find happiness in Texas, which just ranked No. 21 on WalletHub's annual list of the "Best and Worst States for Military Retirees."

The Lone Star State has made some improvements over its 2024 placement, when it ranked No. 28.

Every year, WalletHub's analysts examine all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on each state's capability of providing a comfortable lifestyle for the nation's military retirees. States were ranked based on three categories: Economic environment, quality of life, and healthcare.

Texas has the sixth best economic environment for its military retirees, the report said. Factors that influenced the state's rank include housing affordability, job growth, and tax-friendliness.

The presence of veteran transition programs is also an important factor for readjusting to civilian life, the report says.

"Many retirees also face major struggles including Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, disability and homelessness, which are especially difficult to deal with during this period of economic difficulty," the report's author wrote. "These veterans must also consider how state tax policies on military benefits vary, along with the relative friendliness of different job markets and other socioeconomic factors, when choosing a state in which to settle down."

Texas still has room for improvement when it comes to improving its quality of life and healthcare for its military retirees. Texas' quality of life for veterans only ranks 32nd, while its healthcare ranked 36th.

The quality of life metric was determined based on factors like the share of veterans, the share of VA facilities per number of veterans, the quality of each state's public universities, each state's "idealness of weather," among others. The healthcare rank covered the quality of VA hospitals, the number of mental health counselors per capita, and veteran suicide rates.

South Carolina maintained the top spot as the No. 1 best state for military retirees, thanks to its multiple programs and laws that help transition veterans back into civilian life and provide retirement aid.

The remaining top five states for veterans to retire were: Maryland (No. 2), New Hampshire (No. 3), North Dakota (No. 4), and Virginia (No. 5).

Meanwhile, veterans should avoid retiring in states like Oregon (No. 51) and Washington (No. 50), which both ranked at the bottom of the list as the worst states for military retirees this year.

rankings texas wallethub veterans

DPD News

Dallas signs off on lease on UNT campus for police training academy

DPD

undefined

The Dallas City Council approved a lease with the University of North Texas Dallas campus for a proposed Dallas Police Training Academy. The lease paves the way for the development of a new Law Enforcement Training Center and Criminal Justice Center on a 20-acre site at UNT-Dallas, part of the City’s efforts to modernize police training and deepen academic partnerships.

The new facility, which was first proposed in 2021, will house the Dallas Police Department’s Basic and In-Service Training Academy, along with a Criminal Justice Center, creating a centralized, state-of-the-art campus for officer development.

Training spaces will include modern classrooms, indoor simulation labs, and areas for defensive tactics instruction.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to preparing officers through modern, state of the art, community-connected training,” said Dominique Artis, Dallas Chief of Public Safety. “The combination of a police academy and Criminal Justice Center at a university campus enhances recruitment, education, and public trust.”

Benefits of the Law Enforcement Training Center and Criminal Justice Center include

Academic Partnership: Collaboration with UNT-Dallas opens doors for research, continuing education, and career pathways for both officers and students alike - creating a pipeline to future cadets and expanding opportunities for local talent
.Modern Training Facilities: The campus will feature simulation environments, flexible classroom space, and the latest instructional technology.
Strategic Location: As the first police training academy in southern Dallas, the project brings long-term public investment to the area.
Dual-Campus Model: This site complements a planned Public Safety Complex elsewhere in Dallas that will serve as a field training location for both DPD and Dallas Fire-Rescue.

According to KERA, the training academy is estimated to cost $185 million, plus $90 million for the public safety complex, for a total of $275 million. There is currently $96.5 million committed including $50 million from the 2024 Bond Program passed by the voters in May 2024, along with state grants, money from the Caruth Fund at Communities Foundation of Texas, and private fundraising commitments. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.

schools openings