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11/16/2009

Clooney's new film co-stars American Airlines

Cold Spring Pictures

George Clooney's next film features American Airlines as a co-star.

11/20/2009

Wrecking ball set for old apartments in Oak Cliff
If you like watching stuff being torn down, and if you want to witness a pivotal event, get on out to Fort Worth Avenue in Oak Cliff at 9 a.m. Saturday and see the growling bulldozers work.

Dallas-Fort Worth area news briefs for Nov. 20
Two retired teachers from the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District filed suit Thursday to prevent the school district from spending any more money on legal fees related to the seating of trustee Richard Fleming to the school board.

Personalized Texas license plates available again
A public-private partnership created to sell personalized license plates in Texas has returned with new owners after shutting down a year ago.

Lance Cpl. Shawn Patrick Hefner: Marine was fun-loving and fearless, father says
Shawn Patrick Hefner was promoted to be a Marine lance corporal on Nov. 1 and scheduled to return to his home base at Camp Lejeune, N.C., sometime next week.

Towing firm fails to block Dallas County from soliciting contracts for constables
The owner of a company that tows for two Dallas County constables tried unsuccessfully late Wednesday to stop the county from soliciting towing contracts for those constables.

Dallas school district violated grant rules, auditors find
The Dallas Independent School District violated rules for a number of federal grant programs in 2008-09, including giving "teacher incentive" stipends to educators who may not have been eligible for the awards, auditors have found.

Rufus C. Burleson: Prize-winning boxer breeder
Rufus C. Burleson had an eye for judging dogs, which he used to build a reputation for breeding prize boxers.

11/19/2009

High sodium levels found in water sample from Barnett Shale drilling in Flower Mound
A report on the water produced from gas drilling operations in the Barnett Shale shows high concentrations of sodium and traces of other elements.

UTD hopes to build community
The ambition discussed among former and current University of Texas at Dallas presidents Wednesday afternoon did not mention Harvard or Stanford.

Police have suspects but have made no arrests in Cedar Hill teen's death
Authorities said they have suspects but had made no arrests as of Wednesday in the case of a Cedar Hill teen who had been missing since last month and was found dead Friday afternoon.

Lewis James Riley: Ford worker, World War II combat veteran felt life was blessed
Lewis James Riley cheated death twice as a boy and several times as a World War II Marine in the South Pacific.

U.S. trade representative Ron Kirk to speak at United Negro College Fund luncheon
Former Dallas mayor and current U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk will headline the third annual United Negro College Fund's North Texas luncheon Friday.

Dallas attorney files complaint against district judge over blunt e-mails
An attorney has filed a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct about blunt, critical e-mails written by a Dallas judge about other judges.

Students' speech rights become murkier on social networking Web sites
School rules are trickier in cyberspace. As social networking sites attract younger followers, schools across the country are grappling with the fuzzy boundary between harmless online chatter and valid security concerns. The issue hit North Texas this month when two Frisco middle-schoolers were suspended for threatening to kill their teacher on Facebook.

Dallas County pharmacies begin distributing swine flu vaccine
The first day of widespread pharmacy-based distribution of the swine flu vaccine in Dallas County went off without any serious hitches, the Dallas County health department said Wednesday.

DMN Problem Solver Eye About Town
Problem: Alma Road at Eldorado Parkway in McKinney does not have clearly marked turn-only lanes, causing reckless driving and backed-up traffic.

DMN Problem Solver Eye About Town
Problem: A pothole at the intersection of Vista Meadow and Bent Tree drives in Dallas.

Dallas City Council considers new rules tackling stormwater runoff
Dallas could soon ask developers to control the quality, as well as the quantity, of stormwater runoff under a plan being examined by City Hall.

Asian culture and community events in the Dallas area
Yeohlee Teng moved to New York from Malaysia to study fashion at the Parsons School of Design. She has worked as a designer primarily in New York City and established her own house, Yeohlee Inc., in 1981. Teng believes that "clothes have magic." Her designs have earned a permanent place in the Costume Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the late Richard Martin, then chief curator, called her "one of the most ingenious makers of clothing today."

