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City of Dallas names its first-ever poet laureate and youth poet laureate during ceremony declaring April National Poetry Month
Dallas mayor names city's first-ever poet laureate and youth poet laureate, declares April National Poetry Month
Dallas City Council members voted unanimously 15-0 for the ordinance, which they said they hoped would help reduce crime associated with such businesses.
DALLAS — The video above is from a previous story in March 2022 connected to this issue.
A Dallas city ordinance that forces sexually-oriented businesses to close between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. will remain on hold for now while a federal judge examines its constitutionality.
During a hearing Wednesday, lawyers for sexually-oriented businesses and the City of Dallas made arguments for and against enforcing the ordinance, which was passed in January.
RELATED: Judges hears arguments in case against city of Dallas' ordinance on sexually oriented businesses
One of the main issues is whether or not forcing businesses like cabarets and adult bookstores to close violates their first amendment rights of free expression.
Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn said she would review all the evidence and arguments in the case and decide in the coming days whether the ordinance is constitutional.
In the meantime, the city agreed to continue not enforcing the ordinance.
Sexually-oriented businesses said they are being unfairly targeted, and that city statistics showing they attract crime are not valid. They say much of their business depends on serving clients between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
Lawyers for the city said that the businesses attract large crowds after other entertainment establishments and bars close at 2 a.m. Crime, they said, follows, and the strains limit police and fire department resources.
In March, a judge listened to arguments in a preliminary injunction hearing.
Attorneys for the adult businesses picked apart data that the Dallas Police Department presented to the city council.
During that March hearing, police said the data showed violent crime offenses increased between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. at or near these types of businesses.
Attorneys for those businesses argued that the department's data lacked context because it doesn't compare crime data around adult businesses to other places, like convenience stores and motels, which are also open from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.
'It's a smart response' | Dallas City Council unanimously votes to limit hours at sexually-oriented businesses
Dallas Mayor Johnson proposes restrictions on store hours for sexually-oriented businesses
Judge sides with city of Dallas over eXXXotica Expo | 2022-04-06T23:22:16Z | www.wfaa.com | Sexually-oriented businesses: Judge hears arguments for hours | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/federal-judge-hears-arguments-for-regulating-hours-for-sexually-oriented-businesses/287-b9127b53-0846-4ebc-a04a-1bb95993b14e | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/federal-judge-hears-arguments-for-regulating-hours-for-sexually-oriented-businesses/287-b9127b53-0846-4ebc-a04a-1bb95993b14e |
Arnoldo Hurtado, the creator of Northside's new website, said it's time to uplift the community and its entrepreneurs.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Something’s brewing in Northside Fort Worth…
Along Central Avenue, Casa Azul, or ‘The Blue House,’ is taking off less than six months after owner Joseph Landers opened the Latino-owned coffee shop.
“It feels great,” said Landeros.
Thursday afternoon, a line of customers suddenly formed during the lunch hour with people eager to get their midday coffee fix.
“It's pretty humbling really,” said Landeros.
In 2021, he quit his job as a barista at Starbucks and opened up a coffee shop inspired by the home Frida Kahlo grew up in. Landeros and his wife decided to open their coffee shop in a predominantly-Latino neighborhood.
They serve coffee, but community is the focus.
“It's a sense of ownership within the community… something that communities can really hang their hat on,” said Landeros.
It was said the Northside community needed a coffee ship and gathering place within walking distance.
Now, there’s a big push to help small businesses in the historic neighborhood.
Arnoldo Hurtado, a community leader, recently launched the Northside Fort Worth website. It highlights Northside’s artists, creatives and small businesses and gives them a platform to attract new customers.
“All I want to see is my community thrive. I mean, it's as simple as that,” said Hurtado.
The website lists 22 small business owners in its business directory. Additionally, it features a blog spot to highlight the work of entrepreneurs in the community. Hurtado said there are plans to expand the website even more.
Hurtado runs a Northside community Facebook page that has garnered more than 12,000 followers. It serves as a space for neighbors to stay informed and engage in a dialogue.
Hurtado, who grew up in Northside, said he wants Fort Worth to embrace Northside as it is.
“There is an existing community,” said Hurtado.
That’s the reason he launched the new website. He wants people from everywhere to know that Northside has something to offer.
“There's so much culture and so much identity,” said Hurtado.
In the past, Hurtado and other leaders in the community raised concerns over revitalization plans. They worried that new development would lead to gentrification.
City leaders have argued that’s not the case, but Hurtado said he feels responsible for bringing his community together to prevent it from happening.
“It's very important that we highlight the community, because it's very easy to get caught up in the excitement of development and the new, new, new,” said Hurtado.
“But it’s also very important to pay homage to the people who really laid down the groundwork,” said Hurtado.
It’s a grassroots efforts to build up the community by uplifting those who live and work in it. He said the groundwork begins with supporting unique businesses like Casa Azul.
“It’s offering people my culture and the chance to experience new flavors and styles of coffee,” said Landeros.
He hopes to keep pouring into this community one cup at a time. | 2022-04-07T01:04:25Z | www.wfaa.com | New website highlight Northside Fort Worth community businesses | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/northside-fort-worth-launches-new-website-to-highlight-small-businesses/287-6de7ed70-1983-49c2-b555-59a507e5cc86 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/northside-fort-worth-launches-new-website-to-highlight-small-businesses/287-6de7ed70-1983-49c2-b555-59a507e5cc86 |
Yes, you get more time to start paying your federal student loans back. No, hoping they disappear is not a good plan, experts say
“It’s owed to the government which, in some sense, means it’s owed to the tax payers," Clark said.
Credit: zimmytws - stock.adobe.com
DALLAS — On Wednesday, President Biden announced another extension for the freeze on federal student loan collection. The program started in March 2020, putting a pause on payment collection and incurred interest, to protect borrowers from additional financial hardship during the pandemic.
This is the sixth time the freeze has been extended since it was put in place under former President Donald Trump.
For Cathy DeWitt Dunn, a financial advisor with DeWitt & Dunn Financial Services in Addison, the freeze is the ideal time for borrowers to either take advantage of interest-free payments or prepare to be in a good position to make payments once the the freeze is lifted.
“Now is really the time to refocus on your financial future and get a plan in place to address this," DeWitt Dunn said. "If you have a federal loan, which is different than a private loan, you are going to have to pay this back at some time.”
While social media swirls with joking memes about never paying the debt back and waiting for it to "disappear", DeWitt Dunn said ignoring payments will have a long-lasting impact.
"Everything’s going to be more expensive for you down the road," DeWitt Dunn said. "Whether it’s a house...a car…credit cards."
DeWitt said, even before the pandemic, people who had defaulted on their loans who were receiving Social Security payments, were already facing financial backlash with the government withholding money from their checks.
Wednesday's announcement also came with the news that U.S. Department of Education will also clear the slate for the nearly 7 million Americans who are in a delinquency situation, or who had defaulted on their loans. This means that once payments are due again, those borrowers will be in good standing instead of having to try to pay themselves out of an even larger deficit.
“Most American people are in a better shape financially than they have ever been, partly because the economy has come back pretty strongly from the early days of the pandemic," SMU Economics Director Cullum Clark said.
Clark also attributed Americans' overall financial state to a number of programs and initiatives created during the pandemic to help shield the nation from financial hardship.
However, he said the conversation about student loan debt is made up of two strong arguments that come down to ideology.
“That’s a big philosophical argument and what’s interesting is that neither of those arguments have very much to do with the pandemic at all," Clark said.
He said the debate surrounding cancelling federal student loan debt is the idea that many people who took out loans are doing financially better than the general population and can afford to pay their loans. He said the other argument is that many people with loan debt face financial hardship, and lifting the debt would create a more even playing field.
However, Clark pointed out that lawmakers have not made moves to cancel student loan debt, despite calls for measures like canceling $50,000 per borrower and even canceling all federal student loan debt.
“As of right now, there’s not a lot of evidence that [Biden] and the administration want to go down to full forgiveness," Clark said. "That could change, obviously.”
While neither Clark or DeWitt Dunn, or anyone else, knows for sure whether or not the debt be canceled or how many more extensions, if any, there will be, Clark said there's no denying the $1.6 trillion price tag attached the federal loan debt.
He said clearing the debt would create a larger federal deficit in the future, and the U.S. already has a large federal deficit. The solution to that could come in the form of higher taxes or the federal government pulling back in a different area.
"All of us economists believe, for the most part, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, so I don’t really think there’s such thing as a future where you can make all of the people who owe the 1.6 trillion dollars better off by 1.6 trillion and not have anyone else worse off," Clark said. | 2022-04-07T02:43:43Z | www.wfaa.com | Student loans: Yes, you get more time to pay money back | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/money/consumer/yes-you-get-more-time-to-start-paying-your-federal-student-loans-back/287-25a3a122-9bdd-4b45-91dc-1b437e6b6912 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/money/consumer/yes-you-get-more-time-to-start-paying-your-federal-student-loans-back/287-25a3a122-9bdd-4b45-91dc-1b437e6b6912 |
Jalexus Washington Sr., 27, was first arrested on outstanding warrants unrelated to the case last week, police said.
DALLAS — The father of a toddler who died from a gunshot wound last week, has been arrested in connection to the case, Dallas police announced Wednesday evening.
Police said 27-year-old Jalexus Washington Sr. has been arrested for tampering with evidence in the fatal shooting of his 3-year-old son, Jalexus Washington Jr.
The child’s mother, 26-year-old Lacravivonne Washington, remains in custody after being arrested on Wednesday, March 30. She faces three counts of endangerment of a child and tampering with physical evidence, police said.
According to the Dallas Police Department, officers responded to a local hospital after receiving a call that the 3-year-old Jalexus was taken to the emergency room with a single gunshot wound to the face just before 10 a.m. Monday, March 28.
RELATED: Parents arrested after 3-year-old boy was fatally shot, Dallas police say
Police said Lacravivonne and Jalexus were seen at a donut shop in the 9400 block of Walnut Street about 20 minutes before the shooting.
And during a search of her vehicle, police found a gun in the glove compartment, and a second gun was found in the possession of Washington Sr.
Washington Sr. was first arrested on outstanding warrants unrelated to the case last week. He told police he was at work and rushed to the hospital when he heard what happened. He had been out on bond prior to his arrest Wednesday, April 6.
Police said the new charge against Washington Sr. stems from the concealment of the firearm in the death of Jalexus.
Four children have been removed from the home of Lacravivonne, as police continue to investigate her whereabouts the morning of the shooting and who she may have spoken with on her cellphone that was confiscated.
Police said Lacravivonne is no longer cooperating with the investigation. Police ask that anyone one with information regarding this case to contact the department at 214-671-3675.
Delta Co. officials face federal lawsuit after officer made several arrests without having a license to work in Texas | 2022-04-07T04:19:12Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas police: 3-year-old fatally shot; both parents arrested | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/father-arrested-charged-in-connection-to-3-year-old-sons-death-dallas/287-897918d9-5a3e-498e-bfe5-88abcae0e261 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/father-arrested-charged-in-connection-to-3-year-old-sons-death-dallas/287-897918d9-5a3e-498e-bfe5-88abcae0e261 |
Abbott announced unprecedented action by Texas to secure the nation’s southern border, but he neglected to say that one of the pillars of the plan is voluntary.
DALLAS — Governor Greg Abbott says the federal government refuses to secure the national border, so he vows that Texas will.
Abbott unveiled a new border security plan at a news conference in Weslaco on Wednesday.
A main pillar of his plan calls for Texas to charter hundreds of buses and send migrants to Washington, D.C.
He said of the federal government, “They themselves have been putting these migrants on buses to San Antonio so I said, I’ve got a better idea. As opposed to bussing these people to San Antonio, let’s just continue the ride all the way to Washington, DC.”
“The first location will be the steps of the United States Capitol,” he added.
RELATED: Texas governor to bus migrants from border to Washington
But at the event announcing the plan, Abbott left out the fact that migrants will be put on DC-bound buses only if they volunteer to go - something many charities and non-profits operating along the border already offer.
He also didn’t explain that the migrants who would qualify for the voluntary busing program have already been processed by the federal government and approved to remain in the country.
“It would have to be voluntary to pass constitutional muster,” said immigration attorney Eric Cedillo.
“We’re talking about people again who are legally here in the U.S., have every right to be here. They have been paroled by the federal government, so that’s a concern," Cedillo said.
Abbott also ordered state troopers to inspect every commercial vehicle that enters the state at the international border and instructed the national guard to begin rehearsing military maneuvers – like building blockades across the Rio Grande or quickly putting up a razor wire fence to respond to a surge.
Title 42 – a federal health policy enacted early in the COVID pandemic to prevent people from entering the U.S. – will expire in May.
The result could be a spike in the number of people trying to enter at the border.
Spring also typically brings an annual increase in migrants attempting to make their way to the U.S. – many from central America.
Abbott says his plan is in response to an anticipated surge.
His democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke said it was a stunt.
“If Abbott focused on solutions instead of stunts, then Texas could have made some real progress on this issue over the last seven years,” O'Rourke said in a statement.
State Rep. Mary Gonzalez, a Democrat from El Paso, is Vice-Chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.
Gonzalez said, “Instead of using our tax dollars to drive economic growth and build infrastructure, Governor Abbott is funding political stunts at the expense of Texas families and our troops."
At least one Republican criticized Abbott.
State Rep. Matt Schaefer of Tyler tweeted, “It’s a gimmick.”
Cedillo questioned whether inspections of vehicles will be done in a uniform fashion to avoid profiling and he worries migrants might not understand the buses are voluntary.
“Maybe they’re told to hop on this bus, you’re going to Washington. They may not know that they have the right to not have that happen,” he said.
Cedillo expects legal challenges. | 2022-04-07T04:19:21Z | www.wfaa.com | Gov. Abbott's plan to ship migrants at the border to Washington | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/gov-abbotts-plan-to-ship-migrants-to-the-steps-of-the-united-states-capitol-washington-is-voluntary/287-99e7c8c5-ef0d-4f05-b1f9-01e7f4f085bf | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/gov-abbotts-plan-to-ship-migrants-to-the-steps-of-the-united-states-capitol-washington-is-voluntary/287-99e7c8c5-ef0d-4f05-b1f9-01e7f4f085bf |
The crash happened shortly after 1 a.m. on Forest Lane near the LBJ Freeway service road.
DALLAS — The driver of a motorcycle died in a crash with a dump truck early Thursday morning in northeast Dallas, police said.
A dump truck was heading north on the service road and had a green light at the intersection of Forest Lane, police said. As the truck entered the intersection, a motorcycle ran a red light and crashed into the truck's driver side door.
The motorcycle rider was thrown from the motorcycle. Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to the crash, and the rider was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the truck was OK and stayed at the scene, police said.
The name of the rider who died has not been released. He'll be identified by the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office.
The service road was shut down while police investigated the crash but it was later reopened. | 2022-04-07T12:46:07Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas motorcycle crash: Man killed near Forest Lane and 635 | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/motorcyclist-killed-in-crash-with-dump-truck-in-northeast-dallas-forest-lane-lbj-freeway-police-say/287-b68aab8b-9b6b-494a-bcc6-64105745ee7b | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/motorcyclist-killed-in-crash-with-dump-truck-in-northeast-dallas-forest-lane-lbj-freeway-police-say/287-b68aab8b-9b6b-494a-bcc6-64105745ee7b |
Voice cloning technology may have been used in Houston scam
The scam goes beyond a call that claims they're holding a loved one for ransom. It may use voice cloning technology to mimic a loved one's voice asking for help.
PEARLAND, Texas — A Pearland family is sharing their terrifying experience after being targeted by high-tech scammers.
It's a tale of a scam that goes beyond the hardware. Voice cloning technology can be used for a lot of good, but in the wrong hands, it can do a lot of harm. The scams are aiming straight for the heart.
Last Saturday, John Bridges said he was having dinner at his Pearland home when his phone rang.
“I answer it, and it’s someone crying,” Bridges said.
He said the voice sounded exactly like his daughter, Brittany.
Bridges said after hearing what he believed to be his daughter's plea, a man got on the phone and said, "I've got your daughter. She's in my car."
"It was terrifying," he said.
Bridges said the man demanded him to listen, and if he didn't, he might not ever see his daughter, Brittany, again. The caller told Bridges to stay on the phone, get cash and drive to a grocery store. He warned the father to not draw attention to himself.
"My mouth is dry and my heart's beating 100 miles an hour," Bridges said. "When he was telling me I would never see my daughter again, it was terrible."
Once Bridges got to the store, he was told to wire the money to Mexico, but luckily, before he could do it, Brittany had called her mother and let her know she was OK.
"I couldn't believe it. I was just, like, 'I'm OK. I am fine,'" Brittany said.
Pearland police responded to the scene. Brittany’s mother and sister had flagged them down as Bridges was driving to the store. Authorities said the caller’s number was traced to a number generated on the internet. It was a scam.
In 2020, the FTC held a workshop on voice cloning and raised the alarm about how the technology could be used and abused.
Ryan Kennedy is an associate professor of political science at the University of Houston whose focus is on the applications of artificial intelligence in public policy.
“We post videos on TikTok, on Twitter,” Kennedy said. “They’ll find examples of your speech online, or wherever they can find it, and then they will put it into a program. It can then clone that, and they can use that to get you, your voice, to say things that you didn’t actually say.”
The technology is used for good to bring voices back for people with ALS or throat cancer. It's also used in Hollywood. But the technology is getting cheaper and more accessible and can be used in crimes, too.
“One of the biggest issues is that it completely undermines the credibility of video and audio evidence, which is one of the things we consider kind of a gold standard,” Kennedy said. “Pretty soon, this voice technology is going to go from being something that involves hours of investment, to being something that’s probably going to be an app on your phone.”
Bridges was convinced the voice he heard on the other end of the phone was his daughter’s.
"It was her. ... It was her voice. I know it was," Bridges said. "I still can't really sleep at night. ... I still think about it."
Kennedy said there's software being developed to try to counter the fake voices so people like Bridges won't fall victim to these disturbing scams.
The Pearland Police Department said this is the first case of its kind that they’ve investigated. The Houston Police Department’s Major Offender’s Swindler Unit reports it hasn’t seen any of these scams in its jurisdiction.
For more information about voice cloning technology and how the FTC thinks it can be abused, click here. | 2022-04-07T14:58:04Z | www.wfaa.com | Voice cloning technology may have been used in Houston-area scam | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/pearland-father-daughter-voice-cloning-scam/285-1a7b0e9b-ccca-488c-afff-04dcec0d1e77 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/pearland-father-daughter-voice-cloning-scam/285-1a7b0e9b-ccca-488c-afff-04dcec0d1e77 |
The Texas Rangers have entered a new era after a winter spending spree brought an elite middle infield to Arlington but there is still work to be done.
DALLAS — Ahead of their 50th anniversary season in Arlington, the trajectory of the Texas Rangers changed dramatically on Dec. 1, 2021 when they announced the signings of shortstop Corey Seager, second baseman Marcus Semien, and starting pitcher Jon Gray. Throw in a deal for Kole Calhoun to man the outfield and the Rangers added over $100 million to the 2022 payroll after spending a single-offseason sports record of $561 million in one day.
What has become clear with the dizzying amount of dollars spent is the Rangers are sick of losing. After the most successful era in team history early last decade, Texas has been mired in an organizational slump since they last reached the postseason in 2016.
With two third-place seasons between three last-place finishes, including two-in-a-row and the franchise’s first 100-loss season (102) since 1973, the Rangers have put their foot and wallet down to signal a new stage of their years-long rebuild.
With that in mind, here’s a look at what to expect from the Rangers in 2022:
A killer keystone combination
What the Rangers bought with their offseason spending spree was the foundation from which they will build what they hope will be a contending team for years to come. That begins with the new All-Star middle infield of Seager and Semien who came to Texas for a cool half a billion.
SEAGER KNOCKS IN SEMIEN!
How often are we going to see this? 👀@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | 📺 BSSW pic.twitter.com/JvHwtBAgsT
The duo is not expected to carry the Rangers to the playoffs in 2022, the team’s front office has already been trying to mitigate expectations as they continue to put all the pieces together, but what can be expected from Seager and Semien is one of the best – if not the best – middle infields in baseball.
Seager, the 2016 NL Rookie of the Year, represents a .245 OPS improvement over the production that the Rangers received from their shortstops in 2021. The two-time All-Star turns 28-years old later this month which means he’s still in his prime and should continue to be one of MLB’s best players.
Meanwhile, Semien might be even better in the short term as the Gold Glove second baseman finished third in the American League MVP voting last season and set the record for most home runs in a single season at the position.
Ultimately what the tandem represents is a return to elite-caliber star players in Arlington and they should give fans a reason to tune in each night in 2022 with a chance to dream bigger for the years to come.
The bats are back
The hallmark of the Rangers over the years has been their hitting prowess but, over the last few seasons, Texas has tapered off with the bats. In the two seasons since the Rangers moved into their new ballpark, the offense has ranked 29th and 28th in runs scored.
Seager and Semien will do a lot to address the anemic hitting of recent years, but the Rangers also acquired one of the league’s top hitting catchers when they landed Mitch Garver in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. In addition, the club is anticipating a breakout season from first baseman Nathaniel Lowe after a strong second half in 2021.
With right fielder Kole Calhoun looking to become a stabilizing veteran presence in the lineup, 2021 All-Star Adolis Garcia will have center field to himself as he aims to rebound from a second half slump in his rookie season where he ultimately hit 31 home runs and finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting.
A lot of how the offense fares in 2022 will come down to how those questions are answered, but it will be something of an upset if the Rangers finish near the bottom in the league in runs scored again.
It’s the pitching, stupid
It’s a tale as old as, well, the 50 years that the Rangers have been in Arlington. Texas once again has to contend with a pitching staff that casts doubts on their ability to win. Whereas the lineup looks vastly improved, the hurlers – especially the starting rotation – is filled with iffy propositions that the organization will need to suss out if they want to get over the hump in the near future.
Signing Gray was a good start, and Dane Dunning should make strides this year, but the goal of the 2022 season should be about figuring out what the team has in rotation-mates Spencer Howard and Taylor Hearn, as well as the bevy of arms on the cusp or those who could transition to the rotation from the bullpen like Brock Burke, Kolby Allard, Glenn Otto, and A.J. Alexy.
Top pitching prospect Cole Winn could graduate to a spot in the rotation sometime over the summer, but Texas has to be hopeful that one or more of their starters with question marks will claim a role for the future which would set the team up nicely moving forward. Expect an ample amount of growing pains in the interim, however.
Youth will be served
A big part of the 2022 Texas Rangers, ironically, is not about their big league club at all. The development of the young players that Texas is cultivating in the minor leagues will determine whether or not their offseason expenditures will ultimately prove fruitful.
Luckily for Texas, the farm system is on the rise and starting to produce.
Respect for the Texas Rangers farm system 📈📈
# 11 on The Athletic
# 9 on BA
— The Prospect Times (@ProspectTimes) February 7, 2022
Though 2019 first-round pick Josh Jung likely won’t make his debut at third base this summer after shoulder surgery, 2018 top pick Winn is knocking on the door. Couple those two with the first-rounders from 2020 (IF Justin Foscue) and 2021 (RHP Jack Leiter), along with one of the consensus deepest systems in baseball, and the Rangers are lined up to support their recent free agency prizes.
Keeping an eye on how the prospects on the farm grow and develop, along with how players on the cusp or youngsters in the big leagues try to transition to become a part of the core going forward, is one of the more exciting aspects to anticipate from the Rangers in 2022.
Bold prediction: The Rangers won’t finish last in the American League West!
Instead, expect Texas to be on the fringes of the Wild Card hunt a year ahead of when they think they will be ready for the big jump. On the bright side, there should be a lot of tangible progress as the Rangers provide entertaining baseball and hope for the first time in years.
Where do you think the Rangers will finish in the AL West in 2022? Share your predictions with us on Twitter @BaseballTX. | 2022-04-07T17:00:17Z | www.wfaa.com | Texas Rangers season preview: Building upon a new foundation | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/mlb/rangers/texas-rangers-season-preview-2022-building-upon-a-new-foundation/287-08de64cf-e10d-40d5-967d-a0029282912c | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/mlb/rangers/texas-rangers-season-preview-2022-building-upon-a-new-foundation/287-08de64cf-e10d-40d5-967d-a0029282912c |
Texas Rangers 2022 Opening Day: Here's everything you need to know
The Texas Rangers open their season against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 8. The Rangers' home opener will be April 11 against the Colorado Rockies.
April 7 marks Opening Day for the MLB, but the Texas Rangers open their season on April 8 on the road against the Toronto Blue Jays. After the three-game road series, the Rangers return to Arlington for its two-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies.
For ticket information, visit texasrangers.com, call 972-RANGERS or visit the Globe Life Field box office, which is located adjacent to the Southeast entrance. | 2022-04-07T17:00:23Z | www.wfaa.com | When is Texas Rangers Opening Day? TV, time, matchups | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/mlb/rangers/texas-rangers-when-is-opening-day-2022-home-opener-score-recap-live-blog/287-0822b7cf-c828-4a64-8b28-cff028e9eef7 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/mlb/rangers/texas-rangers-when-is-opening-day-2022-home-opener-score-recap-live-blog/287-0822b7cf-c828-4a64-8b28-cff028e9eef7 |
The long-standing Main Street Arts Festival and the first-ever Fort Worth Arts Fair are happening between Thursday and Sunday.
FORT WORTH, Texas — It’s a big week for downtown Fort Worth.
After a two-year hiatus the Main Street Arts Festival is back for its 37th year since its founding.
The festival, which runs from the courthouse to the convention center, kicked things off on Thursday. It features food, live music, and the works of more than 200 artists from across the country.
There are a few additions to the festival this year, including three new stages and TCC’s family-friendly Makers Zone.
Through the years, the festival has attracted tens of thousands of attendees.
Headliners include South African Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist Jonathan Butler, soulful Southern singer/songwriter Tanner Usrey, Texas singer/songwriting powerhouse Josh Weathers, jazz vocalist Tatiana “LadyMay” Mayfield, Latin rock band Del Castillo, Fort Worth’s own Grady Spencer & The Work, and multiple performances from multimedia troupe Squonk Opera with ‘Hand to Hand!.’
This year, there are two arts festivals happening within steps of each other.
For the first year, the Fort Worth Arts Fair will be held in Sundance Square. It showcases local artists. Every hour on the hour, a local or regional musician will take the stage.
Thursday, Stephenville, TX residents Shawna Glasgow and Heidi Westbrook drove an hour to attend both festivals.
“I’ve been ready for it to come back around,” Glasgow said.
“We took off work, we planned ahead like a vacation day, and came shopping,” Westbrook said.
Michael Hayes, a glass artist from North Carolina, said he looked forward to bringing his artwork to Fort Worth.
“It’s a really fun place to be,” Hayes said. “It’s way busier today. Usually, Thursday is pretty slow and the crowds are out already, so hopefully that continues through the weekend.”
Ruth Meharg, deputy director of the new Fort Worth Art Fair, said she believes there was a need to showcase art from Fort Worth talent.
“Fort Worth artists will feel like they’re represented here in downtown,” Meharg said.
While the dueling art festivals sparked some controversy, Meharg sees the two events as positive.
“I see it as complimentary. I think that what Main Street has to offer is great, and I think that what we have to offer is not competing with them but is just showcasing,” Meharg said.
The Fort Worth Art Fair will include a music lineup headlined by Grammy Award-winning country music artist Clint Black, jazz vocalist Catherine Russell with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Steve Miller, acclaimed pianist Shelly Berg, guitarist Dean Parks, bassist Nathan East, and drummer Gregg Field, Fort Worth’s Abraham Alexander, and Grammy Award-winning R&B and jazz singer Ledisi.
Click here for more information on the music lineup:
Jay Downie, director of the long-standing Main Street Arts Festival told WFAA he saw no issue with both festivals happening simultaneously.
The four-day festivals run through Sunday and admission is free. | 2022-04-08T00:11:35Z | www.wfaa.com | Fort Worth arts festivals held in downtown | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/two-arts-festivals-in-downtown-fort-worth-2022/287-6ea7364e-b133-4b6f-9bab-b9d34d38450e | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/two-arts-festivals-in-downtown-fort-worth-2022/287-6ea7364e-b133-4b6f-9bab-b9d34d38450e |
When firefighters arrived, they reported smoke from the second floor of the building.
DALLAS — Two Dallas firefighters have been taken to the hospital, as crews continue to battle a 4-alarm fire at a senior living facility Thursday evening, officials say.
