05/09/2008

Burglary suspect stuck in chimney

Dallas Fire-Rescue

Firefighters disassembled the chimney to remove the man.

After assessing the situation, Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel elected to disassemble the chimney — brick-by-brick — to free the man.

Women assaulted on Greenville Avenue
There was concern Friday among those who live near or visit the popular Greenville Avenue restaurant district after a two brazen robberies just after midnight.

Man surrenders after leading police on chase

Robert Flagg / WFAA-TV

The suspect, right, surrendered after negotiating with police.

A police standoff with a suicidal man shut down a stretch of Interstate 35E for several hours overnight before a peaceful conclusion at Parkland Hospital.

Victim speaks about donut shop robbery

Mike Zukerman / WFAA-TV

Neighborliness has been redefined in a West Fort Worth neighborhood. Early this morning a robber invaded a local donut shop. Before he could get away a neighbor shot the intruder dead outside the Happy Donut Shop.

05/08/2008

Elderly man missing in Grand Prairie

Grand Prairie PD

Kil Duk Hong

An 81-year-old man reported missing since Wednesday night has still not been located, Grand Prairie police said this afternoon.

No gas needed: Kennedale man turns car electric

Aaron Chimbel / WFAA.com

When David Murray turns his ignition there is almost no sound. There is nothing wrong with his 1993 Eagle Talon with more than 192,000 miles. It's an electric car he converted himself.

Dallas teen hit by SUV after exiting bus

WFAA-TV

The student was hit after getting off a DART bus.

A teenager on her way to school was struck by a vehicle after exiting a DART bus Thursday morning. The 14-year-old girl was unconscious at the scene and was rushed to Children's Medical Center Dallas, where she was reported in serious but stable condition at noon. Witnesses said the girl was clipped by the rear-view mirror of a passing sport utility vehicle.

Plano paying for water it doesn't use

WFAA-TV

Helen Gunn worries about higher water bills.

Would you want to pay for water you didn't use? The city of Plano is doing just that. In fact, it spent millions of dollars to buy billions of unused gallons. That means water bills for customers like Helen Gunn could be higher than expected this summer.

Fire destroys Plano apartment clubhouse

WFAA-TV

Firefighters were called to the 1500 block of Preston Road around 5:40 a.m. as flames 10 feet tall shot up from the apartment's clubhouse building.

05/07/2008

AA plane crosses Atlantic after panel blows off

Flight attendants said it sounded like an explosion, but the visual was even more frightening. An American Airlines plane lost a large panel while on a recent flight from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Paris, France. "There was a loud shaking noise from the belly of the plane," said one flight attendant in an e-mail message.

05/08/2008

Police: Thieves steal diamonds worth $750,000 in bold heist
Three men wearing ski masks and armed with knives chased down a diamond broker in North Dallas on Wednesday afternoon and snatched his suitcase with $750,000 worth of jewels inside, police said.

Dallas City Council supports proposals to curb sales of stolen metal
A huge spike in thefts of copper and other recyclable metals could lead to stricter laws and tougher penalties in Dallas, particularly for recyclers who knowingly accept stolen goods.

05/07/2008

Boy Scout trip uncertain after trailer theft

A troop of Richardson Boy Scouts may miss an upcoming campout after they fell victim to theft. Troop 728's trailer was broken into on the campus of St. Paul the Apostle School in Richardson.

Thousands of Texas nurses have arrest records

Few times in history has nursing become such a lucrative career. Salaries spiked because of a shortage in the industry. But News 8 found that among the hardworking, dedicated nurses, one in every 20 has a criminal record.

USO mom gets big welcome on return from Iraq

WFAA-TV

Linda Wobinson is greeted by welcomers after she returns from a year in Iraq.

Returning soldiers always receive welcome home greetings as they exit their planes at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Linda Robinson was always among them. But on Wednesday, she was on the receiving end.

New technology sounds off on copper thieves

As North Texans start firing up their air conditioners this spring, more and more have found their cool breeze has been taken away by copper thieves.

Duncanville council takes aim at 'swingers' club

WFAA-TV

The Cherry Pit club is in a residential neighborhood.

It's been the center of controversy for months. Now the Duncanville City Council thinks it has a way to rein in activity at the Cherry Pit "swingers" club. Council members changed the wording of a city ordinance to redefine a "sex club." Such clubs are banned from the entire city except for an area off Highway 67.

Dallas grease police target sewer cloggers

Dallas Water Utilities

Grease is blamed for sewer clogs.

There's something lurking in Dallas city sewers, and it's everyone's problem. Grease has been the culprit in sewer overflows across the Dallas area. Some 140 backups in 2006 cost the city around $140,000. The problem has led the city council to tighten its grease disposal laws, especially for restaurants. But you can help, too.

Children found alone in 'deplorable' home

WFAA-TV

Two young children were found in the dilapidated house.

A two-year-old girl and five-year-old boy were in state custody this week after officers found them in a boarded up home surrounded by molded trash heaps, broken glass and a toilet filled with feces, according to Dallas police. The conditions in the home were “deplorable,” said police Senior Cpl. Kevin Janse.

