Articles
Taiwan job fair showcases D-FW's growing international clout
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
February 27, 2026
​
​A Taiwanese job fair in Dallas–Fort Worth drew about 1,500 attendees and more than 20 Taiwan-based tech companies, highlighting the region’s growing international influence. Organizers said hundreds were hired on the spot, underscoring D-FW’s expanding role in global tech and manufacturing.
(Click on image for full article)
Texas’ small business sector more optimistic than the rest of U.S., data shows
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
February 18, 2026
​
Texas small businesses are more optimistic than those nationwide, according to new NFIB data. The state’s Main Street sector reports stronger sales expectations, earnings trends, and hiring outlook despite ongoing concerns about labor quality and rising costs, reflecting Texas’ comparatively resilient business climate.
(Click on image for full article)
AT&T completes $6 billion deal to bulk up fiber customer base
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
February 3, 2026
​
AT&T has finalized its $6 billion purchase of most of Lumen Technologies’ mass market fiber assets, adding more than 1 million customers and advancing its goal of reaching 60 million fiber locations by 2030. The deal reduces Lumen’s debt by $1.6 billion and shifts its focus to enterprise clients, with transitional support provided to AT&T for up to two years.
(Click on image for full article)
Reinventing the classroom: AI is changing it all
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
January 27, 2026
​
Generative AI is transforming classrooms at Southern Methodist University, where professors are integrating tools like ChatGPT and Gemini into language, data analytics and theology courses through interactive exercises and custom chatbots. Despite concerns about cheating and overreliance, many educators and students view AI as a permanent and transformative force in higher education.
(Click on image for full article)
SMU Homecoming philanthropy festival raises $7.4K for the North Texas Food Bank
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
October 30, 2025
​​
​SMU students gathered on Simmons Lawn for the Homecoming philanthropy festival, supporting the North Texas Food Bank. Through playing various games, including cornhole and air hockey, students earned points for their organizations’ Homecoming court and raised approximately $7,448. Check out the photo highlights of the event.
(Click on image for full article)
111th Opening Convocation: SMU welcomes largest class of new Mustangs to the Hilltop
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
August 29, 2025
​​
​At SMU’s 111th opening convocation, leaders welcomed a record class of more than 1,700 first-year students and 400 transfers, encouraging them to embrace community, explore boldly and seek support as they begin their journey on the Hilltop, reminding them they belong and may form lifelong friendships.
(Click on image for full article)
A democratic Ukraine poses a threat to Putin’s rule says Marina Henke
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
March 15, 2025
​
At SMU, Professor Marina Henke discussed how a successful democratic Ukraine threatens Putin's rule by challenging his narrative that democracy leads to instability. She emphasized Europe’s early unpreparedness and the crucial role of U.S. support in resolving the conflict.
(Click on image for full article)
Heifers to cows, gilts to pigs: A season of births in the barn
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
October 12, 2025
​
​At the Texas State Fair’s Livestock Birthing Barn, visitors witnessed calves, piglets and chicks being born, highlighting the fair’s agricultural roots and educational mission. From a newborn calf named Rikki’s first wobbly steps to piglets nursing hours after birth, the exhibit offered fairgoers a rare, up-close look at farm life and the cycle of food production, made possible by Tarleton State University interns who assist with the deliveries.
(Click on image for full article)
Dallas welcomes its first Taiwanese tech-focused job fair
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
February 19, 2026
​
​Dallas hosted its first Taiwanese tech-focused job fair, bringing more than 20 Taiwan-based companies to connect with local job seekers. The event highlights growing tech ties between Taiwan and the Dallas-Fort Worth region, particularly in semiconductors and AI.
(Click on image for full article)
Dallas among cities leading the return-to-office revolution, data says
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
February 10, 2026
​
​About 85% of Dallas job openings are now fully in-office, with hybrid (9%) and remote (6%) roles shrinking as companies tighten return-to-office mandates amid a cooling labor market, led by major employers like Amazon, Walmart, Dell Technologies and Southwest Airlines.
(Click on image for full article)
Travel inflation leaves Texas visitors and locals with a sour taste
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
January 29, 2026
​
Travel costs in Dallas have increased 12.4% since 2019, slightly below the 14.5% national average, thanks in part to the city’s strong hotel infrastructure. However, rising dining prices—up 21.2%—along with higher food and labor costs, are making trips more expensive for both visitors and locals.
