LOCAL/NEWS

12/08/2007

Irving, Richardson schools face sliding enrollment, hard choices

LOUIS DeLUCA/DMN

Dozens of outdated, low-rent apartment complexes that once housed young families – like Green Valley in Richardson – are being demolished.

The two school districts share one problem – declining enrollment. The demise of low-income apartment complexes plays a role for both. These stories look at how the districts are coming to terms with the loss of students, which could affect state funding, delay construction of new schools and even force closures at existing campuses.

Staging 'Phantom' an epic task for Southlake Carroll

NATHAN HUNSINGER / DMN

P.J. Sook walks onto the stage for a dress rehearsal.

Southlake Carroll High School is home to a powerhouse football team in one of the state's few academically "exemplary" districts. Expectations are high in all areas, and theater is no exception. It's no surprise that it would stage the nation's first high school production of The Phantom of the Opera.

17th annual Dallas Kwanzaafest draws record crowds
A humble event promoting black health and community that originated in a high school gym now scarcely resembles the overwhelming block party that took over Fair Park on Saturday.

Dog finds skull in Southwest Dallas field
A dog found a skull that appears to have come from a human Saturday morning in southwest Dallas field, police and neighbors said.

Dallas police looking for suspects in attempted robbery
Dallas police are looking for two men who attempted to rob a couple of restaurant employees who had just got off from work late Friday night.

Police investigate fatal shooting at Lake Highlands apartment
Dallas police were investigating a fatal shooting late Friday at an apartment complex in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas. Police said they are looking for witnesses to the shooting of Michael Denmark, 25, and Doug Tasby, 30.

'Phantom' auditions for a place on smaller stages
The Southlake Carroll theater department took on a unique challenge for its high school play. Carroll Senior High School was hand-picked, along with five other schools nationwide, to produce the play as part of an experiment to decide if Phantom is suited for smaller venues.

12/07/2007

Grand Prairie baseball stadium envisioned as entertainment showplace

MILTON HINNANT/DMN

The new stadium is expected to draw 300,000 visitors a year and create 200 jobs.

The stadium will have 4,000 permanent seats and lawn seating for 2,000, a full-service restaurant in left field, 12 luxury suites, a swimming pool in right field, and a 15,000-square-foot kid zone complete with a climbing wall, whiffle ball field and playground.

12/08/2007

Blind Dallas woman says cabbie left her stranded
During a recent cab ride, Carla Rowland of Dallas had the feeling the driver was taking her too far out of her way. When Ms. Rowland, who is blind, raised her suspicions with the driver, he started to argue with her.

12/07/2007

Watauga police deny wrongdoing after officer's car hits motorcycle in chase
The Aug. 25 collision injured the motorcycle driver, Derek Muzquiz, 25, and his passenger, Cynthia Arredondo, 31, of Fort Worth. Mr. Muzquiz spent a week in the hospital. Ms. Arredondo remains in a Tarrant County rehabilitation center recovering from severe head trauma.

White Rock Marathon runners ready to weather the elements
They've spent months training in every sort of weather for Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon. But for the 15,000 runners racing Sunday morning, this is not exactly the forecast they want to hear: "A pretty good shot of rain."

Irving leaders to press DART on Orange Line delays
Irving city officials and business leaders want a lot of things from DART next week, including a good explanation for a $900 million spike in construction cost estimates that threatens to delay rail service to the city.
Map: DART's planned routes for expanding light rail

Dallas Historical Society artifacts recovered
A box of 21 historical artifacts has been found in a hotel parking lot and returned to the Dallas Historical Society offices, the organization's executive director said Friday.

12/08/2007

Dallas boy caught in middle of Honduran parents' immigration woes

MICHAEL AINSWORTH/DMN

The story is one echoing through many families with mixed immigration status, as a crackdown on illegal immigrants cleaves communities.

12/07/2007

DMS Systems ordered to leave Parkland records intact
A state district judge has issued a temporary restraining order against a Lufkin company that stores medical records for Parkland Memorial Hospital.

12/08/2007

YoungLife director has faith he'll reach kids
Michael Washington was working overtime to recruit students to participate in Overtime, a youth ministry he established with his wife, Demarius.

Two officials land on Rowlett agenda
This week's Rowlett City Council agenda included closed-door discussions of the "evaluation, duties and possible discipline" of City Manager Craig Owens and council member Al Alberts, and the Alberts item referred to "possible violations of the Code of Ethics."

