This Week's Hot Headlines

The Alamo reclaims long-lost artifact in this week's top Dallas stories

An original cannon has been returned to the Alamo.

Photo by Gower Brown/ Unsplash

Editor's note: The top Dallas news of the week includes a story from the Alamo, a major winter weather warning, and a full serving of Dallas restaurant tidbits. Read on for our five most popular CultureMap stories.

1. Texas' iconic Alamo reclaims cannon that spent years as a birdbath. It turns out the Alamo's original 1836 cannons are good for more than just defense — they also make a sturdy birdbath. After serving as a garden ornament for Samuel Maverick’s descendants, an authentic piece of Texas history is finally returning home to the revered mission.

2. Forecasters warn of 'potentially catastrophic' winter storm in Texas. This week, Texans were warned to prepare for a “widespread potentially catastrophic event from Texas to the Carolinas.” Warming centers opened across DFW, many events were canceled, and the cold even delayed the opening of North Texas' newest H-E-B.

3. This Dallas restaurant news is hot and fresh for the new year. Our first Dallas restaurant news roundup of 2026 is all about the new — new restaurants, new menus, new dishes, and new deals.

4. New $18 million AC Hotel by Marriott to land near DFW Airport. A new five-story, 200-room AC Hotel by Marriott is set to open in 2027 in Grapevine, not far from both DFW Airport and the city's touristy Main Street.

New AC by Marriott, opening in 2027. Photo courtesy of Marriott

5. Texas no longer leads U.S. for racial progress, new report says. Texas has been overtaken as the No. 1 state that has made the most racial progress, according to a new study.

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In from the cold

Warming centers open across Dallas-Fort Worth during weekend winter storm

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

Warming centers will provide blankets and meals to those in need.

As Dallas-Fort Worth braces for brutally cold temperatures, freezing precipitation, and possible power outages this weekend, local city buildings and nonprofits are opening their doors as warming shelters. Here is a running list of places where people can go to safely warm up and rest. The list will be updated as more are announced.

Austin Street Center, in partnership with the City of Dallas and OurCalling, is activating an Inclement Weather Shelter at Fair Park’s Automobile Building, at 1010 1st Ave., Dallas, beginning at 4 pm Friday, January 23. It can accommodate 1,200 individuals and will offer shuttle service, meals, restroom facilities, blankets, and a safe, heated space for those experiencing homelessness. (Note: Austin Street's shelter location at 2929 Hickory St. will not be in operation this weekend.)

The Office of Homeless Solutions provides help for unsheltered individuals in Dallas.

The Salvation Army has several warming stations available across Dallas, Tarrant, and Denton Counties. They'll provide shelter and warmth, food and drink, emotional and spiritual care, and additional supplies to anyone in need. Locations are:

In Dallas County, the Garland Corps Community Center (451 W. Avenue D, Garland) and Carr P. Collins Social Service Center (5302 Harry Hines Blvd.)
In Tarrant County, the Arlington Corps Community Center (712 W. Abram St., Arlington) and J.E. & L.E. Mabee Social Service Center (1855 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth)
In Denton County, the Denton Corps Community Center (1508 E. McKinney St., Denton) and Lewisville Corps Community Center (880 Fox Ave., Lewisville)

The City of Arlington has additional overnight shelters available:

First United Methodist Church, 407 N. Mesquite St. Open on dates when overnight temperatures reach 32 degrees or less for four or more consecutive hours.
Nations Church Arlington, 1013 W. Park Row Drive. Open continuously from noon Friday-Monday as both a warming center and an overnight shelter.
All Arlington Public Library locations and recreation centers are open to the public for warming, in designated areas, during standard operating hours.
The Arlington Animal Services Shelter accepts pets of homeless individuals as capacity allows.

The City of Fort Worth manages an emergency overnight overflow sheltering program when temperatures reach certain thresholds and regular emergency shelters are at capacity. If regular emergency shelters and beds are full when people arrive, they will be relocated to available overflow beds at one of the available additional emergency shelter locations, the city says.

They advise that individuals experiencing homelessness should first access one of the regular emergency shelters:

Union Gospel Mission (1321 E. Lancaster Ave.)
Presbyterian Night Shelter (2400 Cypress St.)
Families should go to the Salvation Army's J.E. & L.E. Mabee Social Service Center (1855 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth)

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