Just after 6:30 p.m., Dallas Fire-Rescue crews responded to call for an "automatic fire alarm" at the Lakeland Hills Senior Living Facility in the 3300 block of Dilido Road on the city's northeast side.
When crews arrived, firefighters saw smoke coming from the second floor of the three-story building and then immediately upgraded the response to a working second-alarm fire.
A short time later, the blaze was again upgraded to a 4th-alarm fire, which means about 100 firefighters have been dispatched to the scene.
By 8:20 p.m. the fire was upgraded to a 5th alarm.
The property manager told WFAA that the residents were been evacuated and being taken to a Red Cross shelter, or leaving with family members.
The incident is still ongoing. We'll update as more details become available. | 2022-04-08T01:49:24Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas Fire-Rescue: Firefighters at Lakeland Hills Senior Living | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fire-at-dallas-senior-living-facility-officials-say/287-deba1097-ee79-436c-8738-1d138eba413c | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fire-at-dallas-senior-living-facility-officials-say/287-deba1097-ee79-436c-8738-1d138eba413c |
The African American Museum of Dallas hosts “Yanga: Journeys to Freedom exhibit.”
Credit: Lourdes Vazquez
Author: Lourdes Vazquez (WFAA)
DALLAS — The African American Museum of Dallas in collaboration with the Latino Arts Project is bringing his story to life through art.
The exhibit, "Yanga: Journeys to Freedom" is an educational experience demonstrating through folk art, interactive displays, music and videos the African diaspora in Mexico.
Yanga is known as the first liberator of the Americas. In 1570, he was taken from Africa and enslaved in Veracruz, Mexico.
“He was a Prince,” said Jorge Baldor co-curator with the Latino Arts Project. “He was able to take those leadership skills and his experiences to create a free community.”
Yanga was able to help men and women escape to create the community of Yanga in Veracruz. His community thrived on agriculture and raided the supply ships arriving in Mexico from Spain.
“Spain was frustrated, and the Vice Royal sent 35 troops to stop his action,” Baldor explained. “They were captured by Yanga and his men and one of them was sent back with a message: ‘give us our free territory, our free community, we’ll leave you alone’.”
Unrelenting to Yanga, Spain sent 550 troops. Yanga and his men captured them, and subsequently, the Spanish then agreed to leave the community alone.
In 1609, Yanga won their freedom forming the first liberated town in the Americas. It was only in 2017 that The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared the city of Yanga as a world heritage site in memory of slavery and Afro-descendants.
“Even in Mexico many aren’t aware of the story,” Baldor said.
The Yanga: Journeys to Freedom exhibit is one-way organizers hope to change the lack of awareness about Yanga and the African experience in Mexico.
“As we talk about diversity, inclusion, and equity, it's important for us to understand what that path [has been], how it affected some of the experiences that we're having today,” Baldor explained. “If we don't know the history behind it, then those conversations aren't always directed in the most effective way.”
The exhibit also explores the story of the Mascogos, who took the Southern route of the unofficial Underground Railroad to escape slavery in the United States to create the town Nacimiento de los Negros in the Mexican state of Coahuila.
“Through this exhibit showing experiences and different cultural exchanges, I think it's a great opportunity to find the commonality that we have,” Baldor said.
The exhibit opens on April 9 and will run through the State Fair of Texas. Organizers plan to host panel discussions as well. Admission to the museum is free and open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Up in 60: Daisha Board Gallery gives underrepresented artists a platform to showcase work | 2022-04-08T14:47:17Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas exhibit to create conversations on African diaspora | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/la-vida/dallas-exhibit-to-educate-and-create-a-dialogue-on-the-african-experience-in-the-america/287-02b0570d-4203-4488-b069-917c3ab43140 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/la-vida/dallas-exhibit-to-educate-and-create-a-dialogue-on-the-african-experience-in-the-america/287-02b0570d-4203-4488-b069-917c3ab43140 |
In late March, a person was found dead in the water in the 8100 block of Garland Road.
DALLAS — A male body was found at White Rock Lake on Thursday, according to police.
Dallas police confirmed to WFAA that a 911 caller reported a male floating in White Rock Lake.
There were no further details immediately available Thursday.
Police said it was an active investigation.
This marks the second time in two weeks where a body has been found at White Rock Lake.
In late March, a person was found dead in the water along the 8100 block of Garland Road. That person's identity still has not been released as of April 8.
The investigation into the person found dead in March is ongoing, as well.
Body found in water at White Rock Lake, police say
They're back! Pair of bald eagles find new nest at White Rock Lake
City of Dallas taking extra steps to protect pair of bald eagles nested at White Rock Lake | 2022-04-08T14:47:23Z | www.wfaa.com | Body found at White Rock Lake in Dallas; 2nd in 2 weeks | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/white-rock-lake-body-dallas/287-7ba835db-e3af-4fa4-85ae-4349352530bf | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/white-rock-lake-body-dallas/287-7ba835db-e3af-4fa4-85ae-4349352530bf |
AUSTIN, Texas — Anderson High School has been an engine for education, a vehicle for change and a train on track to connect the past to the present.
The school has done so by teaching about its history with tributes to distinguished alumni. One distinguished alumnus is the focus of this story.
Dick "Night Train" Lane was a standout football player for the Yellowjackets in the 1940s. He went on to have an illustrious career in the NFL, known for setting the single-season record for interceptions and for his vicious style of tackling.
"The necktie tackling. The clothesline. The facemask. All that was banned because of him," said Richard Walker Sr., Night Train's son.
Walker and his brother, Richard Lane Jr., are in the process of putting together a documentary on their dad, focusing on the undocumented part: the start of his life and the end of his life in Austin.
"As a child, he was thrown away as a baby. As an infant, wrapped up in newspaper, put in a garbage can," Walker said.
"I believe he was approximately three months old," Lane said.
"The guy tried to take off and leave, so as the guy was headed to the door, Night Train grabbed a cue ball and clanked him across the head. And everyone around him was like, 'Cue Ball!'" Lane said.
The end of Night Train's life left his family in mourning and left suspicions of CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, unanswered.
"The NFL didn't want to acknowledge it because we don't have brain matter for them to dissect to say, 'This is what happened to your dad,'" Walker said.
At the funeral, they discussed the next steps to honor their dad and decided on a documentary – a documentary that's connecting the dots.
"[It's] capturing a very important piece of his life right here in Austin, Texas," Lane said.
Jake García on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | 2022-04-08T14:47:41Z | www.wfaa.com | Dick 'Night Train' Lane's sons working on documentary in Austin | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/dick-night-train-lane-documentary-connect-family-austin/269-e815ade2-3b0d-43a3-abd1-1d97efb58947 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/dick-night-train-lane-documentary-connect-family-austin/269-e815ade2-3b0d-43a3-abd1-1d97efb58947 |
With Amari Cooper out of the picture, wide receiver could be a major need that the Dallas Cowboys could look to fill with their first pick at the NFL Draft.
DALLAS — For football fans, the month of April means digging into the ins and outs of the upcoming NFL Draft.
For the Dallas Cowboys, the annual event has become the main way that the organization builds the core of the team. The offseason maneuvering thus far has left some holes on the Cowboys, most of which will be addressed during the draft.
With the trade of Amari Cooper, Kellen Moore’s offense is in search of a wide receiver to pair with recent first-rounder CeeDee Lamb and four-year pro Michael Gallup, who signed a long term deal to stay in Dallas this spring.
Luckily for the Cowboys, this year’s draft has a strong group of wide receivers. The 2022 class features a deep group of quality playmakers that extends well past the first round, which might be the reason that the Cowboys were fine with moving on from Cooper.
Here is what I have learned this week: There are no fewer than 5 unbelievable WR prospects that definitely might convince a front office to not to pay a veteran $25m a year when you control these dudes for 5 years at very low prices.
— Bob Sturm (@SportsSturm) April 5, 2022
Here are a handful of wideouts that the Cowboys could target with their top selection, if that’s the direction they choose to go in:
At 6 feet, 5 inches tall and 210 pounds, London is a physical presence in the mold of former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant. In eight games of his junior season, London topped 1,000 yards on 88 receptions and scored seven touchdowns.
Among London’s best traits include his physicality, which will serve him well in the transition to the NFL, strong hands, and the ability to high point the ball and make contested catches. London doesn’t have blazing speed, but he is still very good with the ball in his hands on the move. His size makes him difficult to bring down in the open field and he’s a big-bodied receiver who could excel in the red zone.
Although there isn’t a consensus as to who the top wide receiver is in the draft, many talent evaluators have London as the No. 1 receiver coming out this year.
Buy the Drake London hype pic.twitter.com/QL6vmcslN0
London is likely to be off the board when the Cowboys select at 24, but no one expected Lamb to reach Dallas with the No. 17 overall pick in 2020. If somehow London makes his way to the Cowboys in the first round, or they go up to get him with a trade, he would make for a great complement to their current group of wideouts.
If the Cowboys are looking for the speed and a vertical threat that they’ve been missing, Williams would be a fit. Williams only had one standout season at Alabama, playing with some of the most talented players that college football has to offer, but it was an electric year.
The recently turned 21-year-old wide receiver had 79 catches for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide in 2021, with a whopping 19.9 yards per catch (YPC) average. Williams ranked second in the NCAA in YPC for players who qualified with at least 50 receptions.
Williams has excellent speed and is a terror after the catch, making him perhaps the most explosive wide receiver in the draft.
The problem with selecting Williams is he suffered a torn ACL in January, making his status for the start of the NFL season up in the air still. With Gallup already questionable for the early part of the season, would the Cowboys gamble on a second receiver rehabbing a serious injury?
Dallas might not get the chance to make that decision as he’ll likely be gone before the 24th pick.
The Cowboys have an affinity for Arkansas players since owner Jerry Jones attended the school, but Burks would be a match as a potential personal favorite who also happens to be a very skilled player. Burks had a great junior season for the Razorbacks, catching 66 passes for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns, while thriving despite less than stellar quarterback play.
Burks doesn’t have the speed that some of the other elite prospects possess, clocking in with a 4.55 40-time at the NFL combine, but the talented wide receiver plays faster than his timed speed. At 6 feet, 2 inches tall, 225 pounds, Burks has the size, strength, and athleticism to excel at the next level. Burks also has the physicality to break tackles in the open field and uses his size as an advantage against most cornerbacks.
Speed appears to be the only question with Burks, yet he found a way to dominate in the nation’s best football conference. Burks is also a legitimate option for the Cowboys around their spot in the first round.
Chris Olave, Ohio St.
Rarely does a wide receiver without a 1,000-yard season in his college career get talked about as a potential first-rounder, but Olave is that player. Olave played four years at Ohio St. and his best season was his senior year where he caught 65 balls for 936 yards and 13 scores.
However, the statistics don’t tell the whole story. Olave was always a part of a talented offense that usually boasted three star receivers that spread the ball around. Olave is considered one of the best route runners and is perhaps the most polished receiver in the draft.
The knock most draft analysts have on Olave is that he doesn’t have an elite trait. He’s got good but not great speed and he isn’t as strong as some of the other options at the position. Olave feels like a safe, solid pick who will be a good wide receiver in the NFL during his career, he just might not be a true No 1. wide receiver.
Most believe that Olave is a realistic option for the Cowboys at No. 24.
Garrett Wilson, Ohio St.
Wilson played opposite Olave and managed to put up stellar numbers in his final season with the Buckeyes, catching 70 balls for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns. At 6 feet tall, 185 pounds, Wilson has good size with room to get stronger.
Most of the attributes are there with Wilson. The Austin, Texas native has good athleticism, strong hands, and an instinct for the position. Wilson’s also a deep threat that has the speed to do damage with the ball in his hands in the open field.
Most draft experts feel there’s an element of boom or bust to Wilson, but he’s a solid prospect who the Cowboys could target with their first-round pick.
If the Cowboys ultimately bypass the receiver position in round one, there are many other good options on the second day of the draft that could fill out their wide receiver room. An elite option might cost them their first pick but they’ve shown that they’re willing to take the right receiver when the opportunity arises.
Would you be happy to see the Cowboys select a wide receiver in the first round? Share your thoughts with Ben on Twitter @BenGrimaldi. | 2022-04-08T16:44:48Z | www.wfaa.com | NFL Draft 1st round wide receiver options for Dallas Cowboys | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/nfl-draft-dallas-cowboys-options-wide-reciever/287-1517b2d1-c470-4048-8b44-fb29997de136 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/nfl-draft-dallas-cowboys-options-wide-reciever/287-1517b2d1-c470-4048-8b44-fb29997de136 |
The Dallas County Sheriff's Office said a woman was hit by vehicles after she was walking towards traffic along Interstate 30 in East Dallas late Thursday night
DALLAS — A woman has died after being hit by several vehicles on Interstate 30 Thursday night, according to the Dallas County Sheriff's Office.
According to police, the woman was walking down the highway at approximately 10:30 p.m. Thursday near the Munger Boulevard exit when she was struck by several vehicles near Grand Avenue.
The highway was closed between the Winslow Avenue to Fitzhugh Avenue exits overnight into Friday morning. Hazmat crews were on scene at 3:15 a.m. Friday and highway reopened at 3:45 a.m., the sheriff's office confirmed to WFAA.
The woman's identity was not known Friday, but the sheriff's office said the medical examiner’s office will make positive identification at a later date.
Police said that, according to witnesses, a white minivan may have struck the victim along with several other vehicles, all of which failed to stop at the scene.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Dallas Sheriff’s Vehicle Crimes Unit at (214)653-2315.
'I don't want my mom to be executed.' | Melissa Lucio's son, John, chokes back tears at Dallas rally | 2022-04-08T18:30:16Z | www.wfaa.com | Woman killed after being hit while walking on Interstate 30 | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/i-30-woman-killed-hit-and-run-grand-avenue/287-c6dc505c-03f0-486c-8c03-4601a7e232f9 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/i-30-woman-killed-hit-and-run-grand-avenue/287-c6dc505c-03f0-486c-8c03-4601a7e232f9 |
“This is not what a police officer is supposed to do. It is the opposite,” U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay said at Eddie Villarreal's sentencing.
DALLAS — A former Dallas police officer was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for lying to federal agents about his role in obstructing an FBI investigation into a nightclub magnate later convicted of a drug conspiracy, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham announced Friday.
Eddie Villarreal, 53, pleaded guilty in January 2018 to making a false statement to the FBI.
U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay sentenced Villarreal on Thursday and ordered him to pay a fine of $10,000.
“This is not what a police officer is supposed to do” Lindsay said at sentencing. “It is the opposite. When that trust is broken, a police officer must be held accountable. That’s the bottom line.”
According to his plea papers, during Villarreal's tenure as a Dallas police officer, he also served as head of security for Alfredo Hinojosa, the owner of a string of nightclubs including Ok Corral and Far West.
Villarreal also regularly helped Hinojosa and his employees with criminal matters, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
RELATED: After damaged by gunfire during hostage situation in early 2022, Colleyville synagogue reopens for service with new look
On April 14, 2014, Villarreal admitted he answered a call from club promoter Martin “Chava” Rodriguez, who told Villarreal that he suspected he was being followed by law enforcement. Rodriguez was, in fact, being tailed by the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Villarreal told Rodriguez to pull over before driving out to meet him.
When he got there, Villarreal pulled up behind the FBI vehicle and activated his red and blue emergency lights. After confirming the people in the vehicle were FBI agents, he introduced himself as an officer with the Dallas Police Department and offered to help them with their investigation into Rodriguez.
However, Villarreal later admitted he never intended to assist the FBI but wanted to learn more about the investigations in order to pass the information along to Hinojosa and Rodriguez, officials said.
Soon after, Villarreal called one of the agents and provided information about a target who he said was dealing cocaine out of nightclub bathrooms. The U.S. Attorney's Office said he later admitted he did so in order to deflect attention from Hinojosa.
The next day, FBI agents called Villarreal to make him aware of a grand jury investigation into Rodriguez and others.
After that conversation, Villarreal admitted he visited Hinojosa at his office and told him about the investigation and its targets, telling Hinojosa, “You got detectives that don’t know anything about you... I can get in trouble if they think I’m warning you," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Upon learning the FBI might be surveilling his nightclubs, Hinojosa said he wanted to “tighten down” on drug sales in club bathrooms, officials said.
On May 7, 2015, FBI agents reached out to Villarreal to ask if he had informed anyone of the Rodriguez stop or grand jury investigation. Villarreal denied any such disclosures.
He resigned from the police department five months later, in October 2015, according to officials.
RELATED: Police say the southern Dallas property that hosted the deadly concert shooting had been previously used to scrap parts from stolen cars
“By alerting his clients to an ongoing investigation, Mr. Villarreal undermined the hard work of his law enforcement colleagues and sullied his badge,” U.S. Attorney Meacham said. “He took an oath to serve and protect – and promptly did the opposite. The Justice Department will not allow this kind of misconduct to go unpunished.”
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno said the public expects officers to be "honest" and "trustworthy" and to prioritize protecting their communities from dangerous people.
"The defendant not only failed to protect his community but also lied to a fellow law enforcement officer," DeSarno said. "He provided sensitive information that could have jeopardized the outcome of a criminal investigation. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will hold accountable any officer that breaks the law and endangers the lives of others."
Hinojosa and Rodriguez were later convicted at trial of managing drug premises, conspiracy to manage drug premises, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Multiple witnesses testified that Hinojosa and Rodriguez knew drug trafficking was occurring on the premises of Hinojosa's clubs and openly ordered security personnel to allow it. They are now facing up to life in federal prison, and their sentencing has been set for June 3 and July 22, respectively.
More than 30 defendants – including Villarreal’s former Dallas Police colleague, Craig Woods – have been convicted in connection with the case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation, referred to as “Operation Closing Time,” with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's Enforcement Division provided help as well. Assistant U.S. Attorneys P.J. Meitl, Errin Martin, Nicole Dana, and Melanie Smith prosecuted the case. | 2022-04-08T20:23:15Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas officer sentenced for relationship with nightclub owner | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/former-dallas-police-officer-relationship-nightclub-owner/287-98fca309-7c55-4f85-b63b-622ab45c59e2 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/former-dallas-police-officer-relationship-nightclub-owner/287-98fca309-7c55-4f85-b63b-622ab45c59e2 |
Last week, a shooting during a trail ride and concert left 16 people injured and a 26-year-old man dead, according to the Dallas Police Department.
DALLAS — Editor's note: The above video was from a previous story on witness accounts of the event.
The first lawsuit following a deadly concert shooting in southern Dallas has been filed by the parents of a 14-year-old girl who was seriously injured in the incident, the family’s attorney announced Friday.
The parents of a 14-year-old girl – who attended the event with her volleyball team – filed a lawsuit against the promoters, organizers and the artists of the concert, accusing them of negligence and failing to obtain the proper permits.
According to the original petition filed by the family, they also accused the defendants of not having the proper safety measures in place to protect the public.
The shooting happened around 12:13 a.m. Sunday, April 3, at 5050 Cleveland Road. Dallas police said someone fired a gun into the air, and then a fight broke out and another person fired shots into the crowd of at least 2,000 people.
The parents of the 14-year-old said their child suffered a “serious, life-changing gunshot wound,” and she “deserves, and she demands, justice.”
In a press release from the family’s attorneys, it says as the event drew closer, the organizers posted to social media that it would be “fun and safe” and that there would be “ground rules that would be in place.”
The release also pointed to multiple flyers that read there would be police and security on site at the event, with attendees entering through specified gates with metal detectors.
Dallas Police said six off-duty officers and a sergeant worked as security for the event, but they were only paid to be at the event until 11 p.m., so they were all gone when the shooting occurred after midnight.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia held a news conference on April 4 and said the officers should not have been given permission to work that event due to it not having the proper permits.
Garcia said the department was currently working two investigations – the criminal case into who committed the shooting and who should be responsible and an internal review into why the officers and the sergeant were working the event.
“This kind of negligence and senseless tragedy should never happen in our city. Those responsible must be held accountable and brought to justice through our legal system – for this family and for all the victims,” said Lead Attorney for the Plaintiffs, personal injury lawyer Ryan L. Thompson of Thompson Law.
RELATED: Dallas PD: Following fatal southern Dallas concert shooting, off-duty officers cannot work permit-less events
This was the second mass shooting that occurred in southern Dallas at an event that in the last month.
In mid-March, 10 people were injured in a shooting during a spring break party at the southern Dallas venue The Space. One victim, an 18-year-old man, later died from his injuries. Police are still searching for persons of interest and suspects in that shooting too. | 2022-04-09T01:26:21Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas concert shooting: Victim's family files lawsuit | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/family-of-14-year-old-girl-injured-in-southern-dallas-concert-shooting-files-lawsuit/287-ca2828f5-8f6a-4436-8093-24f84faa2abb | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/family-of-14-year-old-girl-injured-in-southern-dallas-concert-shooting-files-lawsuit/287-ca2828f5-8f6a-4436-8093-24f84faa2abb |
While the victim has yet to be identified, the school said he was in the marching band, a member of a fraternity and a senior scheduled to graduate in December. TSU Marketing and Communications Vice President Tracy Clemons said the student was loved.
"This campus – this Tiger family – really is a family. It’s a very close-knit community, especially the Ocean of Soul, the marching band,” Clemons said.
In a statement, a TSU representative said the shooting was "isolated and accidental." The university also plans to launch a campaign to promote gun safety. | 2022-04-09T04:39:50Z | www.wfaa.com | TSU student dies from accidental shooting | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/texas-southern-university-man-accidently-shot-killed-apartment/285-5c248ea8-1b41-4815-8576-0e1b764041a4 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/texas-southern-university-man-accidently-shot-killed-apartment/285-5c248ea8-1b41-4815-8576-0e1b764041a4 |
Fort Worth police also have contingency plans in place for civil unrest that might arise from next month's trial of former police officer Aaron Dean, the mayor said.
Author: Michael McCardel, Jason Whitely
FORT WORTH, Texas — The owners of Sundance Square, Ed and Sasha Bass, have new plans for the once-popular downtown shopping and dining district that has spiraled to empty storefronts and uncertainty.
On Sunday’s Inside Texas Politics, Mayor Mattie Parker was asked whether she has spoken to the Bass’ about the future of this downtown centerpiece.
“I have,” Mayor Parker said. “I’ve spoken to them several times about it. I’ve also talked to and worked very closely with the leadership of Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.”
When asked what the Bass’ told Parker, the mayor said: “They have a new vision for Sundance Square. They’re trying to execute on that. You shouldn’t want me to, nor do I have any control over private business. I think the number one factor right now is communicating whatever that vision may be to residents and visitors downtown and refocusing those efforts. Am I frustrated? Sure. Because I get a lot of questions about this. But I also have to have faith that private businesses, specifically Mr. Bass who has been an incredible visionary for downtown Fort Worth and the entire community, are allowed some time to let that vision come to fruition.”
Two years ago, at the beginning of the pandemic, the Bass’ changed property management in the 35-block district.
The relationship between property managers and tenants has spiraled ever since. COVID exacerbated it.
Expensive valet parking replaced free parking near restaurants like the Reata steakhouse.
Now, after 20 years in Sundance Square, Reata announced it will look for a new home when its lease expires in June 2024.
“When you have announcements like Reata, which is a beloved institution in downtown Fort Worth looking for a new location, I hope that all of us heed warning about that because you cannot lose the Reata’s of the world downtown without a huge hit to your economy and what makes Fort Worth and downtown so special,” Mayor Parker added on Inside Texas Politics.
When pressed what the new vision would look like for Sundance Square, Parker said: “I think you have to ask them about what they want to do for the enhancement of small business downtown as well as what their game plan is to make sure our restaurants are successful in Sundance Square.”
She said she does not know when that vision might be fulfilled.
Mayor Parker, who also told Inside Texas Politics she will seek re-election, said Fort Worth is also preparing for two major events next month.
The first is the murder trial of former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean, who is charged with murder in the shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson.
The 28-year-old woman was playing video games in October 2019 with her 8-year-old nephew.
Dean was dispatched there to check on the house after a neighbor noticed the front door open late at night. Dean walked into the backyard unannounced to investigate.
Jefferson, inside her own home and unaware that anyone had called police to her home, grabbed her gun and had gotten up to look out the window when she was shot by Dean, according to police.
Jefferson died at the scene. An arrest warrant stated three times that Dean did not announce that he was a police officer when he walked around the house.
The trial will be “a difficult several weeks for the community,” Mayor Parker said.
She was also asked whether the city has contingency plans in place for civil unrest that might arise from the trial.
“We do have contingency plans and are working, actually, with several of the organizations that led protests in the summer of 2020,” the mayor explained, “to make sure they understand that peaceful protests will absolutely be welcomed and allowed. But there’s a line we’re going to draw if things are going to become dangerous for the community.”
Also next month, the city of Fort Worth will hold a bond election on May 7. One of the proposals voters are being asked to approve is $15 million for “open space conservation.”
Mayor Parker says green space in the city is in jeopardy.
“It’s around 50 acres per week that are developed in the city of Fort Worth every single week. We’re the fastest growing city, we talk about that a lot. And with growth comes tremendous opportunity, but you also have a huge risk and one of those risks is an overdevelopment of our beautiful green space and open space across the city of Fort Worth.” | 2022-04-09T22:52:10Z | www.wfaa.com | Fort Worth mayor talks Sundance Square, Aaron Dean trial, bond | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/fort-worth-mayor-mattie-parker-interview-sundance-square-aaron-dean-bond-election/287-491a08fc-b3cb-49b1-807e-2d00021546f2 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/fort-worth-mayor-mattie-parker-interview-sundance-square-aaron-dean-bond-election/287-491a08fc-b3cb-49b1-807e-2d00021546f2 |
Here is a look at the 2022 roster for the Texas Rangers.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers made a handful of hefty signings in the offseason, bringing on marquee names with big contracts such as Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.
Those two, along with Jon Gray and Kole Calhoun, accounted for a record-spending spree of $561 million in one day.
With that said, there will be some new faces for fans in 2022.
Here is a look at the full 2022 roster:
Martin Perez (L)s
10-Day Injured List (1)
The Texas Rangers open the 2022 season against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Rangers' home opener is April 11 against the Colorado Rockies. For a deeper dive to preview the 2022 season, click here. | 2022-04-11T16:41:19Z | www.wfaa.com | Who are the new players on the Texas Rangers 2022 roster? | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/mlb/rangers/texas-rangers-2022-roster-hitters-pitchers-new-players/287-32cd5af7-23f9-4f45-906c-61ac5813d2aa | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/mlb/rangers/texas-rangers-2022-roster-hitters-pitchers-new-players/287-32cd5af7-23f9-4f45-906c-61ac5813d2aa |
Police arrived and found three victims who had been shot: A 41-year-old man, a 67-year-old woman and an 84-year-old man.
Police investigate a shooting at a home in Arlington on Monday morning.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Two men were killed and one woman was injured in a shooting at a home in Arlington early Monday, police said.
Officers responded shortly after midnight to a home in the 5300 block of Ivy Hill Drive in southwest Arlington, near Little and Mayfield roads, according to a police news release.
The younger man and the woman were taken to a hospital, where the man died, police said. The woman was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The 84-year-old man died at the home, police said.
The 41-year-old man was identified as Matthew Thomas Stuart, and the 84-year-old man was identified as George Robert Nitsche, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office. Both men lived at the home where the shooting happened.
Police have not released the name of the woman who was shot.
All three victims were related, though police did not initially say how. Police said investigators believed that an "unidentified suspect forced entry" into the home and began shooting at the victims.
No arrests have been made. Police said investigators do not believe the shooting was random, but more information was not yet released.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call homicide investigators at 817-459-5312. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS.
Arlington makes changes to splash pads after 3-year-old dies of brain-eating amoeba | 2022-04-11T20:38:35Z | www.wfaa.com | Arlington shooting: 2 men killed at home on Ivy Hill | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/ivy-hill-drive-shooting-2-men-killed-woman-injured-in-shooting-at-home-in-arlington-police-say/287-79828bf9-0ff0-4349-a64f-951d3f431832 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/ivy-hill-drive-shooting-2-men-killed-woman-injured-in-shooting-at-home-in-arlington-police-say/287-79828bf9-0ff0-4349-a64f-951d3f431832 |
Brown was an NFL running back in the 1990s. He coached the Cowboys’ running backs from 2013-19.
