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11/06/2009

Praise for unassuming hero of Fort Hood shootings

Courtesy

Few people on the sprawling Fort Hood military installation were more qualified to answer the call for help during Thursday's shooting tragedy than civilian police Sgt. Kimberly Munley.

11/07/2009

State defends withholding flu vaccine distribution info
Texas recently ordered a shipment of 22,600 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine to be sent to a doctor in Dallas County. Another doctor got 14,036. Another got 6,780.

CDC says H1N1 still widespread in 48 states
The 2009 H1N1 flu is still widespread in 48 states, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

Volunteers keep Dallas' Breast Cancer 3-Day walk on track
On Friday, almost 3,000 walkers took off on their 60-mile journey as part of Dallas' Breast Cancer 3-Day walk. It also was the starting line for more than 450 volunteers.

LUBBOCK
LUBBOCK – The fired Lubbock State School worker accused in the death of a resident has turned himself in.

Items tied to Kennedy assassination to be auctioned in Dallas
Calling all Kennedy connoisseurs.If you've got John F. Kennedy assassination fascination (and money to burn), Heritage Auction Galleries wants you to come down today and get yourself some souvenirs from Dallas' "weekend of destiny," as they call it.

Regional roundup for 11-7

East Texas legislator switching to GOP
AUSTIN – State Rep. Chuck Hopson says he's leaving the Democratic Party and becoming a Republican.

Fort Hood shooting poses complications for Muslims in the military
Army Spc. Naveed Ali Shah was at his base in Iraq when he got a disturbing e-mail. His wife, Angela, said she and their toddler son were in lockdown at Fort Hood because of a shooting rampage.

John W. Mashek: Started political reporting career at The Dallas Morning News
John W. Mashek – who started his journalism career at The Dallas Morning News in 1955 – became a high-profile political reporter. He covered presidential campaigns and conventions that spanned four decades and was a panelist on televised presidential and vice presidential debates.

Wounded 3 times, officer still took down Fort Hood gunman
KILLEEN, Texas – No one who knows Kimberly Munley is surprised that she went head to head with Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan and came out on top.

Critics challenge validity of Balch Springs mayor's doctorate
Carrie Gordon is mayor of Balch Springs and a Dallas city planner. But it's another title she uses – doctor – that has some critics complaining.

Dallas-area residents pause, reflect, donate blood for soldiers
The bloodshed at Fort Hood continued to resonate Friday in North Texas, where residents showed support in words, deeds and silence.

AUCTION INFO
About 700 pop-culture items, including the JFK memorabilia, are up for bid today at Heritage Auction Galleries.

11/06/2009

Could the Fort Hood attack have been prevented?

While friends and colleagues of U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan are stunned by what happened at Fort Hood on Thursday afternoon, the military psychiatrist was on the radar of federal agents six months ago.

Security heightened at North Texas mosques

WFAA-TV

Some Muslims fear backlash following the mass shooting at Fort Hood on Thursday afternoon.

'Controlled chaos' as shots rang out at Fort Hood

WFAA-TV

Some soldiers actually raced toward the sound of gunfire Thursday afternoon because they intuitively understood that their helpwas urgently needed.

Fort Hood tragedy: How you can help

News 8 has received many calls from people who are moved by the tragic shootings at Fort Hood and want to help.

Woman and grandson perish in Fort Worth fire

The first firefighters saw no visible smoke as they arrived at the home in the 6000 block of Truman Drive... until they opened the front door.

Hundreds of accused felons deported rather than prosecuted

Hundreds of accused felons charged with murder, rape, assault and kidnapping have been deported from Dallas County without having to face criminal prosecution.

Ronald Lee Shirey: Choir director at TCU for over 30 years
Ronald Lee Shirey used his passion and musical talent to direct choirs throughout his adult life. He started directing as a college sophomore to support his mother, following his father's death.

Crews install Riverfront Boulevard signs in Dallas, marking end of era for Industrial
Dallas now has a Riverfront. At least, that's what the new signs say.

Dallas-Fort Worth area briefs

3 Fort Worth officers suspended for role in raid at gay bar
FORT WORTH – Police Chief Jeff Halstead said he wanted to close a painful chapter and start a new one as he stood in front of a gay bar Thursday to announce the suspensions of a sergeant and two police officers over a controversial raid conducted there in late June.

