“Affluenza” Teen Ethan Couch Reportedly Apprehended In Mexico

According to information first reported by CNN, Tarrant County’s Ethan Couch and his mother Tonya have been arrested in the Mexican beach resort town of Puerto Vallarta. Couch, sentenced to 10 years probation in 2013 four killing four in a drunk driving incident, has been on the run since video…

Abbott Orders Bill of Rights Removed From Texas Capitol

A new front has opened in the Texas battle over nativity scenes. Last week, we told you about the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s plan to erect a “Bill of Rights” nativity scene at the state Capitol. Texas state Representative Donna Howard sponsored the display, which depicts a few of the founding fathers…

Dallas’ Naughty and Nice for 2015

We’ve made our list, we’ve checked it … well, not really twice. There was a ton of bourbon in the eggnog. But now we’re ready to air our grievances with those North Texans who’ve wronged us and celebrate those who help make Dallas such a special place. It’s the official Dallas…

Unsocialized: 2015’s Texas Social Media Wrecks

The best thing about the incessant deluge of crap to which we are now subject thanks to Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Gmail push alerts, Google alerts and Instagram, among many, many others, is the daily occurrence of something untoward, accidental or just silly slipping past a public figure’s social media goalie…

The Tarrant County Sheriff Says Look Out for Ethan Couch’s Mom, Truck

Despite chasing thousands of leads and making sure their man’s face is plastered all over media outlets across the country, Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson said Monday that his office has had no luck tracking down Ethan Couch, the “affluenza”-stricken teen fugitive who was given probation for killing four in a…

Latest Battle in War on Christmas Is Texas Nativity Scene Skirmish

Eggnog. Caroling. Lawsuits. It’s Christmas in Texas. Every year the legality of public nativity scenes generates court cases and headlines. San Antonio atheist Patrick Greene unsuccessfully sued Henderson County over its courthouse-fronting nativity scene in 2012, 2013 and 2014. In 2011, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) took issue with…

Fugitive Expert Says Ethan “Affluenza” Couch Won’t Make It Long

Ethan Couch is in the wind. Just don’t expect him to stay that way for long.   A judge handed the “affluenza”-inflicted teen 10 years probation in 2013 for killing four people while driving drunk. The judge, Jean Boyd, apparently bought Couch’s defense team’s contention that he wasn’t responsible for his…

The Rangers Were Never Going to Move to Dallas

It was made up. The fantasy that the Rangers would leave their comfy suburban confines for Dallas’ rough and tumble streets was never going to happen. It was a media story built around the wisp of a rumor that the club and the city were holding some back-channel meetings.  People…

New Texas Education Chief Mike Morath: Texas Public Schools Aren’t Hated, Just Misunderstood

Monday, Dallas ISD trustee Mike Morath was appointed Texas Education Commissioner by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Abbott touted Morath’s reform work within Dallas ISD, their shared commitment to early childhood education and Morath’s mountain-climbing experience in announcing the appointment. Basically everyone, including Dallas Mayor Mike Rawling and former School Board…

Was Dan Rather Right About the Surging Ted Cruz?

Tuesday night’s Republican presidential debate could not come at a much better time for Ted Cruz. Texas’ Canadian-born junior senator is in the ascendancy. He’s currently seeing his best poll numbers of the campaign, he’s scoring points in rhetorical fights with the most visible candidate in the field and he…

Dallas ISD Trustee Mike Morath Named Texas Education Commissioner

Mike Morath, the reform-minded former Mike Miles ally who currently sits in the District 2 seat on the Dallas ISD school board, is now the highest ranking education official in the state of Texas. Since being elected to the school board in 2011, Morath, along with former superintendent Miles and…

10 Best Moments From the 2015 Texas Legislature

The 84th session of the Texas Legislature was weird, man. The most conservative body of representatives ever elected by the people of Texas killed the two-thirds rule — the way the minority party had retained a small amount of power in the Texas Senate for almost a century — cut…

Dallas Passes Mandatory Rest Breaks for Construction Workers

More than a year after worker’s rights advocates and members of the Dallas City Council began pushing for it, the city of Dallas has guaranteed a 10-minute rest break every four hours for construction workers. Throughout the winding process that led to the rest break ordinance being passed, proponents have…

Texas Open Carry Groups Plan a Mock Mass-Shooting at UT

Come and Take It Texas and Don’tComply.com are going to hold an open carry walk near the University of Texas at Austin campus on Saturday. Then they’re going to have a mock mass shooting, complete with fake blood, victims, vigilantes and gunshot reports coming from bullhorns. The festivities are the…

City Committee Passes Weed Reform Policy to Full Council

The chance is still alive that casual pot smokers caught by the Dallas Police Department would not get hauled straight to county jail. The Dallas City Council’s Public Safety Committee, after hearing testimony from Chief David Brown, yesterday voted to move “cite and release” policy proposal to the full council…

Does DART Know If It Can Get You Home on New Year’s Eve?

DART and Miller Lite are teaming up to give free rides to anyone who wants one on New Year’s Eve. Sounds great, except for one thing: Actually taking advantage of the offer. Unless you’re willing to get home before midnight or leave a Deep Ellum bar at the stroke of midnight…