Downtown entertainment district eyed
Billy Bob's developer proposes restaurants, clubs, retail on 22 acres
By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - A desolate tract of cracked pavement, where grackles outnumber people, stands to become downtown Dallas' premier entertainment district under a plan that a legendary developer is shopping to top city officials.
Billy Bob Barnett, best known for building the Texas-size Fort Worth honky-tonk that bears his name, is proposing to build restaurants, clubs, retail facilities and a large-scale entertainment venue on 22 acres of downtown's southwesternmost corner, city officials say.
The entertainment district's conception comes as city officials are negotiating with Dallas-based Woodbine Development Corp. to build a 1,000-room Dallas Convention Center hotel, which Mayor Laura Miller and most City Council members consider essential to downtown's redevelopment and tourism industry.
"It's got a real shot of happening," Assistant City Manager Ryan Evans, who oversees Dallas' economic development efforts, said of the district. "It'd be a huge step in the evolution of downtown."
Bill Beuck, a development coordinator for Dallas City Limits, a business entity recently created by Mr. Barnett, confirmed that preliminary plans for an entertainment district exist. To date, Dallas City Limits hasn't discussed financial terms with the city, Mr. Beuck said.
"There's a great opportunity to bring major entertainment here – a multiplicity of activities," he said. "We feel like there are the seeds of a good idea. Right now, we're trying to see if everyone is interested in continuing to talk, and my sense is everyone is."
Mr. Barnett, who is making news in Austin this year by lobbying the Texas Legislature to legalize gambling, could not be reached for comment.
As proposed, the entertainment district would cover what is now the Convention Center's "E" parking lot, bounded by Interstate 30, Interstate 35E, the Jefferson Boulevard Viaduct and the Convention Center. The city owns about half of that land, and Woodbine owns the rest, Mr. Evans said.
By night, the triangular-shaped lot typically sits empty. By day, maybe a few dozen cars park there. In general, it's one of the quieter stretches of downtown.
The location is nonetheless prime: Reunion Arena is two blocks away. Skyline icon Reunion Tower, Union Station and the Dallas Hyatt Regency are three. A long-driving golfer could hit the heart of Dallas' Trinity River Corridor redevelopment project from the proposed entertainment district's southern edge.
"Clearly, there are tremendous positives to the site," Mr. Beuck said.
John Scovell, Woodbine's president and chief executive officer, said his company is "willing to cooperate with anybody" concerning site development.
"It's a very strategic site. And with everything around this site, there's an opportunity for an engine right in the middle," said Mr. Scovell, whose company developed the Dallas Hyatt Regency. "Activity breeds activity. It could have a significant impact on the Convention Center hotel and the whole area."
Mr. Beuck noted the "E" lot's proximity to two Dallas Area Rapid Transit stations and two interstate highways as other key features. One challenge, he added, would be creating an area with "a pedestrian scale and an intimate, charming feel to it" in spite of busy roads and train lines.
Since the proposal remains in flux, Mr. Beuck said he couldn't offer specifics on what the development might look like or what exactly it might contain. Even mundane issues such as the property's land grade and infrastructure must be pored over.
Ms. Miller envisions the development, regardless of its offerings, as another step toward downtown's rebirth as one of the nation's most vibrant city cores. She called the initial concept "great" – Dallas City Limits officials recently briefed her on it – and said she looks forward to learning more about the project's finances.
Only a few top officials seemed to know much about the project. Council members have not been formally briefed.
Mayor Pro Tem John Loza, whose council District 2 would include the entertainment district as proposed, said he "doesn't know much about it, quite frankly." Central Dallas Association President Alice Murray said she, too, is unaware of the proposal's details.
David Card, owner of Poor David's Pub, hadn't heard about it but said he's interested in collecting more details, especially since his club is only a few blocks south of the proposed district.
"On one hand, it sounds like it might be superfluous with what's already going on down here," Mr. Card said, noting the recent opening of Gilley's country nightclub and his own facility's relocation last year to South Lamar Street. "But it could work both ways. What's good for Dallas is good for us, and if it brings in more people, that'd be a boost."
Mr. Evans said he envisions the entertainment district complementing, not competing with, evolving nightlife along South Lamar Street.
"It ought to be one seamless entertainment corridor," Ms. Miller said.
News from the Lone Star State
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Prayer event exclusionary, some say
Organizer says Plano gathering led by Christians follows rules
By ROY APPLETON / The Dallas Morning News
PLANO, Texas - People of all religious faiths are invited to gather today at Plano City Hall for National Day of Prayer, but to the frustration of some, this year's annual event will have a decidedly Christian cast.
It's all about timing, fair play and "guidelines," said the Rev. Roy Frady, organizer of the prayer service for the city, its leaders and residents.
Established by Congress in 1952, prayer day "transcends differences, bringing together citizens from all backgrounds" for the country's good, according to the event's national task force. And for the last two years, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Bahais and others have directed the day's prayers at Plano's City Hall.
This year, Mr. Frady beat them to the punch, reserving the City Council chambers for a noon event led solely by Christian pastors – as the task force would have it.
"I learned what the rules were, and I booked it early," said the pastor of Plano's WillowCreek Fellowship.
The city makes its meeting spaces available to the public, first-come, first-served.
"We don't discriminate, and we don't allow anyone to discriminate," Mayor Pat Evans said.
But while open to all, "at City Hall, it should be interfaith and intercultural ... inclusionary, not exclusionary," said Madan Goyal, a Plano resident and Hindu layman who helped organize the last two events at City Hall.
"Frady has the right to have a function, and it's important what he's doing," but on city property it shouldn't be restrictive, said Bob Martin, who worked with Mr. Goyal on past events.
The interfaith group won't lead a service this year because City Hall, they said, is the appropriate venue for prayers for Plano's government and people.
Keeping the microphone
Mr. Frady agrees. And now in charge, he said he wants to give pastors from Christian churches large and small "the opportunity to lead their city in prayer."
Religion in Plano is predominantly Christian, the pastor said. And other faiths, he said, have had a disproportionate influence on past prayer day events.
"The last two years, they've had exclusive use of the microphone," he said of Mr. Goyal and his interfaith group.
Not this year, Mr. Frady said.
"I would love for everyone to join us in a synergy of prayer, but I'm not going to give up the microphone," he said.
"That's fine, as long as they're not on city property," said Mr. Goyal, who said he plans to attend the City Hall event.
Besides fair play, Mr. Frady said, he won't share time this year with Hindus, Muslims and others because he is aligned with the National Day of Prayer task force and supports its views.
Since 1988, the nonprofit group has helped coordinate and publicize thousands of prayer day gatherings across the nation. It sells support materials, including books, videos, tote bags and posters.
Although its Web site calls itself the official prayer day site, the task force says anyone can organize or attend an event.
But when the task force plays a role in a prayer service, its policy calls for limiting participation to people of the "Judeo-Christian heritage" who support the Lausanne Covenant, an evangelical Christian declaration of beliefs.
Without restrictions, "you can confuse the message," said Jim Weidmann, task force vice chairman. "You've got to have unity around the fundamentals of what we believe."
'No evil intent'
Whether or not they come to City Hall, Mr. Frady said, he hopes Plano residents will find the time and place to pray today. He and others met the last two years at a city park and local conference center.
Now the pastor doesn't want to be cast as a prejudiced troublemaker.
"There is no evil intent here," he said. "There shouldn't be anything political about prayer."
Organizer says Plano gathering led by Christians follows rules
By ROY APPLETON / The Dallas Morning News
PLANO, Texas - People of all religious faiths are invited to gather today at Plano City Hall for National Day of Prayer, but to the frustration of some, this year's annual event will have a decidedly Christian cast.
It's all about timing, fair play and "guidelines," said the Rev. Roy Frady, organizer of the prayer service for the city, its leaders and residents.
Established by Congress in 1952, prayer day "transcends differences, bringing together citizens from all backgrounds" for the country's good, according to the event's national task force. And for the last two years, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Bahais and others have directed the day's prayers at Plano's City Hall.
This year, Mr. Frady beat them to the punch, reserving the City Council chambers for a noon event led solely by Christian pastors – as the task force would have it.
"I learned what the rules were, and I booked it early," said the pastor of Plano's WillowCreek Fellowship.
The city makes its meeting spaces available to the public, first-come, first-served.
"We don't discriminate, and we don't allow anyone to discriminate," Mayor Pat Evans said.
But while open to all, "at City Hall, it should be interfaith and intercultural ... inclusionary, not exclusionary," said Madan Goyal, a Plano resident and Hindu layman who helped organize the last two events at City Hall.
"Frady has the right to have a function, and it's important what he's doing," but on city property it shouldn't be restrictive, said Bob Martin, who worked with Mr. Goyal on past events.
The interfaith group won't lead a service this year because City Hall, they said, is the appropriate venue for prayers for Plano's government and people.
Keeping the microphone
Mr. Frady agrees. And now in charge, he said he wants to give pastors from Christian churches large and small "the opportunity to lead their city in prayer."
Religion in Plano is predominantly Christian, the pastor said. And other faiths, he said, have had a disproportionate influence on past prayer day events.
"The last two years, they've had exclusive use of the microphone," he said of Mr. Goyal and his interfaith group.
Not this year, Mr. Frady said.
"I would love for everyone to join us in a synergy of prayer, but I'm not going to give up the microphone," he said.
"That's fine, as long as they're not on city property," said Mr. Goyal, who said he plans to attend the City Hall event.
Besides fair play, Mr. Frady said, he won't share time this year with Hindus, Muslims and others because he is aligned with the National Day of Prayer task force and supports its views.
