The Collin College Board of Trustees unanimously voted Friday to call a $600 million bond election for November 3. It's a single proposition - Proposition A - and the college says it does not expect the tax rate to increase if voters approve it.

The money would fund expansions at the McKinney Campus, the Technical Campus in Allen, and campuses in Frisco, Wylie, Farmersville, and Plano - plus entirely new campuses in Anna and Royse City. The McKinney-specific headline: Proposition A includes a brand-new Aviation Academy right here in McKinney.

The bond is the next phase of Destination 2030, Collin College's long-range master plan. Credit enrollment has grown 31% over the past decade, and a "Committee of 100" community stakeholders spent two months this summer reviewing priorities before the board pulled the trigger. Collin College serves more than 62,000 students annually and is the only public college based in Collin County.

To vote, you need to be registered by Monday, October 5. Early voting runs October 19-30, with Election Day on November 3. (Source: Collin College, August 7, 2026)

A fitness studio combining Reformer Pilates, Tone, and Yoga is opening near State Highway 121 in south McKinney. FS8's 50-minute classes blend Reformer Pilates technique with functional training - HIIT energy with low-impact results. Ribbon cutting is August 18. Opening Aug 18 | 7560 State Hwy 121 Suite 300, McKinney, TX 75070

A modern dental practice built on the philosophy of "Dentistry with Integrity" is opening on Custer Road near US-380. Founder Dr. Sara Mahmood designed brush365 around honest treatment plans and transparent pricing - no upsells, no pressure. Services include preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, clear aligners, and whitening. Grand opening ribbon cutting is August 20. Opening Aug 20 | 1550 S. Custer Road #100, McKinney, TX 75070

Choose a backpack that's made to last and designed to be remembered. Shop new arrivals before their favorite styles are gone.

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West Nile Virus has been detected in McKinney. Use bug spray, wear long sleeves, and remove standing water where mosquitoes breed. The city is responding with truck-based mosquito spraying in specific areas of west and north McKinney on Tuesday August 11 and Wednesday August 12, running 10PM to 5AM each night. If you're in the treatment zone, keep windows closed and bring pets inside. Check the map at mckinneytexas.org. (Source: City of McKinney Newsflash, August 8, 2026)

McKinney city council approved a Specific Use Permit for a new QuikTrip gas station at 1601 W. University Drive (US 380), adding to the growing commercial corridor along one of the city's busiest east-west roads. (Source: McKinney City Council Regular Meeting, August 4, 2026)

Erwin Park - McKinney's largest green space at roughly 1,200 acres - closes this Monday and won't reopen until fall 2027. The two-year renovation includes a new overlook tower, updated restrooms, pavilions, ADA upgrades, a new inner-loop concrete trail, and updated campsite utilities. Campers with existing reservations will be contacted by city staff. (Source: City of McKinney Newsflash, August 6, 2026)

Bring a piece of McKinney home with a beautifully detailed gold & navy city map. Hang it on your wall and impress your visitors with this museum-quality print with rich, fade-resistant color.

🌬️ Mindful Mondays - Breathe by Design with La Sheena Thompson
A breathwork and wellness session teaching intentional breathing techniques to improve focus and reduce stress - practical tools you can use the same day. Week one of a four-week series; drop in for just this class or commit to all four.
MillHouse McKinney, 610 Elm St Suite 1000, 11AM-12PM ($30)

✍️ Shut Up & Write!® in McKinney
Show up, order a coffee, and actually finish something. Two Pomodoro sprints back-to-back - 25 minutes of focused writing, 5-minute break, repeat. All genres and experience levels welcome; no one sees what you wrote.
Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, 4701 S Custer Rd Ste 500, 6-8PM (Free)

🎵 Monday Night Reset at Apex
A sound bath uses singing bowls and resonant frequencies to settle the nervous system - a full-body reset to start the week on the right note. Erwin Park may be closing, but the calm isn't going anywhere.
Apex Centre, 7399 Eldorado Pkwy, 8-9PM ($25)

👖 Lunch Bunch: The Bottom Line - The Secrets to Denim Fitting and Flattering
Stylist Care Sharpin breaks down cuts, rises, washes, and details that actually work for your body type - plus the fit mistakes most people make. Informal lunchtime speaker series at MillHouse; bring your own food.
MillHouse McKinney, 610 Elm St Suite 1000, 11:30AM-12:30PM (Free)

🎸 Chadwick Cook Live at Harvest at The Masonic
A midweek live set in Harvest's intimate Masonic Lounge - the kind of room that makes a Tuesday night feel like it was planned all along. Third-floor downtown views, full kitchen open, no cover charge.
Harvest at The Masonic, 215 N Kentucky St, 6:30-9:30PM (No cover)

♟️ McKinney Chess Club | Adult Social Chess Night
A no-pressure chess night built for conversation, not competition - complete beginners welcome. Events average 15-30 people, none of whom are tracking your Elo. Grab a pint at the Lion & Crown, find a board, and think your way through Tuesday.
The Lion & Crown McKinney, 7951 Collin McKinney Pkwy, 6:30-9:30PM (Free)