Police nab ATM bandit in Grapevine

Robert Flagg / WFAA-TV

Thieves broke through the front window of the store.

Another day, another early morning ATM theft attempt — this time in Grapevine near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Thieves hit an Exxon convenience store in the 1700 block of William D. Tate Avenue around 4 a.m. as a clerk watched helplessly. Police pursued the getaway vehicle and arrested one suspect; several others got away.

05/06/2008

Database reveals few ramp, spot checks at D/FW

NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
Experts admit spot checks and ramp inspections are often the best way to make sure an airliner is safe to fly. So, you would think the FAA makes them a priority - think again.

05/07/2008

North Texas faces greater severe storms risk
The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded parts of North Texas to a moderate risk of severe storms this afternoon. The strongest storms will likely produce large hail and damaging winds. Isolated tornadoes are possible.

Heinz to close Dallas plant, cut 200 jobs
H.J. Heinz Co. plans to close a plant in Dallas next month, affecting nearly 200 employees. Work now done at the plant will be transferred to Heinz facilities in Mason, Ohio; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Chatsworth, Calif., according to the Pittsburgh-based food company.

Teachers guide immigrants along path to citizenship
Inside a classroom dominated by photos of colonial Mexico and a crisp Lone Star State flag, citizenship teachers whip through questions with their students.

School districts changing approach to technical education
School leaders across North Texas are changing their approach to provide students with job skills that educators say are every bit as important as the tools needed for college success.

Regional roundup
Mexico has agreed to extradite a man accused of killing University of North Texas sophomore Melanie Goodwin in September.

05/06/2008

Grand Prairie, Cedar Hill to build joint firehouse

Southwest Dallas County is a growing area with a growing problem, emergency response. The problem is especially an issue near the Grand Prairie-Cedar Hill border, which is where fire response times often approach 20 minutes. Now, the two towns have joined efforts in order to do something about it.

Overcrowding reaches new heights in Lancaster ISD

With crowded classrooms of up to 40 kids per class, Lancaster schools are bursting at the seams. Now, after three failed bond attempts, the district’s struggling to make ends meet.

Residents angered by Dallas law after pit bull attacks

WFAA-TV

'Mic's' owner points out his attack wounds.

After two pit bulls attacked twice in less than one month, the victims have spoken out against a penalty they consider not fitting of the dangerous circumstances. About 100 people showed up at a city hearing Tuesday demanding answers as to why the dogs could bite two people and not be put down.

Suspect nabbed in ATM theft

Bryan Titsworth / WFAA-TV

Dallas police officers stopped a car with an ATM in back in Deep Ellum early Tuesday morning and arrested a suspect.

05/05/2008

Uncovered: find free medical care in clinical trials

WFAA-TV

Dr. Roy Fleischmann examines Jennifer Spears (pictured).

Turning a magazine page, standing up and opening a door was all a painful effort for 27-year-old Jennifer Spears. So, was finding medical care without insurance. "We just felt strapped," Spears said. "I had to move in with my mom and stay there."

05/06/2008

Dallas-Fort Worth to have 'baddest' Super Bowl ever

NATALIE CAUDILL / DMN

Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck promised a Texas-size event for the game in 2011.

Less than three years from kickoff, work on Super Bowl XLV is picking up momentum as the host committee on Monday announced its membership, logo and list of $1 million donors. The 2011 Super Bowl will be the first for North Texas, and host committee members said they feel pressure to make an impression.

Regional Roundup
A 2-year-old boy died Sunday evening when he was run over in the parking lot of an apartment complex, police said.

Reports show wealthiest at City Hall, like Leppert, come from city's north
Many of Dallas' wealthiest residents live in the city's northernmost neighborhoods. It may come as little surprise, then, that they're represented by Dallas' wealthiest City Council representatives, according to annual personal financial disclosures the officials have filed.

Documents explain ex-Cockrell Hill police chief's resignation
An investigation that preceded last month's resignation of Cockrell Hill Police Chief Catherine Smit focused on whether she gave special treatment to a would-be officer who failed to disclose four misdemeanor arrests on his job application.

05/05/2008

Love Field revamp seeks to ease checkpoint time

Traveling through Dallas Love Field just got a little easier. The transportation security administration has revamped its checkpoints at the airport to ease stress of passengers.

Neighborhood example of subprime mortgage hangovers

Dallas County appraisals started hitting mailboxes Monday and over the weekend. One foreclosed home has become an extreme example of how the falling market in North Texas is affecting home prices.

Bill may force 'greener' car trade for congressman

WFAA-TV

A loyal General Motors' owner and the top Republican on the House Energy Committee, Joe Barton may soon have to take his Tahoe in for a trade. A new requirement for Washington politicians is to go "green."

Sponsors lining up for Super Bowl XLV

WFAA-TV

Welders continued work on the new stadium during Monday's announcement.