Since 1988, the nonprofit group has helped coordinate and publicize thousands of prayer day gatherings across the nation. It sells support materials, including books, videos, tote bags and posters.
Although its Web site calls itself the official prayer day site, the task force says anyone can organize or attend an event.
But when the task force plays a role in a prayer service, its policy calls for limiting participation to people of the "Judeo-Christian heritage" who support the Lausanne Covenant, an evangelical Christian declaration of beliefs.
Without restrictions, "you can confuse the message," said Jim Weidmann, task force vice chairman. "You've got to have unity around the fundamentals of what we believe."
'No evil intent'
Whether or not they come to City Hall, Mr. Frady said, he hopes Plano residents will find the time and place to pray today. He and others met the last two years at a city park and local conference center.
Now the pastor doesn't want to be cast as a prejudiced troublemaker.
"There is no evil intent here," he said. "There shouldn't be anything political about prayer."
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Police foil burglary at their own station
GALVESTON, Texas (The Dallas Morning News/AP) - Police arrested a Corpus Christi man they said they found walking down the hall of a police station carrying a Taser, a baton and an officer's cell phone.
William Ehlers, 25, faces a burglary charge, police said.
Officers first became suspicious when they walked into a Galveston police substation Wednesday night and found the door open to the community service office.
Seconds later, they got second surprise.
"They were discussing how to proceed when this man comes walking out of the training office, just down the hall," police Lt. Walter Braun said.
The man surrendered to the officers without incident, according to police reports.
"This is a building that our officers are walking into and out of 24-7, so we're not talking about anyone who's taking the NASA test to be a rocket scientist anytime soon," Braun said. "I mean, you're talking about a building with police cars parked all around it."
GALVESTON, Texas (The Dallas Morning News/AP) - Police arrested a Corpus Christi man they said they found walking down the hall of a police station carrying a Taser, a baton and an officer's cell phone.
William Ehlers, 25, faces a burglary charge, police said.
Officers first became suspicious when they walked into a Galveston police substation Wednesday night and found the door open to the community service office.
Seconds later, they got second surprise.
"They were discussing how to proceed when this man comes walking out of the training office, just down the hall," police Lt. Walter Braun said.
The man surrendered to the officers without incident, according to police reports.
"This is a building that our officers are walking into and out of 24-7, so we're not talking about anyone who's taking the NASA test to be a rocket scientist anytime soon," Braun said. "I mean, you're talking about a building with police cars parked all around it."
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Voters in Texas Town to Choose New Mayor
By WENDY BENJAMINSON, Associated Press Writer
HEDWIG VILLAGE, Texas (AP) - A mayoral race can be surprisingly rough in this spiderweb of cul-de-sacs anchored by stately mansions — even when one of the candidates is dead.
Mayor Dee Srinivasan died from heart disease last month, but supporters are still trying to win her votes for Saturday's election.
Supporters in the community of 2,350, an enclave within the city of Houston, say they want to ensure Srinivasan's opponent, former Mayor Sue Speck, doesn't win. Speck lost to Srinivasan in 2001 by 12 votes and has been criticized for her management style.
"They're both strong-willed ladies," said Councilman Bob Dixon. "When you have two strong people who have been mayor they sometimes clash."
Speck said she wouldn't discuss the campaign out of respect for Srinivasan's family.
If Srinivasan wins, the City Council could call a special election or appoint an interim mayor who would serve until the next regular municipal election in 2006, said City Administrator Beth Staton.
It wouldn't be the first victory for a dead candidate.
Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan died in a plane crash a month before the 2000 general election and beat incumbent Sen. John Ashcroft. In 1991, Rep. Ted Weiss, D-N.Y., died on the eve of the primary but defeated a convicted felon. And in San Jose, Calif., City Councilman George Shirakawa died in May 1994 but was re-elected in June.
By WENDY BENJAMINSON, Associated Press Writer
HEDWIG VILLAGE, Texas (AP) - A mayoral race can be surprisingly rough in this spiderweb of cul-de-sacs anchored by stately mansions — even when one of the candidates is dead.
Mayor Dee Srinivasan died from heart disease last month, but supporters are still trying to win her votes for Saturday's election.
Supporters in the community of 2,350, an enclave within the city of Houston, say they want to ensure Srinivasan's opponent, former Mayor Sue Speck, doesn't win. Speck lost to Srinivasan in 2001 by 12 votes and has been criticized for her management style.
"They're both strong-willed ladies," said Councilman Bob Dixon. "When you have two strong people who have been mayor they sometimes clash."
Speck said she wouldn't discuss the campaign out of respect for Srinivasan's family.
If Srinivasan wins, the City Council could call a special election or appoint an interim mayor who would serve until the next regular municipal election in 2006, said City Administrator Beth Staton.
It wouldn't be the first victory for a dead candidate.
Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan died in a plane crash a month before the 2000 general election and beat incumbent Sen. John Ashcroft. In 1991, Rep. Ted Weiss, D-N.Y., died on the eve of the primary but defeated a convicted felon. And in San Jose, Calif., City Councilman George Shirakawa died in May 1994 but was re-elected in June.
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Lawmaker killed in Central Texas wreck
La GRANGE, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) — State Rep. Joseph Moreno of Houston was killed when a pickup truck he was driving overturned on a highway near LaGrange just before 2 a.m. Friday.
State Rep. Rafael Anchia of Dallas and a legislative staffer were injured in the wreck. Police said Moreno, 40, who was driving, apparently overcorrected after the truck slipped off the shoulder of the eastbound lane of State Highway 71 about 60 miles southeast of Austin.
The truck veered into the median and flipped several times, said Lawrence Roome, communications officer for the Texas Department of Public Safety Communications station in Pierce. All three occupants were wearing seatbelts.
Anchia and Monica Lisa Pinon, chief of staff to state Representative Joseph Pickett of El Paso, were taken to Brackenridge Hospital in Austin. Anchia was treated and released. Pinon, who was traveling in the back seat of the pickup, remained hospitalized with more serious injuries.
DPS spokeswoman Lisa Block said it was not yet known whether alcohol or high speed were factors in the crash.
Rep. Anchia's Dallas office said the legislators were returning to Austin after attending the NBA playoff game between the Rockets and Mavericks in Houston.
Moreno, a Democrat, was first elected to the House in 1998. Anchia, also a Democrat, was elected in 2004.
Anchia was a two-term board member for the Dallas Independent School District before he was elected to the Legislature.
A statement from state House Speaker Tom Craddick's office said the House is in shock over the death of Moreno, whom he called "a young man with a bright future."
"Nothing can prepare you for the sudden loss of someone that you see and talk with every day. Joe was a young man with a bright future who, early on, distinguished himself in his district and in the House," Craddick added, saying he had been at the hospital since hearing the news.
Gov. Rick Perry issued a statement saying that he and his wife Anita were saddened to learn of the loss. Perry said Moreno "served his constituents with great dedication and integrity."
"He will be dearly missed by all who knew him," Perry added.
State Sen. Mario Gallegos of Houston said Moreno's death was like losing a family member. "Joe Moreno was a dedicated community leader and a tireless advocate for his district whose heart exceeded even his commanding presence. Most of all though, he was my friend," Gallegos said.
WFAA-TV, KHOU-TV, The Dallas Morning News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
La GRANGE, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) — State Rep. Joseph Moreno of Houston was killed when a pickup truck he was driving overturned on a highway near LaGrange just before 2 a.m. Friday.
State Rep. Rafael Anchia of Dallas and a legislative staffer were injured in the wreck. Police said Moreno, 40, who was driving, apparently overcorrected after the truck slipped off the shoulder of the eastbound lane of State Highway 71 about 60 miles southeast of Austin.
The truck veered into the median and flipped several times, said Lawrence Roome, communications officer for the Texas Department of Public Safety Communications station in Pierce. All three occupants were wearing seatbelts.
Anchia and Monica Lisa Pinon, chief of staff to state Representative Joseph Pickett of El Paso, were taken to Brackenridge Hospital in Austin. Anchia was treated and released. Pinon, who was traveling in the back seat of the pickup, remained hospitalized with more serious injuries.
DPS spokeswoman Lisa Block said it was not yet known whether alcohol or high speed were factors in the crash.
Rep. Anchia's Dallas office said the legislators were returning to Austin after attending the NBA playoff game between the Rockets and Mavericks in Houston.
Moreno, a Democrat, was first elected to the House in 1998. Anchia, also a Democrat, was elected in 2004.
Anchia was a two-term board member for the Dallas Independent School District before he was elected to the Legislature.
A statement from state House Speaker Tom Craddick's office said the House is in shock over the death of Moreno, whom he called "a young man with a bright future."
"Nothing can prepare you for the sudden loss of someone that you see and talk with every day. Joe was a young man with a bright future who, early on, distinguished himself in his district and in the House," Craddick added, saying he had been at the hospital since hearing the news.
Gov. Rick Perry issued a statement saying that he and his wife Anita were saddened to learn of the loss. Perry said Moreno "served his constituents with great dedication and integrity."
"He will be dearly missed by all who knew him," Perry added.
State Sen. Mario Gallegos of Houston said Moreno's death was like losing a family member. "Joe Moreno was a dedicated community leader and a tireless advocate for his district whose heart exceeded even his commanding presence. Most of all though, he was my friend," Gallegos said.
WFAA-TV, KHOU-TV, The Dallas Morning News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Fuel spill forces Loop 820 shutdown
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — Traffic on Loop 820 was diverted for about five hours early Friday after a truck leaked diesel fuel on the highway.
