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“The mission on the ground is to help the orphans survive. Help evacuate them,” said Chris Burgin, CEO of Allies in Youth Development.
MANSFIELD, Texas — Day by day, the war in Ukraine is intensifying, and we are hearing from children and their families about the heartbreak they’re going through.
A local company from the Mansfield area was already on the ground in Russia and Ukraine when the war started.
The company helps empower children. Now, the workers are going around and saving orphan children and taking them to safety.
From the ground in Ukraine, they’re working hand-in-hand with Mansfield-based “Allies In Youth Development.”
They’re making a desperate plea for people to donate white sheets, so they can be wrapped around orphan children during intense shelling.
(2/2) @alliesyouth from Mansfield are on the ground helping orphan children.
There's a desperate &,frantic effort to save people. They're asking people to donate white sheets. Sheets will be wrapped around the orphan children b/c of intense shelling.💔@wfaa #UkraineRussianWar pic.twitter.com/YKRPa8tcrt
Burgin’s team was already on the ground for the work they do with orphan children.
“To become educated, to be able to adjust into life,” said Burgin.
The team quickly had to shift gears and save children.
Children had been saying they’re afraid they’re going to die.
“Every sound. They thought they were being bombed. They were really really scared,” Valentina Vedernikova.
(1/1) This picture says it all.
A local group from Mansfield, TX @alliesyouth was already on the ground in #Russia. Their jobs are to empower children.
Now, they're saving them &, trying to keep them busy after being traumatized. ❤️🇺🇦@wfaa #UkraineWar #RussianUkrainianWar pic.twitter.com/JBlOK5QCvN
Vedernikova adopted 12 children. They grabbed everything they could, packed it in a car and drove towards Romania.
“Driving at such a high speed. Like 135 km,” said Verdernikova.
They sat in traffic for more than 12 hours, while they witnessed people sleeping on the streets with nowhere to go.
Victoria Epik is with the group and made it to Romania.
”Victoria is actually getting food for them. she’s close to the Romanian store,” said Epik, through an interpreter.
But the store shelves were empty, and there was no food.
(3/3) @alliesyouth a local organization from Mansfield is on the ground in Ukraine. They sent these pictures to me. They're helping orphan children. They lined up for hours waiting to get food, only to find the store shelves empty.#Ukarine @wfaa pic.twitter.com/dsVLP8bP2J
And back in Ukraine, Sergei Boichura, who is also working with another group of orphan children, was collecting food.
(4/4) These are orphan children who were just rescued by a local non-profit in Mansfield.
They've been going to sleep in bomb shelters with their blood type written on their hands. #Ukraine @wfaa pic.twitter.com/7oJsOdYkGO
While he was showing WFAA through Zoom, bombs were going off.
He stopped what he was doing and started running.
“He is going to the bomb shelter because the sirens aerate is starting,” said the interpreter.
He doesn’t now know what will happen next.
If you would like to donate to the local organization, visit their website here.
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2022-03-07T05:26:18Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Mansfield-based organization in Ukraine helping orphans | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/mansfield-organization-in-ukraine-helping-orphan-children/287-5089674f-a352-4d06-84ce-4e817c7dd05a
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/mansfield-organization-in-ukraine-helping-orphan-children/287-5089674f-a352-4d06-84ce-4e817c7dd05a
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The community's reaction led to the suspension of the Sanger Police Department's newest program.
SANGER, Texas — The Sanger Police Department created a new program to help stop an uptick in vehicle burglaries in the Denton County city.
The program lasted four days.
In a letter to the city's community Monday, Sanger Police Chief Waylan Rhodes offered his apologies to anyone who was upset about the department's "yellow card" program.
The program was announced by police on Thursday, March 3, in a Facebook post. Police said officers would be placing yellow cards on vehicle windshields to let the owners know if their vehicles were vulnerable to a burglary.
The department also showed a picture of what the yellow cards would look like. The notice would let residents know if their vehicle was unlocked or had valuable items in plain sight.
The program, however, was quickly met with pushback by the community, with claims the department was violating residents' privacy and that the cards would actually give burglars an advantage.
"Sooo, criminals now just have to look for yellow tags on cars to know which ones are unlocked and which ones have valuables in plain sight?" one person said in Sanger PD's Facebook post.
"I understand your theory here but it’s gonna be a hard no for me. Please don’t touch any of my cars for any reason," another commented.
On Monday, the police chief responded to the community.
"First and foremost, there was never any intent to upset anyone and/or violate anyone's trust. Anyone that truly felt that way please accept my apology," Chief Rhodes said.
Rhodes said the idea of the program came after the department saw one weekend where 11 cars were burglarized. He said there wasn't any forced entry into the vehicles, either.
He added that officers would have doing an "outside visual inspection" of vehicles to check the boxes on the yellow cards.
"My effort was simply to be creative/proactive..." Rhodes said. "The last thing I want is for the citizens of this community to not trust their police officers."
The chief went on to say that the program would be suspended.
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2022-03-07T23:52:17Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Sanger police suspend program that tried to stop car burglaries | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/sanger-police-effort-stop-vehicle-burglaries-didnt-go-quite-as-planned/287-df8f9f9f-fa0c-4ee0-8f4d-739c653a216a
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/sanger-police-effort-stop-vehicle-burglaries-didnt-go-quite-as-planned/287-df8f9f9f-fa0c-4ee0-8f4d-739c653a216a
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According to police documents of the incident, "Kyle Vess had a black eye to his right eye, bloody nose, multiple fractures to his face and a swollen right ankle.”
DALLAS — Editor's Note: The video above is from an earlier story in October 2021
A former Dallas paramedic who kicked a homeless man has been cleared of any wrongdoing and will not be charged, according to the Dallas Police Department.
The department concluded a police review of a public integrity investigation with no criminal charges filed against Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedic Brad Cox, who was caught on camera kicking a homeless man in a video from 2019.
Police on Monday did not provide more information about why Cox was cleared.
State records showed Cox had a license to be an emergency medical technician - paramedic (EMT-P). That license was suspended in November 2021. It was unclear if Cox's license would remain suspended or not.
The man Cox was kicking in the video was Kyle Vess. According to police public integrity documents of the incident, "Vess had a black eye to his right eye, bloody nose, multiple fractures to his face and a swollen right ankle.”
The incident was captured by a nearby surveillance camera. Officers used a Taser on Vess and eventually arrested him.
RELATED: State license suspended for Dallas paramedic caught on video kicking homeless man in head
The incident happened in August 2019, when Cox, along with other firefighters, were responding to a grassfire on Lone Star Drive.
Cox said he believed Vess started the fire. His explanation can be heard on the body camera footage from sheriff’s deputies at the scene.
“He was going up the service road and he sat right here in front of the engine somewhere, so I got out to kick it out while it was small before it got big, and that’s when he got up and charged,” Cox said.
RELATED: Dallas paramedic on leave after video shows him kicking homeless man in head
This was not the first time Cox had been accused of disciplinary issues.
In 2016, Cox and another firefighter were investigated for an incident involving another homeless man, Hirschell Fletcher.
Dallas police called paramedics to the scene. An officer could be heard on his dash camera video saying, “you have DFR coming. This guy has a head injury.”
But, according to court documents, when paramedics arrived, they "assumed [Fletcher] was drunk and began harassing and openly laughing at him as Fletcher sat on the sidewalk in pain.”
In the dash camera video obtained by WFAA, they can be heard laughing as Fletcher tries to spell his name in the background. It was used as evidence in the case.
After four years, two investigations and the video going public, Cox was placed on administrative leave in November 2021 while the fire department investigated.
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2022-03-08T16:41:59Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Dallas Paramedic who kicked homeless man will not be charged | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-paramedic-kicked-homeless-man-not-charged-according-to-police-review/287-fea3ca51-84b7-4599-8644-e1ed70589693
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-paramedic-kicked-homeless-man-not-charged-according-to-police-review/287-fea3ca51-84b7-4599-8644-e1ed70589693
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How you can Stand with Ukraine
We’ve invited our colleague here at WFAA, Tina Niewiadomski who was also born and raised in Ukraine, to share her experience, and how we can help.
Come Back Alive: ComeBackAlive.IN.UA
Click here to Help Deliver Vital Medicines
Click here to purchase a T-Shirt where all proceeds will go towards helping War victims & refugees
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2022-03-08T18:13:28Z
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www.wfaa.com
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How you can Stand with Ukraine | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/good-morning-texas/how-you-can-stand-with-ukraine/287-6bcb7ae3-0874-4de7-a97d-8758d08a607e
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/good-morning-texas/how-you-can-stand-with-ukraine/287-6bcb7ae3-0874-4de7-a97d-8758d08a607e
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State health officials reported 1,575 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday -- down from 2,624 new cases reported statewide on Monday.
TEXAS, USA — Collin County health officials said the county currently has 70 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Tuesday. This is the lowest figure in the county since it had 68 hospitalizations back on July 7, 2021.
COVID-19 patients currently make up three percent of Collin County's total hospital bed capacity, according to county data.
Beyond hospitalizations, there were 84 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Collin County on Tuesday, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. There were 38 cases reported on Monday.
Dallas County reports 20 new COVID deaths across Saturday, Sunday and Monday
Dallas County is reporting a three-day total of 616 additional positive cases of COVID-19 across Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with 446 confirmed cases and 170 probable cases.
This three-day report also includes 20 new deaths, upping the total number of Dallas County residents who have lost their lives due to COVID-19 illness to 6,035. All 20 of the new deaths involved people with underlying health conditions.
As of February 26, Dallas County reports that 80 percent of its residents over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine -- including 98 percent of residents 65 and older, 86 percent of residents between 40 and 64 years of age, 77 percent of residents between 25 and 39 years of age, 66 percent of residents between 18 and 24, and 61 percent of residents aged 12 to 17.
Said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins in a press release containing the above figures: "These deaths are now almost exclusively preventable illnesses... people who were vaccinated and boosted are over 99 percent protected from death."
Tarrant County hospitalizations remain below 150 for fourth consecutive day
As with Collin County, data shows that COVID-19 patients currently make up three percent of the total hospital bed capacity in Tarrant County too.
Health officials also announced there were 16 new COVID-19 deaths reported in Tarrant County on Tuesday. The deceased ranged from a Fort Worth man in his 40s to a Bedford man in his 90s.
There were 190 new COVID-19 cases in total reported in the county on Tuesday. There have been 559,524 total cases in Tarrant County since tracking began in March 2020.
Denton County hospitalizations remain below 30 for second straight day
This is now the second consecutive day in which there have been fewer than 30 hospitalizations in the county.
Health officials also announced one new COVID-19 death, which was a Hickory Creek woman in her 70s.
This is the fourth straight day that hospitalizations across the state have remained below 3,000.
The state's current 14-day average is 2,443 new cases per day.
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2022-03-09T00:22:04Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Collin County hospitalizations drop to 70 | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/covid-19-updates-collin-county-hospitalizations-drop-to-lowest-mark-since-july-2021-march-8-2022/287-3e5c96ed-9dcf-4643-8d6b-2045baa20079
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/covid-19-updates-collin-county-hospitalizations-drop-to-lowest-mark-since-july-2021-march-8-2022/287-3e5c96ed-9dcf-4643-8d6b-2045baa20079
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"I am hopeful that because President Biden experienced this with his own son, that he means what he says and he will make it expedited," said Lynn Coffland.
DALLAS — In his State of the Union address, and again Tuesday in Fort Worth, President Joe Biden promised faster help, faster treatment, and more efficient funding for veterans impacted by the burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan that are implicated in the cancer and lung disease diagnoses of thousands of veterans.
Veteran-assistance groups in North Texas, and across the country, are watching to make sure that does indeed happen.
"I definitely applaud the effort," said Cole Lyle, executive director of Mission Roll Call.
The veterans advocacy group offers veterans a "unified voice" in Washington, D.C. in the quest for better health care and veteran suicide prevention.
"But the proof is in the pudding, right," the Marine veteran and Dallas-Fort Worth-area native said. "How the White House and how the VA plans to implement changes that Congress passes is really where it counts. "
"Veterans in the community, community organizations, they need to keep pressure on the VA, local VA officials, and the White House and Congress to make sure that they're taken care of," said Lyle.
The President has said this is personal: believing his son Beau's fatal brain cancer could have been caused by toxins in that same smoke in Iraq.
RELATED: President Biden visits North Texas - here's where and why
It is personal also for Lynn Coffland, whose veteran-assistance group Catch a Lift is working with lung-damaged and cancer-stricken veterans too. She formed the non-profit, helping veterans through weight training and other physical activities, in memory of her brother.
Chris Coffland was an Army corporal killed just two and a half weeks after he arrived in Afghanistan.
"I am hopeful that because President Biden experienced this with his own son, that he means what he says and he will make it expedited," Lynn Coffland said. "And when they say speed up, let's hope it's not bureaucracy speed. They need the help and need the support, now!"
Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32), who joined President Biden at the Fort Worth VA Clinic and Tarrant County Resource Connection on Tuesday, said he is his committed to VA improvements too:
"From establishing the Garland VA Medical Center to having my legislation to expand the Spinal Cord Injury Center at the Dallas VA signed into law by President Biden, I've been working hard to expand access to health care for North Texas veterans. I thank the President for coming to North Texas and will continue working to pass his Unity Agenda to keep our promise to our veterans, expand health care access, lower costs for families and protect our planet."
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2022-03-09T00:22:10Z
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www.wfaa.com
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North Texas veterans groups ready for increase care per Biden | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/veterans-groups-ready-for-president-joe-bidens-promised-va-health-care-improvements/287-2bab0a73-a2c8-42ac-b85c-a475e72c7fa9
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/veterans-groups-ready-for-president-joe-bidens-promised-va-health-care-improvements/287-2bab0a73-a2c8-42ac-b85c-a475e72c7fa9
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Colleyville rabbi who escaped hostage situation is leaving North Texas for new position
Charlie Cytron-Walker, the rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, announced on his Facebook page that he accepted a rabbi position in North Carolina.
COLLEYVILLE, Texas — The Colleyville rabbi who was among four hostages held at his synagogue in January is leaving North Texas for a new position in North Carolina.
Charlie Cytron-Walker, the rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, announced on his Facebook page that he accepted a rabbi position at Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Cytron-Walker will start at the synagogue in North Carolina on July 1. He said his 16 years as rabbi in Colleyville "will always be remembered with love."
"I love the people," Cytron-Walker said of the Colleyville congregation. "I love the community. And I am planning on making the most of the time I have with CBI."
Cytron-Walker was one of four people inside the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on the morning of Jan. 15, when Malik Faisal Akram arrived at the door.
Cytron-Walker let Akram inside, believing he needed help, and made the man a cup of tea.
As the synagogue's virtual ceremony began, Akram pulled out a gun and began to hold Cytron-Walker and three others hostage.
For several hours, the incident played out on the synagogue's Facebook Live stream, as Akram could be heard in the background of the video.
Around 5 p.m. that day, one of the hostages was released, but Cytron-Walker and two others remained inside.
Several hours later, shortly after 9 p.m., Cytron-Walker said Akram appeared to be getting more agitated. Cytron-Walker waited until Akram "wasn't in a good position" and threw a chair toward him, and then he and the other hostages escaped through a side door of the synagogue.
WFAA captured video of their escape. Moments later, Akram could be seen on the footage holding a gun out of the door, and then going back inside.
FBI agents entered the synagogue, and a loud bang could be heard. Agents then fatally shot Akram, who died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office.
In the weeks after the hostage situation, Cytron-Walker explained what happened inside the synagogue, as Akram sought to free a prisoner at a Fort Worth prison and expressed anti-Semitic views.
"That was his singular focus," Cytron-Walker said during a U.S. House committee hearing on security for places of worship. "That Jews control the world. That was reality for him. He believed that 100%, that America would care more about Jews than anybody else."
Cytron-Walker this week did not say why he's leaving Congregation Beth Israel, only that he feels "nothing but affection for CBI and its leadership."
"I’m proud that I will always be their first full time rabbi and I have great optimism about their future!" Cytron-Walker wrote on his Facebook. "And I am also feeling great anticipation and enthusiasm for our move to North Carolina. Temple Emanuel, I can’t wait to see what we can do together!"
‘This is just ugly and simple hate’: Colleyville, Garland residents discover anti-Semitic, racist flyers in neighborhoods
Colleyville hostage taker sought 'machine gun' with 'a lot of bullets,' agent testifies
Rabbi in Colleyville hostage situation pleads for 'sense of security' at Congressional hearing
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2022-03-09T12:29:26Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Colleyville hostage situation: Rabbi leaving for new job | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/colleyville-rabbi-charlie-cytron-walker-congregation-beth-israel-who-escaped-hostage-situation-is-leaving-north-texas-for-new-position/287-aae1feaf-fedb-47c8-8241-07c4b5c61386
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/colleyville-rabbi-charlie-cytron-walker-congregation-beth-israel-who-escaped-hostage-situation-is-leaving-north-texas-for-new-position/287-aae1feaf-fedb-47c8-8241-07c4b5c61386
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Yet, more hiring managers say they are getting 'ghosted'...meaning applicants, employees, even new hires are just not showing up.
While Texas has seen many employers quit their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, there's been a bit of an uptick in hiring of late.
In the last eight months of 2021, Texas employers hired nearly five million people.
Even so, employers also say they have been dealing with many applicants and employees simply not showing up for their interview or their job. A human resources consulting firm called Robert Half looked at the phenomenon of ‘ghosting’ on a national scale.
Dallas employers seeing more 'ghosting'
Locally, the data shows that 46% of Dallas company executives say that compared to two years ago, ghosting is now more common for existing employees, new hires, and applicants so they can simply cut off communication.
So, what is making people ghost employers?
The surveyors say 8% of candidates did it because the prospective employer was having everyone return to the office and that was a deal-breaker. Another 13% no-showed because they said the job "wasn’t what they expected."
Hiring managers take notice of this: 38% said they stood you up because of your poor interview process. But the real tough one for companies: 42% of the ghosters said they cut you off because they got another job offer. Employers have to move fast in this environment to hire and to retain existing employees.
Texas slips to 2nd in job quitting, rises to 1st in hiring
Texas is no longer the "quitting capital" of the country. This will help to illustrate why. We’ve been talking about how, for several months late last year, Texas had more job quitters than any other state in the U.S.
Well, the Lone Star State slipped to second place in the quitting category for the most recent month of available data.
And Texas has taken over first place for the number of new hires. There were 643,000 people hired in Texas just in December. That’s a huge number. So is this: In the last eight months of 2021, Texas employers said ‘you’re hired’ 4,732,000 times. That’s roughly 19,717 getting the ‘welcome aboard’ handshake in Texas every day.
Just showing up for interviews nowadays might set you apart from the competition. Also, be careful when ghosting someone who is hiring.
Sometimes that manager or boss takes it personally, and you never know when you’re going to see them (or someone they’re close to) again in another workplace.
Political analyst calls Texas fundraising numbers 'eye-popping,' warns of possible 'Beto fatigue'
How one platinum coin could end the debt limit crisis right now
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2022-03-09T17:08:20Z
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www.wfaa.com
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In Texas, 643,000 people were hired just in December | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/in-the-last-8-months-2021-texas-employers-said-youre-hired-4732000-times/287-d186ee76-588f-497f-8f02-5c191ec20479
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/in-the-last-8-months-2021-texas-employers-said-youre-hired-4732000-times/287-d186ee76-588f-497f-8f02-5c191ec20479
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There are also currently 14 ICU beds available in the county's hospitals. This is the most there have been open since Aug. 4, 2021.
TEXAS, USA — Denton County Public Health reported there are currently 27 people hospitalized with COVID-19. There were 26 on Tuesday.
This is now the fourth consecutive day in which there have been fewer than 30 hospitalizations in the county.
There are currently 14 ICU beds available in the county's hospitals. This is the most there have been open since Aug. 4, 2021, when there were 15.
There were 155 new COVID-19 cases in total reported in the county on Wednesday. There have been 177,370 total cases in Collin County since tracking began in March 2020.
RELATED: Democrats drop COVID-19 funds, clear way for OK of Ukraine aid
Tarrant County hospitalizations remain below 150 for 5th consecutive day
Tarrant County Public Health reported there are currently 129 people hospitalized with COVID-19. There were 144 hospitalizations the previous day.
This is the fifth straight day hospitalizations have remained below 150.
Health officials also announced there were 15 new COVID-19 deaths reported in Tarrant County on Wednesday. The deceased ranged from a Grand Prairie woman in her 40s to North Richland Hills man in his 90s.
116 new cases in Collin County, state officials say
There were 116 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Collin County on Wednesday, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. There were 84 cases reported on Tuesday.
Collin County health officials also said the county currently has 100 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday.
RELATED: COVID-19 updates: Collin and Tarrant counties say COVID cases account for just three percent of their total hospital bed capacities
This is the fifth straight day that hospitalizations across the state have remained below 3,000.
State health officials reported 2,145 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday. There were 1,575 on Tuesday.
The state's current 14-day average is 2,404 new cases per day. The last time the average was this low was when it was 2,303 from Nov. 18-Dec. 1, 2021.
Texas child care centers reported six new daily cases, including children and employees, in facilities Wednesday, according to statistics from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. This includes five children and one employee.
The addition of these six new daily cases is the lowest number the state has reported since health officials added three new cases on June 22, 2021.
The current 14-day average is 13 new cases a day. The record-high 14-day average happened between Jan. 10-23 when it was 726.
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2022-03-09T23:14:05Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Denton County announces 27 COVID-19 hospitalizations | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/covid-19-updates-denton-county-hospitalizations-remain-below-30-for-4th-straight-day-march-9-2022/287-4ab45023-2f8e-454b-8c4c-fff24d995712
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/covid-19-updates-denton-county-hospitalizations-remain-below-30-for-4th-straight-day-march-9-2022/287-4ab45023-2f8e-454b-8c4c-fff24d995712
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What's really behind record-breaking gas prices?
"This is kind of the first step of a person recognizing themselves that they need help and then getting help," said Dallas Fire Fighters Assoc. president Jim McDade.
DALLAS — The recent suicides of two Dallas firefighters spurred action at Dallas City Hall to award paid mental health leave for firefighters, something only Dallas police officers received before today.
Councilman Adam McGough started the discussion at Wednesday's council meeting by reading a difficult letter from the widow of Dallas firefighter John Kenny Crutcher.
The Dallas Fire-Rescue captain died Nov. 12, 2021, at the age of 45. The letter revealed for the first time publicly that his death was by suicide.
"His passion for the job is why the bad calls took such a toll on him," McGough said, reading the letter that recounted incidents, particularly those that involved badly injured children, which took an emotional toll on the firefighter.
"He needed a day off, or several really," his wife wrote. "Because he cared as much as he did."
"And then, our second firefighter killed himself in December," said Dallas Fire Fighters Association President Jim McDade, who worked with the mayor and city council to get the paid mental health leave approved.
McDade said the city does have an employee assistance program, firefighters can seek help through their chaplain's office, and they do have a peer support team (as does the union) where firefighters can seek help from each other. But Dallas firefighters did not have the opportunity to receive paid mental health leave.
"The problem with the department is a lot of guys are very nervous about going to the department on issues related to behavioral health, because they don't want to get in trouble or be labeled or anything like that," said McDade.
The ordinance passed Wednesday amends city policies to open up paid mental health leave to all city employees, including firefighters.
McDade said firefighters will have the ability to self-report they are experiencing mental health issues, such as PTSD, and will then meet with a mental health professional to approve their paid time off.
"This is kind of the first step of a person recognizing themselves that they need help and then getting help," McDade said. "It might not be the solution, but it is the first step in the equation of getting somebody the help that they need."
Studies show that more firefighters die from suicide each year than in the line of duty.
As of Wednesday, Dallas firefighters can step back, get paid time off and have the opportunity to save themselves too.
2 years later: What's been the impact of COVID-19?
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2022-03-10T00:45:16Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Mental health among Dallas firefighters: Paid leave approved | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/paid-mental-health-leave-approved-for-dallas-firefighters-all-city-employees/287-3fd6fbb2-5d4a-4f4d-99b6-b2bfbbead03d
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/paid-mental-health-leave-approved-for-dallas-firefighters-all-city-employees/287-3fd6fbb2-5d4a-4f4d-99b6-b2bfbbead03d
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The City of Dallas ordered scooter companies to stop operating in September 2020, but they are poised for a comeback — this time with stricter regulations.
A truck was seen hauling Lime rental scooters in Dallas on Sept. 2, a day after city officials decided to end the program.
DALLAS — Concerns over safety and clutter on streets led to the City of Dallas telling scooter companies to cease operations in September 2020.
But a city council committee is in the early stages of considering regulations that would allow scooters to make a return.
“I’m hoping that before the end of the year we have them back on the street, but if not, then at the beginning of the year,” said Councilman Omar Narvaez, chair of the transportation and infrastructure committee.
When scooters were operational in Dallas, videos went viral showing people riding them in precarious places – like on I-35E during rush hour traffic or on sidewalks, which was not allowed, and slamming into doors.
Pedestrians suffered injuries as did hundreds of riders.
Some were even killed.
RELATED: 'His injuries don't tell me he just fell': Family wants answers after rental scooter death
When the City told scooter companies to end operations, the pause was supposed to be temporary.
A year and a half later, a return seems imminent.
Narvaez formed a working group comprised of “regular folks” like residents and business owners from across the city and police officers to study scooters.
RELATED: Scooter commuter: Someone thought crossing 5 lanes of I-35 in downtown Dallas was a good idea
The group identified the major issues that plagued the city when scooters were in use and reviewed best practices other cities have put in place.
The transportation committee is now beginning to consider the group’s recommendations.
limiting the number of vendors serving the city to three,
capping the number of units they can operate,
requiring scooters to be operational in areas where access to public transportation is difficult,
limiting the max speed that scooters can travel,
having set pickup and drop-off locations to prevent scooters from piling up outside businesses,
using geofencing to create virtual boundaries meaning scooters would not be operational in certain places like sidewalks.
“Businesses spent money on big signs to put up in their windows with like big red letters, no scooters on sidewalks. It’s in every bar’s windows and nobody listened to it,” recalled Gnat Marfisi, a Deep Ellum resident and bartender at a bar on Main St.
She said allowing scooters “just doesn’t work,” in her neighborhood.
Narvaez understand why people feel that way.
“What happened last time is that scooter companies did not follow the guidelines and the rules they helped create,” he said. “That gives a lot of pause for people.”
“We just didn’t regulate well enough the first go around.”
RELATED: Scooters get the boot: Dallas ends popular rentals due to 'safety concerns'
Narvaez said he hopes the transportation committee and full city council will approve a new scooter plan.
And he hopes the city can open a request for proposals, or “RFP,” in August.
Eventually, Narvaez wants scooter companies signed to contracts that could include something like a “three strikes and you’re out” process.
“Maybe you start with 500 scooters, but you didn’t follow the rules so maybe your punishment could be fines or a reduction of your fleet,” he said.
Narvaez sees scooters as a critical tool for people who struggle to get to jobs, school, or to DART’s newly drawn bus routes.
Marfisi understands that but just doesn’t like them.
“Look around,” she said. “We’ve got enough wheel clutter around out here.”
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2022-03-10T05:15:12Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Scooters returning to City of Dallas by 2023, city council says | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/scooters-should-be-back-in-dallas-by-2023/287-c0004866-421a-40af-9430-8f6c44bee03b
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/scooters-should-be-back-in-dallas-by-2023/287-c0004866-421a-40af-9430-8f6c44bee03b
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From Dallas' official 2022 St. Patrick's Day Parade to a headlining Dua Lipa gig at the American Airlines Center, these are the top events across DFW this weekend
DALLAS — After COVID forced its cancellation for the last two years, one of the biggest annual events on the Dallas-Fort Worth party calendar is making its comeback this weekend.
And it's not the only big-deal happening worth having on your radar this weekend.
Looking for a good time that will leave your friends green with envy this weekend?
Here's a breakdown of three major events you need to know about that are taking place across North Texas this weekend
2022 Dallas Mavs St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival (Dallas)
It's official: Our beloved St. Patrick's Day parade is back in Dallas this year! It's bigger than ever, too, so grab your most festive outfit, a green beer and a a gaggle of your besties. You're not gonna wanna miss this! Oh, and making this year extra special? Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki -- No. 41 himself! -- will fittingly serve as the 41st annual event's grand marshal this year. The party... er, parade steps off at 9 o'clock Saturday morning at the intersection of Blackwell Street and Greenville Avenue. The after-parade concert featuring Toadies, 40 Acre Mule and Jake Quillin plus DJs, multiple bars and food trucks will cost you $30 to get into, but the parade itself is free to attend.
Saturdays in the Square (Carrollton)
Looking for something a little more low-key? After taking a few months off because of inclement weather, the City of Carrollton is once again hosting its super-cute and family-friendly Saturdays on the Square affairs. This month's free offering centers around a screening of the new Disney favorite "Raya and The Last Dragon" -- a fit for everyone, no matter how old you are! Just don't forget your lawn chairs and blankets. Things start rolling at sunset on Saturday, right in Downtown Carrollton.
Dua Lipa at the America Airlines Center (Dallas)
It's giving early quaratine, 2020 tik-tok realness -- and that's kinda the whole point! International pop sensation Dua Lipa is bringing her "The Future Nostalgia" tour to Dallas this weekend, and she'll be sure rock the AAC with some truly disco-kissed moments. She's even bringing some special guests with her in the form of opening acts Caroline Polacheck and Lolo Zouai. Tickets start at around 70 bucks. The show itself starts at 7:30.
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2022-03-11T01:14:57Z
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www.wfaa.com
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3 things to do in Dallas-Fort Worth on St. Patrick's Day weekend | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/events/three-things-to-do-in-dallas-fort-worth-this-st-patricks-day-weekend-dirk-parade-raya-carrollton-free-dua-lipa-american-airlines-center/287-41c9960a-e0cd-44ec-af0e-f1d282fe9423
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/events/three-things-to-do-in-dallas-fort-worth-this-st-patricks-day-weekend-dirk-parade-raya-carrollton-free-dua-lipa-american-airlines-center/287-41c9960a-e0cd-44ec-af0e-f1d282fe9423
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The crash happened about 10 a.m. and involved four victims, including one fatality and two people who were critically injured, according to MedStar.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Police are investigating a fatal crash near the Chisholm Trail Parkway in southwest Fort Worth on Friday morning.
The crash happened on Overton Ridge Boulevard at Chisholm Trail Parkway, the tollroad that runs from near downtown through southwest Fort Worth.