🎭 The Yes, And Improv Jam
The Comedy Arena opens the stage to beginners, students, and seasoned improvisers for a casual night of scenes and games. Jump in or just watch - either way, it's one of the most beginner-friendly live entertainment options in McKinney midweek.
The Comedy Arena, 305 E Virginia St, 7-9PM (Tickets)

💪 Pilates And Protein
Mat Pilates followed by protein bites and bubbly - a Tuesday night that earns its snacks. A social evening at Concept House blending fitness with a good crowd.
Concept House, 8430 W University Dr Suite 211, 7-9PM (Tickets)

🎨 Art Journal Play with Cindy Gilstrap
A monthly session at MillHouse where each class introduces a new art journaling technique - no experience needed, just a willingness to experiment on paper. A rare creative afternoon option between the library workshop and the evening music scene.
MillHouse McKinney, 610 Elm St Suite 1000, 4:30-6:30PM (Tickets)

🎶 Texanadian Duo Live at Harvest at The Masonic
A live duo takes the Masonic Lounge stage Wednesday night. Same third-floor setting, same no-cover deal - one of the easiest midweek calls in downtown McKinney.
Harvest at The Masonic, 215 N Kentucky St, 6:30-9:30PM (No cover)

🎸 Ren Live Music
Three hours of live music in a pub setting on a Wednesday - cold pints, a lively crowd, and no cover charge. A reliable way to turn a mid-week into a good week.
The Lion & Crown McKinney, 7951 Collin McKinney Pkwy APT 1600, 7-10PM (Free)

🌸 Blooming Memories: Mixed Media Floral Collage Workshop
Turn old ticket stubs, postcards, and paper scraps into a finished 12x12 mixed-media artwork layered over a floral-in-a-vase composition. All materials provided - just bring your paper ephemera stash and let instructor Robin guide you through it.
MillHouse McKinney, 610 Elm St Suite 1000, 1:30-4PM (Tickets)

🍷 Art, Soul & Bold Blends: Orin Swift Wine Dinner
Four courses paired with four Orin Swift wines - the bold, label-art winery Dave Phinney built by breaking every Napa convention. A brand rep walks through the story and the blends. Limited seats; total at checkout is $139.
Wine A Little, 7560 State Hwy 121 Suite 150, 7-9PM ($99 + fees)

🎸 Acoustic Mayhem Live at Zin Zen
Husband-and-wife duo Griff and Laura Hamlin play saxophone and guitar in a combination that's equal parts jazz, pop, and spontaneity. They call it "light on the acoustic, heavy on the mayhem" - and the banter is apparently non-stop.
Zin Zen Wine Bistro, 6841 Virginia Pkwy, 7-10PM (Free)

🎵 Erick Fayard Live Music
Live music at the McKinney Lion & Crown to close out the week - three hours of performance with pints and pub atmosphere to match.
The Lion & Crown McKinney, 7951 Collin McKinney Pkwy APT 1600, 7-10PM (Free)

🎭 The Comedy Mix
Three live comedy acts, one wildly unpredictable night. The Comedy Arena's Thursday rotating bill brings together improv troupes, stand-ups, and experimental performers for a show that's never the same twice. Rated Mature.
The Comedy Arena, 305 E Virginia St, 7:30-8:30PM (Tickets)

🎵 Music Bingo at The Elwood B.F.D.
Songs replace numbers, energy replaces the usual Thursday fatigue. HeadTilt Entertainment runs a high-octane music bingo night at this McKinney bar off Highway 121 - popular hits, round-by-round prizes, and a crowd that's into it.
The Elwood B.F.D., 7550 Highway 121, 8-10PM (Free)

In 1973, a film crew arrived in historic downtown McKinney with a trained mixed-breed dog named Higgins - and proceeded to make one of the most beloved family movies of the decade. You probably know him better as Benji.

Director Joe Camp chose McKinney and Denton for nearly all of the filming, drawn to the authentic character of the Victorian-era streets and storefronts. The production's most memorable McKinney location was a house at 1104 S. Tennessee St, just a few blocks south of the historic downtown square. In the film, it's the abandoned "haunted house" where the Chapman children are held hostage by the villains - and off-camera, it served as the production's headquarters during the shoot.

Benji hit theaters on October 17, 1974, and became a phenomenon. Made on a modest budget, the film grossed $45 million at the box office and launched a franchise of sequels and TV specials that ran for decades. The Texas Film Commission eventually added it to the state's Classics Film Trail. People still drive to McKinney specifically to find the Benji House.

As for 1104 S. Tennessee, it had quite a second act - not long after filming wrapped, the house was transformed into the Dowell House Bed and Breakfast, which operated there for nearly 40 years. New owners are now renovating it again. McKinney has since become an official Texas Film Friendly Community with many productions to its name - but a scruffy mixed-breed dog from 1973 put it on the map first. (Source: Visit McKinney)

Mon: ☀️ Sunny and hot, high 99°F
Tue: ☀️ Sunny and hot, high 100°F
Wed: ☀️ Sunny and hot, high 101°F
Thu: ☀️ Sunny and hot, high 101°F

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