Ethics issue raised in Rowlett council's OK of development incentives
Rowlett City Council member Al Alberts has raised ethics questions about Mayor John Harper's vote to provide financial incentives to a family that gave him campaign donations.

12/07/2007

Amputee will participate in White Rock Marathon

COURTNEY PERRY/DMN

Fort Worth teen Aaron Gill plans to run one mile of Sunday's White Rock Marathon to raise money for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children – the place where doctors amputated his leg.
Rain likely for marathon
White Rock Marathon news

12/08/2007

Bush gaffe results in Ponder school being flooded with phone calls
Misguided callers from across the country have bombarded a Denton County school whose phone number was mistakenly mentioned in a televised speech by President Bush this week.

Student down to business
Jose Moreno has a solid business plan. He's worked out the financials and has other critical elements in place.

Mesquite police use battery-powered three-wheelers to patrol mall parking lots
Mesquite police are turning a lot of heads this holiday season as they patrol Town East Mall parking lots on futuristic tricycles. "RoboCop" seems to be the most common comment when people see a helmeted officer on one of the battery-powered scooters, called T3s.

Mountain lion sighted in Allen, Lucas
State wildlife officials are investigating reports of a mountain lion spotted roaming neighborhoods in Allen and nearby Lucas. Witnesses said a big cat, about 80 to 90 pounds with a tail as long as its body, bounded into a 300-home subdivision in Allen on Monday from neighboring Lucas.

Single-minded ministry draws thousands to Carrollton church
Pastors Michael and Holly Rowan are leading thousands in what they say is a journey of a lifetime. Two years ago, the Rowans came to North Texas to oversee the singles ministry at Covenant Church in Carrollton.

Allen Honor Choir prepares to sing with symphony
ALLEN – Each child sat in a perfectly carved-out row, eyes fixed on the instructor.

12/07/2007

'Scarecrow bandits' accused of 10 Dallas-area bank robberies
The FBI was asking Friday for the public's help in identifying three men nicknamed the "scarecrow bandits" and who may be responsible for at least 10 bank robberies in the past six months.

Pleasant Grove day care owner says she wasn't at scene of boy's death
A jury is deliberating the fate of a Pleasant Grove day care owner accused in the death of a 4-year-old boy. Blynithia Washington is accused of leaving Jacob Fox in a van on July 20, 2006 and then ordering employees to place his body in a park to cover up how the child had died.

Kansas man charged in McKinney airport burglary
A federal grand jury has indicted a Hutchinson, Kan., man on charges of burglarizing six airports in four states, including one in Collin County.

Races to shut down Frisco streets Saturday
Sections of eight streets in Frisco will be closed Saturday from 7 to 10 a.m. for the town's "Frosty 5K" and "Merry 1K" race events.

Kaufman County couple dead in apparent murder-suicide
An out-of-state phone call led Kaufman County sheriff's deputies to an apparent murder-suicide of a husband and wife early Friday morning.

12/08/2007

Regional Roundup

12/07/2007

Rain likely for White Rock Marathon 10:46 AM CT
Earlier this week, organizers of Sunday’s Wellstone’s Dallas White Rock Marathon were taking precautions to prepare for warmer-than-average weather. Now they have another complication on the horizon: A forecast calling for a 70 percent chance of rain.

Ponder school deluged with calls after President Bush's speech
One Ponder school, the Freedom Christian Academy, became the unintended recipient of calls from homeowners seeking help from HOPE NOW, a counseling program touted early Thursday afternoon by President George Bush during in a televised news briefing about his plan for helping homeowners deal with the mortgage crisis.

Texas A&M; poised to name Elsa Murano as president
Dr. Murano, a vice chancellor and dean of agriculture there, was named the sole finalist Friday by the Texas A&M System's governing Board of Regents.
Link: Elsa Murano's bio

12/06/2007

Pearl Harbor vet tells students about that infamous day

JIM MAHONEY/DMN

His medals were popular, and so was the company commendation from the president. But it was Joe Burkett himself who fascinated sixth-graders at Range Elementary School in Mesquite on Thursday.
• Downed at Pearl Harbor, pilot lived to tell

12/07/2007

Grand Prairie police nab men accused of Riverside golf course robberies
Two Arlington men have been arrested on accusations they robbed golfers at the Riverside Golf Club course, Grand Prairie police said Friday.

12/06/2007

Dallas schools chief says district won't meet all goals
Dallas schools Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said Thursday that he doubts the district will meet all the reform goals he has set for 2010.

12/07/2007

Mountain lion prowling Collin County neighborhood?
Cougar sightings may be rare in Texas, but it appears a mountain lion is roaming a Collin County neighborhood. The sighting on the Allen-Lucas border is putting families on edge.