Interstate 35E to be shut down for DART construction
All northbound lanes of Interstate 35E will be closed Sunday night for construction related to Dallas Area Rapid Transit's Orange Line. The southbound lanes will close Monday night.

Man loses home of more than 40 years in Red Bird- area fire
It had been his home since he was a child. But now the victim of a fire is left with only rubble.

Austin College in Sherman welcomes its first female president
SHERMAN – Warmth and good humor flooded over the crowd in Austin College's Wynne Chapel on Thursday as the small liberal arts school officially welcomed its 15th president and first female leader.

Man gets life in prison for killing woman at Far North Dallas smoke shop
DENTON – A gang member who said he was high on PCP when he killed a woman at a Far North Dallas smoke shop was sentenced Thursday to life in prison.

SMU professor Al Armendariz named EPA region administrator
Dr. Al Armendariz, a Southern Methodist University engineering professor who has sharply criticized federal and state regulators for not cracking down on North Texas polluters, was named on Thursday as the Environmental Protection Agency's new regional administrator over Texas and four adjacent states.

Northeast Dallas day care sued over toddler's 2008 death
The mother of a 2-year-old girl who a year ago choked to death on a pea-sized piece of gravel has sued the former owners of a day care center in northeast Dallas, charging them with negligence.

Fundraising for Bush presidential library tops $200 million
Former President George W. Bush has raised more than $200 million for his library at SMU, sources close to him said, putting him more than two-thirds of the way toward a $300 million goal by groundbreaking next year.

11/05/2009

Army: Fort Hood shootings suspect is alive

Military officials were starting Friday to piece together what may have pushed an Army psychiatrist trained to help soldiers in distress to turn on his comrades in a shooting rampage that killed 13 people and wounded 31 in Texas.

Smooth sailing on day two of swine flu clinic

WFAA-TV

When doors opened at 8 a.m., more than 700 people were lined up at the already had lined up at the Dallas County Health Department on North Stemmons Freeway. However, lines were much shorter in the afternoon.

Italians, not Texans, building signature Dallas bridge

WFAA-TV

NEWS 8 INVESTIGATES
The new Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge that will soon span the Trinity River in Dallas is being assembled by foreign workers who may not be legally entitled to take American construction jobs.

Dallas fire destroys man's childhood home

Robert Flagg / WFAA-TV

The owner was not at home when fire raced through the one-story residence in the 7900 block of Silverdale Drive shortly after midnight.

Police ID man found slain in doorway of Dallas home

Robert Flagg / WFAA-TV

Police said 36-year-old Hashim Anderson was shot early today after answering the door at his East Oak Cliff residence.

11/04/2009

Police issue report into raid at Fort Worth gay bar

WFAA-TV

"I'm here today to close a chapter for this investigation and for this incident," said Fort Worth police Chief Jeff Halstead. "But notice I said I'm here to close a chapter — I'm not here to close a book."

11/05/2009

West zone Good Kid: Austin Dugger

Santa Cops, Santa Spot back on the beat in Grand Prairie
Santa Cop has been bringing toys to Grand Prairie's neediest boys and girls since 1984. Santa Spot has been doing the same with food for not quite as long.

Emma Louise 'Lou' Peavy Post: Dallas civic volunteer
Emma Louise "Lou" Peavy Post was an active volunteer for a host of Dallas civic, charitable, political and social organizations.

Reigning champ Poteet disappointed with third-place state finish, says show was its best
Disappointed but proud nonetheless, the Poteet High School Pirate Band returned to Mesquite on Wednesday afternoon.

Two vying to become voice of Dallas Mavericks
Michael Taylor and Sean Heath, both of whom possess booming voices, will have to wait a little longer to see which of them will become the new public address system announcer for the Dallas Mavericks. Gina Calvert, a Mavericks spokeswoman, said Wednesday that Taylor and Heath will take turns as PA announcer for the next 10 games at American Airlines Center. The extra time will allow team owner Mark Cuban and other Mavs execs to gather feedback from fans.

4 Dallas officers working nearly full-time to sort through jumbled cases found in detective's garage
Four Dallas detectives are spending almost all of their work hours sifting through the jumbled heap of police records that had been stored in the garage of a family violence detective.

