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The Look Back: Catch up on these most-read stories from September 2025

Stories by Fort Worth Star-Telegram journalists, with AI summarization

This set of Star-Telegram stories highlights news and developments in North Texas, including a story that examines how Texas airports can seize cash under civil forfeiture laws and on an ongoing squatters' crisis challenges landlords with unauthorized occupants.

Brisket, pork ribs, slaw, beans and banana pudding on a typical platter from Terry Black’s Barbecue. By Bud Kennedy

‘BARBECUE CAPITAL OF TEXAS’ NAMED ONE OF THE BEST SMALL TOWNS TO VISIT IN 2025

One of America’s best small towns to visit is located in the Lone Star State. | Published September 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brayden Garcia

Restaurant Inspection By Hill Street Studios

NEARLY 70 ROACHES FOUND AT PLANO RESTAURANT DURING INSPECTION; 2 CLOSED

Almost 70 roaches were found at a Plano restaurant, which was closed along with another establishment during Aug. | Published September 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Harriet Ramos

Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks to the press after signing a series of business-friendly bills at the Texas State Capitol, May 14, 2025. By Sara Diggins/American-Statesman

HERE’S WHAT TEXAS’ NEW SQUATTER LAWS MEAN FOR LANDLORDS, TENANTS AND HOMEOWNERS

It’s a nightmare scenario for homeowners — discovering that someone has taken up residence in your property without permission, and finding out the process to remove them is anything but simple. | Published September 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tiffani Jackson

The Terminal A baggage claim at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, photographed on March 26, 2013. By Max Faulkner

HOW MUCH CASH CAN YOU FLY WITH IN TEXAS? HERE’S WHAT THE LAW SAYS

Flying with cash isn’t against the law, but it can still land travelers in difficult situations. | Published September 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tiffani Jackson

Marion County Sheriff Emery Gainey, left, listens as Attorney General Pam Bondi held a news conference to discuss a deadly synthetic drug called U-47700 Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 27, 2016, at the Sheriff's Office in Ocala, Florida. By Doug Engle

ON FREE SPEECH, LISTEN TO THIS TARRANT COUNTY JURY OVER AG PAM BONDI | OPINION

As the country dives deeper into a debate about speech, hate and consequences, the way a Tarrant County jury recently got it right on these issues deserves more attention. | Published September 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ryan J. Rusak

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jadeveon Clowney shakes the hand of an assistant coach in his first practice with the team on Sept. 17, 2025, at The Star in Frisco. By Nick Harris

DALLAS COWBOYS’ JADEVEON CLOWNEY ARRESTED IN HIS SOUTH CAROLINA HOMETOWN

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was arrested last Friday, Sept. | Published September 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nick Harris

Belzoni’s Catfish is crispy enough to pick up and eat as finger food (shown with sriracha tartar sauce). By Bud Kennedy

HIGHLY RATED FORT WORTH CATFISH RESTAURANT CLOSING, FOR SALE OVER OWNER’S HEALTH

Belzoni’s Catfish Cafe, a heralded Mississippi-style catfish restaurant that grew from a popular concession trailer, is for sale and will close after lunch Sept. | Published September 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Bud Kennedy

Toys"R"Us retail store chain announces global expansion.

TOYS ‘R’ US IS BACK IN NORTH TEXAS WITH A NEW, BIGGER STORE. HERE’S WHERE

If you grew up wandering the colorful aisles of Toys “R” Us, you probably thought the brand was gone for good. | Published September 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tiffani Jackson

FBI agents investigate the scene where a shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility occurred in Dallas on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. By Chris Torres

FBI SAYS THE DALLAS ICE SNIPER PLANNED HIS DEADLY ATTACK FOR WEEKS

Investigators believe the sniper who opened fire at a Dallas ICE field office Wednesday had planned his attack, which killed at least one detainee and critically injured two others. | Published September 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Harriet Ramos, Emerson Clarridge, Amy McDaniel

Two of the four kittens a science teacher brought to Alvord High School, where she fed one live kitten to a snake, according to school officials.

NORTH TEXAS TEACHER APOLOGIZES FOR FEEDING LIVE KITTEN TO SNAKE IN CLASSROOM

A North Texas high school teacher fed an “ailing” live kitten to a snake in her classroom but did not do it in front of students, according to a message Alvord ISD sent to families in the district. | Published September 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lillie Davidson

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.