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- MRT 8/26/25 (free) (sponsored by 1440 Media): Love Field Unveils Plan to Double Passengers // 78 Criminal Aliens Arrested in S. TX // Mayra Flores to Challenge Gonzalez a 3rd Time // 3 Weeks Remain in 2nd Special Session
MRT 8/26/25 (free) (sponsored by 1440 Media): Love Field Unveils Plan to Double Passengers // 78 Criminal Aliens Arrested in S. TX // Mayra Flores to Challenge Gonzalez a 3rd Time // 3 Weeks Remain in 2nd Special Session
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
Matt Mackowiak
August 26, 2025
In partnership with
TUESDAY | 8/26/2025
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TOP NEWS
“Love Field unveils overhaul plan that could add 50% more passengers,” Dallas Morning News' Jordan Parker -- "Dallas Love Field leaders are calling for a major overhaul to expand the airport in an attempt to squeeze more passengers into the size-restricted air hub.
Plans call for expanding the terminal, building a new facility for TSA security checkpoints and new baggage claim and adding a fourth parking garage, among other changes.
That could help the airport increase passenger traffic by almost 50% while keeping the legally mandated 20 gates.
The expansion program, dubbed Love What’s Next, is entering its final stages of development and was presented to the Dallas City Council last week. The airport, which is owned by the city of Dallas and hosts the headquarters for Southwest Airlines, is now determining the financial feasibility of the project and final layout details.
Patrick Carreno, the airport’s aviation director, told The Dallas Morning News that the Dallas Love Field Expansion Airport Program’s initial design includes a 50-foot extension of the existing terminal, a consolidated rental car facility, a new terminal headhouse for ticketing, TSA security checkpoints and baggage claim, a new parking garage and a commercial pickup area for transportation companies such as Uber and Lyft.
A skybridge will connect passengers between security and the main terminal, Carreno said. New access roadways and elevated roadways to improve the flow of traffic around the airport are also part of the plans.
Officials expressed hope last week that the plan would “enhance capacity, elevate the passenger experience and prepare the City of Dallas-owned airport for continued long-term growth.” A team will begin designing the project early next year, with “full construction” set to begin in the first quarter of 2027, Carreno said. “We don’t have the full timeline yet. We’re looking at full completion towards the end of the decade, early next decade, to finish all 14 components of the LEAP program.”
Carreno said the project does not have a price tag yet, though he admitted it will be “significantly higher” than the $800 million that the airlines operating at the airport already agreed to pay for their portion of the costs. The previous major improvement project for Love Field, the Love Field Modernization Program, was valued at $519 million, officials said.
A screenshot of a video of preliminary plans to redesign Dallas Love Field to accommodate more passengers, which was presented to Dallas officials last week. (Courtesy Dallas Love Field)
The announcement of the plan comes three months after Southwest Airlines solidified its commitment to Love Field as its home base through at least 2040. The carrier operates 18 of the airport’s 20 gates, with Atlanta-based Delta Airlines operating the other two.
Love Field had nearly 18 million passengers last year. The current terminal complex, designed in 2013, has a designed capacity for 8 million passenger boardings. By 2018, capacity had already exceeded that level, officials said. The increased capacity came on the heels of the 2014 repeal of the Wright Amendment, initially passed in 1979 to restrict the airport so that it could not compete with the larger DFW International Airport. After the law was repealed, Southwest could offer nonstop flights to any destination in the U.S.
Despite the repeal, some restrictions of the law are still enforced through an agreement between the city of Dallas, the city of Fort Worth, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and the DFW Airport Board.
The agreement stipulates that Love Field is limited to 20 gates, cannot offer international passenger service and had to negotiate a voluntary noise curfew with commercial airlines. According to Carreno, the airport is the only one in the country with a federal law restricting the number of gates it can have.
Despite the restrictions, Love Field is now the 32nd busiest airport in the U.S. The airport forecasts it could eventually handle 11.9 million passenger boardings and nearly 24 million passengers total under the gate cap, Carreno said.
“We think that’s what is possible,” Carreno said. “So this program is looking at how we get ourselves to that activity level.”
