11/07/2009

Lung disease didn't change course of Lake Dallas cross country runner

JOHN F. RHODES/DMN

Senior Taylor Lively's parents will never forget the race last November where he faded during the last mile, a blue hue coloring his face as he wilted and missed qualifying. It was the last one he ran before they found out that cystic fibrosis was causing thick, sticky mucus to clog his lungs.
More high school sports

Outside contract work taking bigger toll on North Texas Tollway Authority
The North Texas Tollway Authority spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year to design, build and repair its roads, to market itself, and to solve its legal problems. But only a fraction of the hundreds of professionals who perform those tasks actually work for the toll authority.

Elderly woman severely injured by hit-and-run driver in Far North Dallas
The 9 p.m. crash occurred in the 14000 block of Maham Road, near Spring Valley Road.

2 children severely injured after being struck by car in Arlington
The two were with a group of kids when they were struck by a car near Pioneer Parkway and Daniel Drive, police said.

Holocaust education forum features book reading by Zapruder granddaughter
Alexandra Zapruder was in town to discuss her own historical artifact: a collection of diaries written by Jewish teenagers in Europe during World War II.

Oak Cliff shooting leaves 1 dead, 1 injured
The violence began about 2:30 p.m. when several shots were fired at a home in the 2400 block of Volga Avenue, near Lancaster Road and Kiest Boulevard, police said.

Jack Ruby's hat commands $53,775 at Kennedy assassination item auction
Jack Ruby’s signature fedora commanded $53,775 Saturday at an auction of items linked to the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Perry visits shooting victims, applauds their bravery

Wounded 3 times, officer still took down Fort Hood gunman

AP via Twitter

Live coverage: Updates on shootings
Heroes at every turn during shootings
First responders: 'Controlled chaos'
Death toll stands at 13 but could rise | Leave condolences | Fort Hood Web site
Floyd: A nut with a gun
Reports from the Web
Twitter updates: Killeen Daily Herald | Austin American-Statesman
Video: Moment of silence observed
Photos: Thursday | Friday

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

11/06/2009

Dallas County health department expects to run out of swine flu vaccine today
The Dallas County health department expects to run out of its supply of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine today.

11/07/2009

Death toll from Fort Hood shootings stands at 13 but could rise
The toll from the shooting rampage at Fort Hood stood at 13 dead and 30 injured late Friday, but the chairman of surgery at the hospital treating 10 of the survivors warned that some were still at risk of dying.

Regional briefs

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.

11/06/2009

Dallas-Fort Worth blood donors ready to help

MARK HANCOCK / Special Contributor

The Red Cross is operating a blood drive at its Farmers Branch location at 1 Medical Parkway until 8 p.m. today.

Sarah Palin to sign books on Dec. 4 at Legacy Books in Plano
It'll be strictly a signing (Palin won't be speaking), with no personalization. No memorabilia will be signed; books only. Books must be bought at Legacy, either in advance (bring your receipt) or that day.

Three-day walk for breast cancer awareness starts in Plano
The three-day walk began at the Plano Centre, and the 60-mile route winds through Addison, Farmers Branch, Dallas and Richardson.

Two men face arson charges in Arlington school fires
The suspects are accused of setting fire to bleachers at Martin High and a temporary building at Young Junior High on Aug. 30.

Muslims decry Fort Hood shootings
North Texas Muslims called for calm and civility after shootings Thursday by an Army psychiatrist at Fort Hood.

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

White Rock library to open Saturday

G.J. McCARTHY/DMN

Charlotte Kuser spent part of Wednesday getting the 19,500-square-foot Lochwood Branch Library ready for its grand opening.