DALLAS — Gary Brown, who rushed for 4,300 yards while playing on three NFL teams in the 1990s before going on to coach running backs in the pro and college ranks, has died. He was 52. | 2022-04-11T20:39:06Z | www.wfaa.com | Former Dallas Cowboys RB coach Gary Brown dies | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/former-dallas-cowboys-running-backs-coach-gary-brown-dies/287-c5e27322-00a1-47cf-b0c8-ab4d4d18c388 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/former-dallas-cowboys-running-backs-coach-gary-brown-dies/287-c5e27322-00a1-47cf-b0c8-ab4d4d18c388 |
Texas resident Elon Musk took the top spot in the publication's 2022 list of the world's richest people. Which D-FW billionaires have joined him?
Jerry Jones, owner, president and GM of the Dallas Cowboys smiles at fans before an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
DALLAS — Forbes released its annual list of the world's richest people last week, and over a dozen residents of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex are among those with the most green.
Also of note: Elon Musk -- the Tesla CEO, SpaceX founder and new Texas resident -- topped the billionaire list this year, moving past Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Musk, who recently opened Tesla's new Giga Texas plant in the Austin area, has a net worth of $219 billion, according to Forbes at the time of the list's release.
As Musk tops the list for not only Texas, but the world, let's take a look at the richest people on Forbes' list who call Dallas-Fort Worth home.
Here are those 15 D-FW residents who are among the top 1,000 richest on the planet, according to Forbes.
(Note: "Net worth" is at the time of the list's release)
Alice Walton is the heiress to mega-retailer Walmart. Her residence is listed as being in Fort Worth. She is currently the richest woman in the U.S., according to the Forbes list.
Need we say more? The Dallas Cowboys owner made his money through oil and drilling investments -- then parlayed that into his revolutionary sports ownership stake. Forbes reports that "America's Team" is valued at $5.5 billion.
Andrew Beal
Andrew Beal is the founder of Beal Financial Corporation and Beal Bank. He calls Dallas home.
Ray Lee Hunt
The SMU grad is the son of oil tycoon H.L. Hunt -- and his Hunt Oil Company, which is headquartered in Dallas, is one of the largest privately held oil companies in the U.S., according to Forbes.
Dallas resident Ken Fisher founded Fisher Investments in 1979. He is currently an executive chairman and co-chief investment officer of the company.
Robert Bass
Fort Worth native Robert Bass founded investment companies, including Oak Hill Advisors.
The Dallas Mavericks owner sold his website Broadcast.com to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in 1999. The "Shark Tank" star also has investments in numerous companies including Magnolia Pictures and AXS TV.
Trevor Rees-Jones
Rank: 637 (tie)
Trevor Rees-Jones started Chief Oil & Gas, currently headquartered in Dallas, in 1984. Forbes reports he once grossed $7 billion through seven deals in seven years.
Robert Rowling
Dallas resident Robert Rowling bought Omni Hotels in 1996 for $500 million. He is also the owner of Gold's Gym, which boasts 700 locations.
The Fort Worth resident helped found private equity company Texas Pacific Group (TPG).
W. Herbert Hunt
Another one of oil tycoon H.L. Hunt's children, W. Herbert Hunt owns the refinery and oil company Petro-Hunt. He currently resides in Dallas.
Margot Birmingham Perot
Dallas resident Margot Birmingham Perot is the widow of entrepreneur and presidential candidate H. Ross Perot, Sr.
Kelcy Warren, who resides in Dallas, helped found the pipeline company Energy Transfer, which built the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2017. He is currently the executive chairman of Energy Transfer.
Sid Bass
Sid Bass of Fort Worth inherited millions from his uncle, oil tycoon Sid Richardson, and then became an investor in oil and gas.
H. Ross Perot, Jr.
The son of entrepreneur and presidential candidate H. Ross Perot, Sr. started the real estate empire Hillwood, which is based in Dallas. According to Forbes, Hillwood also built AllianceTexas, an inland port just outside Fort Worth, as well as Frisco Station.
RELATED: Giga Texas opens doors to thousands in an event dubbed the ‘Cyber Rodeo’
RELATED: Forget the W's and L's, the Dallas Cowboys are making money | 2022-04-12T00:17:04Z | www.wfaa.com | DFW residents on Forbes 2022 list of world billionaires | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-fort-worth-texas-residents-forbes-2022-list-worlds-richest-billionaires/287-8c645696-ec7c-4b87-8e67-91084db436d4 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-fort-worth-texas-residents-forbes-2022-list-worlds-richest-billionaires/287-8c645696-ec7c-4b87-8e67-91084db436d4 |
Doncic's injury from Sunday happened after contact from a mid-air collision with Spurs big man Zach Collins.
DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic strained his left calf in the third quarter and was then ruled out for the rest of the regular-season finale against San Antonio on Sunday night.
Monday afternoon, Doncic received an MRI on his calf, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.
MacMahon reported that the MRI confirmed Doncic suffered a calf strain and that there's no timetable for his return.
As the No. 4 seed, the Mavericks will start their playoff run against the No. 5 seed Utah Jazz Saturday at noon. These two teams split their four regular-season games against each other, each winning two.
This will be the first postseason the Mavs will have home-court advantage since the 2010-2011 season—when the franchise won its sole NBA championship.
So this injury has left many Mavs fans wondering if Doncic will miss some playoff games and if so, when he will be back on the court.
First, there's a big difference between contact and non-contact injuries. Non-contact injuries frequently turn out worse than the alternative.
Specific to Doncic's situation, it is difficult to predict how long a calf strain takes to heal. Players have come back within the week of the injury while others have taken several months.
And in some cases, if not fully healed, calf strains can result in re-injury or other worse injuries. For example, Kevin Durant came back from a calf strain in the 2019 NBA Finals only to rupture his Achilles midway through his first game back.
According to Jeff Stotts, who is a renowned injury analyst on Twitter, the average time lost for calf strains in the NBA this season was 16 days.
Going off this average, that would put Doncic back on the court around April 25 or April 26.
This is a developing story. We will update it as we find out more about Doncic's injury status. | 2022-04-12T00:17:16Z | www.wfaa.com | Luka injury: When will the Mavs star be back on the court? | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/luka-injury-tracker-will-the-dallas-mavs-star-be-available-for-the-nba-playoffs/287-efd65268-c795-4e6c-a808-7f0100d4b768 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/luka-injury-tracker-will-the-dallas-mavs-star-be-available-for-the-nba-playoffs/287-efd65268-c795-4e6c-a808-7f0100d4b768 |
After being slapped by Will Smith on the Oscars stage, Rock has been fairly quiet about the infamous incident. Will he be ready to talk about it by the D-FW stop?
IRVING, Texas — Will he talk about the slap?
Comedian Chris Rock has added three Texas stops as part of his 2022 world tour -- and one of those stops is right here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The show is scheduled for Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving and is his first stop in Texas.
Rock will then head south to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land on Nov. 5 and then to the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio on Nov. 10.
Presale for tickets to the Texas shows begins on Tuesday, April 12, at 10 a.m. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, April 13, at 10 a.m. Here's how to purchase tickets for the Irving show.
Rock has been seeing surges in ticket sales for his tour following the infamous incident at the Oscars in March.
While presenting Best Documentary, Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, saying "Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it." Pinkett, who has talked publicly about alopecia and hair loss, had her head shaved at the time.
This prompted Will Smith to walk up to Rock on the stage and smack him in front of the world on live television.
The Academy punished Will Smith by banning him from the Oscars and other events by the Academy for 10 years.
Rock has stayed fairly quiet on the incident, even through his latest comedy shows. He mentioned it during the first stop on his tour in Boston, but only said that he was still "processing what happened." | 2022-04-12T02:01:25Z | www.wfaa.com | Chris Rock to make tour stops in Texas, including Irving | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/entertainment-news/chris-rock-north-texas-stop-2022-comedy-tour/287-ad1af6a8-0312-4111-b9a7-980ab3b47dc4 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/entertainment-news/chris-rock-north-texas-stop-2022-comedy-tour/287-ad1af6a8-0312-4111-b9a7-980ab3b47dc4 |
Hearing in Moscow to determine next steps for imprisoned American Trevor Reed
DALLAS — On his 971st day in captivity in Russia, American Trevor Reed will get another day in court to seek his release.
The 10 a.m. hearing at the Second Court of General Cassation in Moscow will happen at 2 a.m. CT here in Texas, where his parents in Granbury will be hoping for a positive development in his saga.
"We'll never give up this fight," his dad, Joey Reed, told WFAA. "We'll be dead. If he's not home, if he's still there, we'll be fighting this fight until we're dead or he's home."
Tuesday's hearing is a return to a Russian appeals court, a three-judge panel that once previously agreed to grant Trevor Reed bail. But as his case has bounced between the Russian Supreme Court and lower courts, he has remained in custody since 2019.
Tuesday morning, he will wait by the phone for hopefully good news from Trevor's attorneys while also bracing himself for whatever the next round in this fight might be.
"We're going to keep up that fight no matter what and no matter who it's with. Whatever government, whatever administration, whatever foreign power. We're going to keep up the fight until he's home safe." | 2022-04-12T03:46:02Z | www.wfaa.com | Trevor Reed latest: Russian court to hear appeal | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/hearing-moscow-determine-next-steps-imprisoned-american-trevor-reed/287-b1a67133-4f9a-4b54-be4b-56e5eceaf7d0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/hearing-moscow-determine-next-steps-imprisoned-american-trevor-reed/287-b1a67133-4f9a-4b54-be4b-56e5eceaf7d0 |
Police said officers found the man with several gunshot wounds. Dallas Fire-Rescue attempted to save the man's life, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
DALLAS — A man died and a woman was injured after a crash in the Cedar Crest area of southern Dallas, officials confirmed to WFAA.
Dallas police said the driver of the vehicle had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead near the intersection of Stella Avenue and South Denley Drive.
A woman with the man was transported to the hospital, and her condition was unknown.
The vehicle had crashed into a fence at Highway To Heaven Missionary Baptist Church.
Dallas Fire-Rescue officials said crews responded on a report of an accident at the church.
Officials said initial reports indicated that the vehicle had crashed into a church and was on fire.
Firefighters responded because of the potential for a structure fire, but when crews made it to the scene, the incident status was "changed back to an accident" because the vehicle was in the grass and on fire.
Police were still investigating the incident Tuesday morning. The identity of the man was not released, pending notification of next of kin.
Dallas public safety committee meets to address violent crime following recent shootings | 2022-04-12T14:56:57Z | www.wfaa.com | Man dies after crash at Highway To Heaven Missionary church | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/dallas-texas-shooting-crash-heaven-missionary-baptist-church/287-e9ee0c45-1113-490c-8957-41bd1f1e816b | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/dallas-texas-shooting-crash-heaven-missionary-baptist-church/287-e9ee0c45-1113-490c-8957-41bd1f1e816b |
UNT researchers working to support, connect people living with aphasia
According to the UNT researchers, approximately 27,000 people in the North Texas region and at least 2 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with aphasia.
DENTON, Texas — In late March, beloved actor Bruce Willis announced he would be stepping away from a decades-long career in acting after being diagnosed with aphasia.
The announcement sparked a national conversation about what aphasia is and what causes it. In layman's terms, aphasia is a condition that robs you of the ability to communicate. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can affect your ability to speak, write and understand language, both verbal and written.
Now, a group of researchers at the University of North Texas (UNT) is working to expand support for North Texas residents living with aphasia and their families, friends and care partners, the university announced Tuesday.
UNT said the North Texas region sees an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 hospital discharges of aphasia per year caused by a variety of factors, including stroke — the most common cause — trauma and other brain injuries, and in rare cases, degenerative neurocognitive disorders or a tumor in the brain.
“Of the estimated thousands of people currently living with aphasia in North Texas, fewer than 200 are currently accessing the post-discharge supports and services that may be available to them,” said Gloria Olness, an associate professor in the College of Health and Public Service. “Where do they go? We are laying the foundation for establishing The Aphasia Collaborative (TAC), a multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary and interpersonal network to provide help.”
According to UNT officials, The Aphasia Collaborative will "support and connect people living with aphasia, their family members and friends, their communities, community leaders, health care leaders, and transdisciplinary health care service providers and hospitals."
“The true experts about aphasia are the people living with aphasia, and we do not yet hear their voice,” Olness said. “Friends just stop coming. Family members don’t know how to communicate with this person that they love. It’s really this connection with family and friends that is the most important thing that is lost, but it doesn’t have to be this way.”
Olness is working on the project with a group of research speech-language pathologists and with associate professor Liam O’Neill, who is analyzing insurance and discharge data. The research is funded by the Josephine Simonson Aphasia Trust Fund at the Southwestern Medical Foundation.
For more information about aphasia and what causes it, click here. | 2022-04-12T16:27:43Z | www.wfaa.com | Aphasia support: UNT working to connect those living with aphasia | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/unt-researchers-aphasia-support-north-texas/287-8f2fb232-e31a-42c5-be18-f7a87cc6e66c | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/unt-researchers-aphasia-support-north-texas/287-8f2fb232-e31a-42c5-be18-f7a87cc6e66c |
Becoming the first Mavs coach to win the award since Rick Carlisle did in 2011, Jason Kidd earns the award himself for the fourth time in his coaching career.
DALLAS — The NBA announced Tuesday that Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd was named the Western Conference Coach of the Month for games played in March and April.
Kidd helped lead Dallas to a 16-5 record during this time period, which included wins against Golden State, Utah, Boston, Brooklyn and Milwaukee.
The Mavericks (52-30) finished the 2021-2022 NBA regular season with the fifth-best record in the league and the franchise's highest Western Conference playoff seed (No. 4) since earning the No. 3 seed during the team's championship season in 2011.
Kidd is now the first Dallas coach to win this award since Rick Carlisle won it in February 2011.
The Mavs finished the 2021-2022 regular season allowing the second-fewest points in the NBA (104.7 PPG). This is the first time in franchise history the Mavs finished better than fourth in points allowed.
When the Mavs start their playoff run Saturday at noon against the Utah Jazz, Kidd will be going up against head coach Quin Snyder, who has been with the Jazz since the 2014-2015 season.
Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in March and April. | 2022-04-12T18:00:38Z | www.wfaa.com | NBA: Mavs Jason Kidd named Western Conference Coach of the Month | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/jason-kidd-nba-western-conference-coach-of-the-month/287-a0072313-9430-49a5-b1af-41607ee5863f | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/jason-kidd-nba-western-conference-coach-of-the-month/287-a0072313-9430-49a5-b1af-41607ee5863f |
While the NFL has a very detailed process for reporting injuries, the NHL takes a vaguer approach. Here's how the four main professional sports leagues compare.
For many coaches from professional sports teams, there is gamesmanship to what is given to reporters and is spread through the media.
Oftentimes, there is an underlying motive to certain statements and releases that go beyond the words on the page or in the article.
It's not just about what is said but also what isn't said — including a player's status.
Legendary coaches like Bill Belichick and Gregg Popovich have been known to play their cards close to their chest, giving their opponents as little information as possible for the shortest amount of time before they take the field or court.
But what do the rules say for different professional sports leagues as to when teams must provide an official status for their players?
The National Football League (NFL) has a "Personnel (Injury) Report Policy" that explains what each team must comply with week-to-week during the season.
This report is made up of three sections:
Game status report
In-game injury report
With the practice report, all players who have reportable injuries must be listed here, even if the player takes all the reps in practice, and even if the team is certain that he will play in the upcoming game.
A team has to provide its full practice report the three previous days before a game no later than 4 p.m. EST. So, if a team is playing on Thursday, they must provide this report on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The only time teams must provide it earlier than the three previous days is for Saturday games. In this situation, the practice report must be provided on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The players' status on the practice report must fall under one of three categories:
Limited participation
Full participation
Injuries must be identified with a reasonable degree of specificity in terms that are meaningful to coaches, other club officials, the media and the public. For example, leg injuries must be specified as ankle, knee, thigh or calf. Arm injuries must be identified as shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand or muscle. Listing an injury simply as “leg,” “arm,” “upper body,” or other equally vague description, is not acceptable, according to league officials.
Along those lines, the NFL says when teams provide injury updates, the information must be "credible, accurate, timely, and specific within the guidelines of the policy."
Each club must also file a weekly regular-season game status reports with the NFL Communications department by 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday for a Thursday game, Friday for a Sunday game, Saturday for a Monday game, and Thursday for a Saturday game.
An update must be reported if there is any change to a player's condition after the initial report is filed.
Players must be categorized on this report as follows:
If a player will not play – whether due to injury or non-injury reasons – that fact must be reported. If a player’s game status is in question for non-injury reasons, that information must appear in the game status report and be explained publicly and included in the release issued by the club to the media.
Teams are responsible for reporting in-game injury information accurately as soon as possible "for the benefit of the network television audience and the other media covering our games."
According to the NFL, these injury updates must also be posted on the stadium video boards, scoreboards or ribbon boards.
"It is NFL policy that information for dissemination to the public on all injured players be reported in a satisfactory manner by clubs to the league office, the opposing team, local and national media, and broadcast partners each game week of the regular season and postseason (including for the two Super Bowl teams between the Championship Games and Super Bowl)."
The National Basketball Association (NBA) makes each team provide the league with an "injury report" before games that includes players' injuries, illnesses and rest status.
By 5 p.m. local time on the day before a game (other than the second day of a back-to-back), teams must designate a participation status and identify a specific injury, illness or potential instance of a healthy player resting for any player whose participation in the game may be affected by such injury, illness or rest.
For the second game of a back-to-back, teams must report the same information by 1 p.m. local time on the day of the game.
The league usually issues its own reports at 1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.
Reports are updated on a continual basis throughout the day.
Teams must announce starting lineups 30 minutes before tip-off, according to the NBA.
Teams also must have at least eight players in uniform and ready to play in each game. NBA teams can have no more than three players on their inactive lists.
RELATED: Luka injury tracker: Will the Mavs star be available for the NBA playoffs?
In Major League Baseball (MLB), each team has three different "injured lists," depending on the severity of the injury, which are as followed:
7-day injured list
The 7-day injured list is specifically for players with concussion symptoms. Players may be placed on the 7-day injured list "retroactively," meaning the stint is backdated to the day after the last date on which the player appeared in a game. For instance, if a player is diagnosed with a concussion on May 12 but last played on May 9, he could be placed on the 7-day injured list on May 12, retroactive to May 10. In that case, he would be eligible to return from the injured list on May 17.
The 10-day injured list allows teams to remove injured players from the 26-man active roster while keeping them on the 40-man roster.
Players can be placed on the 10-day injured list for any type of injury, though players with concussion symptoms are first sent to the 7-day injured list. Players on the 10-day injured list must remain out of action for at least 10 days, though a player can also stay on the list for considerably longer than 10 days, if necessary.
Players may be placed on the 10-day injured list "retroactively," similar to how the 7-day injured list works.
The maximum an injured list stint can be backdated is three days.
The 60-day injured list is the longest of the MLB injured lists. Players placed on this list must remain on it for a minimum of 60 days and are temporarily removed from a team's 40-man roster, which often makes this a last resort for clubs.
If a team doesn't need a 40-man roster spot to replace an injured player, the player may be kept on the 10-day injured list longer than 60 days rather than being transferred to the 60-day injured list. That way, the team won't need to risk losing another player by going through the process to clear a spot on the 40-man roster when the injured player is ready to return.
RELATED: New faces abound: Meet the 2022 Texas Rangers
In the 2017 season, the 10-day injured list replaced the 15-day injured list as the shortest option for non-concussion injuries. The MLB was set to bring back the 15-day injured list specifically for pitchers and two-way players while instituting new restrictions on position players pitching for the 2020 season, but the rules were changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rather than a 10-day injured list for position players and 15-day injured list for pitchers and two-way players, the 10-day injured list remained in place for all players in the shortened season. There also were no restrictions on position players pitching.
There was also a separate COVID-19 injured list that had no minimum duration, and the 60-day injured list was reduced to 45 days.
Before the 2019 season, the injured list was known as the disabled list, which was a term used as far back as 1887.
This name change happened after disability advocates spoke out about the need for the term to be more consistent with other professional sports leagues and be changed to "injured reserve list."
Each team in the National Hockey League (NHL) has an "injured reserve list."
If a player is injured and a team wants to place him on this list, the club must follow these procedures:
A club may place a player on the injured reserve list if that player is injured, disabled or ill and unable to perform his duties as a hockey player after having passed the club's initial physical examination in that season.
A player who has an injury that renders him physically unable to play for a minimum of seven days after the date of the injury can be placed on the team's injured reserve list. Once a player is placed on the list, the club may replace that player on its NHL roster with another player. All determinations that a player has suffered an injury warranting injured reserve status must be made by the club's medical staff and in accordance with the club's medical standards.
A player placed on the injured reserve list is ineligible to compete in NHL games for a period of no less than seven days.
Players on the injured reserve list may attend club meetings and meals, travel with the team and participate in practice sessions.
Unlike the NFL, the NHL is vaguer with its rules and does not have specific requirements related to releasing injury information to the public. Oftentimes, teams will reference either the "upper body" or "lower body" as to what part of the body the injury is impacting.
The list of players "belonging" to an NHL team is comprised of the following, the total of which may not exceed 80:
Pro players (maximum of 50)
Signed junior players (who have played less than 11 professional games)
Unsigned draft choices
Defected players (unsigned draft choices who are playing in Europe) | 2022-04-12T19:30:01Z | www.wfaa.com | Injury report: when pro teams have to reveal player's status | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/professional-sports-teams-reveal-players-status-injury/287-2b7bf300-3f7a-4043-9e78-a3d20f06faa3 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/professional-sports-teams-reveal-players-status-injury/287-2b7bf300-3f7a-4043-9e78-a3d20f06faa3 |
“He’s the best man I’ve ever met, on god. I swear. He didn’t deserve this,” said Robyn Stuart, one of the victim’s daughter-in-law.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Two men from the same family were shot and killed during a home invasion in Arlington, according to police.
It happened around midnight on Monday on the 5300 block of Ivy Hill Drive in Arlington. This is east of Lake Arlington and next to Martin High School.
The two people shot and killed were Matthew Thomas Stuart, 41, and George Robert Nitsche, 84, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office. Both men lived at the home where the shooting happened.
“He’s the best man I’ve ever met, on god, said Robyn Stuart, one of the victim’s daughter-in-law. "I swear. He didn’t deserve this,”
Stuart lives near where the shooting happened, and she said she heard the ambulance and police sirens that night.
“They went through the sliding window, and they tried to run, and he was just shooting at him,” Stuart said.
RELATED: Investigation underway after 2 men killed, 1 woman injured in shooting at Arlington home, police say
Officers are trying to understand more about the victims and trace their steps from the last few weeks.
WFAA spoke to a police source on the phone, who tell us that tips, and videos have been coming in. But it’s still not enough. Family member’s tell us, their loved ones were sound asleep, when someone kicked in the door, and started shooting everyone inside.
“Matt didn’t make it, and she got shot in the leg,” Stuart said.
Stuart said the 67-year-old mother was actually shot several times, and survived.
“George didn’t make it," Stuart said. "He was deceased on the couch. He was amazing, he would do anything for the grandkids."
Nitsche recently sold his house in Joshua and had plans to retire in Florida.
“Just a few weeks," Stuart said. "Just getting a car, sold his house, get the money, got the RV, and us to follow him down, and goodbye."
Stuart is hoping the public will come forward with any information, so they can have some form of closure. | 2022-04-13T00:03:35Z | www.wfaa.com | Two Texas family members shot and killed during home invasion | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/arlington-home-invasion-victim-recently-sold-his-home-police-tracing-his-steps-in-recent-weeks/287-632a1cef-38b9-4285-9a3d-388273b9debb | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/arlington-home-invasion-victim-recently-sold-his-home-police-tracing-his-steps-in-recent-weeks/287-632a1cef-38b9-4285-9a3d-388273b9debb |
'Olympic's call me': Dallas middle schooler is excited to be heading to the Scripps National Spelling Bee
The district doesn't have a record of a student making the national bee in more than a decade. It has only had one winner in nearly 100 years.
DALLAS — Some students study constantly for years to make it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.. Lindsey Roberts isn't one of them.
“I was like, ‘mmm should I do this spelling bee,’” she said, recounting her decision in class to sign up for the school bee. “And they were like, ‘sure’, and I was like, ‘OK'.”
The eighth grader at Dallas Independent School District's W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy entered the school bee at the last moment -- having never studied.
“I did not expect to win,” she said. “I was like, ‘hmm, I can spell I guess. I don’t know, maybe some of these kids are better at spelling than me’. They were not.”
But she won, and then followed up by winning the district-wide bee.
“This was just on a whim,” Eleanor Key, her mother, said. “This was just like – ‘eh I’ll try it’.”
Key jokes that she keeps waiting for a teachable moment.
“I thought, ‘Well, this is when she’s going get knocked out and realize that she should’ve studied’,” she said.
Roberts keeps winning, though. After the school and district bees, she won the Dallas County bee and recently, a regional 35-county spelling bee including public, private and charter students.
“I guess I’m a little bit of an athlete now,” Roberts joked. “Olympics, call me?”
RELATED: Dallas middle schooler headed to 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee
In June, she’ll compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which has had several North Texas winners but only one Dallas ISD winner in roughly 100 years. Now, she’s started studying using a list of championship words.
“I wrote them down and had my friend quiz me and my grandma quiz me, which was kind of funny because they were like, ‘I have no idea how to say this word’,” she said.
Roberts said her favorite word is "melancholy". She loves punk rock and emo music. In the future, she is interested in a career in politics or becoming an actor because of her passion for theater. She credits her success so far to being a veracious reader and watching TV with captions on.
“I guess like straight memorization and trying to figure out how the word would be made up,” she said. “I’m trying to like study etymology.”
Roberts said she’s enjoyed the small fame she’s found at school, but she’s gone from laid back to more nervous lately.
“With each day that goes by and it gets closer, yes there is pressure,” Key said.
Roberts is competitive, but for the girl who entered on a whim, just getting here has been a win.
“For me, it’s not about winning,” Key said. “It’s just her having fun with it.”
McKinney family celebrating the 19-year medical miracle that gave them all the ability to hear | 2022-04-13T00:03:42Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas ISD's Lindsey Roberts in Scripps National Spelling Bee | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-isd-lindsey-roberts-heading-to-scripps-national-spelling-bee/287-92bb412a-5946-45af-87b7-055d473bf61d | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-isd-lindsey-roberts-heading-to-scripps-national-spelling-bee/287-92bb412a-5946-45af-87b7-055d473bf61d |
Judge Chika Anyiam removed herself off the case after the Dallas District attorney filed a motion that she be recused.
A Dallas County Judge has removed herself from a high-profile case involving a suspect in jail accused of murder, shooting a child in the head and firing an AR-15 at Dallas Police officers.
In March, WFAA first reported Judge Chika Anyiam had considerably lowered the bonds for Julio Guerrero paving the way for his release. WFAA also reported the judge received more than $5,000 in campaign contributions from Guererro's attorney.
After public outcry, Aniyam raised the bonds again.
The Dallas District attorney filed a 45-page motion asking the judge to recuse herself because there were questions about her impartiality in this case.
Guerrero's defense attorney is the judge's top campaign contributor.
Francisco Villaneuva's family said they are relieved Anyiam won't be hearing the case involving his murder.
"I'm glad somebody finally told her to step down," said Carlos De La Rosa, Villanueva's brother-in-law.
Police said Julio Guerrero killed Villanueva after the two men bumped into each other at a club last year.
Guerrero is also accused of shooting a 3-year-old girl in the head, leaving her partially paralyzed, and firing an AR-15 at Dallas Police Department officers when they went to arrest him.
Judge Anyiam held three separate bond hearings for Guerrero this past year.
Court documents show that in each hearing the judge stated he posed a threat to the public: "I know that the victims are scared. Mr. Guerrero is a danger, poses a danger to the community."
Still, the judge lowered his bonds from nearly $2 million to $600,000 in March.
At that hearing, Guerrero's family packed the court and testified on his behalf.
The judge stated," The only reason I am lowering these bonds is because he had such family support."
"His family is always going to back him up because they want him there but we also would love to have my brother-in-law with me today," De La Rosa said.
RELATED: Dallas judge again raises the bond for murder suspect, following outrage after lowering it
Anyiam's decision to lower the bond caused outrage from the victims' families, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia and Governor Greg Abbott.
"It was a slap in the face to the victims' families and to the citizens of this community," Garcia said.
After the public backlash, Anyiam raised the bonds back to nearly $2 million but blamed the prosecutor, saying she had not done a good job refreshing her memory about the allegations. The district attorney said the judge was trying to "shift the blame."
The victim's families and police organizations called for the judge's removal.