(Click on image for full article)
It’s show time: A spooktacular Revue
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
November 3, 2025
​SMU’s 92nd Pigskin Revue brought alumni, students and faculty together at McFarlin Memorial Auditorium for a lively night of music, dance and comedy, featuring the Mustang Band, student performers and a satirical take on campus football slogans, all celebrating tradition and school spirit.
(Click on image for full article)
Hit a roadblock: Students face construction and parking challenges on campus
By Neely Davis Victoria Baeza Garcia
October 9, 2025
​
​Ongoing construction projects at SMU, including new intersections and the Rees-Jones library, have worsened parking shortages and caused noise and traffic disruptions, frustrating students even as administrators say the upgrades will improve safety and expand campus facilities.
(Click on image for full article)
Alfredo Corchado pushes for collaboration in journalism
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
February 7, 2025
​
Journalist Alfredo Corchado spoke at SMU about the importance of collaboration between Mexican and American reporters to fight misinformation and support press freedom. He shared experiences from his career covering immigration and border violence.
(Click on image for full article)
From corporate tech to classroom code: How Venus Bhasin is reshaping early education
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
April 18, 2025
​
Venus Bhasin founded Wize Computing Academy in 2015 to teach young children coding, robotics, and STEAM skills, inspired by her daughter's curiosity. The program, now with 38 franchises, prepares kids for the digital future, emphasizing leadership and teamwork. Bhasin’s entrepreneurial journey followed her career in tech and has earned praise from parents for its impact on education.
(Click on image for full article)
$1.7 million construction plan approved by CFBISD board
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
April 5, 2025
​
The CFBISD board approved $1.7 million for engineering upgrades at Ranchview High and other campus renovations. New book vending machines, summer camps and student support initiatives were also announced.
(Click on image for full article)
$1.7 million construction plan approved by CFBISD board
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
April 5, 2025
The Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District Board of Trustees meets during its regular meeting in Carrollton on April 3, 2025. (Photo by Victoria Baeza Garcia)
Engineering students at Ranchview High School will benefit from $1.7 million in upgrades after the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school board approved the funding Thursday.
During its regular meeting, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District Board of Trustees (CFBISD) unanimously approved all items in Section 6—Items for Discussion and Action—on its agenda, authorizing major renovations at Rosemeade Elementary, Blalack Middle School and Turner and Ranchview High Schools. The district’s upgrades will not interfere with student schedules.
The school board also approved a $1.7 million construction effort for Ranchview High School’s engineering program to enhance equipment, machinery and infrastructure for student projects.
To further promote literacy and education, Donna Wald, executive director of the CFBISD Educational Foundation, announced an initiative to bring book vending machines to campuses.
“Beginning next week, campuses can apply for a book vending machine grant from the [Educational] Foundation,” Wald said. “The selected recipients will be notified before the end of… the school year, and machines will be on campuses by fall.”
Continuing its support for students, faculty and staff, CFBISD chief communications officer Caren Rodriguez announced the April CFB Champion Award, presented to Daniel Harper, a security specialist at Polk Middle School, for saving a coach struck by a prematurely thrown shot put.
“From the stands, Daniel saw that [the coach] fell instantly and was seriously injured, bleeding from a head wound,” Rodriguez said. “He immediately jumped into action, applied direct pressure and contacted 911.”
The coach is now recovering, thanks to Harper's quick response.
With summer break around the corner, Kim Holcomb, CFBISD’s assistant superintendent of leadership and learning, shared updates on the district's Future Ready summer programs, including the free Math Entrepreneur summer camp.
Holcomb said the Math Entrepreneur summer camp will resemble the TV show Shark Tank, with students pitching ideas and designing business projects.
CFBISD will publish summer camp updates on its website. Sign up before April 30.
From corporate tech to classroom code: How Venus Bhasin is reshaping early education
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
April 18, 2025
Venus Bhasin and her Wize Eagles students compete in a robotics event in February 2025. (Photo by Victoria Baeza Garcia)
It started with a moment at home, when Venus Bhasin and her husband, Vishal, both working in software development, noticed their oldest daughter curiously watching them, eager to understand what they were doing. Before long, she began pressing keys on the keyboard, trying to mimic their actions. That small gesture sparked a realization they had never considered.
“There was no program that was catering to young kids, you know, at the age of kindergarten, because coding was never related,” Bhasin said. “You never relate coding to young kids, because there's concepts that are, I want to say, complex.”
Inspired by her daughter’s curiosity, Bhasin took a leap of faith, trading a corporate software career for a mission grounded in education, innovation and creativity.
Bhasin’s last corporate job was with Bank of America, where she worked on business-to-business implementation.