MedStar spokesman Matt Zavadsky said the crash involved a victim who was ejected and crews were also working to rescue entrapped victims.
Police said there were four vehicles involved in the crash, but more information about what happened was not released.
Several Fort Worth police officers and firefighters responded to the crash. Police said traffic detectives were heading to the scene to investigate the crash.
Wintry weather was a threat in North Texas on Friday, but it was unclear what the road conditions were when the crash happened.
The Chisholm Trail exit to northbound Overton Ridge was expected to be closed for several hours as police investigated.
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2022-03-11T18:28:01Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Fort Worth crash near Chisholm Trail Parkway: 1 dead, 2 critical | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/1-person-killed-2-critically-injured-in-fort-worth-chisholm-trail-parkway-overton-ridge-boulevard-crash-officials-say/287-3aad2a63-6a15-486a-9625-59893b2e3a6e
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/1-person-killed-2-critically-injured-in-fort-worth-chisholm-trail-parkway-overton-ridge-boulevard-crash-officials-say/287-3aad2a63-6a15-486a-9625-59893b2e3a6e
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Cold, wet weather clearing out of North Texas: Here's the weekend forecast
Pixar rarely misses. Neither does Ryan Reynolds. So how do each of these entities' latest family-friendly and stream-ready offerings stack up?
Credit: Pixar/Disney
The latest offering from Pixar, 'Turning Red' tells the story of a young girl going through some changes.
DALLAS — Well, no big studios wanted to go up against "The Batman" at the box office last week. Which totally makes sense.
But, with that big opening now out of the way, two new family-friendly movies are now streaming as this weekend arrives.
Let's take a look at if they're worth your watch.
Teen angst becomes a fur-flying odyssey in "Turning Red," the latest Pixar animated movie released by Disney.
Here, a 13-year-old overachiever named Meilin suddenly wakes up, looks in the mirror and sees that she's transformed into a giant red panda -- a change that makes a zit seem almost bearable!
Problem is, the transformation seems to happen any time her emotions flare. Classmates go from completely shocked at the changes Meilin's enduring to exploiting her as a novelty. (Shades of "Teen Wolf," perhaps?)
So, OK, home come her mom isn't surprised by all these developments? Well, turns out this morphing gene runs in the family, and if Meilin can hold on, an ancient ritual just might drive that panda spirit away from the family line.
One problem: The ritual is set to go down on the same night as a can't-miss boy band concert. Can Miss Perfect lie to her mom? Does she really have to be perfect all the time? Or can she have some space to explore the young woman she might like to be?
"Turning Red" is the brainchild of the Canadian-Chinese writer and director Domee Shi, and it's based on her own experiences growing up in Toronto. The film presents multiple generations of women dealing with some intimate issues, and while the mystical part might lose some younger kids, the film overall deals directly and well with mother-daughter disputes -- not to mention a girl's burden not to disappoint.
As the movie says: "We all have an inner beast." And, sometimes, you just gotta let it out!
(Disney-Pixar. Rated PG. Running Time 1 hr. 40 mins. Streaming on Disney+.)
First, Ryan Reynolds reunites with the director of his hit movie, "Free Guy" to meet up with his younger self in "The Adam Project."
The sci-fi-lite film begins in 2050. Reynolds plays a rogue fighter pilot trying to travel back in time to save the future. He aims for 2018, but winds up in 2022, where he finds his younger self in the form of a wise-cracking kid played by the darling Walker Scobel. (OK, Reynolds is darling, too.) If you like Reynolds' sense of humor, this kid's a carbon copy!
As the movie progresses, older Adam brings his junior sidekick along on his mission to get to 2018 and stop his nemesis, played by Catherine Keener, from setting time travel in motion -- because, y'know, bad things can happen.
Oh yeah, and Reynolds' wife is caught in the time warp, too! She's played well by Zoe Saldana.
If it all seems like "Back to the Future," it kinda is! Plus, there are fights with pseudo-light sabers as a nod to "Star Wars." And, in a reunion of "13 Going on 30" castmates, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner play Adam's parents.
No, "The Adam Project" is not as clever as "Free Guy." It probably belonged in the straight-to-streaming slot it received, even if it wasn't a pandemic move. But the repartee between the older and younger Adams are fun.
Hey, quick wit saves the game any day!
And there are some genuinely touching moments about fathers and sons here, too, especially when Ruffalo is looped in.
(Netflix. Rated PG-13. Running Time 1 hr. 46 mins. Streaming on Netflix.)
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2022-03-11T20:22:26Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Movie reviews: 'Turning Red' and 'The Adam Project' bring the fun | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/movies/movie-reviews-disney-plus-turning-red-and-netflix-the-adam-project-bring-family-viewing-fun/287-45b69154-f59d-4b8f-93a3-be3f96ddb340
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/movies/movie-reviews-disney-plus-turning-red-and-netflix-the-adam-project-bring-family-viewing-fun/287-45b69154-f59d-4b8f-93a3-be3f96ddb340
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Linda Miller, 74, was killed in a crash on westbound Interstate 20, near Hemphill Road, and her husband, 79-year-old Clarence Miller, was critically injured.
FORT WORTH, Texas — The family and friends of a couple involved in a horrific crash on the interstate in Fort Worth have joined police in asking for the public's help.
The Millers were on the road around 8 p.m. Tuesday after attending a funeral viewing to support another grieving family. In a Tweet, Fort Worth police asked for public help locating a reckless driver possibly in a Red Dodge Charger.
The victims attended Greater Friendship Church in Fort Worth, where not just the pastor is looking for justice, but so are family members.
The victim's daughter shared photos that obviously depict a much happier time for their parents who loved being surrounded by children and grandchildren. But now they're family is grieving after a tragic loss.
"My mom was ripped from me," Linnette Rogers said. "She was taken from me."
The grieving daughter fought back tears talking about losing her mother.
Although they spoke on the phone every single day, Linnette knew that Linda was also taking time to be mother to other people, especially people who did not have a mom of their own.
"She's going to be irreplaceable," Linnette Rogers said. "She is an angel. God's an angel not just for me but share my mom with everyone. Mom went to people who have lost their mom. She was a godmother, even to a five-year-old. He loved her so much."
Rogers is now focusing on her dad's recovery to get him back to health.
"He's recovering, trying to recover that he was in serious, critical condition with a lot of broken bones. And so, we're just it's going to be a long road ahead," Rogers said.
Rogers pleaded for anyone to come forward with information about the suspected vehicle.
"Please, please, please," Rogers said, "I beg you if you have any information to come forward because we must get this person off the street."
Although, like in many of their pictures taken during holidays, events, and special occasions, being around family was most important to Rogers' mom.
She made everyone in the family which includes their extended- family called friends feel special. She believed it was important to call around and check on relatives. It was important to her.
So was her job as church secretary where her smile brought smiles to many of her spiritual children, including the pastor himself.
Pastor Parish Lowery lost his birth mother years ago. It's no guess who helped fill that gap. Linda Miller always made everyone feel welcomed at church with her smile.
Lowery often didn't even know why she was smiling but knew it was priceless. Even looking at her smile in photos it had more meaning than most realized.
"This could be her church smile when she's excited about what's going on in her church," Lowery said. "This could be her smile when she's thinking about her lovely family."
"That beautiful smile. She kept that smile everywhere she went," said Linnette Rogers.
Anyone with information about what happened on the interstate moments before the crash can call Fort Worth Police at 817-392-4888.
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2022-03-12T01:32:22Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Family pleading for help after Fort Worth woman killed, husband injured in hit-and-run crash | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/family-pleading-for-help-after-fort-worth-woman-killed-husband-injured-in-hit-and-run-crash/287-48b72163-4d90-4556-963d-160540bbca96
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/family-pleading-for-help-after-fort-worth-woman-killed-husband-injured-in-hit-and-run-crash/287-48b72163-4d90-4556-963d-160540bbca96
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Olena Jacobs has been working non-stop filling orders for Ukrainian products and organizing donations for her home country.
DALLAS — Olena Jacobs moved to the U.S. 12 years ago and recognized immediately a need. She, at first, struggled to get building owners to buy in on her vision for a Ukrainian embroidery shop.
She did the research and went to her home country for inspiration for the store. Years later, she is flourishing in a Dallas strip mall.
"I originally started this business to bring Ukrainian products to the world." said Jacobs.
Jacobs tells WFAA hers is the only purely Ukrainian store in all of Texas and surrounding states. Her Ukie Style Embroidery Art shop has become so much more since the war began.
People have been bringing in donations of emergency medical supplies for the last two weeks.
"It's not just something that is happening on the other side of the world. We are all Ukrainians right now," said Agnes Denvir.
Agnes Denvir, language teacher at St. Rita Catholic School, has been coming to the store often to lend her support for the shop. On Thursday, students at the school made 1,157 yellow and blue ribbons.
The ribbons will be sold at Jacobs' shop and the profits will go to the help on the ground in Ukraine.
"Everything matters. You can't sit by and let things happen," said one shopper moved by what's happening in Ukraine.
Over the last two weeks Jacobs and her staff have processed hundreds of orders for Ukrainian products. The demand is so strong lately she has over 100 back orders.
There are blue and yellow shirts and signs that show support for Ukraine. But there are also Ukrainian products like traditional dresses and tops that have also been in demand.
Non-Ukrainians buying authentically Ukrainian things.
"We have people coming in and getting like 10 shirts," said Jacobs.
When the shops closed in Ukraine and the products stopped arriving, Jacobs started making what she could. She has an embroidery machine in her store to help with the ornate traditional Ukie patterns.
The items she cannot easily make local Ukrainians took from their home shelves to be sold in the store.
"They brought it all to help us raise money," said Jacobs
Jacobs sadly realizes this flurry of activity is amplified by war.
Her shop is filled with volunteers on a daily basis to help organize donations.
Her shop is currently only taking emergency medical supplies and financial donations. The financial donations will go to help pay to transport the boxes of medical supplies.
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2022-03-12T04:49:38Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Ukrainian store in Dallas busy with orders, donations | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/ukrainian-store-ukie-style-dallas-busy-orders-donations/287-450ddf8c-6832-4133-ba4a-eb155230ec58
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/ukrainian-store-ukie-style-dallas-busy-orders-donations/287-450ddf8c-6832-4133-ba4a-eb155230ec58
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Dallas first cleared some cap space by releasing five players to save money, which will allow them to operate when free agency opens.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) shakes hands with wide receiver Michael Gallup (13) before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis )
DALLAS — Even before the NFL’s official new league year, the Dallas Cowboys had a lot on their plate to digest this offseason. Dallas’ initial ideas started to come to light as the team was busy making moves over the weekend. With the hopes of re-signing a plethora of their own free agents, while also navigating the salary cap, the Cowboys started doing some of the heavy lifting.
Dallas first cleared some cap space by releasing five players to save money, which will allow them to operate when free agency opens. The weekend's transactions ended with a highly-anticipated new deal for wide receiver Michael Gallup that calmed the waters after the Cowboys traded away Amari Cooper in a move that will have ramifications in 2022 and beyond.
Late Friday afternoon, the Cowboys let go of a handful of players. Highlighting the group was kicker Greg Zuerlein and tight end Blake Jarwin.
- Released K Greg Zuerlein
- Released WR Robert Foster
- Waived/Injured TE Blake Jarwin
- Waived DB Reggie Robinson
- Waived RB Ito Smith
Zuerlein’s release shouldn’t be a shock. Most Cowboys fans have been calling for the move for some time and the team finally obliged. By ridding themselves of the inconsistent veteran kicker, the Cowboys saved almost $2.5 million in much needed cap space.
Even without the monetary considerations, it was likely time to move on from Zuerlein. The former All Pro kicker had the worst extra point percentage amongst qualifiers in the league last year and missed 12 kicks total. Zuerlein’s issue with making routine kicks contributed to at least two losses and the Cowboys could no longer rely on his leg.
The more unfortunate news came with the release of Jarwin, who underwent hip surgery in February, leaving his football career in doubt. After earning a new contract before the 2020 campaign, and being poised to take over as the No. 1 TE for the Cowboys, Jarwin couldn’t stay
healthy and was passed on the depth chart by Dalton Schultz. When Schultz received the franchise tag earlier in the week, the writing was on the wall for Jarwin
Considered a perennial breakout candidate, Jarwin tore his ACL in the first half of the first game of the 2020 season and played in just eight games last year. For their investment, Dallas got just 12 catches, 108 yards and two touchdowns after Jarwin signed his extension but will now save $3.85 million in cap space.
The most notable among the other players that the Cowboys waived was cornerback Reggie Robinson. As a fourth-round pick in 2020 out of Tulsa, the team moved Robinson to safety in his rookie season before placing him back at CB during the 2021 offseason.
Robinson never made his mark with the Cowboys, playing in just five games as a rookie before landing on the injured reserve list with a season-ending toe injury in training camp last year.
Of course, the biggest moves that the Cowboys made over the weekend involved two players from their 2021 trio of top receivers. On Saturday, Dallas moved on from Amari Cooper by trading him to the Cleveland Browns. The Cowboys followed that up on Sunday by handing four-year veteran Michael Gallup a new five-year, $62.5M deal to keep quarterback Dak Prescott’s favorite deep threat away from free agency.
As the top receiver for the Cowboys since they acquired him from the Las Vegas Raiders for a first-round pick in 2018, Cooper was sent packing with the franchise accepting a fifth and sixth-round pick – and sending a sixth-round pick back to Cleveland - in return for his services.
It wasn’t a surprise to see Cooper traded, as the Cowboys had all but telegraphed the move since the 2021 season ended and time was running out to either trade or release the four-time Pro Bowl performer. Ultimately Dallas decided that it was better to accept the late round picks rather than to give Cooper away by outright cutting him.
The trade provides the Cowboys with a savings of $16 million on the cap and will allow Dallas to maneuver in free agency. Meanwhile, bringing back Gallup is another piece of the puzzle as the Cowboys basically made it a choice between Cooper and Gallup and picked Gallup.
Michael Gallup’s career stats..
• 4 seasons (55 games)
• 193 receptions / 348 targets
• 2,902 receiving yards (52.8 YPG)
• 15 TDs
• 0 fumbles pic.twitter.com/ayECbLLo9P
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) March 14, 2022
Though the 2018 third-rounder had an injury-filled season in 2021, Gallup is nearly two years younger than Cooper and was a 1100-yard receiver for Dallas in 2019. Gallup produced 445 yards on 35 catches with two touchdowns in nine games for the Cowboys before his season ended with an ACL tear in Week 17.
Despite losing Cooper, Gallup’s role should be a familiar one as the second outside target with CeeDee Lamb assuredly ascending up the depth chart to become the team’s top receiving threat after he led the team in catches (79) and yards (1,102) in 2021.
The weekend showed that there are difficult decisions ahead but the Cowboys are not shying away from making their choices as they set their sights on more than just an NFC East title in 2022.
Are you happy with how things are shaking out for the Cowboys thus far in the offseason? Share your thoughts with Ben on Twitter @BenGrimaldi.
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2022-03-14T15:33:11Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Dallas Cowboys: Who's on their roster now after trades, cuts? | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/dallas-cowboys-trades-amari-cooper-out-michael-gallup-in-cowboys-busy-with-weekend-roster-shuffle/287-48ebe1ae-989f-474a-9f44-65bc0f3ad29e
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/dallas-cowboys-trades-amari-cooper-out-michael-gallup-in-cowboys-busy-with-weekend-roster-shuffle/287-48ebe1ae-989f-474a-9f44-65bc0f3ad29e
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As March Madness kicks into gear with nation's top basketball teams, Fort Worth businesses prepare for an economic boost
The City of Fort Worth is hosting first and second round games of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Dickies Arena.
Author: Ariel Plasencia, Scoop Jefferson
FORT WORTH, Texas — The road to the Final Four begins this week -- and it runs right through Cowtown.
The City of Fort Worth is hosting first and second round games of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Thursday and Saturday.
"This is a big deal for the city of Fort Worth," Fort Worth Sports Commission Executive Director Jason Sands said. "And it's really a testament to the vision the city had in building Dickies Arena -- because we wouldn’t be able to host this event and all the other high profile events we’ve had without Dickies Arena."
COVID-19 concerns forced the tournament's cancellation in 2020, only a limited number of fans were allowed to attend games in 2021.
"This is the first year that [the tournament] is back to pre-COVID [and] the full madness of March that is this tournament," Sands said. "So we’re really excited about the teams that we got."
Fans can attend open practice for free on Wednesday at Dickies Arena. (For Wednesday’s full practice schedule, click here.)
Two No. 1 seeds -- Baylor and Kansas -- will play games at Dickies Arena on Thursday.
"We're going to have the national spotlight on us for this event, and [we're] really kind of getting the Fort Worth brand out for people to know that this is a world-class sports destination," Sands said. "It's a great place to host an event. This is a real opportunity for us to showcase what Fort Worth can do."
From March to May, Dickies Arena has a full slate of sporting events on its calendar -- from last week’s AAC basketball championships to the NCAA women’s gymnastics title in April to the PBR world finals in May.
"With each event that we host, we just kind of build that presence for Fort Worth, and we're really getting the word out," Sands said.
The larger Fort Worth community is ready for the attention, too. This is especially true for restaurants like Taco Heads that sit directly across the street from Dickies Arena.
"This is game time," said Taco Heads’ general manager Quintin Kellogg. "Just like they're going to go play [basketball], this is game time for us."
Kellogg said they’re expecting business to increase between 30 to 35 percent over the course of the opening round basketball games being hosted at Dickies Arena, so it’ll be all hands on deck for the taqueria to get hungry fans fed.
"I didn't sleep well last night," Kellogg said. "I was excited. But there's a lot of moving parts when you have such big names like [Baylor, Kansas and North Carolina] -- and those teams travel really well."
Other businesses like Ye Olde Bull & Bush Pub are excited to be part of that cash flow.
"After surviving the pandemic, the basketball crowds will be a big score," said inventory manager Bruce Alford.
"I'm expecting some people during happy hour, and then a majority of the business will be after the games are over," Alford added.
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2022-03-15T02:19:59Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Fort Worth gets set to host March Madness games at Dickies Arena | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/march-madness-top-basketball-teams-fort-worth-businesses-economic-boost/287-cb203877-25f0-4d61-95bc-ac3564574bef
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/march-madness-top-basketball-teams-fort-worth-businesses-economic-boost/287-cb203877-25f0-4d61-95bc-ac3564574bef
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SWAT responded and officers were still working around 6 a.m. to bring an end to the situation.
HURST, Texas — Police were responding to a SWAT situation at a home in Hurst early Tuesday morning.
Officers had responded about 2 a.m. to a report of shots fired in the 600 block of Willow, near West Pipeline Road and Hurstview Drive in Tarrant County.
Officers arrived and contacted a resident on the phone. At that point, police said, more shots were fired from inside the home.
Police did not have any initial reports of injuries. Officials were asking people to avoid the area near the standoff.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for more details.
Man arrested after holding woman against her will, barricading himself in apartment: Police
Man arrested after SWAT situation in Fort Worth
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2022-03-15T11:29:00Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Hurst standoff on Willow Street: SWAT responding to shots fired | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/swat-responding-to-standoff-in-hurst-willow-street-police-report-shots-fire-inside-home/287-912224b4-592e-4139-88e7-90f89d2b5b94
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/swat-responding-to-standoff-in-hurst-willow-street-police-report-shots-fire-inside-home/287-912224b4-592e-4139-88e7-90f89d2b5b94
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The Dallas Cowboys were in danger of losing veteran defensive stalwart DeMarcus Lawrence as a cap casualty until working out a compromise on Monday.
The Dallas Cowboys weren’t silent on the day where the NFL kicked off its self-imposed legal tampering period for free agency. In an offseason where significant work remains, the team has been ready and willing to make tough decisions on some of their most important players.
Over the past week, the Cowboys used the franchise tag on tight end Dalton Schultz, traded wide receiver Amari Cooper, re-signed fellow wideout Michael Gallup to a long-term deal, and cleared salary cap space by restructuring or releasing a handful of players.
Yet one of the most talked about decisions on the Cowboys’ offseason to-do list remained ominously untouched until Monday.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, and his mammoth contract, came into the spring with his status in limbo. While whispers circulated that the Cowboys might release the veteran edge rusher, the franchise pulled a rabbit out of their hat and instead signed Lawrence to a new, cap-friendlier contract.
Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence has agreed to a new three-year deal with $30M fully guaranteed, source said. This is believed to make him the NFL’s first defensive end to have his contract fully guaranteed for seven straight seasons.
The fresh three-year deal keeps Lawrence with the Cowboys and guarantees him more money than he was due to receive on his old deal. In return, Dallas gains valuable cap dollars that can be used to improve the team in free agency or retain their own players.
It’s a win-win deal for the Cowboys and their 2014 second-round pass rusher. The Cowboys will now likely keep Lawrence for the duration of his career and the team doesn’t have to face the ignominy of releasing one of their better defenders.
Instead, Dallas gains space under the cap and Lawrence gets more financial security.
Lawrence, who was set to count $27 million against the cap this season, saw his cap number drop to $14 million in 2022, saving the team a handsome sum as they try to re-sign more of their priority free agents.
RELATED: Dallas Cowboys bring DeMarcus Lawrence back on three-year, fully guaranteed, $30 million deal
With Lawrence now returning, and the Cowboys having some extra coin in their pocket, conventional wisdom says the team will turn their attention to fellow defensive end Randy Gregory and safety Jayron Kearse.
If Dallas wants both of those players back with the team, the extra cap space was likely necessary to get deals done.
Even without Gregory or Kearse, the Cowboys needed to keep Lawrence around. The veteran out of Boise St. heads into his ninth season as one of the best defensive players on the squad and is still one of the best two-way DEs in the league.
There aren’t many pass rushers who can hold up against the run like Lawrence, and the Cowboys struggled to stop the run when he was out of the lineup last season.
RELATED: Did the Cowboys get better? Recapping their wild weekend of trades, cuts and contracts
Lawrence missed 10 games in 2021, but he did have three sacks, five tackles for a loss, and added an interception that he returned for a score. The Dallas defense played some of their best football down the stretch with Lawrence back in the lineup.
The absence was the first time since the 2016 campaign Lawrence missed games, and he’s played through nagging shoulder injuries throughout his career.
It has been three years since Lawrence has put up a double-digit sack season, but if he stays healthy, he can still disrupt the quarterback. If the Cowboys can bring back Gregory or find another pass rusher to pair with Lawrence and last year's rookie sensation Micah Parsons, the two-time Pro Bowl performer could be in line to get back to double figures.
The soon-to-be 30-year-old Lawrence has some good football left in him and he remains a leader in the locker room for the Cowboys’ defense. His return was essential for Dallas to build on their defensive momentum under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and to keep some continuity after a season where the defense made strides.
After the relationship looked doomed, DeMarcus Lawrence and the Cowboys agreed on a deal that likely makes the man they call Tank a Cowboy for life. Now with some wiggle room under the cap, the domino effect from this compromise will be interesting to watch.
Do you think the Cowboys made the right call to keep DeMarcus Lawrence in the mix? Share your thoughts with Ben on Twitter @BenGrimaldi.
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2022-03-15T16:01:30Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Dallas Cowboys aim for continuity with new DeMarcus Lawrence deal | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-cowboys-aim-defensive-continuity-new-deal-for-defensive-end-demarcus-lawrence/287-513cbe26-8f5b-49dd-9b1f-63184d5f005f
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-cowboys-aim-defensive-continuity-new-deal-for-defensive-end-demarcus-lawrence/287-513cbe26-8f5b-49dd-9b1f-63184d5f005f
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'We're very thankful': Fort Worth UFC fighter takes down gunman at sushi restaurant
Kevin Holland and his training partner, Patrick Robinson, were eating dinner at a sushi restaurant in Houston Monday night, when they heard a gunshot.
HOUSTON — In a sport of trash-talkers, mixed-martial arts fighter Kevin Holland managed to earn the nickname "Big Mouth," given to him by UFC president Dana White.
But Holland is proving he can walk the talk, and not just in the octagon.
Holland and his training partner, Patrick Robinson, were eating dinner at a sushi restaurant in Houston on Monday night when they heard a gunshot.
The two fighters, who both train in the Fort Worth's Travis Lutter Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, sprung into action, helping take down and disarm the gunman before anyone was hurt.
Holland reportedly declined to be interviewed after the incident, but Robinson talked to photographers who there early Tuesday morning and explained what happened.
Robinson said he and Holland were eating when "next thing you know, a gunshot just pops off."
"So everything just paused," Robinson said.
He said most of the restaurant took cover under the tables. But when Robinson and Holland saw one person trying to stop the gunman, they ran in to help.
"We got him down, apprehended him," Robinson said. "Got the gun away from him, and the bag that he had."
Robinson and Holland kept the man down until police arrived, and then officers handcuffed the man.
"We fight for a living," Robinson said. "So that's what we do. Just pretty much took it in our own hands and ran over there and grabbed him before he could shoot anybody else or anybody else could get hurt."
Police thanked their quick actions.
"If it wasn't for the quick thinking of the Good Samaritan taking the gun away, who knows what could have happened," HPD Sgt. Ricardo Salas told KHOU. "We're very thankful the citizen helped us out."
Monday night wasn't the first time Holland intervened with a suspect.
According to UFC reporter Ariel Helwani, Holland in October helped chase down and stop someone who was trying to steal a car.
Holland posted about the Monday incident on his Instagram, noting that no one was injured "not even the shooter, just saying."
"I laugh a lot even when things aren't funny," Holland posted. "I smile when I should frown. Super blessed and thankful to see today."
Holland competes in the welterweight division of UFC, the top level of MMA. He's coming off a big win over Alex Oliveira on March 5, when he won by TKO on the main card at UFC 272.
Good Samaritans rescued a man that was thrown from his boat. The unmanned boat then kept going.
Justin the plumber gets big reward after finding $600,000 in Lakewood Church bathroom
Good Samaritan uses Ring camera to alert family, save pets from house fire
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2022-03-15T19:05:45Z
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UFC fighter Kevin Holland takes down gunman at Texas restaurant | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/ufc-fighter-kevin-holland-houston-trains-in-fort-worth-helps-take-down-gunman-texas-restaurant/287-74a08999-2e60-433b-a054-b86d85641409
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Consumers are seeing the highest prices in 40 years. Will things get worse?
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said the suspect Seth Michael Anderson fired approximately 14 shots at an officer before he was eventually taken into custody.
DALLAS — The Dallas Police Department released bodycam and dashcam video Tuesday, showing a tense officer-involved shooting over the weekend.
Police said Anderson is a known felon with a history of evading arrest, and early Saturday morning officers spotted him near the Vina Game Room in North Dallas. Police followed him to an apartment complex on Skillman Street, where the shooting took place.
Body and dash cameras captured the pursuit as police followed Anderson through the parking lot. During the brief pursuit, Anderson hit two cars and injured three offices.
RELATED: 3 Dallas officers injured in string of events that led to shooting between suspect and police, authorities say
Eventually, Anderson drove into a dead end, where shots were fired.
“A short time later, the suspect opened the driver’s side door, pointed a handgun out toward the back of the car and began firing at Officer (Noah) Hemm approximately 14 times,” said Garcia.
Eventually, the police pursued the suspect on foot, tased him and arrested him.
“Three officers were injured during this incident. The suspect and Officer Hem were not injured during the gunfight. A total of 38 cartridges were recovered from the scene,” Garcia said. “Fourteen by the suspect. Twenty-four by our victim officer.”
“We ask our officers to be guardians and they are. But in moments such as this, we need them to be warriors and Officer Hemm was,” Garcia said. “He faced evil, fought back, used great tactics and then after being shot at with an individual trying to kill him, he chases him and ultimately, apprehends the suspect.”
“For anybody who is watching this or whatever, if you can imagine themselves being in that position, being shot at, taking cover, returning fire and then chasing this guy,” Garcia said. “Hemm’s a stud.”
George Aranda is the president of the National Latino Law Enforcement Association.
“You saw the video, several officers could have been killed during the traffic stop,” Aranda said. “That was probably one of the scariest, wildest videos I’ve seen in my 30-year career.”
All three of the injured officers are OK, and the suspect is now in jail. He faces multiple charges, including four counts of aggravated assault on a public servant and evading arrest.
Watch full video of incident below:
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2022-03-15T22:12:03Z
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Shootout between Dallas officer and suspect caught on video | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/bodycam-dashcam-videos-capture-chase-shootout-between-suspect-dallas-police-officer/287-8954a6f1-6848-4ea5-af8b-a4f0dfe1bc62
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Henry Harteveldt, travel industry analyst, recommends travelers book flights sooner than later due to increased cost and reduced flights.
DALLAS — If you plan to fly this spring or summer, you may want to look ahead an book as soon as possible.
According to Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst with Atmosphere Research Group, airlines are making up for past years losses, as well as current inflation. Pricing and number of flights are impacted.
"It is unlikely airfares are going to go down," he said.
A Southwest Airlines spokesperson told WFAA that the company cut around 325 flights per day from April 3 to June 4. This is out of the 2,700 to 3,600 daily flights. Customers have been rebooked. Southwest also confirms flights will be added when there is demand.
American Airlines also reduced its flight schedule.
Harteveldt said, "American may be feeling the effect of the fuel price changes more than Southwest."
American Airlines doesn't hedge fuel, like Southwest. Hedging is essentially pre-paying for a certain amount of fuel at a set cost ahead of time. It can be risky, but with the cost of fuel currently, it can be beneficial.
RELATED: Here's a look at why gas is so expensive right now, and what will likely see a price spike next
Harteveldt said, "There's a bit of a gamble in there for Southwest. This time, it looks like they are winning."
Each airline may cite a different reason for cutting flights, but higher costs, competitive staffing and the pandemic have been nonstop factors impacting the industry as a whole.
"All airlines are being affected by a common set of challenges," said Harteveldt.
Each obstacle is preparing airlines for the next, and Harteveldt believes with every crisis, the industry becomes more resilient.
For those planning air travel this year, he suggests booking it now. He also said to double check the terms of the fare. Most airlines will allow a refund or travel credit if the prices go down, which will protect the customer.
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2022-03-15T23:43:37Z
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American, Southwest airlines cutting flights spring and summer | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/american-and-southwest-airlines-cutting-flights-spring-summer/287-f5ae0906-765f-4499-b693-06e285d90ea9
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The documentary profiles a support group, 30,000-strong, of conservative Christian moms who accept and support their LGBTQ children.