12/06/2007

Dallas robbers said they were tied to Zetas
Gang unit detectives were investigating a Thursday morning armed robbery in which the victims told police that the men identified themselves as being connected to the Zetas, a group of Mexican drug cartel enforcers.

Dallas' Code Compliance unit set to change procedures

RON BASELICE/DMN

Core Customer Service Representative Connie Reese will educate people not to use empty lots as landfills.

Code Compliance has long ranked at the top of residents' complaints about how City Hall works in Dallas.
Map: New enforcement zones

UT campuses to get cap on tuition hikes
Amid pressure from state lawmakers and students, the University of Texas System took the unprecedented step Thursday of capping tuition increases at its nine academic campuses. For the next two school years, tuition and fees for in-state undergraduates can go up no more than 4.95 percent or $300 a year, whichever is greater.
Tell Us: Is a 4.95 percent cap on tuition increases fair?

Cattle Baron's Ball rakes in a record take for charity
The Cattle Baron's Ball, a glitzy gala benefiting the American Cancer Society, took in a record $5.5 million this year, officials said Thursday.

Tree of Angels ceremony brings crime victims' loved ones together
Rachell Torres wept quietly inside an Oak Cliff church Thursday night as she wrote messages to her sister on silver balloons. "I love you so much," she wrote to Linoshka Torres, kidnapped and killed along with her boyfriend in January. "I miss you a lot XOXO".

12/07/2007

Decked out for the holidays
If you're looking for holiday decorating ideas, forget Martha. The Rowlett Women's Club is offering a close-to-home source of decorating tips.

Dallas sixth-graders take part in children's charity event
Hands flew in the air as Alex Etel began taking questions. The 13-year-old star of the upcoming movie The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep made a special appearance at St. Rita Catholic School on Tuesday.

She's well-served by cookies
Last May, McKinney cookie maker Mary Beth Schad entered the Martha Stewart Living "Dreamers Into Doers" contest, which was looking for women who have turned their hobbies into careers.

Children's chorus performing at holiday concerts
The Rockwall Children's Chorus has several free concerts coming up in celebration of the holiday season. This nonprofit organization, dedicated to training young singers, has 37 members in grades two through nine.

Irving woman's Web site helps families share news, photos
Brenda Cannon has embarked on a new career that combines two loves. She's created a Web site that uses her computer skills to preserve family memories.

12/06/2007

Groups criticize Collin County's patient data rule
Two national civil rights organizations are criticizing Collin County commissioners for prohibiting nonprofit clinics from treating illegal immigrants with county funds.

One dead in Dallas barbershop brawl
Eddie Simmons of Dallas was pronounced dead at the scene in the 3700 block of Malcolm X Boulevard, said Sgt. Bruce McDonald, a homicide unit supervisor.

Judge dismisses state prison inmate's suit against Parkland
In 2002, Jerry Wayne Mooney was injured in a shootout with police in which an Irving officer was also wounded. Mr. Mooney was treated at Parkland and subsequently turned over to the jail.

Dallas Plan Commission approves Day Resource Center as temporary night shelter
The measure must be approved by the Dallas City Council, which has scheduled a vote on Dec. 12. Under the proposal, the center would remain a shelter until the city finishes building a Homeless Assistance Center scheduled to open in Apri

20-year-old arrested in Zales jewelry store robbery
Dallas police detectives Wednesday night arrested a 20-year-old man who they say disarmed a security guard and made off with more than $200,000 in merchandise from a Zales outlet store Tuesday afternoon.

Defense presents case in trial of Pleasant Grove day-care owner
The defense began presenting its case Thursday in the trial of a Pleasant Grove day-care owner accused of causing the death of a 4-year-old boy.

Dallas woman accused of killing husband
A 57-year-old woman faces a charge of murder in the shooting death of her husband Wednesday.

Will Oprah's support give Obama a boost?
As Oprah Winfrey prepares to join Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign this weekend, political pundits are wondering whether she will make a difference. Kristin Thompson, a high school senior in Dallas, doesn’t wonder. The Oprah factor has already kicked in for her.

Rockwall Council reverses its alcohol-sales decision
The Rockwall City Council this week reversed its earlier decision to allow restaurants and stores along Interstate 30 to sell alcoholic beverages even if they are within 300 feet of a school, church or hospital.

Denton County sheriff to run for second term
Denton County Sheriff Benny Parkey said he's brought a new level of professionalism and accountability to his department since being elected and wants an opportunity to do more.

