Back to School News

Dallas hosts back to school event with free backpacks and laptops

It's almost time to get back to reading and writing.

Books Between Kids

Somehow it is already time to be thinking about the new school year and Dallas' Office of Community Care is stepping up to help families get ready.

“It is critically important for the youth in our community to be prepared for the school year with the supplies and materials they need,” says Office of Community Care director Jessica Galleshaw. "The City of Dallas Office of Community Care and all the participating community partners are committed to setting our neighbor youth up for success."

To that end, they're hosting two events where they'll be giving out key supplies to eligible families:

August 5: Back to School Fair at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center, 10 am-1 pm, at 2828 Fish Trap Rd. Dallas, 75212.

Items on the students' school supplies list such as clear backpacks, earbuds, USBs, and scientific calculators will be available free of charge. Community partners will be on site with information about upcoming fall programs and services.

Additionally, West Dallas families with students who live in the 75208, 75211, or 75212 zip codes can register for a laptop. One laptop is available per household, and it's limited to the first 300 qualifying residents. Eligible families can register for laptops here. Laptops will be distributed to eligible households at the WDMC Back to School Fair.

Registration is not required. Priority will be given to students in the 75212, 75211 and 75208 zip codes.

August 12: Back to School Festival at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, at 9 am, at 2922 MLK Jr. Blvd., Dallas, 75215.

Items on the students' supplies list such as backpacks, notebooks, binders, rulers, pencils, pens, and more, will be given out for free on a first come, first served basis. Children must be in attendance to receive them.

Registration is not required.

The Back to School Fair at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center is made possible through partnerships with area organizations and nonprofits including Reliant, Compudopt, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and the National Council of Jewish Women.

The Back to School Festival at the MLK Jr Community Center has sponsors that include LIRA Group, HELP, In-N-Out, Geico, and Peter and Dena Silberman.

education

Weed News

Texas Rep. Jessica González of Dallas files bill to legalize marijuana

Redheaded Blackbelt

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Texas Rep. Jessica González of Dallas has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

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