Credit: Mama Bears
DALLAS — In all the glitz and glamour and star sightings this week at SXSW in Austin, there was a film release that could not be more timely. And it's one that filmmaker Daresha Kyi hopes even Governor Greg Abbott might get to see.
"I made this film because I was tired of people who are already marginalized be even more marginalized," Kyi said, of her documentary called 'Mama Bears', which profiles a support group, now more than 30,000 strong, of conservative Christian moms who choose to accept and support their LGBTQ children.
Monday, the group held a rally on the steps of the state capitol in Austin, not only to promote the documentary screenings at SXSW, but also to voice their opposition to the governor's recent order that child protective services investigate gender-affirming care for children as potential child abuse.
"It has been a divine blessing to have this film drop at this particular time," Kyi said. "It has put a spotlight on the film, which is wonderful and horrible at the same time. It's bittersweet."
District Judge Amy Clark Meachum has since ruled that the governor's directive was "beyond the scope of his authority and unconstitutional" and issued a statewide injunction on any such investigations until the case is heard in July.
But at the Monday rally in Austin, Kimberly Shappley, a mom from Pearland, near Houston, who moved to Austin to find a more accepting environment for her child, said friends in the Mama Bears group are already receiving phone calls from state investigators.
RELATED: Dallas mom of transgender girl raising money to move daughter away from Texas to safety
"I made this film for times such as this. I made this film to respond to these kind of attacks," Kyi said, of the governor's initial order. "And because I really, really believe that the Mama Bears movement is changing people's hearts and minds. It's changing the world."
Kyi said the documentary has been received well at SXSW so far. The last screening will be Friday, March 18.
Kyi does hope Gov. Abbott would agree to watch.
"My hope is that they begin to understand the cost, the true cost, of the decisions that they make and the impact of those decisions," Kyi said. "So my hope is that this film helps spread more love and compassion to Governor Abbott and anyone else who watches it."
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2022-03-16T01:13:24Z
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'Mama Bears' documentary released at SXSW in Austin | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/austin-sxsw-mama-bears-documentary-confronts-lgbtq-stereotypes-gov-abbott/287-00542d9f-22cb-4119-9db2-1f10d1aded82
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/austin-sxsw-mama-bears-documentary-confronts-lgbtq-stereotypes-gov-abbott/287-00542d9f-22cb-4119-9db2-1f10d1aded82
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"I think with less masking and more indoor gatherings, we are starting to see that rise in all respiratory illnesses and that includes the flu," said Dr. Sharma.
Credit: Rido - stock.adobe.com
Sick boy with thermometer laying in bed and mother hand taking temperature.
DALLAS — As people in North Texas begin to enjoy warmer temperatures this spring, local pediatricians are sounding the alarm about an out-of-season illness among children. They are seeing more and more cases of Influenza.
Dr. Preeti Sharma treats patients at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. But her role expands even more when it comes to the practice of medicine in North Texas.
"I am an associate professor of pediatrics at UTC Southwestern Medical School," said Dr. Sharma.
She and other physicians pay close attention to health trends throughout the communities they serve. It's part of their job to make sure the public is well informed about health issues, especially those that may involve treatment and prevention. Dr. Sharma is among those watching what's happening to flu cases among young people.
The pandemic period has been anything but typical with social distancing at the forefront. But now, communities are pulling back restrictions and the flu season has not subsided like it usually does.
Doctors at Cook Children's are seeing the same spike in child flu cases. In fact, from March 6 to March 12, lab data shows 242 new flu cases in just six days.
"Generally, it starts with kids may feel tired, they may not be energetic as usual. Most often they will have a fever, some kind of sore throat, and in many cases, it comes on quite suddenly," said Dr. Sharma.
It's not uncommon for children to spread the flu to other children, especially at school during the winter months. So, doctors hope spring break will break the trend.
Dr. Sharma warns the flu is very contagious. She urges parents to seek professional medical advice the moment children start showing signs of the flu, which can lead to other serious illnesses.
Parents are also urged to follow their doctor's advice after receiving a diagnosis of flu.
Dr. Sharma advises parents to keep their children at home if they suspect flu, and to seek medical attention immediately for things like sore throats, fever, and constant coughing.
She also suggests children getting the flu vaccination.
She had a heart attack at 33. This is what she wants you know.
What is 'flurona'? Cases of COVID-19 and flu co-infections being reported as Omicron surges
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2022-03-16T02:50:01Z
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Flu cases rising in DFW: Pediatricians warn parents | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/flu/north-texas-pediatricians-are-seeing-an-uptick-in-flu-cases-dfw/287-8f835126-9776-44ca-8db4-c4a919d46350
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Iconic Lewisville water tower comes down
Demolition of iconic Lewisville water tower underway
Iconic Lewisville 'Fighting Farmer' water tower demolition begins
LEWISVILLE, Texas — A mainstay along Interstate 35E is on its way down.
Crews worked on the demolition of the iconic Lewisville water tower on Wednesday.
Demolition was scheduled to begin on Monday, but high winds delayed the process for two consecutive days. However, crews began demolition of the water tower on Wednesday, and WFAA got chopper video as they began to deconstruct the iconic structure.
Watch WFAA's stream of the crews taking down the tower here:
The iconic water tank has towered over the city at the corner of Interstate 35E and College Street since 1959. It notably pays tribute to the Lewisville High School Fighting Farmers and their two football state championships in 1993 and 1996.
Last week, residents were also allowed to write messages and sign their names with a marker at the base of the tower. And while the tower may be gone after it's demolished, the city said back in July that there were plans for a mural of the Fighting Farmer near I-35E.
Lewisville ISD announces lone finalist for superintendent
Lewisville police officer tracks down stolen wedding rings hours before couple's big day
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2022-03-16T16:56:47Z
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Lewisville water tower demolition: Iconic tower coming down | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/lewisville-water-tower-demolition/287-e771b3bd-2470-4840-9a33-ec52d3cb0965
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How to stay safe from cyber scams
Cyber security is always important, but maybe now more than ever – How to keep your information safe from hackers at home and abroad.
T.J. Hurt, a Cyber Security Specialist at Vista Bank joins Hannah to explain the current state of cyber security, why conflict abroad make cyber attacks more likely, and what you can do.
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2022-03-16T18:51:39Z
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How to stay safe from cyber scams | wfaa.com
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Officials said the newly reported deaths range in age from the infant in Balch Springs to a Dallas man in his 80s, bringing the county’s total to 6,121 deaths.
DALLAS — Dallas County health officials say 18 more residents have died from COVID-19, including an infant boy who had underlying high-risk health conditions.
Officials said the newly reported deaths range in age from the infant in Balch Springs to a Dallas man in his 80s, bringing the county’s total to 6,121 confirmed deaths.
Health officials also reported 459 cases, including 188 probable cases. There have been 462,854 confirmed cases of COVID since tracking began in March 2020.
Wednesday afternoon, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said the public health committee moved the COVID-19 threat level from orange to yellow, bringing some good news to the grim numbers reported.
“Continue to use good judgement, enjoy a happy, healthy spring,” Jenkins said.
Dallas County Health and Human Services has provided more than 500,000 doses of the COVID vaccine, and city leaders continue to urge residents to get vaccinated to fight the spread.
NEW: Dallas County Reports a Total of 459 New Positive 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases and 18 Deaths, Including 188 Probable Cases pic.twitter.com/JCjCskeBtw
Tarrant County announces 13 deaths
Tarrant County Public Health announced 13 more COVID-19 deaths across the county Wednesday, bringing the total to 5,779 confirmed deaths since tracking began in March 2020.
The deaths range from an Arlington man in his 40s to two Colleyville men in their 80s. Health officials said all of the victims had underlying health conditions.
Tarrant County Public Health also announced it would be hosting several pop-up vaccination clinics starting this weekend.
Friday, Mar. 18: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
SE corner of the Plaza (formerly The Bird Café)
The Storehouse of Blessings Community Outreach
Saturday, Mar. 19: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
1634 E. Vickery Blvd.
Hurst Fire Department
Tuesday, Mar. 22: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
2100 Precint Line Rd.
Everman ISD
Thursday, Mar. 24: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
1000 S Race St.
Everman, TX 76140
Vaxmobile – Everman Supermarket
Thursday, Mar. 24: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1829 Everman Pkwy.
Tarrant County Public Health & City of Fort Worth
Friday, Mar. 25: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
6201 Beaty St.
Denton County reports 57 cases
Denton County health officials reported 57 new cases of COVID, of which 31 are active. This increases the countywide total to 177,983 COVID cases since tracking began in March 2020.
DCPH also said Wednesday 2,080 people have recovered.
In the county, 808 people have died from the virus, according to health officials.
Health officials said about 2.8% of its patients in the hospital have COVID.
For more information on COVID in the county, click here.
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2022-03-17T03:28:42Z
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COVID-19 in DFW: threat level, testing and vaccine updates | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/covid-19-updates-dfw-march-16-2022/287-496856b3-c375-40f6-bfcd-2ffbf77968d0
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The awards recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries.
Author: Rob Schneider (Dallas Business Journal)
DALLAS — This story originally appeared in the Dallas Business Journal.
Chef Tiffany Derry and her Roots Southern Table restaurant both made the 2022 James Beard Award finalist lists, announced on Wednesday.
Roots Southern Table, located on 13050 Bee St. in Farmers Branch, took one of the 10 spots in the national finalist list for the Best New Restaurant category.
And the restaurant's chef, Tiffany Derry, took one of the five finalist spots for the Best Chef Texas category.
Winners will be named at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 13 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Last month, nine North Texas restaurants and chefs were named as semifinalists for the James Beard Awards, which is returning this year after taking a COVID-related hiatus in 2020 and 2021.
We profiled Derry and her business partner, Tom Foley, last February. Their business, Irving-based T2D Concepts, is behind chicken brands Roots Chicken Shak — which has two locations in Plano and Austin — and Roots Southern Table, which opened last spring.
At the time they said Roots Southern Table will be different from Roots Chicken Shak in the fact that it’s a full-service, full-menu restaurant that will eventually serve brunch, lunch and dinner.
“It's the idea of inclusivity. And equity is something that really brought Tiffany and I together, from a mission perspective. Our drive is to deliver great food, great service, great conversation and great impact,” Foley said. “The theme that we're driving at, particularly with Roots Southern Table is to say everyone is invited to our table, the idea that it's a place of psychological safety, a place of emotional safety.”
The New York-based James Beard Foundation runs the food industry awards program. The awards recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.
The 2022 James Beard Awards will be the first in two years, after a hiatus. Over the last two years, the awards underwent a full audit of its policies and procedures in order to remove bias, increase transparency and accessibility, and make the program more aligned with the foundation’s mission and values.
Housing inventory in Dallas area sinks from bad to worse, homes getting ‘upwards of 50 offers’
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2022-03-18T00:59:30Z
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Roots Southern Table, Tiffany Derry are James Beard finalists | wfaa.com
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The officers also allege that senior officers have retaliated against them after they made public statements to the Richardson City Council and media outlets.
RICHARDSON, Texas — Editor's note: The video posted above is a WFAA report from 2021.
Two Richardson police officers have sued the city and senior police leadership on allegations that they have been illegally requiring them to follow a ticket quota system.
Officers Kayla Walker and David Conklin were the officers who filed the lawsuit. They also allege that senior officers have retaliated against them after they made public statements to the Richardson City Council and media outlets in 2021, and after they filed criminal reports with outside law enforcement authorities.
The lawsuit claims an outside legal investigation confirmed the illegal activities, but "remarkably claimed the quota policy was not illegal merely because it was part of a broader policy that included components that were not unlawful."
A Dallas District Court judge is being asked to "declare the ticket quota policy in violation Section 772.002 of the Texas Transportation Code that prohibits all formal or informal ticket quotas, order the Richardson Police Department to stop the illegal policy, and compensate the officers for the violations of their First Amendment right to free speech."
Tonight, the findings of an investigation into an alleged ticket quota was presented to the City Council. The investigation will be placed on the RPD Transparent Policing page of the Richardson's Police Department website.
To view the investigation referenced by Chief Little in his statement above, visit the Richardson Police Department Transparent Policing page here.
Richardson ISD parents have mixed feelings on mask policy
Dallas police increasing patrol, urging residents to ‘let cooler heads prevail,’ as road rage continues to increase
'We've written hundreds of tickets': Dallas police cracking down on aggressive drivers in an attempt to prevent road rage
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2022-03-18T21:25:46Z
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Richardson police officers suing city over alleged ticket quota | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/richardson-police-officers-sue-city-ticket-quota-system/287-57863d71-536d-4c62-8478-a0f935e313cc
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The first F1 race at COTA took place in 2012.
AUSTIN, Texas — Good news, F1 fans: Circuit of the Americas (COTA) announced Feb. 18 that Formula 1 will race at the track for five more years.
According to COTA, the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix is the highest-grossing weekend in Austin. The five-year extension will keep F1 at COTA until 2026.
The first F1 race at COTA took place in 2012. Since then, the race has continued to see increased crowds. When the sport returned to the US last year following a break due to the pandemic, the crowds were nearly four times the number seen in 2012.
𝗜𝗧'𝗦 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 🎉
F1 will race at COTA until 2026!@F1 x #USGP pic.twitter.com/9woSbM4Vky
— Circuit of The Americas (@COTA) February 18, 2022
"The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix has become one of the biggest and greatest events in the world. We are extremely proud it has found a home in Texas – at Circuit of The Americas – and are grateful to the millions of fans who visited us over our first decade," said Bobby Epstein, founding partner at COTA.
"Austin is a great city, and the track is a favorite for all the drivers, and we cannot wait to be back in October for more action and entertainment," said Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1.
This year's F1 race will be held at COTA from Oct. 21 through Oct. 23. Tickets for the 2022 Formula 1 Aramco United States Grand Prix on Oct. 21 through Oct. 23, went on sale on Wednesday, March 16 at 10 a.m. CST.
On Wednesday afternoon, COTA said all reserve seating had sold out, with only limited general admission, camping and shared hospitality remaining.
After bus cancellations and complaints about long lines at last year's event, COTA said it will make changes to the 2022 event to improve fan access.
"By reducing on-site parking, lowering race-day attendance capacity, eliminating distant shuttle lots, adding more than 100 buses and obtaining dedicated bus lanes, event access will be greatly improved," COTA said in a release. "Expanded operations from the nearby airport lots, along with a new shuttle system from the Travis County Expo Center and a dedicated bus lane on the recently expanded Elroy Road will reduce shuttle times and traffic."
COTA said it is also working with a new shuttle provider that specializes in major event operations.
The racetrack said its food vendor will be increasing the number of concession transaction points, ensuring more food stands also carry drinks, "correcting a significant 2021 shortcoming." It said more "grab-and-go" options will reduce wait times.
More than a dozen residents displaced after northeast Austin apartment fire
Austin-based Tequila 512 suing Kendall Jenner's 818 Tequila
25 years of Eddie Gossage, and the legacy he leaves behind
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2022-03-19T01:59:27Z
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Formula 1 will race at Circuit of the Americas for 5 more years | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/motor/formula-1-circuit-of-the-americas-austin-5-more-years/269-e780ec76-719f-488b-8202-9e4cadcfdf95
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/motor/formula-1-circuit-of-the-americas-austin-5-more-years/269-e780ec76-719f-488b-8202-9e4cadcfdf95
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This week's show also covered the latest updates on border security, a child abuse investigation at a foster shelter and more.
Inside Texas Politics host Teresa Woodard, filling in for Jason Whitely this week, talked with newsmakers from across Texas about the issues facing transgender children, the state's natural gas industry and building permit problems in Dallas.
Watch the full show below. Here's a recap:
Austin a sanctuary for transgender kids, mayor says
Families of transgender children in Texas are in the middle of a political firestorm. The Governor and Attorney General Ken Paxton ordered agencies to report and investigate parents of transgender kids for potential child abuse if they sought gender-affirming care. A Dallas doctor sued UT Southwestern Medical Center, because the hospital closed its transgender youth clinic, the only one in the southwest. But in Austin, leaders say they want to make transgender kids feel safe, so they declared the city a sanctuary. We spoke to Mayor Steve Adler about making Austin from his office at City Hall.
RELATED: Dallas doctor files petition about hospital's medical care for transgender patients
Market monitor for natural gas?
Texas could be moving towards having more transparency in its natural gas industry. During a Senate "Business and Commerce committee" meeting last week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers showed interest in creating an independent market monitor.
State Sen. Nathan Johnson was part of that group. Johnson is a Democrat whose district stretches across the northern part of Dallas County.
He joined Inside Texas Politics to talk about the committee's meeting and what the future might hold for an independent market monitor in Texas.
Problems with building permits in Dallas
The slow process of getting a building permit in Dallas has developers threatening to take their business to other cities. While it should take one to three days - some builders say it's been taking two to three months, or longer!
And the delay is costing the city millions of dollars. Councilmember Paula Blackmon is leading the city's new efforts to fix the problem. She chairs Mayor Eric Johnson's Working Group on Permitting. Blackmon, who represents Northeast Dallas, joined Inside Texas Politics to talk about the group's progress toward streamlining the permitting process in Dallas.
Statewide headlines
Ross Ramsey, the co-founder and executive editor of the Texas Tribune in Austin, joined host Teresa Woodard to talk about the biggest political headlines in Texas this week:
- The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety says that the Texas Rangers' investigation at The Refuge, a Bastrop shelter for foster kids, has found no evidence of sexual abuse or assault. But he did say that nude photos of young girls were found there. An employee of the Refuge is accused of taking those photos. Details of the accusations came out during a federal court hearing.
The Texas Tribune reported on this story when the accusations came out. This investigation was lightning fast, and a lot of people are wondering how the Rangers can find nude pictures but say there isn't any abuse?
- The Texas National Guard troops stationed on the border say that they're acting as glorified and redundant security for big ranches. Gov. Abbott has shaken up the Texas Military Department this week amid a lot of criticism over what's called "Operation Lone Star." What's going on with border security?
RELATED: National Guard troops were dispatched to famous Texas ranches with private security as part of border mission
Texas Tribune’s Ross Ramsey and Bud Kennedy with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram were joined by Berna Dean Steptoe, WFAA’s political producer, to discuss more political news in Texas.
- Now we know that 23,000 mail-in ballots - that's about 13% - were rejected for lack of ID numbers in the March primary. Is there still a problem to fix or is this how it was supposed to work once Senate Bill 1 became law?
- Texas is threatening companies like Chase and Wells Fargo not to divest from gas and coal, and the state Republican Party is warning Citibank not to help anyone go to another state for an abortion. And in the newspapers, 65 national corporations signed an ad calling for Texas to stop opposing LGBTQ rights. Is Texas still a pro-business state?
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2022-03-19T18:01:53Z
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Inside Texas Politics: Latest updates on Texas political news | wfaa.com
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Texas wildfires: Latest conditions Sunday and aftermath of Eastland Complex fires
DALLAS — Ten people were injured, including one person who was shot in the head, during a shooting outside a party venue in southern Dallas late Saturday, multiple sources confirmed to WFAA.
Police confirmed that multiple people were shot, but officials weren't releasing more information.
Multiple sources told WFAA that eight people were found to be injured at the venue and two others later arrived at a hospital.
The victims' conditions were unknown Sunday morning. No fatalities had been reported, as of 9 a.m. Sunday.
Dallas Fire-Rescue officials confirmed that their crews took people to the hospital in four ambulances, but official victim totals were unknown.
More information was not yet available early Sunday morning.
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2022-03-20T16:21:05Z
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Dallas shooting at venue space on Botham Jean: Multiple victims | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-shooting-space-multiple-people-injured-in-shooting-at-venue-in-southern-dallas-officials/287-012192fa-c641-40ca-91fb-fbf13d8c81c4
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Strong thunderstorms are likely today across all of North Texas. Here's what to expect.
Author: Greg Fields, Mariel Ruiz
Latest updates from the WFAA weather team:
3:50 p.m.: NEW Tornado Warning has been issued for Jack County. This is a CONFIRMED tornado. If you are in this track, seek shelter immediately. This includes Jacksboro.
3:36 p.m.: NEW Tornado Warning for Erath, Palo Pinto, and Parker Counties. If you are in this warning area seek shelter now!
3:15 p.m.: Tornado Watch until 10 p.m. for much of North Texas.
Tornado Watch has been issued for much of North Texas and Central Texas until 10 pm. This means ingredients are in place for thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes. Stay with WFAA for the latest as storms move in.https://t.co/yMvKGjeU0B #wfaaweather pic.twitter.com/GdFhy58G5t
— Mariel Ruiz (@marielruizwx) March 21, 2022
3:10 p.m.: Tornado Warning for Jack, Palo Pinto, Stephens and Young counties until 3:30 pm. A storm capable of producing a tornado located near Possum Kingdom State Park moving NE at 50 mph. Take shelter.
2:20 p.m.: Our first warning of the day: A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Eastland and Stephens Counties. This storm could produce hail up to the size of quarters and 60 MPH winds.
Here's a look at the approximate timeline Monday:
Live DFW Radar
Track the storms as they develop in North Texas:
Storm threat risks
The severe weather threat has been expanded farther north to include the D/FW Metroplex in the Enhanced Risk (level 3). Quarter to golf ball size hail and larger, damaging winds and tornadoes will possible in this area.
A Moderate Risk (level 4 of 5) has been issued to include central and southeast Texas.
Locally heavy rain will be possible in some areas as well. Most of North Texas could see 1.5 inches to 2 inches of rain, with higher amounts to the east and northeast of our area. Areas east of the metroplex have a flood risk.
Here's a look at the Rainfall forecast:
Outside of the thunderstorms, gusty southeast to south winds will continue into the early evening and a Wind Advisory remains in effect for most of North Texas and parts of areas west of Abilene.
The wet weather will stick around through Tuesday, though our severe weather chances will eventually taper off.
Moving forward, we'll warm into a nice stretch of spring weather, with temperatures in the 60s, 70s and eventually 80s by this weekend.
Keep checking back through the day for the latest updates!
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2022-03-21T21:26:49Z
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DFW weather updates: Latest radar, timing, severe storm chances | wfaa.com
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Texas has the nation's highest percentage of uninsured residents.
DALLAS — U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Colin Allred hosted a roundtable in Dallas Monday focusing on expanding Medicaid in the state and allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.
Texas is one of a dozen states in the U.S. that haven’t expanded Medicaid and the state has both the highest count and highest percentage of uninsured residents in the state.
Nearly one in five Texans don’t have insurance.
“This would expand lifesaving coverage to more than 1 million Texans, 1 million Texans, if we would just expand Medicaid here,” Allred said.
The panel included North Texans who shared personal stories like not being able to afford insulin, a common example for wanting to lower prescription drug prices since it cost can often go into the hundreds of dollars.
The roundtable also touched on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health clinic leaders said funds from the American Rescue Plan Act allowed them to expand coverage, but part of the reason the roundtable is timely now is that those funds are going away.
Dallas County Health Director Dr. Phil Huang said that he's worried about how they’ll continue funding vaccinations and testing afterwards. He said Parkland was spending $1.8 million dollars a month to treat uninsured COVID patients.
While there are discussions in Congress to add more COVID funding, disagreements over what the money should be allocated for and how to pay for it have preventing anything concrete from passing.
Expanding Medicaid has been a mostly Democrat-led effort, but former President Donald Trump took action to begin negotiating lower prescription drug costs and campaigned partly on the idea of using what’s referred to as a Most Favored Nation model, connecting medicine costs to the price in other developed countries where they’re cheaper.
Pelosi focused blame on Republicans in Congress and lobbying from pharmaceutical companies that she argued were spending more money on advertising than research.
“This is a mission because this is right on the kitchen table of every table in America,” Pelosi said. “I have seen grown men cry as I’ve gone around the country and listened to people, the priorities of the American people.”
Outside of health care, Allred and Pelosi touched on increased gas prices and the conflict in Ukraine.
Allred called it “misinformation” to say that domestic production is being held back. Pelosi noted there are 6,000 unused drilling permits that have already been issued and said higher prices are due to the Russian invasion.
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2022-03-22T02:38:35Z
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Nancy Pelosi visits Dallas to discuss prescription costs | wfaa.com
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The EF scale or also known as the Enhanced Fujita Scale is used to assign a tornado a "rating" based on estimated wind speeds and related damage.
JACKSBORO, Texas — The tornado that tore through parts of Jacksboro received an EF-3 rating, according to the National Weather Service Office out of Fort Worth. Survey teams have confirmed 10 total tornadoes hit the area -- which may increase as the National Weather Service continues to investigate damage.
In North Texas Monday, several cities suffered heavy damage from an intense line of storms that moved through the area in the early evening hours. Those same storms continued into East Texas, causing damage, power outages and a threat of flash flooding.
The hardest-hit areas impacted by the Jacksboro tornado were near and at Jacksboro High School near the subdivision, according to survey teams from the National Weather Service.
The EF scale or also known as the Enhanced Fujita Scale is used to assign a tornado a "rating" based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. It became operational in 2007.
When tornado-related damage is surveyed, it is compared to a list of damage indicators and degrees of damage which help estimate the range of wind speeds the tornado likely produced. From that, a rating (from EF0 to EF5) is assigned.
The EF Scale was revised from the original Fujita Scale to reflect better examinations of tornado damage surveys so as to align wind speeds more closely with associated storm damage. The new scale has to do with how most structures are designed.
With Monday's tornado in Jacksboro being assigned an EF-3 rating, that means there were estimated to be three-second wind gusts that were between 136-165 mph.
The range of the wind speeds based on the respective EF rating is as followed:
EF0 -- 65-85 mph
EF1 -- 86-110 mph
EF2 -- 111-135 mph
EF5 -- Over 200 mph
Along with the Jacksboro tornado, there were nine other tornadoes the National Weather Service confirmed had formed on Monday.
Just before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, officials confirmed a tornado in Wise County southeast of Decatur received an EF-0 rating, and a tornado in Tarrant County near River Oaks received an EF-1 rating.
About 15 minutes after that, survey teams confirmed a tornado that hit Possum Kingdom Lake in North Texas Monday received an EF-1 rating.
Three tornadoes also hit Montague County on Monday. A tornado with an EF-1 rating touched down southwest of Bowie, another with an EF-1 rating was confirmed east of Bowie and an EF-0 landed five miles east of Nocona.
The National Weather Service confirmed a brief tornado impacted northern parts of Carrollton in northern Dallas County on Monday. Survey teams gave the tornado an EF-0 rating.
At 3:40 p.m. Tuesday, survey teams confirmed an EF1 tornado also hit Cooke County Monday. It started south of Era and went through the west side of Gainesville.
Right before 5 p.m., an EF2 tornado was confirmed to have landed in Grayson County as well.
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2022-03-22T22:47:37Z
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EF3: Jacksboro tornado receives rating from NWS Fort Worth | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/jacksboro-tornado-ef3-rating/287-49bbe140-5fc3-4490-be50-9f50fb927304
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Principal Starla Sanders and Police Chief Scott Haynes describe their experience with the EF3 tornado on Monday.
JACKSBORO, Texas — It only took seconds for an EF3 tornado to tear up the City of Jacksboro in North Texas.
Police Chief Scott Haynes said it was around 90 seconds, and he came out to dark skies. He and the Jacksboro ISD superintendent rushed to Jacksboro Elementary School, knowing many children and faculty were there.
When they arrived, there was debris scattered across the parking lot, parts of the roof and walls were damaged, and several cars were overturned.
“This is going to be bad,” said Chief Haynes.
For him, the fear was pending, not knowing if the students and staff were okay.
There were also many parents who were waiting in their cars to pick up their children. The school staff got them inside to take shelter before the storm quickly blew through.
Chief Haynes estimates 375 to 425 people were hiding in the hallways of Jacksboro Elementary School. When he finally reached the crowd, he felt relief knowing everyone was safe.
“One of the first students that I ran into literally grabbed me by the leg and hugged up on my leg,” he said.
Down the street, Jacksboro High School was also heavily damaged. Principal Starla Sanders hid with three students and seven teachers. She sent everyone else home before the storm, and it was a move that saved lives.
As the tornado struck, a lot was on Sanders’ mind.
“I was kind of at a crossroads. I was at the high school trying to protect my students and my staff that were up there. But then my heart was about a mile down the road with my two boys,” said Sanders.
Her children were part of the group taking shelter at Jacksboro Elementary School.
It was a relief when Sanders received the news that everyone was safe. But after a day of chaos, she drove home and it was severely damaged. Debris was scattered across her yard. The roof above her master bedroom was blown off. She worries her house is not salvageable.
Sanders is grateful that the storm took only what can be replaced, and left unscathed the people in her community.
According the school district, structural engineers were on both the elementary and high school campuses to assess the damage and make sure the building is safe. The goal is to reopen school for learning by Monday. Although both gymnasiums and parts of the school will be unusable, academic classes were not damaged.
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2022-03-23T02:16:31Z
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Jacksboro, Texas tornado: Principal speaks out about damage | wfaa.com
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With the NFL Draft a little over a month away, the offensive line is a position that the Dallas Cowboys could look to strengthen come April.
DALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys need help along their offensive line. After years of being the team’s strength, injuries and departures have weathered the unit until it has become a position that must be addressed by Dallas. Everyone can see it.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. especially sees it and had the Cowboys attending to the interior of their offensive line in his latest mock draft which follows the first wave of free agency. The longtime draft guru placed Tulsa guard-tackle Tyler Smith in the care of Dallas, who will pick No. 24 overall in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL draft.
"The Cowboys will look different in 2022, with Amari Cooper, Randy Gregory, Connor Williams, Cedrick Wilson and La'el Collins among the notable departures," Kiper writes. "That doesn't necessarily mean they'll be worse, but they do have to plug a couple of holes. I'm not sure an edge rusher makes sense if this is the way the board shakes out — could Dallas take a flier on David Ojabo, who tore an Achilles at his pro day last week? — but there are a couple of offensive linemen who could play immediately. And with Tyron Smith and Zack Martin both over 30, the Cowboys should reprioritize the line. Smith could play guard or tackle, and in this scenario he'd slot in to Williams' left guard spot. [Boston College guard] Zion Johnson is the other possibility, and he could even play some center."
Fun fact: if Tulsa G-T Tyler Smith could meet one historical person it would be the Carthaginian general Hannibal.