11/18/2009

Dallas-Fort Worth area news briefs for Nov. 18
Dallas Area Rapid Transit will hold a public meeting tonight to provide an update on construction of the Orange Line, which eventually will connect downtown Dallas to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Lewisville school board OKs Flower Mound field house despite $500,000 added cost
In a split vote, the Lewisville school board has approved plans for a new field house at Flower Mound High School but blamed town officials for adding $500,000 to the cost of the project.

11/16/2009

Finding health care at a discount

Alliance of North Texas doctors offer discount cash prices on some common tests and medical procedures.

11/17/2009

Grand jury won't indict Fort Worth police officer in man's Taser death
FORT WORTH– A grand jury has opted not to indict a Fort Worth police officer who used a Taser twice on a man who died about an hour later.

Plano to set date for special election to fill Mabrie Jackson's council seat
Plano plans to hold a special election to fill the City Council seat of Mabrie Jackson, who resigned Monday to run for the state Legislature.

Mexico seeks remedy to $3.1 million judgment in Dallas property lawsuit

Robert Harvey Hugman Jr.: Artist behind Big D logo, signs at D/FW Airport
Robert Harvey Harold "Harv" Hugman Jr. designed the city of Dallas' official Big D logo and was the artist behind the signs at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Nature feints with warmth, then delivers cold blow to Dallas
Weeks of warm weather may have put us in mind of September, but a blast of colder air that rolled into North Texas made it clear that even in Big D, fall has some teeth.

Department of Transportation to toughen bus safety regulations
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Transportation Department announced Monday that it will toughen bus safety regulations by requiring seat belts, recording devices and other features, weeks after an investigation of a fatal Texas crash resulted in a scathing review of safety rules.

11/16/2009

New audit shows improvement at Dallas ISD

Dallas Independent School District board members got a preview Monday of an independent audit that revealed the district's making improvements from the financial mismanagement that defined it last year.

UNT students voting on eligibility of gay couples for homecoming court

The University of North Texas Student Government Association is allowing students to decide if a new rule allowing same sex couples to represent the university as homecoming king and queen needs to be in the bylaws.

DISD worker carrying gun on campus accidentally shoots self

WFAA-TV

A Dallas Independent School District maintenance worker is recovering at Parkland Hospital after shooting himself with a gun he carried onto an elementary campus.

Grand jury declines to indict Fort Worth officer in Taser death

File

Michael Patrick Jacobs Jr.

"This case is considered closed," said police Chief Jeff Halstead after the panel cleared Officer Stephanie Phillips in the death of Michael Patrick Jacobs Jr.

UNT students vote on same-sex homecoming court

UNT students are voting online until midnight Friday as to whether same-sex or gender neutral couples will be allowed to run for homecoming king and queen.

Dallas County to hold two more swine flu vaccine clinics

WFAA-TV

Dallas County health officials today announced two mass vaccination clinics at two different locations — Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Oak Cliff and at Barnabas Presbyterian Church in Richardson.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma doesn't stop Arlington grandma

WFAA-TV

Watching the Cowboys game with her granddaughters is a favorite pastime for Eunice Kendall, and time is something she doesn't take for granted. Kendall was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma nearly two years ago.

Man injured in shooting at Dallas elementary school

WFAA-TV

It's a "gun free" zone, but a Dallas ISD employee was wounded this morning when he accidentally shot himself on the campus of Umphrey Lee Elementary School.

One dead, another hurt in Arlington wreck

Bryan Titsworth / WFAA-TV

Police said they found three vehicles at the scene just after 10:30 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 20 near Green Oaks Boulevard.

Toddler dies after sister backs over him with SUV

WFAA-TV

A toddler was killed after his older sister accidentally backed over him with a SUV Sunday at an Oak Cliff apartment complex.

Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth ordains its first female priest

Susan Slaughter is the first woman to be ordained as a priest in the diocese. It is a story that has made national headlines.

Dallas-Fort Worth regional briefs
Texas Winds Musical Outreach will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a concert at 10:45 a.m. today at the West Dallas Senior Center. Three of the nonprofit's ensembles will perform: the Perennial Brass, the Gospel Trio and the Trinity River Bottom Ramblin' Breakdown-Style Fiddle Music.

11/15/2009

Man with MS seeks legalization of medical marijuana

WFAA-TV

Tim Timmons smokes pot to ease the pain of multiple sclerosis. "I have to support black market crime," he said.

Dallas' Top 10 addresses for vehicle burglaries

WFAA-TV

The City of Dallas says your car, truck or SUV is most at risk when parked at fitness clubs, Walmart stores, truck stops, and the posh NorthPark Center.

11/14/2009

Group calls for end of gas chambers at Garland shelter

Citizens for Reform of the Animal Shelter is opposed to the practice of using carbon monoxide gas to euthanize animals.

11/15/2009

Humane Society celebrates new Irving facility
Irving's lost and abandoned pets will soon be smiling. Their new home is almost ready.

Education Notes

Community Calendar

Influential Plano legislator McCall plans not to seek re-election
Veteran Plano lawmaker Brian McCall, who was a leader of the move to depose Speaker Tom Craddick and restore a more bipartisan tenor to the Texas House, plans to announce Monday that he has decided not to seek re-election.

Over-achieving football team has TCU backers Frog-wild
Chris Dunn remembers the lean years of TCU football. The team posted a 1-10 record when he attended a decade ago. So Dunn wasn't about to miss the chance to see the undefeated, fourth-ranked Horned Frogs play No. 16 Utah in a nationally televised game Saturday night.

Replacing Dallas police chief a test of politics, diplomacy
The only job that might be harder than being a big city police chief is hiring a big city police chief.

AT A GLANCE: CHOOSING A NEW DALLAS POLICE CHIEF

17 years on the job, Officer Joe became Officer Debbie
After 17 years with the Dallas Police Department, Officer Joseph Grabowski showed up at work one day sporting makeup, a feminine hairstyle and a new first name: Deborah.

Volunteers put Justice Revival spirit to work in projects across Dallas
Classes were out Saturday, but Barbara Jordan Elementary School was humming with activity.

Regional Roundup

Editor's Note: Freedoms often fragile in other places
I try to remind myself never to take our freedoms for granted.

Arlington mom indicted on murder charge in boy's hot-car death
Prosecutors say an Arlington woman accused in the hot-car death of her 17-month-old son outside her workplace has been indicted on a felony murder charge.

Decomposing trash at Lewisville landfill used to power homes
The landfill rises sharply from a flat floodplain in southeastern Lewisville, looking more like a long, grassy hill than a mound of discarded paper towels, eggshells and cereal boxes.

City and school district meetings, agendas

Group seeks suggestions on new vision for Garland Road in Dallas
Garland Road in Dallas includes a beautiful stretch with White Rock Lake and the Arboretum on one side and the sloping lawns of mansions on the other. Then the beauty comes to a screeching halt.

WHAT YOU SAID: GARLAND ROAD
We asked readers of our East Dallas community blog what changes they'd like to see on Garland Road. Here's a sample of their responses:

GARLAND ROAD VISION MEETING

Dallas County constables use staffs to bolster campaigns
In the obscure and often overlooked down-ballot races for Dallas County constable, incumbents need campaign money and volunteers from wherever they can find them.

Dallas-Fort Worth cities let more services go private to cut costs
Plano decided to eliminate its city printing and graphic design staff in September, farming out the work to Office Depot and Ricoh.

Dallas Good Kid: Highland Park High senior Katherine McDaniel
Katherine McDaniel

Dallas-area education notes

Dallas community calendar

10 years after A&M bonfire collapse, tradition endures but memories of fatal night burn on
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Ten years after the tragedy, the Texas A&M bonfire exists as a tradition in exile.

