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Texas Longhorns fans cheer at a CFP first round playoff game at Darrell K Royal-Texas...

How many people live in Texas? Curious Texas answers

Driven by youthful growth and diversity, Texas sees record increases in Hispanic and Black communities, according to the census.

By Maria Salette OntiverosJul 14, 20251

Rules to buy a car from person to person: Curious Texas answers

In addition to a permanent metal tag, the state of Texas will also use four temporary metal...

State officials outline steps for private sales, dealer transactions, and special situations. New red temporary registration plate explained.

By Maria Salette OntiverosJul 14, 2025

How did that Texas city get such a weird name and how do you pronounce it? Curious Texas investigates

Map of Texas with pronunciations of Texas towns.

It's easy for native and non-native Texans to get confused by some of Texas' more unique place names. Here's a pronunciation guide and the back story on unusual names.

By Charles ScudderJul 2, 20252

Why doesn’t Arlington have mass transit? Curious Texas finds out

Jun 30, 2025

Why won’t you find liquor stores in Oak Cliff? Curious Texas answers

Jun 23, 2025

‘Jaws’ came out in 1975. What was Dallas’ reaction? Curious Texas fished for answer

Jun 21, 2025

Curious Texas looks back: The 50th anniversary of Jaws

Jun 19, 2025

Is there walleye fishing near Dallas-Fort Worth? Curious Texas found a lake worth trying

Jun 16, 2025

Best of Curious Texas

From the Curious Texas archives: Can you pronounce this Texas city's name?

Current and former Dallas Morning News employees try their hand at naming some Texas town names.

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From the Curious Texas archives: Can you pronounce this Texas city's name?

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Curious Texas investigates animals lurking in Texas' shadows

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Curious Texas investigates: What medium- to large-sized animals live in Texas?

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Curious Texas investigates the history of the Dallas Zoo

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Ask Curious Texas: What questions do you have about our state?

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Video: Can Texas secede from the United States? Curious Texas investigates

Latest Stories

In a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 22, 1988, at the former Gemini Drive-In site,...

Gemini Drive-In’s delights: Bikers, cops and roller skates lit up Dallas nights

You asked Curious Texas: What was playing at the Gemini Drive-In on Dec. 20, 1972?

By Maria Salette OntiverosJun 2, 2025

Texas is one of 17 states that is home to a native population of mountain lions but remains...

What rare animals lurk in the Lone Star State’s shadows? Curious Texas investigates

The state is home to hundreds of animal species, but there are a few that tend to fly under the radar, experts say

By Zacharia WashingtonMay 27, 2025

A green tree skink basks under a heat lamp in the herpetarium at the Dallas Zoo on March 13,...

$60, 4 animals and a dream: Curious Texas investigates the history of the Dallas Zoo

The zoo’s humble beginnings started with a private sale in 1888.

By Jamie LandersMay 19, 2025

An alpaca looks out its enclosure at the Dallas Zoo on Jan. 8, 2025.

Curious Texas investigates the history of the Dallas Zoo

May 19, 2025

Curious Texas is a project from The Dallas Morning News that allows you to join in on the...

Have a question about our state or Dallas-Fort Worth? Curious Texas will investigate

You ask the questions and our reporters will investigate.

By Carol TaylorMay 19, 2025

Curious Texas is a project from The Dallas Morning News that allows you to join in on the...

Ask Curious Texas: What questions do you have about our state?

You ask the questions and vote for your favorite. Our reporters will investigate.

By Staff WriterMay 14, 2025

A person shields themself from a morning thunderstorm with an umbrella as they wait for a...

Why do Dallas traffic lights go out when it rains? Curious Texas investigates

Following severe thunderstorms in North Texas, we wanted to know why Dallas can’t seem to keep the traffic lights on.

By Elvia Limón and Lana FergusonMay 28, 2024

State GOP officials, while rejecting bids to put Texas secession to a vote, announced...