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) March 22, 2022
The Cowboys have two holes to fill on the offensive line with left guard Connor Williams signing with the Miami Dolphins and with Dallas releasing right tackle La'el Collins, who signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Third-year tackle Terence Steele is expected to take over for Collins, which would leave Smith or another draft pick with the task of replacing Williams at left guard — or at least give fourth-year lineman Connor McGovern a run for his money.
Notable Texas A&M offensive lineman Kenyon Green, who has been linked to Dallas, goes No. 22 overall to the Green Bay Packers in Kiper's mock. The next three picks after Smith include Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson, Boston College center-guard Zion Johnson, and Iowa State running back Breece Hall.
Fun fact: the #Saints are Tulsa G-T Tyler Smith's favorite NFL team.
Dallas has not taken an offensive lineman in the first round since 2014 when they selected Zack Martin with the 16th overall pick, which was the third first-round offensive lineman for the Cowboys in a four-year span from 2011-14.
All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith was the first (2011) and All-Pro center Travis Frederick, who retired after 2019, was the second (2013). The Cowboys may not find another perennial All-Pro at No. 24 overall, but the expectation is set for them to grab a player who can be a substantial brick in the next Great Wall of Dallas.
Do you have a favorite NFL Draft prospect that you are hoping will land with the Cowboys? Share with Mark on Twitter @therealmarklane.
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2022-03-23T16:23:52Z
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Mel Kiper’s NFL mock draft has Dallas Cowboys selecting lineman | wfaa.com
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The Texas Rangers made their biggest post-lockout move when they landed catcher Mitch Garver from the Minnesota Twins to bolster themselves behind the plate.
Through the years, the Texas Rangers have been known for having great catchers. From Jim Sundberg and his six Gold Gloves, to Pudge Rodriguez and his Hall of Fame career, to Mike Napoli and his legendary run in the postseason to become a cult hero in Texas.
In recent seasons, however, the Rangers have been searching to rekindle their identity of being a destination franchise for quality backstops. Despite being two of the better defensive catchers in the league in 2021, the tandem of Jonah Heim and Jose Trevino was unproductive at the plate with a bat in their hands.
Enter Mitch Garver.
New Rangers catcher Mitch Garver (middle, with the bat) just smashed a pull-side home in BP pic.twitter.com/d2edo6plj0
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) March 14, 2022
After filling up on star infielders over the winter before the lockout, the Rangers came out on the other side this March looking to improve behind the plate. On March 12, Texas sent infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa and minor league pitcher Ronny Henriquez to the Minnesota Twins for 31-year-old Garver.
The trade was surprising since it was anticipated that Kiner-Falefa would slide back over to third base after a season at shortstop.
Kiner-Falefa had won a Gold Glove at the hot corner in 2020 and the Rangers were expected to need his services after top prospect Josh Jung was lost for the majority of the season with a shoulder injury in late February.
The Rangers had other plans and Kiner-Falefa was utilized as a trade chip with a catcher as the target for an upgrade.
RELATED: Texas Rangers positional preview: Will Nathaniel Lowe blossom at first base?
Trevino led the way for Texas at catcher in 2021 where he slashed .239/.267/.340 in 302 plate appearances. Heim (.196/.239/.358) nearly matched Trevino with 285 plate appearances as they split duties. Add in 31 PAs from John Hicks and two starts from Yohel Pozo and the Rangers’ catchers had a combined OPS of .620 in 2021, which landed them just ahead of Cleveland for worst in the American League.
Garver, meanwhile, had an OPS of .875 in 243 plate appearances for the Twins in 2021. A ninth-round pick by the Twins in the 2014 draft, the former University of New Mexico standout Garver made his MLB debut for Minnesota in 2017 but his big breakout season came in 2019 when he hit 31 home runs in 93 games and led the American League in WAR by catchers at 3.9.
Mitch Garver is sneakily one of the best hitting catchers in the AL and the Rangers got him for someone who was in no way in their long-term plans. That’s a nice piece of business.
— Mike Piellucci (@mikelikessports) March 12, 2022
Garver was injured and took a step back in the COVID-19 delayed 2020 season when he hit just .167/.247/.264 in 23 games for Minnesota, but he bounced back in 2021 despite injuries again limiting him to just 68 games. And there’s the rub for Garver and why he was available in trade.
When he’s healthy and on the field, Garver has shown to be one of the game’s best hitters for his position. But staying healthy and on the field has been an issue since his debut season.
RELATED: Rangers trade INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa to Twins for catcher Mitch Garver
The Rangers are likely banking on keeping him behind the plate for 90-100 games while utilizing their wealth of backup options to keep him healthy. If they are able to achieve that, their production from catcher should be much improved.
Garver is not considered to be an elite defender but reports from Minnesota suggest that pitchers like throwing to him and he hasn’t been a detriment behind the dish. Meanwhile, Heim and Trevino each earned high marks for handling a pitching staff and for their ability to frame pitches.
Both returning catchers are serviceable and have now experienced the rigors of a full MLB season. Heim likely has a higher upside with the bat which could give him the inside track to the backup job. The Rangers could also elect to keep all three on the roster if they feel like Garver will need more days off to stay healthy and slugging.
The Rangers didn’t have to trade for Mitch Garver. They had a need at third base that Kiner-Falefa could have gamely filled and they had two catchers who could have combined to share a starter’s load. But with an opportunistic trade, Texas now has a chance to turn another position into a plus in 2022.
Who do you think will win the backup catcher job for the Rangers out of spring training? Share your predictions with us on Twitter @BaseballTX.
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2022-03-23T17:54:31Z
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Texas Rangers preview: Mitch Garver heads upgrade at catcher | wfaa.com
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This is the lowest amount of COVID-19 hospitalizations Tarrant County has had since tracking began in April 2020. This is also the fourth consecutive day the record-low mark has been set.
Health officials also announced six new COVID-19 deaths. These ranged in age from a Fort Worth woman in her 60s to an Azle man in his 80s.
Dallas County reports 12 deaths, 421 cases
Dallas County health officials said 12 more residents have died from complications of COVID-19, bringing the countywide total to 6,189 confirmed deaths since tracking began in March 2020.
Wednesday's reported deaths ranged in age from a Dallas woman in her 30s to a Dallas woman in her 80s.
Health officials also announced 421 new positive cases, including 171 probable cases from antigen tests.
However, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins says the numbers reported Wednesday include a backlog of cases.
An accurate measure of cases reported by week is the dashboard of COVID-19 cases listed at http://www.dallascountycovid.org/ -- which currently shows a lower number.
"...We are still catching up with cases from the Omicron wave. The fact that the dashboard is lower is good news, and it shows that the hard work of the people in north Texas is paying off," said Jenkins.
Health officials and Jenkins continue to urge residents to get vaccinated and get a booster in order to fight against the continued spread of COVID.
"At this point, there are 639,833 people in Dallas County who are fully vaccinated, but have not received their booster. In order to continue public health benefits, freedom, and economic vitality that comes with low COVID numbers, it's important for those who have not received a booster to get their booster, and you can find a booster near you for free at Vaccines.gov.," said Jenkins.
There were 70 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Collin County on Wednesday, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. There were 78 cases reported on Tuesday.
Collin County health officials also said the county currently has 67 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday.
Denton County hospitalizations remain below 20 for 11th straight day
Denton County Public Health reported there are currently 16 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county. There were 14 on Tuesday.
This is now the 11th consecutive day in which there have been fewer than 20 hospitalizations in the county.
The 1,379 current mark is the lowest the state's reported hospitalizations have been since there were 1,321 on April 17, 2020.
This is also the third straight day that hospitalizations across the state have remained below 1,500.
This is now the 21st day in a row the state has reported fewer than 100 new cases.
Texas child care centers reported five new daily cases, including children and employees, in facilities Wednesday, according to statistics from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. This includes four children and one employee.
The current 14-day average is three new cases a day. The record-high 14-day average happened between Jan. 10-23 when it was 726.
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2022-03-23T23:59:47Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Tarrant County hospitalizations reach all-time record-low mark | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/covid-19-updates-tarrant-county-hospitalizations-hit-lowest-mark-since-tracking-began-march-23-2022/287-bfc2bd25-1692-4a95-9d38-d2d934e93cf8
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/covid-19-updates-tarrant-county-hospitalizations-hit-lowest-mark-since-tracking-began-march-23-2022/287-bfc2bd25-1692-4a95-9d38-d2d934e93cf8
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Tenant sues Mesquite apartment complex over unfavorable conditions
Rats, roaches and mold: Tenant sues Mesquite apartment complex over unfavorable conditions
Brittany Jones told a judge complaints about heat, air conditioning, leaks, and pest problems at Hillcrest Apartments in Mesquite have gone ignored for years.
MESQUITE, Texas — Tenants at an apartment complex in Mesquite continue to push for repairs and demand action.
Some residents at Hillcrest Apartments claim they’ve been complaining to the City of Mesquite about unfavorable living conditions and code violations.
“There’s roach and rat infestation, mold, asbestos. We are dealing with sewage,” said tenant, Brittany Jones.
Hillcrest Apartments is currently at the center of a lawsuit filed by the City of Mesquite in Dallas County courts.
“We don’t have hot water. We have roaches! Nothing has changed in Hillcrest Apartments,” Jones said, as she pointed to problems inside her unit.
The alleged history of ignored issues prompted Jones to file her own lawsuit against the apartment complex in Mesquite Municipal Court.
Jones represented herself during a repair and remedy hearing on Wednesday, March 23. Jones told the judge she’s been living in her unit four years. She claimed work orders and complaints to management were ignored over time.
“My people no longer own this apartment complex. We don’t control it. We don’t make any repairs. We don’t collect the rent,” said Gerald Greer, attorney for Hillcrest Apartments, LLC., the complex’s former owner.
Greer told the judge his clients sold the apartment complex more than one year ago, and they don’t believe they’re liable.
However, Jones presented evidence to the judge, showing a history of service requests dating back to 2018.
The judge determined the evidence showed Greer’s clients owned and operated the property, at least half the time Jones was a resident. The judge granted Jones a judgement for $5,000. The defendant has 21 days to file an appeal.
Affordable housing advocates, like Rev. Geoffrey Moore of St. Stephen United Methodist Church describe the hearing as a minor victory. He said, however, there is more work to do.
“We have an obligation as a city, as a community, to provide fair, affordable housing choice for everyone.”
A call to the attorney representing the current owner of Hillcrest Apartments has not yet been returned.
Dallas judge again raises the bond for murder suspect, following outrage after lowering it
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2022-03-23T23:59:59Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Lawsuit filed against Hillcrest Apartments in Mesquite, TX | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tenant-sues-mesquite-apartment-complex/287-975a48ed-7e58-4c1f-bf93-fdfe08750a63
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tenant-sues-mesquite-apartment-complex/287-975a48ed-7e58-4c1f-bf93-fdfe08750a63
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Montenegro is on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation into his handling of the March 2021 arrest of former Dallas officer Bryan Riser.
DALLAS — A Dallas homicide detective is under criminal investigation over allegations that he perjured himself and tampered with records during the capital murder investigation against a fellow police officer.
The Dallas Police Department has referred two felony counts of tampering with government records and one felony count of perjury to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office involving Detective Esteban Montenegro.
Montenegro is on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation into his handling of the March 2021 arrest of former Dallas Police Officer Bryan Riser.
WFAA has also confirmed that District Attorney John Creuzot has recused his office, and the Kaufman County District Attorney’s Office has taken over.
Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Wiley told WFAA that her office was appointed as special prosecutors on the case and “recently received the case from Dallas County.”
“We just started reviewing the documents,” Wiley said.
She described the records as “voluminous.”
“There are more documents to be received from Dallas County,” she said. “We will not be making a filing decision until we completely review the Dallas DA’s Office file.”
Messina Madson, an attorney representing Montenegro, said her client has complete faith that the justice system will clear him.
“He was acting in good faith at all times,” she said.
A judge found there was no evidence to hold Riser and ordered his released last April at the conclusion of an extraordinary three-hour hearing, in which Montenegro came under intense questioning from both the defense and prosecution.
During the hearing, Montenegro adamantly argued that he believed there was sufficient probable cause for the arrest. The prosecutor disagreed, saying he did not believe that police had enough probable cause.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia announced Riser’s arrest on March 4, 2021. The chief said investigators developed evidence that the 12-year veteran paid to have two people killed in 2017. He fired Riser a few days later.
RELATED: Chief Garcia says he's disappointed in judge's decision to release former cop on capital murder charges
Arrest warrants for Riser’s arrest show police based much of their case on the word of Emmanuel Kilpatrick, a convicted killer.
Kilpatrick had been in jail for about two years when he came forward in August 2019, claiming that Riser had hired him to kill Lisa Saenz and Albert Douglas.
However, issues with Montenegro’s handling of the case quickly became apparent.
The original warrants, signed by a judge, said a preliminary analysis from the FBI "revealed that the suspect's cellphone placed him in or about the area during the time frame" of both victims' disappearances and subsequent killings.
However, after Riser’s arrest, Montenegro returned to the judge and that information had been taken out because it was not true. Cellphone data did not place Riser’s phone at the time of the killings.
Montenegro testified during the hearing he made a mistake, which he attributed to a “cut and paste error.”
Riser is appealing his termination and continues to maintain his innocence, his attorney Toby Shook said.
Former Dallas officer Bryan Riser released from jail; judge rules no probable cause for capital murder charges
Wife, lawyer say banking records, other evidence key to exonerating Dallas cop charged with murder
Dallas police chief fires officer Bryan Riser, accused in murder investigation
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2022-03-24T03:02:02Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Dallas detective under investigation for Bryan Riser murder case | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-homicide-detective-accused-of-perjury-tampering-with-records-in-murder-investigation-against-a-fellow-officer-bryan-riser/287-d07dab82-5700-4c0d-b47f-eb9611b7130b
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-homicide-detective-accused-of-perjury-tampering-with-records-in-murder-investigation-against-a-fellow-officer-bryan-riser/287-d07dab82-5700-4c0d-b47f-eb9611b7130b
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Michael Hinojosa told parents what happened was “unacceptable." But he also said the issue of disengaged, volatile kids has to be addressed.
DALLAS — Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa had long planned to be on the campus of Woodrow Wilson High School Wednesday night for what he called a community conversation.
He had a highly produced slide presentation ready to go touting Dallas ISD’s growth and gains over the last few years.
The hour-long presentation was scripted to start at 6:30 p.m. with a few minutes of questions afterward.
But someone fired a gun – five to six shots - outside Woodrow during dismissal Tuesday, the latest in a string of concerning incidents parents say they’ve been notified about.
RELATED: Parents concerned after reports of shots fired outside of Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas on Tuesday
So, Hinojosa threw out his original plan and began his community conversation by acknowledging that a gun being fired just outside a school building was “unacceptable.”
“Safety is the most important thing,” he told parents.
“You’ll forgive us if we do something wrong, but you’ll never forgive us if we let something happen to your child. We take this matter very seriously.”
Hinojosa spent 30 minutes taking questions from concerned parents, sometimes asking his top administrators to weigh in with answers.
Dallas ISD Police Chief John Lawton told parents a fight preceded the gunshots Tuesday.
Officers have identified the people involved in the fight, but they have not identified the shooter, Lawton said.
DISD Superintendent Hinojosa had a meeting pre-planned for Woodrow Wilson High, where several gunshots were fired outside during dismissal Tuesday.
Hinojosa telling parents what happened was “unacceptable” & promises increased police presence on & around campus. @wfaa pic.twitter.com/yzKrL41eEz
— Teresa Woodard (@twoodard8) March 23, 2022
Lawton told parents they would immediately see an increased presence of officers in and around campus – particularly between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Parents said they were told of a fight outside in early February, during which someone showed a gun and later that same month guns were found in a vehicle near campus.
“We’re obviously concerned over the pattern the evolving here,” said Randi Thompson, whose daughter is a freshman at Woodrow.
Thompson’s daughter had just gotten in the car with her father Tuesday when they heard the shots.
“He pushed her down in the car and said, ‘Get down,’” Thompson said.
Several parents shared similar stories with Hinojosa.
“It’s in front your school, it is next to the car that my son could have been in a minute later. It’s very upsetting and I don’t think it’s been taken seriously,” said one mom, adding that her son had discovered a shell casing beside his car.
RELATED: Dallas Kimball basketball trainer shot after player's gun goes off on team bus
Hinojosa said school administrators had been aware of “issues bubbling up” outside the school during dismissal.
They had been working with parents on a plan to use PTA funds to hire an off-duty police officer to provide extra patrols, particularly in the public park across the street from the school entrance.
But Hinojosa said Wednesday night Dallas ISD would provide multiple additional officers so the PTA funded patrol would no longer be necessary.
Some parents worried neither the Dallas Police Department nor Dallas ISD Police had taken responsibility for patrolling the park.
But Lawton and Hinojosa said the agencies are sharing information and working together to provide more visibility there.
Hinojosa also suggested changing traffic patterns outside the school to relieve congestion during arrival and dismissal.
Some administrators said “disengaged” students are mostly responsible for the problems Woodrow has experienced.
They pledged to work with campus leaders to suggest flexible school days, like night school, to students with behavior or discipline issues.
Hinojosa said increased security is only a short-term fix.
“We can’t police ourselves out of this mess,” he said. “We have to go and solve the problems underlying. These kids are volatile, they’re proving it, and somehow we’ve got to deal with the core.”
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2022-03-24T03:02:08Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Woodrow Wilson High School shooting: Dallas ISD responds | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-isd-superintendent-police-chief-after-shots-were-fired-outside-woodrow-wilson-high/287-e9563f1f-b45c-481e-9cae-57b330771db6
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-isd-superintendent-police-chief-after-shots-were-fired-outside-woodrow-wilson-high/287-e9563f1f-b45c-481e-9cae-57b330771db6
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Darren Eubank died from COVID-19. He was 29 years old.
Author: Mike Castellucci
DALLAS — If music is medicine, there are healthy doses in Dallas.
Music for what ails you in a dose of vinyl, or some dessert jam down the street.
Some notes even mix with the morning air before shops open in the Bishop Arts District.
It wasn’t always like this.
“They kind of were like pioneers here in Bishop Arts. They started busking down on the corner of 7th and Bishop," said Brecia Eubank.
She remembers a few years back when her husband Darren Eubank helped bring music to the Bishop Arts District streets. As she remembers, she points to her wedding ring.
In fact, Darren performed first on the little stage outside the Laughing Willow shop.
Melody Ginn owns the Laughing Willow. She said her husband built the stage and said that Darren was like a son to them, that he was like family.
This is where Eubank still comes to listen to her husband.
Darren died from COVID-19. He was 29 years old.
Eubank said after Darren passed, the owner of Laughing Willow came and asked what they could do to honor Darren.
For Eubank, sitting on the bench near the stage is one of the only prescriptions for her grief.
“Next thing you know there’s a plaque of his face on the stage. I can come and talk to him, cause I would come watch him play… I can’t watch him play anymore, but I can come and talk to him, which is cool," said Eubank.
When we lose someone, it’s the memories. Like all those Tuesdays, for years, when Darren and Cameron Ray played at the Opening Bell coffee house.
It’s been hard for Ray to lose his best friend.
But Darren left more than memories. He left musical stories of hope, and an entire brand new album of them with fellow musician Chima Ijeh. It’s called "…And it feels like.”
Ray said people have seen a lot of hope in the new record.
“It was hard, losing someone you loved so much”, said Ginn.
For Eubank, it’s the new record, and something else.
“Realistically, the butterfly was just for fun”, she said, as she pointed to the tattoo on her finger next to her wedding ring tattoo.
“I think he visits me in butterflies now, because I notice them everywhere I go when I’m missing him," she continued.
Sometimes, we don’t even realize what feeds us.
It just might be notes falling from a speaker above an empty stage -- on the corner of Bishop and Melba in Dallas Texas.
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2022-03-24T03:02:14Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Bishop Arts district honors Oak Cliff musician Darren Eubank | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/oak-cliff-musician-darren-eubank-honored-in-bishop-arts-district-dallas/287-926277ab-0a5e-45ea-99f9-b655224e182a
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/oak-cliff-musician-darren-eubank-honored-in-bishop-arts-district-dallas/287-926277ab-0a5e-45ea-99f9-b655224e182a
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As auto prices soar across Texas, be sure to check your auto insurance
Reports say the average new vehicle costs $45,717. The average used vehicle costs almost $30,000 ($29,969 ).
DALLAS — Who wants to buy a car right now? This probably wont get any hands up.
What if you have to buy one though, because your car gets obliterated by severe weather (it happens in Texas). Or if your ride is stolen? Or if you total it (that happens a lot in Texas, too)?
And what if you have to come up with the money for a new or used vehicle all on your own because one of those bad things happened to your car and you didn’t have comprehensive or collision coverage?
One out of five drivers only has liability protection. If that's you, there’s a good chance you get nothing if something bad happens to your car. You pay less monthly for just liability protection.
So, back when buying another car wasn’t ridiculously expensive, that may have seemed like a good way to save money.
With car prices so inflated now, you might want to consider full coverage.
Even if you have all that protection though, will your insurer do right by you if you have a total loss?
The Insurance Information Institute says if your insurance company has to pay you for a total loss, they are required to offer you fair market value.
According to III, "A vehicle is legally considered a total loss if the cost of repairs and supplemental claims equal or exceed 75% of the fair market value. If your car is a total loss, and the insurance carrier accepts liability, they are required to pay fair market value for the vehicle. If you are not satisfied with the offer, you may be able to negotiate the final settlement with your insurance adjuster but be prepared to present current market value data for support of your position. You also may want to ask your insurance agent to help you through this process."
You can negotiate that figure, but the III says you have to know your car’s current market value. They recommend several sites like Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, Edmunds and the Consumer Reports Car Value Estimator to help you estimate how much your car is worth.
They also recommend that you call your insurance company and ask them for your current market value just so you have an idea.
The III says the average cost of replacing a vehicle has gone up 12.5% since last year.
Insurance companies have to recoup those costs. And there are predictions that many of us will see our rates increase.
So, while you are contacting your insurer and possibly adjusting your coverage anyway, shop the competition. I recommend doing it every year, but it’s especially important when the costs of buying and insuring are unusually steep.
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2022-03-24T04:33:15Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Used and new vehicle prices in Texas: Check your auto insurance | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/money/business/right-on-the-money/as-auto-prices-soar-across-check-your-auto-insurance/287-db5a20d6-5bd7-45c4-a870-d48c8491a352
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/money/business/right-on-the-money/as-auto-prices-soar-across-check-your-auto-insurance/287-db5a20d6-5bd7-45c4-a870-d48c8491a352
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'It’s hard to be here and knowing your family is there' | Ukraine performers find strength through performances
Anastasiia Blyshchyk of the Ukraine Bingo Troupe said seeing the smiles on the audience gives her energy.
Author: Lourdes Vazquez (WFAA)
FRISCO, Texas — For two hours, people go to Circus Hermanos Vazquez to be entertained. For performers, seeing the smiles and joy of the audience uplifts them too.
Memo Vazquez of Circus Hermanos Vazquez told WFAA that laughter is medicine for the soul.
“When I see people happy, it makes me happy,” said Anastasiia Blyshchyk of the Ukraine Bingo Troupe.
It has been an emotional few weeks for members of the Bingo Troupe. The group of seven arrived just after Russia invaded Ukraine on March 3.
For a few hours, the group welcomes the distraction of bringing happiness to people. The group dances and does acrobats.
“When you go into the ring, you don’t think about what happened,” Blyshchyk said. “You try to make everybody happy here in the circus, you give energy.”
The 20-year-old was in Kyiv when the war began. She recalls when Circus Vazquez contacted her if she would still be able to perform. Blyshchyk did not hesitate and asked for time. The organizers had secured visas for their performers months prior.
Blyshchyk was determined to perform for opening day on March 11. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old and even performed in Ukraine’s circus.
“I got here and everything was good. I give energy to everyone,” Blyshchyk said.
After every performance, her mind goes back to her family at home. Blyshchyk’s father and grandmother live in Kyiv. She calls or texts, and they reassure her they are okay but admit it is a scary situation.
“It’s hard to be here and knowing your family is there,” Blyshchyk told WFAA.
The dancer’s family encourages her from afar.
“They are like I’m happy you are there now because you don’t see what we see,” Blyshchyk said.
The Bingo Troupe encourages people who want to help to donate to the International Charitable Foundation Come Back Alive.
For the next ten months, the performance group will tour with Circus Vazquez around the U.S. They will finish their tour in Frisco on April 8 and continue to Grand Prairie for nine days before heading to Chicago.
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2022-03-24T16:38:07Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Smiles on audiences brings a bit of joy to Bingo Troupe | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/ukraine-performers-get-strength-through-audiences-joy/287-0f8e1edb-c19b-4a98-88c7-c8249c49cbee
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/ukraine-performers-get-strength-through-audiences-joy/287-0f8e1edb-c19b-4a98-88c7-c8249c49cbee
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Father-daughter bond: Diagnosed with rare condition at birth, Lewisville junior golf star takes golf-loving family to Augusta National
Delaney Anderson will compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt Finals at the home of The Masters.
Credit: Anderson Family
RICHARDSON, Texas — Nothing can drive a wedge between Delaney Anderson and her father Garrett.
Like her dad, the 12-year-old girl is golf-obsessed.
"She's now begging me to go practice," noted Garrett Anderson, a high school teacher and basketball coach.
It wasn't always that way for the Lewisville family that moved here nearly a dozen years ago from California.
What started as Garrett playing and Delaney riding along in the golf cart morphed into an unique daddy-daughter bond over a sport they – and Delaney's younger sister Daphne – all share.
"It's very cool I get to bond with my dad and my sister and my whole family through golf," Delaney Anderson said, in between driving range sessions at The Golf Ranch in Richardson, Texas, where Garrett also teaches golf lessons.
While Delaney's mother, Jillian, tags along – or gets a quiet house to herself, Garrett jokes – the girls and Garrett are often at a golf course. Not because they have to but because they want to.
"It's a very rare thing to have, now that she's in middle school," Garrett Anderson admitted. "Most middle schoolers, last thing they want do is be with their dad. I feel like she still likes being around me, and I'm going soak that feeling in as long as I can."
Garrett and Jillian are grateful for the gift of time with Delaney in more ways than one. Delaney was born with a rare tumor in her liver, which was (and is) inoperable due to the surrounding blood vessels.
Fighting through tears, Garrett explained how Delaney spent the first month of her life at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Children's Health, located nearly five hours north of where they lived in Visalia, California.
Due to the location of the mass, Delaney cannot play contact sports because the risk of impact and injury could be severe.
"I can't get hurt," Delaney asserted. "I can't get hurt."
Thankfully, the tumor has not grown and it's beginning to calcify. And her latest checkups show her heart is stronger than it's ever been.
"She even made the comment, 'Is this why God made me good at golf? Is this why he put this in my path? Because I can't do other things?,'" Garrett recalled.
Golf may indeed be her calling.
In October, Delaney won the regional qualifier (girls ages 12-13) of the Drive, Chip and Putt contest at The Alotian Club in Roland, Ark.
The Anderson family is going to Augusta.
A post shared by Garrett Anderson (@gandson222)
On the first weekend of April, Delaney will be one of 80 kids nationwide to compete in the DCP finals -- held annually at Augusta National Golf Club.
"I literally lose sleep," Garrett Anderson joked. "I'll wake up in the middle of the night like, 'Holy cow, I can't believe we're going.'"
And they'll be traveling in style.
Delaney has a fresh new pair of Nike with a custom paint job courtesy of Garrett's friend and art teacher Caleb Jacks.
A post shared by Delaney Anderson (@delaneygolf)
It's an all-expense paid trip to the home of The Masters where Delaney will play on the illustrious, exclusive grounds just a week before golf's biggest weekend of the year.
"I'm really, really excited," Delaney smiled. "It's Augusta!"
This time, Delaney will play golf. And her dad will be along for the ride.
North meets South in inaugural Texas Showdown boys junior golf tournament
World’s top-ranked junior golfer strives for golf greatness
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2022-03-24T16:38:26Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Father-daughter bond: Diagnosed with rare condition at birth, Lewisville junior golf star takes golf-loving family to Augusta National | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/lewisville-junior-golf-star-takes-golf-loving-family-to-augusta-national/287-410885e5-e678-4f36-bd5e-1eb19af14be4
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/lewisville-junior-golf-star-takes-golf-loving-family-to-augusta-national/287-410885e5-e678-4f36-bd5e-1eb19af14be4
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Elevate your brunch with a new spread from Harper's
This segment is sponsored by Harper’s
Harper's will now offer brunch every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. it will feature a variety of unique and diverse dishes like Japanese pancakes, lobster benedict, brioche French toast, steak & eggs or spreads like salmon and bagels and waffles. These pair perfectly with their hand-crafted specialty cocktails or the "Mimosa in Bed”: a personal mimosa bar including your choice of champagne.
For more information, visit harpers-steakhouse.com
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2022-03-24T18:36:34Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Elevate your brunch with a new spread from Harper's | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/good-morning-texas/elevate-your-brunch-with-a-new-spread-from-harpers/287-5f754220-6995-4020-91af-0c74797d7d9c
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/good-morning-texas/elevate-your-brunch-with-a-new-spread-from-harpers/287-5f754220-6995-4020-91af-0c74797d7d9c
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When the dust cleared on the wild winter spending spree, the Texas Rangers had a young superstar shortstop to pin their hopes on with Corey Seager.
DALLAS — Entering the 2021 season, the player who had hit the most home runs at Globe Life Field after the inaugural season of the Texas Rangers’ latest palatial estate was shortstop Corey Seager. That was an improbable factoid considering the fact that Seager was playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
It’s an unusual bit of trivia that could only happen because Major League Baseball decided a predetermined location would be the safest measure for their signature event following the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign and Arlington’s new climate controlled building was selected.
In those 2020 playoffs and Fall Classic, Seager hit seven home runs in 16 games and was named the MVP of both the 2020 NLCS and World Series as the Dodgers and Seager celebrated on the Rangers’ home field.
Corey Seager rakes at Globe Life Field.
He hit 7 homers there in the 2020 postseason ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/RHT1UUrGhj
— MLB Vault (@MLBVault) November 29, 2021
Seager is no longer the park’s home run king but it might not take him long to reclaim the crown as the Rangers signed the 27-year-old superstar shortstop to a 10-year, $325 million deal in a move that astonished baseball observers after Texas finished their season with 102 losses in 2021.
Signing career .297 hitter Seager represents a seismic shift for the Rangers and a culmination after years of searching for a franchise cornerstone to replace Adrian Beltre, who retired after the 2018 season.