Texas senators speak out on detainee swine flu vaccines
WASHINGTON – Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn are demanding assurances that detainees at the Guantánamo Bay terrorist prison won't receive the swine flu vaccine until all 159 million Americans at elevated risk have access to a vaccination.

Dallas City Council considers registration plan to crack down on absentee landlords
Dallas City Hall spends millions of dollars a year trying to clean up properties owned by absentee landlords who let the weeds grow wild and the paint peel away.

Report: A&M athletic center has flaws like Cowboys facility, won't stand up to top winds
Texas A&M University's tentlike athletic complex wasn't built to withstand the maximum winds prescribed by the building code, according to an engineering firm hired by the university to evaluate the $35.6 million structure.

Dallas promises to fix Katy Trail lights dimmed by copper thieves
Parts of the Katy Trail have gone dark because of the return of copper thieves.

Dallas Good Kid: Faith Family senior Vanessa Fiscal

Asian culture and community events in the Dallas area
Balti is a language spoken in the Baltistan region of Pakistan. A Balti proverb about tea reveals a rich tradition. It says, "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family."

11/04/2009

Abortion doctor: 'Am I killing? Yes, I am'

WFAA-TV

Dr. Curtis Boyd

Dr. Curtis Boyd is no stranger to controversy. In 1973, Boyd opened the Fairmount Center, which was the first abortion clinic in Texas.

Fort Worth neighborhood fights wells over health concerns

WFAA-TV

Worried about the affect on health and the environment, Carol Mulkay is leading the fight against additional high-impact gas wells in her Fort Worth community.

Saving money with Groupons

WFAA-TV

People like Lisa English who use group coupons — Groupons — say they save up to 80 percent off retail prices.

Allen Event Center enters crowded field of venues

WFAA-TV

Allen's new performer on the North Texas music scene is hoping to steal the spotlight, but it has a lot of competition.

Lottery decision disappoints Grand Prairie man

WFAA-TV

Willis Willis — the Grand Prairie man whose million-dollar lottery ticket was cashed in by a convenience store clerk — said he was greeted with disdain during a five-minute sit-down meeting with the Texas Lottery Commission.

Institute plans to examine wrong-way crashes

News 8 has learned that researchers at the Texas Transportation Institute want to study the recent rash of often-fatal crashes on Dallas-area highways.

Our Neighbor: Noah's Mugs

WFAA-TV

Noah Hall, a seven-year-old Frisco entrepreneur, is making and selling coffee mugs that help bring life-giving water to some of the poorest people on planet Earth.

Proposals for FW gay rights spur mixed reactions

The June raid on the Rainbow Lounge gay, which left one patron badly hurt, could prompt profound changes for Fort Worth city employees.

Dallas must decide quickly on streetcar line over Trinity River
Dallas City Hall needs to make some decisions and make them fast about how to design the Continental Avenue pedestrian bridge and whether to include a streetcar line that would run from downtown to Oak Cliff.

Offense taken after banner supporting troops removed at Cowboys game

A North Texas couple said they were deeply offended after a banner they created to show support for military at Cowboys games was banned from the new stadium.

11/03/2009

Clinic expands, provides only late-term abortions in N. Texas

Dr. Curtis Boyd, who opened the first abortion clinic in North Texas 36 years ago, has expanded his practice and now provides a rare more controversial procedure.

Boy nearly decapitated in crash beating odds

Seven-year-old Armani Shaw can smile now. He can sound out words and understand his mother, which are all things Shawanna Shaw was told he would never do again.

Silver Alert canceled for Trophy Club woman

Trophy Club PD

Nancy Gonzales, who has early stages of Alzheimer's disease and may be suffering from dementia, returned home on Tuesday afternoon.

Lawmaker calls for action after toxin found at gas operations

File

State Sen. Wendy Davis is asking Lt. Governor David Dewhurst to call a Senate investigation into the impact of natural gas drilling on the environment.

Family of dead inmate wants answers from Dallas Commissioners

File

Bernardo Mario Pena was incarcerated for a parole violation when he died in the Dallas County Jail last month.

11/04/2009

Family of dead Dallas County inmate anxious for answers
The family of a Dallas County jail inmate who died after a fight with another inmate confronted county commissioners Tuesday in an emotional appeal for answers and some expression of sympathy for their loss.

11/03/2009

Knitting is not an option for these spunky seniors

WFAA-TV

They travel the state competing in basketball tournaments for ladies in their 80s (and up), but they have the spunk of 20-year-olds. Meet the Granny Globetrotters.