11/14/2009

Oak Cliff church rises anew from the ashes

File 2007 / WFAA-TV

It's been more than two years since fire destroyed St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Oak Cliff. But in two weeks, the church will celebrate a new beginning.

Volunteers in Euless search for missing woman

WFAA-TV

Kristen Charbonneau hasn't been seen in more than four years. Euless police believe she was murdered, and on Saturday volunteers looked for clues into her mysterious disappearance.

Bill Lane: Mansfield's man of many hats

File / WFAA-TV

In the City of Mansfield, Bill Lane is in charge of the police department. He's in charge of the fire department. He's the city lawyer. He's a judge. And that's not all.

Garland man killed when truck crashes into Trinity River

The Texas Department of Public Safety said the victim's 1993 Ford pickup truck was discovered submerged in the water on Saturday morning.

Dallas mayor could have Senate ambitions

WFAA-TV

Mayor Tom Leppert tells WFAA's "Inside Texas Politics" that he is considering the possibility of running in a special election when Kay Bailey Hutchison leaves office.

Dramatic drop in Dallas traffic tickets

WFAA-TV

A month ago, Dallas police officers were writing up to 750 traffic tickets a day. But after a News 8 report on citations being incorrectly issued, that number has plummeted.

Texas Faith
Texas Faith is a weekly discussion that poses questions about religion, politics and culture to a panel of religious leaders. This week's question: How can religious leaders – Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and any other – keep the Fort Hood incident from creating fear, tension and misunderstanding?

Fort Worth man charged with capital murder in Flower Mound death of pregnant girlfriend
A 20-year-old Fort Worth man has been charged with capital murder in connection with the beating death of his 16-year-old girlfriend, who was about six weeks pregnant.

Allen ISD special ed students prove themselves on the job
Ben Hair would rather be designing games for Nintendo than doing basic kitchen chores for the Hilton Garden Inn.

After 8 years, Rowlett's old Brookshire's will revive as discount grocer
After sitting vacant for more than eight years, the former Brookshire's building in western Rowlett is coming alive.

ALDI LOCATIONS
Chicago-based Aldi Inc. plans to open more than a dozen grocery stores in the Dallas area. Locations:

Regional briefs

Oak Cliff events to feature art, music and food this weekend
Art, music and food will be at the core of events this weekend in Oak Cliff.

Deportation lets hundreds in Dallas County avoid prosecution
Hundreds of defendants awaiting trial for violent crimes in Dallas County have been deported by federal immigration officials and then set free in their home countries.

Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert says he'd consider a run for U.S. Senate
Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert said Friday that he would consider running in a special election for U.S. Senate.

Walkathon and 5K to raise awareness of Dallas' homeless
Dallas is raising awareness of the homeless the next several days by putting on a walkathon, providing information and honoring those who help.

Dallas County commissioner seeks new judge in constable case
Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins will have to wait a little longer for a judge to hear his request to stop an investigation that county commissioners ordered into two constables' employment practices.

With TCU at 9-0 and ranked 4th, Frog Fever infects Fort Worth
FORT WORTH – In a city where the stock show often generates more buzz than college football, the TCU Horned Frogs have in the space of a week become Cowtown's biggest craze.

Episcopal Diocese in Fort Worth to ordain first female priest
For the first time, a woman is to be ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.

Catching up

State report offers solutions for concerns with Trinity River levees - but Army Corps must approve them
The sand problems found in the Trinity River levees near the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge can be easily fixed, according to a long-awaited analysis by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Keller clock operator's love for football still ticking
KELLER – Don Blevins has been in love with Keller football for more than a half-century.

Fired Dallas County deputy gets 15 years for cocaine theft
A federal judge called a former Dallas County sheriff's deputy's conduct "sad, appalling and tragic" before sentencing him to 15 years for stealing cocaine from an undercover agent he thought was drug trafficker.