In Seager, along with new keystone combination partner Marcus Semien, the Rangers have their first bonafide elite players to help them construct their foundation as they transition from hopeless rebuild to putting the winning pieces in place. And with them, the Rangers have arguably the league’s best middle infield.
Corey Seager Appreciation Tweet:
👏 NL Rookie of the Year (2016)
👏 2× All-Star (2016, 2017)
👏 2× Silver Slugger Award ('16, '17)
👏 NLCS MVP (2020)
👏 World Series MVP (2020)
👏 World Series champion (2020)
Thanks for everything Seags. Good luck in Texas. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/BBlY7GFA0J
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) November 30, 2021
After a year where the Rangers received an OPS of .670 from the shortstop position, Seager brings his career .870 OPS to Arlington and arrives fresh off a season where his .915 OPS ranked second at the position in baseball. The two-time All Star has averaged 3.7 WAR over his six seasons in the league with a high-water mark of 6.9 in 2016.
Of course, even with his Alex Rodriguez-erasing enormous contract and top-tier output, Seager is not without his warts. The rub with Seager has been his ability to stay on the field. The 2016 National League Rookie of the Year has played in 100 or more games in a season in just three of his six full seasons in the majors.
After missing all but 26 games in 2018 after a right UCL strain required Tommy John surgery, Seager missed 65 games with a broken right hand last season. In addition, while he is a steady fielder, he isn’t considered to be a flashy shortstop who will challenge for a Gold Glove award.
Nevertheless, with Seager at shortstop for the next ten seasons, the Rangers have a pillar in which to uphold their new high standards. If all goes well, and Seager is on the field, Texas has a perennial MVP-caliber player at a premium position.
The signing of Seager and Semien put the league on notice with the duo costing Texas an unheard of $500 million. Despite three last place finishes in four seasons, the Rangers made it known that they’re ready to start winning again with Seager as the face of that endeavor.
Do you think the Rangers will be able to avoid the pitfalls of Corey Seager’s large contract? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @BaseballTX.
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2022-03-25T15:57:07Z
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Texas Rangers preview: SS Corey Seager is face of Texas rebuild | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/mlb/rangers/texas-rangers-positional-preview-corey-seager-shortstop/287-b07dcfb4-ac51-4828-a007-506e0631756d
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/mlb/rangers/texas-rangers-positional-preview-corey-seager-shortstop/287-b07dcfb4-ac51-4828-a007-506e0631756d
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There's something else growing alongside the population of Texas, which is now the fastest-growing state in the nation.
FORT WORTH, Texas — There's something else growing alongside the population of Texas, which is now the fastest-growing state in the country.
Some county property tax bills are growing, too, and for some homeowners, it hurts.
"It is part of growing pains," said Chandler Crouch.
Chandler Crouch Realtors is a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in helping people buy and sell homes in North Texas. Like many other realtors, Crouch and his team have been fielding phone calls from homeowners asking what to do.
Even longtime homeowners in newer subdivisions are experiencing the tax bill pain.
The property tax bill calculation can be easy to understand, especially if you are taking steps to counteract some of the added tax responsibilities as a homeowner.
Crouch said, "It's the property value multiplied by the tax rate, minus your exemptions equals your tax bill."
County leaders are hearing from homeowners about the higher tax bills, too, despite no tax rate increase. Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley also described the booming housing market in certain parts of Texas as growing pains, especially in the Metroplex.
Whitley said, "The values of homes are going up tremendously. And it's not anything to do with the tax rate that we've you know, that we passed because we won't shut our budget until September."
Crouch said, "This year, I will probably protest for 25 to 28,000 people."
Way before September, Crouch again plans to help homeowners protest their high property tax bills.
But in the meantime, both Chandler and Judge Whitley say put up a fight now, which includes having your homeowner exemptions in place.
"I would tell them to argue the value to call to and to argue," said Whitley. "Look similar sales around them, look at other things like that and protest those values."
"It's a myth that you can't fight a high property tax bill. Some people are scared that if they do, they will end up on some government naughty taxpayer list or something, and that is just not true," said Crouch.
"The next step is going to the local tax entity meetings. Go to your school board meetings, your city council meetings, the county commissioners court meeting and just urge them to spend less money," Crouch added.
Local Texas leaders say too much power is centered in Austin - and they want control back
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2022-03-26T04:06:18Z
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North Texas residents seeing higher property tax bills | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/north-texas-residents-higher-property-tax-bills/287-366c6f0f-e711-4eb5-a098-a7680c905838
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/north-texas-residents-higher-property-tax-bills/287-366c6f0f-e711-4eb5-a098-a7680c905838
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Deshaun Watson questioned about the Texans, sexual assault allegations during Browns introduction
The Cleveland Browns officially introduced the former Texans player as their new quarterback during a press conference Friday.
Author: Chloe Alexander, Associated Press
CLEVELAND — It was back to business Friday for Deshaun Watson after a Brazoria County grand jury declined to file criminal charges against the quarterback who has been accused of sexual misconduct.
The Cleveland Browns officially introduced the former Texans player as their new quarterback during a press conference and Watson did not hesitate to answer questions the public has been wanting to know.
Why did Watson leave Houston?
Watson didn't go into much detail about his decision to leave the Texans but mentioned, "That we were both going in different directions."
Watson said in order for him to accomplish the things he wanted to do, it was necessary for him to part ways from Houston.
Deshaun Watson on leaving the #Texans pic.twitter.com/gBWChOFEig
Watson's response to the sexual misconduct accusations
Two grand juries in Texas — Harris and Brazoria counties — have declined to indict Watson for criminal charges of sexual misconduct after 22 women have him accused of him assaulting and harassing them during massage sessions.
Watson still faces civil lawsuits.
Lawsuit details: 22 women sue Deshaun Watson; one case dropped
The quarterback maintained his innocence when asked about the situation saying, "I have never assaulted any woman and never disrespected any woman."
Watson then went on to say that he has never done the things people are alleging him of.
Deshaun: "I understand the circumstances (are) very difficult...I have never assaulted any woman and (have) never disrespected any woman."
Watson said it is not his intent to settle the 22 civil lawsuits that have been filed against him. He intends to fight to clear his name.
“I know that there’s going to be a stain that probably is going to stick with me for a while, but all I can do is keep moving forward and to continue to show the person that I am, the true character, the true person, the true human being I am,” the 26-year-old said.
Brown's GM response to trade for Watson
RELATED: Cleveland Browns hold introductory press conference for Deshaun Watson
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2022-03-26T14:44:14Z
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Deshaun Watson introduced as Browns player; maintains innocence | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/locked-on/nfl-podcast/deshaun-watson-browns-quarterback-introduction/285-15aad9a2-9e64-41db-8823-434dce65b662
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/locked-on/nfl-podcast/deshaun-watson-browns-quarterback-introduction/285-15aad9a2-9e64-41db-8823-434dce65b662
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WATCH: Texas Tech steals home in walk-off win over No. 2 Texas
Pandemonium set in at Rip Griffin Park after Red Raiders utility man Kurt Wilson went head first into home plate safely in extra innings.
Credit: Texas Tech men's baseball Twitter (@TTU_Baseball)
Courtesy: Texas Tech men's baseball Twitter (@TTU_Baseball)
LUBBOCK, Texas — The Texas Tech-Texas rivalry has heated up as of late with all the drama surrounding the men's basketball programs, and now, baseball is adding to the fire.
In the bottom of the 10th inning on Friday, tied at 4-4, Red Raiders utility man Kurt Wilson stole home in walk-off fashion to take down the No. 2 Texas Longhorns. Pandemonium set in at Rip Griffin Park after Wilson went head first into home plate safely.
Watch the celebration here:
There weren't any minced words from the Red Raiders, either. Following the win, Texas Tech intentionally celebrated in front of the Longhorns' dugout.
The Longhorns have two more games to get revenge as they close out the three-game series on Saturday and Sunday in Lubbock.
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2022-03-26T18:37:15Z
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VIDEO: Texas Tech steals home in walk-off win over No. 2 Texas | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/college/texas-tech-texas-longhorns-baseball-stole-home-winner/287-4b1ca590-3588-4395-8c39-1f95580ff758
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/college/texas-tech-texas-longhorns-baseball-stole-home-winner/287-4b1ca590-3588-4395-8c39-1f95580ff758
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Just like those old records she often spins, Spinderella is exploring "Side B" of her life while helping a new generation of female DJs discover their own blueprint.
DALLAS — In the late 1980s, DJ Spinderella began creating the blueprint for what it takes to be a successful female DJ.
From Frank Sinatra's 80th birthday bash to the Billboard Music Awards, the former member of the Grammy Award-winning Salt-N-Pepa trio is considered an icon by many in her field.
The female hip-hop group often chose to rap about topics some considered off limits for women.
Their lyrics broke barriers on the music scene -- songs like "Let's Talk About Sex" and "Push It."
Spinderella, herself, was always pushing for something more.
"I think music changed my life. It helped me. It can control your mood. The right music can take you from happy to sad, from sad to happy. It can make you angry... sedate you," Spinderella told WFAA.
Using music as a tool, her new mission now is about legacy -- sharing her story, sharing the mic... and sharing the turntables.
Meet Christy Anderson, also known as DJ Christy Ray.
"When I tell people who my mom is and see their reaction, well why are they freaking out," Anderson said with a laugh. "It really didn't dawn on me until I was a lot older, her influence."
"A sigh of relief happened when she said, 'I want to DJ now.' At first I remember she wasn't sure. She wasn't really into it. As a matter of fact, she was like, 'ehh...'" Spinderella said.
That skepticism didn't last long.
A few years later, Anderson stepped out on faith.
"I told [mom] I wanted to quit my job and make it a kind of thing. I was nervous because I was still living with her at the time and you know money was tight and me leaving my job to start from scratch," Anderson said.
From a rocky start to rocking the stage with her mom, DJ Christy Ray had it figured out.
"I remember tearing up and saying, 'Oh my God, she's beautiful, but she's actually really good. She rocks parties and she's absolutely gorgeous. What more could a mother want?" Spinderella said.
There's overwhelming pride from a mother whose daughter stepped into her shoes, ran full speed and now has a thing or two to share.
"I just have a thing for female DJs. I love them and I look at them all differently. And I look at them like what are they bringing to the table," Spinderella said. "It's whatever that image is. Just carve your niche and stay in your lane, develop it, nurture it."
What a woman. What a career. And what a way to boldly step into what's next.
"The departure of being with a group for that long period of time, that took its toll. But you know some endings are beginnings and that clearly had to happen for me to explore who I am," Spinderella said.
"I've done my part, etched my brand in history, hip-hop history, music history. And I love what I accomplished and now it's my time to enjoy the fruits of my labor," Spinderella said.
And that means sealing her legacy in hip-hop history.
"Well, It's a mother-daughter moment. You know how many people look at that? Not just enjoying the moment, but wow, to see a mother and daughter DJing. You don't see that everyday," Spinderella said.
Spinderella is also working on a memoir, where she'll discuss her life and legacy. It's appropriately titled, "Queen On Deck."
'Dance is my life': Oak Cliff ballet students share excitement over acceptance into world-renowned dance school in NYC
Understanding the assignment: Meet the Dallas rapper behind your favorite TikTok song
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2022-03-28T05:10:06Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Spinderella sealing legacy in hip-hop industry | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/dj-spinderella-sealing-legacy-hip-hop-history/287-62a82956-7a3c-4701-b85d-bd194265a36a
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/dj-spinderella-sealing-legacy-hip-hop-history/287-62a82956-7a3c-4701-b85d-bd194265a36a
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How Taylor Swift Says She and Boyfriend Joe Alwyn Bond Over Sad Songs
Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn had a star-studded date night! The 32-year-old singer and 31-year-old actor attended CAA's pre-Oscars party at San Vicente Bungalows in Hollywood, California, on Friday night.
A source tells ET that the two "came together and stayed close the whole night, but Joe also talked to other people and Taylor caught up with friends."
"They were super cute together and looked very in love. Towards the beginning of the party, they hung out by the bar for a bit and were talking to people and being very friendly," the source says, noting that the couple hung out with Hailey Bieber and Zoë Kravitz. "[They] all stood together talking for around a half hour as a group."
Zoë Kravitz and Hailey Bieber attend the CAA pre-Oscar party at San Vicente Bungalows on March 25, 2022 in West Hollywood, California.
"Taylor also danced with friends including Zoë and looked like she was relaxed and in a great mood," shares the source, adding that Swift also chatted with CAA agents throughout the night about their favorite TV shows.
All in all, the source says Swift knew a lot of people at the event and "was social and in a great mood."
In addition to Swift, Alwyn and their squad, other celebrities to attend the party included Leonardo DiCaprio, Elon Musk, Trevor Noah, Tobey Maguire, Chris Pine and Andrew Garfield.
Chris Pine attends the CAA pre-Oscar party at San Vicente Bungalows on March 25, 2022 in West Hollywood, California.
Swift and Alwyn were first romantically linked in 2016, and have managed to keep their relationship relatively private, rarely making public appearances together.
In February, a source shared with ET how the pair make their relationship work. "They've been enjoying their time as a couple," the source said. "They have spoken about their future together and feel very secure about their relationship."
As for how the power couple manages to balance work and romance, the source noted, "They're supportive of each other's careers and of each other in general. Both of them have been busy with work and they completely understand how to balance hectic schedules and still make time for each other. It's part of why their relationship really works."
Joe Alwyn Makes Rare Comment About His Relationship With Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift 'Can See Herself Marrying' Joe Alwyn, Source Says
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2022-03-28T05:10:54Z
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Inside Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn's Date Night at Pre-Oscars Party | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/inside-taylor-swift-and-joe-alwyns-date-night-at-pre-oscars-party/603-8ab7e938-67fa-41c5-8787-df0587e8d252
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/inside-taylor-swift-and-joe-alwyns-date-night-at-pre-oscars-party/603-8ab7e938-67fa-41c5-8787-df0587e8d252
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Kristen Stewart Sports Shorts at 2022 Oscars (Fashion Cam)
Kristen Stewart is everything royal red carpet looks are made of -- and in shorts no less! The actress was a vision in Chanel as she arrived at the 94 annual Academy Awards on Sunday, with her fiancée, Dylan Meyer.
Stewart, 31, wore a black shorts, a white top, black tuxedo jacket and coordinating shoes. The ever-stylish actress complemented the look with a long necklace.
Meyer was the perfect addition as she dazzled in a dark suit and white shirt, as she posed for photos and held hands with her fiancée.
Stewart is nominated for her first Oscar in the Best Actress in Leading Role category, for her portrayal of Princess Diana in Spencer. The buzzworthy role also landed the Twilight star nominations at the recent Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Critics Choice Awards.
"I am truly astounded and unbelievably moved and touched and just stunned," Stewart told ET earlier this month about her Oscar nomination. "I love this movie."
She added, "I just saw the director of Spencer [Pablo Larraín] for the first time since we found out about the nomination, and just seeing the look on his face, seeing all the work we've put into this just evident in his smile, it made me so happy."
Stewart also shared what the first-time nomination means to her. "I've never even gotten kinda close," Stewart said, with regard to getting an Oscar nomination in the past. "So this experience alone, even without the nomination, would have been really stunning."
Kristen Stewart on the 'Spencer' Scene That Left Her 'Scared S**tless'
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2022-03-28T08:06:26Z
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Kristen Stewart Is Red Carpet Royalty in Chanel Shorts at the Oscars | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/kristen-stewart-is-red-carpet-royalty-in-chanel-shorts-at-the-oscars/603-33968b1f-e257-45f2-a102-244fcf103e1e
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Author: Jackie Willis Samantha Schnurr
When it comes to red carpet style, hosts Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes were leading by example at the 2022 Oscars.
As Hollywood's biggest night began outside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on Sunday, the three women put their most stylish foot forward on the red carpet, each sporting glamorous looks uniquely their own.
Hall opted for a caped nude gown with a corset bodice and sheer chiffon overlay while Schumer donned a navy, plunging scoop-neck gown embellished with a rhinestone bow design by Oscar de la Renta. As for Sykes, the comedian smiled in an elegant custom cream tuxedo by Pamella Roland.
So what do the co-hosts have in store for the long-awaited ceremony? If it's anything like their rehearsals for the show, there won't be any shortage of fun.
"Wanda and Regina are like complete comedy royalty to me. And for the three of us getting together, we’re having an absolute blast," the Life & Beth star previously told ET. "I think people are like, ‘What’s it gonna be like?' And they wanted to do some jokes about us being competitive, and we were just like, ‘No, that’s not the vibe.' We’re really enjoying each other."
Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
This is the first time that multiple women have hosted the Oscars since Ellen Burstyn and Jane Fonda joined Warren Beatty and Richard Pryor to emcee the 1977 ceremony.
According to multiple reports, Hall, Schumer and Sykes will host the ceremony in a three-act format, with each comedian heading up one hour of the three-hour telecast.
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2022-03-28T08:06:57Z
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Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes Step Out in Show-Stopping Style to Host 2022 Oscars | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/regina-hall-amy-schumer-and-wanda-sykes-step-out-in-show-stopping-style-to-host-2022-oscars/603-a5b76228-4f6d-4a0e-bffe-1783d10ab6ca
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Zendaya shined bright like a diamond on Sunday at the 94th annual Academy Awards. The Dune actress had all eyes on her as she arrived in a two-piece ensemble by Valentino Haute Couture. The 25-year-old star rocked a cropped silk shirt and a shimmery silver skirt that extended behind her.
Keeping her glam classic, the Euphoria actress wore her hair out of her face and swept up in a bun. Adding a little more shine to the occasion was a simple silver chain around her neck and Bulgari Serpenti Viper bangles.
The actress is on hand to celebrate Dune, which is up for Best Picture.
Zendaya appeared alone, as boyfriend Tom Holland was not spotted on the carpet with her. However, her Dune leading man, Timothée Chalamet, was on the red carpet in a black tux, complete with no shirt.
Prior to the star-studded evening, Zendaya hit the red carpet during a pre-party on Saturday. The Malcolm & Marie actress was picture perfect in an all-black look as she attended Saint Laurent’s first pre-Oscar soiree.
Zendaya is no stranger to head-turning fashion on the Oscars carpet. In 2021, the actress stunned in a custom yellow dress by Valentino with Jimmy Choo heels and Bulgari diamonds.
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2022-03-28T08:07:46Z
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Zendaya Is Glitz and Glamour as She Makes Surprise Oscars Arrival | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/zendaya-is-glitz-and-glamour-as-she-makes-surprise-oscars-arrival/603-98f05dab-03a0-447c-911f-0a2af8188cba
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/zendaya-is-glitz-and-glamour-as-she-makes-surprise-oscars-arrival/603-98f05dab-03a0-447c-911f-0a2af8188cba
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Dr. Rob Fuller, a Texas Oncology surgical specialist, said screenings are encouraged every year starting at age 45.
Health experts are advocating that Austinites not ignore the symptoms or their annual screenings.
Dr. Rob Fuller, a Texas Oncology surgical specialist, said screenings are encouraged every year starting at age 45. Fuller said the word "cancer" is scary, but what's worse is advanced cancer.
"Colon cancer is something preventable. There's some risk factors to it, but a lot of it's just, just improved screening," Fuller said.
The goal, according to Fuller, is to get people screened before they have symptoms. But there are some things to look out for.
"A change in how you go to the bathroom, not feeling like you're really emptying your colon like you used to blood in the stool. You know, maybe signs of anemia, which is weakness, fatigue, you know, blood in the stool. Anything that obviously is a change is something to investigate," Fuller said.
Emily Robinson is a cancer survivor. She started experiencing symptoms in 2013, underwent multiple trips to several different doctors and had a colonoscopy. She was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer. Following her diagnosis and treatment plan, she is cancer-free and is now an advocate encouraging everyone to get their screenings done.
"It's a killer because people don't know that they have it until it's too late. And so, that's why – and I again sound cliché – but that's why screening is so important. That's why getting a colonoscopy is so important because you can take care of it," Robinson said.
Prevention plays a big role in survival. Robinson recommends getting ahead of illness because it could save your life.
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2022-03-28T13:07:03Z
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Screenings during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/health-experts-encourage-screenings-colorectal-cancer-awareness-month/269-dc73ff77-a934-40bd-923f-c015fbd1f796
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/health-experts-encourage-screenings-colorectal-cancer-awareness-month/269-dc73ff77-a934-40bd-923f-c015fbd1f796
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Police say the shooting scene is still active as they look for anyone involved.
EVERMAN, Texas — Two Everman ISD schools were placed on lockdown Monday afternoon due to a shooting at a nearby Dollar General, the school district said.
The district said the incident put Everman High School and Everman Academy High School on lockdown and that there would be a controlled release of students.
Both schools are within a mile of the Dollar General.
pic.twitter.com/wKfAI45rqN
— Everman ISD (@EvermanISD) March 28, 2022
Police in Everman say the shooting happened in the store parking lot in the 1900 block of Everman Parkway.
According to police, the scene is still "very active" as they look for anyone involved in the incident. Further details were not immediately released.
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2022-03-28T21:13:30Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Everman ISD schools on lockdown due to nearby shooting | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/shooting-dollar-general-two-everman-schools-lockdown/287-864ad91f-3391-40a5-a831-2ba821147179
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/shooting-dollar-general-two-everman-schools-lockdown/287-864ad91f-3391-40a5-a831-2ba821147179
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“There is so much volatility in the crude oil market,” said Daniel Armbruster of AAA Texas.
DALLAS — It’s the one thing we all keep talking about: Have you seen the gas prices?
If you didn’t notice, the gas prices came down slightly from a week ago.
But don’t expect it to last too long.
Gas prices remain sky high across the country.
"What’s happening in Ukraine, it’s having an upward effect,” said Daniel Armbruster, a spokesperson for AAA Texas.
From the war in Ukraine, to the impact on oil prices from a new lockdown in Shanghai on Monday.
Anyone else see gas prices go down today?
It has to do with the war in #Ukraine , to Shanghai’s COVID-19 lockdown. It’s the biggest lockdown in 2 years.
Our report at 6p @wfaa pic.twitter.com/39YZwnWuXx
“China consumes a lot of crude oil. There are concerns because of COVID 19 lock downs in Shanghai, there could be demand, falling demand, globally,” said Armbruster.
Experts are monitoring trends at the pump daily. The markets are sensitive to the shifts in energy demands in China because they’re the largest oil importers in the world.
“There is so much volatility in the crude oil market,” said Armbruster.
According to AAA, a regular gallon of gas on Monday is $3.87 in Texas. That’s down from nearly $4 a couple of weeks ago.
But still, a dollar more than what we were paying this time last year. The price of diesel is a whopping $4.87 a gallon.
“When diesel prices go up like that, we tend to see the price of goods, food, go up as well,” said Armbruster.
And, the summer blend gas isn’t going to help.
I got these numbers from @AAATexas.
A year ago, gas prices were at $2.61 a gallon!
Come May 1st, gas prices will go ⬆️. We’re making the switch to summer blend gas. 💲💲@wfaa pic.twitter.com/aYM7vHRoKz
“The switch to summer blend gasoline legally has to take place by May 1st,” said Armbruster.
Experts believe we could see prices from close to a year ago in a few months.
Experts say, once summer vacation is over, we might just see prices go back to normal.
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2022-03-29T00:48:03Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Gas prices dip after new lockdown in China | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/nation-world/gas-prices-dipped-new-lockdown-in-china/287-822804b4-8628-4833-9cac-02ca245d7bb0
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/nation-world/gas-prices-dipped-new-lockdown-in-china/287-822804b4-8628-4833-9cac-02ca245d7bb0
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Police believe people in two different cars were shooting at each other. One of those bullets struck a 32-year-old man.
FORT WORTH, Texas — People who work, shop and live in an area of Meadowbrook Drive near East Loop 820 are really concerned about gunfire that erupted in broad daylight.
After 44 years of living on Meadowbrook, homeowner Terry Wolfgang has seen it all.
Wolfgang said, "Around here, we hear gunshots every once in a while at night. But this is unusual In the daytime."
The unusual daytime gunfire got recorded by Wolfgang's security camera. They knew right away it was multiple rounds fired, too.
Fort Worth police believe the gunfire came from two cars with people shooting at each other. Witnesses nearby took cover, including a 32-year-old man who had just left his dental appointment.
But police told Wolfgang the innocent bystander couldn't get out of the line of fire in time.
"I was told that one person was hit in the chest but the police told me that they were able to talk to him and he seemed fine, except for the obvious bleeding, and the dentist office, I think, helped administer first aid," said Wolfgang.
Wolfgang said that same gunfire put his entire family at risk.
"It could come through my window," said Terry Wolfgang. "There must have been at least ten shots, maybe 15."
One of the Fort Worth police officers who responded to the scene on Meadowbrook Drive kept an eye on shell casings in the street until an evidence tech arrived to collect them.
The lead detective in the case canvassed the area, checking businesses and homeowners whose security cameras recorded the shooting.
Anyone with information on the case can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 817-469-8477. All calls to the tip line are 100% confidential.
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2022-03-29T04:08:02Z
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Fort Worth shooting: Innocent bystander shot on Meadowbrook Drive | wfaa.com
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Sundance Square officials announce inaugural 'Fort Worth Art Fair'
The public is welcomed to come and enjoy the North Texas culture through art, music and food. General admission to the festival is free.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Editor's note: The video published above is a WFAA report on the state of Sundance Square's central plaza.
Sundance Square officials announced Thursday its inaugural "Fort Worth Art Fair" (FWAF), an event committed to spotlighting local artists and musicians.
The four-day event – scheduled from April 7 to April 10 – 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.
“Sundance Square is the heart of Fort Worth – a place where all are welcome. The plaza was built to showcase all things local and worthy of nationwide acclaim. Fort Worth is a supportive community for local artists, and a destination for art collectors,” said Sasha Bass, CEO of Sundance Square Management. “Supporting local art and music brings vitality to every community. It is integral that we support local and regional talent. Sundance Square is very proud to host an event in their honor.”
The announcement of the art and music festival comes one day after WFAA reported on the recent departures of Sundance Square businesses due to lack of business, including staple restaurant Reata. Since the start of 2020, at least 25 tenants have left Sundance Square, WFAA reported.
Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, a distinguished professor of urban planning at UCLA, told WFAA she believes Sundance’s struggles could impact all of downtown Fort Worth. She also said she thinks large weekly concerts and restaurant open houses could provide a much-needed spark that Sundance Square is currently lacking. To check out WFAA's report on the state of Sundance Square, click here.
Participating art galleries at the Fort Worth Art Fair will include Artspace111 & Love Texas Art, Art Tooth, Bale Creek Allen Gallery, Daisha Board Gallery, Dang Good Candy, Flatbed Press, and Pencil on Paper Gallery.
Here is a breakdown of all the musical performances:
Ginny Mac, Steve Story, Kristyn Harris, Kelly Willis, Calder Allen, and headliner Clint Black on Thursday, April 7
Robin Hackett, Dustin Welch, Jonathan Tyler, Jordan Whitmore, Bill Carter, Abraham Alexander, and headliner Ledisi on Friday, April 8
Gregory Newman Jazz Group, Tatiana LadyMay Mayfield, John Doe Trio, Noel Iverson Orchestra, Bukka Allen, and headlining act Catherine Russell & Steve Miller (with Shelly Berg, Dean Parks, Nathan East, and Gregg Field) on Saturday, April 9
Kirill Raskolenko and Alex Hand, Squeezebox Bandits, Tony Palos Trio, UNT Latin Jazz Lab Band, Rosie Flores and the Talismen, Brasuka, and Laura Latin with DanceMaker’s studio guest dancers on Sunday, April 10
Fort Worth Art Fair passes can be purchased online or at fortworthartfair.com. Additional details and a full performance schedule can be found here.
North Texas makes its pitch to FIFA officials to be 2026 World Cup host location
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2022-03-31T21:35:46Z
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Fort Worth Art Fair announced at Sundance Square | wfaa.com
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From WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium to Girl in Red at the House of Blues, these are the top events happening across Dallas-Fort Worth this weekend.
DALLAS — The weekend is finally here!
Whether you're looking for food, live music or an excuse to cut loose with your besties, there's an event happening in North Texas this weekend that you're sure to enjoy.
Let's get into the best of the best.
Eric Church: The Gather Again Tour at Dickies Arena (Fort Worth)
Good thing we're not San Antonio! (We'll get to that in a second.) Get ready to put a drink in your hand, because Eric Church is bringing the "Gather Again" tour to Fort Worth. He's playing at Dickies Arena on Friday night. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show cranks up at 8. Tickets start at $39. Now back to the San Antonio of it all: Church was set to play at the AT&T Center there Saturday night, but decided to cancel so he could catch the UNC-Duke matchup instead. Yikes! As you can imagine, fans are not happy.
Girl in Red at the House of Blues (Dallas)
Girl in Red is bringing all the summer 2020 nostalgia to Dallas! The Norwegian indie pop singer-songwriter will be rocking the stage at the House of Blues Saturday night. And, even though the show's happening in April, don't worry: You can totally fall in love like it's October. Or maybe you'll find your midnight love! Either way, we're rooting for you. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the show kicks off at 8!
Whitney Cummings: Touch Me Tour (Dallas)
Together Pangea (Dallas)
Jurassic Quest (Fort Worth)
18th Annual Dance (Plano)
Crayola-OceanX Adventure (Plano)
Kids Movie Saturdays (The Colony)
Rodeo Parade (Mesquite)
Mesquite Symphony Orchestra Presents: Transitions (Mesquite)
Monster Truckz Mayhem (McKinney)
Moral Courage Car Show (McKinney)
Deep Ellum Arts Festival in Deep Ellum (Dallas)
The Deep Ellum Arts Festival is back! With art, music and food, it's got everything that truly makes this neighborhood rock. You and yours can experience more than 200 artists, hundreds of live musicians and tons of delicious cuisine all out in the streets of this historic Dallas neighborhood! The event runs for three days, and admission is totally free. Check it out Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
WrestleMania 38 at AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
OK, so maybe Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson isn't scheduled to appear and give us front row seats to a Rock Bottom at this year's festivities, but WrestleMania 38 is taking over AT&T Stadium in Arlington this weekend and bringing tons of big-name superstars along for the ride! It's happening Saturday and Sunday, and depending on what kind of package you want, you can snag a ticket for around $30.
Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival in Downtown Fort Worth (Fort Worth)
Food, fun and wine. Must I even say more? The Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival is bringing us a roster of talented chefs and craft brewers all in one place! We're talkin' Cowtown's best of the best! But it's not just all about delicious food and belly laughs with your pals, it's for a good cause: Proceeds will help put hopeful chefs through culinary school. Treat yourself to the ultimate foodie experience all weekend long!
Latto 777 Tour (Dallas)
Sunny Sweeney with Autumn Ragland (Fort Worth)
Bon Iver at Toyota Music Factory (Irving)
Watercolor for Beginners: Painting Flowers (Denton)
Make a Mug on the Pottery Wheel (McKinney)
LakeWOOF at Lakewood (Garland)
"Headstones & History" Fundraiser (Waxahachie)
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2022-03-31T21:35:53Z
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Things to do in North Texas this weekend: It's WrestleMania time! | wfaa.com
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Little Wishes
When her grandmother needed extra help, Paula Brown thought she’d help out for a couple of weeks. Instead, she spent the next two years as a full-time caregiver.
Credit: Verna Jones
Paula Brown and her grandmother Velora Carolyn Yates
GARLAND, Texas — This content is sponsored by Sam Pack Auto Group.
We were all taught to respect our elders.
Respecting and loving hers came easy to Paula Brown.
“My grandmother was one of a kind,” Paula said. “She loved church, loved people, and had a heart of gold.”
Velora Carolyn Yates had been a nurse more than 50 years.
But in her early 70s, she began to need a little extra care.
Paula was in her early 30s and offered to move in with her beloved "Nannie" for a couple weeks.
“I just knew I had to be there,” Paula said.
The temporary stay soon became permanent.
Paula spent two years – during a pandemic – living with her grandmother.
She cared for her, listened to her and learned from her.
“She loved to cook, so my favorite thing was getting to cook for her and trying to cook it in a way she would,” Paula said.
RELATED: 'Little Wish' granted for Fort Worth man who gave up career to care for grandma
“She’d make fun of me because I always needed a recipe and she’d be like, you need a recipe for everything!”
In January, Yates contracted COVID – despite being fully vaccinated.
She died from the virus on Jan. 19.
Paula’s mother, Verna Jones, struggled with how to properly thank her daughter for the selfless devotion she showed at the end of Yates’ life.
Jones nominated her daughter for a Little Wish.
“Your Little Wish from Sam Pack Auto Group includes a $2,000 Visa card to cover two-day hotel stay and a car rental, a $500 gift card to Academy for some new workout clothes, and a $1,000 gift card to At Home to freshen up your house,” Verna revealed in a video call surprising Paula with the news.
Paula was stunned.
“She’d be so happy,” she said of her grandmother.
RELATED: This Texas oncology nurse continued to treat patients even after her own cancer diagnosis. Now she's being gifted a 'Little Wish' for her caring heart
“I haven’t had a vacation in seven years,” she said. “I am most excited about that.”
Verna told Paula her Nannie felt unconditionally loved for the final two years of her life.
“You made your world her world,” Verna said. “Your purpose going forward is to just love Paula and be Paula.”
“From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you baby,” Verna told her daughter.
If you know someone who deserves a Little Wish, nominate them at wfaa.com/littlewishes.
RELATED: Fort Worth Air Force vet who can’t access backyard will get a new deck thanks to Little Wishes
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2022-03-31T21:36:18Z
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Little Wish for Texas woman who paused life to care for 'Nannie' | wfaa.com
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Former Keller ISD band director indicted on 8 counts of child indecency
Will the 'Great Resignation' continue?
Allegations against Jedidiah Maus, 36, spanned several years at two Keller ISD middle schools.
KELLER, Texas — A former Keller ISD band director has been indicted on eight counts of indecency with a child following allegations that spanned several years at two different middle schools.
Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson announced on Thursday that a grand jury had returned the indictments against Jedidiah Maus, 36.
The indictments came after more allegations were brought against Maus earlier this month. The Keller Police Department said on March 2 that it had filed charges that included 17 counts of child indecency, two counts of indecent exposure, and improper relationship between an educator and a student.
Maus was first arrested on Oct. 8, 2021, on three counts of child indecency from alleged incidents that involved three students at Bear Creek Intermediate School.
Credit: Keller Police Department
Jedidiah Maus, 36
According to court documents, the investigation began in September 2021 after police were notified that the 36-year-old allegedly exposed himself to a student in a bathroom at the school.
Keller police said since the initial charges, additional victims have come forward by contacting a tip line that was set up after Maus' arrest. The new alleged acts involving Maus span several years.
According to the latest arrest affidavit, parents and victims who called the tip line reported incidents as far back as the 2015-2016 school year, and as recent as September 2021.
Several victims reported Maus exposed himself to them while they were in seventh and eighth grades in a student bathroom near the band hall at Keller Middle School, according to documents.
Maus was arrested again in January 2022.
Keller ISD said it "shall continue to fully cooperate with the authorities’ investigation" of the district's former band director.
Keller ISD band director arrested on child indecency charges, police say
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2022-03-31T23:22:27Z
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Former Keller ISD band director indicted for child indecency | wfaa.com
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Wrestlemania expected to bring big boost to North Texas economy: 'They're going to spend a lot'
DFW weather: Nice weather for the rest of the week
Ad agency TRG will relocate to The Stack Deep Ellum; building is now 100% leased
TRG — formerly known as The Richards Group — is relocating from its office in Uptown.
Credit: Jake Dean/Dallas Business Journal
The Stack Deep Ellum
Author: Dallas Business Journal
DALLAS — This story originally appeared in the Dallas Business Journal.
Dallas-based advertising agency TRG announced last week that it has relocated its headquarters and signed a long-term lease at The Stack Deep Ellum, according to a news release.
The lease is for approximately 101,808 square feet in the building over multiple floors. TRG — formerly known as The Richards Group — is relocating from its office in Uptown.
“TRG is a Dallas agency through and through, and we chose earlier this year to build on our successful refresh in 2021 by joining The Stack Deep Ellum,” TRG CEO Glenn Dady said in the release. “The neighborhood’s energy and the excitement of the surrounding thriving businesses in the heart of the city we love make it the perfect place to continue growing creatively, in a unique space that puts us at the forefront of the advertising landscape. We’re thrilled to move to our new home early next year.”
TRG is expected to move into The Stack in Q1 of 2023, joining real estate firm Hines, digital life insurance platform Bestow, and third-party logistics company Worldwide Express.
The agreement also secures the remainder of the available space in the building.
“We are thrilled to welcome TRG to The Stack,” Hines Senior Managing Director Ben Brewer said in the release. “Everything from the selection of on-site art to the wellness-focused amenities was imagined to foster collaboration and innovation for the next-gen workforce. We look forward to seeing TRG’s bright future unfold in this new space.”
During lease negotiations, TRG was represented by Robert Blount and Andy Leatherman of JLL, and ALT+CO represented the Stack.
“We are excited to announce that The Stack is 100% leased less than a year following its opening in May 2021,” Westdale President Joe Beard said in the release. “The project’s connectivity-centric spaces coupled with an unmatched location in one of the city’s most authentic and energetic neighborhoods create a true community, and TRG will be a dynamic addition to the building and the area.”
The Stack Deep Ellum is a joint venture between Westdale Real Estate Investment and Management, Ivanhoé Cambridge and Hines.
“TRG’s addition to The Stack Deep Ellum, bringing the project to 100% leased, is an extraordinary milestone given the unprecedented challenges the pandemic created,” said Charlie Musgrave, Senior Director, Office Leasing at Ivanhoé Cambridge. “We believe this proves that the project’s community-centric and highly experiential offering speaks to Dallas’ top tenants and our shared vision that an engaging workspace continues to be relevant to fuel talent engagement, retention and development.”
How crazy is the Dallas real estate market right now? A buyer was offered $50K to walk away from home they just secured
Housing inventory in Dallas area sinks from bad to worse, homes getting ‘upwards of 50 offers’
A proposed bypass on highway 380 is causing controversy in Collin County
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2022-04-01T01:05:05Z
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Ad agency TRG will relocate to The Stack Deep Ellum | wfaa.com
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McKinney and Prosper residents held rallies in their own communities to voice opposition to Hwy 380 bypass routes that TxDOT has proposed.
COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — A proposed bypass for Highway 380 has residents voicing their concerns at their respective community meetings.
The Texas Department of Transportation has plans to build a bypass for the notoriously congested highway and four proposed routes cut through northern Collin County cities like Prosper, McKinney and New Hope.
"We cannot operate here if that route goes there at all," said Priscilla Darling, co-founder of ManeGait in Prosper. "I just can't imagine not helping these people and I don't wanna be stopped."
ManeGait is a therapeutic horse-riding center for children, adults with disabilities and veterans. Darling says they have been in operation for 15 years and one of the routes, Segment B, sits feet from the north side of their property.
Darling tells WFAA that in 2018, TxDOT had proposed a route that went south of the property but that proposal was removed.
TxDOT's plan calls for an eight lane road, four lanes each way, with a service road on either side. There are portions of the proposed bypass which are elevated along along all the routes.
"Segment B is the least disruptive and Segment A is more costly," said Joan Stuckmann of McKinney. "Many of our homeowners had no idea this was happening and are really shocked and are really upset."
On Thursday evening, residents in both McKinney and Prosper held rallies. McKinney is fighting against Segment A and Prosper is fighting against Segment B.
Unless another route is proposed, TxDOT may have to decide between one or the other for the western portion of the bypass.
In a statement, TxDOT said:
"Proposed plans to improve US 380 between Coit Road and FM 1827 in Collin County are currently being studied. The comment period is now open. This corridor is in an area experiencing rapid residential and commercial growth. Four alternative proposals are under consideration to accommodate the safety of current and future traffic needs. The Texas Department of Transportation presented these alternatives during a public meeting on March 22, 2022, and asked for comments to be provided in order to help guide the next steps of the study. Those comments can be provided online, by phone or by mail. The department welcomes all interested parties to submit their feedback by April 6."
TxDOT tells WFAA that no final decision has been made.
There are still a number of studies, like environmental, that need to be done before a preferred route is chosen by early 2023.
And once that decision is made another round of public comment is necessary before a bypass route is ultimately decided.
Part of I-35E to be closed in Dallas for bridge construction: Here's when and where
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2022-04-01T04:16:58Z
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McKinney, Prosper residents concerned with proposed 380 bypass | wfaa.com
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North Texas maintenance workers find pieces of a 1970s skateboard underneath a fire hydrant
In the past, many construction workers would use skateboards to travel the interior of water pipes to inspect welds and joints.
Credit: City of Keller
KELLER, Texas — Some Keller maintenance workers dug up pieces of a skateboard from potentially 50 years ago Friday, something that the city said is "not completely shocking."
The public works team from Keller has had a continual pressure issue with a fire hydrant in the 800 block of South Main Street near Wall-Price-Keller Road.
Maintenance workers had been unable to fully shut off flow to the hydrant, and despite replacing various pieces of it, they continued to deal with pressure and leaking issues. Workers eventually decided to dig it up.
In the process, they found pieces of a red skateboard with yellow wheels underneath the fire hydrant. The skateboard is believed to be from around the 1970s, according to city officials.
So uh…anyone who lived here in the ‘70s missing a skateboard? Yes, these are pieces of a skateboard. Yes, we found them...
Posted by City of Keller Government on Friday, April 1, 2022
The reasoning behind this assumption ties back to when the 27-inch water line was originally installed in 1972.
Back around this time period, construction workers would use skateboards to travel the interior of water pipes to inspect welds and joints. Now that technology has advanced, the city's construction workers use cameras on wheels controlled by some form of a remote control.
So while the city says it's not "completely shocking" to find a skateboard in the water line, it was a "surprising" and delightful" discovery.
The city said its public works employees compared it to finding a towel in a patient who had an operation years ago and recently started having issues that warranted further investigation.
Most impressively, at some point in the last 50 years, city officials said the skateboard broke into pieces and moved from the 27-inch water line into the 6-inch water line that serves the fire hydrant, even navigating a 90-degree turn.
When we reached out to Keller's public information officer to double-check this wasn't an April Fool's Joke, she told WFAA:
"Haha yes, it’s legit! I double-checked with my director, too, to make sure they weren’t punking ME."
And in Texas fashion, the city of Keller finished its Facebook post with, "Happy Friday, y’all."
Denton police, fire chief issue plea for drivers: 'Move over or slow down'
Big Tex is hiring for thousands of positions; plus State Fair of Texas raised the starting wage
Plane crashes into homes in Congo; at least 26 dead
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2022-04-01T22:43:40Z
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FORT WORTH, Texas — A group of more than a dozen people marched along W. 7th St. in support of Ukraine on Sunday afternoon.
North Texans in solidarity with Ukraine waved the country’s bright yellow and blue flag and held up signs as cars drove past.
Sunday marked 38 days since Russia’s war in Ukraine began. Those who rallied hope the country and its people won’t be forgotten.
Susana Sherfedinova, a North Texas resident and Ukrainian native, attended the rally.
“I’m here because I am against war… that barbaric horrible war that Russia brought to my motherland,” Sherfedinova said.
The war has brought more than a month of pain, loss and suffering to those who live in Ukraine.
The agony is far-reaching.
Nataliya Krasovska-Cabe lives in North Texas, but her worries have consumer her every single day since February.
“My both sons who is U.S. citizens live in Ukraine,” Krasovska-Cabe said. “All my family is in Ukraine. Please stop this war, please help the Ukraine.”
As the war goes on, her desperation has only grown.
“I call two times a day. When my sons [do] not answer phone I’m screaming at home. I can’t do anything,” Krasovska-Cabe said. ‘
As the war nears six weeks, Russia continues its assault. Sunday morning, Russian strikes rocked the city of Odessa.
Ukrainian officials said Ukrainian troops are regaining control over Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a war crimes investigation after mass graves were discovered in Bucha, near Kyiv.
Now, satellite images show Russian troops have begun moving to the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine.
“Ukrainian people need your help please stop the war please stop Russians kill Ukrainian people,” Krasovska-Cabe said.
Those rallying said it was a plea for peace in hopes that the world will listen.
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2022-04-04T04:43:22Z
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Fort Worth group rallies in support of Ukraine | wfaa.com
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FRISCO, Texas — You've probably heard about the prospect of drone deliveries for years. Now you might actually see them in your neighborhood.
The company Wing is launching its first commercial drone delivery service in Frisco and Little Elm on Thursday. This will be Wing's first launch in a major metro area.
And while they're starting out small, with the two neighboring suburbs north of Dallas, they plan to expand based on demand.
Here's how the system works:
Wing is partnering with four companies to deliver their products: Walgreens, easyvet (prescription pet medications), Texas Health (first-aid kits), and -- wait for it -- Blue Bell.
Yes, if you're in Wing's service area, you'll have a chance to order ice cream via drone. And Wing says they've found a way to keep the iconic Texas treat frozen on the trip to your doorstep.
Are you in the service area? If you live in Frisco or Little Elm, you might be.
But again, Wing is starting small, so they're asking that anyone who's interested in getting drone delivery to sign up on their website. When their home is eligible for the drone service, they'll be notified by Wing.
But how does it work? Like most delivery services, Wing has an app that will display all of the businesses available for delivery in your area.
Once you place an order, instead of a driver picking up your order, the product is packaged and secured on a Wing drone and then delivered to your home.
The app will then track your order's deliver as the drone makes its way to you.
When the drone arrives, it lowers your order down on a tether and unclips it.
Wing's drones can carry up to three pounds. Drone pilots monitor the flights but the drones fly autonomously.
Some residents will have experience: WFAA in December talked to one resident, Greg Allbright, who participated in trial runs for Wing.
Allbright described ordering a bottle of water using the Wing app. Within five to six minutes the bottle was in his driveway behind his home.
Drone show highlights exciting, safe New Year's Eve celebrations in Dallas
New drone delivery service preparing for rollout with practice flights in Little Elm and Frisco
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2022-04-04T17:40:14Z
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DFW drone delivery service: Wing launches Frisco, Little Elm | wfaa.com
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Since 2019, homicides within Fort Worth have increased by 68 percent. At a Monday press conference, Chief Neil Noakes shared his plan on how to combat that spike.
FORT WORTH, Texas — After a weekend in which Dallas and Sacramento both saw deadly mass shootings, the City of Fort Worth held a news conference underscoring its dedication to reducing violent crime within the city.
In 2021, the city recorded 118 homicides -- a 27-year high, and the most it had seen since 1994. At a press conference on Monday, Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes said he wants to reduce the city's violent crime rate by 10 percent over the next 12 months.
On Saturday night, 16 people were shot and one person was killed after gunfire echoed through a concert in southern Dallas.
In a downtown Sacramento shooting early Sunday, six people were killed early Sunday morning, and twelve others were injured. The shooting started after a fight broke out.
Like many major cities wrestling with a rising violent crime rate, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said Monday that keeping her city safe was a top priority.
"We have to take this issue incredibly seriously," the mayor said. "I have confidence knowing Chief Neil Noakes agrees."
Noakes told reporters from various media outlets that Fort Worth is focused on a data-driven approach to reduce violent crime within the city.
He noted that homicides in the city have risen by 69 percent since 2019. That year, the city recorded 70 homicides. In 2020, 112 were recorded.
Overall, violent crime had increased by 27 percent overall since 2019. That includes robbery cases and aggravated assault cases.
Credit: City of Fort Worth
Violent crime stats recorded by the City of Fort Worth since 2019.
Noakes is working with a shortage of roughly 100 officers, he added at the conference.
While the department is recruiting to fill the gaps, he said data had been collected during his first year as chief that gives his department a place to start when it comes to developing its crime-fighting strategy.
Per Noakes, 2.9 percent of 824 police reporting areas make up 23 percent of the city's violent crime rate.
Highest violent crime reporting areas per the City of Fort Worth.
Noakes added that focusing on those areas would be a priority, as would working with the city to address issues commonly found in those parts of town -- like lack of transportation, food deserts and a lack of jobs.
#FortWorthSafe Press Conference with @MayorMattie and @fwpdchiefnoakes https://t.co/mo0gFvxE46
Fort Worth officer fired after shooting his weapon while off-duty and intoxicated
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2022-04-05T03:00:16Z
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Fort Worth police chief wants to reduce violent crime by 10% | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-police-chief-noakes-plan-reduce-violent-crime-10-percent-over-next-12-months/287-9d429a75-e4a6-401f-884e-e7140dab7dfe
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-police-chief-noakes-plan-reduce-violent-crime-10-percent-over-next-12-months/287-9d429a75-e4a6-401f-884e-e7140dab7dfe
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Live severe weather timeline: Tornado Watch in effect for D-FW and other parts of North Texas
Strong to severe storms are affecting people in North Texas, including those trying to travel.
DALLAS — Severe weather has arrived in North Texas, and it's already affecting people in the area.
A tornado watch is in effect for much of the area until 2 a.m., and there have also been tornado warnings for some counties.
Strong to possibly severe storms are still on track to move through the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex later in the evening.
Here's the latest timings.
Ground stops
DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field have issued ground stops for departures due to the thunderstorms.
The ground stops are expected to last until 10 p.m.
Check your flight status
Arrivals | Departures at Dallas-Fort Worth International
Arrivals | Departures at Dallas Love Field
Outage map
Track any power outages from Oncor here.
Track the radar
Live severe storms timeline: Tornado warning in effect for Collin, Hunt and Fannin counties; severe thunderstorm warnings for Dallas, Tarrant counties
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2022-04-05T03:00:22Z
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Weather news updates: Ground stops at DFW, Love Field, outages | wfaa.com
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Texas transplants are dominating golf tournaments these days -- from juniors to PGA Tour.
MCKINNEY, Texas — When you watch The Masters this week, the announcers will undoubtedly spend part of the broadcast waxing poetic about the immense talent of Scottie Scheffler.
Two months ago, the 25-year-old was winless on the PGA Tour.
But three victories in his last five tournaments have vaulted the former Highland Park High School star to No. 1 in the world.
Like many now living in North Texas, Scheffler is a transplant.
Born in New Jersey, he lived there until his family moved to Dallas when Scottie was six years old.
There is no way of knowing for sure, but you'd like to think trading the seasonal conditions of the Metro Atlantic for near year-round golf weather in DFW played a role in his development and rapid ascent.
After all, golf requires vigorous practice regimens. And indoor golf domes and simulators cannot simulate Texas wind and humid, gnarly tallgrass.
Scheffler is not the only transplant to find near-major success, either.
Will Zalatoris, ranked No. 29 in the world, moved from San Francisco to Plano when he was nine years old.
Zalatoris, also 25, battled Scheffler often in junior golf tournaments in Texas before the two united on Team USA's dominant 2017 Walker Cup team.
Related: Now rising stars on the PGA Tour, Scheffler and Zalatoris are a couple of transplants making their adopted home-state proud.
Meanwhile, these days in North Texas, the next generation of golfers is getting dialed in.
For proof, look no farther than Cole Murphy, 8, and Lincoln Rubis, 10, who just experienced an April weekend for the ages.
One week before Sunday at The Masters, the junior golf stars from Prosper and Farmers Branch competed in the annual Drive, Chip and Putt Finals at Augusta National.
"It's been a bucket list [item] my whole life," Cole said.
Cole might be the only 8-year-old in the world to have a bucket list, but he's now one of the lucky few to swing a club on golf's sacred grounds.
"Oh, it's a pinch-me moment," said Cole's father, Ben.
Cole won the driving event for his age group and came up one point shy of first place overall. Not bad for a young man who had never competed in any Drive, Chip, Putt event until this year!
The whole Murphy family was there to support Cole in what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But, based on the results, they might be back for years to come -- and not just for Cole.
Cole's older brother, Bryar Murphy, 10, is also a talented junior golfer, as is Lincoln Rubis' older brother, Zach Rubis, 11.
"I think we can all agree," Zach said. "With us, it's super competitive."
The tandem of brothers often compete against each other in local and regional tournaments -- but, in February, the boys teamed up to play for the North team in the inaugural Texas Showdown, a Ryder Cup-style junior golf event between kids from the North Texas region (Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, McKinney, Prosper, Celina) and the South Texas region (Houston, Austin, and others).
"My boys just love being a part of a team and being a part of this group of kids," said Ben Murphy, who co-founded the tournament with some of the other dads.
The two-day competition took place at Texas Rangers Golf Club in Arlington, while multiple practice sessions were held at Trinity Forest Golf Club and facilitated by high-performance coach Nick Dunn and Altus Performance.
"Now it's easy for us," said Jon Rubis, Lincoln and Zach's father. "We just get to stand back and watch."
In support of the North Texas community, the Texas Showdown made a $1,000 donation to The First Tee of Dallas.
Despite some frosty conditions at times, the North team prevailed in a thriller over the South team that featured Texas Terry, a young phenom who won the U.S. Kids World Championship in 2021.
As more people move to North Texas, the talent level of junior golfers here has continued to explode.
"I think over 50 percent of our team were actually transplants from different parts of the country," Murphy said.
Originally from Wisconsin and South Dakota respectively, the Murphy and Rubis families are among the Texas transplants.
Like Scheffler and Zalatoris, it's a matter of time until this next generation makes its way to Augusta.
And not just to drive, chip and putt, either.
But to compete for a green jacket.
Hook em! Scottie Scheffler wins Match Play and goes to No. 1
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2022-04-05T03:00:28Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Junior golf in Texas: Why DFW has so many good young players | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/junior-golf-pga-tour-scottie-scheffler-mecca-north-texas-is-home-to-some-of-the-games-best-young-players/287-a655ba73-c2f1-4e29-baef-166cd591899a
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Households already approved for assistance with ERAP do not need to reapply.
TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Residents in Tarrant County have until April 30 to apply for rental assistance through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), officials announced Tuesday.
People living outside the cities of Arlington and Fort Worth may continue to apply for rental assistance at GetRentHelp.com until the deadline at 5 p.m. on April 30. County officials said in a press release that they decided to close the application portal "to ensure sufficient funds remain to assist eligible applicants."
After the portal closes, the program will continue to process applications submitted prior to the April 30 deadline in the order received, county officials said.
“Tarrant County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program has been key to helping citizens in need recover financially from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Judge Glen Whitley said. “It’s made a big difference, and where folks may still need help, other county resources are available.”
According to Tarrant County, the ERAP has distributed $12.5 million in rent and utility assistance to renters and their landlords since March 2021. The county also has divvied $17 million – funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan – to just under 1,400 households throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tarrant County also received and gave $6 million in CARES funding for rent assistance in 2020.
The ERAP will not be the only assistance available for Tarrant County residents, either. A new lease incentive program launched April 1 with $750,000 in funding provided by Tarrant County’s second Emergency Rental Assistance allocation from the Treasury Department (ERA2). According to county officials, this program will provide financial assistance with application fees, security deposits, moving costs, hotel and motel fees, and hard to house fees to eligible Tarrant County residents, living outside of the cities of Arlington and Fort Worth.
For more information on the ERA2 lease incentive program, click here.
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2022-04-05T18:21:46Z
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Emergency rent assistance deadline for Tarrant County residents coming soon | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/life/tarrant-county-rent-assistance-texas-april-deadline/287-0127d885-3c94-42a7-9a73-1b4f96095b48
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/life/tarrant-county-rent-assistance-texas-april-deadline/287-0127d885-3c94-42a7-9a73-1b4f96095b48
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The Dallas Cowboys would be wise to try to make their roster as draft need-resistant as possible and there are some remaining free agents who could do the trick.
DALLAS — Draft season has now taken over the offseason in the NFL. With the annual selection process coming in just a few weeks and official player visits beginning, free agency has cooled off.
However, there are still several solid players left on the open market, and the Dallas Cowboys should be interested in some of the options. This is peak time in free agency for the franchise, where the prices go down and the Cowboys can fill their roster gaps with cheaper options.
Here is five free agents that Dallas should consider signing to help turn their offseason around and give the team a better plan heading into the draft:
Akiem Hicks, DE
The Cowboys whiffed on re-signing defensive end Randy Gregory, but Hicks could step in and be the starter opposite DE DeMarcus Lawrence. Hicks is older than Gregory but he has been a very consistent player during his 10 years in the league.
RELATED: Opinion: Gregory contract debacle an embarrassing look for Cowboys
Playing with three teams during his career, Hicks has seven seasons with at least three sacks, and has four years of at least six sacks, which is two more than Gregory. Hicks is also a very solid player against the run and would give the Dallas defense a strong set of two-way defensive ends.
Health is an issue with Hicks, he’s missed 20 games in the last three years, and he’ll be 33-years old during the 2022 season. Those are valid concerns, yet they could also be what makes Hicks affordable for the Cowboys.
J.C. Tretter, C
The Cowboys have a solid center in Tyler Biadasz, but Tretter is one of the better maulers in the middle in the game. After spending his first four seasons in the league under Mike McCarthy with the Green Bay Packers, Tretter has a familiarity with the Cowboys’ head coach.
The veteran center left Green Bay for the Cleveland Browns, where he’s started every game for the past five seasons. Tretter continues to improve as his career has gone on and he currently ranks as one of the best pass blocking centers in the league, giving up just one sack last year.
Biadasz has done an admirable job in his first two seasons with the Cowboys, but Tretter would be an upgrade that could help reestablish the offensive line in Dallas.
There’s a never-ending cycle to find quality safety play with the Cowboys. The team did re-sign Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker, but Kearse is destined for a role playing closer to the line of scrimmage and Hooker’s injury history makes him a risk.
Mathieu is one of the better safeties in the league and would be the best safety in Dallas since the Darren Woodson days. The veteran out of LSU has 26 career interceptions to accompany his three All-Pro and three Pro Bowl seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs.
In the last three years with the Chiefs, Mathieu has 13 interceptions to make him one of the league’s premier difference makers in the middle of the field.
Don’t over think this! https://t.co/3WJL3by4B4
The issue, of course, would be the cost. Mathieu won’t come cheap, but he’d be a great fit for the Cowboys’ revitalized defense.
Melvin Ingram, DE
The Cowboys didn’t seem eager to add Ingram last year, but with the cost to sign him now at a lower amount, the veteran edge rusher makes sense. Ingram will be 33 years old when the 2022 season kicks off and could have a valuable role as a designated quarterback hunter on passing downs.
Ingram has 51 career sacks, including four straight years with at least seven quarterback takedowns, he knows how to rush the passer. The Cowboys are still looking for pass rushing help and Ingram could come on a short deal at a cheaper price than Hicks.
Anthony Barr, LB
Barr is another veteran who would immediately improve one of the thinnest positions on the Cowboys. Aside from being a solid linebacker, Barr could bring experience and leadership where Dallas has two second year LBs who are expected to be big contributors. The young likely starting duo of Micah Parsons and Jabril Cox have a need for a veteran voice to guide them and Barr would be a nice fit in that role.
Barr is a jack-of-all-trades type who has the ability to rush the passer yet is also stout against the run. The Cowboys liked Barr coming out in the 2014 draft so, if they still have an affinity for him, he would make for a solid choice in Dallas at one of the positions of most need.
Is there another unsigned free agent that you’d like to see the Cowboys sign? Share your thoughts with Ben on Twitter @BenGrimaldi.
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2022-04-05T18:22:04Z
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5 free agents that would shore up the Dallas Cowboys roster | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/cowboys-nfl-free-agents-to-help-shore-up-roster/287-242ab892-af4f-440c-a67e-0314b76adfb0
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Collin County officials reported zero storm-related injuries or casualties due to the April 4 storm.
Author: Paul Livengood, Ariel Plasencia
COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — The National Weather Service (NWS) has confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in Blue Ridge during Monday night's storm.
According to the NWS, the tornado produced estimated winds of 100 mph.
The NWS also reported at least one home lost a roof to winds and at least one structure has partially collapsed in Blue Ridge at the intersection of FM 545 and Church Street.
RELATED: DFW weather updates: Here's what damage we're seeing after North Texas severe storms
WFAA's Malini Basu and Ariel Plasencia were in Blue Ridge Tuesday, where they found the fire department torn apart.
Officials told Basu that six firefighters were inside the department watching TV when the roof ripped off.
The firefighters continued to work through the night and helped families in their community despite the storm's damage to the station.
Powerful storm ripped the roof of the Blueridge Fire Dept, & a car wash.
There were 6 firefighters inside, thankfully everyone is ok. @NWSFortWorth will be here later today to assess the damage, which is mostly likely a tornado. @wfaa pic.twitter.com/NvjNL4e2Ds
“It just started raining really heavy. It got really loud and that's when the roof was blown off,” said Blue Ridge FD Capt. Bonnie Bowers.