Frisco police investigate robbers with pig masks
Investigators planned to view security camera video at a Frisco jewelry store robbed earlier this week by two men wearing pig masks, police said Thursday.

Ex-Texas A&M; head of biodefense research, Richard Ewing, dead at 61
Dr. Richard Ewing, the Texas A&M; vice president who was pressured to step down this summer over the university’s biodefense safety scandal, has died of a heart attack, A&M; officials confirmed Thursday.

Lewisville school, Killian's beer have same name, similar logos
Killian Middle School, which opened in August, is named after retired school administrator Michael Killian. A seventh-grader there noticed the oddity when she saw a six-pack of Killian's Irish Red lager in her parents' fridge.
Tell us: Should the school change its name and/or logo?
Link: Killian Middle School

12/05/2007

Are toys donated to charities naughty or nice?

JIM MAHONEY/DMN

Many North Texas charities are depending on volunteers like Anne Mattson to make sure toys are safe; others have stopped accepting donated toys.

The shelves at the NETWORK of Community Ministries' Santa Corner are filling quickly with toys donated for about 1,800 needy children. And this year, sorting them will be a bigger job than ever.
• Group finds many toys with lead still on shelves
• Interactive: Buying safe toys

U.S. citizenship agency to open Dallas training centers
Two regional training centers will open in Dallas in January for new employees of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a government agency swamped by naturalization petitions.

12/06/2007

Judge orders monkey returned to bipolar owner in Fort Worth
A monkey that became caught in the middle of a battle between her owner and the Humane Society was returned home Wednesday. Heather Grady, who is bipolar, said she depends on "Zoe," a 3.5 pound monkey, to keep her stable.

12/05/2007

Woman living out of car in Dallas not seen for a month
A Dallas man has been putting up fliers in the hope of finding his sister, whose disappearance last month was marked by troubling circumstances.

2 men rob Frisco jewelry store in pig masks, police say
The two men walked into Marc Samuels Jewelers in the 8500 block of Gaylord Parkway just north of Stonebriar Centre about 11:15 a.m., said Frisco police spokesman Gerald Meadors.

Caddo Mills school board backs principal in paddling incident
The Caddo Mills school board released a statement Wednesday night in support of high school principal Brian McKamy after a closed-door session to discuss paddling allegations made against him by a student.

Death in Denton County kennel leads to a call for new laws
When Vincent and Demetria Tricomi left their three dogs at Paula's Canine Academy in Denton County, they thought they would be safe.

Rising construction costs could delay Dallas light rail expansion
The costs could force DART to delay many of the projects that are part of its long-range plan, the agency's president said Wednesday. The cost of building materials like petroleum, ready-mix concrete and steel has shot up in recent years.
Graphic: 2030 transit system plan

12/06/2007

In waste disposal firm's program, employees are trained by Highland Park cops for neighborhood watch
When the big blue trucks from Allied Waste Services arrive at Highland Park homes, employees just may be picking up more than garbage. Their regular presence in neighborhoods now enables them to pass critical information on to police.

U.S. citizenship agency to open Dallas training centers for new employees
Two regional training centers will open in Dallas in January for new employees of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a government agency swamped by naturalization petitions.

Northlake Elementary library turns a page
The Northlake Elementary library wasn't exactly a place that inspired reading.

Lights, square festivities among Frisco holiday offerings
With new holiday events added to the Frisco landscape, it's the more the merrier for residents and visitors.

'Chicken Soup' fits them to a tea
Chicken soup and tea. Sound like a winning combination? It hit the spot perfectly for two Duncanville writers.

College's greenery program pruned
After 30 years in the corporate world, Chris Coley quit her job last year to pursue her dream of starting a nursery and landscaping business. She enrolled at Richland College to work on an associate's degree in horticulture.

Rising construction costs could delay DART expansion plans
Rising construction costs could force DART to delay many of the projects that are part of its long-range plan, the agency's president said Wednesday.

Proceeds from sale of Colleyville home to benefit Fort Worth children's hospital
Luxury homebuilder Tony Johann and his friend and business associate Randy White have worked together for years, but their latest project has special meaning.

Report on official contradicts DISD in credit card case
Three days before the Dallas Independent School District pink-slipped the supervisor who oversaw its scuttled credit card program, a panel of district administrators appears to have recommended that the supervisor not be fired.