Where do I vote?

Not sure where to vote in the November 3 general election? Check here for links to official polling place information.

Exorbitant NTTA fines anger Garland family

The longer you wait the more you pay, especially when it comes to owed tolls to the North Texas Tollway Authority.

11/02/2009

NTTA plans to expand median after wrong-way crashes

WFAA-TV

After eight wrong-way crashes so far in 2009, the North Texas Tollway Authority is considering building a barrier to try and keep wrong way drivers from entering the exit at Wycliff Avenue.

11/04/2009

What's taking so long with the flu vaccine?
Scarcity and fear are driving a nationwide hunger for the H1N1 flu vaccine. In much of the country, long lines have formed at clinics where the vaccine is available.

11/03/2009

Austin College honors microcredit pioneer Yunus
Banker and economist Muhammad Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work in providing small loans in poor countries, is the recipient of the 2010 Posey Leadership Award from Austin College, the school announced Monday.

11/04/2009

Farmers Branch OKs alcohol sales at park events
FARMERS BRANCH – The City Council in a 3-2 vote decided to allow limited sales of alcoholic beverages during events at city parks.

11/03/2009

NTTA proposes fix at Wycliff to keep drunks off Dallas North Tollway
The city of Dallas is reviewing plans by the North Texas Tollway Authority to make it harder for wrong-way drivers to enter the Dallas North Tollway at Wycliff Avenue.

Usual polling places may not be: Number of Dallas County sites cut
Voters in today's local elections may want to check where they should vote before they head to their usual polling places.

Daylight savings plan was bright idea after all
WASHINGTON – When Congress decided a few years ago to add four weeks of daylight saving time to save energy, farmers griped about disruptions to feeding schedules, airlines warned of missed flight connections, and parents worried about children walking to school in the dark.

Dallas Cowboys cheerleader criticized after blackface Halloween photos emerge
A Dallas Cowboys cheerleader is getting attacked on blogs nationwide for dressing up in blackface at a Halloween party over the weekend.

Plea deal reached in death of unborn baby
Attorneys have reached a plea agreement in the case of a 23-year-old McKinney man indicted last year on a murder charge after police said he caused the death of an unborn child by assaulting his pregnant girlfriend.

11/02/2009

State to cut off H1N1 vaccine shipments to N. Texas clinic

WFAA-TV

The State of Texas plans on cutting off shipments of the H1N1 vaccine to a clinic that allegedly is offering up doses to anyone willing to pay.

Dallas County reports 15th H1N1 death

Health officials said the latest victim is a 44-year-old Dallas County man who had underlying medical conditions.

Chase suspect crashes in Garland officer's backyard

WFAA-TV

Fleeing suspect Lonnie Wilson crashed his sedan through a wooden fence and into Officer James Reed's backyard early today. "It was rather intense," Reed said.

Plans unveiled for downtown Dallas megachurch

Courtesy First Baptist Church Dallas

The $130 million expansion of First Baptist Church Dallas includes a new 3,000-seat worship center, a six-story education building, more than 500 parking spots and an acre of green space.

Two dead in possible Dallas home invasion

A man's body was found on the front porch of a residence near Rochester Park; a woman's body was found inside.

Teacher runs again: A study in perseverance

WFAA-TV

Nearly killed after running a marathon one year ago, Mary Oliver did a victory lap Sunday on the same trail she ran the day she was hit by a car.

North Dallas kosher restaurant, market painted with swastikas, obscenity
Natalie and Yohai Pinhas don't think whoever spray-painted graffiti on the front of their kosher restaurant and market in Far North Dallas was a Halloween prankster.

Dallas-Fort Worth area news briefs for Nov. 2
Brown University officials say a Dallas student who was studying in China has died after falling from the rooftop terrace of a Beijing apartment building.

11/01/2009

MedStar program seeks to curb non-emergency calls

WFAA-TV

Last year, MedStar took 21 habitual 911 emergency callers to the hospital a total of more than 800 times.

Youth sports leagues welcome return of sun

WFAA-TV

After one of the wettest Octobers on record in North Texas, players and coaches are scrambling to make up for lost time this weekend.

Search may be over for missing Cleburne woman

Cleburne PD

Cleburne police said they now strongly believe that a body found near a creek on Saturday is Virginia Burns, who has been missing for weeks.