The $7 million, 19,500-square-foot library at 11221 Lochwood Blvd. is designed to be energy-efficient, is Wi-Fi wired, has xeriscaping and features a theater. Grand-opening events are scheduled throughout Saturday.
Blog: East Dallas
More East Dallas news
Link: More information about the Dallas Public Library

Dallas County flu vaccination clinic continues as officials weigh how to distribute doses to the insured
Dallas County health officials spent Thursday figuring out how to get people with insurance more 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine, even as they continued to vaccinate the uninsured. Almost 3,100 people received vaccine during the second day of the county's first large-scale walk-in vaccination clinic, bringing the two-day total to about 6,700. The clinic is scheduled to reopen this morning, and the county will offer the remainder of more than 10,000 doses it started the week with.

Proposal would end minimum grade of 50 on Dallas school report cards
Under the proposal, Dallas teachers still could use their discretion to give higher grades than students actually earned. The proposal sparked confusion and concern Thursday as some school board members questioned whether it could violate a new state law on grades and create uneven grading practices across the district.

2 Frisco students suspended for comments on Facebook page threatening teacher
Two Frisco middle school students were suspended and several others received warnings after threatening their teacher on Facebook. Someone notified Staley Middle School officials earlier in the week about the menacing comments, said Rick Burnett, the district's executive director of Student Services.

For second time, Dallas DA drops murder charge against Farmers Branch doctor
The Dallas County district attorney's office has for the second time dismissed a murder charge against a doctor accused of killing his wife. Prosecutors determined that evidence in the case could provide three explanations of how Sara Werner might have been fatally shot, one of the prosecutors said Thursday.

Watkins seeks court order to halt Dallas County constable investigation
Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins filed court papers late Thursday asking a judge to halt the county's civil investigation into the employment practices of two constables. Watkins argued in his request for a restraining order and injunction that county commissioners and their special investigator are exceeding their authority by conducting a criminal investigation of the offices of constables Derick Evans and Jaime Cortes, of Precincts 1 and 5.

Anna woman found guilty in husband's sexual abuse of daughter
An Anna woman has been convicted of sexual assault involving her daughter even though she was never accused of molesting the child. A Collin County jury found Michelle Lynn Smith guilty of three counts of aggravated sexual assault because she allowed her husband to repeatedly abuse the preschool child, said Crystal Levonius, lead prosecutor in the case.

T. Boone Pickens helps downtown Dallas YMCA get in top shape

SONYA N. HEBERT/DMN

At ceremonies today, the billionaire businessman will help formally open the renovated downtown YMCA, refurbished with $5 million from his foundation and renamed in his honor.
More YMCA news

Crime blog: Police report details DWI arrest of Mavericks coach Popeye Jones
Richardson police today released their report, including a detailed narrative, on this week's DWI arrest of Mavericks' coach Ronald "Popeye" Jones. Mark Cuban doesn't think we should care, but here's the document.

5 Dallas favorite flowers that grow well in Dallas

Five of gardening writer Mariana Greene's favorite hardy, flowering plants. If you have bare spots in your garden or are planning new flowerbeds for next spring, consider these.

Hardy plants for the Dallas area

Lanes will shut Sunday and Monday on Interstate 35E 3:02 PM CT
The closures are related to construction of the DART Orange Line.

SMU professor named new EPA regional chief for Texas, four other states
Dr. Al Armendariz, an El Paso native, has found fault with Texas’ efforts on Dallas-Fort Worth smog, saying the state’s programs did too little and that the EPA erred in approving them.

Boone Pickens and Dallas mayor unveil newly renovated downtown YMCA
The facility, renamed for the energy tycoon, now features an updated facade, refurbished locker rooms and new workout equipment.

Crime blog: Dallas police expect influx of prostitutes for NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl XLV
At the National Prostitute Diversion Conference today, Sgt. Louis Felini said between 50,000 and 100,000 prostitutes could be in the metroplex for the Super Bowl.

City Hall blog: Dallas says goodbye to Industrial, hello to Riverfront Boulevard
According to City Hall, today's the day the change becomes official, as the Industrial Blvd. signs come down and Riverfront Blvd. signs go up.

Dallas Fire-Rescue, MADD team up in campaign to prevent drunken driving
The campaign will include the distribution of red ribbon stickers for Dallas-Fort Worth vehicles to remind area residents to think of alternative ways to get home before going out to drink.

