Tops in Texas

Arlington tops the rest of Texas as one of the best-run cities in America

Globe Life Park in Arlington on opening day 2015

Globe Life Park — and the Texas Rangers are among some of the biggest economic drivers for Arlington.

Photo by Kelly Gavin/Texas Rangers

While the spotlight might be on national politics, most people see the work of the government best at the local level. It’s in that spirit that a new study ranks the best- and worst-run cities in the country, and the shining star in Texas is none other than bustling Arlington.

Personal finance website WalletHub compared 150 of the largest cities in the U.S. to determine which are the best and worst managed for 2019, placing Arlington 27th nationally and first in Texas.

The site measured each city’s operating efficiency by looking at its total budget per capita and the quality of its city services (broken down into six categories). Arlington ranks No. 33 for budget and No. 43 for services.

Among the individual quality of service categories, Arlington ranks an impressive 16th in education and 27th in economy. It's a middle-of-the-road 44th for safety and 56th for financial stability, but near the bottom for health (85th) and infrastructure and pollution (130th).

Fort Worth is the next North Texas city to appear on the national list, at No. 51, while Dallas follows at No. 93. Texas' other major cities land in between.

Austin ranks 72nd nationwide, immediately followed by Houston at No. 73, while San Antonio comes in at No. 89. When looking only at the quality of city services, however, Austin ranks first in Texas and 10th in the nation.

The best-run city in the country is Nampa, Idaho. Last on the list, ironically, is Washington, D.C.

Animal News

Animals from L.A. fires headed to already crowded Dallas-Fort Worth

HSNT

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The Los Angeles wildfires have not only destroyed property and displaced residents, they've displaced pets and wildlife. Organizations across the country have stepped up to lend a hand — including at least one Fort Worth shelter that is bringing animals to Texas from Los Angeles.

The initiative is organized by two groups — Wings of Rescue and Best Friends Animal Society — and involves the relocation of animals from Southern California to other parts of the country.

In Fort Worth, the key recipient is the Humane Society of North Texas ( HSNT), a nonprofit animal group that operates a shelter and clinics in Tarrant County, which will take receipt of more than 150 animals being flown in from L.A.

The animals are expected to arrive at Meacham Airport in Fort Worth on January 19.

Helping Los Angeles is a feelgood initiative right now, and helping animals is a good thing. But the import has raised concern among some local rescues who point to Dallas-Fort Worth shelters that are already overwhelmed and overcrowded, with animals being euthanized because they are unable to find adopters or fosters.

According to a statement from HSNT, "these aren’t owned pets — they’re adoptable dogs and cats from California shelters, transported to free up critical space for families desperately searching for their beloved pets displaced by the devastating wildfires."

This concept of emptying an animal shelter during a disaster to make room for incoming lost animals is not uncommon. And this is not the first time the Humane Society of North Texas has brought in animals during disasters.

In 2024, HSNT took in 39 animals from Georgia during Hurricane Helene, and in 2020, they received 46 animals from Louisiana during Hurricane Sally.

This is considerably larger, with more than 150 animals being flown in by Wings of Rescue — a company that regularly transports animals from shelters. These animals include strays and surrendered animals that were already being held at shelters in Los Angeles prior to the fires.

One other group — Fort Worth-based Saving Hope — has stated that it has committed to take "several dogs," but a spokesperson for HSNT, which is organizing the venture, says they have not yet confirmed partnerships with local rescues.

Questioning what seems like an act of compassion is not something most want to do publicly, but this sentiment is pretty typical:

"All rescues are struggling here for fosters, donations and space to save dogs in Texas," said one veteran. "While the situation in California is absolutely heartbreaking, bringing in more homeless animals to Texas, especially DFW, makes no sense. Hundreds are being euthanized for space with many city shelters not even intaking strays."

Another stated that they were "aghast" that large animal welfare institutions would do it while animals are "dying daily for space in Texas municipal shelters."

"The reality is that people donate money during natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires and the large animal welfare institutions know it. How do we stop it? Don't reward negative behavior and please don't give them money."

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