The district attorney last week filed the motion stating: "This judge should be recused from presiding over the prosecution of this matter because her actions are such that her impartiality over the prosecution of this matter might be reasonably questioned."
The district attorney also said it's common practice for judges to take campaign contributions from lawyers and not prohibited by law, but it's up to the judge to determine if there's a conflict of interest.
Anyiam recently signed the order to remove herself but has declined to talk about an ongoing case.
WFAA is mentioned in the motion several times because of our coverage of this case and the publicity surrounding the judge's ruling.
Dallas judge criticized for lowering bond of suspect in murders and shootings, including 3-year-old shot in head | 2022-04-13T00:03:48Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas Judge steps away from case after backlash about bond | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-judge-recuses-herself-from-case-after-backlash-on-decision-to-lower-bond-of-accused-murderer/287-83c1fea3-0fde-4506-8d2c-6aee5115f6d8 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-judge-recuses-herself-from-case-after-backlash-on-decision-to-lower-bond-of-accused-murderer/287-83c1fea3-0fde-4506-8d2c-6aee5115f6d8 |
Dallas Police said a search is underway for 26-year-old Lacravivonne Washington, who was out on bail for previous charges filed in the case.
DALLAS — Editor's note: The above video is from a previous story after the child's father was charged in the case.
The mother of a 3-year-old who was shot and killed in late March has now been charged with manslaughter in connection to his death, the Dallas Police Department announced Tuesday night.
Last week, police said Washington’s husband, 27-year-old Jalexus Washington Sr. was arrested for tampering with evidence in connection to their son’s death.
RELATED: Father arrested, charged in connection to 3-year-old son's death, Dallas police say
According to the Dallas Police Department, officers responded to a local hospital after receiving a call that 3-year-old Jalexus Washington was taken to the emergency room with a single gunshot wound to the face on Monday, March 28.
Lacravivonne and 3-year-old Jalexus were seen at a donut shop in the 9400 block of Walnut Street about 20 minutes before the fatal shooting, police said.
During the search of her vehicle, police said there was a gun found in the glove compartment and another found in the possession of her husband, Washington Sr.
As the investigation continued, four children were removed from Lacravivonne’s home and she was arrested on March 30 for three counts of child endangerment and a charge of tampering with physical evidence, police said.
Police said Lacravivonne has not been cooperating with the investigation. Police ask that anyone one with information regarding her location to contact the department at 214-671-3675. | 2022-04-13T03:07:12Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas police: Mom charged with manslaughter in toddler's death | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/dallas-mom-charged-with-manslaughter-in-connection-to-3-year-old-sons-shooting-death/287-dd182bf6-a964-483c-8407-8221b71f2f22 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/dallas-mom-charged-with-manslaughter-in-connection-to-3-year-old-sons-shooting-death/287-dd182bf6-a964-483c-8407-8221b71f2f22 |
Climate action plan: Dallas City Council adds solar panels to facilities
The project will reduce approximately 57% of the total energy currently used by the three facilities, city officials said.
DALLAS — The video above is from a previous story in December 2021 connected to the city council potentially banning certain leaf blowers.
The Dallas City Council approved projects on Wednesday to advance the city's goals connected to its Comprehensive Environmental Climate Action Plan.
The nearly $1 million project proposed by the city's Building Services Department includes installing solar panels at three city facilities. City council members approved the project unanimously.
The solar panels will be installed at the Fretz Park Recreation Center, Dallas West Branch Library and the Pleasant Oaks Recreation Center. City officials said the total energy generated from these three solar projects is estimated to be 15,722,481 kilowatt-hours (kWh) and would offset approximately 12,282 tons of carbon dioxide over the span of 25 years.
The project will reduce approximately 57% of the total energy currently used by the three facilities, city officials said. The city will sign a contract agreement with Ameresco for the installation of the panels.
City Manager T.C. Broadnax said this move shows the city council is committed to making changes to positively impact the environment.
“As Dallas celebrates Earth Day this month, Wednesday’s actions by the City Council show R.E.A.L. investment that is responsible, equitable, accountable and legitimate in support of our ambitious CECAP, which has made Dallas a leader and national model for sustainability,” Broadnax said.
RELATED: Dallas Police Department shares crime plan data, addresses staffing issues after recent wave of violence across city
This agreement is a step in the right direction for reducing the carbon footprint at the city of Dallas' facilities, according to Building Services Interim Director John Johnson.
“By continuing to engage in projects that increase our facilities’ utilization of renewable energy, the City’s goals of carbon neutrality will be closer to reality," Johnson said.
The city council on Wednesday also approved the purchase of more than $300,000 of air quality sensor equipment for the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability to deploy across the city.
”The Dallas City Council’s investments in these enhancements to city-owned facilities will result in significant and measurable progress toward our CECAP goals,” Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability Director Carlos Evans said. “This decision demonstrates the City’s commitment to combating climate change and realizing a healthier and more sustainable environment, particularly for our underserved communities.”
The Comprehensive Environmental Climate Action Plan was passed unanimously by the city council in 2020. The plan outlines specific actions the city can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental quality. | 2022-04-13T18:26:34Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas City Council approves plan to install solar panels at faci | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-city-council-solar-panel-air-quality-monitor-projects-climate-goals/287-7ec8cfd7-4d1d-4716-abb4-1c41ff2a2c07 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-city-council-solar-panel-air-quality-monitor-projects-climate-goals/287-7ec8cfd7-4d1d-4716-abb4-1c41ff2a2c07 |
Justin Barrett Frazell will serve 7 years deferred adjudication. He also must register as a sex offender, cannot own any firearms, and cannot use drugs or alcohol.
Author: Paul Livengood, WFAA Staff
TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — A North Texas radio personality has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in his home in Mansfield, according to the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office.
Officials said Justin Barrett Frazell, 48, will serve seven years deferred adjudication, must register as a sex offender, cannot own any firearms and cannot use drugs or alcohol.
Frazell was a longtime radio host for Fort Worth's KFWR 95.9 The Ranch. He was arrested in March 2021, WFAA reported.
An arrest warrant, issued on March 23, 2021, said Frazell allegedly made unwanted sexual contact with a girl who was at his home for a party in late 2020.
RELATED: Former radio host at 95.9 The Ranch arrested on sexual assault charge
Justin Frazell pled guilty and was sentenced Tuesday on a charge of sexual assault. pic.twitter.com/nVvUOM1fL6
— Tarrant County CDA (@TarrantCountyDA) April 12, 2022
The Ranch posted this statement online at the time of the Frazell's arrest in 2021:
"It is with great concern that we have learned of a serious legal matter involving Justin Frazell, who has been booked on sexual assault charges in Tarrant County, TX. While the matter is entirely unrelated to his work here at 95.9 The Ranch and does not involve any of our other colleagues, we nevertheless concluded that given the seriousness of the matter it was appropriate to suspend Justin immediately. We trust that our legal system will provide due process and produce a just result for all involved. In the meantime, we ask that they be given space and privacy during this difficult time. Heather Anderson will continue as host of our morning show as she has since 2019. We have a talented group of personalities across the station, and we’re confident in our ability to continue producing a compelling show. We thank all of you for your support and understanding."
For more background on the incident, see WFAA's reporting here.
The district attorney's office said the victim and her family agreed to the plea deal. | 2022-04-13T19:56:54Z | www.wfaa.com | Former DFW radio host pleads guilty to sexual assault charge | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/dfw-radio-host-justin-frazell-pleads-guilty-sexual-assault/287-c2817a0b-4483-4223-9139-dd71e854008c | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/dfw-radio-host-justin-frazell-pleads-guilty-sexual-assault/287-c2817a0b-4483-4223-9139-dd71e854008c |
WFAA got a glimpse inside the biggest undertaking by the women of the family-owned business. This comes after Veronica Canales helped open their first store in 2003.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The new warehouse for Canales Furniture has already come a long way, and keeping the company in Arlington is more than business – it's about family.
WFAA got a glimpse inside the biggest undertaking by the women of the family-owned business. This all comes after the matriarch Veronica Canales helped open their first furniture store in 2003. She has since taught the up-and-coming women in the family how to be a success.
Mylene Mitchell is only in her 20s but is quickly learning the business.
"I am the marketing director and as well the oldest of the second generation of the Canales family," said Mitchell.
Canales Furniture's new generation shared their vision with Arlington city leaders and the Latino Advisory Board during a tour.
The five-year business plan is impressive.
"We're going to have our distribution center, our corporate headquarters, our retail showroom. That's going to be 40,000 square feet," said Mitchell.
The plans from Mitchell and the new Canales generation even include an in-store cafe for customers and employees. They will also entertain customers on a balcony overlooking the city.
This family venture almost didn't happen in Arlington after they eyed other cities and even moved out of the country. They looked at moving to Dallas, Houston and Mexico.
But, Arlington is where it all started.
"I'm a very competitive guy," said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross.
He doesn't like losing and was determined to win the Canales family over.
"I wasn't about to lose one of the best family-run businesses in all of North Texas," Mayor Jim Ross said. "We reached out to them immediately, found out what they needed, found what they needed, and we made it happen."
The old Frye warehouse in Arlington had been empty for about two years. Despite several companies eyeing the building, nothing had been set in stone.
In January, the Canales family received the keys to the building. They immediately had contractors in place to renovate, paint and retrofit the warehouse for the future.
Now that the family has it as their new headquarters, it will also be a huge boost for people looking for work in Arlington. There is a larger-than-life sign on the building encouraging people to apply for jobs.
Managers at Canales Furniture are looking for people who want to work full-time and part-time while growing with the company.
Mitchell believes the new Arlington location is perfect not only for her family but also for the community and the faithful customers who have supported their business over the years. Providing jobs is just one way the women of Canales Furniture are giving back.
"We are definitely hiring, and we can't wait to be able to open our doors," said Mitchell. | 2022-04-13T19:57:12Z | www.wfaa.com | Women of Canales Furniture open new headquarters | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/women-of-canales-furniture-opens-new-headquarters-arlington/287-c7907a4b-615f-4f19-abb3-afa5807bd98a | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/women-of-canales-furniture-opens-new-headquarters-arlington/287-c7907a4b-615f-4f19-abb3-afa5807bd98a |
Officials say these investments will create jobs and allow transit agencies like DART to upgrade buses and rail cars, make needed repairs and expand services.
DALLAS — The video above is from a previous story in April connected to DART's new bus system layout.
North Texas will receive nearly $175 million in federal funding this year to improve the area's local transportation -- and to fund the jobs that go along with those services.
Congressman Colin Allred, a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced Wednesday that North Texas will receive more than $172 million in 2022 to upgrade and expand local transit.
This funding is part of the nearly $650 million Texas will receive in transit funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which officially became a law in November 2021.
Per Allred, these investments will create jobs and allow transit agencies like Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) to upgrade buses and rail cars, make needed repairs and expand services.
“North Texas is rapidly growing and to reduce the congestion we’ve all come to loathe we must invest in improving and expanding our transit options to make it easier for everyone to get around,” Allred said. “The investments from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be a big deal for North Texas, and I will continue to work with DART to get this money to work as quickly as possible not just to reduce congestion but to create jobs and grow our economy.”
Back in November 2021, DART announced it would be changing its bus network at the start of 2022, with the agency's director calling it "a complete redesign of our existing bus network."
This past March, the Dallas City Council unanimously approved to continue building a second light rail alignment through downtown Dallas.
Allred previously announced over $61 million in partial transit funding for the Dallas area, more than $107 million in bridge repair funding, over $80 million in funding headed to DFW International Airport and Love Field Airport and over $60 million for electric vehicle charging as part of the recent infrastructure law.
Find more information on this year’s Federal Transit Administration’s apportionments, including state and regional allocations, here.
Beware pedestrians! Scooters should be back in Dallas by 2023
We calculated the cost of a typical North Texas commute, as gas prices near $4
Every DART bus route is changing. Here's what you need to know | 2022-04-13T23:00:53Z | www.wfaa.com | North Texas to get nearly $175 million for transit agencies | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/north-texas-to-get-nearly-175-million-in-federal-funding-for-dart-other-transit-agencies-collin-allred/287-98fceeac-96ca-4949-a9a7-f72b3c4c80e8 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/north-texas-to-get-nearly-175-million-in-federal-funding-for-dart-other-transit-agencies-collin-allred/287-98fceeac-96ca-4949-a9a7-f72b3c4c80e8 |
"I want a family that will love me, that will spend time with me. If I play sports, I want them to be there at my games," says 14-year-old Dora.
DALLAS — It's amazing how a stranger's kindness can make a difference in someone's life.
Today's Wednesday's Child needed to hear something positive about herself, and a CPS caseworker was there for her. WFAA was there to capture the moment.
When WFAA met 14-year-old Dora, she had something very important on her mind.
"Well, my CASA, they're planning a quinceañera for me. It's like a Sweet 16," said Dora.
Whether it's on paper or in person, Dora knows how to express herself.
"I sometimes like to do people's hair, or like do their makeup, or paint their nails," she said.
Dora's upcoming quinceañera, or 15th birthday, is important to her.
"It's like a big celebration that you're turning into like a woman," she said.
Dora said her advocates are going to throw her a quinceañera. She already has the party pictured in her head.
"You get a big fancy dress -- a crown, and you have to invite people that you want to come and just celebrate," she said.
Dora's celebration won't include the biological siblings she misses so much. They've found their forever families. Dora is still waiting for hers. It’s why even the smallest words of encouragement from a CPS caseworker can be so appreciated.
"Just know that you are good. You're God's child," said CPS worker LaQueena Warren.
Dora became overwhelmed with emotion. This young lady needs a family who will be kind, committed and above all else, loving.
"I want a family that will love me, that will spend time with me. If I play sports, I want them to be there at my games," she said.
Dora will soon celebrate a special moment in her life, but the moment she really wants to celebrate is being with her new family.
For more information on how to adopt Dora, please send all approved home studies to LaQueena Warren at LaQueena.Warren@dfps.texas.gov. Please remember to include Dora's names within the subject line. | 2022-04-14T00:31:01Z | www.wfaa.com | Wednesday's Child: Meet 14-year-old Dora | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/outreach/wednesdays-child/wednesdays-child-14-year-old-dora-wishes-to-be-adopted-for-quinceaera/287-e83d0357-b05e-4963-95c8-fbe87c63d2f0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/outreach/wednesdays-child/wednesdays-child-14-year-old-dora-wishes-to-be-adopted-for-quinceaera/287-e83d0357-b05e-4963-95c8-fbe87c63d2f0 |
"Until the pause button is pushed, and it's removed from the calendar, we are not going to let up and we are not going to rest," said Rep. Jeff Leach.
DALLAS — Representative Jeff Leach (R-Allen) vows to continue fighting to halt the execution of Melissa Lucio -- although he is hopeful the Cameron County District Attorney will do as he promised Tuesday, and step in to pause the execution if no one else does first.
A meeting of the Criminal Justice Reform Committee in Austin on Tuesday revealed that five of the jurors who agreed to sentence Lucio to death now admit they believe they were wrong.
"Now just days away from her planned execution, I feel deep regret," juror Johnny Galvan said in a statement read to the committee by his daughter.
Galvan said now that he knows that Lucio was interrogated for five hours, that she claimed more than 100 times in that interview that she was innocent, that her eventual confession was forced and that she is an abuse survivor herself, he wouldn't have voted for her death.
"The idea that my decision to take another person's life was not based on complete and accurate information in a fair trial is horrifying," Galvan wrote.
The current Cameron County District Attorney, not the one who convicted Lucio of murdering her daughter, joined the committee hearing remotely.
"I do not believe this execution is going to go through on April 27," Luis Saenz said, telling the committee he will withdraw the death warrant before April 27 if the courts, the board of pardons and paroles, or the governor doesn't step in first.
"This case is not over; it has not been finally decided. I do not believe that the execution is going to be carried out on that day," said Saenz.
Today, Lucio's fate still in limbo. The Lucio family, on social media, asked the Cameron County DA "to do the right thing" and rescind the death warrant.
"She is an innocent woman. And I want to say thank you to all the supporters," Melissa Lucio's son John Lucio said after the hearing.
RELATED: 'I don't want to see my mom die': Weeks from execution, Texas death row inmate Melissa Lucio's family hopes for clemency
"I am hopeful that if the Court of Criminal Appeals or the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the governor don't step in to stop this execution that the DA in Cameron County Luis Saenz will do so," said Rep. Leach in an interview with Inside Texas Politics.
"But look, April 27 execution date is still set and until the pause button is pushed, and it's removed from the calendar, we are not going to let up and we are not going to rest," he said. | 2022-04-14T00:31:07Z | www.wfaa.com | Melissa Lucio: Rep. Jeff Leach working to halt execution | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/rep-jeff-leach-promises-to-keep-fighting-for-texas-death-row-inamte-melissa-lucio/287-2f381d7e-5453-45f2-9e24-04baf18c4a5f | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/rep-jeff-leach-promises-to-keep-fighting-for-texas-death-row-inamte-melissa-lucio/287-2f381d7e-5453-45f2-9e24-04baf18c4a5f |
The Second Chance Job Fair will be held Friday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Larry Johnson Recreation Center, located at 3700 Dixon Avenue in Dallas.
DALLAS — The halls of the Larry Johnson Recreation Center in the Dixon Circle neighborhood of South Dallas were busy on Wednesday. A steady flow of people were filing into the building.
They were on a mission to get the tools needed to secure a new job.
Dixon Circle is a neighborhood where some residents will tell you they just need a chance. That’s why a group of community organizers are focused on second chances.
“We’re not here for show. We want results,” said Dr. Pamela Grayson, president of Dixon Circle Neighborhood Association.
A two-day ‘Second Chance Job Fair’ kicked off at the recreation center on Wednesday. The job fair launched with a variety of workshops. The sessions were primarily focused on delivering resources and tools for those who are formerly incarcerated. Yet, the job fair is open to anyone across the city searching for options and opportunities.
“It’s very tough because I’ve made bad choices in the past. But this, right here, is giving me a second chance at life,” said Fredrick Jackson, as he visited workshops.
The job fair organizers include Dixon Circle Neighborhood Association, Dallas Parks and Recreation, Collective Activism, and Dallas CRED.
The violence interrupter group, Dallas CRED, focuses on proactively addressing crime and community needs across four target areas in the city. Its team believes knowing the barriers to employment can be key.
“When people live in the communities that’s always under duress, the first thing they do is they act out because they are under duress. It’s no more about right versus wrong. It’s about pain versus relief. A lot of people, their pain comes from they lack options,” explained Mar Butler, director of Dallas CRED.
Wanting options is why Julian Winston said he walked an hour and a half to get to the workshops. He’s hoping to land a new career.
“I’m not from Dallas, but it was an interesting trip to get here,” said Winston.
Part two of the job fair continues with a group of premier employers.
“It’s going to be worthwhile. Everyone is background friendly. Interviews will be going on, on the spot. And placements on the spot as well,” said Dr. Grayson. | 2022-04-14T03:35:19Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas job fair: Residents flock to Second Chance Job Fair | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/community-lead-job-fair-in-south-dallas/287-6c4c8ba2-3d29-451b-b00c-ccde936809db | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/community-lead-job-fair-in-south-dallas/287-6c4c8ba2-3d29-451b-b00c-ccde936809db |
The Cedar Valley Baptist Church and Victory Baptist Church along FM-2843 were reduced to piles of debris.
SALADO, Texas — The small community of Cedar Valley in Salado, TX was left unrecognizable for miles after an EF-3 tornado swept through it Tuesday evening.
The twister ripped through trees, injured more than 23 people, and tore apart family homes in a matter of seconds.
Wednesday, the National Weather Service announced that the tornado had a preliminary rating of an EF-3 with maximum wind speeds of 165 mph. The tornado’s track was 13 miles long, and it lasted half an hour.
Two churches in Salado were flattened by the twister. The Cedar Valley Baptist Church and Victory Baptist Church along FM-2843 were reduced to piles of debris.
Donnie Jackson, the pastor of First Cedar Valley Baptist Church, shed tears as he surveyed the damage to his church.
“That was the toughest moment for me,” said Jackson.
According to Jackson, no one was in the church at the time of the tornado. Jackson sheltered from the storm at a closet in his home, surrounded by family members.
“We just prayed the whole time,” Jackson said. “We could hear it, it sounded awful.”
Jackson’s family has been a part of the church since he was a child. Although it wasn’t always the same building, he described it as a special place because of how much it meant to his late
“Sometimes you wanna [sic] question why things like this happen, and then one of the scriptures came to my mind that says: ‘We know that all things work together for good to those that love God and are called to his purpose,’” Jackson said. “I have no idea what God’s purpose is in allowing this to happen, but I know he has one.”
Through the damage, a remarkable thing happened: the large cross hanging in the church didn’t falter. While the roof above it collapsed and debris surrounded it, the wooden cross still stood high above the brokenness.
“It’s still anchored and undamaged. What does that tell you?” said Jackson.
The people who live in the Cedar Valley community lost so much. At least 61 homes were destroyed, but on Wednesday, people from all over Texas showed up to help with recovery efforts.
“We’re gonna [sic] start over. We’re gonna keep right on going,” said Jackson.
The members of his church vowed to rebuild.
“This is just a building. Our church is gonna continue right on,” said Jackson.
Easter is this Sunday, and Jackson plans to have the service outside of the damaged church. Jackson told WFAA that pastors from all over Central Texas will attend.
“If we don’t have nothing but a tent out here for awhile, that’ll be okay,” said Jackson.
Their faith will overcome what tore through the tight-knit community.
Bell County officials announced a phone line set up to help for those looking to help with recovery efforts.
If you’d like to help those who were impacted by the tornado, you can call 254-534-2217 to make donations. | 2022-04-14T03:35:31Z | www.wfaa.com | Salado Texas EF-3 tornado: Two churches destroyed | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/weather/severe-weather/two-churches-flattened-by-ef-3-tornado-in-salado/287-3bc4773e-7fae-4504-8ddc-e92bd54bf596 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/weather/severe-weather/two-churches-flattened-by-ef-3-tornado-in-salado/287-3bc4773e-7fae-4504-8ddc-e92bd54bf596 |
The country music legend joined Daybreak ahead of tickets going on sale Friday morning for his concert on July 30 in Arlington.
DALLAS — The excitement of Garth Brooks' fans for his concert at AT&T Stadium this summer might be topped by just one person: Garth himself.
"We're not coming to Dallas because we've never been," Brooks told WFAA Daybreak on Thursday morning. "We're coming because we have. It's a guaranteed good time."
The country music legend joined Daybreak ahead of tickets going on sale Friday morning for his concert on July 30 in Arlington. Sales start at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.
The concert this summer will be Brooks' first stop at AT&T Stadium, which opened in 2009, and Brooks last played North Texas in 2015, at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
But the Oklahoma native is no stranger to the Dallas-Fort Worth crowds. When he was here in 2015, he played seven shows in a row at the AAC.
At the height of his popularity in the 1990s, he played Texas Stadium, the former home of the Cowboys in Irving. And early in his career, he lived briefly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as his band toured smaller venues, he said.
"This is kind of where it began," Brooks said Thursday of North Texas, mentioning their early days playing the Southern Junction and Cowboys dancehall. "This is the people who fed you when you couldn't afford to feed yourself. This was the place."
Brooks didn't have much of a preview for his setlist this time around, and that's by design. He said the band will start with a plan of a few songs. Then he'll let the crowd take it from there.
"The people will tell you" what they want to hear next, Brooks said.
Brooks, known for his boisterous on-stage persona, won't hold back from the hits, like "The Thunder Rolls" and the singalong favorite, "Friends in Low Places."
He said his personal favorite song to perform is "Callin' Baton Rouge."
"Once you introduce it, the crowd goes to a place they've never been all night," Brooks said. "And it's your job as an entertainer to never let them come back down."
AT&T Stadium will be among the larger venues on his tour this year. So far, he only has one night on the calendar in Arlington. He's playing two nights at Nashville's Nissan Stadium this weekend, but Brooks quickly dismissed the idea of a second show at AT&T, for now.
"We'll be lucky to have some people show up," Brooks said, in the understatement of the year. "If it's five, it's 50,000, if it's whatever – just get ready. Bring your helmet. This will be fun."
'The Last Goodbye' tour: ODESZA to play at Dos Equis Pavilion | 2022-04-14T12:59:34Z | www.wfaa.com | Garth Brooks Dallas concert: Tickets on sale Friday | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/garth-brooks-concert-dallas-att-stadium-tickets-arlington-tour-ticketmaster/287-b974dbf7-647f-4539-9df0-456c9f166ee6 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/garth-brooks-concert-dallas-att-stadium-tickets-arlington-tour-ticketmaster/287-b974dbf7-647f-4539-9df0-456c9f166ee6 |
The large derricks that hold up the flying red horse have become corrosive, and city officials worry strong winds could cause the 15-ton fixture to fall.
DALLAS — An iconic piece of the Dallas skyline needs more repairs, and they'll be costly.
The Dallas City Council on Wednesday approved up to $357,000 in repairs for the Pegasus sign, which sits atop the Magnolia Building in downtown Dallas.
Crews began working on repairing the Pegasus last year after the city paid the firm Phoenix I Restoration and Construction $295,000 to assess the situation.
In March, the city received an engineering report from Phoenix that "cited the urgent nature of the repairs," said Benjamin Espino, the assistant director of the city's arts and culture office, which maintains the Pegasus and other city art property.
Councilmember Adam Bazaldua questioned whether the city's arts office considered taking the Pegasus down, instead of going through costly repairs.
Espino said the city's options were limited after receiving the engineering report.
"At this point, we did not really have any other options," Espino told the council on Wednesday. "It's really at a state of corrosive disrepair. So we need to move forward, since it is a city asset and a very important part of the public art collection."
Bazaldua also asked Espino if the Magnolia Hotel -- which features the Pegasus in its marketing and on its website, including a statue of the red horse in its lobby -- contributed to the cost of the repairs.
Espino said the hotel, which was purchased last year by the hotel company NewcrestImage, is not contributing to the repairs. Instead, the city and the hotel are having "preliminary conversations" about a future partnership to help maintain the Pegasus, after the city pays for the repairs.
"So another sweet deal for a corporate entity?" Bazaldua asked Espino.
"We're looking forward to conversations with them to see about a private-public partnership to help keep this icon," Espino responded.
Hotel officials did not immediately respond to WFAA's request for comment.
Bazaldua proposed putting the issue on hold until the council could consider other options, but the council ultimately voted to approve the funding for the repairs.
Councilmember Tennell Atkins argued that the repairs, despite the costs, are worth it due to the safety risk of the Pegasus falling.
"I would feel sorry for myself if something happened," Atkins said during the council meeting. "We're sitting here talking about $300,000, and we're talking about a billion-dollar budget. It's crazy."
The current Magnolia Pegasus, which is now surrounded by scaffolding due to the repairs, was revealed on New Year's Eve 1999, but it's been a mainstay in Dallas, and on the Magnolia, for more than 80 years.
The original fixture was erected in 1934, when Magnolia Oil Co. owned the building, which was Dallas' first skyscraper.
The structure's neon lights eventually failed in 1997, and it was taken down and refurbished to its current state, where it sits outside of the Omni Hotel downtown.
The new Pegasus at the Magnolia, while much newer than the original, remains an historic landmark, according to the city.
Original Pegasus returns to downtown Dallas
Winged-horse Pegasus once again aglow in downtown Dallas | 2022-04-14T20:12:18Z | www.wfaa.com | Downtown Dallas Pegasus horse: Repairs needed, city says | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fearing-downtown-pegasus-statue-flying-red-horse-downtown-could-fall-city-of-dallas-approves-357000-for-repairs/287-906f6eeb-b5dc-428d-b93f-8498c2100fb6 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fearing-downtown-pegasus-statue-flying-red-horse-downtown-could-fall-city-of-dallas-approves-357000-for-repairs/287-906f6eeb-b5dc-428d-b93f-8498c2100fb6 |
Police said 19-year-old Datavian Brown and 17-year-old Daivyon Brown were taken into custody Thursday, April 14 and charged with murder.
Author: Briauna Brown, Matt Howerton
DALLAS — Editor's note: The above video previously aired on April 1, after 19-year-old Zuri Goff was killed.
Two teenagers have been arrested and charged in connection to the death of a 19-year-old gunned down at a fast food restaurant drive-thru, the Dallas Police Department says.
On March 31, Dallas Police said officers were called to the Raising Cane's drive-thru located at 8150 S. Hampton Road in response to a shooting.
When officers arrived, they found the victim, 19-year-old Zuri Andre Goff, shot multiple times in the rear passenger seat of a vehicle. Goff was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Police said the shooting stemmed from an altercation outside of the restaurant in the drive-thru.