The truck driver told North Richland Hills police that his rig hit something on the roadway about 3:30 a.m., puncturing a fuel tank. About 180 gallons of diesel leaked out, forcing the shutdown of the eastbound lanes at the Highway 121 intersection.
Hazardous material cleanup crews worked through the morning rush hour to sop up the slippery substance.
The highway was reopened about 8:30 a.m. Officials said the driver will be liable for the costs of the cleanup.
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas — Traffic on Loop 820 was diverted for about five hours early Friday after a truck leaked diesel fuel on the highway.
The truck driver told North Richland Hills police that his rig hit something on the roadway about 3:30 a.m., puncturing a fuel tank. About 180 gallons of diesel leaked out, forcing the shutdown of the eastbound lanes at the Highway 121 intersection.
Hazardous material cleanup crews worked through the morning rush hour to sop up the slippery substance.
The highway was reopened about 8:30 a.m. Officials said the driver will be liable for the costs of the cleanup.
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Garland woman killed after robbing bank
By GARY REAVES / WFAA ABC 8
GARLAND, Texas - A lady bank robber once dubbed "Cowboy Bob" because of her bearded male disguise was shot to death by police Thursday after holding up a Tyler bank, fleeing police in a recreational vehicle and pulling a toy gun that officers mistook for real.
Sixty-year-old Peggy Jo Tallas, who kept an address in Garland, stopped the RV in a residential area about two miles from the bank and emerged in the doorway, said Tyler police spokesman Don Martin. Officers were trying to convince her to surrender when she pulled what appeared to be a revolver, prompting four officers to open fire, killing Tallas, Martin said.
"It looked just like a dark revolver with grips, so it wasn't something you go to a toy store and it's red or yellow or pink that you'd recognize as a toy right off the bat," Martin said. "It looked like a real gun."
At the Harbor Bay Marina on Lake Ray Hubbard, everybody knew Tallas - or at least they thought they did.
"She was nice, that's all I remember," said customer Sue Ann Harrington.
Tallas was the grandmotherly cashier that many trusted for her two years at the marina.
"She loved the ducks, the animals, and kids," marina manager Ted Melton said. "She was always babysitting kids that came in."
Tallas was last seen driving off in her RV - the same one police in Tyler sad was the getaway vehicle in the morning bank robbery.
"The witnesses in the bank stated it was a white female that had exited the bank, and got into a Winnebago going south on Broadway," Martin said.
The SWAT team surrounded the RV and negotiated with her for half an hour. It wasn't until after she had been shot and killed that officers realized it was a toy gun.
Police said Tallas had a record: three convictions for bank robbery in Dallas in the early 1990s. It was a hidden past of which no one at the lake was aware.
"I would have never dreamed she had a past like that," said customer Jack Ogilvie. "She was very nice, congenial with everyone."
"I think that's a shame," Melton said. "I can't imagine how desperate she could be to be involved in something like that."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
By GARY REAVES / WFAA ABC 8
GARLAND, Texas - A lady bank robber once dubbed "Cowboy Bob" because of her bearded male disguise was shot to death by police Thursday after holding up a Tyler bank, fleeing police in a recreational vehicle and pulling a toy gun that officers mistook for real.
Sixty-year-old Peggy Jo Tallas, who kept an address in Garland, stopped the RV in a residential area about two miles from the bank and emerged in the doorway, said Tyler police spokesman Don Martin. Officers were trying to convince her to surrender when she pulled what appeared to be a revolver, prompting four officers to open fire, killing Tallas, Martin said.
"It looked just like a dark revolver with grips, so it wasn't something you go to a toy store and it's red or yellow or pink that you'd recognize as a toy right off the bat," Martin said. "It looked like a real gun."
At the Harbor Bay Marina on Lake Ray Hubbard, everybody knew Tallas - or at least they thought they did.
"She was nice, that's all I remember," said customer Sue Ann Harrington.
Tallas was the grandmotherly cashier that many trusted for her two years at the marina.
"She loved the ducks, the animals, and kids," marina manager Ted Melton said. "She was always babysitting kids that came in."
Tallas was last seen driving off in her RV - the same one police in Tyler sad was the getaway vehicle in the morning bank robbery.
"The witnesses in the bank stated it was a white female that had exited the bank, and got into a Winnebago going south on Broadway," Martin said.
The SWAT team surrounded the RV and negotiated with her for half an hour. It wasn't until after she had been shot and killed that officers realized it was a toy gun.
Police said Tallas had a record: three convictions for bank robbery in Dallas in the early 1990s. It was a hidden past of which no one at the lake was aware.
"I would have never dreamed she had a past like that," said customer Jack Ogilvie. "She was very nice, congenial with everyone."
"I think that's a shame," Melton said. "I can't imagine how desperate she could be to be involved in something like that."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Mobile meth lab leads to arrests
By MARY ANN RAZZUK / WFAA ABC 8
DENTON, Texas - A dangerous trend among drug users and dealers is the focus of a Denton police investigation.
Investigators stopped a suspected mobile methamphetamine lab Wednesday at a convenience store.
As drivers at the store pumped gas, authorities discovered a vehicle parked nearby allegedly containing the traveling meth lab with potentially volatile material inside.
Hazardous materials crews responded and sealed off the area, and police arrested two suspects for possession of a controlled substance.
Fire officials said among the evidence removed, they found anhydrous ammonia.
"If it was to come in contact with a flame, it could explode," said Court Higgins of the Denton Fire Department.
That's a chilling thought for unsuspecting drivers.
"It's unreal," said Kyle Hurst, who had stopped to fill up at the station. "It's bad enough standing next to a gas tank with people who have cell phones or left their vehicle running. But here you have this, and it could be incredibly dangerous."
"That's just selfish," driver Suzanne Fulton said. "It could kill me and, who knows - 40 to 150 more people. There's a hotel next door."
Federal officials said anhydrous ammonia is a key component in meth recipes, used to cut cooking time from as long as three days to just under two hours. The drug can be whipped up in the back of a moving vehicle to elude authorities.
"You never know where you're going to find a meth lab nowadays," Higgins said.
Authorities said many people also hit the road to produce meth because of the strong fumes the cooking process produces, since the smell can ultimately blow their cover and lead police right to them if they stay in the same place.
By MARY ANN RAZZUK / WFAA ABC 8
DENTON, Texas - A dangerous trend among drug users and dealers is the focus of a Denton police investigation.
Investigators stopped a suspected mobile methamphetamine lab Wednesday at a convenience store.
As drivers at the store pumped gas, authorities discovered a vehicle parked nearby allegedly containing the traveling meth lab with potentially volatile material inside.
Hazardous materials crews responded and sealed off the area, and police arrested two suspects for possession of a controlled substance.
Fire officials said among the evidence removed, they found anhydrous ammonia.
"If it was to come in contact with a flame, it could explode," said Court Higgins of the Denton Fire Department.
That's a chilling thought for unsuspecting drivers.
"It's unreal," said Kyle Hurst, who had stopped to fill up at the station. "It's bad enough standing next to a gas tank with people who have cell phones or left their vehicle running. But here you have this, and it could be incredibly dangerous."
"That's just selfish," driver Suzanne Fulton said. "It could kill me and, who knows - 40 to 150 more people. There's a hotel next door."
Federal officials said anhydrous ammonia is a key component in meth recipes, used to cut cooking time from as long as three days to just under two hours. The drug can be whipped up in the back of a moving vehicle to elude authorities.
"You never know where you're going to find a meth lab nowadays," Higgins said.
Authorities said many people also hit the road to produce meth because of the strong fumes the cooking process produces, since the smell can ultimately blow their cover and lead police right to them if they stay in the same place.
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Vandals topple historic tombstones
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8
Vandals this week slipped into a city-owned cemetery in Decatur and toppled dozens of tombstones.
Some of the markers in the Wise County town date from the 1880s, and police hope to track down the individuals who have upset many families.
Dotted by wildflowers, Oaklawn Cemetery is Decatur's only final resting place. But twice this week, the vandals shattered the silence of the picturesque spot, breaking 35 of the fragile antique tombstones.
One of the broken markers belonged to Carla Womack's great uncle.
"It tells he died June 24, 1900," Womack said.
Though authorities are investigating, so far there are no clues, no evidence and no one to blame.
"Most people are very upset about it," said Decatur police chief Rex Hoskins.
It happened twice between Sunday and Tuesday. The vandals either pushed or swung something at the marble markers, breaking them off their bases.
"It's sad to think that they think it's fun," Womack said. "It's like tearing part of your heart out."
The tombstones memorialize early settlers, including pioneers' wives and the babies they lost too early. The settlers began burying their loved ones here soon after they arrived in the Wise County area in 1855. 150 tombstones mark the graves in the oldest part of the cemetery, but probably many more people are buried there, including Confederate soldiers.
In Decatur, a quiet community of 5,400 with a respect for its heritage, p olice promise to solve the case and seek punishment for disrespecting the dead and the living.
"Even if they have to help repair everything and give them a job cleaning the cemeteries," Womack said.
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8
Vandals this week slipped into a city-owned cemetery in Decatur and toppled dozens of tombstones.
Some of the markers in the Wise County town date from the 1880s, and police hope to track down the individuals who have upset many families.
Dotted by wildflowers, Oaklawn Cemetery is Decatur's only final resting place. But twice this week, the vandals shattered the silence of the picturesque spot, breaking 35 of the fragile antique tombstones.
One of the broken markers belonged to Carla Womack's great uncle.
"It tells he died June 24, 1900," Womack said.
Though authorities are investigating, so far there are no clues, no evidence and no one to blame.