12/05/2007

87-year-old has big plans after graduation

G.J. McCARTHY/DMN

Helen Small, 87, set college aside to run a business with her husband and raise a family but always intended to get a degree.
Share your words of congratulation

'Return to sender' fails with junk mail, but flow can be slowed

JAKE BATSELL/DMN

John Fredricks, 86, of Richardson returned a month's worth of junk mail to his local post office, which days later delivered it back to his doorstep, then picked it up and trashed it.
Share: Junk mail horror stories
Video: Post office returns junk mail to retiree

Farmers Branch trains camera's eye on crime
Vandals or graffiti artists up to no good may soon hear a voice from the darkness letting them know Big Brother is watching. Not only that, he's taking photos.

Victory Park retailers help pay Plano family's medical bills
Months after Richie Herskowitz's death, the medical bills are still piling up for his Plano family. Now, a new group called Miracle Dallas is trying to help.

Former El Centro vice president to be college's new leader
Paul J. McCarthy, former vice president of El Centro College in Dallas, will return in February as the college's new president. Dallas County Community College District trustees approved the appointment Tuesday.

Regional briefs from the Dallas-Fort Worth area
An administrative law judge on Tuesday reinstated a Dallas police officer who was fired last summer after being indicted on felony charges.

Gas leak shuts down Northwest Highway near Love Field
A gas leak Wednesday morning has force the shutdown of West Northwest Highway near Love Field in Dallas.

I-30 lane closures scheduled this weekend in Arlington
Lane closures on Interstate 30 in Arlington were scheduled for this weekend as part of the Center Street Bridge project.

Report on official contradicts Dallas schools in credit card case
Three days before the Dallas Independent School District pink-slipped the supervisor who oversaw its scuttled credit card program, a panel of district administrators appears to have recommended that the supervisor not be fired.

Dallas police release photo of jewelry store robber
Dallas police were asking the public for help Wednesday in their search for a gunman who stole more than $200,000 worth of jewelry from a Zales outlet store.

Official says downtown Dallas growth needs nurturing
City government mustn't waver in its commitment to revitalizing downtown Dallas through direct investment, public tax subsidies and partnerships with the private sector, Director of Economic Development Karl Zavitkovsky told City Council members Wednesday.

Bedford man guilty of intoxication assault in Arlington crash
A man who seriously injured two Arlington girls when he crashed into their vehicle pleaded guilty Tuesday to intoxication assault and driving while intoxicated.

Dallas church unveils Virgin of Guadalupe statue
Tears and applause greeted Wednesday morning’s unveiling of a new statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe outside a downtown Dallas cathedral.

Lewisville woman killed in Richardson traffic accident
Richardson police are still investigating the cause of a two-vehicle collision that killed a Lewisville woman.

Giving downtown Dallas a neighborhood feel

SONYA N. HEBERT/DMN

Zane Aveton (right) and her husband Noel turned a former printing shop into a home. They live here with Beau, 3.

Within months, city officials expect to hit the halfway point on their quest to fill the downtown core with 10,000 residential units – up from about 200 a decade ago.
Video: Living in downtown Dallas
Report: Young workers want walkable cities

I-35E northbound lanes in Dallas reopen after truck accident
Main northbound lanes on Interstate 35E at Colorado Boulevard were closed Wednesday morning after an 18-wheeler hit a guardrail.

Irving officials furious over possible transit line delays
Irving city officials expressed outrage Tuesday at news that DART's plans to run rail lines through the city and to the airport will cost $900 million more than planned. DART officials said that project could be delayed and others could be deleted, as the higher costs force it to re-evaluate the scope of its long-range plans.

Ex-boyfriend held in woman's murder in Denton County
A 26-year-old man accused of ramming his ex-girlfriend's car and then shooting her to death in front of her Copper Canyon home was arrested early Wednesday after a 3 ½-hour standoff.

12/04/2007

Suspect in Dallas doorman's death is arrested
A man accused of fatally shooting a doorman last month in downtown Dallas was arrested Tuesday at an apartment complex in Wichita, Kan., police said.

Arrests of illegal immigrants double in Dallas-Fort Worth
New fugitive operations teams more than doubled their arrests of illegal immigrants in North Texas during the past fiscal year, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said Tuesday.

Dallas cashing in on Hollywood writers' strike
The Hollywood writers' strike is wreaking havoc on TV show schedules, but it's made Dallas County $30,000 richer. The Fox TV show Prison Break had been shooting courtroom scenes inside the county's old juvenile detention building on Harry Hines Boulevard for six months.

12/05/2007

Pickens gives $6M for projects in Dallas' Jubilee Park

VERNON BRYANT/DMN

Here, the buds of community activism, improved housing stock and educational opportunity already have begun sprouting from an otherwise toxic terrain of poverty, violence and drugs.