RELATED: Teenager shot and killed in Dallas drive-thru, police say
Goff’s mother and grandmother spoke with WFAA on April 1. They said Goff was a Duncanville High School alum and was the father of a 1-year-old girl.
"I don't know why this happened to my baby," Chi Ballard, Goff’s mother said. "I want his killers to stand trial, and I want them to look me in my face and tell me why they took my baby away from me."
Both Datavian Brown and Daivyon Brown have been transported to the Dallas County jail. Bail information has not been released at this time.
Sources told WFAA the suspects and Goff likely knew each other and had a history. But Ballard told WFAA whatever that history may have been, it wasn’t worth her son’s life.
"Whether he was coming or going -- he always made it a point to let me know he loved me," Ballard said. "He was just learning about life and figuring things out at his age. I don't know who Zuri had issues with, but whatever it was -- it wasn't worth his life." | 2022-04-14T21:54:10Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas Raising Canes fatal shooting: 2 suspects arrested | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/2-teens-arrested-shooting-death-19-year-old-dallas-raising-canes/287-461730b3-21de-4659-b7ff-41edc60590ba | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/2-teens-arrested-shooting-death-19-year-old-dallas-raising-canes/287-461730b3-21de-4659-b7ff-41edc60590ba |
The body was found in a creek on March 9, 2022, around 3:30 p.m. near Skillman Street and Abrams Road, police say.
Dallas police need help identifying this man after his body was found in a creek.
DALLAS — Police in Dallas need help identifying a body that was found in a creek in early March.
Police said the body of a man was found on March 9, 2022, around 3:30 p.m. in the 6700 block of Skillman Street, near the intersection with Abrams Road.
The body is described as a white male, about 5 feet 11 inches tall, 165 to 175 pounds and having reddish-brown hair.
Along with a sketch of the man's face, police also released a sketch of a tattoo that the man has on his left inner forearm.
According to police, the man was also wearing a blue lapis-style necklace and a yellow and black tiger eye ring on his left hand.
Anyone who may know the man's identity is asked to call homicide detectives at 214-681-1786. | 2022-04-14T21:54:16Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas police ask for help identifying body of man found in creek | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-police-need-help-identifying-body-found-creek/287-3bda3423-6151-4dbc-89ef-74c8703f2046 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-police-need-help-identifying-body-found-creek/287-3bda3423-6151-4dbc-89ef-74c8703f2046 |
Jada Govan was last seen Sunday, April 10, at the Residence at Arbor Grove in Arlington, where she shared an apartment with her mother.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Jada Govan's family is frantically trying to find her location. The 20-year-old was last seen Sunday, April 10, at The Residence at Arbor Grove in Arlington, where she shared an apartment with her mother.
Her family said she'd gone to get breakfast early in the morning, came back home, and then left again with only her phone.
"She didn't have cards, I.D., purse, she left everything... just her phone. And we haven't heard anything since," said Zachary Govan, brother.
Govan's grey Dodge Caliber is gone -- it has the Texas license plates RDY 5600. Her family wonders if she encountered someone in the parking lot of the complex. Unfortunately, there is no surveillance footage because the cameras weren't working.
"It's a real difficult time, we really have no idea. Hard to wrap our mind around what is going on. Difficult time. We want her home," said Zachary Govan.
Jada Govan's phone last pinged off a cell tower around Park Row and Center. After that, her family said her phone went dead.
A Search One Rescue Team used cadaver dogs and searched a nearby wooded area, but they didn't find anything. Her family said the location service on her phone was turned off.
Govan's family said she is extremely shy and keeps to herself. The family said she isn't really on social media and wouldn't have gone anywhere without letting her mom know.
"She's reserved and shy. She's definitely frightened. I'm sure she is scared," said her brother.
The family is offering a $5,000 reward, and the Arlington Police Department is asking the public to call the lead investigator at 817-459-5316 with any information concerning Govan's location. Also, police said if you think you see her, call 911 immediately. | 2022-04-14T23:30:24Z | www.wfaa.com | Police: 20-year-old Arlington woman is missing | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/family-arlington-police-searching-for-20-year-old-jada-govan/287-d1842d10-4ec7-4001-af32-148da9bac21c | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/family-arlington-police-searching-for-20-year-old-jada-govan/287-d1842d10-4ec7-4001-af32-148da9bac21c |
Rowlett helicopter crash investigation reveals main rotor blade made contact with tail during flight, NTSB reports
Just before 2 p.m. Thursday, April 14, Dallas Fire-Rescue crews were called to a structure fire at an apartment complex in the 6400 block of Melody Lane.
DALLAS — At least 18 people have been displaced and one firefighter was transported to a local hospital following a fire at an apartment complex in northeast Dallas, officials say.
When firefighters arrived, they saw heavy black smoke coming from the top floor of the two-story apartment building. Dallas Fire-Rescue says crews moved in for an offensive attack, but the flames spread quickly, which called for a second-alarm response.
After about a half-an-hour, the fire was extinguished, Dallas Fire-Rescue says.
DFR says no injuries were reported to any of the residents, but there was one firefighter transported to local hospital for “medical reasons.” The firefighter is expected to be okay.
Officials told WFAA at least three apartment units suffered significant damage, but due to the power having to be shut off to the entire building, 18 residents were displaced. The American Red Cross has been called to scene to assist them.
DFR says the fire was likely caused by an electrical shortage in the walls between two second-floor apartments. | 2022-04-14T23:30:36Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas apartment fire: 18 residents displaced on Melody Lane | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/northeast-dallas-apartment-fire-18-residents-displaced-firefighter-in-hospital/287-f17a8ffb-4487-444a-ab87-d17e4fa51a66 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/northeast-dallas-apartment-fire-18-residents-displaced-firefighter-in-hospital/287-f17a8ffb-4487-444a-ab87-d17e4fa51a66 |
The Robinson R44 helicopter crash killed a flight instructor and a student pilot on March 25, 2022.
ROWLETT, Texas — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report on the March 25 helicopter crash in Rowlett that killed two people.
The crash happened just before 11:30 a.m. in an open lot near some businesses in the 2200 block of Lakeview Parkway. The Robinson R44 helicopter also caught fire on the ground.
Two people died in the crash. They were later identified by the Dallas County Medical Examiner's office as flight instructor Lora Trout, 31, and student pilot Ty Wallis, 42.
The NTSB took lead of the investigation and revealed some early details in a report on April 14.
According to the NTSB, the training flight was the second of the day for the two, and the lesson included "pre-solo maneuvers, introduction/simulation of emergency procedures, equipment malfunctions, and vortex ring state recognition and recovery."
The NTSB said Wallis had a pilot certification for airplanes and was working to add one for helicopters.
As for the cause of the crash, the NTSB revealed that it appears the main rotor blade made contact with the tail boom during the flight. The NTSB said the helicopter was maneuvering about 2,000 feet and that its airspeed "slowed significantly" before its descent.
Video from witnesses showed the helicopter and its separated tail section falling from the sky. The tail was ultimately found on top of a nearby business building about 300 feet from the wreckage, according to the NTSB.
The NTSB reported that there were no radio or distress calls from the helicopter. There were also no signs of mechanical issues or pre-separation before the flight, according to the NTSB.
The Robinson R44 models have continued to be under scrutiny, according to law experts.
Dallas-based attorneys Jon Kettles and Mike Lyons told WFAA they have represented several families regarding R44 crashes.
Kettles, who was a military helicopter pilot for eight years, commented about how that model's main rotor teeters back and forth and can flex far enough to make contact with the tail.
"There's a special FAA regulation for training to fly this model aircraft based on a long history of the stability of the aircraft in certain flight modes," Kettles said. "I don't think it's ever a good sign when there's a regulation specifically requiring more training in this model helicopter."
In the preliminary report, the NTSB did not say if investigators believe the crash was caused by pilot error or product failure.
"[NTSB] will figure out precisely what happened, and I hope that they take swift action if it is, in fact, something related to the design or some type of product failure," Lyons told WFAA after the crash.
Helicopter crashes into ocean near Miami Beach swimmers | 2022-04-14T23:30:43Z | www.wfaa.com | Rowlett helicopter crash: NTSB releases preliminary report | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/rowlett-helicopter-crash-main-rotor-blade-contact-tail-ntsb/287-7f66344f-aab5-4d58-ba16-1ceb065a8b5e | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/rowlett-helicopter-crash-main-rotor-blade-contact-tail-ntsb/287-7f66344f-aab5-4d58-ba16-1ceb065a8b5e |
Members of the Board of Trustees say they are focusing on transparency and honesty, after making public the findings of a recently completed forensic audit.
LANCASTER, Texas — Some members of Lancaster Independent School District’s Board of Trustees want the public to know they are focused on transparency and honesty.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about the children,” said Carolyn Morris, District 6 trustee.
Board President Marion Hamilton, Vice President Ty G. Jones and Secretary Carolyn Morris addressed the findings in a forensic audit on Thursday, which the board recently voted to release to the public.
“We’re focused on doing what’s right for students and doing what’s right for their tax dollars,” Jones explained.
The forensic audit centered around the school district’s previous administration -- under the leadership of former Superintendent Dr. Elijah Grander, who resigned in 2020.
“The board, as a whole, decided that when we received it, we were surprised of a lot of information. We said this is the time that the community needs to know,” Morris explained.
The findings in the audit allege Dr. Granger had improper and unethical relationships and agreements with some former school board members, questionable policy changes and, among other things, contractual changes that would have awarded Granger the largest severance payment ever approved for a superintendent in the United States – at the tune of $2 million.
“Our administration definitely tried to, you know, turn pictures on who the board members really were. We’re here to serve the community and the students of Lancaster ISD. And we were painted as if we were bad individuals,” Hamilton said.
Lancaster ISD board members said they’ve been vocal and vigilant about their concerns over the past three years. Hamilton, Jones and Morris said they and their colleagues on the school board want the community to know they’re remaining focused on transparency and honesty.
“As a board, we are focused on best outcomes for our students, also for our teachers. Which, in essence, is our community,” Jones said.
The Board of Trustees said its mission is re-establishing trust with the community.
“One thing that I’ve definitely changed, since I’ve been board president, is I’ve definitely tried to include everyone in on everything,” Hamilton added.
Under the direction of a new superintendent, Dr. A Katrise Perera, the first African American woman to lead Lancaster ISD, the board said it's focusing on the future.
“The atmosphere is different. The information that we have heard from teachers and staff are all positive,” Morris said.
Dr. Granger’s attorney issued the following statement about the forensic audit:
Dr. Elijah Granger is a highly qualified Texas educator who served Lancaster ISD’s parents and students with valor and distinction for more than 8 years and received an outstanding performance evaluation as LISD’s Superintendent just prior to his voluntary separation in 2020.
Knowing Dr. Granger’s resignation had been procured under a Voluntary Severance Agreement, the District’s Board then breached its contractual agreement to pay his severance. Dr. Granger appealed to the Texas Education Agency and the Travis County District Court, where he seeks to hold the District accountable for its broken commitments. Before Dr. Granger’s claims have even been heard by the Court, the District has retaliated outside the litigation with an entirely Board-driven and self-serving “audit” riddled with inaccuracies and misleading statements. The District’s own auditors admit the report is far from complete, and the report attempts simultaneously to justify the District’s actions and smear Dr. Granger with voters and the public.
The audit report’s recommendation that the District refer the matter to regulatory or law enforcement agencies is a complete sham, as no one – not the Board, the auditors, the TEA, the Department of Education, nor any official with any law enforcement agency – has ever contacted Dr. Granger to ask even a single question investigating the subject matter of this “audit.”
Lancaster ISD releases forensic audit and executive summary following controversial financial issues in district | 2022-04-15T01:04:18Z | www.wfaa.com | Lancaster ISD school board members discuss recent forensic audit | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/lancaster-isd-school-board-members-discuss-recent-forensic-audit/287-d073334b-17c5-4daa-b3da-e1ee816aa31d | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/lancaster-isd-school-board-members-discuss-recent-forensic-audit/287-d073334b-17c5-4daa-b3da-e1ee816aa31d |
Serenity Apartments at Dallas was destroyed after a five-alarm fire last week that displaced 65 residents. Multiple organizations are stepping in to help.
DALLAS — One week ago, there was a five-alarm fire at Serenity Apartments at Dallas, a senior living complex off Dilido Road. More than 120 firefighters were on scene to extinguish the flames.
Lillian Mack Martin, a new resident of Serenity at Dallas, remembers that evening clearly. "I was gripping onto the rails, you know, trying to get down the stairs." She can't stand for very long and relies on her walker for support.
"Different thoughts were going through my head like I wasn't going to make it out alive," she said with tears in her eyes.
RELATED: 2 firefighters injured, 65 residents displaced in 5-alarm fire at Dallas senior living facility, officials say
Martin is one of 65 residents who lost everything in the fire, and who evacuated with barely anything. "I had my wallet, my keys, and my cell phone, and the clothes on my back," she said.
Now, many of the residents are looking for a new, permanent place to live -- and are concerned about their future.
Martin is a senior on a fixed and limited income. Her greatest fear, she said, "I may end up in a shelter, but this was not my fault."
Ben Friedman, a spokesperson for Serenity at Dallas, reassures that the company is committed to helping every person who lost their home. "We are confident that every resident who has been displaced by this will continue to receive the support that they need, and that no one will be left without a roof over their head because of this devastating fire."
Friedman said they have been working with the City of Dallas and the Red Cross.
He said, as of Thursday, Catholic Charities Dallas is also stepping in to assist with the long-term casework.
Anyone who would like to help the residents can make a donation to Catholic Charities. There's a fund set up directly for this cause. Friedman said Serenity at Dallas has already made the first contribution.
A spokesperson for the American Red Cross told WFAA, "Red Cross is working closely with Dallas VOAD and city officials to make arrangements for long-term housing solutions for all the clients affected by the fire at the Serenity Apartments."
Hotel lodging will continue through the weekend for those who have not yet found a new place to live. | 2022-04-15T01:04:24Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas senior apartment residents seek help after massive fire | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/seniors-displaced-dallas-apartment-fire-search-new-place-to-live/287-ab16aca5-bfda-4991-85e2-0ac6814c229f | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/seniors-displaced-dallas-apartment-fire-search-new-place-to-live/287-ab16aca5-bfda-4991-85e2-0ac6814c229f |
Police say the shooter ran away on foot and is still at-large. Officers are working to determine a motive and say that those who were shot are expected to be OK.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Three people were shot inside a Fort Worth convenience store Thursday afternoon, the second convenience store shooting within 24 hours in the city, police told WFAA.
Police were sent to 1701 South Riverside, an address for the convenience store known as the Pink Store.
Investigators with the department told WFAA that three people were shot inside. Sources and witnesses told WFAA a clerk was shot in the chest, and two other men were also shot.
One of those victims is a teenager, per the department.
Officers with the department's gang unit were also on the scene, trying to piece together a motive for the crime. A spokesperson for the department told WFAA that it's not clear if the shooting was a robbery.
The victims don't have life-threatening injuries and are expected to be alright, per the department.
Thursday's shooting was the second convenience store shooting the city has seen within 24 hours.
On Wednesday, a Food Mart near 1000 Bessie was shot up during, what police describe, as a drive-by.
Two people were shot and are expected to be OK. The location is roughly one mile from the Pink Store.
Violent crime has taken center stage in Fort Worth. Last year, it set an unpleasant record -- the most homicides since 1994, and the city recorded 118 deaths in total.
Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes has promised to reduce violent crime by 10% within one year.
Noakes has promised a data-driven approach, focusing on hot spots in the city where the most violent crime has been reported.
RELATED: Fort Worth Police implement new violent crime plan
A department spokesperson said the drive-by shooting on Bessie was within a hot spot, but said Thursday's shooting wasn't.
So far this year, 29 homicides have been recorded as of the publishing of this article, per Mayor Mattie Parker. | 2022-04-15T02:36:38Z | www.wfaa.com | Fort Worth convenience store shooting: 3 injured at Pink Store | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/fort-worth-convenience-store-clerk-and-teen-shot-police-say/287-e2ddb74d-039d-4444-93a1-aa22331ce27d | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/fort-worth-convenience-store-clerk-and-teen-shot-police-say/287-e2ddb74d-039d-4444-93a1-aa22331ce27d |
"S3" will fight on the Errol Spence Jr.-Yordenis Ugas undercard on Saturday, April 16 at AT&T Stadium.
CEDAR HILL, Texas — As the sun beams down on a Tuesday afternoon, Samuel Arnold III walks out to the family garage for his second workout of the day.
Stepping out of the shoes of an 18-year-old working on an associate's degree and into the world of "S3" – professional and undefeated boxer. "S3" is the stage name for Arnold III, who goes by a different name to those closest to him.
"Everybody calls me 'Squirm,'" smiled Arnold III, who is nicknamed 'Squirm' because he would around a lot as a kid. "You can call me 'Squirm' if you want to."
You can also call him "Champ."
Arnold III is a seven-time amateur champion boxer, who turned pro in 2021.
The middleweight now boasts a record of 4-0-0 and won his last fight in front of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson.
"Man, it was cool," Arnold III admitted. "I never met the mayor before."
Arnold III's trainer and coach is his father, Samuel Arnold II. Their training facility is their garage.
"When we step in here, it's time to work," Arnold II explained. "This kind of isolates us, so we can work on the things we need to work on."
Arnold II, who owns a barbershop in Duncanville, used to wake up early as a kid to do push-ups and sit-ups with his father. Boxing has run in the Arnold family.
The Arnold's are originally from St. Louis, MO. Despite not having family nearby, they moved to North Texas in hopes of a better life.
"I just did it for [my kids] to have a better chance at life," Arnold II said. "And to not have to worry about anything outside the house."
Specifically, gang violence, which the claimed the life of Arnold III's cousin, Khallid Chapman.
"Rest in peace, my cousin 'K Boogie', man," Arnold II said, with a 'K-Boogie' tattoo inked across his right tricep. "He passed away when I was 14 years old. Senseless gun violence. He wasn't in a gang or anything."
Arnold III finds motivation in the ring from multiple sources, including his late cousin.
"[Chapman] used to want to box when he was young, so I do this for him really."
Arnold III spent the first two years of high school at DeSoto but got his diploma from Advanced Preparatory International in Oak Cliff. API offered him a less-structured schedule, so he could train (or fight) when he needed to but also complete his academics.
Now, Arnold III is two sleeps from the biggest fight of his life.
"S3" will fight 32-year-old Darryl Jones (4-3-1) on the Errol Spence Jr.-Yordenis Ugas undercard at AT&T Stadium on Saturday, April 16 in Arlington, Texas.
"I was 15 going to Errol Spence Jr.-Mikey Garcia," Arnold II recalled. "Now it's my turn. Now I got a fight there. It's a dream come true, really."
Perhaps, one day, Arnold III will be the main event.
'They're like family': After season in Ukraine, Dallas-sprung WNBA players Joyner Holmes, Ariel Atkins worry for safety of Ukrainian former teammates
Luka gets rehab work done on left calf Thursday, waves for the camera | 2022-04-15T02:36:50Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas boxing gym: Teen Samuel Arnold III bound to become star | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/samuel-arnold-iii-boxing-cedar-hill-texas/287-d3d182ee-d293-4318-8a63-4fae3c512e41 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/samuel-arnold-iii-boxing-cedar-hill-texas/287-d3d182ee-d293-4318-8a63-4fae3c512e41 |
"This is my whole goal: to help the people who are helping the people," Michael told WFAA.
DALLAS — Michael of North Texas saw the images of war out of Ukraine and knew he had to do something.
He requested that WFAA not share his last name for the safety and security of his family. He decided to leave his wife and children and North Texas for Ukraine to help with the humanitarian effort.
"I prayed on the subject. I prayed and once God and I made a decision all the fear and all the anxiety disappeared," he said.
Michael flew through Poland and rode a bus into Ukraine. He said before the war he had no connection to the people or the country.
But, he has taken on many mission projects since retiring from the Army Rangers after 21 years, he told WFAA. He spent many years overseas in many different regions.
"This is my whole goal: to help the people who are helping the people," he told WFAA.
When he first arrived, the training started at the hospitals. He spent time with doctors and nurses who were treating patients.
He tells WFAA he had helped with large triage and mass casualty events before. But what started as mostly humanitarian help quickly transitioned to combat readiness training.
He would spend his first 30 days in places like Lviv and Mykolaiv with the Ukraine's 3rd Marine Battalion.
"They don't need to hear my voice, they need to hear their leadership," he told WFAA.
He said that of the 120 people in the battalion, only a small fraction had a real military training.
Michael says he aided with hands-on training on tactics with some men who've never before picked up a gun. There were eight other foreign officers, two of them Americans, who were also part of the battalion.
Michael was there 30 days and has since returned to North Texas. He has plans to go back shortly for 90 more days to continue to imbed with Ukraine's 3rd Marine Battalion.
Michael says he's paying his own way but is asking for the public's help to fund humanitarian aid and supplies that can travel with him to Ukraine.
"They deserve our respect and they deserve our help," Michael said.
A video and fundraising site has been created to help Michael with his humanitarian efforts. | 2022-04-15T04:16:42Z | www.wfaa.com | North Texas man helping train on Ukraine frontlines | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/north-texas-man-ukraine-helps-train-frontlines-battle-humanitarian-crisis/287-05a2b3a2-af9b-4c7d-92c3-c69d70c46975 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/north-texas-man-ukraine-helps-train-frontlines-battle-humanitarian-crisis/287-05a2b3a2-af9b-4c7d-92c3-c69d70c46975 |
North Richland Hills police detectives announced advanced DNA technology allowed them to identify the so-called "Cowboy Hat Bandit" as Mark Long.
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — Detectives with the North Richland Hills Police Department announced they believe they’ve solved a 19-year-old cold case.
On Friday, members of the police department held a press conference and displayed some of the evidence that brought them to identifying the man accused of shooting and injuring then-officer Jeff Garner.
“It has been an overwhelming week,” said Capt. Jeff Garner, who still works for NRHPD. “I have been carrying this weight of this event for 19 years.”
Garner was shot in 2003, after attempting to stop a driver who, unknown to Garner, had just robbed a bank in Watauga, Texas, police said.
Police said the driver, nicknamed the "Cowboy Hat Bandit" was linked to seven bank robberies from 1998 to 2003, totaling more than $296,000.
He got away and left many questions unanswered, according to police.
In 2015, NRHPD detective Erik Whitlock picked up the investigation after the case sat cold for many years.
“Nineteen years went by with this family wondering why? Who?” Whitlock said.
Whitlock described the passion he felt for solving the case, investigating the case was his way of getting justice for Garner, whom he described as a colleague and friend during the press conference.
Advanced DNA technology led detectives to Mark Long, an Oklahoma resident, police said.
Whitlock submitted DNA evidence from several of the robberies to Identifinders International for a forensic genetic genealogy examination. In December 2021, forensic genealogists linked the DNA to Long, whom detectives identified as a suspect, according to police.
Undercover detectives traveled to Oklahoma in February 2022 and began surveillance on Long, police said.
Police said that after Long dined at a restaurant, detectives obtained DNA from the items Long used at the restaurant. Those items were submitted and examined alongside previously collected DNA evidence in three of the bank robberies, and they matched, according to police.
Earlier this month, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation obtained search warrants for Long’s home, vehicle and a previously-owned Jeep police believe Long used during a bank robbery in Watauga, police said.
Police said NRHPD detectives and OSBI searched the home and found a revolver in his bedroom.
Police said the weapon matched the description of the revolver allegedly used during the 2003 shootinh and that it was still loaded. Police said the bullets inside of the weapon matched the projectiles located at the crime scene of the 2003 shooting.
Police said they also tracked down Long’s Jeep and found that it had body filler repaired on the tailgate. Police said the damage on the tailgate was consistent with a bullet hole from when then-officer Garner returned fire.
“Against all odds, he still had the weapon he used to shoot Garner and in all bank robberies,” Whitlock said.
NRHPD Chief Jimmy Perdue described the finding as a major breakthrough.
“This is what policing is about, that we always pursue no matter how long it takes to get it done,” Perdue said.
NRH arrest warrants were secured for Long and included several charges, including attempted capital murder of a peace officer, aggravated robbery and two counts of robbery, with a total bond of $675,000.
This month, as police geared up to serve the arrest warrants, they learned that Long was found dead near a cell tower in southeast Oklahoma City, police said.
NRHPD detectives said they believe Long died by suicide, but the final cause of death has yet to be released by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner.
“He took himself only things he will know. The why. Why did he do this?” Whitlock said.
Detectives may never know the why, but they believe the cold case is solved, police said.
“I have received every answer I ever wanted,” Garner said.
He said he can finally begin the path toward healing.
New DNA evidence could help solve the murder of a TSU student nearly 30 years later
DNA testing helps solve woman's cold case killing, nearly 4 decades later | 2022-04-16T00:07:18Z | www.wfaa.com | Cold case: North Texas police say they solved shooting of officer | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/north-richland-hills-police-cold-case-dna-technology-suspect-died-before-arrest/287-28c78ffe-a903-4375-8a76-5cb63648fad0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/north-richland-hills-police-cold-case-dna-technology-suspect-died-before-arrest/287-28c78ffe-a903-4375-8a76-5cb63648fad0 |
The road closures will block vehicle traffic on Friday and Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.
DALLAS — On a typical weekend in vibrant Deep Ellum, large crowds flock to the entertainment hub.
This weekend, road closures take effect in the bustling neighborhood.
The closures begin after 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and they’ll block vehicle traffic along Main Street and Elm Street between Good-Latimer Expressway and Malcolm X Boulevard.
According to the Dallas Police Department and the Deep Ellum Foundation, the closures are aimed at improving safety for pedestrians.
Caterina Costante, the owner of Buck Moonshine’s, is on board with the plan.
“It will help with crowd control,” Costante said.
The street closures take place at the beginning of summer, but this year, they’re starting sooner.
It comes after a recent string of violence in Deep Ellum on weekends. Last Sunday, surveillance video captured a shooting that injured two people. People scattered across Elm Street as several people fired guns.
“People shouldn’t feel like they can’t come down here cause we’ve had a couple of incidents,” Costante said.
Emily Shuwall, a manager at Serious Pizza, told WFAA she heard the gunshots during her break. The pizza shop where she works is down the street from where the shooting took place.
“I ran inside and made sure everybody in here was okay,” Shuwall said. “I think the closures are a great move.”
Vik Katoch, owner of Neon Kitten, said he feels good about the area’s increased police presence.
“The weather is changing and people are more coming out,” Katoch said. “I’ve seen a lot of cops, that’s a great thing. The good thing also is you see a lot of people, and it’s a positive thing happening for the locals here.”
The recent incidents didn’t hold Fort Worth resident Itale Watie from spending time in Deep Ellum on Saturday.
“I always feel safe coming out here. I never feel any issues,” Watie said. “There’s a lot of good things here, a lot of good businesses, and I don’t think it should be ruined because teenagers get bored.”
According to the Deep Ellum Foundation, the road closures will be re-evaluated every week. | 2022-04-17T04:24:33Z | www.wfaa.com | Deep Ellum road closures aimed at improving safety | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/deep-ellum-road-closures-kick-off-this-weekend-improve-safety/287-0424841f-2d2a-4c7c-8294-7d80be69e2a8 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/deep-ellum-road-closures-kick-off-this-weekend-improve-safety/287-0424841f-2d2a-4c7c-8294-7d80be69e2a8 |
Arlington police say there had been social media rumors about a shooting at the mall, but the rumors were false.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Multiple teenagers have been arrested after a large fight at The Parks Mall at Arlington on Saturday night, police said.
In a series of tweets, the Arlington Police Department said it wanted to clear up confusion on social media after rumors about a shooting at the mall.
Further details, such as how many people were involved or what may have started the fight, were not immediately released.
"APD has and will continue to work closely with Parks Mall staff to ensure the mall is a safe and fun place for everyone," the police department said in a tweet. | 2022-04-17T04:24:39Z | www.wfaa.com | Teens arrested for fighting inside The Parks Mall at Arlington | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/teens-arrested-fight-brawl-the-parks-mall-arlington/287-a3345436-a72c-4d63-ae2a-3477fe7b319b | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/teens-arrested-fight-brawl-the-parks-mall-arlington/287-a3345436-a72c-4d63-ae2a-3477fe7b319b |
The Grand Prairie Fire Department says crews responded to the lake around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — The body of a man was recovered from Joe Pool Lake on Sunday after the Grand Prairie Fire Department responded to reports of a drowning, officials said.