With more than 18 years of experience in the information technology industry, Bhasin recognized a growing need for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) programs that not only help young children apply what they learn in school but also prepare them to face the challenges of a rapidly evolving digital age.
Bhasin transitioned from corporate work to entrepreneurship in 2015 when she and Vishal founded Wize Computing Academy. The program, now with 38 franchises across the United States and Canada, was created to fill a gap in early education by offering an up-to-date curriculum that integrates robotics, coding, design, artificial intelligence and engineering.
Entrepreneurship came with its share of challenges. After completing her master’s degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, Bhasin balanced the demands of being pregnant with her third child, while managing the overlapping responsibilities of both her growing business and family life.
“The biggest challenge is, when a company is founder-led, it is hard to replace yourself,” Bhasin said.
Sustaining a franchise business model also came with obstacles, but Bhasin said leveraging technology to expand while maintaining quality standards and relying on “like-minded” franchise owners has helped ensure a family-like business with a shared mission.
Bhasin’s hard work is paying off, with students and their parents already seeing the positive results.
Diana Garcia, whose son has been a Wize Computing Academy student for three years, said Bhasin’s program integrates robotics and other skills that enhance his education.
“She encourages a lot the leadership, teamwork—some other skills, or, you know, some other things that we wanted to develop in our son,” Garcia said.
What began at home has grown into a national network of young minds learning to solve problems and imagine what’s possible in a rapidly evolving technological world, from artificial intelligence and robotics to technologies yet to be imagined.
Heifers to cows, gilts to pigs: A season of births in the barn
By Victoria Baeza Garcia
April 12, 2025
Soft yet bright lights illuminate the room, mimicking the warmth of sunlight. Multiple industrial fans carry the sweet, earthy smell of hay, where more than 30 newborns and their parents rest.
A handwritten sign catches people’s attention. It reads: “Birth date: October 12, 4:00 a.m.” Under the sign, camouflaged in the hay, lies a newborn brown calf. A girl. Next to her is her mother, breathing heavily, exhausted despite a quick and easy birth.
​
People start to gather around as the calf struggles to stand. And she does. A little girl standing by the pen smiles as the calf takes her first wobbly steps.
​
***
The Texas State Fair's Livestock Birthing Barn lets visitors witness the birthing of livestock animals and the hatching of chicks. The exhibit highlights the fair’s focus on agriculture and education.
​
Brooke Mancuso, a Tarleton State University intern at the birthing barn, gets to witness the beginnings of life firsthand. “This is reproduction, this is where our food comes from, and it is intended for a purpose,” Mancuso said.
​
Big Tex’s Birthing Barn is located at Nimitz Circle and MLK Jr. Blvd. near the fair’s Pan Am Gate. The room buzzes with people of all ages. Some stop at the entrance by the goats, who haven’t given birth yet. Others wander towards the chicks, tiny, yellow and noisy, resting in their incubator moments after hatching.
Right at the end of the room are the piglets, born today at 7:30 a.m. Still with the umbilical cord attached, the piglets nurse. One of them scampers around the pen, as if it were dancing.
In the meantime, visitors press against the railings, phones in hand, their faces lit by the soft barn light. Some whisper questions to the interns in blue shirts, others simply watch and smile, still and wide-eyed, as the newborns nuzzle against their mothers.
​
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen something like this,” said Patricia Dozal, who visited the state fair for the first time. “It’s kind of amazing to see how calm the animals are.”
​
According to WFAA, this is where the state fair began, with the animals. The birthing barn and its petting zoo have been a significant part of the tradition.
​
Across the barn, cows and their calves line the sides of the room, each cow in her pen while her calf feeds. All the calves are girls, including one whose mother, with ID SFT Rikki, gave birth today, the day she stopped being a heifer and became a cow.
​
***
It was already late, 11:00 p.m. Oct. 11. The usually crowded and vivid fair games were now empty, waiting for the night to pass so they could come to life again the next day. The birthing barn was also empty, except for the Tarleton State University interns, like Alexa Hampton, who were taking the night shift.
Some of the animals had already given birth, others, like Rikki, were still expecting.
​
At first, Rikki seemed restless. She paced around her pen, laid down, stood up and did it all over again until she found a comfortable spot to lie down for good.
After a while, the light brown heifer knew it was time. Interns hurried to assist as she began to push.
​
“It was quick and easy,” Hampton said. Rikki was in labor for almost five hours, which is normal for a first-time mother. She only had one calf. By morning, the fair would open again, and Rikki’s calf would already be standing.