Bowers said she and other firefighters were keeping an eye on the storm from their administration building.
The storm was so powerful, it ripped the roof off the administration building and tossed part of it across the street.
Sections of the ceiling collapsed. Rain started gushing in.
“That (tornado) part happened really fast. It came out of nowhere and it was gone in no time," said Bowers.
Bowers said they didn’t have much time to think about what had just happened.
“Then you're worried about, okay, if this is happening here, what's going on out there (in the community) and what do we need to do?” said Bowers.
Bowers told WFAA thankfully, there have been no reports of injuries to Blue Ridge residents.
Now, the clean-up process begins. Bowers said computers, a printer, and a copy machine were damaged.
"We're an all-volunteer department. We depend on donations for everything we get. So, that's going to be the hard part is actually getting back to where we were. We've worked really hard to get to this point. So, it's just rebuilding from now on out," said Bowers.
If you’d like to donate to the Blue Ridge Fire Department, click here.
A car wash was also damaged in Blue Ridge, Basu reported.
Collin County officials also announced State Highway 78 and Williford Road were closed Monday night in both directions due to high waters.
As of April 5, Collin County officials reported zero storm-related injuries or casualties.
The First Baptist Church Blue Ridge established a benevolence fund to assist families with immediate needs, according to county officials. Financial donations can be made through the church’s website, FirstBlueRidge.org or by texting TORNADORELIEF to 888-411-3304. People can also mail donations to FBC Blue Ridge, located at 316 Highway 78 N, Blue Ridge, TX 75424.
The church is not accepting donations of physical goods, such as clothes or blankets.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management is asking residents to report damages from the April 4 storms, for both insured and uninsured property. Residents can report damages online here.
Storms are cleared out of North Texas. Now we could hit a heat record
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2022-04-05T21:25:51Z
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Blue Ridge tornado: Fire station damaged and no injuries reported | wfaa.com
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As of Tuesday, there is no information this accident was due to intoxication or racing, according to police.
ROWLETT, Texas — A North Texas woman is fighting for her life in a hospital after she was involved in a multiple-vehicle crash Tuesday, according to the police.
On Tuesday around 4:52 p.m., some officers with the Rowlett Police Department were dispatched to the intersection of Rowlett Road and Locust Street in reference to a major accident. Rowlett Police along with Rowlett Fire and Medics responded to the scene.
At the time, it appears the motor accident involved three vehicles, police say.
From @Rowlett_PD: Three-car accident with injuries southbound Rowlett Rd. at Locust. Both lanes of southbound Rowlett Rd. are closed for investigation.
— City of Rowlett, Texas (@RowlettTexas) April 5, 2022
A 19-year-old female driver was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
As of Tuesday, there is no information this accident was due to intoxication or racing, police say. Rowlett Police and the Rowlett Police Traffic Unit were still on the scene Tuesday night.
The investigation is currently active and ongoing.
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2022-04-06T00:27:14Z
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Rowlett crash send teenager to hospital in critical condition | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/3-vehicle-crash-rowlett-teenager-hospital-critical-condition/287-36c91407-c37e-4dcc-94c4-c4c2c5b94fb5
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/3-vehicle-crash-rowlett-teenager-hospital-critical-condition/287-36c91407-c37e-4dcc-94c4-c4c2c5b94fb5
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Mark Duebner, the city's director aviation and head of Love Field, will give a presentation to Dallas City Council on Wednesday about the proposed changes.
DALLAS — Love Field officials are recommending an increase in parking fees at the city-owned airport, saying demand needs to be reduced as travel returns to pre-pandemic levels.
Love Field wants to raise daily rates across its various parking options, with the biggest increases being in Garage B, where officials want to raise rates from $9 to $13 in the main area of the garage and $7 to $10 for the roof.
Here is the full list of price hikes recommended in Duebner's presentation:
Garage A: $15 to $16
Garage B (covered): $9 to $13
Garage B (roof): $7 to $10
Garage C: $15 to $16
Garage C (roof): No change, still $13
Garage C (premium: No change, still $25
Garage C (valet): $26 to $28
In his presentation, Duebner said the price increases would "ensure availability for customers" parking at Love Field.
Duebner said the airport has seen availability dwindle as passenger travel has increased from pandemic lows. Within that, according to Duebner's presentation, leisure travelers have been more likely to drive to the airport themselves, rather than take cabs or rideshare services.
Duebner said that shows in data related to the average length of stay for vehicles.
In 2019, the average ticket for vehicles exiting the garage was about $27 for an average of 2.5 days. Currently, Duebner said, the average ticket is $35 with an average stay of more than three days.
Duebner said price increases could encourage vacation travelers to get a ride to the airport, rather than parking in the garages for an extended time.
"As customer demand returns to pre-pandemic levels, parking rates need to be adjusted to reduce demand," Duebner said in his presentation.
Data in Duebner's presentation showed the uptick in parking usage coming out of the pandemic.
In January, Love Field's daily car count in its three garages was 4,830, up from 2,906 the year before. By comparison, the car count for January 2020, before the pandemic, was 6,352.
Last fall's daily car counts also showed the stark increase in travel levels from the prior year. In October, the daily car count in Love Field's garages was 7,555, up from 3,628 the year before.
On Thanksgiving 2021, typically the busiest stretch of air travel, only 500 parking spaces were available across the three garages.
Love Field has about 10,361 parking spaces at $16 or less.
The city council would have to approve the parking increases before they're implemented.
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines reports net loss of $1.3 billion in 2021
American Airlines surpasses goal of gifting bicycles to children across D-FW for Christmas
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2022-04-06T16:08:48Z
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Dallas Love Field airport parking: Prices could go up | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/love-field-airport-parking-wants-to-increase-the-price-heres-why-and-when/287-2b660756-e2c5-4f26-be5f-f95d12d42e0d
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/love-field-airport-parking-wants-to-increase-the-price-heres-why-and-when/287-2b660756-e2c5-4f26-be5f-f95d12d42e0d
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There will be mac and cheese nachos and alligator corn dogs just to name a few.
Credit: William Joy, WFAA
Author: Paul Livengood, William Joy (WFAA)
ARLINGTON, Texas — One of the mainstays of the Major League Baseball (MLB) experience is the game day grub.
Opening Day for the MLB is April 7, and April 11 is the Texas Rangers home opener against the Colorado Rockies. WFAA's William Joy received the grand honor of previewing the grub that will be available at Globe Life Park when the 2022 season starts.
Tune in to WFAA at 6 p.m. for a sneak peek of the concessions options.
Here is a list of the new options available at Globe Life Field concessions stands this season, courtesy of the Texas Rangers and foodservice and retail partner Delaware North:
Brisket Egg Rolls: Created by a Rangers fan in 2020 as part of a recipe contest. Tender house-smoked brisket shredded and rolled up in a classic eggroll wrap with Napa cabbage – deep fried until crispy and delicious. Served with Togarashi-seasoned fries and Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce for dipping. Available at the Go Deep Fried stands at Sections 121, 225 and 230.
“Whether it’s the grilled onions or the hotdogs or the popcorn popping, it gets you salivating. It’s you thinking about back when you were a kid and you went to the ballpark and that’s what you smelled,” Casey Rapp, Delaware North general manager told WFAA.
Rapp said they wanted to give "a little Texas flair" to those who come to games from out of state.
PHOTOS | Texas Rangers Opening Day: New food options at Globe Life Field
William Joy, WFAA
Fans can also visit the following "hospitality spaces" to strike out their hunger:
The High Ball bar, which neighbors the 421 Food Hall, features a cocktail lounge vibe, complete with couches, lounge chairs, side chairs and a mix high-top and traditional tables. The High Ball will serve a variety of specialty cocktails and beer and is accessible to all fans near Section 223.
WFAA's William Joy spoke with the owner at Ella B's restaurant about being included in the Opening Day festivities.
"Hey, do you guys want to be a part of this and I thought 'my God absolutely yes," Patricia Whitfield said. "I think it gives exposure to some of the small business and restaurants especially after COVID where some of that is really needed."
Rob Matwick with the Rangers Business Operations said the objective is to grow the program over time, and they hope to add one or two more restaurants this year.
RELATED: Cracker Jill? Texas Rangers to offer new spin on popular concession item starting Opening Day at Globe Life Field
Another ball park mainstay, Cracker Jack, also announced a new initiative: selling bags of Cracker Jill. They're the same familiar molasses-flavored, caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts snack you've always known; they're just being branded a little different is all, with Cracker Jill coming to life through five different representations on a series of special-edition bags. For more information on the initiative benefiting the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF), click here.
Will the Rangers end up with the number one draft pick? | Locked On Rangers
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2022-04-06T19:49:28Z
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What are the new foods at Globe Life Field this year? | wfaa.com
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There are currently 15 ICU beds available in the county's hospitals.
TEXAS, USA — Denton County Public Health reported there are currently nine people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county. There were 12 on Tuesday.
This is now the 25th consecutive day in which there have been fewer than 20 hospitalizations in the county.
As of Monday, there have been 208,973 people in Denton County who have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In all, 200,258 have received their second dose, and 1,145 who have received their third dose.
Credit: Jay Wallis
Dallas County hospitalizations remain below 80 for 5th straight day
Dallas County health officials reported there are currently 75 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county. There were 78 the previous day.
This is now the fifth consecutive day in which there have been fewer than 80 hospitalizations in the county.
RELATED: After backlash, parents in Shanghai can stay with COVID-positive kids
272 new cases in Collin County, state officials say
There were 272 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Collin County on Wednesday, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. There were 109 cases reported on Tuesday.
County health officials do not report daily case count statistics.
The county's current 14-day case count average is 91 cases per day, state data shows.
Collin County health officials also said the county currently has 38 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday.
COVID-19 patients currently make up 1% of Collin County's total hospital bed capacity, according to county data.
State hospitalizations remain below 1,000 for 4th straight day
On Wednesday, state health officials reported there are currently 959 COVID-19 hospitalizations in Texas. This is up from 957 the previous day.
This is the fourth straight day that hospitalizations across the state have remained below 1,000.
The record-high number of hospitalizations happened on Jan. 11, 2021, when there were 14,218 patients in Texas hospitals.
The state currently has a 14-day average of 1,117 hospitalizations.
State officials report fewer than 2,000 new cases for 4th consecutive day
State health officials reported 1,501 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday. There were 1,325 on Tuesday.
This is now the fourth straight day in which officials have reported fewer than 2,000 new cases.
The state's current 14-day average is 2,059 new cases per day.
Texas health officials report 9 new cases in child care facilities
Texas child care centers reported nine new daily cases, including children and employees, in facilities Wednesday, according to statistics from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. This includes four children and one employee.
There have been fewer than 100 reported daily cases every day they have been reported since Feb. 8, 2022. The record-high single-day total happened on Jan. 18, 2022 when state health officials added 2,213 new cases.
Child care centers, along with before-school and after-school programs, have to report COVID-19 cases to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Those cases are reported daily here.
The current 14-day average is four new cases a day. The record-high 14-day average happened between Jan. 10-23 when it was 726.
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2022-04-06T23:22:04Z
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www.wfaa.com
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COVID-19: Denton County hospitalizations remain below 20 | wfaa.com
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Eighth-grader Lindsey Roberts correctly spelled words like avifauna, iatrogenic and kookaburra during her regional spelling bee in March.
Credit: Dallas ISD
W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy students and staff attended a celebration to congratulate Lindsey Roberts on her regional Spelling Bee victory.
DALLAS — A Dallas middle schooler will be one of two students from the North Texas area heading to the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee later this summer.
Lindsey Roberts, an eighth-grade student at W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy, scored high enough at the 64th Annual Dallas Regional Spelling Bee and will be the only contestant representing Dallas ISD in the nationwide spelling championship.
Roberts correctly spelled words like avifauna, iatrogenic and kookaburra during this regional spelling bee in March.
Jesus Rodriguez, who teaches eighth grade Reading Language Arts at Greiner called Lindsey "bright" and "really good at writing."
“She’s very communicative and vocal and a very active reader, and even helps me spell words sometimes," Rodriguez said. "Those are building blocks to develop good vocabulary skills and excel in English class, and it’s really no surprise to me that she’s able to come this far.”
Acting, video games, theater tech and hard rock are among Lindsey’s main interests, but none surpass her love for reading, Dallas ISD said in a press release announcing Lindsey's upcoming trip to the spelling championship.
She also has been an avid reader for as long as her memory serves and recalls earning seventh place at an elementary school Spelling Bee contest when she was in second grade, Dallas ISD said.
Eleanor Key (left) and her daughter Lindsey Roberts, who will be the only contestant representing Dallas ISD in the nationwide spelling championship.
“I feel like I’m naturally good at spelling because I read a lot,” Lindsey said in the press release. “I’ve been studying the list of words that Scripps provided. I find the words in dictionaries to learn about those that I’m not familiar with and to get a better grasp on spelling. I’ve been learning about the roots of words and about the different languages where they originate to find common spelling patterns.”
Eleanor Key, Lindsey’s mom, remembers how her daughter would memorize books and read them to her when she was only four years old, the district said.
By the time Lindsey started preschool, her reading skills were so advanced that her teachers found it difficult to give her challenges, Key said.
“They started letting her read to the class and she loved it,” Key said. “Lindsey was into novels when she was seven, and it was challenging for me to find her books that were age-appropriate and matched the level that she was prepared to read. She’s always had this really big passion for reading, and I know that it has everything to do with the vocabulary that she uses. I am immensely proud of what she’s accomplished.”
Eleanor Key, Lindsey Roberts and Greiner Librarian Alison Criner (from left to right).
RELATED: National Spelling Bee fan LeVar Burton to be competition's new host
Greiner Principal Yvonne Rojas invited representatives from the Dallas Sports Commission, Dallas ISD’s RLA Department staff, school personnel and Lindsey’s best friend to celebrate her regional victory.
Courtesy of the Dallas Sports Commission and Southwest Airlines, the top two participants of the regional contest will receive all-expenses paid trips to Washington, D.C., to compete in the final event on June 2.
“The Dallas Sports Commission is passionate about supporting our community in everything we do,” said Monica Paul, executive director of the organization.
“One of the most impactful ways we’ve found to do that is through the Dallas Regional Spelling Bee. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to champion young students in North Texas and it naturally encourages the students to stay engaged with their education," she said.
The Dallas Sports Commission – a nonprofit that pursues amateur, grassroots, collegiate and professional championship events – partnered with Scripps in 2017 to sponsor the Annual Dallas Regional Spelling Bee program. To qualify for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, contestants must be in the eighth grade or lower and have won their individual school bee and local county bee.
Former Klein Oak ISD student gets $90,000 settlement following federal lawsuit
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2022-04-07T01:04:18Z
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Dallas 8th grader headed to 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-middle-schooler-2022-scripps-national-spelling-bee/287-ffc54e51-9e6f-478c-a144-9231a91d2296
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-middle-schooler-2022-scripps-national-spelling-bee/287-ffc54e51-9e6f-478c-a144-9231a91d2296
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Author: Paul Livengood, WFAA Staff, KVUE Staff
DALLAS — A rally will be held at Dallas City Hall on Thursday, calling on the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to free Texas death row inmate Melissa Lucio.
Lucio is scheduled to be executed on April 27, but state legislators on both sides of the political aisle have called to halt her execution.
The rally in Dallas on Thursday will begin at 6 p.m.
State Rep. Victoria Neave Criado, along with local leaders and one of Lucio's sons, are expected to be in attendance.
On Wednesday, seven Texas House representatives, including Neave Criado, met with Lucio at a correctional facility in Gatesville.
Rep. Neave Criado released the following statement after the meeting:
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2022-04-07T14:57:58Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Melissa Lucio execution: Rally held in Dallas to free her | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/melissa-lucio-dallas-rally-death-penalty-row-texas/287-e0125746-b61e-4b36-ad52-cbc57c4e9564
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/melissa-lucio-dallas-rally-death-penalty-row-texas/287-e0125746-b61e-4b36-ad52-cbc57c4e9564
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Things to do in North Texas this weekend: Put your back into it in Dallas, get knighted in Waxahachie and or get your honky tonk on in Fort Worth
From Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube at Dos Equis Pavillion to Chris Young at Billy Bob's, these are the top events happening across Dallas-Fort Worth this weekend.
DALLAS — It's finally the weekend, y'all!
Whether you're looking for cold beers, new music or an excuse to dress like a Viking, there's an event happening in North Texas this weekend that you and yours are sure to love.
Let's run down the best of the best.
Chris Young at Billy Bob's (Fort Worth)
Grab your boots, your belt buckle and your hat: Country music star Chris Young is taking over Billy Bob's in Fort Worth! The singer will play the storied honky tonk on both Friday and Saturday night this weekend. Depending on what you're looking for, you can score a ticket for around $30. Doors will open at 6 p.m. both nights, and Young will take the main stage at 10.
LANallNIGHT V: The LAN of the Rings at Great Wolf Lodge (Grapevine)
Air Supply at Arlington Music Hall (Arlington)
Disney On Ice: Let's Celebrate at Dickies Arena (Fort Worth)
Dave Nihill at Dallas Comedy Club (Dallas)
Kings of The West Tour with Snoop Dogg & Ice Cube at Dos Equis Pavilion (Dallas)
I cannot make this up: Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube are coming to Dallas -- together! The West Coast rap icons are taking over the stage at Dos Equis Pavilion with the "Kings of The West" tour Saturday night -- and, if you don't mind hangin' on the lawn, you can grab a ticket for just $35. Pretty sweet deal to see two absolute legends, I'd say!
Scarborough Renaissance Festival (Waxahachie)
Queens, kings, knights and jesters, it's your time to shine! Get your best 16th century fit on, and hit up the Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie! The 41st season of this annual offering kicks off Saturday with all new everything. You can enjoy jousting, knighting ceremonies and even the mermaid lagoon! Or hey, there's always beer and wine tastings to check out, too.
Victorian Eggstravaganza & Spring Festival at the Heritage Farmstead Museum (Plano)
Stephanie Urbina Jones & The Honky Tonk Mariachis at Lewisville Grand Theater (Lewisville)
Dallas Reggae Festival 2022 at Addison Circle Park (Addison)
Tech N9ne at Amplified Live (Dallas)
Brendan Gay at The Comedy Arena (McKinney)
Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival (Fort Worth)
Find a new piece of art for your collection -- or just eat your way through Downtown Fort Worth -- at the Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival! The beloved tradition has been on hold the for the last two years because of COVID, but it's being welcomed back this year with arms wide open! This festival spans 18 city blocks and has it all -- art, live music and so much BBQ that it'll make your head spin! Oh yeah, they have corny dogs (since you know Texans love a corny dog), and you can wash it all down with a cold craft beer or glass of wine! Check it out all weekend long. Admission is free, but fees are required for some kids' activities.
Jesus Christ Superstar at Music Hall at Fair Park (Dallas)
The beloved Broadway sensation is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and you can join in on bombastic fun at this latest offering from Broadway Dallas (née Dallas Summer Musicals). The iconic musical phenomenon is hitting the stage at Fair Park's Music Hall with double features this Saturday and Sunday. Tickets start around $30.
Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Center (Dallas)
Charli XCX at the House of Blues (Dallas)
2 Cellos at Texas Trust CU Theatre (Grand Prairie)
Living Dead Queers: Drag Show at Three Links (Dallas)
Neo Soul Sundays feat. Vibe The Band at Lava Cantina (The Colony)
Ginny Mac at The Kessler Theater (Dallas)
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2022-04-07T22:30:44Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Things to do in North Texas this weekend: Be a renaissance person | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/things-to-do-in-north-texas-this-weekend-chris-young-ice-cube-snoop-dogg-scarborough-renaissance-festival-fort-worth-arts-fest-jesus-christ-superstar/287-69a92e5e-658b-4e4a-970c-ebe2b4a6fa26
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"There is not enough words to explain what's going through my emotions, my body right now," said Marq Clayton.
TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Marq Clayton has been inspired beyond her wildest dreams as she campaigns to become a Tarrant County judge. She has a new role model -- whom she has not met but is emotionally invested in now.
"There is not enough words to explain what's going through my emotions, my body right now," said Clayton.
As a Tarrant County Judge Candidate for Criminal Court 7, Clayton stayed glued to the television watching the confirmation hearing for Ketanji Brown Jackson.
She gives Brown a lot of credit too. The tough questions took Clayton on an emotional rollercoaster.
"So the confirmation hearings struck a lot of emotions. Um, just watching the line of questioning that Judge Jackson was under. I understood that those were direct attacks on her," Clayton said. "Being the phenomenal woman that she is, she endured that. And that is just a true testament to who she is as a person and who she will be as a justice."
As a candidate for judge, Clayton calls the encouragement from Senator Cory Booker her "aha moment" during the confirmation hearing. His words of encouragement brought tears to the eyes of Judge Brown. Booker talked about the fight for equality Black women have had to fight for all of their lives.
"You got here how every Black woman in America who has gotten anywhere has done," said Booker during the hearing.
"What this means for little Black and Brown girls... This will allow young minority women to dream bigger," said Clayton.
Dream bigger like Attorney Crystal Gayden, who's also a candidate for judge in Tarrant County's 324th District Court.
Gayden watched as much of the confirmation hearing as possible in between court appearances and meetings with clients.
"I was glued to the television," Gayden said. "It is energizing. It gives me a sense of this is this is possible. This is definitely possible."
In all, there are eight Black women hoping to make election history in Tarrant County.
For both Clayton and Gayden, the only thing more inspiring for Justice Brown is witnessing Vice President Kamala Harris announce her confirmation.
"On this vote, the Yeas are 53, the Nays are 47, and this nomination is confirmed," said Harris.
"Campaigning to be a judge, and then my particular court, I want to be the first Black female judge that would hold County Criminal Court Number 7 in over 30 years Tarrant County, as a county has not elected a Black female judge. So, just seeing her being confirmed as the justice on the Supreme Court, absolutely gives me more hope," Clayton said. "She has busted a door wide open for young girls."
"There is hope that there is going to be recognition in our voices that black and brown people can no longer be ignored," Gayden said. "I mean, to be a candidate right now running for office in a very different time in Tarrant County. Right? And to be able to see someone that looks like me, be able to take the highest office in our judicial system. And for me, running just a little bitty old Tarrant County, being able to see that it's an inspiration."
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2022-04-08T05:03:40Z
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Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court confirmation inspires Texans | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county-judge-candidates-inspired-after-ketanji-brown-jackson-becomes-first-black-woman-confirmed-to-supreme-court/287-d1fb252b-0031-42fd-aadc-f25abea6b0b5
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county-judge-candidates-inspired-after-ketanji-brown-jackson-becomes-first-black-woman-confirmed-to-supreme-court/287-d1fb252b-0031-42fd-aadc-f25abea6b0b5
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LIVE: Dallas rally held for Texas death row inmate Melissa Lucio
Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, April 15, at 10 a.m. at Q2STADIUM.com. Loughnane said tickets will start at $55, and there will be both a LiveNation presale and a presale for Austin FC season ticket members and Austin FC waitlist members.
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2022-04-08T16:44:54Z
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Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic will be held at Q2 Stadium this year | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/soccer/q2-stadium-willie-nelson-4th-of-july-picnic/269-4a98849f-8027-43f2-b845-73c8f28cd7b3
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/soccer/q2-stadium-willie-nelson-4th-of-july-picnic/269-4a98849f-8027-43f2-b845-73c8f28cd7b3
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“They definitely need a family that wants to be there with them on a day in and day out basis, that will be active with them," says Malia Graham, with CASA.
DALLAS — If you're a twin, you'll fully understand the dynamics between this brother and sister.
But truthfully, any of us who have siblings will "get it."
Jayla and Jayden are 7-year-old twins who bicker a lot, but man are they fiercely protective of each other.
And the only family they want to adopt them is the one who will take them together.
For Jayla and Jayden, they sometimes must agree to disagree.
"We are nice,” said Jayden, while Jayla interrupted and said, “Well, not always,” referring to her brother.
Jayden rolled his eyes and gave his twin sister some feedback of his own.
"She is bossier than the whole world,” he said wide-eyed.
Jayla just rolled her eyes and carried on with a new topic of conversation.
Their banter is adorable.
"Jayla is very assertive. She knows exactly what she wants, and I don't think there's anything wrong with a girl knowing exactly what she wants," said Malia Graham, with CASA of Denton County.
She is Jayla and Jayden’s Court Appointed Special Advocate.
Graham said Jayden and Jayla need one another.
"She's also very protective of Jayden, and she cares very deeply for him," said Graham.
Like proper twins, Jayla and Jayden are competitive, and they want to be first at everything!
When WFAA asked them what their favorite game to play is, they both raised their hands to the sky. Each child wanted to answer the question first. This was a good opportunity to teach Jayden a new lesson about being a gentleman and letting the lady go first.
Jayden was a good sport and let his sister answer the question before him. She said their favorite game to play outside is TAG.
Both Jayden and Jayla are smart. She's full of life and he's full of creativity. He likes to build.
"He has the mind, I think, of a future engineer," said Graham.
After three years in foster care, our job is to help build a loving family for these two little children.
“They definitely need a family that wants to be there with them on a day in and day out basis, that will be active with them. They love to engage in sports and extracurricular activities. A family that would get excited about taking them to a Dave and Buster's,” said Graham.
Just 7 years old, and already Jayla and Jayden have endured tremendous hurt and neglect. Graham said she is amazed at how they choose to be happy every day despite the abuse they’ve experienced in their lives.
“I've become very protective of them. I think that just with everything that they've gone through and the more that we learn about them and the more that they unpack about their trauma, how they choose to be joyful over everything that they've overcome," she said, praising them for their strength and courage.
"They're just really special," she said.
Jayla and Jayden come as a package. That's non-negotiable.
These beautiful twins want to be adopted together.
For more information on how to adopt Jayla and Jayden, please send all approved home studies to LaQueena Warren at LaQueena.Warren@dfps.texas.gov. Please remember to include Jayla and Jayden's names within the subject line.
Wednesday's Child: These two brothers need a family who will go the distance for them, forever
Wednesday's Child: This courageous brother, sister duo would love to be adopted together
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2022-04-08T22:08:12Z
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Wednesday's Child: Meet twins, 7-year-old Jayden and Jayla | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/outreach/wednesdays-child/wednesdays-child-twins-7-year-old-jayden-and-jayla-want-to-be-adopted-together/287-eda926b1-6861-4659-99b1-c8cc130bb386
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/outreach/wednesdays-child/wednesdays-child-twins-7-year-old-jayden-and-jayla-want-to-be-adopted-together/287-eda926b1-6861-4659-99b1-c8cc130bb386
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Oak Cliff baker accused of killing Dallas artist, burning is his body after Instagram Live interview, court records say
Dr. David Winter, a internal medicine physician at Baylor Scott & White Health told WFAA he saw a rise in patients with allergies and respiratory issues this week.
FORT WORTH, Texas — April showers, wildflower smoke and pollen. It’s all hurting Dallas-Fort Worth's air quality and has left many suffering from allergies and respiratory issues.
The wind is only making it worse, but it didn’t hold people back from visiting the Fort Worth Botanic Garden on Friday.
Isaiah Malone visited the garden with his grandmother and family.
“It’s just a lot of sneezing,” Malone said. “It’s horrible, I can’t sleep.”
Despite strong winds blowing pollen through the air, the garden was bustling with people eager to get a glimpse of flowers and trees in bloom.
The latest pollen count showed Oak, Hackberry and maple pollen levels were high.
Ewwwwwwwww. This pollen page has more words than most books I've read. #wfaaweather pic.twitter.com/GnYjrfPMgt
— Jesse Hawila (@JesseWFAA) April 8, 2022
On Friday, D-FW’S air quality was intermediate, which means people with respiratory issues should try to avoid spending a lot of time outdoors.
“We’re seeing more this week than last week, and if you look outside at the trees you can actually notice the reason why,” Winter said. “We’re also seeing the big cities across the country that have lesser quality air every year, it’s a problem. Dallas is one of those. If you’re in Dallas and there’s O-zone being put out and all kinds of stuff in the air, that’s not good for our lungs or sinuses. We’re seeing the air decline in quality and that’s causing symptoms in patients.”
Molly Ramirez, a new Texas resident who recently moved from Maine, said the region has brought out allergies she never developed in the past.
“It has been the most violent allergies I’ve ever experienced,” Ramirez said. “It’s crazy, you need goggles on to go outside.”
Medstar reported 30 calls for patients with trouble breathing on Thursday, which is about one call per hour. According to MedStar spokesperson Matt Zavadsky, the amount of trouble breathing calls they’ve received is typical for this time of year. Zavadsky said trouble breathing calls were higher in previous weeks when several wildfires burned in West Texas.
Dr. Winter recommends patients use nasal spray at night and allergy medicine to offset symptoms. Additionally, Winter recommends spending less time outdoors for those who are prone to allergies and respiratory issues.
'It just got tossed up like a ragdoll': After tornado, family that owns Benbrook Lake Marina asking community for help
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2022-04-08T23:47:56Z
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DFW Weather: Allergies due to windy weather, pollen | wfaa.com
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Manuel Tellez, 45, interviewed Anthony Moreno at his Maroches Bakery on Instagram Live on April 2, 2022, talking to him about his artwork on display in his shop, according to the arrest-warrant affidavit. They were allegedly in the establishment alone together.
The interview consisted of the two talking about sugar skull art Moreno had for sale inside the bakery.
Once the Instagram interview finished, Moreno texted his wife just after midnight Sunday to let her know he would be home soon, the affidavit said.
It was soon after this interview police said Tellez stabbed Moreno multiple times in an alley about two blocks from the bakery. Tellez left the scene and changed clothing, before he returned to pour gasoline on Moreno and lit his body on fire.
There is surveillance video from a neighbor's backyard that shows Moreno's body on fire at the exact time police said it happened.
Cellphone records and surveillance camera footage from a nearby gas station caught some of Tellez' movements from that night, according to a detective investigating Moreno's death.
In the video, you can see Tellez wearing a white glove filling a gas can, and the affidavit said a similar glove was found at the crime scene. The video allegedly shows Moreno then heading back towards the bakery.
Tellez was also wearing a surgical mask and baseball cap to keep his identity hidden, according to the affidavit. Tellez' SUV had large rust spots on the roof that could also be seen in the surveillance video, making it easy to identify him.
On Sunday, Moreno’s family reported to the police he was missing.
Earlier Friday, Dallas police said officers had arrested Tellez and charged him with murder after allegedly stabbing Moreno and burning his body in an alleyway.