In a news release, the fire department said crews went to the lake around 5:30 p.m. after witnesses reported that a man was swimming near a beach area and did not resurface.
The Grand Prairie Public Safety Dive Team was able to search the water and recover his body, officials said.
The department said the man was not wearing a life vest. He was not immediately identified.
"The City of Grand Prairie sends its condolences to the victim’s family. As the lake season approaches, GPFD strongly encourages the public to wear a life vest or an appropriate personal floating device while near the water," the fire department said in a statement. | 2022-04-18T05:11:54Z | www.wfaa.com | Joe Pool Lake drowning: Grand Prairie fire crews recover body | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/body-recovered-joe-pool-lake-drowning-grand-prairie/287-6620f492-6e0d-4828-9f9f-cddc544ec959 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/body-recovered-joe-pool-lake-drowning-grand-prairie/287-6620f492-6e0d-4828-9f9f-cddc544ec959 |
Crews were dispatched shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday to the Rockwall lake, northeast of Dallas.
ROCKWALL, Texas — One man drowned and another was taken to a hospital after they reportedly went for a swim in Lake Ray Hubbard on Sunday night, officials said.
Crews were dispatched shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday to the Rockwall County lake, northeast of Dallas.
Four people were on a boat when two men jumped into the water, according to Dallas Fire-Rescue, which had crews respond to the incident.
Dallas Fire-Rescue officials said reports indicated that the boat may have stalled on the water.
Crews responded and found one man dead. Another man was pulled from the water, and Rockwall County Emergency Management Services crews performed CPR on him. He was then taken to a hospital, and his condition was not known Monday morning.
Neither man was wearing a life jacket, according to Dallas Fire-Rescue. Their names have not been released.
Dallas Fire-Rescue crews found the group's boat and rescued two females and a dog
The lake is in the Rockwall area, but it's under the jurisdiction of Dallas police and Dallas Fire-Rescue. Both agencies, along with Rockwall firefighters, responded to the call.
The drowning at Lake Ray Hubbard was the second incident in North Texas on Sunday. In Grand Prairie, a man was reportedly swimming in Joe Pool Lake when he did not resurface. Grand Prairie Fire Department crews later recovered the man's body. | 2022-04-18T13:27:53Z | www.wfaa.com | Lake Ray Hubbard drowning: 1 dead, 1 hospitalized | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/rockwall-county-dallas-police-fire-rescue-1-person-drowns-in-lake-ray-hubbard-another-hospitalized-police-say/287-57c98592-52b4-4e87-bdef-f15a52df8752 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/rockwall-county-dallas-police-fire-rescue-1-person-drowns-in-lake-ray-hubbard-another-hospitalized-police-say/287-57c98592-52b4-4e87-bdef-f15a52df8752 |
The shooting happened just before 1:20 a.m. on April 10 in the 2800 block of Elm Street, near the intersection with Malcolm X Boulevard.
DALLAS — The above video was broadcast on April 15, prior to the suspect's arrest.
A 22-year-old man has been arrested in the shooting of two people in Deep Ellum on April, police announced Monday.
DaMichael Rose faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the April 10 shooting.
Police had released a clear image of the suspect in the shooting last week. Rose's arrest was announced Monday morning.
Police did not say where Rose was arrested.
According to police, two people were found with gunshot wounds and were transported to a local hospital. They were in stable condition.
The department posted a video on Twitter that they said depicted the shooting incident. The video showed multiple people appearing to fire gunshots into the air.
Police had released images of a man in a red Nike shirt and red Nike shorts, who they said they were looking for in connection with the shooting. | 2022-04-18T16:02:37Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas Deep Ellum shooting: Suspect arrested | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-damichael-rose-man-arrested-in-shooting-of-2-people-in-deep-ellum-police-say/287-e19835d1-7fbd-43bf-b4df-3e23b0b139a5 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-damichael-rose-man-arrested-in-shooting-of-2-people-in-deep-ellum-police-say/287-e19835d1-7fbd-43bf-b4df-3e23b0b139a5 |
The shooting happened about 9:40 p.m. in the 2500 block of Inadale Avenue, near Oates Drive and Ferguson Road in East Dallas.
DALLAS — A Dallas resident fatally shot a man who allegedly threw a rock through their window and threatened people inside their home Sunday night, police said.
Police were called to the home on a burglary call. When they arrived, they found a man, Roman Valle, 33, outside of the home, suffering from a shotgun wound, police said.
Valle was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Police said investigators learned that Valle had thrown a large rock through a window of the home and was threatening people inside.
A resident inside the home, believing Valle "was going to come into the home and harm those inside," shot through closed blinds, striking Valle, according to a police news release.
More information about the shooting was not released.
No arrests have been made. Police are still investigating. | 2022-04-18T20:41:28Z | www.wfaa.com | East Dallas shooting: Resident kills man who threw rock at window | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/shooting-resident-fatally-shoots-man-who-threw-rock-through-window-of-east-dallas-home-police-say/287-58c2427b-2276-4703-ad65-71974024efee | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/shooting-resident-fatally-shoots-man-who-threw-rock-through-window-of-east-dallas-home-police-say/287-58c2427b-2276-4703-ad65-71974024efee |
An investigation into the incident is underway, and officers are going through video footage.
FORNEY, Texas — A teen suspect and an officer were both transported to a local hospital following a "brawl" at North Forney High School Monday afternoon, school officials told WFAA.
Around 1 p.m., Forney ISD said a fight broke out among four to five students at the end of a lunch period. As the fight ended, a Forney ISD officer had one of the suspects in custody, when the suspect allegedly headbutted the officer, the district told WFAA.
Both the suspect and the officer were then transported from the school to a local hospital.
This is a developing story. We’ll update as information becomes available. | 2022-04-18T22:47:31Z | www.wfaa.com | North Forney High School fight: Teen suspect, officer injured | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/forney-high-school-brawl-officer-teen-suspect-injured-district-officials-say/287-11cf0967-d7b2-4984-8acd-ba1b39cf5c3b | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/forney-high-school-brawl-officer-teen-suspect-injured-district-officials-say/287-11cf0967-d7b2-4984-8acd-ba1b39cf5c3b |
Any child who’s been submerged in water and has to go to the hospital for treatment is considered a "drowning," according to Cook Children’s.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Cook Children’s Medical Center said it has treated its most drowning cases this year, so far, since 2018.
“Unfortunately, this has been a tough year already,” pediatric emergency medicine physician Dr. Daniel Guzman said.
The hospital system has changed the way it describes drowning incidents, Dr. Guzman said.
For kids who survive, instead of calling these cases “near-drownings,” any child who’s been submerged in the water and has to go to the hospital for treatment is considered a drowning, according to Cook Children’s.
Drownings are then categorized as fatal or non-fatal.
“I think definitely a ‘near-drowning’ makes people feel more complacent,” Dr. Guzman said. “I think when you hear the word ‘drowning,’ that becomes more significant in anybody's mind, right? That there was somebody (that) had to go to the hospital. There was some kind of negative effect as a result of being in the water.”
Data from Cook Children’s shows that from Jan. 1, 2022, to April 13, 2022, there have been 17 drownings. Three of those were fatal.
The hospital said it's the most since 2018, when there were 13 drownings from Jan. 1, 2018, to May 1, 2018.
Drownings from January 1-May 1
2022 (Jan-April 13) = 17
2021 = 8
“They lacked oxygen to their brain for a certain amount of time, which obviously changes who they are and what their development could potentially could be,” Dr. Guzman said. “Just because you survived it doesn't mean you survived it and you're back to normal.”
There were two drowning incidents involving adults on Sunday.
In Grand Prairie, a man was reportedly swimming in Joe Pool Lake when he did not resurface. Grand Prairie Fire Department crews later recovered the man's body.
Later Sunday night, one man drowned and another was taken to a hospital after they reportedly went for a swim in Lake Ray Hubbard, officials said. | 2022-04-19T00:45:29Z | www.wfaa.com | Cook Children's reports its most drownings since 2018 | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/cook-childrens-reports-17-drowning-cases-so-far-most-since-2018/287-e7a8c2cf-0ca8-4cdb-b299-73ce24c68b42 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/cook-childrens-reports-17-drowning-cases-so-far-most-since-2018/287-e7a8c2cf-0ca8-4cdb-b299-73ce24c68b42 |
“It would be great if we could get this done before school starts in the next semester,” said Councilman Omar Narvaez.
DALLAS — In the growing North Texas region, public transportation options are key for families getting around.
“DART is becoming more and more important for all of those riders,” said Gordon Shattles, director of external relations for Dallas Area Rapid Transit, or DART.
In the City of Dallas, there is a push to make DART even more accessible to students in Dallas Independent School District.
“For a little over a month, the DART Board of Directors has considered a K-12 pilot program. It would eventually be for all of DART service areas. So, of course, all of the 13 service area cities,” explained Shattles.
Some Dallas city councilmembers are urging DART’s board of directors to look into a program that would allow students across the city free rides on the transit system’s buses and trains.
During the council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting on Monday, members said it is about options, so not to be totally dependent on Dallas ISD school buses.
According to Dallas ISD, of its nearly 141,000 students, about 25,000 children ride school buses each day.
The potential free bus program is still in the early stages of discussion.
“There’s a lot of moving pieces to be considered with a program this large to offer free rides for K-12 students,” Shattles added.
The Dallas City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted to approve a memo urging the entire council to support DART looking into making a free K-12 public transit program a reality.
DART’s staff pointed out students age 5 – 14 can already ride for free with an adult paying regular fare. Reduced fares are available for high schoolers. Some local colleges have also worked out arrangements where their students can take DART for free.
For more information about Dallas Area Rapid Transit, you can visit www.dart.org. | 2022-04-19T00:45:35Z | www.wfaa.com | DART, Dallas ISD to discuss free rides for K-12 students | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dart-dallas-isd-explore-creating-pilot-program-for-free-rides-for-k-12-students/287-cbe6f397-803f-4e11-b32b-03849d8ac849 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dart-dallas-isd-explore-creating-pilot-program-for-free-rides-for-k-12-students/287-cbe6f397-803f-4e11-b32b-03849d8ac849 |
The woman was wounded on her hand but is expected to be OK, according to a police news release.
FORT WORTH, Texas — An argument at a Fort Worth horse stable led to a shooting that ended with an 88-year-old woman getting hit by a stray bullet, police said.
The incident happened around 9:20 p.m. Monday in northwest Fort Worth. Police had responded to the Marine Park Apartments in the 3100 block of Northwest 33rd Street, where a woman had been shot.
Officers and paramedics arrived and found the victim, an 88-year-old woman, who had been shot in the hand.
She was taken to Harris Hospital for treatment. The injury was non-life threatening, police said.
Officers at the scene learned that two men had gotten into a dispute at a nearby horse stable, just northwest of the apartments, at Northwest 33rd Street and McCandless Street.
The incident escalated, and one of the men fired a weapon, police said. A stray bullet ended up striking the woman at the apartments.
A suspect has not been arrested. Detectives were still investigating the case early Tuesday morning. | 2022-04-19T14:14:47Z | www.wfaa.com | Fort Worth shooting: 88-year-old woman injured by stray bullet | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/marine-park-apartments-88-year-old-woman-shot-by-stray-bullet-after-dispute-at-fort-worth-horse-stable-police-say/287-2bf3c8f4-3830-4f38-b743-031b5e659c1d | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/marine-park-apartments-88-year-old-woman-shot-by-stray-bullet-after-dispute-at-fort-worth-horse-stable-police-say/287-2bf3c8f4-3830-4f38-b743-031b5e659c1d |
The Villanova grad had a supernova-like performance with 41 points and zero turnovers in Game 2 of the series against the Utah Jazz.
DALLAS — What a performance by Jalen Brunson on Monday night in Game 2 against the Utah Jazz.
Let's get this out of the way, MFFLs ... we know that you know who Brunson is. This is not directed at you.
For those of you hopping on the Mavericks bandwagon this postseason, let the Mavericks faithful proudly introduce you to our 6-foot-1-inch point guard that took over the game in Luka Doncic's absence.
Who is Jalen Brunson?
Brunson was drafted by the Mavericks in the second round in 2018 out of the University of Villanova. Brunson is a two-time national champion (2016, 2018) and won numerous national awards in his junior season at Villanova.
Brunson has served as a role player since joining the Mavericks in 2018, logging anywhere from 22-25 minutes per game and 9-12 points in this first three seasons. This year, however, Brunson has taken on a more prominent role with the Mavs, averaging 16.3 points per game in 31.9 minutes per game.
In a 110-104 Game 2 win against the Utah Jazz on Monday, however, Brunson exploded for 41 points, eight rebounds, five assists and zero turnovers. He became the fifth Dallas player to score 40 points in a playoff game. Doncic was one of the previous four to do that.
In 2019, WFAA's Jonah Javad profiled Brunson, displaying the Villanova guard's heart of a champion.
If the Mavericks are to raise the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, no doubt Doncic will lead the way. But it'll take also take championship-level efforts from Brunson to help get the Mavericks to its second-ever NBA title. | 2022-04-19T16:22:41Z | www.wfaa.com | Who is Jalen Brunson for the Dallas Mavericks? | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nba/mavericks/jalen-brunson-dallas-mavs-nba-playoffs-game-2/287-1d3ced43-8f69-4247-8781-046bb43c8539 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nba/mavericks/jalen-brunson-dallas-mavs-nba-playoffs-game-2/287-1d3ced43-8f69-4247-8781-046bb43c8539 |
Luis Alejandro Espinoza, 21, and Emmanuel Martinez, 21, were sentenced to life in prison without parole in the robbery and shooting death of Heng Lam.
Credit: Garland Police Department
GARLAND, Texas — Two men have been sentenced to life in prison for the 2019 murder of a Garland convenience store clerk, officials said.
The Garland Police Department announced this past week that a Dallas County court sentenced 21-year-old Luis Alejandro Espinoza and 21-year-old Emmanuel Martinez to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the robbery and shooting death of 30-year-old Heng Lam.
Around 11:30 p.m. on May 22, 2019, Garland police officers responded to a robbery at a convenience store in the 4400 block of West Walnut Street near Plano Road. When officers arrived on scene, they found Lam suffering from a gunshot wound. Lam was then transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Police said surveillance video captured images of the armed suspects, whose faces were covered.
The suspects were later identified as Espinoza and Martinez. They both sentenced for capital murder in Lam’s death.
The Garland Police Department said the investigation involved “meticulous and comprehensive work” between the department, detectives and forensic investigators, along with prosecutors from the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. | 2022-04-19T22:02:59Z | www.wfaa.com | 2019 Garland convenience store shooting: 2 sentenced to life | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/two-sentenced-2019-capital-murder-garland-convenience-store-clerk-heng-lam/287-06a31d29-da9a-4d12-9c65-66ed79ccc226 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/two-sentenced-2019-capital-murder-garland-convenience-store-clerk-heng-lam/287-06a31d29-da9a-4d12-9c65-66ed79ccc226 |
The PBR World Finals event is less than a month away. According to PBR's CEO, Fort Worth is the event's new home for years to come.
FORT WORTH, Texas — In less than a month, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Finals is happening at Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena for the first time ever.
The PBR organization has moved its World Finals event from Las Vegas to Cowtown.
PBR CEO Sean Gleason told WFAA his organization signed a multi-year deal with Fort Worth and they look forward to making it the event’s permanent home.
“We’re cowboys and we belong in a cowboy town,” Gleason said. “Fort Worth is Cowtown Texas and cowboy country. Fort Worth is the epicenter of that, and there’s a cultural cowboy revolution going on right now. Making that our home is really exciting for all of us.”
For nearly three decades, the event was held in Las Vegas. In 2020, it was held at AT&T stadium after COVID restrictions in Las Vegas prevented the event from happening.
Beginning May 13-22, the event, called the “Biggest Party in Texas,” will take place at Dickies Arena over the course of two weekends.
Visit Fort Worth’s Chief Operating Officer Mitch Whitten called it a big win for Fort Worth and credited Dickies Arena for bringing major sporting events to the city.
“These are exciting times,” Whitten said. “For the first time ever, rounds one and two of March Madness were here, we had NCAA Women’s Gymnastics, and now PBR World Finals and it just keeps going.”
According to Whitten, PBR had a $28 million impact in Las Vegas. He estimates more than 100,000 people will attend the event over two weekends.
With less than a month before the event, businesses near Dickies Arena are gearing up for an economic boost.
Jaime Ingram, the general manager at Rodeo Goat, said her restaurant draws large crowds during an event like PBR.
“We’re ready,” Ingram said. “You gotta be excited when it’s busy.”
Whitten quoted Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and said “not everything that happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”
Whitten said bringing the PBR World Finals to Cowtown wasn’t a hard sell.
“For both PBR and Fort Worth, the question was how fast can we get here?” Whitten said. “It feels like the time was right for PBR to come to Fort Worth.”
For more information on events dates and tickets, click here.
PBR World Finals move to Dickies Arena in Fort Worth starting in 2022 | 2022-04-19T22:03:11Z | www.wfaa.com | PBR World Finals finds new home at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/pbr-world-finals-new-home-dickies-arena-fort-worth/287-b508fe1e-ac5c-4546-a016-8f52049fc796 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/pbr-world-finals-new-home-dickies-arena-fort-worth/287-b508fe1e-ac5c-4546-a016-8f52049fc796 |
TCU is studying the 'Punching Out Parkinson's' exercise program in Fort Worth to find out why it works and if its impact can last.
FORT WORTH, Texas — To find a few 60 and 70 somethings boxing and punching, and bobbing and weaving in the back room of Paulie Ayala's University of Hard Knocks Gym in Fort Worth is not an unusual occurrence.
Researchers at TCU are now trying to find out why the decade-old program for Parkinson's patients shows such good results, and are hoping to quantify how to make those benefits last.
"It does something for me," Tony Walker, 68, said after a Tuesday morning workout session at the Punching Out Parkinson's program that Paulie Ayala started back in 2011. "I'm not the invalid I was before."
Walker was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2016 and has been working out at Ayala's gym for the past two years.
"It builds strength and eye-hand coordination. And it just keeps me going," said Tina Hargrove, 66, of Benbrook.
One of the original participants who started at the gym in 2011, Hargrove swears by its physical and cognitive benefits, as she battles her Parkinson's diagnosis too.
What is new at the gym these days is the arrival of Christopher Watts, Ph.D., who is the Marilyn & Morgan Davies dean of TCU's Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences.
Watts has partnered with Ayala, and eight of the Punching Out Parkinson's participants, to identify and document exactly how the exercises used in the boxing program impact and stimulate the nervous system, improve motor skills, and improve cognitive function.
"We really wanted to study this scientifically," Watts said. "We want to scientifically test if this 'Punching out Parkinson's' exercise program can impact Parkinson's disease in a positive way, and will that impact last over time. And the hypothesis is that it will."
So for the next year, they will follow and study people, like Hargrove and Walker, and try to scientifically quantify why punching back against Parkinson's has the benefits it does.
Walker, who turned 68 Tuesday, April 18, hopes they can find the answers and keep pushing toward further understanding Parkinson's and contribute to an eventual cure.
"I guess body in motion stays that way," Walker said, when asked why he believes the boxing therapy works. "I don't know."
According to the Parkinson's Foundation, nearly one million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson's disease and approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD each year.
Meanwhile Ayala, the champion boxer who started the Parkinson's program at his Fort Worth gym in 2011, admits he doesn't know the science behind it either. But he said it's an opponent he promises to keep fighting.
"As long as I know that what I do works and it's helping, then I'm gonna [sic] be a part of it," said Ayala.
Part of the physical therapy, part of pushing science forward - until Parkinson's is punched out for good.
TCU also operates a web resource for Parkinson's patients and their families. It can be found at parkinsonology.com.
After losing mom to cancer, McKinney teen fighting to help find a cure | 2022-04-19T23:47:28Z | www.wfaa.com | Punching Out Parkinson's: TCU studying Fort Worth boxing program | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/tcu-decoding-the-sweet-science-of-boxing-and-its-benefit-to-parkinsons-patients/287-ba7f8277-b55b-47fa-8b16-bc686e48ad5c | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/tcu-decoding-the-sweet-science-of-boxing-and-its-benefit-to-parkinsons-patients/287-ba7f8277-b55b-47fa-8b16-bc686e48ad5c |
The Biden administration is expected to appeal the decision, which could lead to yet another switch.
DALLAS — For two years, every flight on a plane or ride on a train has involved masks - until now.
On Monday, a Trump-appointed judge in Florida ruled the order requiring masks unlawful. The CDC, though, still says they should be worn during travel until May 3.
Airlines and other transit providers, like Uber, said they’re now dropping their mask requirement, too.
In airports and train stations Tuesday, passengers were split on what to do.
“Everybody’s looking around at each other like am I supposed to wear it or am I not supposed to wear it,” Shannon Cones, who flew into Dallas Love Field from Nashville, said. “I wore my mask in and then I went oh, nobody else was, and then I opted to put mine on the plane because someone next to me was coughing.”
“The ruling was a surprise for many of us,” said Dr. Mark Casanova, a member of the Texas Medical Association’s COVID-19 taskforce. “If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, please continue to wear it especially if you yourself are high risk or live with someone who’s high risk.”
While cases are low, Casanova said there are still reasons to wear masks, like being unvaccinated. Some parts of the U.S. and other countries are seeing rises in cases.
Hannah Hay is continuing to wear a mask as an extra layer of safety. She was on a flight from New Zealand to U.S. when the rule changed Monday, and said the pilot shared the news when they landed.
“It was quite a surreal experience,” she said. “I felt in the minority, but you know if someone challenges me, I’ll tell them the same thing. I’m going to be careful for now.”
Casanova said it’s good to at least keep a mask nearby when traveling in case the travel situation feels unsafe with sick passengers nearby.
Tomasa Luna ditched her mask Tuesday when she discovered they weren’t required.
“It was very, very frustrating to have to wear masks. This was wonderful. It’s back to normal,” she said. “We’ve already had COVID twice.”
Masks work best when everyone in a space is wearing them, so Casanova says with fewer people wearing masks, the quality of the mask used matters more to provide proper protection. The CDC recommended N95 and KN95 masks.
“I’d probably say half the people have their masks on and half didn’t,” Janet Caswell, who continued to wear her mask Tuesday, said. “I felt safer, even if it’s just a cold or something wearing a mask today. If any precaution helps, I’m going to take it.”
“When a mandate about mask drops, it doesn’t mean do not wear a mask,” Casanova said.
Masks have at time become more a symbol for politics and a reflection of current science at COVID trends, but now it’ll be up to each person to decide if they’ll wear one moving forward, barring yet another legal change. | 2022-04-19T23:47:34Z | www.wfaa.com | Masks on planes: Dallas travelers react to mandate changes | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/doctors-passengers-react-sudden-change-mask-mandates-planes-trains/287-9505d01d-f0b2-4747-b35a-3e8bba8e5107 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/doctors-passengers-react-sudden-change-mask-mandates-planes-trains/287-9505d01d-f0b2-4747-b35a-3e8bba8e5107 |
The bridge park is under construction off Interstate 35E near Ewing and Marsalis avenues, right next to the Dallas Zoo.
Credit: Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation
Rendering of Southern Gateway Park, which will be located off Interstate 35E and right next to the Dallas Zoo.
DALLAS — A new state-of-the-art park in Dallas is one step closer to reaching its fundraising goal and becoming a reality.
Officials in Dallas, including Mayor Eric Johnson, announced that the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation has raised over $62 million toward the construction of new park right next to the Dallas Zoo.
The foundation said the fundraising goal is $82 million.
According to the foundation, the Southern Gateway Park is under construction off Interstate 35E near Ewing and Marsalis avenues. It's scheduled to open in 2024.
“Southern Gateway Park will epitomize Dallas' innovative and indomitable spirit," Mayor Johnson said on Tuesday. "... I am thrilled with the significant progress toward the park’s fundraising goals, and I am excited to bring this amazing asset to life in southern Dallas."
The park is described as a five-acre bridge park and will have amenities like a stage and pavilion, a children's playground and a multi-purpose building for dining and events.
The foundation said in a news release that it was able to raise funds through grants from organizations like the Rees-Jones Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, Eugene McDermott Foundation and Rainwater Charitable Foundation.
“Southern Gateway Park is being created by and for our community, and it’s going to take everyone doing their part to make this park a reality,” foundation President and Chief Operating Officer April Allen said in a statement. "Obviously, we still need donations of any size to reach our goals, but we also need people to advocate for the park with their representatives at every level of government..."
Neighbors view design plans for proposed park at former 'Shingle Mountain' property in Dallas | 2022-04-20T01:29:49Z | www.wfaa.com | Southern Gateway Park in Dallas reaching fundraising goal | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/southern-gateway-park-dallas-reaching-fundraising-goal/287-70d07dd3-a44a-4ee9-94d4-c5c48a4e3da2 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/southern-gateway-park-dallas-reaching-fundraising-goal/287-70d07dd3-a44a-4ee9-94d4-c5c48a4e3da2 |
"This is a very giving community. We just don't think giving at intersections is the best way to help those in need," said Police Chief Ed Drain.
PLANO, Texas — The city of Plano is hoping to curb the number of people who walk out into the roadway to solicit donations.
Two weeks ago, the city started installing Pedestrian Safety Signs in 25 of the busiest intersections across the city.
"For people to stand around on medians on sidewalks at intersections is inherently dangerous, especially when they step into the roadway," said Plano Police Chief Ed Drain.
WFAA met with Zan Holmes, who was at the corner of Central Expressway and 15th Street during the noon rush. Holmes said that when his wife of 27 years died last year, his life had spiraled downward. He needs $30 a day to keep the apartment he shares with two other people.
"If [cars] are moving then you don't go in the street. That's common sense," Holmes told WFAA.
Zan isn't convinced with the new signs. The city said that there have been too many close calls of people getting hit and drivers getting distracted.
"At least I'm not out here robbing and stealing," said Holmes.
Chief Drain said it becomes a public safety issue when people enter the roadway. He said it is dangerous to both the solicitor and drivers on the road.
"This is a very giving community. We just don't think giving at intersections is the best way to help those in need," said Drain.
The city advises people to, instead, give to the local community groups who actively help those, like Holmes, who are in need.
The city's Neighborhood Services Unit has established partnerships with a number of non-profits and groups who directly connect with people who are in need.
Drain encourages people to explore other avenues to help that can be safer for all.
"The City of Plano cares about people in need. Our team makes contact with them and makes sure that everyone is offered help. Not everyone asking motorists for help in our intersections is actually in need. We make sure everyone in need who wants help, receives help," read a statement from the city's website.
Drain told WFAA that the police department has special enforcement to address solicitors who enter the roadway.
He said officers will initially give solicitors warnings and then citations which could result in fines. If those fines aren't paid, it could constitute a Class C misdemeanor offense.
One of the largest shelters in Dallas is about to get an expansion
A homeless teen mom's life changed when a police officer listened to her story. Now, she's joining the department | 2022-04-20T04:46:15Z | www.wfaa.com | Plano installs safety signs to discourage walking onto roadways | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/city-of-plano-installs-signs-curb-people-going-onto-roadways/287-f3bf9f61-fe60-4378-8efe-a80f233cba19 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/city-of-plano-installs-signs-curb-people-going-onto-roadways/287-f3bf9f61-fe60-4378-8efe-a80f233cba19 |
The Texas Task Force on Concert Safety was formed after 10 people died at a Travis Scott concert in Houston.
DALLAS — A universal event permitting process and clear guidelines about when to stop a show are among the recommendations released Tuesday in a report from the Texas Task Force on Concert Safety.
Gov. Greg Abbott formed the task force after 10 concertgoers died at the Astroworld music festival in Houston in November.
An out-of-control crowd surged toward the stage crushing and suffocating victims.
The recommendations cited an “inconsistent” permitting process in Texas, with rules varying from one jurisdiction to another.
“The truth is as you cross from municipality to municipality, the rules change,” said attorney Ryan Thompson.
Thompson’s law firm represents a 14-year-old who was one of 17 people shot at a concert in Dallas in April. A 26-year-old man died at the event.
Dallas police said the concert had about 2,000 people in a southern Dallas field, yet it had no permit and no emergency plan.
In the days after the concert, Dallas leaders said DPD and the city attorney’s office would work together to review procedures and determine if new city ordinances are needed to hold promoters accountable, ensure adequate public safety at events and regulate permitting processes.
The task force report recommends local authorities stop any show determined to have been organized without a permit or that has violated the terms of the permit.
