03/14/2010

Education notes for Denton, Tarrant and western Dallas counties

03/18/2010

Herb Booth: Grand Prairie schools see payoff from days off
When students and staff members return to classes Monday from spring break, some will be a little more rested than others.

2 arrested in vandalism of cemetery in Navarro County
Two men have been arrested in connection with the vandalism of about 100 tombstones at a cemetery near Corsicana, the Navarro County sheriff's office said Wednesday.

Family fights over where to bury decorated Army officer
The remains of Army Gen. Hugh G. Robinson, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and White House assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson, are still at a Dallas funeral home 17 days after his death – caught in a tug-of-war between factions of his survivors.

Dallas businessman Bill McNutt's February trespassing run-in with SMU wasn't his first
Bill McNutt, an alumnus arrested at Southern Methodist University last month for trespassing, was ordered to leave an SMU-run program in England many years ago after two female students complained about his "inappropriate" sexual behavior, a university source said Wednesday.

Leona 'Tiny' Mathis Hawkins: Civic leader who cared for elderly
Leona "Tiny" Mathis Hawkins was teaching cosmetology in the Dallas public schools when she found her passion working a summer job at a nursing home in 1965.

Dallas Community Calendar

Asian culture and community events in the Dallas area
Japanese film fans can catch four contemporary films at the 2010 Southern Methodist University Japanese Film Festival over the next two weekends.

03/17/2010

Texas gubernatorial candidate White on board of firm investigated by Congress as possible polluter
AUSTIN – Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill White earned more than $2.6 million serving on the board of a gas well servicing company that now is part of a congressional investigation into possible groundwater contamination.

Dallas school names studio in honor of late gospel radio host
Loyal listeners who tuned in to Joe Bagby Sr. 's longtime gospel radio show in Dallas joined the late show host's friends, family and professional associates when the Humanities and Communications Magnet at Lincoln High School named its Radio and Television Studio in his honor Sunday.

2 of 3 suspects in custody in teen's slaying in Oak Cliff
Two men are in custody in the weekend killing of a 13-year-old girl outside an Oak Cliff house, but police were still looking for the suspected shooter Tuesday night.

Regional Roundup for March 17 editions

Speakers urge tighter ozone standards at Arlington hearing
ARLINGTON – Environmentalists, politicians and citizens came together Tuesday to support a call for more stringent air quality standards.

Houston fan: Spit came from Lancaster team bus
Police at the University of Texas are investigating a complaint that someone on the Lancaster High School team bus spat on an opposing team's fan after the team lost the state basketball championship in Austin last weekend.

Dallas County may restrict sirens on personal vehicles
Dallas County commissioners are considering a proposal to restrict the ability of county employees to outfit their personal vehicles with emergency lights and sirens.

03/16/2010

Dallas-Fort Worth regional briefs
Three people were hurt Monday afternoon when a DART bus crashed into a building in downtown Dallas after colliding with a car.

Darrell Edward Martin: Former Morning News circulation director
Darrell Edward Martin worked on many levels for more than 30 years to ensure The Dallas Morning News was delivered to subscribers. He was a longtime delivery contractor before joining the newspaper staff. He was circulation director when he retired in 1996.

Lewisville councilman plans to pay business tax
Lewisville City Council member John Gorena apologized Monday for not paying about $20 in business personal property taxes, but he said the oversight wasn't intentional.

Mark Stanley Austry: Runner who died after race was devoted to wife, daughters
The family of Mark Stanley Austry, the 32-year-old who collapsed and died Sunday after a half marathon in Dallas, noted on Monday his many accomplishments.

03/15/2010

13-year-old killed in drive-by shooting not part of earlier altercation, police say
A 13-year-old girl who was fatally shot in central Oak Cliff over the weekend is thought to have been an unintended victim of a drive-by, Dallas police said.

'Angels Love Donuts,' written and filmed locally, to premiere at Texas Theatre
Heaven has a place in the movie Angels Love Donuts . So does Oak Cliff.

Denton soccer fields planned in prime bird-watching area
DENTON – By the time his companion arrives, 10 minutes late, at North Lakes Park for a bird-watching tour, Tom Judd has spotted a dozen species.

Arlington man gets 75-year sentence in holdup murder
A 27-year-old Arlington man is headed to prison for murder.