10/31/2009

Motorcyclists killed in Irving, Fort Worth wrecks

WFAA-TV

A motorcyclist slammed into an ambulance in Irving; in Fort Worth, a speeding rider crashed into the back of a parked car.

11/01/2009

Texas Giant roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas rattles into retirement today
When the gates close Sunday, the old Texas Giant roller coaster will enter retirement after 19 years and more than 23 million rides. A replacement wooden coaster that's likely to have the same name and incorporate pieces of the old ride will open for the beginning of the 2011 season.

Green movement gaining speed in Dallas-Fort Worth
North Texas may be in the early stages of a green awakening.

HOME ENERGY TIPS
Wasting energy at home costs money and increases pollution. Shahed Mustafa, an engineer with a master's degree from the University of North Texas, teaches Cedar Valley College students how to audit homes' energy use. He offers these tips:

Giving sustainability the old college try
How do you cut a whole city's air pollution? The University of North Texas in Denton is trying to find out.

Halloween carnival gives kids, parents a break from medical treatments
Watching brothers Zion, 6, and Urion, 8, race about gathering Halloween treats, it's hard to imagine they suffer from a major illness.

Eagle Scouts

Artist reunites Carousel Club stripper, Ruby in Deep Ellum mural
After Jack Ruby made a huge splash by killing Lee Harvey Oswald on live television, Joyce Gordon became a ripple.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Problem Solver: Frisco couple's White House tour request is stuck in red tape

Editor's Note: Veterans' return strengthens SportsDay team
Imagine my delight this week when I picked up SportsDay and found columns by Gerry Fraley and Evan Grant leading the section. Both had left the paper for a time, and our sports editors were able to bring them back.

Verdict to boost hotel-tax take for Dallas, Irving, Richardson, other Texas cities
Online hotel bookers haven't been paying their fair share of taxes to Texas cities, a federal jury in San Antonio has found. The ruling on behalf of 170 cities stands to add a significant amount of lost tax revenue to local coffers, including those of Dallas, Irving and Richardson.

State Rep. Terri Hodge planning re-election bid as bribery trial looms
Embattled state Rep. Terri Hodge, whose federal bribery trial is scheduled just days after the March 2 Democratic primary, says her legal troubles won't deter her from running for an eighth term.

Graffiti leaving larger mark on Dallas as cases climb
The graffiti is back. A brick wall near Live Oak and Skillman streets bears a fresh display of bubble letters in brown, white and red.

REPORTING GRAFFITI
To report someone creating graffiti, call 911.

Pulitzer finalist examines Frisco's Christmases as an American microcosm in 'Tinsel'
Hank Stuever could have chosen any American suburb as the setting for his book about the country's consumer-driven identity and its collective Christmas myth.

OBITUARY ROBERT BUFE
COLLEYVILLE – Robert Bufe spent his career around fire trucks, so it was fitting that his last ride was in one.

KIRK DOOLEY: Honoring Cameron Caldwell
Cameron Caldwell had the biggest thrill of anybody in Dallas during the recent Texas-OU weekend.

Dallas Good Kid: Bishop Dunne senior Andrea Champion

Dallas-area education notes

Dallas community calendar

10/31/2009

Fresh paint for faded lane markers on LBJ Freeway

WFAA-TV

For months, motorists have complained that the stripes pointing the way on busy LBJ Freeway have become increasingly difficult to see.

Missing Grand Prairie boy found safe

Arlington PD

Twelve-year-old Dalvin Maxie — who failed to return home Saturday afternoon after attending a children's carnival in Arlington — was found by Fort Worth police late Saturday night.

'Stuffed houses' offer new products without the overhead

WFAA-TV

The struggling economy is giving way to creativity. Some businesses are foregoing the storefront, operating out of rental homes and advertising on Web sites. The technique makes it easier for sob stories, high-pressure pitches and sales tax avoidance.

Patients and physicians make a connection in Bedford

WFAA-TV

Sharon Harris is not looking for the love of her life; she's on the hunt for a gynecologist she can trust.

Collin County prosecutor quits in wake of News 8 investigation

WFAA-TV

Kerrie Walker recently dismissed the witnesses and canceled the jury trial of a drunk driving suspect. The district attorney is now looking into the case.