Police said they responded around 9:20 a.m. to the 1300 block of Kings Highway. Officers and fire crews arrived and found Moreno's burned body, according to police.
Tellez was arrested and transported to police headquarters to be interviewed, then taken to the Dallas County jail, officials said Friday.
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2022-04-08T23:48:02Z
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Murder after IG Live: Baker accused of killing Dallas artist | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/oak-cliff-baker-killed-dallas-artist-burned-body-after-social-media-interview/287-212c8e94-b1c8-4fbe-9d0a-88dd2052bde1
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/oak-cliff-baker-killed-dallas-artist-burned-body-after-social-media-interview/287-212c8e94-b1c8-4fbe-9d0a-88dd2052bde1
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More than 27,484 reports of child abuse were made in Dallas County in 2021, according to a coalition of child advocacy groups and agencies.
DALLAS — More than 27,484 reports of child abuse were made in Dallas County in 2021, according to children advocates.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Case workers, investigators, and other advocates are working to bring attention to the serious community issue.
In a symbolic gesture, workers and volunteers with Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center read the names of young victims of child abuse.
“I’m here to give a voice to those who can’t speak for themselves,” one worker said, as he approached a podium in Park South YMCA to read names.
The names read during DCAC’s ‘Save Jane’ campaign demonstrated a significant volume of cases and young victims.
“We substitute their names with Jane Doe and John Doe because we want to make sure they remain anonymous, because they are minors,” said Nikisha Biglow with DCAC.
Awareness included recognizing case workers on the front lines, during an event outside Dallas CASA -Court Appointed Special Advocates in East Dallas.
“We visit the children in their foster homes. We visit them at schools. We go with foster parents to doctor’s appointments, to therapy appointments. So that our judges know the individual circumstance of each child,” said Kathleen LaValle, CEO of Dallas CASA.
The organization, and a coalition of partner agencies, are bringing awareness to those workers who have the tough job of investigating child abuse cases.
They set up a memorial to the 18 abused children who died in Dallas County in the past year. Workers with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said there are ways the community can help.
“We need mentors for our foster children. We do need foster parents and adoptive parents,” said Tiffani Butler.
Children’s advocates believe it takes a community to help keep youth safe.
Several buildings in Downtown Dallas with be lit in blue Friday evening, April 8, to raise awareness to child abuse prevention.
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2022-04-09T01:26:27Z
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month: DFW child advocates speak | wfaa.com
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"This is not about McKinney and this is not about Prosper, this is about all North Texas," said McKinney Mayor George Fuller.
COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — Two major Collin County cities now stand opposed to proposed Highway 380 bypass routes.
The City of Prosper last week approved an ordinance that opposed Segment B of the proposed route. This week, the City of McKinney opposed Segment A of the proposed route.
Last week, Texas Department of Transportation announced the public comment portion would begin for the bypass. The state proposed four route alternatives, which it hopes will alleviate the stress on Highway 380. The proposal calls for an eight-lane road with service roads on each side. The highway currently sees 40,000 vehicles a day.
"We believe town council has the sole authority to determine where roads should go and approve those and not another neighboring community," said Harlan Jefferson, city manager of Prosper.
Jefferson said the city has voted for seven ordinances in four years opposing any routes through the city. The 7th ordinance was voted last week. The city recommends that "380 stay on 380."
"It's counter to the decades of planning our community has gone through," said Jefferson.
WFAA asked if the City of Prosper has taken an official position on whether the "McKinney option" would be preferred.
"We haven't expressed an opinion on a route outside of our corporate limits. We don't think it's our responsibility to do that and we don't think any other community's responsibility to select what happens in Prosper," said Jefferson.
All routes will have some impact on homeowners, property owners, businesses, developers and existing infrastructure.
Proposed Segment A cuts through portions of McKinney. Early this week, the McKinney City Council voted to oppose that route, favoring the Prosper route.
"It's far more efficient and TxDOT has identified it as such. It's less expensive. It displaces less residents and businesses and it's the right approach for regional mobility," said McKinney Mayor George Fuller.
Two cities with two very different ideas on how to fix 380's capacity issues.
WFAA asked Mayor Fuller if the differing opinions have put the neighboring cities at odds with each other.
"We have respect for one another. We're both dealing with constituents... some very emotional. We have to listen and at the end of the day we have to do what is best for the region. This is not about McKinney and this is not about Prosper, this is about all North Texas," said Fuller.
Fuller added that the city is aware of the impact Segment B may have on Manegait, which is a therapeutic horse riding center for children and adults with disabilities and for veterans. Last week, the owner told WFAA they have been in operation for 15 years and one of the routes, Segment B, sits feet from the north side of their property.
"It is important that TxDOT knows that us, as a city council, we certainly respect and want to protect Manegait. We should be able to do that and achieve a more efficient mobility plan," said Fuller.
Colin County has been one of the fastest growing regions in all of the state. Since 2010, its population increase has gone upwards of 32%. The State of Texas has recognized that boom and realized that the county will soon need the infrastructure to support it.
TxDOT has extended the time for online public comment on the project until April 21. Both cities recommend stakeholders voice those concerns.
Construction begins Monday on three-year project to improve traffic, safety on US 380
Prosper mayor says he never called 911 after leaving highway accident with 72-year-old motorcyclist
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2022-04-09T04:39:38Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Collin County: Prosper, McKinney share opinions on HWY 380 | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/two-collin-county-cities-oppose-proposed-highway-bypass-segments/287-5f5267bc-cef1-4ecc-a7be-88cc8269b6c2
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/two-collin-county-cities-oppose-proposed-highway-bypass-segments/287-5f5267bc-cef1-4ecc-a7be-88cc8269b6c2
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The fire happened in the 6000 block of Lancaster Avenue, near East Loop 820.
Credit: Geneva Collins/Twitter
Large fire at a commercial structure near Lancaster Avenue and Loop 820 in eastern Fort Worth.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Crews battled a fire at a "large commercial structure" in eastern Fort Worth on Saturday night, officials said.
Witnesses said large flames could be seen in the area near a shooting range. The Fort Worth Fire Department said the fire was not at the range.
Around 10:45 p.m., it appeared crews had put out the large flames and were working to determine where the fire began. According to witnesses, a building with scrap metal was in the area of the fire.
It's unclear if there were any injuries.
@DFWscanner pic.twitter.com/hGV9biZwUO
— Geneva Collins (@GenevaCollins) April 10, 2022
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2022-04-10T05:18:39Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Fort Worth fire: Crews battling blaze at commercial structure | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fire-crews-battling-blaze-large-commercial-structure-fort-worth/287-3d6702ed-32b5-4d60-94f3-d07299845e49
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fire-crews-battling-blaze-large-commercial-structure-fort-worth/287-3d6702ed-32b5-4d60-94f3-d07299845e49
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DPD data shows murders and business robberies are increasing in Dallas. However, police remain focused on touting violent crime, overall, is down.
DALLAS — Police say violent crime numbers, overall, are on a downward trend in the City of Dallas. However, statistics shared with members of Dallas City Council show murders and robberies of businesses are up.
Updated crime data was shared with city council during its public safety committee meeting on Monday. The meeting came after a weekend involving several cases of gun violence across the city.
“It’s just really concerning,” said Silver Oaoie.
She and her friends work in the Deep Ellum area. They were concerned about a shooting that left two people injured in the 2800 block of Elm Street on Sunday.
Police released surveillance video of the shooting chaos. In it, dozens of people are seen running for cover as bullets are fired.
RELATED: Two injured after shooting in Deep Ellum, police say
“It sucks that it’s happening,” said Faith, another woman who works in Deep Ellum.
Local police continue investigating several weekend homicides. Among them, two people were shot and one man killed outside a house on Jerome Street in East Dallas on Sunday.
Across town in Oak Cliff, a man was left on the ground with fatal gun wounds, outside of an apartment complex on South Polk.
“One of the topics we’re going to cover are issues, lessons learned,” Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia told city council members during the presentation.
Dallas officers detailed the status of some ongoing investigations. They also discussed working with the city attorney’s office to draft ordinances that would require party and event promoters to secure permits for large events.
RELATED: Family of 14-year-old girl injured in southern Dallas concert shooting files lawsuit against organizers, promoters
Police said data shows there are 59 murders, so far this year. That’s six more cases than the same time last year. While robberies of individuals have significantly dropped, business robberies have increased and remain an area of concern for officers.
Among issues, Dallas City Council members urged police to address is staffing challenges. Some city leaders said the problem has resulted in a reduction of neighborhood patrol officers in some areas.
“I think we’ve got to build trust. You’ve got to build trust with the community,” Councilman Tennell Atkins told police.
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2022-04-12T00:16:51Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Dallas crime: police and city council discuss shootings, staffing | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/dallas-police-department-and-city-council-discuss-recent-wave-of-violent-crime/287-37810d5f-c2d9-42bc-b577-ce9542ccb964
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/dallas-police-department-and-city-council-discuss-recent-wave-of-violent-crime/287-37810d5f-c2d9-42bc-b577-ce9542ccb964
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“These drugs and these guns are not going to go in the hands of our kids,” said Officer Jimmy Pollozani, with the Fort Worth Police Department.
FORT WORTH, Texas — The Fort Worth Police Department is continuing to work to reduce crime happening across the city, with a focus on getting drugs and guns off of the streets.
In many crime-ridden areas, criminals are hiding behind certain businesses. On Monday afternoon, WFAA saw Fort Worth police officers stop a car for possible drugs and guns inside.
It’s part of the department's violent task force plan.
Earlier in April, after a weekend in which Dallas and Sacramento both saw deadly mass shootings, the City of Fort Worth held a news conference underscoring its dedication to reducing violent crime within the city.
Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes told reporters Fort Worth is focused on a data-driven approach to reducing violent crime within the city.
We saw @fortworthpd in action yesterday. They’re working hard to bring the crime down in the city.
This stop was for possible drugs, & guns in the car.
Officers are putting their efforts on drug houses, open air drug markets & illegal game rooms that are in smoke shops.@wfaa pic.twitter.com/Mk4BgABGVY
This past weekend, Noakes Tweeted that officers took 18 kilograms of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, fentanyl and other deadly drugs off the streets of Fort Worth.
An example of how working with partner agencies like @TxDPS helps @fortworthpd keep #FortWorthSafe! In addition to 18 kilos of methamphetamine, heroine, cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, MDMA, and a gun were also seized. Thanks #DPS and #FWPD Officers! pic.twitter.com/faZ77v9hXQ
— Chief Neil Noakes (@fwpdchiefnoakes) April 10, 2022
“Coming together, to get drugs, guns, violent offenders off the streets,” Pollozani said.
In 2021, the city of Fort Worth recorded 118 homicides, which is a 27-year high. At a press conference earlier in April, Noakes said he wanted to reduce the city's violent crime rate by 10 percent over the next 12 months.
Officer Pollozani said getting drugs off the streets is a part of the new violent crime plan.
“There are certain departments within Fort Worth PD that are working together, led by a commander, and their main purpose is to find violent offenders drugs and guns,” Pollozani said.
The highlighted areas are considered hotspots in the Fort Worth area. From the west side of town to the Las Vegas trail to the south area, then downtown and finally to the southeast side of the city.
Officers are also trying a different approach to making arrests, according to Fort Worth Police.
“Wherever the intelligence leads us to, we go,” Pollozani said.
Fort Worth Police will put their efforts into drug houses, open-air drug markets and illegal game rooms.
Police said hidden game rooms are one of the biggest problems. In a two-block radius, police said there are seven illegal game rooms that are hiding behind smoke shops.
Police also said officers can’t do this alone. They’re asking the public: If you see something, say something.
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2022-04-13T00:03:54Z
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Fort Worth Police: New violent crime plan underway | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-police-implement-new-violent-crime-plan/287-221697c5-737f-4a50-8abc-9f835554c03a
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-police-implement-new-violent-crime-plan/287-221697c5-737f-4a50-8abc-9f835554c03a
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After being a strength for years, the offensive line has become a position of need for the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the NFL Draft.
The offensive line is one of the places where Dallas is in increasing need of help. Each of the positions along the line could use an upgrade, which means the team could draft a center, guard, or tackle and improve the overall unit.
The Cowboys have been very good at selecting offensive linemen in the first round in recent history, and the hope is that the trend continues if they go that route. Left tackle Tyron Smith (2011), center Travis Frederick (2013) and guard Zach Martin (2014) were all home run selections in the first round.
If Dallas waits until the second round or third round to address the offensive trenches, they haven’t been as successful in recent years.
If Cowboys are going to address the Offensive line in the draft, their best bet is in 1st rd, they’ve been very successful doing that. Tyron, Frederick & Martin are proof.
Team hasnt been nearly as good in 2nd-4th rds at finding OL. The Connor’s, Chaz Green & Arkin are misses.
— Ben Grimaldi (@BenGrimaldi) April 12, 2022
With that in mind, here are the top five offensive line options for the Cowboys with the 24th pick overall:
Kenyon Green, (OG) Texas A&M
Green is one of the most versatile options for the Cowboys as he has experience at tackle and played both guard positions in college. If Dallas lands Green, he would slot into the left guard position and would help solidify a spot on the line vacated by Connor Williams. A major plus for Green is his ability to provide the flexibility to play tackle if needed.
Standing at 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 325 pounds, Green has incredible power and the athleticism of someone smaller. Green routinely moves defensive linemen out of the way, sustains his blocks, and has the speed to get to the second level with ease.
Green was among the 30 pre-draft visiting prospects for the Cowboys and would make a great fit.
Zion Johnson, (OG) Boston College
Johnson is another versatile offensive lineman who lined up at guard and tackle in college. He might not have the size that Green does, but with 33 7/8-inch arms and at 314 pounds, Johnson has the power to keep defenders away with his reach and the athletic ability to win in space against smaller players.
Johnson’s best work is in the running game, but he continues to improve as a pass protector. Like Green, Johnson would likely fit right in at left guard with the Cowboys. A tandem of Johnson next to Smith at left tackle would be an imposing sight for defenses.
Tyler Linderbaum, (C) Iowa
The Cowboys have an adequate starting center in Tyler Biadasz, who has gotten better in his first two seasons in the league, but Linderbaum would be an upgrade. Linderbaum is the best center in the draft and his work during Iowa’s 2021 season made him one of the best offensive linemen in the country, as well as the highest graded player in college football.
The highest-graded player in college football this season:
💪 Tyler Linderbaum pic.twitter.com/xVeTIMl31D
Linderbaum has the technical ability and athleticism to excel, a strong initial punch and the smarts to be one of the top centers in the game.
The biggest question with Linderbaum remains his weight. At just 289 pounds, Linderbaum rarely had issues dominating in college, playing with plenty of strength. If he can continue to do the same at the next level, someone is getting an exceptional prospect at center.
Cowboys fans might be dreaming of Travis Frederick part two, which would make Linderbaum an intriguing pick.
Trevor Penning, (OT) Northern Iowa
If the Cowboys aren’t content to go into the season with third-year man Terence Steele at right tackle, then Penning could be the pick. At 6 feet 7 inches tall and 327 pounds, Penning has the size and strength to line up on either side but is ideally suited at right tackle in the NFL. Penning is strong in the running game and plays with a nasty disposition when finishing off his blocks.
Penning’s wingspan also makes him a good pass blocker because he has the ability to lock onto defenders and the athleticism to combat speed rushers.
Penning is considered a mid-first rounder so he’d need to slide a little to make it to the Cowboys at pick 24, but if he’s available, Penning could be a starting tackle for the next 10 years.
Tyler Smith, (OG) Tulsa
This pick would surprise – and upset – many Cowboys fans but there appears to be some interest from the team in Smith. Despite the fears that he could be a reach, Smith has been a riser on draft boards and the Fort Worth native brings versatility to the table.
A 6-feet-6-inch, 332-pound tackle at Tulsa, Smith is expected to be a guard in the NFL where his strength in the running game is his biggest asset. Smith has shown to be a mauler as a run blocker and he will play to the whistle. There’s a toughness to Smith’s game, but he needs polish as a pass blocker and a refinement to his overall technique. Smith is a solid prospect but doesn’t have the consistency of the top possible options on the offensive line.
If Smith is the pick, then perhaps the Cowboys will have traded out of 24 and gotten value in return. If you’re into histrionics, this selection could make Cowboys draft twitter explode.
Do you think it’s time to start rebuilding the Great Wall of Dallas with a first round pick? Share your thoughts with Ben on Twitter @BenGrimaldi.
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2022-04-13T15:21:22Z
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www.wfaa.com
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NFL Draft 1st round offensive line options for Dallas Cowboys | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/nfl-draft-dallas-cowboys-options-offensive-line/287-5f7f6c92-55e4-4186-942f-eec876f49374
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/nfl-draft-dallas-cowboys-options-offensive-line/287-5f7f6c92-55e4-4186-942f-eec876f49374
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According to a Facebook post from the Haltom City Police Department's page, a woman in an orange shirt allegedly walked into the library and stole the skeleton.
Credit: Haltom City Police Department
HALTOM CITY, Texas — North Texas investigators are asking for help identifying a woman who allegedly stole a skeleton out of a public library, according to the Haltom City Police Department.
According to a Facebook post from Wednesday on the department's page, a woman in an orange shirt allegedly walked into the Haltom City public library and stole a decorative skeleton on Monday, April 4.
The day after it was taken, the library put out its own Facebook post in hopes of getting its skeleton back, saying:
"Our beloved Boney Stark has gone missing. It is a sad, sad day here at the library. If anyone has any information as to their whereabouts, please let us know. We simply want them returned to their rightful place on the bench."
Haltom City Police said in its post that they would like to talk to the woman shown in the photo with the skeleton, saying in part in the Facebook post:
"Maybe more importantly we'd like to know 'why' someone might decide to take it?? What sort of decor do you have that a skeleton in a Tinkerbell costume just 'completes the ambiance?' Do you have other skeletons that needed company? Are those skeletons real...cause that would be a weird twist."
The Haltom City Police Department is asking the public for help identifying a woman in an orange shirt who looks to be taking a skeleton from the local library.
Police are asking anyone who recognizes the woman in the photo to email the library at library@haltomcitytx.com.
The department finished its Facebook post with its final request:
"Let's bring Boney Stark home!"
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2022-04-13T23:01:05Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Police: Skeleton stolen from Haltom City public library | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/woman-steals-decorated-skeleton-from-haltom-city-library-police-say/287-5eea8d86-dfaf-40ce-bad6-cbf606bc88fc
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/woman-steals-decorated-skeleton-from-haltom-city-library-police-say/287-5eea8d86-dfaf-40ce-bad6-cbf606bc88fc
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Republicans, Democrats and businesses across Texas have criticized the new policy, but Wednesday Abbott doubled down
DALLAS — Trucks crossing from Mexico into Texas are waiting 10 times longer than normal with delays moving from just minutes to hours and days.
Little Bear Produce in Edinburg has had some trucks waiting to cross since Monday. On Wednesday afternoon, its 15-loading docks were all empty.
“It was a very poorly made decision,” Bret Erickson, Little Bear’s senior vice president of business affairs, said. “It was a direct slap to businesses.”
Last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed the Department of Public Safety to inspect every truck crossing into Texas from Mexico.
Erickson said, in a few days it’s cost the business hundreds of thousands of dollars and forced them to cut worker hours.
RELATED: Delays at the border over Gov. Abbott's call for more inspections could mean higher prices, fewer options in the produce section
US Customs and Border Patrol says there’s been a 60% drop in commercial traffic at the border. Due to protests in Mexico over the backups, the Pharr Bridge was completely shut down Wednesday. On a typical day, it handles $70 million in goods.
“I knew immediately as soon as I heard about it it was going to be a huge wreck,” said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.
Miller, a Republican up for reelection, said Abbott never contacted him about the policy. Tuesday, he sent a letter to Gov. Abbott saying the policy would create a ‘catastrophe’ at the border.
“It’s going to cause empty shelves in the produce aisle,” Miller said in an interview Wednesday. “It was all a surprise to me and still haven’t heard back from him.”
Miller said this time of year, the United States is particularly reliant on Mexican produce, particularly melons and fruits and leafy greens.
“You don’t stop a crisis by implementing a second crisis,” he said.
In a press conference Wednesday, Abbott didn’t deny the inspections created delays. Instead, he said the delays were expected and would be used to get Mexican leaders to negotiate on border security.
Abbott said he would only stop inspections in Nuevo Leon, which handles one of 13 commercial crossings, after an agreement with its Governor to patrol its 9 miles of the 1,200-mile border. The signed agreement did not provide specifics on what that would entail or how success would be monitored.
Erickson and Miller believe the new checkpoint inspections do little to combat smuggling because DPS is doing safety checks for issues like engine problems, taillights or brakes, but is not looking inside of the trucks. US Customs and Border Patrol inspects the trucks and Erickson said Little Bear’s produce is further inspected by the FDA and USDA.
“This program does nothing to alleviate illegal immigration,” Miller said. “I don’t think he’s going to find anything. I don’t think it’s going to be anything that would secure the border.”
RELATED: First bus carrying Texas migrants arrives in D.C. full of men, women and children; more on the way
“Those dangerous vehicles with dangerous brakes could’ve run into a Texan walking across the road,” Abbott said at the press conference.
The Texas Trucking Association (TXTA) released a statement Wednesday saying, “this new initiative duplicates existing screening efforts and leads to significant congestion, delaying the products Americans rely on from our largest trading partner, Mexico. The current situation on the border simply cannot be sustained and we urge President Joe Biden and Governor Greg Abbott to come together before our economy endures further irreparable damage.”
There are few options for trucking companies. Erickson said they have tried to redirect drivers, but other companies are doing the same thing, which is creating further bottlenecks at other entry points. The other alternative is a 1,200-mile detour to enter through Arizona. Erickson and Miller said that route would drive business out of Texas.
“We’ve already got a shipping crisis on our hands and this just adds to it,” said Miller.
Little Bear Produce is still recovering from losing tens of millions of dollars on crops during the February freeze in 2021. Erickson said now, the product their product still on trucks will either rot or be returned to be sold in Mexico.
“It’s very frustrating and it’s a tough pill to swallow when we’re already battling this uphill slew of challenges,” he said. “It’s going to mean a poorer quality that goes to consumer and a higher price.”
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2022-04-14T02:02:58Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Texas border delays: Businesses angry over Gov. Abbott's policy | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-businesses-attack-gov-abbotts-new-border-checks-blocking-trade/287-44bcf1b5-906a-4413-9b8c-efbcbd6f6ed5
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-businesses-attack-gov-abbotts-new-border-checks-blocking-trade/287-44bcf1b5-906a-4413-9b8c-efbcbd6f6ed5
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Here's what 14 acres of new green space would look like at Fair Park
This "park within a park" concept transforms the largest parking lot on the campus into a 14-acre natural Blackland Prairie.
DALLAS — Fair Park officials on Thursday released early renderings for the new "Community Park."
The Community Park is part of the $85 million Fair Park Your Park Capital Campaign launched in spring 2021.
This "park within a park" concept would transform the largest parking lot on the campus into a 14-acre natural Blackland Prairie, officials said in a press release. The Community Park will also have over one acre of playgrounds and play features dispersed across the site.
“We challenged Studio-MLA and this design team to embrace a 360-degree approach to this plan,” said Darren L. James, Chairman and President of Fair Park First. “We do not see the park as having one front entrance. We see it interacting with all four sides in different ways. Then, once you enter the park, we want to provide a different experience with all the elements that are inviting you to move across the space.”
Here is a look at the renderings of the new park:
Fair Park Management Team
Courtesy: Fair Park Management Team
Primary access to the Community Park will be through walking, biking and drving a vehicle.
The Community Park design will include extensive streetscape improvements along Pennsylvania Avenue, Exposition Avenue, Lagow Street, and Fitzhugh Avenue to ensure there is equitable access to all modes of transportation, according to the project's website.
A parking lot will also be provided on-site that will be open year-round to Community Park users.
For more information, please visit www.fairparkfirst.org.
New A&E reality show 'Deep Fried Dynasty' puts the big business of State Fair of Texas food vendors into focus
The ultimate food fight comes to Fair Park
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2022-04-14T16:44:42Z
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Dallas Fair Park: Designs released of new 14-acre park | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fair-park-community-park-renderings/287-c85b27d7-666c-4cb6-a241-a728fad947a3
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fair-park-community-park-renderings/287-c85b27d7-666c-4cb6-a241-a728fad947a3
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The event is free and open to the public. Guests will have an opportunity to hang out with Miller during a day of fun, fellowship and appreciation.
DESOTO, Texas — Editor's note: The video published above is a WFAA report on Von Miller Day from 2016.
NFL star and DeSoto native Von Miller will return to the Lone Star State on Saturday to host the 5th annual Von Miller Day, a community appreciation event he hosts in his hometown.
This will be the first Von Miller Day event held in two years after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Event organizers say guests will receive prizes, including Dallas Mavs beads, Parrish McDonald's gift cards, Texas Rangers game tickets, and get to meet, greet and get autographs with Von Miler. There will also be live entertainment, bounce houses, games, a photo station and more.
“This is one of my most favorite times of the year, especially now that we are able to gather safely after COVID," Miller said. “I get to come home and love on my community and that feels great.”
More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the free community fun day. Guests must register and complete a waiver form at eventbrite.com.
The event is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. at Les Zeiger Park, located at 400 Eagle Dr., in Desoto. Guests will also be able to enjoy a buffet fit for Easter dinner serving more than 600lbs of Crawfish, boxes of Williams Fried chicken, burgers, bar-b-que, free Slurpee’s and more, according to event organizers.
Miller, a premier pass rusher, returns to Texas fresh off his Super Bowl win with the Los Angeles Rams. He signed with the Buffalo Bills this offseason.
“Win or lose, I count it a blessing to be doing the work I love, but I am more excited about giving back to my community," Miller said. “We have all been through a lot over the past couple of years, and It is my joy to simply love on people and to allow the kids a day to eat whatever they want, play games and have fun."
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After 13 seasons and a team change, Highland Park's Matthew Stafford is a Super Bowl champ
DeSoto celebrates Von Miller Day
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2022-04-14T16:45:02Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Von Miller Day: NFL star holds community day in Texas hometown | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/von-miller-desoto-coumminty-fun-day-2022/287-e3a561c9-037e-4400-95b0-28da5e08dcf8
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/von-miller-desoto-coumminty-fun-day-2022/287-e3a561c9-037e-4400-95b0-28da5e08dcf8
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Governor Greg Abbott and Nuevo León Gov. Samuel Alejandro García Sepúlveda announced an agreement they say will help ease commercial traffic at the Laredo-Colombia bridge, one of at least four international bridges where state troopers have done additional inspections on cargo, causing hourslong delays the past week.
After a Wednesday meeting, the governors announced the deal during a news conference in Laredo, where truckers have been experiencing waits of three hours to cross, which is significantly longer than the average wait times of 15 minutes on a Wednesday afternoon.
In the Rio Grande Valley, no commercial vehicles have crossed the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge, typically the busiest commercial crossing in the Valley, all week after truckers on the Mexico side on Monday began blocking north- and southbound lanes in protest of the new inspections.
The inspections quickly led to widespread delays for cross-border trade after Abbott announced the program last week.
"If he stopped this very moment, there's gonna be permanent damage, and it'll take a while to overcome it," Miller said. "If it keeps up, you can see $5 avocadoes, you know, $1-to-$2 lemons."
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2022-04-14T23:30:30Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Gov. Greg Abbott changes policy, eases state inspections at one commercial border bridge | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/gov-abbott-press-conference-a-week-after-making-headlines-for-new-border-policy/273-7420f25c-d770-4272-b695-fea61f0f9274
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/gov-abbott-press-conference-a-week-after-making-headlines-for-new-border-policy/273-7420f25c-d770-4272-b695-fea61f0f9274
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The struggle is real, and most families have felt it. It’s difficult to find a sanitary place to change a baby at a stadium. Not anymore at Texas Rangers games.
ARLINGTON, Texas — A night at a ballpark can make for an oh-so-fun night for families.
But, take it from the Guernseys from Fort Worth. There can be one not-so-fun problem – finding a clean, private place to change a baby.
“Normally she’s pretty good about telling us she has to go. She’s a little over two. But yeah, it can get difficult finding a spot,” said Tyler Guernsey.
Guernsey's eight-month pregnant wife, Kayla, was pushing their 2-year-old, Adeline, in a stroller at Globe Life Field.
This season, the Texas Rangers are offering a new solution for families like them.
The team partnered with Hello Bello, a baby product company founded by husband and wife actors Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell, to offer free diapers, wipes, soap and sanitizer in multiple private rooms at Globe Life Field.
“I have three young kids and I’ve been to many sporting events where you’re trying to find that place to change a diaper or feed a baby,” said Erica Buxton, president of Hello Bello.
The company opened a new diaper factory in Waco, and Buxton said they wanted to offer a perk to families in Texas.
So, Globe Life Field is their first sports venue to venture into.
Eight rooms are fully stocked and accessible to fans in multiple locations across the ballpark.
In the lower concourse, the rooms are near section 20 and section 27.
In the main concourse, they are near section 101, section 125 and section 130.
On the suite level, a room is by guest services.
And in the upper concourse, rooms are in section 209 and section 224.
Four additional rooms are stocked for players’ families and Rangers’ administrative offices.
They call them “mother’s rooms,” but Buxton stressed they are very much for dads, too
“No, not just mothers, but families of all,” she said.
“My husband has changed plenty of diapers in plenty of places and that was always a complaint that there’s so many places that don’t have changing spaces in the guys’ bathrooms.”
Kayla and Tyler Guernsey said the biggest struggle at a public venue can be finding a sanitary place to change a little one.
Some of the rooms at Globe Life Field are outfitted with a self-sanitizing diaper changing table produced by Pluie, Buxton said.
They’re also decorated in Hello Bello patterns.
Buxton said because the company’s diaper factory is in Waco, it will be easy to make sure the free products remain stocked all season.
“Affordability and accessibility is a core part of our brand, and this just lines right up with what our mission is,” Buxton said.
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2022-04-15T04:16:36Z
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www.wfaa.com
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Globe Life Field has free diapers during Texas Rangers games | wfaa.com
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas-rangers-hello-bello-free-diapers-private-changing-rooms-globe-life-field/287-ff2ce859-02d8-405b-a401-1cbda5e8b394
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https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas-rangers-hello-bello-free-diapers-private-changing-rooms-globe-life-field/287-ff2ce859-02d8-405b-a401-1cbda5e8b394
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