"Most people are very upset about it," said Decatur police chief Rex Hoskins.
It happened twice between Sunday and Tuesday. The vandals either pushed or swung something at the marble markers, breaking them off their bases.
"It's sad to think that they think it's fun," Womack said. "It's like tearing part of your heart out."
The tombstones memorialize early settlers, including pioneers' wives and the babies they lost too early. The settlers began burying their loved ones here soon after they arrived in the Wise County area in 1855. 150 tombstones mark the graves in the oldest part of the cemetery, but probably many more people are buried there, including Confederate soldiers.
In Decatur, a quiet community of 5,400 with a respect for its heritage, p olice promise to solve the case and seek punishment for disrespecting the dead and the living.
"Even if they have to help repair everything and give them a job cleaning the cemeteries," Womack said.
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TexasStooge
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Teen: Baby in duffel bag was stillborn
ARLINGTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) — A 16-year-old girl has come forward to tell Arlington police she delivered the newborn boy found dead inside a duffel bag on Monday.
Arlington police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour said the girl contacted police Wednesday and told investigators the baby was stillborn.
Gilfour said no charges are expected. She said the girl has cooperated fully with detectives, who believe the girl's account and plan no further investigation. Police are withholding her identity.
The Tarrant County medical examiner is running tests on the body, but spokeswoman Linda Anderson said it is questionable whether a stillbirth can be proved or disproved.
A man mowing a lawn late Monday discovered the bag behind a shed in the 5600 block of Streling Green Trail. Police said the baby appeared to be white or Hispanic with a full head of straight black hair.
A purple robe and other women's clothing were also in the bag.
ARLINGTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) — A 16-year-old girl has come forward to tell Arlington police she delivered the newborn boy found dead inside a duffel bag on Monday.
Arlington police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour said the girl contacted police Wednesday and told investigators the baby was stillborn.
Gilfour said no charges are expected. She said the girl has cooperated fully with detectives, who believe the girl's account and plan no further investigation. Police are withholding her identity.
The Tarrant County medical examiner is running tests on the body, but spokeswoman Linda Anderson said it is questionable whether a stillbirth can be proved or disproved.
A man mowing a lawn late Monday discovered the bag behind a shed in the 5600 block of Streling Green Trail. Police said the baby appeared to be white or Hispanic with a full head of straight black hair.
A purple robe and other women's clothing were also in the bag.
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TexasStooge
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2 shot dead at Houston office complex
HOUSTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) — Two people were shot and killed Thursday morning in an oil services company office building, police said.
The shooting happened at about 8:45 a.m. in the Cameron building, said Houston Police Department spokeswoman Johanna Abad. The building, on the city's northwest side, houses a division of Cooper Cameron oil services company.
Police said it appears to be a murder-suicide involving two employees—one a full-time worker and the other a contract worker.
Both victims are male. Their names were not released.
"We don't know what the relationship was—if there was any other relationship, like a friendship outside the work area, or not," said Houston police Capt. Dwayne Ready.
Police found two guns in the fifth floor office where the shooting occurred. A stainless steel revolver and semi-automatic pistol were found on the floor under a chair.
About 700 workers in the five-story building were evacuated for a short time. They were allowed to return at 9:30 a.m.
The Cameron division makes pressure control systems for oil drilling, according to the company's Web site.
KHOU-TV and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
HOUSTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) — Two people were shot and killed Thursday morning in an oil services company office building, police said.
The shooting happened at about 8:45 a.m. in the Cameron building, said Houston Police Department spokeswoman Johanna Abad. The building, on the city's northwest side, houses a division of Cooper Cameron oil services company.
Police said it appears to be a murder-suicide involving two employees—one a full-time worker and the other a contract worker.
Both victims are male. Their names were not released.
"We don't know what the relationship was—if there was any other relationship, like a friendship outside the work area, or not," said Houston police Capt. Dwayne Ready.
Police found two guns in the fifth floor office where the shooting occurred. A stainless steel revolver and semi-automatic pistol were found on the floor under a chair.
About 700 workers in the five-story building were evacuated for a short time. They were allowed to return at 9:30 a.m.
The Cameron division makes pressure control systems for oil drilling, according to the company's Web site.
KHOU-TV and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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Woman gets 20 years for fake death scheme
GEORGETOWN, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) - A woman who admitted to helping her husband dig up a corpse and use it to fake his death in a fiery staged car accident was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday.
Jurors sentenced Molly Daniels, of Leander, to 20 years for insurance fraud and 10 years for hindering apprehension. The sentences, both maximums, are to run concurrently. She was also fined $10,000.
"This was a ghoulish, horrific crime," said Jane Starnes, assistant district attorney. "I think it is unfortunate she could only get 20 years."
Officials said the body of 81-year-old Charlotte Davis was used in the fake death June 18, before husband Clayton Wayne Daniels was scheduled to report to jail for failing to report to his probation officer. He had been given probation for a sexual assault of a young girl.
Clayton Daniels returned a few weeks later with a different name and his hair dyed black, and his wife introduced her 4-year-old son to her new boyfriend, prosecutors said.
Defense attorney Thomas Vasquez had asked the jury for a lesser sentence, saying Daniels had acted out of desperation to keep her family together.
"Her family was falling apart, and she had to take action somehow," he said, although he also acknowledged the evidence against his client was "overwhelming."
Daniels didn't comment after the sentence, but her father did.
"If I was on the jury, I might have gone for the max," John Honea said. "That might make me sound like a bad father, but she did something really wrong."
He said he had hoped for a lesser punishment but was not surprised by the harsh sentence.
Clayton Daniels remains jailed pending trial on arson charges. The couple's children, ages 4 and 1, are living with Molly Daniels' mother.
On Wednesday Daniels cried on the stand and told jurors she was sorry for what she had done.
She testified that she made plans for her husband to dig up Davis' grave, then dress the body the way Clayton Daniels dressed. Then the body was to be placed in a car, pushed off a roadside cliff and burned, she said.
"It was about keeping our family together," she said.
But Starnes blamed greed, pointing to a $110,000 life insurance policy.
In court, investigators said the wreck had seemed fishy from the start. There were no skid marks on the road, and an investigator found the fire started in the driver's seat and was helped along by charcoal lighter fluid, authorities said.
Texas Ranger Garth Davis also testified that Molly Daniels was surprisingly calm when he interviewed her.
Davis said searches of the couple's home and Molly Daniels' work computer also revealed a complicated scheme to create a new identity for Daniels, including fake birth certificates and a Texas driver's license under the name Jacob Alexander Gregg.
GEORGETOWN, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) - A woman who admitted to helping her husband dig up a corpse and use it to fake his death in a fiery staged car accident was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday.
Jurors sentenced Molly Daniels, of Leander, to 20 years for insurance fraud and 10 years for hindering apprehension. The sentences, both maximums, are to run concurrently. She was also fined $10,000.
"This was a ghoulish, horrific crime," said Jane Starnes, assistant district attorney. "I think it is unfortunate she could only get 20 years."
Officials said the body of 81-year-old Charlotte Davis was used in the fake death June 18, before husband Clayton Wayne Daniels was scheduled to report to jail for failing to report to his probation officer. He had been given probation for a sexual assault of a young girl.
Clayton Daniels returned a few weeks later with a different name and his hair dyed black, and his wife introduced her 4-year-old son to her new boyfriend, prosecutors said.
Defense attorney Thomas Vasquez had asked the jury for a lesser sentence, saying Daniels had acted out of desperation to keep her family together.
"Her family was falling apart, and she had to take action somehow," he said, although he also acknowledged the evidence against his client was "overwhelming."
Daniels didn't comment after the sentence, but her father did.
"If I was on the jury, I might have gone for the max," John Honea said. "That might make me sound like a bad father, but she did something really wrong."
He said he had hoped for a lesser punishment but was not surprised by the harsh sentence.
Clayton Daniels remains jailed pending trial on arson charges. The couple's children, ages 4 and 1, are living with Molly Daniels' mother.
On Wednesday Daniels cried on the stand and told jurors she was sorry for what she had done.
She testified that she made plans for her husband to dig up Davis' grave, then dress the body the way Clayton Daniels dressed. Then the body was to be placed in a car, pushed off a roadside cliff and burned, she said.
"It was about keeping our family together," she said.
But Starnes blamed greed, pointing to a $110,000 life insurance policy.
In court, investigators said the wreck had seemed fishy from the start. There were no skid marks on the road, and an investigator found the fire started in the driver's seat and was helped along by charcoal lighter fluid, authorities said.
Texas Ranger Garth Davis also testified that Molly Daniels was surprisingly calm when he interviewed her.
Davis said searches of the couple's home and Molly Daniels' work computer also revealed a complicated scheme to create a new identity for Daniels, including fake birth certificates and a Texas driver's license under the name Jacob Alexander Gregg.
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Christians only at prayer event in Plano
By STEVE STOLER / WFAA ABC 8
PLANO, Texas — On this National Day of Prayer, leaders of several religious institutions in Plano said they were excluded from a prayer service at City Hall.
Plano pastor Rev. Roy Frady of Victory Baptist Church booked the facility for Thursday's service.
For the past two years, the Collin County Interfaith group planned the prayer service, which included representatives from Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Unitarian and Bahá'í faiths.
Only Christians were invited to this year's service.
"Is there anything wrong? No, there's not anything wrong," said Rev. Frady. "I didn't think there was anything wrong when they booked the chambers; why should there be anything wrong now, when we book the chambers?"
Madan Goyal, a Hindu layman, said the Day of Prayer service should be an interfaith and intercultural event. "We should not be using our city facilities to have an exclusive function of one faith only."