Four of the 15 million-dollar founding sponsors of the Super Bowl XLV Host Committee were named today at a news conference at the new Cowboys stadium at which organizers said that the 2011 game promises to be the biggest and best Super Bowl ever. The founding sponsors will help raise at least half of the $30 million needed to host the first Super Bowl in North Texas.

DISD middle school students to get tested for tuberculosis
The Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services said it will provide testing to a small group of Sam Tasby Middle School students on Tuesday and Thursday. Texas requires such screening when there is suspicion of exposure.

Roberson gets five years for lover's death

WFAA-TV

Tracy Roberson dabbed at tears during Monday's court session.

After hours of deliberation, a Tarrant County jury sentenced Tracy Roberson to five years in prison Monday evening. Tears were flowing in a Fort Worth courtroom Monday morning during the penalty phase of the Tracy Roberson trial.

Fake drug figure goes to jail

Dallas County Sheriff

Mark Delapaz

Former Dallas police officer Mark Delapaz was convicted in 2005 but had been free on appeal.

Tow truck driver killed on Burleson highway

A tow truck driver died early Monday morning after trying to remove a vehicle from the shoulder of Interstate 35W in Burleson, a city spokeswoman said.

Barnett Shale gas lease deals get more lucrative
Residents in Fort Worth's historic Oakhurst neighborhood did their homework two years ago before allowing gas drilling so close to their homes.

Tot killed in Arlington parking lot
A two-year-old boy was killed by a car accident in an Arlington apartment parking lot Sunday night, police said.

05/04/2008

Highway hole repaired; I-30 reopens

WFAA-TV

A worker examines the hole in I-30.

Highway crews made emergency repairs to an Interstate 30 bridge near the Trinity River in Dallas overnight after a large hole materialized in the westbound lanes. The major east-west artery linking Dallas and Fort Worth was shut down entirely when the 3-1/2 by 1-1/2 foot hole developed around 11 p.m. Sunday in the Beckley Ave. overpass on the west bank of the Trinity.

05/05/2008

Suspect killed by trooper near Greenville
A routine traffic stop turned deadly in Hunt County late Sunday night. Gunfire rang out after a Department of Public Safety trooper was attacked.

Sorority sisters heartened by DNA match in SMU student's 1984 killing
Angela Samota's sorority sisters never lost hope that police would find the man who killed the vivacious 20-year-old Southern Methodist University student more than two decades ago.

Congregation Tiferet Israel in Dallas remembers the Holocaust
Shoes. Books. Torah scrolls. Art. Hair. Children.

Family pleads for hit and run driver to surrender in death of Dallas toddler
The little boy's mother was shopping at a garage sale. He was playing, steps away, in the front yard.

Group says Wilmer, Hutchins need alcohol sales to progress
Wilmer and Hutchins need tax revenue, and supporters of measures to allow packaged liquor sales in both cities say alcohol is the way to get it.

05/04/2008

Plan seeks to ease FW road woes

While the city of Fort Worth is experiencing growing pains, the city council is trying to determine how to make developers help pay for roads, rather than leave the burden to general tax payers.

Family of baby killed in hit-and-run plead for justice

WFAA-TV

David Hernandez

Many in a Pleasant Grove neighborhood mourned Sunday after news spread of David Hernandez's tragic death while playing at a garage sale Saturday.

Teen killed in Dallas wreck

Bryan Titsworth / WFAA-TV

A teenager was killed early today when two cars collided on a residential street in southeast Dallas.

05/03/2008

Dallas police probe 9-year-old's death
Dallas police are investigating the death of a nine-year-old girl who was taken to a local hospital Friday night.

Registered sex offender still on Wilmer ballot
Wilmer officials are holding their collective breath as early voting in the May 10 election continues with a registered sex offender still on the ballot for mayor.

Dinner with Erykah Badu is up for auction at museum gala
When looking to draw 1,000 people and enough donations to keep a museum afloat, you'd best pull out all the stops.

Regional roundup
Dallas began enforcing its new anti-idling ordinance this week, an initiative intended to improve air quality in the city by fining truckers found to be idling excessively.

Lovejoy school board candidates focus on financial well-being
Seats up for election: Two seats at Places 4 and 5 are open on the Lovejoy school board. Incumbent board president Richard Hickman faces one opponent at Place 5. Two newcomers are vying for Place 4. Gary Barton withdrew from the race for Place 4. The board is elected "at large." Terms last three years.

Dallas ISD audit hasn't found fraud, but that's not its aim
When Dallas school officials recently reassured the public that a long-overdue audit of district finances has not turned up any fraud, they failed to mention that their auditors are not specifically looking for fraud.

Dallas delegation's China trip 'exceeded' expectations, Mayor Tom Leppert says
A Dallas delegation's trip to China will pay dividends through strengthened business relationships and increased foreign trade, said Mayor Tom Leppert, who led the group of two-dozen political leaders, businesspeople and their spouses.

Komen founder Brinker named to magazine's list of influential people
Time magazine has named Nancy Brinker, founder of the Dallas-based Susan G. Komen for the Cure, one of its 100 most influential people of 2008.