Honestly, if you haven’t driven through the middle of Garland lately, you might not even recognize the place. It's a lot. Between the massive orange barrels on the I-635 East project and the constant dust around the Downtown Square, the city is basically in a state of "remodeling." But there is a lot more moving under the surface than just construction.
Garland Texas news today: The massive shift in our schools
The biggest thing happening right now—and I mean really big—is the potential end of a 55-year-old federal desegregation order. It’s wild to think about. This order has been in place since 1970, a time when Garland was mostly white and schools were strictly segregated.
Just this week, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould filed a motion to lift that order. Why? Because Garland ISD looks nothing like it did in 1970. Today, the district is about 55% Hispanic, 18% Black, and only 13% white. Raybould’s motion basically says there’s "no question" the district has complied with the rules. The school board is scheduled to vote this Tuesday, January 20, to officially seek that "unitary status."
Local activist Tony Torres, who served on the Multi-Ethnic Committee, said it’s about time. He thinks we've been dealing with "obsolete data" for way too long. It’s a landmark moment for the city. It signals that Garland has finally moved into a new era of its own history.
GISD is actually winning awards
While the lawyers handle the desegregation paperwork, the district is also making national waves. Garland ISD and its Board of Trustees were just named finalists for the 2026 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards.
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This isn't some participation trophy. They are one of only five large districts in Texas to make the cut. If they win in May, they could pull in up to $100,000. Superintendent Dr. Ricardo López called it a win for the whole community. It's kinda cool to see local schools getting that kind of respect on a state level, especially when people usually just focus on the football scores.
The $1.1 Billion "Bridge Year" budget
Money is always a touchy subject. The City Council recently approved a $1.1 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year. They’re calling it a "bridge year."
Basically, the city is using some one-time funds to keep things running without hiking the tax rate. The rate is sitting at .6897 cents per $100 valuation. It stayed the same, but the total budget actually grew by about $32.8 million.
Where is that money going? A lot of it is tied up in the 2019 bond projects. You’ve probably seen the "Build Garland" signs. They are trying to finish the Downtown Square redesign, which is supposed to include a treehouse, a big lawn for festivals, and those fancy "starlit patios" everyone keeps talking about.
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Traffic and the 635 nightmare
We have to talk about the 635 East project. It’s the $1.7 billion elephant in the room. If you’re trying to get around Kingsley Road or Northwest Highway at night, good luck. They’ve been dropping the freeway down to a single lane overnight for bridge work. It’s annoying, but the Texas Department of Transportation says it’s the only way to modernize what is arguably the busiest corridor in the city.
Crime and safety: The real numbers
People always ask if Garland is "getting worse." If you look at the weekly incident reports from the Garland Police Department, the numbers tell a nuanced story. Between January 4 and January 10, 2026, the police handled a mix of everything.
- District 22 (North Garland) saw 11 reported incidents, mostly shoplifting and car burglaries.
- District 24 had a more serious report of a burglary of a habitation with intent to commit assault on West Buckingham Road.
- Identity theft is surprisingly high. It pops up in almost every district's report.
Is it a crime wave? Not really. It’s typical suburban growth pains. The city has also launched a free pilot program called Tap Telehealth to help with the flu season surge, which weirdly impacts public safety by keeping the ERs from being totally overwhelmed.
Community highlights you might have missed
- The Lego Square: Detective John Capers of the GPD built a massive Lego replica of the Downtown Square. It’s on display now and honestly looks better than the real construction site right now.
- Good Samaritans Move: The local non-profit just got the keys to the old Walnut Creek Branch Library on Edgewood Drive. They do a lot for food insecurity in the area.
- MLK Weekend: Since tomorrow is MLK Day, all city offices and libraries are closed. The 37th Annual MLK Parade just wrapped up yesterday, and it was one of the biggest turnouts in years.
Why Garland feels different right now
The "vibe" is changing. We are no longer just a bedroom community for Dallas. When a mining company like Epiroc opens a Surface Mining Automation Center here, or when the Housing Agency earns its 15th straight perfect score from HUD, it shows the city is professionalizing.
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There’s a tension, though. Long-time residents like Koni Kaiwi have mentioned that some of these changes—like the desegregation order lift—are decades overdue. The city is playing catch-up with its own growth.
Your next steps for staying updated in Garland:
If you live here, the most important thing you can do this week is watch the GISD Board of Trustees vote on Tuesday evening regarding the desegregation order. You can stream it live on the district's website or cable channel. Also, check the TxDOT "635 East" portal before you plan any late-night trips toward Mesquite or Dallas; the lane closures change daily. Finally, if you need a flu shot or a quick check-up, look into the Tap Telehealth pilot program through the city’s health department—it’s currently free for residents.