Rev. Frady said prayer should not be political. He said Thursday's event is about praying for city leaders—and not about exclusion.
The National Day of Prayer was created by an act of Congress in 1952.
By STEVE STOLER / WFAA ABC 8
PLANO, Texas — On this National Day of Prayer, leaders of several religious institutions in Plano said they were excluded from a prayer service at City Hall.
Plano pastor Rev. Roy Frady of Victory Baptist Church booked the facility for Thursday's service.
For the past two years, the Collin County Interfaith group planned the prayer service, which included representatives from Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Unitarian and Bahá'í faiths.
Only Christians were invited to this year's service.
"Is there anything wrong? No, there's not anything wrong," said Rev. Frady. "I didn't think there was anything wrong when they booked the chambers; why should there be anything wrong now, when we book the chambers?"
Madan Goyal, a Hindu layman, said the Day of Prayer service should be an interfaith and intercultural event. "We should not be using our city facilities to have an exclusive function of one faith only."
Rev. Frady said prayer should not be political. He said Thursday's event is about praying for city leaders—and not about exclusion.
The National Day of Prayer was created by an act of Congress in 1952.
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TexasStooge
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Notices mark start of appraisal season
Property owners can begin appeal process; smoother year predicted
By JAMES M. O'NEILL / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas County property owners received notices in the mail this week from the Dallas Central Appraisal District outlining the new appraised value of their home or business property and what the taxable value will be for 2005.
The arrival of the notices marks the start of a months-long process in which property owners can appeal their new appraised value. Chief appraiser W. Kenneth Nolan said he expects the appraisal season to run more smoothly than last year, when the appraisal district launched a new computer system that caused a backlog of entering new deeds and tax exemptions.
The backlog, combined with other problems at the Dallas County tax assessor-collector's office, caused about 8,350 Dallas County taxpayers to receive their initial tax bill for 2004 in January – with virtually no time to pay before bumping up against late fees. The same computer problems also caused a delay in sending out as many as 10,000 exemption refund checks to county taxpayers this year.
Mr. Nolan said the backlog that caused those problems is gone. "Our big thing this year is stability," he said.
If the new appraisal does not reflect an exemption applied for in the last few months, Mr. Nolan said, property owners should check the appraisal district Web site, http://www.dallascad.org, because updates are posted weekly. If the Web site doesn't reflect the exemption, they can call the district's customer service number, 214-631-0910.
Property owners can begin appeal process; smoother year predicted
By JAMES M. O'NEILL / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas County property owners received notices in the mail this week from the Dallas Central Appraisal District outlining the new appraised value of their home or business property and what the taxable value will be for 2005.
The arrival of the notices marks the start of a months-long process in which property owners can appeal their new appraised value. Chief appraiser W. Kenneth Nolan said he expects the appraisal season to run more smoothly than last year, when the appraisal district launched a new computer system that caused a backlog of entering new deeds and tax exemptions.
The backlog, combined with other problems at the Dallas County tax assessor-collector's office, caused about 8,350 Dallas County taxpayers to receive their initial tax bill for 2004 in January – with virtually no time to pay before bumping up against late fees. The same computer problems also caused a delay in sending out as many as 10,000 exemption refund checks to county taxpayers this year.
Mr. Nolan said the backlog that caused those problems is gone. "Our big thing this year is stability," he said.
If the new appraisal does not reflect an exemption applied for in the last few months, Mr. Nolan said, property owners should check the appraisal district Web site, http://www.dallascad.org, because updates are posted weekly. If the Web site doesn't reflect the exemption, they can call the district's customer service number, 214-631-0910.
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TexasStooge
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Beloved Dallas burger stand closes
Prince of Hamburgers shut down after 76 years because of unpaid taxes
By KATIE MENZER / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - For Kramer, heaven was found in a Nissan Pathfinder on a Lemmon Avenue blacktop.
"A ride in the car and a hamburger. They're two of Kramer's favorite things," said Pat Moore, patting his dog as they sat together Monday night in the deserted parking lot of The Prince of Hamburgers. "He's going to be so disappointed."
Kramer's disappointment will be shared by multitudes of cheeseburger and milkshake aficionados across the area. The Prince of Hamburgers, one of Dallas' oldest drive-in burger joints, famous for its bubbling carhops and frosty mugs of root beer, was shut down by the state last week for nonpayment of taxes.
The property owner doesn't know when – or if – it will open again.
"I don't know what happened," said Connie Pace, whose family has owned the property since the 1930s. "I'm still waiting to hear the news."
The restaurant's owner – Ron Patrick – owes $27,097 in sales taxes, according to officials with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Neighbors said officials closed the business during working hours April 27 and ordered customers and employees out. Mr. Patrick could not be reached for comment.
The restaurant was shut down in February for a short time for kitchen repairs, but it reopened. Ms. Pace said Mr. Patrick still owes her rent for April and May.
She said she is now considering selling the property, which her father, Charles Rachal, bought from the restaurant's founder around 1930. Doug Prince opened the carhop drive-in on Lemmon Avenue in 1929 but soon moved on to reign over Prince's hamburger stands in Houston.
"Everyone tells me, 'You've got to let it go someday,' " the 80-year-old Ms. Pace said. "It can't go on forever."
The restaurant has had a half-dozen or so owners in its 76-year history. Mary Louise Compton, who died in 1999, erected the restaurant's unmistakable red-and-green neon sign – complete with an image of a golden-haired boy in medieval garb holding a plate of burgers.
Ms. Compton sold the restaurant to Tom Patrick in 1979, and he passed it to his son, Ron, a few years ago, Ms. Pace said.
Although prices have changed – a burger that cost a nickel when Prince's opened now sets customers back $2.45 – the menu has pretty much stayed the same over the years. Chili dogs, fries and lemonades could all be had carside under the restaurants' red and white awnings.
"They had the greatest root beer in there," said Fidencio Melendrez, 52, who has lived near Prince's for about 20 years. "You can't find that kind of root beer anywhere else anymore."
Mr. Melendrez said he remembers flirting with one of Prince's longtime carhops. If you asked her nicely, she'd key up your favorite tune in the jukebox so you could listen to the music without having to get out of your car.
"It was a Fonzie-type thing," he said.
Florentino Zuniga's love affair with the drive-in began only three months ago, when the 23-year-old started working at a neighboring carwash. Still, he's going to miss the Prince.
"Now I have to bring my lunch," he said.
Hungry customers have spent the last week driving into Prince's parking lot, flashing their lights and waiting a few minutes for service before realizing the restaurant – which still has collections of plastic forks in Styrofoam cups on the countertops – is closed.
"I see people all day pull in and pull out," said Mr. Melendrez, who has a view of the restaurant from his apartment complex.
"It's going to take awhile for people to realize it's gone."
Prince of Hamburgers shut down after 76 years because of unpaid taxes
By KATIE MENZER / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - For Kramer, heaven was found in a Nissan Pathfinder on a Lemmon Avenue blacktop.
"A ride in the car and a hamburger. They're two of Kramer's favorite things," said Pat Moore, patting his dog as they sat together Monday night in the deserted parking lot of The Prince of Hamburgers. "He's going to be so disappointed."
Kramer's disappointment will be shared by multitudes of cheeseburger and milkshake aficionados across the area. The Prince of Hamburgers, one of Dallas' oldest drive-in burger joints, famous for its bubbling carhops and frosty mugs of root beer, was shut down by the state last week for nonpayment of taxes.
The property owner doesn't know when – or if – it will open again.
"I don't know what happened," said Connie Pace, whose family has owned the property since the 1930s. "I'm still waiting to hear the news."
The restaurant's owner – Ron Patrick – owes $27,097 in sales taxes, according to officials with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Neighbors said officials closed the business during working hours April 27 and ordered customers and employees out. Mr. Patrick could not be reached for comment.
The restaurant was shut down in February for a short time for kitchen repairs, but it reopened. Ms. Pace said Mr. Patrick still owes her rent for April and May.
She said she is now considering selling the property, which her father, Charles Rachal, bought from the restaurant's founder around 1930. Doug Prince opened the carhop drive-in on Lemmon Avenue in 1929 but soon moved on to reign over Prince's hamburger stands in Houston.
"Everyone tells me, 'You've got to let it go someday,' " the 80-year-old Ms. Pace said. "It can't go on forever."
The restaurant has had a half-dozen or so owners in its 76-year history. Mary Louise Compton, who died in 1999, erected the restaurant's unmistakable red-and-green neon sign – complete with an image of a golden-haired boy in medieval garb holding a plate of burgers.
Ms. Compton sold the restaurant to Tom Patrick in 1979, and he passed it to his son, Ron, a few years ago, Ms. Pace said.
Although prices have changed – a burger that cost a nickel when Prince's opened now sets customers back $2.45 – the menu has pretty much stayed the same over the years. Chili dogs, fries and lemonades could all be had carside under the restaurants' red and white awnings.
"They had the greatest root beer in there," said Fidencio Melendrez, 52, who has lived near Prince's for about 20 years. "You can't find that kind of root beer anywhere else anymore."
Mr. Melendrez said he remembers flirting with one of Prince's longtime carhops. If you asked her nicely, she'd key up your favorite tune in the jukebox so you could listen to the music without having to get out of your car.
"It was a Fonzie-type thing," he said.
Florentino Zuniga's love affair with the drive-in began only three months ago, when the 23-year-old started working at a neighboring carwash. Still, he's going to miss the Prince.
"Now I have to bring my lunch," he said.