No ‘Texit’ question, but Texas GOP voters to be asked about border, vouchers, foreign wars

Four of the 13 propositions suggest different ways to crack down on illegal immigration.

By Robert T. GarrettDec 28, 2023Member Exclusive

The huge three-sided billboards at the old Texas Stadium site bring in about $600,000...

Curious Texas investigates: What’s next for the old Texas Stadium site in Irving

The City of Irving has ambitious plans to transform the former Dallas Cowboys stadium site.

By Ariana AsrawiDec 28, 2023Member Exclusive

A statue of Sam Houston stands near I-45 at the Sam Houston Statue and Visitors Center on...

Why did Sam Houston carry a cane? Curious Texas Investigates

The former Texas governor, general and namesake of the state’s largest city could often be spotted with his signature cane.

By Ariana AsrawiNov 17, 2023

Attorney General Ken Paxton’s state pension is not in jeopardy, no matter how his...

Texas AG Ken Paxton won’t lose state pension — even if convicted at impeachment trial

Yanking pensions for misconduct in Texas is erratic because of a “hodgepodge” of conflicting rules, one ethics watchdog says.

By Robert T. Garrett and Lauren McGaughySep 14, 2023

Panther City Fountain in Fort Worth.

How did the Fort Worth Cats baseball team get their name? Curious Texas investigates

Curious Texas answers reader questions - from why Sandbranch has no water to what former Mayor Mike Rawlings has been up to.

By Grace NobleJul 24, 2023Member Exclusive

A windshield in Coppell took a hit from hail on June 6, 2018, when early-morning hailstorms...

Are parts of Dallas-Fort Worth magnets for hailstorms? Curious Texas investigates

NBC5 senior meteorologist David Finfrock said hail occurs more frequently in North Texas than in many other parts of the county.

By Jesus Jimenez and Jamie LandersApr 28, 2023

Texas ranks 35th among the states in state park acreage per capita. Why so low? Heavy...

5 reasons Texas didn’t totally get its act together on state parks

The state ranks 35th in parkland per capita. Heavy private ownership of land, individualism, spotty leadership are among the reasons, historians say.

By Robert T. GarrettApr 26, 2023Member Exclusive

The front page of the May 14, 1964, edition of The Dallas Morning News shows a collection of...

Did bears roam around White Rock Lake? Curious Texas investigates

John Baker asked Curious Texas: What happened to the mounted black bear and plaque at White Rock Lake?

By Jordyn HarrellApr 10, 2023

Historic clock restoration specialist Chuck Roeser of Lockport, N.Y., ducks under one of...

Texas didn’t always participate in daylight saving time. Curious Texas investigates what happened

Rene Fletcher asked Curious Texas: When did Daylight Saving Time return to Texas?

By Elvia LimónMar 11, 2023

Families and couples maintain social distance as they watch the movie Selena, part of Klyde...

What’s happening with the Texas movie industry? Curious Texas investigates

Texas offers incentives to filmmakers, but experts say other states with more lucrative deals are attracting bigger productions.

By Elina BougasJan 24, 2023

A bridge stretches over Carbondale Street at Loop 12 in Joppa, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022 in...

When will the Joppa pedestrian bridge be completed? Curious Texas investigates

The City of Dallas is planning to build a pedestrian bridge in the southeast neighborhood of Joppa. The project is slated to begin construction in 2024.

By Helen BougasOct 27, 2022

Fans arriving for a high school football game between Denton Guyer and Prosper pass a voter...

What questions do you have about the 2022 November midterm elections in Texas?

The Dallas Morning News also wants to hear about your experience at the polls now that voting has started.

By Jamie HancockOct 25, 2022

Colorful barrels emblazoned with catchy slogans outside the Texas Capitol.

What’s the history of the phrase ‘Don’t mess with Texas’? Curious Texas investigates

While Texans may see the phrase plastered on T-shirts, stickers and hats, the true meaning has slowly faded since the 1980s.

By Claire TweedieAug 26, 2022

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