Carreno said Love Field could get close to reaching those passenger estimates by early next decade. “That’s why we want to fast-track this program and make sure that we can accommodate and continue to add passengers into this airport.”" DMN ($)
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TOP NEWS
“‘Operation Pick-Off’ Leads to Arrest of 78 Criminal Aliens in South Texas over Weekend” Breitbart
#TXLEGE
“Most of Gov. Greg Abbott’s priorities await passage in session dominated by redistricting” DMN ($)
“Texas House approves bill aimed to limit city, county property taxes” Texas Tribune
“Texas lawmakers to consider restoring limits on late voter registration changes” Texas Tribune
“Texas lawmakers delay bill keeping unsubstantiated complaints against officers from the public” Texas Tribune
““Bathroom bill” advances in Texas House days after tensions flared at hearing” Texas Tribune
2026
“Paxton PAC's Top Donor is Wife of Arizona Businessman Pardoned by Trump” Hou Chron ($)
“Texas redistricting already took out 1 longtime Democrat. Here’s how” Politico
“Mayra Flores ditches Cuellar to run against Gonzalez after Texas redistricting boosts odds” Wash Examiner
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Texas’ $7.2 billion loan program for gas power plants has approved two projects in two years” Texas Tribune
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“Kerr County officials: Draining Lake New Ingram not a priority” SAEN ($)
BUSINESS NEWS
Daniel Giese guest column: “Solar and battery storage are strengthening the Texas grid” DMN ($)
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> HOU CHRON: "Andrew Yang: Texas broke redistricting. Here's how to fix it." HOU CHRON
> KXAN: "Texas House approves stricter limits on cities and counties when it comes to raising property taxes" KXAN
> DMN: "Trump signs executive order on flag protests, desecration. What’s the Texas connection?" DMN
> THE TEXAN: "Abortion Pill Crackdown Bill Passes Texas House Committee After Lawmakers, Pro-Life Groups Negotiate" THE TEXAN
> THE TEXAN: "Cruz, Paxton Endorsements Upend Race for Texas Attorney General" THE TEXAN
> THE TEXAN: "Texas Comptroller’s Office Releases Proposed Rules for New School Choice ESA Program" THE TEXAN
> FWST: "The Recap: the race for a Fort Worth's new police chief" FWST
> SAEN: "Trump taps Spurs partner to make federal websites user-friendly" SAEN
> THE TEXAN: "Interview: Sen. John Cornyn Discusses Border Reimbursement, Re-election, State of the GOP" THE TEXAN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Delayed retirement payments for former city of Houston employees expected by end of the week" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> SA REPORT: "Q&A: Councilmember Sukh Kaur talks San Antonio public safety, enforcement and trust" SA REPORT
> THE TEXAN: "Texas House Committee Approves Bill Shifting Control of Harris County Contract Policing" THE TEXAN
> TX TRIB: "Texas universities could see fewer international students amid immigration crackdown, reports say" TX TRIB
> THE TEXAN: "Austin Congressman Greg Casar Announces Bid for Newly Drawn 37th Congressional District" THE TEXAN
> TX TRIB: "Texas’ $7.2 billion loan program for gas power plants has approved two projects in two years" TX TRIB
> HOU CHRON: "See how Houston ISD's teacher turnover rate compared to the state's in 2024-25" HOU CHRON
> HOU CHRON: "Ken Paxton tells Texas schools to follow Ten Commandments law despite court block" HOU CHRON
> HOU CHRON: "MD Anderson researcher accused of stealing cancer data to take to China" HOU CHRON
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "San Marcos CISD receives 36 TEA distinctions for academic performance gains" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> DMN: "Plus-sized Southwest Airlines passengers face potentially costly rule changes" DMN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "TxDOT breaks ground on new US 183 frontage roads project" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> HOU CHRON: "US 290 crash spills bricks across road; multiple people injured, HCSO says" HOU CHRON
EXTRA POINTS
Yesterday's Texas sports scores:
> MLB: Cleveland 4, Texas 0
Today's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:05pm: MLB: LAA at Texas
> 7:10pm: MLB: Colorado at Houston
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 7pm: WNBA: Connecticut at Dallas
> 7:05pm: MLB: LAA at Texas
> 7:10pm: MLB: Colorado at Houston
TEXAS RANGERS: "Angels get 1st-pitch HR in a 4-0 win over Rangers and deGrom with manager Ron Washington watching" AP
TEXAS RANGERS: "Rangers 2B Marcus Semien likely done for regular season with foot injuries" AP
TEXAS RANGERS: "All-Star pitcher Jacob deGrom frustrated after more than a month without a win for Rangers" AP
DALLAS COWBOYS: "As Week 1 approaches, Dallas Cowboys are wasting no time in preparing for rival Eagles" DMN ($)
HOUSTON TEXANS: "How will Houston Texans replace Joe Mixon for at least a month? Nick Chubb ready to lead backfield" Hou Chron ($)
UH FOOTBALL: "Light years ahead.' Why UH and Willie Fritz are ready for next step" Hou Chron ($)