Sex-assault case involving West Texas sect member could go to jury soon
The defendant, 38-year-old Raymond Jessop, faces a charge of sexual assault of a child. If convicted he could be sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Dallas sex offender accused of violating parole on Halloween
A 38-year-old Dallas man and a 26-year-old Fort Worth man were among four convicted sex offenders accused of violating their parole on Halloween, the Texas Attorney General's office said.

Man, 36, fatally shot in Oak Cliff
A 36 year-old man was shot and killed early this morning on the front porch of a residence in the 4700 block of Frio Drive in Oak Cliff.

Man dies after he was hit by car in Dallas' Love Field area
John Zachery, 49, fell while attempting to cross the street just before 8 p.m. Wednesday in the 5300 block of Harry Hines, when a car hit him. No charges are expected in the case.

Man gets life sentence for fatal shooting at Far North Dallas Gas Pipe smoke shop
Arsenio Desmond Petty, 21, was found guilty of capital murder Wednesday night in a fatal shooting at smoke shop in Far North Dallas. He received an automatic life sentence without parole today.

Irving council rejects call for charter election on alcohol requirements
Irving City Council member Beth Van Duyne received no support from her colleagues Wednesday afternoon in a bid for a charter election on requirements that restaurants make no more than 40 percent of revenues from alcohol sales.

Fort Worth police suspend officers after Rainbow Lounge investigation
The department's internal investigation found three officers, who received suspensions ranging from one to three days, violated department policies, but cleared them of allegations that they used excessive force.

Robbers in Spider-Man masks target Southlake bank
Two people wearing Spider-Man masks robbed a Bank of America at 2025 W. Southlake Blvd. last Friday, according to Southlake police.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

About 3,600 vaccinated on first day of Dallas County swine flu clinic
Dallas County's first mass distribution of the swine flu vaccine Wednesday tested the patience of thousands of adults and children, who stood outdoors for hours to snag a scarce shot.

Texas setting aside 20 percent of swine flu doses for county health departments
The bump-up for health departments probably means a drop in the percentage sent to private providers in many counties because the total number of doses offered to each county – based on population – will not change. But the change may also create an opportunity for the general public to get access to the vaccine.

Dallas ISD candidates hit the ground running
Candidates who will vie in runoffs in Districts 3 and 9 were checking out voting patterns, garnering support from former competitors and, in some cases, coming out swinging.
Chat replay: Election results
Blog: Dallas ISD
Blog: The Education Front

Panel says Fort Worth's insurance should cover workers' sex-change operations
Fort Worth – a city famous for longhorns, stockyards and git-along politics – has saddled up an issue that promises to buck feverishly over the next month.

'Cheese' provider pleads guilty during trial, gets 12-year sentence
Victor Tellez pleaded guilty Wednesday in the middle of his trial and admitted providing Ana Rojas the heroin that led to her death.

Dallas County constables' dog at the center of new debate
County commissioners are demanding that Precinct 3 Constable Ben Adamcik follow a new county animal policy if he wants to use the dog, Zeus.

Police say jealousy played role in Art Institute of Dallas student's slaying
Daniel Willyam's infatuation with his male roommate may have led him to kill a 20-year-old female Art Institute student in September, police say.

Collin County cities in race to one-up one another
The $52.6 million Allen Event Center opens Friday, and Allen officials tout the 8,600-seat arena as the finest entertainment venue in Collin County. But Frisco Mayor Maher Maso isn't impressed. He says his town's recently renovated Dr Pepper Arena has better acoustics and more seating configurations.

Richardson considers tightening code enforcement on commercial properties
"We've really put the burden on the individual homeowner to take care of their property," council member John Murphy said at a meeting this week. "I'm surprised we never thought of doing a commercial integrity program to go along with that."

Appeals court: Farmers Branch does not violate voting rights of minorities 2:18 PM CT
The voting-rights lawsuit alleged that the city's minority vote was diluted by its at-large City Council system.