12/04/2007

Woman killed in crash near Bush Turnpike
A woman was killed in a traffic accident Tuesday afternoon near the Bush Turnpike in Richardson, police said. The two-vehicle accident occurred about 3:30 p.m. on North Jupiter Road just south of the intersection with the highway service road, said Richardson police Sgt. Kevin Perlich.

12/05/2007

Tell Us
Is your community walkable?

Box containing uranium lost and returned in Fort Worth
A box containing a small amount of uranium apparently fell from a truck in North Fort Worth and was retrieved by a passer-by who took it home before turning it over to officials.

University Park bans use of cellphones in school zones
University Park joined neighboring Highland Park in prohibiting drivers from using handheld cellphones in school zones.

Charity to again buy back guns
In a season full of drives for food and toys, one local charity has an unusual holiday request: It wants your guns. The Stewpot will pay $50 for handguns and $200 for semiautomatic assault weapons. The downtown homeless shelter has collected and destroyed hundreds of firearms since it started its gun buy-backs six years ago. This year's event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at The Stewpot's parking garage at 1822 Young St. downtown.

Man dies after rescuing parents, nephew from Fort Worth fire
James Seaton saved his parents' life Tuesday by losing his own.

12/04/2007

Worker tells jurors of cover-up in Pleasant Grove day-care death

FILE 2006

Blynithia Washington owned Dream House day-care center.

Melissa Williams told jurors that in July 2006 she helped hide that Jacob Fox died in the day-care center's gold van and helped move his body because that was what Dream House owner Blynithia Washington wanted.

Dallas Love Field screener accused of assault can't be prosecuted, judge rules
A Dallas Love Field security screener can't be prosecuted on a charge that he assaulted a subordinate on the job because he was trying to defuse a confrontation with a passenger at the time, a Dallas federal judge ruled this week.

12/05/2007

Dallas schools raise passing rate but fall short of many goals
Dallas schools Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said Tuesday he plans to "stay the course" with goals he set to drastically improve student performance by 2010, even as a new report says the district will have to step up its game to reach the goals.

12/04/2007

Police locate man with Alzheimer's
Dallas police on Wednesday located an elderly man with Alzheimer's disease who disappeared a day earlier.

UTD training program aims to multiply math, science teachers
Math and science whizzes aren't necessarily good at teaching. And teachers don't always know their calculus or chemistry. The University of Texas at Dallas aims to marry those skills with a new teacher training program that campus officials will announce Wednesday.

'Google blotter' interactive site maps Dallas crime
A new Web site will let users take a look at crime in Dallas with the help of interactive maps. "This is not just a police blotter; this is a 21st-century Google blotter," said Dan Elliott, who heads InteloQuence, the Addison-based marketing firm that designed the site.

Stolen artifacts of little value to thieves, police say
Attention antiquity thieves: You can steal one of Santa Anna's spurs, but unless you're planning to wear it yourself, you may have wasted your time.

Arlington backs off raising storm water rates for schools
The Arlington City Council has backed off a flood-control plan that would have dramatically increased storm water fees for schools.

Gunman nabs $200,000 in jewelry from Zales store
A gunman disarmed a security guard and made off with more than $200,000 in merchandise from a Zales outlet store Tuesday afternoon, police said.

University Park bans cellphone use in school zones
University Park joined neighboring Highland Park in prohibiting drivers from using handheld cellphones in school zones.

Cedar Hill 9th-graders fall ill after taking pills
At least four ninth-grade students were sent to the hospital Tuesday after taking pills and becoming ill, a Cedar Hill school district official said.

Teen vowing not to be a Republican raises funds for Hillary Clinton
A teen whose father denied him college tuition because he would not become a Republican now is raising funds for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

DART says rising costs could delay future rail expansion
Irving city officials expressed outrage Tuesday at news that DART's plans to run rail lines through the city and to the airport will cost $900 million more than planned. DART officials said that project could be delayed and others could be deleted, as the higher costs force it to re-evaluate the score of its long-range plans.

Trial begins for Pleasant Grove day-care owner accused of child's death
The trial of a daycare owner accused of leaving a 4-year-old in a gold van and moving his body to hide what happened began this morning in a Dallas County courtroom.

Man dies after rescuing parents, nephew from Fort Worth fire
James Seaton saved his parents' life Tuesday by losing his own. The 54-year-old Paris, Texas, man was apparently overcome by smoke and heat while helping his mother, father and 12-year-old nephew escape an early morning fire at the family's mobile home in the 3400 block of Rodolphus Street, officials said.