“If the things they talked about in the governor’s task force report had happened for this event, the outcome would have been different. In fact, I don’t think it would have happened,” Thompson said.
When asked if the task force recommendations might influence the direction Dallas takes with permitting, DPD responded with this statement:
“We continue to work with the city on possible changes to our existing laws to ensure the safety of those attending large-scale events, and improve the vetting and oversight process for promoters and event holders. We are open to looking at any and all recommendations in order to make our city safer. The men and women of the Dallas Police Department work to ensure all of our events are as safe as possible and comply with our city ordinances. We want people to enjoy the city of Dallas, but it should be done safely and legally.” | 2022-04-20T04:46:22Z | www.wfaa.com | How Texas recommendations on concert safety could affect D-FW | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-concert-shooting-texas-task-force-recommendations/287-4a4ee8b7-01f1-4dde-921b-7051f50e921c | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-concert-shooting-texas-task-force-recommendations/287-4a4ee8b7-01f1-4dde-921b-7051f50e921c |
Led by senior superstar Natalie Cook, they've combined to set multiple national records.
FLOWER MOUND, Texas — The Flower Mound girls track team is exceptional. There is no other way to put it. Historically exceptional.
"It's not every day that you get to do something like that, and have a team like this," senior Natalie Cook said.
She's right. It's not every day that you set a national record. But if you're this Flower Mound program, you do achieve the feat more than once in a season.
In March, Cook, sophomore twins Samantha and Nicole Humphries, and freshman Alex Fox broke the national 4x1-mile record.
"It's really awesome," Samantha Humphries said. "Like, a dream come true."
The foursome ran the 4x1-mile relay in 19:37 -- breaking the record by over 11 seconds.
"We're really hard workers," Fox said. "And we push each other every single day. And we all look up to Natalie. So we're trying to get on her level."
Cook is the senior leader of the Jaguars track team. She is a nationally recognized runner both in track and cross country.
In the fall, she was named the Gatorade National Cross Country Athlete of the Year. And earlier this month, she set her own national record, in the 5,000 meters.
Cook was competing in the Stanford Invitational, when she set the 5k record. She came in third place in the event. The two women she finished behind, only by a couple seconds were 29 and 27 years old.
"Obviously, like, Natalie this year has just completely destroyed," Nicole Humphries said, "just on a whole different level."
Two national records this season -- an absolutely remarkable feat. And now, they've turned their eyes to a state championship.
"We all have to work together as a team," Cook said. "I feel like we really push each other at practices... and then individually, I just set goals for myself, and -- "
And achieve them, one after the next after the next?
"Yeah," she said with a laugh. "I just try to have a positive mindset."
And her teammates are right there with her - focused.
"As much as we can, we try to keep it to ourselves, and keep looking ahead," Samantha Humphries said, "because... we want more."
And fast. | 2022-04-20T04:46:54Z | www.wfaa.com | Flower Mound High School track team is setting records | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/high-school/flower-mound-high-school-track-team-setting-records-one-after-the-next/287-6f6c1438-01a4-44e6-a530-e82e0cb908b9 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/high-school/flower-mound-high-school-track-team-setting-records-one-after-the-next/287-6f6c1438-01a4-44e6-a530-e82e0cb908b9 |
North Texas man sentenced life in prison for indecency with child
Rodriguez was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a 2007 aggravated sexual assault of a child and was released in 2016.
DENISON, Texas — Collin County officials announced Wednesday a North Texas man was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of indecency with a child.
Officials said Joe Angel Rodriguez, a 44-year-old from Denison, would spend the rest of his life behind bars after being previously convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child in 2007.
“The fact that a convicted child predator ever has the opportunity to abuse another child, much less two children, is tragic for the entire community. The life sentence in this case will ensure that never happens again,” said Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis after sentencing.
Rodriguez was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2007 aggravated sexual assault of a child and was released in 2016. After Rodriguez was released, he became close with two separate families and had access to two children, one in McKinney and one in Farmers Branch, according to county officials.
Officials said Rodriguez sexually abused each child and the one in McKinney eventually told her father. The girl's father reported the assault to police and Rodriguez was arrested.
Without knowledge of Rodriguez's arrest, the Farmers Branch child out-cried to her mother, who also notified police. A jury found Rodriguez guilty after hearing evidence of his history of child abuse, as well as evidence that Rodriguez also abused both the McKinney child and the Farmers Branch child.
Judge James Fry presided over the case and assessed the mandatory punishment of life in prison. By law, Rodriguez received an automatic sentence of life in prison because of his prior conviction for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, the Collin County DA's office said. | 2022-04-20T17:53:39Z | www.wfaa.com | North Texas man sentenced life in prison for indecency with child | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/denison-texas-indecency-with-a-child/287-f38bc161-2ed0-4856-89a6-42477e4e5408 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/denison-texas-indecency-with-a-child/287-f38bc161-2ed0-4856-89a6-42477e4e5408 |
According to police, Rocky Martinez Garcia was last seen around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, walking in the 2200 block of East Ledbetter Drive.
DALLAS — The Dallas Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 28-year-old man Wednesday.
Garcia is described as a Hispanic male standing at 5'06" and weighing about 120 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.
Police said he was last seen wearing a white shirt with red letters, white jeans and black Adidas shoes.
Police said they are concerned over Garcia's whereabouts because he may be in need of assistance.
If you have any information on Garcia's location, you're asked to call the Dallas Police Department at 911 or 214-671-4268. | 2022-04-20T21:32:19Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas police: Search for missing man Rocky Martinez Garcia | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/missing-dallas-man-rocky-martinez-garcia/287-345bb7d2-615d-4d89-9cd9-9817d3920dc6 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/missing-dallas-man-rocky-martinez-garcia/287-345bb7d2-615d-4d89-9cd9-9817d3920dc6 |
“I’m really torn up right now,” Moneica Anderson said, whose daughter was shot in the head.
DALLAS — Tonight, Dallas police and Dallas trail ride representatives will be meeting to talk about what they could’ve done differently, after the shooting three weeks ago.
One man died and 16 people were shot.
Now, another victim has filed a lawsuit.
Her family waits by her hospital bedside, and are taking it day by day.
Anderson’s daughter, Jazmin, was at the Second Annual Epic Easter bike out, and field party in Southern Dallas.
She was standing next to Kealon Gilmore, who died in the shooting.
“My baby got shot in the head,” said Anderson.
RELATED: Victim shot in the head at southern Dallas concert will have cognitive issues for the rest of her life, family says
A neurosurgeon told Jazmin's mom the bullet split apart, and Jazmin will have bullet fragments in her brain for the rest of her life.
We just went through a 16page lawsuit involving the Dallas Trail Ride.
Jazmin Anderson was shot in the head. Her attorney is suing for $1-million.
The 22y/o has bullet fragments stuck in her head. Neurosurgeon: she will have cognitive issues for the rest of her life.@wfaa pic.twitter.com/XsrtlKI1tO
Now, her attorney, Chris Mazzola, filed a $1 million lawsuit against the promoters, entertainers, the entertainment venues and the property owner.
“You should be held responsible for the lives that you affected. We’re going to make sure we do everything possible,” said Mazzola.
According to the lawsuit, the 22-year-old has irreversible brain damage, and her attorney claims she couldn’t get to the hospital fast enough because there were so many people at the trail ride.
“The road was so blocked, congested, that there is really one road in, and one road out,” said Mazzola.
The lawsuit claims the people involved not only didn’t have a permit for the event, but didn’t have enough safety equipment or security personnel.
“Reckless, irresponsible, selfish,” said Mazzola.
Wednesday evening, the Dallas City Attorney's Office also filed a lawsuit against the event property owner, St. John Missionary Baptist Church Inc., and the promoter for violations against the city code.
Jazmin's mom is desperately asking the public to come forward with any information concerning the shooting.
“This is real,” Anderson said. "If anybody knows something, please say something. They need to be brought to justice."
The Dallas Police anonymous tip line is 214-373-8477. | 2022-04-20T23:16:47Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas concert shooting: million dollar lawsuit filed | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-concert-shooting-victims-attorney-files-million-dollar-lawsuit-against-promoter-entertainer/287-8e8322aa-3025-4b13-875e-41f66c8b688c | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-concert-shooting-victims-attorney-files-million-dollar-lawsuit-against-promoter-entertainer/287-8e8322aa-3025-4b13-875e-41f66c8b688c |
North Richland Hills police said a 15-year-old girl was at the American Airlines Center for an April 8 game, when she went to a restroom but never returned to her seat.
On Wednesday, Oklahoma City police confirmed to WFAA that eight people had been arrested in the girl's disappearance, each with varying charges, from a felony warrant to human trafficking rape.
"It’s not something that we take lightly whenever we are given tips or information that there is someone that we believe to be in danger possibly in our area," Sgt. Dillon Quirk, with Oklahoma City Police Department said. “Fortunately, it really worked out in the end to find this person safely.”
Noel Mendoza at Mosaic Family Services said trafficking often begins with talking online and meeting people the victim believes are friendly.
“Most victims of human trafficking do not identify themselves as such and that’s because the tactics that traffickers use are very subtle," he said. "It is happening in our communities. It‘s just complex issue that’s difficult to identify, to report.”
It's also not uncommon for victims to be found hundreds of miles from home.
“It further isolates that person from their support system and it makes that person easier to control," he said. | 2022-04-20T23:16:53Z | www.wfaa.com | Human trafficking: North Texas girl found in Oklahoma City | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/human-trafficking-north-richland-hills-texas-girl-found-eight-arrested-oklahoma-city/287-e0570edd-2e23-4619-9078-4147c3fa9142 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/human-trafficking-north-richland-hills-texas-girl-found-eight-arrested-oklahoma-city/287-e0570edd-2e23-4619-9078-4147c3fa9142 |
What's remarkable about 15-year-old Lizzy is how determined she is not to let her past get in the way of her future.
DALLAS — Today's Wednesday's Child really leaves her mark.
It's remarkable how determined she is not to let her past get in the way of her future. And she has a very bright future.
Her name is Elizabeth, aka Lizzy. The girl with a lot of heart and soul.
WFAA asked her, how she would describe Lizzy.
"An amazing, sweet, caring, loving girl and she's smart, pretty, inspiring and loves helping people," she said about herself confidently.
Lizzy recently turned 15. She's been in and out of foster care since the 3rd grade.
During an emotional moment, she opened up about the pain she carries with her.
"I never had a good childhood, so I want to embrace it when I'm 15 before I get to be an adult, and just having fun with friends while I can," she said, with her eyes filled with tears.
Lizzy has a painful past. She said 5-year-old Lizzy needed a hug.
"15-year-old Lizzy would probably need a hug too, since she's gone through so much, and her past has been really bad, and it's not OK for her," she said about herself, holding back tears.
In order to keep a healthy balance in her life, Lizzy keeps moving forward.
"My life right now is amazing," she said.
Lizzy has a foster family who cares, she's keeping up her fitness and she just celebrated a birthday. She still hopes to somehow have a quinceañera this year.
"It's a Mexican birthday party for 'Sweet 15' basically," she said.
If it's meant to be, she said God will make it happen. She relies on Him for everything.
"I pray to Him for me to have a better life and to keep me strong and always wise, and to always bring people up and never down," she said tearfully.
Lizzy's in a good place right now, and she's preparing to sign up for something big.
"I want to go to college and join the Marines, because I'm a good swimmer and I love helping people," she said.
While becoming a Marine is special, becoming someone's daughter will be the most meaningful.
For more information on how to adopt Lizzy, please send all approved home studies to LaQueena Warren at LaQueena.Warren@dfps.texas.gov. Please remember to include Lizzy's name within the subject line. | 2022-04-21T00:55:59Z | www.wfaa.com | Wednesday's Child: Meet 15-year-old Lizzy | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/outreach/wednesdays-child/wednesdays-child-15-year-old-lizzy-pray-for-an-adoptive-family/287-643c2262-34d6-4303-bcee-cb849c344c83 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/outreach/wednesdays-child/wednesdays-child-15-year-old-lizzy-pray-for-an-adoptive-family/287-643c2262-34d6-4303-bcee-cb849c344c83 |
"There’s no telling what they said to her," Stafford-Manning said. "There’s no telling what they offered her, or if they had been communicating with her online.”
DALLAS — When news alerts started going out about a missing 15-year-old girl who'd left a Dallas Mavericks game with a strange man, Dr. Tonya Stafford-Manning said she read straight through the limited details police were able to give in the case.
"I knew," Stafford-Manning said. "It spelled human trafficking. This is it. This is how it goes. This is human trafficking."
The North Richland Hills teen disappeared on April 8. Police found her in Oklahoma City 10 days later, after finding commercial sex ads online that featured photos of her.
Stafford-Manning's organization, It's Going to be Ok!, rescues and houses victims of sex trafficking. Stafford-Manning is also a survivor.
RELATED: Her mother sold her for drugs when she was 14. Now, she spends her life rescuing fellow trafficking victims
“You get a lot of traffic through Oklahoma and Houston, so I’m not surprised about where they found her, or the hotel," said Stafford-Manning.
Court documents provided to WFAA, show eight people were arrested in the case, including a man charged with trafficking. He reportedly booked multiple hotel rooms in the area recently.
“It’s in plain sight. You see it every day. You just don’t know that you’re looking at it," said Agent John Perez, who leads the North Texas Trafficking Task Force.
Both he and Stafford-Manning said traffickers are using social media to target young people as potential victims. Stafford-Manning said large events are also hotspots and as they start to become more frequent, following the start of the pandemic, it's crucial to be aware.
“We have a client right now who was trafficked through South by Southwest," Stafford-Manning said. "You can blend in. Just like we’re dropping our children off, they’re dropping their people off as well to scout and see who’s the most vulnerable.”
Perez said he holds training with students to help identify trafficking and what it looks like on social media. Stafford-Manning trains law enforcement, medical professionals and social service staff to know the signs.
Both said everyone, especially parents, are crucial in stopping crimes like these from happening.
"Somebody saw something," Stafford-Manning said. "Pay attention for what doesn't look right. Did they do a double take? Are they looking at you? I'd rather say something and be wrong, than be right and not say anything."
As for parents, the extra attention to detail goes a long way.
“I don’t want to instill fear, but more of that sense of responsibility," Perez said. "You can still let your child have privacy while you’re still protecting them.”
"Make sure they have their location on," Stafford-Manning said. "If they’re in a group, make sure you know everybody that’s in that group.”
2 women arrested in connection to human trafficking ring in Dallas, police say
Billboard campaign aims to highlight growing human trafficking issue in Tarrant County | 2022-04-21T04:10:04Z | www.wfaa.com | Human trafficking in Texas: Police, advocates warn parents | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/law-enforcement-advocates-warn-parents-after-15-year-old-north-texas-girl-found-in-sex-trafficking-ring/287-5772faea-6030-40c7-9a07-de2e1ed101c0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/law-enforcement-advocates-warn-parents-after-15-year-old-north-texas-girl-found-in-sex-trafficking-ring/287-5772faea-6030-40c7-9a07-de2e1ed101c0 |
At least that’s how it felt to Rachel Myrick, who was bitten by a poisonous snake more than 4.5 years ago in the foyer of a Spotsylvania County restaurant. The “crazy story,” as she called it, was broadcast by media and digital outlets across the world.
For 40-year-old Myrick, every aspect of life has changed. The once on-the-go, successful real estate agent, runner and “RoboMom,” as Clem called her, spends most of her days in bed or a wheelchair. She can walk with crutches, maybe an hour a day until pain and exhaustion overwhelm her. | 2022-04-21T13:27:56Z | www.wfaa.com | Copperhead bite in 2017 leaves a Virginia woman disabled | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/copperhead-bite-in-2017-left-a-virginia-woman-disabled/65-79cb3f2b-0bf0-4328-8bac-3de92dab5656 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/copperhead-bite-in-2017-left-a-virginia-woman-disabled/65-79cb3f2b-0bf0-4328-8bac-3de92dab5656 |
The game is scheduled to air on NBA TV and Bally Sports, but many North Texans won't be able to see it. WFAA breaks down why this is the case.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks are set to take on the Utah Jazz in Game 3 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs on Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. CST.
The game will air on the following networks:
For many residents in North Texas, however, will struggle to find the game on TV. Here's why.
Why can't I find the Dallas Mavericks game on TV?
The game is being aired nationally on NBA TV, but even if you pay for the streaming service, it will black out the game for users located in North Texas because it's being broadcasted regionally.
This is where the problem comes in. The reason why NBA TV blacks out the game for Dallas-area customers is because it's also aired on the other four channels listed above. In North Texas, the game will be available on Bally Sports Southwest.
However, Bally Sports Southwest is not available for some TV providers, including Dish, YouTubeTV, and other streaming providers.
When you click the "watch" button on the top right-hand corner of the website, you'll be prompted to enter your TV provider credentials. Some of the more popular options listed are Xfinity, Spectrum, DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, Cox, SuddenLink, etc.
So, the only way you'll be able to watch the Mavericks game in the Dallas area is if you are a customer of a TV provider that carries Bally Sports Southwest.
Mavs' fans are unfortunately familiar with this issue. Game 2 against the Jazz was also on NBA TV and subject to blackout restrictions. The Mavs also had games in its playoff series against the Clippers last year that were aired on NBA TV but not available to many North Texans. | 2022-04-21T15:29:17Z | www.wfaa.com | NBA TV: Why can't I watch the Dallas Mavericks-Utah Jazz game? | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nba/mavericks/dallas-mavericks-tv-bally-sports-nba-tv/287-5145108a-462a-4558-9b1a-8ffef839ca38 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nba/mavericks/dallas-mavericks-tv-bally-sports-nba-tv/287-5145108a-462a-4558-9b1a-8ffef839ca38 |
Learn sign language and more at the Deaf Action Center
This segment is sponsored by Baylor Scott & White and Parker University
Heather Hughes and the team at the Deaf Action Center in Dallas offer several services for the hearing impaired in North Texas and offer resources for those wishing to learn more about the deaf community and culture.
For more information, visit dactexas.org. | 2022-04-21T17:26:23Z | www.wfaa.com | Learn sign language and more at the Deaf Action Center | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/good-morning-texas/learn-sign-language-and-more-at-the-deaf-action-center/287-27c8b386-5bd4-4d17-b680-1e33790f6dc2 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/good-morning-texas/learn-sign-language-and-more-at-the-deaf-action-center/287-27c8b386-5bd4-4d17-b680-1e33790f6dc2 |
Kaytlynn Cargill, the victim, was found dead in an Arlington landfill in June of 2017, two days after she was first reported missing.
The Bedford Police Department said in a Facebook post that Kaytlynn Cargill disappeared while walking her dog near the Oak Wood Apartments.
BEDFORD, Texas — A man pleaded guilty to the murder of a 14-year-old Bedford girl Thursday, receiving 10 years in prison for first-degree murder, officials announced.
The murderer, 21-year-old Jordin Roache, has been in jail since first being arrested in 2017, and reached the plea deal with the 372nd District Court.
“This day has been a long time coming and we’re grateful for the hard work and countless hours put in by Bedford Police officers, detectives, and forensic investigators along with the prosecutors from the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office,” Bedford Police Chief Jeff Williams said in a news release. “The Cargill family remains in our thoughts as we reach the conclusion of this tragic case.”
Cargill's mother, Trisha West, testified during Roache's sentencing this week.
"She no doubt would be an asset to society," West said in court, according to a release from the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office. "You robbed me of seeing her bright future come to fruition."
Her father, Bo Cargill, also read a statement in court: "She was not yours for the taking, but you did it anyway. I am tormented every day about what she endured. It plays out in my mind."
Cargill was reported missing from her apartment complex off Forest Ridge Drive on June 19, 2017, police said. Roache, who was 16 at the time of his arrest, was first identified as a potential suspect after witnesses saw him with her the day of her disappearance.
Several pieces of evidence were found leading to Roache’s arrest, including Cargill’s blood and DNA in his girlfriend’s apartment, where he was staying at the time, the release added. Blood was found on several walls of the apartment, kitchen blinds, and the patio. Blood was also found on the head of a hammer, which DNA evidence later confirmed to be Cargill’s.
According to a witness cited in the arrest warrant, Cargill went to the dog park the day she disappeared to take part in an exchange of marijuana with a 16-year-old suspect and his brother.
The witness told police Cargill was asked to come to the Oak Creek Apartments alone, without the witness or her dog, the arrest warrant states. The witness said Cargill ran away from the dog park because the suspect saw him watching them.
Cargill and the witness returned to Cargill’s home, but she returned to the dog park roughly an hour later “to get the money,” according to witness cited in the warrant. The witness tied Cargill’s dog up and went to play basketball and never saw her again.
Police believe Cargill was murdered between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. that evening. Cargill’s parents reported her missing at 8:15 p.m.
The case was delayed several times over the years, the release detailed, due to factors including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Roache was transferred to the Texas Department of Corrections following his sentencing.
Previous coverage of the case:
Arrest warrant: Kaytlynn Cargill murdered with hammer after suspected drug deal
Bedford PD: 16-year-old ‘acquaintance' detained in Kaytlynn Cargill case | 2022-04-21T19:19:14Z | www.wfaa.com | Kaytlynn Cargill murder: Texas man pleads guilty to 2017 killing | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/kaytlynn-cargill-jordin-roache-man-pleads-guilty-murdering-teen-girl-hammer/287-bafb552c-a010-44ca-9e36-258d960df99d | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/kaytlynn-cargill-jordin-roache-man-pleads-guilty-murdering-teen-girl-hammer/287-bafb552c-a010-44ca-9e36-258d960df99d |
The MRO Aerospace Maintenance Competition will be held in Dallas from April 26-28.
Credit: UPS
Courtesy: UPS
DALLAS — UPS announced Thursday it is sending its first ever all-female team of aircraft mechanics to the MRO Aerospace Maintenance Competition.
The competition is being held in Dallas from April 26-28, and technicians will have the opportunity to showcase their abilities and see how they stack up against peers across the country.
Five-member teams compete in competitive events. Teams compete in one of six categories:
Repair and Manufacturing
UPS said in a press release that while the event is a competition, the bigger picture is the significant gender gap in aviation and the ongoing shortage of trained aircraft technicians in aviation.
According to the 2021 Women in Aviation Workforce Report, women make up less than 20% of most aviation occupations, and the areas with the largest gender gaps continues to be pilots, maintenance technicians and senior leadership positions.
Boeing forecasts the need for more than 750,000 new aircraft maintenance technicians over the next 20 years.
"UPS is committed to promoting opportunities for women in aviation fields," UPS said in a statement. "The competition shines a spotlight on aircraft maintenance technicians and promotes the craft to young people as a viable career path."
For more information on team registration, competitive events, funding student competitor scholarships, or to support the competition through sponsorship, visit the competition's website. | 2022-04-21T19:19:21Z | www.wfaa.com | UPS sends its 1st all-female technician team to competition | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/ups-all-female-team-dallas-texas-aerospace-maintenance-competition/287-8ef8af61-156a-4cf5-baea-34029e190694 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/ups-all-female-team-dallas-texas-aerospace-maintenance-competition/287-8ef8af61-156a-4cf5-baea-34029e190694 |
Hutchins police chased a car after a robbery at a Motel 6. They found a woman's body after the robbers abandoned the vehicle.
HUTCHINS, Texas — The Hutchins Police Department released details on a car chase Thursday, that ended with one of the suspects found dead in the back of their vehicle.
Police said it all started at a Motel 6 in Hutchins.
A witness, who asked not to be identified, said robbery suspects beat up one of their customers.
Police said they got a 911 call from the hotel around 11 a.m. Thursday.
The suspects fled, but officers were able to get a description of the vehicle and a license plate number.
Officers said they spotted the car on Interstate 45 and chased it into a Dallas neighborhood about 10 minutes away.
The vehicle was abandoned in an ally.
Officers said three suspects bailed out of the car and ran into the neighborhood. One of them was caught, but the other two suspects got away.
The Dallas Police Department and the Dallas County Sheriff's Office were asked to help search for the suspects who fled the scene.
Officers said when they got back to the suspects' vehicle, they found a woman inside. She was unresponsive and had no pulse.
The Hutchins Police Department issued a statement, saying in part, “when officers returned to the vehicle, they discovered an adult female who was unresponsive lying face down in the rear floor area of the car.”
The medical examiner was on scene, while officers took and logged evidence.
Detectives arrived at the motel Thursday afternoon to get more evidence, including possible surveillance tapes to identify the two suspects on-the-run.
WFAA has requested all body camera and dash camera video to determine what happened when the female robber was found dead.
Law enforcement, advocates warn parents after teen North Texas girl found in sex trafficking ring | 2022-04-21T22:51:59Z | www.wfaa.com | Police chase in Hutchins: Woman's body found, suspect at-large | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/hutchins-police-chase-womans-body-found-in-suspects-car/287-2e87ada1-6f77-437f-a4fc-02b795a6da9c | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/hutchins-police-chase-womans-body-found-in-suspects-car/287-2e87ada1-6f77-437f-a4fc-02b795a6da9c |
Mavs Luka Doncic out for Game 3, according to sources
Luka Doncic's injury came during the final game of the regular season on April 10 after contact from a mid-air collision with San Antonio Spurs big man Zach Collins.
SALT LAKE CITY — Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic will not play in Game 3 against the Utah Jazz Thursday night, according to WFAA sources.
This will be Doncic's third straight missed game of the 2022 NBA Playoffs as he continues to deal with a calf strain. The Mavs game against the Jazz is at Vivint Arena in Utah, and tip-off is at 8 p.m. The best-of-seven series is currently tied 1-1.
Game 4 of the series will be Saturday and also in Utah. Tip-off is at 3:30 p.m.
The last playoff game Doncic played happened on June 6, 2021, when he had 46 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds in the Mavs' 126-111 Game 7 first-round loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
RELATED: Luka injury tracker: Will the Mavs star play in Game 4?
The Mavs had upgraded Doncic to "questionable" Wednesday afternoon. This was the first time the team has labeled him as "questionable" in this year's playoffs. In the previous two games, he was labeled as "doubtful."
On Thursday around 1 p.m., NBA reporter Marc Stein tweeted Doncic was "essentially a game-time decision" for Thursday.
Soon after, ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported Doncic said he was "feeling great" after a post-shootaround session, and then ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that there is "still significant pessimism" that Doncic would be playing Thursday night.
Doncic took some shots and got some 1-on-1 work in during Wednesday's practice, one day before the team plays the Jazz.
Luka Doncic shooting around at practice today. Looks kinda sweaty. Still got the extra compression sleeve on his left leg.
Mavericks visit Jazz tomorrow night for Game 3. Series tied 1-1.#MFFL @wfaa pic.twitter.com/HETrI5tzzs
Doncic also talked with the media Wednesday, saying he "feels good" and that he has made a lot of progress in the past two days. However, he also said "we shouldn't rush anything" in terms of bringing him back.
"If I'm ready and there's no risk of injury, I'll be out there," Doncic said. "At the beginning, it was painful. Now, it's not really that painful. I'm feeling good right now."
Head Coach Jason Kidd also spoke with the media, saying the team was going to wait to see how Doncic feels Thursday before making a final decision.
"As I've said all week, or the last 10 or 11 days, he's in good spirits," Kidd said Wednesday. "He looks great. He's looked great through the process of rehabbing."
The injury initially happened when Doncic strained his left calf in the third quarter of the regular-season finale against the San Antonio Spurs on April 10. He was then ruled out for the rest of the game. | 2022-04-21T22:52:05Z | www.wfaa.com | Mavs Luka Doncic out Game 3 | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-mavericks-luka-doncic-out-game-3-utah-jazz/287-d262e215-89f0-4866-a17b-0a105cd54060 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-mavericks-luka-doncic-out-game-3-utah-jazz/287-d262e215-89f0-4866-a17b-0a105cd54060 |
92% of the world's magnets are made in China, and they're used in everything from headphones to defense technology.
FORT WORTH, Texas — The future of the U.S. supply chain for electric vehicles, drones and wind turbines could run through Fort Worth.
Las Vegas-based MP Materials held a ground breaking for a new site in Alliance, where the company will manufacture magnets.
“Rare earth magnets are really what will power motion,” said Chairman James Litinsky.
MP Materials runs the Mountain Pass rare earth materials mine in California, one of the largest in the world.
Right now, most of the mining for rare earth materials and 92% of global magnet production comes from China. The neodymium iron boron, or NdFeB magnets, are the strongest in the world and there isn’t a good substitute.
“These industries of the future are where our jobs and GDP are going to come from, so we need to make sure that we have that full supply chain here,” said Litinsky.