2,000 get swine flu vaccine so far at Dallas County clinic

SONYA N. HEBERT/DMN

An orderly process had those first in line vaccinated and headed home by 7:15 a.m.
Garland clinic open to select group
Swine flu guide: News, resources
Photos: Line forms early
Video: Dallas County clinic opens

NASA official, Plano Senior High celebrate planting of 'moon tree'
A NASA representative joined Plano Senior High students and staff today to celebrate the planting of a "moon tree" at the high school campus.

2 people injured in fire at Dallas apartment complex
An early-morning explosion at a Dallas apartment complex today injured two people and destroyed a building containing the laundry room and offices.

City Hall blog: Copper thieves cause light outages along Katy Trail
Dallas parks officials confirm that cooper thieves stripped wire from lights along the southern end of the trail recently. Nine lights along the trail near Reverchon Park are currently out, parks officials Dave Strueber said.

Final judgment delayed in Irving voting rights case
A final judgment in the voting rights lawsuit against Irving ordering the creation of single-member City Council districts was filed in U.S. District Court last month.

Transportation blog: Kinky Friedman says, 'I don't want any toll roads in Texas'
The Demcoratic candidate for governor also says he has an "excellent" chance of winning.

East Dallas neighborhoods want to bust the rust in their water

COURTNEY PERRY/DMN

Hollywood Heights resident Susan Campbell holds a paper towel she used to clean her kitchen water filter in September.

For some who live near White Rock Lake, there's something in the water. The city may have unwittingly given rise to the red tap water when it equipped its water-treatment plants with ozone, a special oxygen molecule that efficiently gobbles up toxins but also tends to corrode the cast-iron pipes in use throughout 60 percent of the city.
More news, information about East Dallas
City of Dallas drinking water quality reports

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dallas County commissioners to allow computer data seizures only in constable probe
In response to outrage from judges and other elected officials, Dallas County commissioners on Tuesday softened their stance on which county computers are vulnerable to data seizure for alleged misuse.

Dallas, Arlington, Fort Worth to get tax refunds to help offset costs of 2010 NBA All-Star Game
The state plans to set aside about $13.3 million in sales taxes for use by three local cities and the private committee organizing the 2010 NBA All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium.

11/03/2009

Witness testifies of 'cheese' use, says drug readily available the night teen died in Irving
When Ana Rojas' father dropped her off to spend the night at a friend's Irving apartment, his parting words to his 16-year-old daughter were "be good and stay here."

Flores wins District 1, other seats go to runoff in DISD election
The runoffs are Dec. 8 for districts 3 and 9.
County results: Dallas | Collin | Denton | Tarrant | Rockwall
Eminent domain, top-tier research fund, other propositions pass
Alcohol options get mixed results
Blog: Dallas ISD

Parents sue fraternity, Prairie View A&M over Dallas student's death in possible hazing
The lawsuit stems from the Oct. 20 death of Donnie Wade of Dallas, a 20-year-old transfer student who collapsed during an early-morning exercise session near the university, northwest of Houston.

11/02/2009

Mesquite's Poteet High band aims to march away with third consecutive state championship

REX C. CURRY/Special Contributor

Last week, the Poteet Band members imagined what it'd be like marching onto the field at San Antonio's Alamodome, cheered on by parents and friends, and bringing a third consecutive trophy home - a feat the UIL says no Class 4A school has accomplished.
Link: Poteet Pirate Band
Link: State marching band contest schedule and results

11/03/2009

City Hall blog: Former Dallas City Council member Rasansky may run for county judge
Mtichell Rasansky, who served eight years representing Council District 13, would be a formidable candidate in both the Republican Primary and the general election.

$7 million Lotto Texas prize goes unclaimed
This particular Lotto Texas ticket, purchased at the Big Country Mart in Burleson in early May, would have won its buyer a cash payout of $7,131,735.60. Trouble is, the buyer never claimed the prize.