Dallas police seek suspect in jewelry store heist
Dallas police are searching for a gunman who disarmed a security guard and robbed a jewelry store in the Stemmons Corridor this afternoon.

Tell Us: Over-the-top Christmas lights
Have your neighbors channeled the spirits of the Griswolds for their over-the-top Christmas lights display? Is the Santa Claus in your other neighbor’s nativity scene just too much to swallow?

Police track down missing uranium in Fort Worth
A box containing a small amount of uranium apparently fell from a truck in North Fort Worth and was retrieved by a passer-by who took it home before turning it over to officials.

12/03/2007

Kangaroo leads police on chase

Leonard Esquibel

Veterinarian B. Kyle Jones was busy hanging Christmas lights at his west Lewisville home when Maynard the kangaroo made his escape. The pursuit attracted a gaggle of police, neighbors and children on Monday.

HP cellphone ban goes into effect
Highland Park wanted drivers to put their cellphones down, and apparently they got the message.

Man slain at W. Oak Cliff apartments
A 26-year-old man was fatally shot in the parking lot of a west Oak Cliff apartment complex late Sunday, police said.

12/04/2007

Man shot to death inside his Dallas home
A 51-year-old man was fatally shot in his South Dallas home Monday afternoon, police said.

TV news crew falls prey to crime while interviewing robbery victim
This is a crime story about a crime story in what, according to some statistics, is the most crime-ridden major city in America.

Missing in action: Together again

G.J. McCARTHY/DMN

After 36 years, Sallie Stratton finally gets the call she's been waiting for. But the news about her husband, Chuck, whose fighter plane crashed during the Vietnam War, is bittersweet.
Photos: The long wait ends
Timeline: Chuck and Sallie's story
Video
Chat: Today at 1 p.m.

Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez to seek second term

Lupe Valdez

Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez filed to run for re-election Monday morning as the county's top cop, saying she has made great strides in fixing an overcrowded and understaffed jail during the last three years. Sheriff Valdez said she inherited an agency with no accountability and a "badly broken" jail system that wasn't close to meeting the state's requirements. "This is not the case today," she said.

Caddo Mills father complains to TEA about teen's paddling
The father of a Caddo Mills 15-year-old has sent an official complaint to the Texas Education Agency about the treatment his son received from the Caddo Mills High School principal.

Ralph Curtis Burch: Longtime PE teacher in Irving schools
Ralph Curtis "Coach" Burch was game for almost any sport during his long career, which included 30 years as a physical education teacher in Irving schools.

4 N. Texans among finalists for Pillsbury Bake-Off in Dallas
Yes, she might have bananas. But she won't tell you how many today.

12/03/2007

Lancaster woman makes it into $1M bake-off
Gwen Beauchamp, 54, has been named one of the finalists in the $1 million Pillsbury Bake-Off, and the Lancaster woman's brownies must remain cloaked in dark-chocolate mystery until January.

Caddo Mills dad complains on teen's paddling
The father of a Caddo Mills 15-year-old has sent an official complaint to the Texas Education Agency about the treatment his son received from the Caddo Mills High School principal.

I-35E lanes in Red Bird to close for repairs
The two northbound right lanes of Interstate 35E at Kirnwood Drive in the Red Bird area of Dallas will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Wednesday.

Man accused of DWI after crashing into fire truck
A Lewisville man was accused of drunken driving Monday after his vehicle crashed into a fire truck protecting an accident scene on Interstate 35E.

State to crack down on unpaid tolls
Now may be the time to pay those pesky invoices for unpaid tolls from the state transportation department. Beginning next year, Texas will begin mailing violation notices to drivers who have ignored invoices for unpaid tolls.

Mom may face tougher charge in Plano tot's injury
The Plano mom accused of dropping her 22-month-old daughter twice from the indoor balcony of her house may soon face an attempted capital murder charge.

Channel 5 news crew falls prey to burglars
This is a crime story about a crime story in what, according to some statistics, is the most crime-ridden major city in America.

Holiday party for city's top officials may violate law
A festive gathering Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert hosted Monday evening helped top city officials usher in the holiday spirit, but may also have violated the spirit, if not letter, of the Texas Open Meetings Act, two city council members say.

Dallas judge grows frustrated with uninsured drivers

REX C. CURRY/Special Contributor

Dallas Municipal Judge Jay Robinson estimates nearly half the misdemeanor violations before him involve motorists without insurance. They are among the more than 3 million uninsured motorists in Texas.