“Right now, in places like China and Russia, they’re scared because of what you’re doing,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said during the event.
Instead of just mining the materials, MP will be able to separate them out and produce 1,000 tonnes of magnets per year, just 1% of the world’s production, but still enough to power half a million electric vehicle motors. The company also touted its partnership to supply GM with magnets during the event Thursday.
“We must have energy independence with US-Made renewable. If not, we’re going to put our whole nation at risk,” said Ross Perot Jr, the chairman of the Perot Group.
“Most people would’ve told us, ‘You’re crazy. You can’t do this. You’re never going to be able to compete against China’,” Litinsky said. “Fast-forward, here we are.”
The facility off Independence Parkway will bring 150 jobs and come online in late 2023. With the demand for magnets possibly tripling by 2035, the hope is start moving more production to the U.S.
“I think the lesson from our analogy is that America can compete,” Litinsky said. “I believe this industry is going to be enormous. This is really the beginning.” | 2022-04-21T22:52:11Z | www.wfaa.com | Fort Worth facility to help with US magnet supply chain issues | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-mining-company-magnet-us-supply-chain/287-c87ca0ce-2a00-4a54-9db7-60ba50319d52 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-mining-company-magnet-us-supply-chain/287-c87ca0ce-2a00-4a54-9db7-60ba50319d52 |
Dallas police said Juanita Rodriguez was first reported missing by family to the Duncanville Police Department on Saturday, April 16.
DALLAS — A homicide investigation is underway after Dallas police found the body of a missing 54-year-old Duncanville woman Wednesday, officials said.
Dallas Police said officers responded to a call concerning a body found in the 3000 block of S. Ledbetter Drive around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 20.
When officers arrived on scene, they found the victim wrapped in a plastic tarp on the side of the street.
Homicide detectives, along with Dallas Crime Scene and Dallas County Medical Examiner Office field agents, were called to process evidence.
On April 21, Dallas Police said the victim was identified as 54-year-old Juanita Rodriguez, and the medical examiner’s office determined she died from a gunshot wound.
Dallas Police said Rodriguez was first reported missing by her family to the Duncanville Police Department on Saturday, April 16.
On Monday, April 18, Dallas Police said Rodriguez’s vehicle was found abandoned on Navy Avenue.
In a press release Thursday, April 21, the Duncanville Police Department said they responded to a call concerning Rodriguez’s disappearance on April 18. The department said initially officers were “unable to substantiate circumstances that would indicate Ms. Rodriguez’s disappearance was anything but voluntary,” based on the information that was available to them at the time.
On Tuesday, April 19, Duncanville Police said they received new details from the victim’s family and immediately submitted Rodriguez as a “Missing Person.”
If you have any information concerning the circumstances surrounding Rodriguez's disappearance and murder, Dallas police ask that you call Detective John Valdez at 214-671-3623. | 2022-04-22T00:33:40Z | www.wfaa.com | Missing Duncanville woman found dead at 3000 Ledbetter in Dallas | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/missing-54-year-old-duncanville-woman-juanita-rodriguez-found-dead-in-dallas/287-76bd5f25-4617-403d-85be-ba1adeed5847 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/missing-54-year-old-duncanville-woman-juanita-rodriguez-found-dead-in-dallas/287-76bd5f25-4617-403d-85be-ba1adeed5847 |
A public safety team with Deep Ellum Foundation uses a store front as its command center. The group said it's taking proactive measures to help keep the area safer.
DALLAS — The vibrant Deep Ellum cultural district sits on the edge of Downtown Dallas business owners, neighbors and visitors refer to the area as the premiere entertainment district in the region.
"It’s a place where hundreds of thousands of people come every year,” said Stephanie Keller Hudiburg, executive director of the Deep Ellum Foundation.
Deep Ellum is an area with over 100 bars and restaurants, more than 30 live music venues, and over 130 murals.
Deep Ellum Foundation and its supporters said safety is top of mind.
“We like to say Deep Ellum welcomes all comers, but it does not welcome violence,” said Keller Hudiburg.
The Foundation and its neighbors know recent episodes of violence are, unfortunately, shaping some negative perceptions of the area. A shooting on Elm Street left two people injured two weeks ago.
This week, rapper T-Pain published a tweet about whether to move his upcoming show from The Factory in Deep Ellum to a different venue. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson responded to the tweet, saying there’s no reason to move the show.
RELATED: 'Dallas, y'all don't f--- with me?!' | T-Pain upset with ticket sales, mayor responds
"We are one of the safest areas in the whole City of Dallas,” said Adam Holden, director of public safety for the Deep Ellum Foundation.
Staff wants the public to know they’ve been proactive in addressing safety and security concerns in the area.
"Right now, we have about 25 cameras that view all areas of Deep Ellum,” said Holden.
The Deep Ellum Foundation opened a command center on Main Street in February 2022. From it, security officers are watching live cameras in different zones 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“There’s always someone in here. They answer walk-ins. They answer phone calls,” said Holden.
The space is also a hub where Dallas Police Department, Code Compliance staff, Dallas Fire-Rescue, and homeless case workers huddle to discuss enforcement strategies for any given night in Deep Ellum.
“Our eyes are everywhere. If it’s happening in the district, we are going to see it. We’re going to respond to it,” said Holden.
In addition to increased security, the Deep Ellum Foundation said it’s relaunching ride share flow zones in May. The group, its councilmembers, and Dallas PD have been crafting a safety plan for the district that will soon be unveiled.
Deep Ellum Foundation is also planning a community safety fair, among other initiatives.
“We want people to feel safe and understand this is a safe district,” added Holden. | 2022-04-22T00:33:46Z | www.wfaa.com | Deep Ellum in Dallas focusing on safety after violent crimes | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-district-deep-ellum-focuses-on-safety-measures/287-e5b47991-4cad-401f-bdab-12bc38ff24fc | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-district-deep-ellum-focuses-on-safety-measures/287-e5b47991-4cad-401f-bdab-12bc38ff24fc |
White Rock Lake set to host Texas State Rowing Championships this weekend
It's the first time the event has ever been held outside of Austin
DALLAS — Something’s in the water at White Rock Lake.
At least, this weekend, something will be in the water.
“Yeah, there is really high-quality rowing in the middle of the country,” said White Rock Rowing coach Chris Leonard.
Saturday and Sunday, rowers from all over Texas will come to Dallas for the Texas State Rowing Championships.
It’s the first time the event has ever been held outside of Austin.
“Having an event that’s a state championship here, I think really brings attention to, ‘Hey, rowing in Texas is becoming a real thing,’” Leonard said.
Rowing has always been seen as an east coast thing. That’s where Leonard and his wife, Annie Couwenhoven, also one of the team’s coaches, grew up.
They’ve both been rowing for years, but even they had no idea how good it could be at White Rock Lake until they came for their interview.
“We walked in and were like, 'OK, this is pretty cool,’” Leonard said.
“We’re trying to get it more and more introduced here, to where White Rock is the place everyone wants to go and our boathouse is the powerhouse of the nation,” Couwenhoven said.
White Rock Lake may not have a reputation for rowing, but Leonard and Couwenhoven said it should.
The lake can accommodate a bigger course, it’s great for spectators and the boat house is one of the best in the America.
“In 20 years of rowing, I’ve never seen a boat house this big,” said Couwenhoven.
If this weekend’s state championships go well, Couwenhoven and Leonard think things will only get bigger.
“Why can’t we host a national championship down here?,” Leonard asked. “I think this gives us an opportunity to show everybody we can do that.”
For a lot of people, White Rock Lake is a great place to go and for others, an even better place to row.
For more information on White Rock Rowing and the state championships, visit https://www.whiterockrowing.org/.
Bees, pickle ball and painted books? This ain't your grandfather's library | 2022-04-22T12:25:08Z | www.wfaa.com | Texas State Rowing Championships at White Rock Lake Dallas | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/white-rock-lake-to-host-texas-state-rowing-championships/287-b1cf6692-5f99-43c1-8cde-c2f35fa54e4b | https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/white-rock-lake-to-host-texas-state-rowing-championships/287-b1cf6692-5f99-43c1-8cde-c2f35fa54e4b |
A Dallas Tex-Mex staple of 51 years is closing its doors
Herrera's Cafe was started in 1971 by Amelia Herrera on Maple Avenue in a tiny restaurant space with only nine tables.
DALLAS — One of Dallas' staple Tex-Mex restaurants, Herrera's Cafe on Sylvan Avenue, will close its doors on Friday, April 22.
Herrera's confirmed its closing on Facebook Thursday, though it did not say why.
They thanked their customers and posted several photos of the restaurant through the years, along with the Herrera and Ontiveros families, who owned the cafe.
Herrera's Cafe was started in 1971 by Amelia Herrera on Maple Avenue in a tiny restaurant space with only nine tables. It became so popular that they would regularly have lines wrap around the outside of the building, and customers lined up with coolers of beer as they waited to get inside.
Over the years, Herrera's Cafe garnered national recognition with profiles from publications like the New York Times, Texas Monthly and more.
The original Maple Avenue location was also featured in a 1984 edition of National Geographic. A huge painting of that iconic National Geographic photo adorns the restaurant entrance.
RELATED: Tex-Mex mecca Herrera's serves final food at landmark location
After nearly 40 years in its original location on Maple Avenue, the family-owned business moved to Staple Avenue after they were pushed out by high real estate prices in the area, according to a 2014 WFAA report.
Nora Ontiveros, a member of the small family-owned chain, told WFAA in 2014 that they couldn't come to an agreement on a lease for that location. Ontiveros' husband is grandson of the Amelia Herrera.
Now, after serving the community for 50-plus years, local spot is closing its doors. Herrera's Cafe posted to Facebook on Thursday asking customers to share their favorite memories from dining there:
As news spread that the Tex-Mex restaurant's time was nearing its end, Dallasites flocked to grab one last meal.
A Facebook Live video one day before the restaurant closed showed a packed house:
Three generations of Herrera’s family members operate other restaurants in North Texas that share the family name but have different ownership, such as Herrera’s Oak Cliff, Cafe Herrera in Downtown Dallas, and Herrera’s Tex-Mex in Addison.
Those locations will remain open. | 2022-04-22T14:35:04Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas Tex-Mex staple Herrera's Cafe closing its doors | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/life/food/herreras-cafe-dallas-tex-mex-restaurant-west-dallas-closing/287-e2272cdd-aec7-4880-a659-02a1d802ac5b | https://www.wfaa.com/article/life/food/herreras-cafe-dallas-tex-mex-restaurant-west-dallas-closing/287-e2272cdd-aec7-4880-a659-02a1d802ac5b |
Author: David Lynch (KENS 5), Anastasiya Bolton (KENS)
The Thursday roundtable was driven by conversation about the situation at the border, and held in the aftermath of Abbott meeting with governors of several northern-Mexico states last week, whom he said have agreed to stepping up security efforts on their side of the border in exchange for Texas halting its short-lived, controversial practice of expanded commercial truck searches.
The governor said a total of 10 buses have transported migrants from the border to Washington, D.C., in an attempt to, as Abbott put it, "take the border to Biden."
"He will see, by these daily flows of buses, what Texans are dealing with. And he and the members of Congress are gonna have to deal with it directly."
That struggle isn't lost on Democratic lawmaker Henry Cuellar, of Laredo, who's been working on immigration reform for years.
"We have to find a way that we can work together – the state and the federal government and the local entities – to address this particular issue," Cuellar said.
While it may not look like it with a growing number of migrants cross the border, U.S. State Department officials say they are making progress on addressing the root causes of migration.
"The numbers at the border are not the full metric of what is happening in the region," said Marta Costanzo Youth, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. "The fact of the matter is, some of these policies are already working."
While the issue awaits the intervention of Congress, Abbott continues taking a stab at it himself.
"Texas is now building our own border wall," he said. "All that is in response to the open-border policies that we have right now."
Local officials on hand at Thursday's roundtable also pointed out that boosted law enforcement ranks will remain a priority as long as San Antonio continues to grow. According to data from the most recent U.S. census, Bexar County’s population grew by about 295,000 residents between 2010 and 2020, amounting to a 17% increase. | 2022-04-22T14:35:10Z | www.wfaa.com | Gov. Abbott in San Antonio on law enforcement issues, safety | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/gov-abbott-in-san-antonio-on-law-enforcement-issues-keeping-communities-safe/273-28e7ada3-6cad-4d22-adeb-96e54801eaf1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/gov-abbott-in-san-antonio-on-law-enforcement-issues-keeping-communities-safe/273-28e7ada3-6cad-4d22-adeb-96e54801eaf1 |
Officer Crystal Almeida is telling her story for the first time in a podcast called ATO Bridging the Divide.
DALLAS — Dallas police officers were responding to a call about a suspected shoplifter on April 24, 2018, at a Home Depot in North Dallas.
When officers Rogelio Santander and Crystal Almeida arrived at the store, the suspect, Armando Juarez, shot them.
"The suspect pulled the gun from his right pocket, and that’s when he shot me. I ducked, and that’s the last thing I remember happening. The next thing I know, I’m waking up and staring straight up at the ceiling, and I feel a bad burn in my face,” said Alemeida.
Officer Almeida was shot in the face, Officer Santander died at the hospital.
For the first time, Officer Almeida and the lead detective on the case Angela Arredondo are telling their stories in podcast called ATO: Bridging The Divide.
”There was a pool of blood in the hallway of the Home Depot and security office,” said Arredondo.
Detective Arredondo said investigating the case was among one of the hardest things she’s done in her career.
”Any time you investigate an officer being killed in the line of duty, it’s awful. It’s just awful. Seeing and dealing with the families of the fallen. You want to do right by them, you want to do right by your fellow officers, and you want to do right by your fallen brother,” said Arredondo.
One of the hosts and creators of the podcast is Officer Joe King, who wanted to give officers a platform and to let the community see what officers go through.
"Crystal Almeida is a hero, and what she went through is one of the most horrific things that’s happened in Dallas, and she survived,” said King.
It’s taken years for Almeida to emotionally and physically recover after being shot and seeing her best friend, classmate and partner killed.
“To hear just the resiliency, and bravery and heroism Crystal has displayed, is incredible,” said King.
Almeida said that tragic day changed her life forever... but also gave her more purpose.
"I got shot twice in the face but like I said, Santander, God wanted him back home. He told me no, no you aren’t done with your assignment yet," said Almeida.
King said telling these stories on the podcast are important for the public to hear.
“If they understand our culture a lot more… and understanding and education are big steps to bridging the divide in the community,” said King.
“You get to hear officers do heroic things. We need that publicity, so the public can hear what we are doing, and the crazy heroic things that we do every day to protect them and to serve them. The podcast will air Sunday, April 24, 2021. If you would like to hear it you can go to: https://atodallas.org/.
A story of survival: Dallas officer speaks out about shooting, one year later
Wounded Dallas police officer released from hospital rehab
DPD officer shot at Home Depot dies; two remain critical | 2022-04-23T01:28:33Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas police officer recalls being shot at Home Depot in 2018 | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-police-officer-recalls-day-she-was-shot-her-partner-was-killed-in-the-line-of-duty/287-2420373d-06dc-48e0-a753-884c1b6b594b | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-police-officer-recalls-day-she-was-shot-her-partner-was-killed-in-the-line-of-duty/287-2420373d-06dc-48e0-a753-884c1b6b594b |
Doncic's comeback will be his first game action since he injured his calf in the season finale on April 10.
DALLAS — Coming off a Game 3 win, the Dallas Mavericks will get a big boost for Game 4 on Saturday afternoon in Utah: Star guard Luka Doncic's status was upgraded to "probable," the team announced about three hours before tipoff.
WFAA's Mike Leslie confirmed just after 2 p.m. that Doncic would play in Game 4.
Doncic's comeback will be his first action since he strained his left calf in the season finale on April 10.
The Mavericks and Jazz are set for a 3:30 p.m. CT start in Salt Lake City. The game will be aired on TNT.
It is now official - Luka Doncic will play in Game 4.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news around noon Saturday that Doncic, who had been listed as questionable for Game 4, was trending toward a return against the Jazz, albeit likely in a limited fashion.
Wojnarowski reported that Doncic would play limited minutes if he completed warmups without any setbacks.
At 12:45 p.m., the team's public relations account tweeted that Doncic's status had been upgraded.
🥹🥹🥹 https://t.co/ZwBUVPcrak
Doncic's status has been a daily storyline for the Mavericks, even as they've outperformed expectations without him.
Doncic has practiced this week, as speculation ramped up about a possible return in Game 3 in the series. He was also seen in warmups before Thursday night's game.
While he sat Thursday night, he told ESPN on Friday that he wasn't experiencing any pain or discomfort in his calf.
After falling behind 1-0 in the series, Dallas won games 2 and 3 behind strong efforts from Jalen Brunson and Maxi Kleber.
Brunson dropped 41 points in Game 2 and 31 in Game 3. Kleber, who struggled down the stretch of the regular season, knocked down eight three-pointers in Game 2 and four in Game 3.
Doncic's return Saturday would mark the third time he's played in a playoff series. The Mavericks lost last year and in 2020 in the first round against the Clippers. Dallas will be trying to get past the first round since the team won the 2011 NBA title.
Mavs Luka Doncic out for Game 3 | 2022-04-23T19:29:24Z | www.wfaa.com | Will Luka Doncic play Game 4 for Dallas Mavs against Utah Jazz? | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nba/mavericks/dallas-mavericks-luka-doncic-injury-calf-expected-to-play-against-utah-jazz-in-game-4-saturday/287-f3c24160-29fd-4c95-89ed-7f63f0656512 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nba/mavericks/dallas-mavericks-luka-doncic-injury-calf-expected-to-play-against-utah-jazz-in-game-4-saturday/287-f3c24160-29fd-4c95-89ed-7f63f0656512 |
Record Store Day: vinyl record sales surge making everything old new again
Vinyl record sales have surged over the last few years enticing new listeners with a crisp sound and an unmatched tactile experience.
Author: Mike Castellucci
DALLAS — There is nothing like live music. Wait, scratch that. There is nothing like music on vinyl.
Record fans say it’s an authentic way to listen to music, and, there’s something about holding it and putting it on the turntable. Maybe it’s the crispness that comes from a plastic platter.
Vinyl records are back.
Just ask someone who calls it "new retro." A college student standing outside the record store told WFAA, “It’s my dream to own a record player.” Well, don’t skip over that. She doesn’t even own a record player.
But, records somehow capture her imagination anyway.
If you’re buying music that you touch and feel, vinyl has climbed to number one on the charts. That hasn’t happened since Loverboy looked like they did in 1981.
And for some reason, eight years ago, David Grover thought it would be a good idea to open a store that sells ... records. Funny he says ... since he’s had ear problems since he was a little kid.
This is Grover's church, where the mystery of music can touch the soul.
“It’s a place where people come together and converge on music,” Grover said.
“When you see people come in, they get so excited, how they relate to the vinyl," Grover said "You have a Republican anti-vaxxer, going crazy, and a tree-hugger, 13-year-old with spacers, and both come together for Pink Floyd. It’s a beautiful thing.”
The flip side? They want more records than the world can make.
There are only a few plants that can literally make music these days. Hand Drawn Records is one of them. Jon Snodgrass told WFAA they bought the first machine in the world of its kind. They took the first one.
When records disappeared, so did the places and machines that press them. They’re working around the clock at Hand Drawn Records.
“Their machines are dropping an album every 25 seconds, but it’s not enough,” Snodgrass said.
In about the time it takes to listen to the B-side of an album, you can drive from the plant to the Spinster Record store.
Music is a reflection of us all. It’s what our feelings sound like. And vinyl – it turns out – is a magical way to listen to it.
Maybe we needed this vinyl comeback more than ever.
Like that relationship we have with the perfect book. Where inside that sleeve you hear the artist speak to you. Where we can step inside a record store and flip through an art gallery of bands and leave with a record of that experience in your mind and in your hands and your heart … even if you can’t play them … yet.
“I’m a broke college student,” she said, holding a Heart album from 1979.
For now, she’ll nail them to her walls. | 2022-04-23T22:00:54Z | www.wfaa.com | Record Store Day: vinyl record sales surge to make comeback | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/music/record-store-day-vinyl-sales-surge-dallas-texas/287-0df25cd2-eadd-40d3-ab73-885a9108e048 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/music/record-store-day-vinyl-sales-surge-dallas-texas/287-0df25cd2-eadd-40d3-ab73-885a9108e048 |
With the Dallas Cowboys deploying one of the league’s top running back tandems, Tony Pollard has become a necessity to pair with Ezekiel Elliott.
DALLAS — With Ezekiel Elliott, the Dallas Cowboys enjoy the fruits of having one of the best running backs in the NFL. Despite loud voices picking apart Elliott and his effectiveness late in the 2021 season, he’s still a top player at the position.
Luckily for the Cowboys, they have another great option when Elliott isn’t on the field in Tony Pollard. Most would describe Pollard as the backup running back, but that doesn’t do Pollard justice.
The Cowboys have two starting-caliber running backs who keep the chains moving with little drop off. Some would even suggest that Pollard was the better player during the 2021 season.
No matter how it breaks down, Pollard is clearly a very good running back, and he is coming off his best statistical season last year. Pollard ran for 719 yards and two touchdowns, while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Among qualified running backs last season, Pollard was tied for second in yardage per attempt.
If Elliott was to go down for any amount of time, the Cowboys would be in great shape with Pollard. During the 2020 season, when Pollard got one of the few starts of his career, the fourth-year runner out of Memphis responded with 132 yards from scrimmage and two scores.
(📸 @dallascowboys) pic.twitter.com/m3TkKkla66
Pollard also helped carry the Cowboys to an important win against the New Orleans Saints last season with a 58-yard touchdown run to break the game open and kickstart an undefeated December for Dallas.
With the Cowboys counting on Pollard to produce when given the opportunity, they also relied on him in the return game, where he averaged 28.8 yards per return. That would have been second in the league if he had returned enough to qualify. Pollard demonstrated his return skills in the Thanksgiving game against the Las Vegas Raiders, where he returned a kickoff for a score.
It’s clear how valuable Pollard is to the Cowboys, with his presence contributing to one of the team strengths. That’s something not lost on CEO Stephen Jones, who recently noted the importance of the running back group.
Cowboys VP Stephen Jones on @1053thefan said he views running back as a strength on their current roster. He said they were just in a team meeting talking about how they have three "really strong, strong" running backs with Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle
Yet, despite being important, Pollard doesn’t have any financial stability as he’s on the last year of his rookie contract with the Cowboys. As a fourth-round pick in 2019, Pollard earned a four-year deal, which expires at the end of the 2022 season. Therefore, keeping Pollard in the mix should be a priority and an extension before the new season should be given serious consideration.
Coming out of college, Pollard was thought of as a running back who couldn’t carry a starter’s load, while being more of a change of pace back. Pollard has dispelled any notion that he can’t be a full-time, impact player and his play has shown that he’s ready for a larger role.
Besides his stellar play, another reason to extend Pollard now is because of the uncertain salary cap ramifications at the position for the Cowboys. Elliott is paid like one of the league’s elite stars but the team can escape from his contract next season if they so choose.
If that’s the plan, Dallas needs to have an option to fall back on. Without Pollard under contract and without Elliott, the team would go from having two starting-caliber running backs to having none. The league might be undervaluing the position, but the Cowboys haven’t come fully around to that thinking yet.
Regardless of what the team does with Elliott, the time is right to extend Pollard. He’s one of the most explosive options for the offense and he’s extremely valuable as an alternative to Elliott. If the Cowboys don’t extend Pollard and they decide it’s time to part ways with Elliott next offseason, the price for Pollard could get too high.
The time to make Pollard a part of the future is now.
Do you think it would be a good idea to lock Tony Pollard up with a long term deal? Share your thoughts with Ben on Twitter @BenGrimaldi. | 2022-04-23T22:01:12Z | www.wfaa.com | Retaining RB Tony Pollard should be a priority for Dallas Cowboys | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/opinion-retaining-rb-tony-pollard-should-be-a-priority-for-cowboys-dallas/287-858a1984-fe60-43ef-909e-cc122b2723ee | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/opinion-retaining-rb-tony-pollard-should-be-a-priority-for-cowboys-dallas/287-858a1984-fe60-43ef-909e-cc122b2723ee |
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred is also behind bipartisan legislation to help veterans.
DALLAS — While U.S. Rep. Colin Allred says it’s time to allow folks to make their own choices when traveling and decide for themselves whether a mask is right for them, the government still needs to be able to protect its people.
That’s why he supports the decision to appeal a federal judge’s decision to strike down the national mask mandate governing airports, planes, trains and other public transit.
“I do think it’s important, though, for the CDC to have the ability to impose requirements going forward for other pandemics that may come along, or, unfortunately, if this pandemic has another variant that pops up,” the Democrat said on Inside Texas Politics.
Many airlines and airports, including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, DFW International Airport and Love Field have all said masks are now optional after the judge’s ruling.
RELATED: Gov. Greg Abbott, 25 other Republican governors start coalition to increase border security
Congressman Allred is also closely watching the fate of another public health order: the Title 42 policy along the border, scheduled to come to an end May 23. The order limits asylum at the border in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
But many lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats alike, have called on the Biden Administration to delay that date to make sure the country can handle the expected increase of migrants seeking asylum. Congressman Allred agrees that a plan is needed.
“I think if this policy is going to end, there has to be a plan on how to replace it,” he said.
The Democrat from Dallas also joined forces with a fellow North Texas congressman in an effort to help the nation’s veterans. Allred and Republican, U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey, introduced a bipartisan bill that would expand healthcare facilities for veterans across the country. The projects would include more funding for the spinal cord injury center at the Dallas VA Medical Center and funding to build a new veterans healthcare center in El Paso.
The shared vision was born on a flight aboard Air Force One as Allred and Ellzey attended a veterans event with the President in Fort Worth. Texas has the second-largest veteran population in the nation. Allred said the state will soon become number one and there is a critical need for funding across the board.
“We know that we have a lot of facilities that are 50, 60, 70 years old in the VA system that need to be updated,” said Allred. “And this is a good time to invest in them.” | 2022-04-24T02:29:36Z | www.wfaa.com | ITP: Congressman says Texans should make own mask decisions | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/north-texas-congressman-says-texans-should-make-own-mask-decisions-inside-texas-politics/287-adb4fc8f-28ee-455d-a962-578d1047648c | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/north-texas-congressman-says-texans-should-make-own-mask-decisions-inside-texas-politics/287-adb4fc8f-28ee-455d-a962-578d1047648c |
Rep. Jarvis Johnson says State’s funding formula is too complicated.
DALLAS — When it comes to State funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), State Rep. Jarvis Johnson says good luck understanding the formula used to determine the dollars.
“That’s a Greek book made up of Greek letters that you don’t understand. And I think it was done purposely,” Rep. Johnson said on Inside Texas Politics.
HBCU funding in Texas recently took center stage at the state’s first HBCU conference held in Austin earlier this month. The event included campus leaders, lawmakers and students. Organizers said it was an opportunity for folks to learn more about HBCUs and highlight the need for more funding and resources.
There are nine HBCUs in Texas, but only two are public, four-year universities: Texas Southern University in Houston and Prairie View A&M, about an hour outside of Houston. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board released a report in 2019 that said those two HBCUs received around $2,500 less in State funding per student than the state’s two flagship universities: the University of Texas at Austin (UT) and Texas A&M University. That funding gap reportedly doubled in 2021.
“That formula funding was only created for those flagship institutions and asking Prairie View and Texas Southern to do more with less,” Rep. Johnson said. “There is no way Texas Southern and Prairie View will be able to reach the level of research dollars, the levels of opportunities for doctoral candidates, all of those formula funding mechanisms that are in place.”
The Democrat from Houston said metrics such as graduation rates, retention rates and the number of research institutions a university may have are also included in the funding formula. But Rep. Johnson said HBCUs often have a different dynamic taking place that can affect a metric such as attendance or graduation rate. So, he told WFAA he will continue to fight for funding parity in the legislature.
“They’re having students that oftentimes are first generation college students. They also have students that have to work full-time jobs and then go to school," Johnson said. "They have students that are also providing for their families. So forth and so on." | 2022-04-24T02:29:42Z | www.wfaa.com | ITP: State lawmaker fighting for HBCU funding parity | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/state-lawmaker-fighting-for-hbcu-funding-parity-inside-texas-politics/287-13767546-bdfb-49e7-a5d4-4f367b2c0827 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/state-lawmaker-fighting-for-hbcu-funding-parity-inside-texas-politics/287-13767546-bdfb-49e7-a5d4-4f367b2c0827 |
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