'Oprah' show features guest anchor appearance on Channel 8
Tuesday's Oprah Winfrey Show will include more footage of Winfrey in North Texas – this time showing her anchoring the news on WFAA-TV (Channel 8).

Dallas must decide quickly on streetcar line over Trinity River
Some council members don't think a streetcar line fits in with plans for a pedestrian bridge at Continental Avenue.

Judge rejects deal to settle dispute over land near Bush library
The ruling is a setback to efforts by SMU to resolve the matter so work can proceed on the George W. Bush presidential library.

Murder trial begins in woman's shooting death at Far North Dallas Gas Pipe smoke shop
Arsenio Desmond Petty is accused of capital murder in the Dec. 30 shooting of Rabeca Rae Kemp. She had been shopping at the smoke shop in the 18600 block of Marsh Lane when three men came in and began shooting.

Polls closed in Dallas County
7:01 PM CT candidates await the election results for three open seats on the Dallas school board.
DISD election results
County results: Dallas | Collin | Denton | Tarrant | Rockwall
Dallas County voting sites see light turnout

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.

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.

Dallas County voting sites see light turnout
Voters are decidng today whether to shake up the Dallas ISD board or return three incumbents to their seats.
Blog: Dallas ISD
Voter Guide: Compare DISD candidates
Alcohol sales on suburban ballots
Learn about state amendments
Find polling places
DMN ed board picks

11/02/2009

Dallas County prepares for rush at swine flu vaccination clinic

MICHAEL AINSWORTH/DMN

Wednesday's carefully staged event could go perilously wrong if too many people show up demanding shots.
Link: Dallas County clinic details
Video: Tarrant clinic a huge draw
Swine flu tips, resources, news

Lottery: Grand Prairie man won't get $1 million prize
The Texas Lottery Commission told Willis Willis, 67, that he is not the rightful winner of $1 million – even though its own investigators have told police he bought the winning ticket. The real winner, the commission said, is the convenience store clerk who was indicted on charges that he cheated Willis out of his ticket in May.

Retirees revel in learning through University of North Texas noncredit program for seniors

KYE R. LEE/DMN

UNT is the latest four-year university and one of the first in this area to create a lifelong learning organization to accommodate older adults' intellectual curiosity.
Link: Emeritus College at UNT

11/03/2009

Dallas police to collect DNA for database to identify prostitutes who become victims
The Dallas Police Department plans to start collecting DNA samples from truck-stop prostitutes on a voluntary basis to help identify the women if they are later reported missing, comatose or murdered.
Blog: Crime

11/02/2009

Dallas neighbors with improvement plans receive grants

G.J. McCARTHY/DMN

Bryan Place resident David Allen proposed a project to clean up a Ross Avenue underpass that leads to the Dallas Arts District.
Link: Grant-winning projects
Link: Grant criteria, more info

Farmers Branch firm denies swine flu vaccine deceit, vows to keep selling shots
A Farmers Branch clinic vowed Monday to continue selling $20 swine flu vaccinations, despite complaints that it improperly received a huge stash of doses and is immunizing people not in high-risk groups. Elaine Vitt, spokeswoman for Star Medical Group, estimated that the clinic still has more than 5,000 doses. It plans to keep serving all comers while the supply lasts.

Crime blog: Plea deal reached in case of unborn child's death in Collin County
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.

Dallas ISD blog: 3 seats up for grabs in special elections tomorrow 1:06 PM CT
Dallas County Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet has predicted an overall low 3 percent turnout for the county. But he now says some of the DISD races could reach a turnout of 5 percent because of the number of candidates in the races. (The average turnout is around 5-8 percent).

Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Popeye Jones accused of drunken driving
Former Dallas Mavericks player and current assistant coach Ronald Jerome “Popeye” Jones was arrested Sunday evening in Richardson and accused of drunken driving.

Brown University student from Dallas dies in accident in China
Arun Stewart, who died after falling from a rooftop in Beijing, China, was "just a delightful kid that everyone enjoyed," Greenhill School headmaster Scott Griggs said.