Lewisville Lake search continues for missing man
The search continued Monday morning for a 34-year-old man believed to have drowned in Lewisville Lake over the weekend.

Highland Park cellphone ban takes effect
Drivers will have to put down their cellphones while driving through Highland Park school zones or pay a $75 fine.

Full service restored on DART rail line
DART rail users encountered a pair of delays Monday morning, as technicians worked to repair two sections of damaged power lines.

State Rep. Thomas Latham files for re-election
Republican State Rep. Thomas Latham filed for re-election Monday to the District 101 seat. Mr. Latham has served one term in the Legislature representing the district which includes Mesquite, Sunnyvale and Balch Springs.

Mayor says Dallas can be 'finest city in the nation'
Dallas is on the cusp of becoming the "finest city in the nation," but must aggressively invest in public works projects, its southern sector and education to meet that goal, Mayor Tom Leppert on Monday afternoon told members of the Dallas Citizens Council at the group's 70th anniversary luncheon.
More Local News

Hills, curves make highway east of Rockwall deadly
Vincent Edwards has seen quite a few accidents near his home in the seven years since he moved next door to the Classic Rock stone yard on State Highway 66 east of Rockwall.

2 die, 3 injured when SUV vaults off I-30 in Grand Prairie
Two men were pronounced dead at the scene after a 2002 Chevrolet sport utility vehicle they were riding in landed upside down on a railroad track that runs beneath the freeway, Sgt. Eric Hansen said.

Dallas Fair Park celebrates green Christmas
Even the conservation-minded might enjoy a holiday stroll among Fair Park's 32 lighted Christmas trees.

1 dead, 1 hospitalized after gang fight in Old East Dallas
About 20 people were involved in what police called a gang fight in the 4600 block of Monarch Street, several blocks from Ross Avenue, shortly before midnight.

12/02/2007

Dallas immigration officials cracking down on those who ignore deportation orders

SONYA N. HEBERT/DMN

Nuria Prendes is part of a new emphasis on what U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement calls fugitive operations – that is, the removal of illegal immigrants who have outstanding deportation or exclusion orders.

Fort Worth's Broadway Baptist wrestling with listing gay members in directory
The church has debated whether the directory should include gay couples, or gay people individually but not as couples, or whether to omit all individual and family photos.

12/03/2007

Driver killed after car goes off highway in Mountain Creek
A 34-year-old man was killed when his car went off a highway in the Mountain Creek area early Sunday, police said.

2 lanes of Interstate 35E to be closed for bridge work
The Texas Department of Transportation will be performing work on the bridge that was damaged when it was struck in October by an 18-wheeler hauling construction equipment.

Farmers Branch man dies in car accident
The man, whose identity wasn't released, was driving a Dodge pickup in the 13800 block of North Stemmons Freeway about 5:30 p.m. when he ran onto the shoulder and rear-ended a Chevy truck parked there, said Farmers Branch police Cpl. Chad Taylor.

12/02/2007

Red Sox fan who got heart transplant meets donor's husband
On Sunday, Alfonso Solis spoke to Andrew about his wife, Cecilia, who died Sept. 29, just 12 days after giving birth to their daughter, Emily. Through both Emily and Andrew, he said, Ms. Solis lives on.

Woman who was stabbed to death in Northwest Dallas identified
A woman who was stabbed to death in Northwest Dallas early Saturday has been identified as 29-year-old Lorena Perrusquia of Dallas, the medical examiner said.

Mild temperatures expected to continue this week
Rain could dampen parts of Texas while temperatures remain mild in much of the state, the National Weather Service said. There's a 20 percent chance of rain in Dallas and Fort Worth, with winds of up to 20 mph. Highs should be in the 70s and lows in the 40s.

Missing in action: Wife struggles to move on with husband's fate unknown
Second in a three-part series: Since the moment her husband Chuck went missing in action Jan. 3, 1971, Sallie Stratton has waited patiently for an answer to the question haunting her life: Is she a widow or a wife?
Timeline: Chuck and Sallie's story
Video
Chat: Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Officials suspend search of Lewisville Lake for missing man
The search for a 34-year-old man believed to have drowned in Lewisville Lake Saturday was suspended shortly before noon Sunday due to treacherous conditions, an official said. Officials had resumed their search for the Parker man around 8 a.m.

Eagle Scouts
Eagle Scout is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. To earn the honor, Scouts must complete a service project and other requirements. These youths have earned the honor.

At Richardson agency, kids get therapy, parents find strength