Hungry customers have spent the last week driving into Prince's parking lot, flashing their lights and waiting a few minutes for service before realizing the restaurant – which still has collections of plastic forks in Styrofoam cups on the countertops – is closed.
"I see people all day pull in and pull out," said Mr. Melendrez, who has a view of the restaurant from his apartment complex.
"It's going to take awhile for people to realize it's gone."
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TexasStooge
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Girl gangs a growing issue
By REBECCA RODRIGUEZ / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - As gangs are taking root in cities across North Texas, police are encountering more and more young women drawn into the vortex of violence.
In the culture of gangs, such violence is a rite of passage no longer left to the boys.
"I had to get jumped to get in," said former gang member Lakeshia Young. "Fighting, always fighting ... I've stabbed someone before."
Young joined a gang when she was twelve. It's a way of life with no easy way out.
"I've been caught in different areas like South Oak Cliff alone by myself without my 'hood," Young said. "And there I go - I have to fight my situation. I've been shot at (and) different things."
"When we're at school, we claim East Dallas, but we're really ready to fight somebody who's from another 'hood," said former gang member Vernecia Fields.
"They're in the school; they are in the community," said DISD gang intervention specialist Charlotte Lewis. "They shoot; they kill."
Lewis said about twenty percent of the gangbangers she sees are girls.
An execution-style murder in Euless in April is proof they can be deadly. The victim was a 21-year-old college student, and the two women arrested are known by police as gang members.
"The thing is, they may not be in numbers to the degree that boys are, but they are just as dangerous," Lewis said.
"I look at it like, it's my 'hood," said former gang member Victoria Gillespie. "I'm standing up for my 'hood, and I want my 'hood to stand up for me."
"I ended up fighting with the boys," said former gang member Antyeneshia Banks. "That's how bad it got - I started fighting."
"It's a family thing," Lewis said. "They're looking for attention any way they can get it, whether it is positive or negative."
18-year-old Inez Thompson turned to gangs after the loss of her mother and father.
"That made me get out of control and just start gangbanging all the time because I felt like I didn't have nobody," Thompson said.
Thompson finally turned it around for the same reason that motivated other former gang members. Getting pregnant triggered a kind of maternal instinct - and in the process they are also saving themselves. Now, the one-time rivals are bonding together to fight back in an entirely different way.
Gang violence and the problems that it brings crosses racial and socioeconomic lines. But it's not a matter of whether parents can do something about it; rather, it's a matter of what parents are willing to do to stop it.
Said Lewis, "Have you checked their rooms? Do you know their friends (and) who their friends' parents are? How involved are you willing to get with your child?"
It's the kind of support that has eluded these young women - until now. Together they are now fighting the odds, and they know the stakes couldn't be higher.
"Gangbanging ain't nothing," said one of the young women. "You will either die, or go to jail."
By REBECCA RODRIGUEZ / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - As gangs are taking root in cities across North Texas, police are encountering more and more young women drawn into the vortex of violence.
In the culture of gangs, such violence is a rite of passage no longer left to the boys.
"I had to get jumped to get in," said former gang member Lakeshia Young. "Fighting, always fighting ... I've stabbed someone before."
Young joined a gang when she was twelve. It's a way of life with no easy way out.
"I've been caught in different areas like South Oak Cliff alone by myself without my 'hood," Young said. "And there I go - I have to fight my situation. I've been shot at (and) different things."
"When we're at school, we claim East Dallas, but we're really ready to fight somebody who's from another 'hood," said former gang member Vernecia Fields.
"They're in the school; they are in the community," said DISD gang intervention specialist Charlotte Lewis. "They shoot; they kill."
Lewis said about twenty percent of the gangbangers she sees are girls.
An execution-style murder in Euless in April is proof they can be deadly. The victim was a 21-year-old college student, and the two women arrested are known by police as gang members.
"The thing is, they may not be in numbers to the degree that boys are, but they are just as dangerous," Lewis said.
"I look at it like, it's my 'hood," said former gang member Victoria Gillespie. "I'm standing up for my 'hood, and I want my 'hood to stand up for me."
"I ended up fighting with the boys," said former gang member Antyeneshia Banks. "That's how bad it got - I started fighting."
"It's a family thing," Lewis said. "They're looking for attention any way they can get it, whether it is positive or negative."
18-year-old Inez Thompson turned to gangs after the loss of her mother and father.
"That made me get out of control and just start gangbanging all the time because I felt like I didn't have nobody," Thompson said.
Thompson finally turned it around for the same reason that motivated other former gang members. Getting pregnant triggered a kind of maternal instinct - and in the process they are also saving themselves. Now, the one-time rivals are bonding together to fight back in an entirely different way.
Gang violence and the problems that it brings crosses racial and socioeconomic lines. But it's not a matter of whether parents can do something about it; rather, it's a matter of what parents are willing to do to stop it.
Said Lewis, "Have you checked their rooms? Do you know their friends (and) who their friends' parents are? How involved are you willing to get with your child?"
It's the kind of support that has eluded these young women - until now. Together they are now fighting the odds, and they know the stakes couldn't be higher.
"Gangbanging ain't nothing," said one of the young women. "You will either die, or go to jail."
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TexasStooge
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Teacher jailed for pot possession
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - A Fort Worth special education teacher is in custody on charges of drug possession near a school.
Drug-sniffing dogs checked the lockers at Leonard Middle School Friday after the arrest of Jahmal Clark, 32, for possessing nearly a pound of marijuana.
"They came today cause of what's going on with Mr. Clark," one student said.
Benbrook police stopped Clark in his car Wednesday morning on Chapin Road, very close to the school.
"It was just a routine stop, but it turned into something more," said Benbrook police officer Doug Byrd.
An expired registration sticker caught the officer's eye, but a search turned up five small bags of marijuana, ready for sale, in Clark's backpack along with graded papers. Police found more than 3/4 of a pound and other related paraphernalia in the trunk.
Parents and Fort Worth school officials were shocked.
"My goodness," said parent Gretta Collier. "What was he thinking?"
"That means that he will no longer be working for us," said Fort Worth ISD spokesperson Pat Linares.
Clark is now in jail, facing a felony charge because he was stopped in a drug-free and gun-free zone close to three schools and a playground.
The teacher taught special education at Leonard for two years, and coached girls' basketball.
"I liked that he was a good coach and good teacher," said a Leonard student.
Clark told police he needed money for a current car registration, although he earned more than $38,000.
Renee Walker, president of the PTA Council, believes it's always a good idea that parents discuss troubling news with children.
"It's not good publicity for us, but I think the school is a wonderful school," Walker said. "Everything moves on."
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - A Fort Worth special education teacher is in custody on charges of drug possession near a school.
Drug-sniffing dogs checked the lockers at Leonard Middle School Friday after the arrest of Jahmal Clark, 32, for possessing nearly a pound of marijuana.
"They came today cause of what's going on with Mr. Clark," one student said.
Benbrook police stopped Clark in his car Wednesday morning on Chapin Road, very close to the school.
"It was just a routine stop, but it turned into something more," said Benbrook police officer Doug Byrd.
An expired registration sticker caught the officer's eye, but a search turned up five small bags of marijuana, ready for sale, in Clark's backpack along with graded papers. Police found more than 3/4 of a pound and other related paraphernalia in the trunk.
Parents and Fort Worth school officials were shocked.
"My goodness," said parent Gretta Collier. "What was he thinking?"
"That means that he will no longer be working for us," said Fort Worth ISD spokesperson Pat Linares.
Clark is now in jail, facing a felony charge because he was stopped in a drug-free and gun-free zone close to three schools and a playground.
The teacher taught special education at Leonard for two years, and coached girls' basketball.
"I liked that he was a good coach and good teacher," said a Leonard student.
Clark told police he needed money for a current car registration, although he earned more than $38,000.
Renee Walker, president of the PTA Council, believes it's always a good idea that parents discuss troubling news with children.
"It's not good publicity for us, but I think the school is a wonderful school," Walker said. "Everything moves on."
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TexasStooge
- Category 5
- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
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Thousands accuse TSA workers of theft
By BRAD HAWKINS / WFAA ABC 8
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
DENTON, Texas - Thousands of Americans claim government workers are stealing their stuff when they pass through airports during travel.
Actress Daryl Hannah came to North Texas in late March to support a new plant that will turn frying oil into fuel for City of Denton trucks, but it's what she left behind that soured the trip.
After passing through D/FW International Airport during her stay, Hannah became one of 14,000 Americans who claim TSA-employed bag screeners have taken more than a look when opening their luggage.
Despite those numbers, the incidents are comparatively rare. Out of 25 million passengers originating their travels at D/FW last year, the government investigated 209 complaints of missing items. At Love Field, TSA screeners handled the checked bags of nearly three million passengers and logged 33 claims of missing items.
The TSA wouldn't comment specifically on the Hannah case, but a spokesman told News 8 "every industry grapples with the issue of employee theft." The spokesman added that over 80,000 men and women have donned the uniform with honor and integrity," and for the "misguided souls who have breached the faith (of the traveling public), justice has been severe and unblinking."
TSA screeners in North Texas take a class called "reality ethics", and if caught stealing they are fired. Only four D/FW screeners have lost their jobs for stealing since the government took over in 2002.
Joel Frey with online giant Travelocity said passengers can pack away their concerns by carrying on anything of value.
"They have the right to search your bags, and they're going to," said Frey. "Things like your cell phone, your camera - you're not going to want to put plastic bags of cash in your bags."
And what was missing from Hannah's luggage? She said $4,000 in cash disappeared between the curb and her D/FW departure.
Not all the claims end up being theft. Sometimes, passengers call back and say they've found their items.
