Good Morning, Justin!

We hope you and your loved ones were able to stay warm, safe, and protected through the snow and ice—and maybe even enjoy an unexpected winter break with the kids home from school all week. After the quiet mornings and extra together time, many families are easing back into the groove this Monday as classes resume.

At the same time, our hearts are heavy. The recent tragedies involving teens in nearby Ponder and Frisco are a difficult reminder of how quickly an ordinary day can turn into heartbreak. From a day of fun in the snow to loss, everything can change in an instant. Our thoughts are with those families and everyone affected.

Moments like these remind us that tomorrow isn’t promised. Hug your kids a little closer this week. Slow down when you can. Hold tight to what matters most.

Wishing you a safe, gentle start to the week ahead.

THE DIGEST

What happens when high school athletes trade cleats for coffee creativity?
A little friendly competition—and a whole lot of community spirit ☕⚾🥎

Northwest High School’s softball and baseball teams are teaming up with Kahwa for a fun, one-of-a-kind challenge that blends school pride, creativity, and caffeine. Each team partnered with one of Kahwa’s baristas to design an original drink from scratch—choosing the flavors, look, and even the name. The drinks will be featured on the menu for a couple of weeks, and the goal is simple: the drink with the most sales wins bragging rights.

The softball team’s drink is called Lady Texan Toasted Apple, while the baseball team is repping Batter Up! To have your purchase count toward the competition, be sure to order one of these two drinks and mention which team you’re supporting when you order.

Kickoff Event:
The drinks officially hit the menu Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Stop by Kahwa to celebrate the launch and show your support. You can order either competition drink any time during the promotion, not just on kickoff day.

Bonus Perk:
School personnel and students receive 10% off with a valid school ID.

This project gives students real-world experience working with a local business, creating a product, and seeing how ideas turn into results—while bringing the community together in a fun way.

Follow Kahwa and the Justin Journal on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and a little friendly rivalry as the competition heats up.

Win or lose, everyone walks away with something meaningful—and maybe a new favorite drink.

Cooper Lutkenhaus is making it clear that 2026 is his year—and the indoor season is barely underway.

On February 1, 2026, the 17-year-old Northwest High School standout delivered another historic performance at the 118th Millrose Games in New York, setting a new U20 world record in the 600 meters with a blazing time of 1:14.15. The run also stands as the current world lead, cementing Cooper’s place among the very best young talents in the sport.

This milestone comes just days after Cooper broke the U.S. indoor U20 record in the 800 meters, clocking 1:45.23 at the Dr. Sander Columbia Scorcher on January 24. That performance made him the fastest high school athlete ever to run the indoor 800 and signaled that his momentum from last season was far from slowing down.

A native of Justin, Texas, Cooper has been dominating the early 2026 indoor season following a standout 2025 that included a 1:42.27 finish in the 800 meters, a U18 world best, a national title performance, and competition on the world stage. What began as local success has quickly grown into international recognition.

Despite the records and headlines, Cooper remains focused on consistent training, staying healthy, and continuing to improve—an approach that continues to pay off with every race.

From Justin to New York and beyond, it’s been incredible to watch one of our own redefine what’s possible. We’re proud to follow Cooper’s journey and excited to see what’s next.

If you have a hockey player in your family, you’ll understand why the new Dallas Stars StarCenter Multisport facility in Northlake has been a frequent topic of conversation around town. For families who have spent years traveling for ice time, seeing this project take shape so close to home is exciting.

Every drive along FM 114 seems to spark a little speculation about how far along construction is. If you’re curious too, we recently came across a video that offers a look inside the building and the progress being made—no need to slow down and rubber-neck as you pass by. You can keep your eyes on the road (especially on the way to Walmart).

The state-of-the-art facility will span more than 225,000 square feet and feature:

The StarCenter Multisport Facility is scheduled to open in spring 2026. Not that anyone is counting down, but it looks like there are about 58 days to go until the grand opening.

If you’d like to follow along and join the countdown, visit:
https://www.starcentermultisport.com/northlake

Let’s talk plans! Whether you’re looking to get out of the house or just see what’s happening around town, here’s what’s going on in and around Justin this week.

Monday~ Feb. 2

Tuesday~ Feb. 3

Wednesday~ Feb. 4

Friday~ Feb. 6

Saturday~ Feb. 7

Sunday~ Feb. 8

^{Plan Ahead:
2/9-2/10~ Argyle ISD Student Holiday
2/9~ National PIzza Day
2/11~ Valentine’s Day on the Rooftop ($216.92)
2/12~ Galentine’s Party at Hilltop Truck Park
2/12~ Patio Series- The Wilder Blue at Marty B’s
2/13~ Last day to submit applications for Justin city Council
2/13~ Daddy Daughter Sweetheart Dance at FOTP Northlake
2/14~ Valentine’s Day}

This past week’s winter weather may have felt intense, but it wasn’t unusual for our area. North Texas doesn’t see long winters, and big storms usually show up just once a year — but they’ve been happening here for well over a century.

A Short Timeline of North Texas Winter Storms

If Winter Storm Fern felt familiar last week, it’s because North Texas winter has been freezing pipes, confusing forecasts, and testing our patience since the 1800s.