03/14/2010

Roads in Dallas, Highland Park temporarily closed today for the first Rock 'n' Roll Dallas Half Marathon
Roads in Dallas and Highland Park will be temporarily closed Sunday for the first Rock 'n' Roll Dallas Half Marathon.

Robber demanded cash from Regions Bank teller in Arlington, then fled
Arlington police are searching for a man who robbed a Regions Bank on Friday afternoon.

Children's murals brighten up Dallas street
Jaslin Gamez created a Virgin Mary in yellow, green, brown and pink. Asher Roberts smeared brown paint on yellow as background for a guitar. Jose Campos contributed an orange race car with a trail of flames.

SportsDay scores rare feat with APSE awards' triple crown
Most of you know how difficult it is to win a Triple Crown in sports.

Irving rolls out pilot trash program that uses city-issued bins
Irving officials will roll out a pilot trash program Monday that's aimed at changing how residents roll out their garbage.

Denton students decorate crutches for earthquake-ravaged Haitians
Symbols of hope are being transported from some Denton fourth- and fifth-graders to Haitians devastated by the country's recent earthquake.

George W. Bush presidential library's blueprints filled with green, following trend of other big public buildings
A big environmental change is coming to a muddy, skinned-off patch of former condominium land jammed up against one of Dallas' busiest freeways.

Many in Collin County jumping at chance to serve on city councils, school boards
Collin County voters this spring will find more candidates on the ballot for some city council and school board races than in previous years.

Coffee Party meeting energizes supporters
The Tea Party movement has been characterized by defiant crowds, angry shouts and vigorous declarations of dissatisfaction with what participants describe as out-of-control government spending.

Dallas Good Kid: Madison Slusher of Highland Park High

Dallas-area education notes

03/13/2010

Projects including new eateries, entertainment complex make strides at Dallas' Southwest Center Mall
The energy level is picking up at Southwest Center Mall.

Rock 'n' Roll Dallas Half Marathon to temporarily shut down roads Sunday
Roads in Dallas and Highland Park will be temporarily closed Sunday for the first Rock 'n' Roll Dallas Half Marathon.

Regional roundup for 03/13/10

Dallas teen accused of giving marijuana brownies to classmates
A 14-year-old boy has been accused of giving marijuana-laced brownies to classmates, leading some of them to become so ill they were taken to the hospital, Dallas police said.

Lewisville City Council to discuss Gorena's taxes after blogger raises issue
The Lewisville City Council will be discussing allegations Monday that council member John Gorena failed to pay some business personal property taxes – a violation that could be grounds for removal from office.

Prosecutors want convicted Holy Land Foundation leaders moved to more secure prisons
Prosecutors want the leaders of the former Richardson-based Holy Land Foundation transferred to more secure facilities so that their communications with the outside world can be more closely monitored.

Traps set for feral pigs rooting in Kiest Park
There is absolutely no credible evidence that crazed mutant pigs are roaming southern Kiest Park.

Dallas County District Attorney hasn't decided whether to take up petition to remove Constable Jaime Cortes
A visiting judge ordered this week that a petition seeking to remove Dallas County Constable Jaime Cortes from office can proceed, but District Attorney Craig Watkins has not yet decided whether to accept the case, records show.

Justice Clarence Thomas sends Cedar Hill student a surprise package
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas beat Michelle Obama to the punch.

Carrollton says car dealer's civil rights lawsuit meritless
The city of Carrollton posted a statement on its Web site Friday responding to a civil rights lawsuit filed by a black Carrollton car dealer over an incident in February 2009.

Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas parking lot charges dozens of visitors multiple times
There's a lot of grumbling about rising health care costs.

03/12/2010

Fox News tries to clarify erroneous reports about Texas social studies curriculum debate
AUSTIN – After getting ripped by the Texas Education Agency, Fox News on Thursday sought to clarify some of its reports on the state's social studies curriculum debate.

State Farm plans 2nd rate hike in 8 months for home policies
AUSTIN – State Farm Insurance told the state Thursday that it intends to raise its homeowners rate 4.5 percent statewide starting May 1, only eight months after the company boosted rates 8.8 percent.

Regional roundup for 3/12/10

For $25, fans can watch Texas Stadium go out with a bang
Dallas Cowboys fans and North Texans wanting to catch a glimpse of Texas Stadium's implosion at dawn April 11 should heed two pieces of advice: Arrive early and prepare to pay for parking.