As of last September, the government paid out nearly $740,000 to settle cases of theft from checked bags by government screeners.
By BRAD HAWKINS / WFAA ABC 8
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
DENTON, Texas - Thousands of Americans claim government workers are stealing their stuff when they pass through airports during travel.
Actress Daryl Hannah came to North Texas in late March to support a new plant that will turn frying oil into fuel for City of Denton trucks, but it's what she left behind that soured the trip.
After passing through D/FW International Airport during her stay, Hannah became one of 14,000 Americans who claim TSA-employed bag screeners have taken more than a look when opening their luggage.
Despite those numbers, the incidents are comparatively rare. Out of 25 million passengers originating their travels at D/FW last year, the government investigated 209 complaints of missing items. At Love Field, TSA screeners handled the checked bags of nearly three million passengers and logged 33 claims of missing items.
The TSA wouldn't comment specifically on the Hannah case, but a spokesman told News 8 "every industry grapples with the issue of employee theft." The spokesman added that over 80,000 men and women have donned the uniform with honor and integrity," and for the "misguided souls who have breached the faith (of the traveling public), justice has been severe and unblinking."
TSA screeners in North Texas take a class called "reality ethics", and if caught stealing they are fired. Only four D/FW screeners have lost their jobs for stealing since the government took over in 2002.
Joel Frey with online giant Travelocity said passengers can pack away their concerns by carrying on anything of value.
"They have the right to search your bags, and they're going to," said Frey. "Things like your cell phone, your camera - you're not going to want to put plastic bags of cash in your bags."
And what was missing from Hannah's luggage? She said $4,000 in cash disappeared between the curb and her D/FW departure.
Not all the claims end up being theft. Sometimes, passengers call back and say they've found their items.
As of last September, the government paid out nearly $740,000 to settle cases of theft from checked bags by government screeners.
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TexasStooge
- Category 5
- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
It does their hearts good
Soldiers rave about D/FW's rousing welcome crew, but volunteer greeters say they get more than they give
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - The soldiers' eyes widen as they walk off a plane and into Helen Ross' arms.
She hugs them. She kisses them. "Welcome home," she tells them.
They grin.
The soldiers walk down an aisle and enter a sea of strangers.
Their mouths drop.
Dozens of people are cheering and clapping, hooting and hollering on a recent Saturday morning at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. They're waving American flags and holding handmade "Thank You" poster-board signs.
The soldiers, carrying backpacks and wearing khaki camouflage, walk past Linda McNeely, who stands near the end of the line of greeters. "We're proud of you," she tells a soldier.
Then they approach Niki Williams, who offers a smile and directions out of the terminal.
Soldiers serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait fly through one of two U.S. cities – Dallas or Atlanta – on their way to visit family and friends in a program called Operation Rest and Recuperation.
Hundreds of soldiers arrive in Texas daily. More than 57,000 of them have landed at D/FW Airport since June.
Each one is welcomed like a rock star. Some in the crowd are there each day, like troop groupies. Some, such as Ms. Ross, are grizzled war veterans. Some, such as Ms. McNeely, have watched their children go off to war.
And then there's Ms. Williams, who coordinates the volunteer effort. She has no formal military connection.
But in the past year – with the rousing homecomings, the soldiers she's met, the friendships she's made – the experience has transformed her.
"I've fallen in love with it," she says. "I know I'm supposed to be here."
Simple start
Ms. Williams never thought she'd be a greeter, much less be in charge of the daily welcomes.
But things changed last June when she sat in her Colleyville living room and flipped on the television. In the middle of the local news broadcast was a short story about the effort to welcome troops passing through D/FW.
She knew she had to go.
She's patriotic, and she felt she could express her allegiance by greeting soldiers. She likes to help others – she's involved in missionary and volunteer work – and thought she could lend a helping hand.
It was the first time in a while that she felt able to help. Just months earlier, Ms. Williams, who has suffered from depression, says she couldn't have gotten off her couch. By June, with corrected medication, she was eager to do something.
One day, she showed up at the airport with her husband and homemade chocolate chip cookies.
She had just missed the arrival. Most of the soldiers had been escorted to their connecting flights. The remaining troops devoured her treats.
The next day, she got to the airport on time.
She was shy, so she was hesitant to show up on her own. But being at the airport – seeing the soldiers, shaking their hands, meeting other greeters – was alluring.
"Oh my gosh, it is addictive," she says. "You definitely want to do that again and again."
She soon settled into life in Terminal B. But as she witnessed the homecomings, she studied the behind-the-scenes action.
The terminal was decorated with posters and balloons. Tables were set up for volunteers to distribute sweets to soldiers. But volunteers didn't receive much direction because no one was in charge.
Ms. Williams, 46, figured she could handle the task. Her two children are grown, so she had free time. And through her church involvement, she had experience.
She may be short – she's 5 feet tall – but she says she can be forward. She approached an Army captain and told him: "You need somebody in charge."
By late July, she was running the show.
She volunteers about 30 hours a week. She's on the phone with military and airport officials to determine flight arrival times. She defuses crises – she recently escorted a war protester out of the terminal – and she talks with volunteer groups, from churches to businesses.
She handles media requests and donations, recently driving to San Antonio to deliver hundreds of boxes of donated Girl Scout cookies to wounded soldiers.
But she's always in touch with the regulars. She knows she can count on them at 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. They'll show up.
She calls them her "special ops."
The reluctant 'rah-rah'
They all have their own reasons for being there.
Melody Massey showed up at the airport last fall because she had to. Her employer instructed employees to volunteer.
She was skeptical.
"Whatever, rah-rah, wave the flag," she says, rolling her eyes.
But, after a few minutes of greeting, she was amazed and inspired. Soon she was hooked.
"The love in here is beyond comprehension," Ms. Massey says.
Her voice begins to quiver.
"It's unbelievable. It's awesome. ... It's been a blessing."
As she talks, light spills through the tall terminal windows, and beefy football players mill about, waiting to welcome soldiers.
Some greeters carry babies, others cradle cups of coffee. In the back of the crowd sit a couple of retired racing greyhounds, wearing American flag bandannas.
Signs plaster walls and windows: "Thank you American soldier for uor bravery and hav good luck," reads a sign scrawled in blue crayon.
The soldier's mom
Ms. McNeely, wearing heart-shaped American flag earrings, says her greeting offers a boost of confidence. It makes her day, too.
"It's like a big shot of Vitamin P – for patriotism," the 56-year-old Southlake resident says.
Her son, an Army first lieutenant, delivered fuel to Army vehicles in Iraq last year. These days, he's stationed at Fort Hood.
Ms. Ross typically stands at the front of the line. The retired Air Force colonel, in her early 80s, is called the "kissin' colonel" for planting wet ones on soldiers' cheeks and necks.
One woman's growth
While many soldiers are catching connecting flights, volunteers will drive an hour or so to drop off those who are closer to home.
Ms. Williams looks forward to these trips because she gets the chance to know more about the soldiers and their families.
She sends soldiers e-mails and care packages. She prays for them.
She also prays that God will keep her focused on why she's at the airport. A sign on an airport door serves as a reminder: "It's not about me, it's about the soldiers."
But she's a different person because of her time in Terminal B.
She's no longer shy. She's discovered that she's rather assertive. And confident.
She's realized she can lead people. She's now comfortable asking for help.
Army Lt. Col. Ralph J. Marino Jr., who helped Ms. Williams prepare for her early speeches to groups about the effort, says she was quiet and wasn't sure of herself when he first met her last year.
Things have changed.
"She has the desire to do this," he says. "She speaks from her heart."
"She's become an asset," he adds.
Ms. Williams' therapist told her she needs to keep going to the airport because it makes her happy. Ms. Williams agrees. "I found a whole new personality I never knew was in me," she says. "I've learned to accept myself and to like myself a little more."
The terminal is quiet as she talks. Soldiers have been escorted to neighboring terminals. Nearly all of the volunteers have left.
She knows they have made a difference in the soldiers' lives. Years from now, she says she'll be able to look back on her life and say: "I did something."
But she doesn't like to think about the day when the last soldiers are homeward bound. For good.
"The day this war is over and the soldiers come home will be the saddest and happiest day of my life," she says.
She pauses. Then she speaks slowly and quietly.
"I'll want them all to come home," she continues. "But when I have to take down all the posters, it'll break my heart."
Soldiers rave about D/FW's rousing welcome crew, but volunteer greeters say they get more than they give
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - The soldiers' eyes widen as they walk off a plane and into Helen Ross' arms.
She hugs them. She kisses them. "Welcome home," she tells them.
They grin.
The soldiers walk down an aisle and enter a sea of strangers.
Their mouths drop.
Dozens of people are cheering and clapping, hooting and hollering on a recent Saturday morning at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. They're waving American flags and holding handmade "Thank You" poster-board signs.
The soldiers, carrying backpacks and wearing khaki camouflage, walk past Linda McNeely, who stands near the end of the line of greeters. "We're proud of you," she tells a soldier.
Then they approach Niki Williams, who offers a smile and directions out of the terminal.
Soldiers serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait fly through one of two U.S. cities – Dallas or Atlanta – on their way to visit family and friends in a program called Operation Rest and Recuperation.
Hundreds of soldiers arrive in Texas daily. More than 57,000 of them have landed at D/FW Airport since June.
Each one is welcomed like a rock star. Some in the crowd are there each day, like troop groupies. Some, such as Ms. Ross, are grizzled war veterans. Some, such as Ms. McNeely, have watched their children go off to war.
And then there's Ms. Williams, who coordinates the volunteer effort. She has no formal military connection.
