The City of Richardson announced yesterday that it received a prestigious Celebrating Leadership in Development Excellence (CLIDE) Award from the North Central Texas Council of Governments. It received the award in the public policy and planning category for its work on the 2009 Comprehensive Plan. This is the fourth consecutive time it has won a CLIDE award.

Gov. Rick Perry signed House Bill 51 – legislation aimed at creating more national research universities in Texas – on Wednesday morning at The University of Texas at Dallas.

The City has decided to open a Cooling Station at Heights Recreation Center (711 W. Arapaho Road 75080) for those without electricity.

If you found yourself around the geographic heart of Cottonwood Heights on the evening of May 21st, you likely noticed the Texas size celebration. That celebration was officials, alumni, parents and hundreds of very proud K-6th Grade students honoring the fifty years that Dover Elementary has been educating Richardson children. There was a formal ceremony complete with student performances and nostalgic remarks and commendations by RISD Assistant Superintendent Bob DeVoll, Richardson City Council Member and neighbor Steve Mitchell, and Dover Principal Fernando Medina.

Bill McCalpin gives us a personal description of the Wildflower! Festival, how that experience highlights changes in Richardson's transit policies over twenty years and that those policies are helping Richardson change for the better.

On Monday, the Richardson City Council had its bi-annual canvassing and swearing in of newly elected members. We have video of incoming Council members Mark Solomon, Bob Macy, and Amir Omar giving their traditional incoming words to the crown in attendance.

On Monday, the Richardson City Council had its bi-annual canvassing and swearing in of newly elected members. We have video of outgoing Council members Rhea Allison, Pris Hayes, and Dennis Stewart saying farewell to the large crowd in attendance.

At tonight's Richardson City Council Meeting Gary Slagel was re-elected as Mayor and Bob Townsend was re-elected Mayor Pro-Tem.

The Richardson City Council election took most people by surprise. Three races were potential runoffs but none will be had. Two first time incumbents were defeated. The recommendations promoted by the Richardson Coalition ran the table going six for six in contested elections. We break down each race and draw some conclusions.

In one of the most stunning elections in Richardson in years, former Mayor Gary Slagel and former mayor pro-tem John Murphy were re-elected. Current mayor pro-tem Bob Townsend was re-elected as well. One term Incumbents Pris Hayes and Dennis Stewart were both defeated. The race was marked by attacks and accusations and was one of the most bitterly fought in recent memory.