Car ends up in Garland officer's backyard after chase
A Dallas County sheriff’s officer pursued a car Sunday night in a short chase that resulted with the driver plowing into a Garland police officer’s backyard.

Police say couple's slaying at southeast Dallas home was drug-related
Police believe the fatal shootings of a man and a woman may be drug-related, and they do not have any suspects.

Paranormal experts search for spirits at Hotel Adolphus event

OSCAR DURAND/DMN

Sierra Sky, who helps earthbound spirits move into the next realm, moves her arms as she feels a spirit’s energy at the “Haunting and Healing” event.

Curious souls showed up Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Adolphus hotel in downtown Dallas to talk about "Haunting and Healing." They got a ghostly experience, hearing from four experts on various aspects of hauntings and how to deal with them.
More Halloween stories
Link: Dallas-Fort Worth Paranormal Society

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.

Arlington airport lands fans on Cowboys game days
Arlington Municipal Airport is pushing capacity as dozens of planes filled with fans arrive before every football game and concert.

TEA to announce results of ratings appeals this week
Only a handful of North Texas schools were successful in appealing their state accountability ratings, despite an uptick in the number of disgruntled districts protesting their rankings.

Students from Nepal form a growing kinship at community colleges in Dallas-Fort Worth
The country that sends the most international students to Dallas community colleges may come as a surprise. It's Nepal, a nation bordered by India and China and the home of Mount Everest and the Himalayan mountain range.

11/01/2009

Plano man's dream comes true on 'Jeopardy!'
Terry Linwood, a 36-year-old bookseller, scored five victories on Jeopardy, earning $122,705, and ranking him among the game's greatest players. But he couldn't talk about it for two months, while he waited for the quiz show episodes to air.

State, local lawmakers lining up to seek higher offices, but hopes hinge on Hutchison

In North Texas, potential vacancies should Kay Bailey Hutchison give up her Senate seat to run for governor could spark a free-for-all.
Blog: Politics
Get politics news

11/02/2009

Skateboarders flip for Lewisville's Railroad Park, which officially opens Monday
The $26 million Railroad Park is the largest capital project in Lewisville's history, and officials expect it to attract 700,000 users a year and open the door to lucrative athletic tournaments.

11/01/2009

Halloween ruled out as influence in hate crime at kosher restaurant
Natalie and Yohai Pinhas don't think it was Halloween pranksters that spray-painted obscene and anti-semitic graffiti on the sidewalk and near the front door of their kosher restaurant and market in Far North Dallas.

First Baptist Dallas unveils $130 million building plan for downtown campus
First Baptist Church of Dallas today announced a $130 million capital campaign to build a 3,000-seat worship center, a religious education building and parking lot, a glass concourse, and a sky bridge. The project promises to transform a stretch of downtown’s St. Paul Street, near the attention-grabbing Arts District.

Plano police say grace period on school-zone cellphone law ends this month
Plano police say they will keep issuing warning citations to drivers who violate the new state law against texting and using cellphones in school zones through the end of November.

Hispanic Chamber struggles to end 'toxic' rift
The morning of May 6 began with promise but ended with one of the nation's largest Hispanic chambers of commerce in a shambles.

08/26/2009

Carrollton couple celebrates son's birth, and begins waiting for the end
The Lauxes faced the hardest lessons of parenthood all at once: learning to love unconditionally, accept limits and let go.

08/27/2009

Carrollton couple finds support to deal with unborn son's terminal condition
A black gap marred the middle of the computer screen. The void split a cloud of light that ebbed and flowed into the shape of a human fetus. The sonogram technician turned from her computer screen to Deidrea and T.K. Laux. She told them she saw problems.

06/13/2009

Dallas City Hall blog: TxDOT delays temporary closure of I-35E; had been scheduled for Sunday and Monday
Dallas City Council candidates Carolyn Davis and Delia Jasso have jumped to early leads in their respective election runoffs.