In the ever-lasting debate over whether and how and how well our teachers are living up to their charge — that charge, of course, being simply to save their country from a slow, seamless descent into collective idiocy — a lot of buzzwords get buzzed: evaluations, testing, metrics, merit pay,…
Left a message this morning for Paula Blackmon, chief of staff to Mayor Mike Rawlings, to talk about his decision to pull out of a long-scheduled meet-and-greet with the citizens tonight at Kiest Park on Hampton. It’s been on our schedule for a month, and just Monday morning he (or…
This morning I called Karl Zavitkovsky, head of the city’s Office of Economic Development, about something more or less related when he mentioned the “Turkish Trump.” Say what now? Ah — turns out, he thought we wrote this piece about Mike Sarimsakci, the developer who came to the city with…
Yeah, it doesn’t make sense to us either. A couple of weeks ago we asked if America could stop pretending that politicians and their benefactors in the energy industry actually give two shits about “energy independence” or “energy security,” or any of the other portent-laden, focus-grouped catch phrases they lob…
This little nugget slipped past us last week — somehow, it didn’t make headlines north of Austin — but it draws the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality into a legal tussle with the Sierra Club and the Environmental Integrity Project over pollution permits it issued to Dallas-based electric utility Luminant…
So much for that Bike Plan briefing. The council’s transpo committee didn’t have time to get it today, so it’s been backbenched for now. Shame too, since Street Services second-in-command Beth Ramirez’s pavement markings briefing was so fascinating, as in: Did you know it costs anywhere between $17,400 to $24,500…
Given Texas’s dicey history with electoral rights, the Obama Administration has expressed concern in recent months about the state’s new Voter ID law, which requires voters to bring government-issued identification to the polls. So the state, naturally, is suing to put the new and allegedly discriminatory law into action. Like,…
At this morning’s Quality of Life Committee meeting, we finally got to hear about that proposed new home solicitation ordinance with which we wrapped last week. We know what you’re thinking, and let us reassure you right away: Your Girl Scout cookies should be unaffected. Exhale. As City Attorney Tom…
Came across this video posted to YouTube yesterday by the friend of the show who maintains the essential Dallas Trinity Trails blog. I’ll let Ben describe what he captured:Dallas County Sheriff Deputy cornering and chasing dirt bike motorcycle on the Trinity River levees near Industrial Blvd and Corinth. The dirt…
The American Library Association, in town since Friday, begins its wind-down at the Dallas Convention Center this afternoon, when Lisa Loeb does her thing. But this morning, a Friend of Unfair Park notes: The state of the Dallas Public Library system is very much on the mind of ALA President…
Back in September it was revealed that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants back $15 million it gave to the city for the Dallas Floodway Extension project, insisting those federal funds were improperly advanced beginning with the first payment made back in ’04. In the words of Col. Richard…
One week ago this morning we were writing about Israel “Dallas” Torres’s over-the-weekend accident on the Jefferson Boulevard Viaduct, where a motorist sent the veteran cyclist to intensive car. As Jason Roberts noted then, and as the council’s Transportation and Environment Committee will be reminded again at 1 today, the…
I felt the need last night, the need for the Speed channel, which carried the live-from-Scottsdale broadcast of the Barrett-Jackson auction — where, as you’re well aware by now, they put a certain hearse of local renown on the bidding block. So, then, how much did they fetch for Vernon…
Late into the evening yesterday, the sun was sinking over Arlington, but it was still warm out — 77 degrees, far more spring than winter, perfect first-pitch weather. And the Ballpark in Arlington was open too, of course, to introduce the score of the off-season: Yu Darvish, the 6-foot-5 would-be…
Been trying since yesterday without any luck to reach City Attorney Tom Perkins to talk about his scheduled appearance Monday in front of the council’s Quality of Life Committee. The topic, for which 45 minutes have been carved out: “Home Solicitation Ordinance.” Which, from the looks of the briefing documents…
MasterPlan Consulting’s Dallas Cothrum, the eyes and ears at Dallas City Hall for several energy companies interested in drilling in the city limits, is becoming quite prolific. Last week, we posted the gist of his letter to the drilling task force, which says that their recommended 1,000-foot set-back requirements from…
Amidst all the ruckus over the Dallas Independent School District board’s more-than-likely decision to close James B. Bonham Elementary, one thing’s been overlooked: Its storied past as The School Where The Prettiest U.S. School Teacher once taught. That’s a certifiable fact: In December 1952 speech teacher Nell Owen was named…
A year and a half ago, the owners of Pan-African Connection Bookstore, Bandele Tyehimba and his wife Akwete, found out their building was being torn down and replaced with a dentist’s office. They’d been at the location at the corner of Marsalis and Jefferson for more than 21 years. “I…
Just eight months ago, Lawrence Billy Jones III was a senior at Garland High School. He’s a UNT freshman now, double-majoring in political science and criminal justice. He just turned 19. And for reasons we really can’t figure, he’s running for office. Specifically, he’s gunning for a seat on the…
Saw a piece outta Tulsa yesterday that said Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr.’s in town trying to convince Dallas companies to move to his patch of God’s country. And, sure enough, when he called me back last night around 9 he was at dinner at Truluck’s on McKinney. First thing I…
Seems Mayor Mike wasn’t done talking about his decision not to sign the same-sex marriage pledge officially unveiled at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in D.C. today. Because hours after we spoke Thursday morning, he took to his Facebook page to post the following:Upon taking office, I made a conscious…
Back in November U.S. District Judges Orlando Garcia and Xavier Rodriguez down in San Antonio drew up new congressional and state House and Senate maps, since they so hated the ones submitted by the Texas Legislature. The judges claimed the state willfully ignored the state’s growing Hispanic population, and their…
