Christian McPhate | Denton Record-Chronicle

Denton Arts & Jazz Fest's move this year brought complaints about heat and a lack of shade, while some praised the fairgrounds’ performance setup. Vendors and attendees also rallied to help one another, giving organizers plenty to consider as they plan the festival’s future.

In addition to possible increases on electric and water bills, Denton residents will also see their gas bills increase starting Oct. 1.

The Denton City Council is reviewing a proposed $2.22 billion budget that would lower the property tax rate and increase employee pay. But officials warn a boost from business personal property tax revenue, including from data centers, may not last. Residents can weigh in at a Sept. 15 public hearing.

Denton police say the license plate readers from Flock are an important crime-fighting tool. But some residents in Denton, similar to residents in cities across Texas recently, say they are mass surveillance and are petitioning for the city to end its contract with Flock Safety.

The Denton City Council voted 4-3 to proceed with a possible moratorium on data centers in the city. This is following a wave of other cities in Texas banning data centers, and Gov. Greg Abbott ordering a halt to data centers until the completion of a statewide audit.

Denton City Council Member Jordan Villarreal says he is resigning so he can focus on taking care of his personal health. He was elected in May.

John Baines used his gift of song for 40 years in Denton, serving and supporting dozens of local nonprofits and community organizations in North Texas. He was a founding member of the Denton Black Chamber of Commerce and the Denton Blues Festival. He died July 13 at age 73.

Denton Mayor Chris Watts wants the City Council to have a conversation about apartment development in Denton and stresses that a moratorium is only temporary.

In a joint statement from DSA Denton and Revolutionary Front, DSA Denton co-chair Laura Coate, said the town hall “is intended to bring Denton residents together to organize against AI data centers and an AI drone factory in our community.”

“Every vote counts,” Chris Watts, a former mayor, wrote in all-caps to his supporters in late May on his Facebook page, as he offered a breakdown of the Denton County Precinct 4 commissioner race that was decided by fewer than 40 votes.

“Kindness wins,” George Ferrie’s supporters posted to social media on Saturday night when news spread that Ferrie defeated Erica Garland, a Planning and Zoning commissioner, in the runoff for citywide Place 5 on the Denton City Council.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the city of Denton and city officials for “allowing grown men in changing rooms with Texas children and women at event hosted at publicly owned swimming pool,” the attorney general's office announced in a June 1 press release.