But in the past year – with the rousing homecomings, the soldiers she's met, the friendships she's made – the experience has transformed her.
"I've fallen in love with it," she says. "I know I'm supposed to be here."
Simple start
Ms. Williams never thought she'd be a greeter, much less be in charge of the daily welcomes.
But things changed last June when she sat in her Colleyville living room and flipped on the television. In the middle of the local news broadcast was a short story about the effort to welcome troops passing through D/FW.
She knew she had to go.
She's patriotic, and she felt she could express her allegiance by greeting soldiers. She likes to help others – she's involved in missionary and volunteer work – and thought she could lend a helping hand.
It was the first time in a while that she felt able to help. Just months earlier, Ms. Williams, who has suffered from depression, says she couldn't have gotten off her couch. By June, with corrected medication, she was eager to do something.
One day, she showed up at the airport with her husband and homemade chocolate chip cookies.
She had just missed the arrival. Most of the soldiers had been escorted to their connecting flights. The remaining troops devoured her treats.
The next day, she got to the airport on time.
She was shy, so she was hesitant to show up on her own. But being at the airport – seeing the soldiers, shaking their hands, meeting other greeters – was alluring.
"Oh my gosh, it is addictive," she says. "You definitely want to do that again and again."
She soon settled into life in Terminal B. But as she witnessed the homecomings, she studied the behind-the-scenes action.
The terminal was decorated with posters and balloons. Tables were set up for volunteers to distribute sweets to soldiers. But volunteers didn't receive much direction because no one was in charge.
Ms. Williams, 46, figured she could handle the task. Her two children are grown, so she had free time. And through her church involvement, she had experience.
She may be short – she's 5 feet tall – but she says she can be forward. She approached an Army captain and told him: "You need somebody in charge."
By late July, she was running the show.
She volunteers about 30 hours a week. She's on the phone with military and airport officials to determine flight arrival times. She defuses crises – she recently escorted a war protester out of the terminal – and she talks with volunteer groups, from churches to businesses.
She handles media requests and donations, recently driving to San Antonio to deliver hundreds of boxes of donated Girl Scout cookies to wounded soldiers.
But she's always in touch with the regulars. She knows she can count on them at 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. They'll show up.
She calls them her "special ops."
The reluctant 'rah-rah'
They all have their own reasons for being there.
Melody Massey showed up at the airport last fall because she had to. Her employer instructed employees to volunteer.
She was skeptical.
"Whatever, rah-rah, wave the flag," she says, rolling her eyes.
But, after a few minutes of greeting, she was amazed and inspired. Soon she was hooked.
"The love in here is beyond comprehension," Ms. Massey says.
Her voice begins to quiver.
"It's unbelievable. It's awesome. ... It's been a blessing."
As she talks, light spills through the tall terminal windows, and beefy football players mill about, waiting to welcome soldiers.
Some greeters carry babies, others cradle cups of coffee. In the back of the crowd sit a couple of retired racing greyhounds, wearing American flag bandannas.
Signs plaster walls and windows: "Thank you American soldier for uor bravery and hav good luck," reads a sign scrawled in blue crayon.
The soldier's mom
Ms. McNeely, wearing heart-shaped American flag earrings, says her greeting offers a boost of confidence. It makes her day, too.
"It's like a big shot of Vitamin P – for patriotism," the 56-year-old Southlake resident says.
Her son, an Army first lieutenant, delivered fuel to Army vehicles in Iraq last year. These days, he's stationed at Fort Hood.
Ms. Ross typically stands at the front of the line. The retired Air Force colonel, in her early 80s, is called the "kissin' colonel" for planting wet ones on soldiers' cheeks and necks.
One woman's growth
While many soldiers are catching connecting flights, volunteers will drive an hour or so to drop off those who are closer to home.
Ms. Williams looks forward to these trips because she gets the chance to know more about the soldiers and their families.
She sends soldiers e-mails and care packages. She prays for them.
She also prays that God will keep her focused on why she's at the airport. A sign on an airport door serves as a reminder: "It's not about me, it's about the soldiers."
But she's a different person because of her time in Terminal B.
She's no longer shy. She's discovered that she's rather assertive. And confident.
She's realized she can lead people. She's now comfortable asking for help.
Army Lt. Col. Ralph J. Marino Jr., who helped Ms. Williams prepare for her early speeches to groups about the effort, says she was quiet and wasn't sure of herself when he first met her last year.
Things have changed.
"She has the desire to do this," he says. "She speaks from her heart."
"She's become an asset," he adds.
Ms. Williams' therapist told her she needs to keep going to the airport because it makes her happy. Ms. Williams agrees. "I found a whole new personality I never knew was in me," she says. "I've learned to accept myself and to like myself a little more."
The terminal is quiet as she talks. Soldiers have been escorted to neighboring terminals. Nearly all of the volunteers have left.
She knows they have made a difference in the soldiers' lives. Years from now, she says she'll be able to look back on her life and say: "I did something."
But she doesn't like to think about the day when the last soldiers are homeward bound. For good.
"The day this war is over and the soldiers come home will be the saddest and happiest day of my life," she says.
She pauses. Then she speaks slowly and quietly.
"I'll want them all to come home," she continues. "But when I have to take down all the posters, it'll break my heart."
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TexasStooge
- Category 5
- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
Murder up 21% so far in '05
Kunkle still confident about bringing Dallas crime stats down
By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Murders in Dallas were up about 21 percent during the first four months of this year, sowing early seeds of doubt that the police chief will be able to make his bold crime reduction goals by year's end.
Through April, there were 76 homicides, up from 63 during the same period last year.
"I think it's achievable," he said Friday. "The answer is not rolling out an initiative."
So far this year, the chief is about halfway to his 10 percent drop in overall crime, statistics released Friday show. Murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft and auto theft are down a total of 5.2 percent through April.
To reach his goal for homicides – arguably the least preventable crime – Dallas would have to finish the year with about 50 fewer killings. Last year, 244 people were murdered in Dallas, according to department statistics.
This year, investigators have cleared, or solved through arrest, about 61 percent of homicides.
While murders posted the highest increase, the largest decrease in crime so far this year occurred in business robberies, which have fallen about 15 percent.
Mayor Laura Miller said murder is the hardest crime to cut because "most people don't know that when they wake up in the morning they're going to kill someone that afternoon. ... It's a crime of passion that people often commit when they are high or drunk."
Overall, Mayor Miller said she is pleased with Chief Kunkle's performance to date.
"He's only been there 11 months, but the department is significantly different. I think there's been great improvement. Morale is up significantly compared to two years ago. When officers feel good about their jobs, when they think their boss is fair, they do a better job and crime goes down."
In announcing his crime-rate goals in January, Chief Kunkle said he would achieve them through a slew of strategies: bulking up Friday and Saturday night shifts, particularly in southern Dallas; parking patrol cars in high crime areas, such as in front of drug houses; and using civilian employees to handle less pressing 911 calls, freeing up swamped sworn officers.
The chief also has continued to drum his staff Giuliani-style in weekly accountability meetings, where crime stats are combed through and supervisors are questioned about spikes in their sectors. They also analyze successes and how supervisors can mirror those small gains citywide.
"I would like to think that we're working harder and smarter and with a more targeted approach," Chief Kunkle said. "We've proven that we can go into an area and make a difference." The challenge, he added, is "sustaining that over a larger area for a longer period of time."
Staff writer Tanya Eiserer contributed to this report.
Kunkle still confident about bringing Dallas crime stats down
By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Murders in Dallas were up about 21 percent during the first four months of this year, sowing early seeds of doubt that the police chief will be able to make his bold crime reduction goals by year's end.
Through April, there were 76 homicides, up from 63 during the same period last year.
"I think it's achievable," he said Friday. "The answer is not rolling out an initiative."
So far this year, the chief is about halfway to his 10 percent drop in overall crime, statistics released Friday show. Murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft and auto theft are down a total of 5.2 percent through April.
To reach his goal for homicides – arguably the least preventable crime – Dallas would have to finish the year with about 50 fewer killings. Last year, 244 people were murdered in Dallas, according to department statistics.
This year, investigators have cleared, or solved through arrest, about 61 percent of homicides.
While murders posted the highest increase, the largest decrease in crime so far this year occurred in business robberies, which have fallen about 15 percent.
Mayor Laura Miller said murder is the hardest crime to cut because "most people don't know that when they wake up in the morning they're going to kill someone that afternoon. ... It's a crime of passion that people often commit when they are high or drunk."
Overall, Mayor Miller said she is pleased with Chief Kunkle's performance to date.
"He's only been there 11 months, but the department is significantly different. I think there's been great improvement. Morale is up significantly compared to two years ago. When officers feel good about their jobs, when they think their boss is fair, they do a better job and crime goes down."
In announcing his crime-rate goals in January, Chief Kunkle said he would achieve them through a slew of strategies: bulking up Friday and Saturday night shifts, particularly in southern Dallas; parking patrol cars in high crime areas, such as in front of drug houses; and using civilian employees to handle less pressing 911 calls, freeing up swamped sworn officers.
The chief also has continued to drum his staff Giuliani-style in weekly accountability meetings, where crime stats are combed through and supervisors are questioned about spikes in their sectors. They also analyze successes and how supervisors can mirror those small gains citywide.
"I would like to think that we're working harder and smarter and with a more targeted approach," Chief Kunkle said. "We've proven that we can go into an area and make a difference." The challenge, he added, is "sustaining that over a larger area for a longer period of time."
Staff writer Tanya Eiserer contributed to this report.
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