Bet losing principal puts on dress, tiara
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - One principal kept his word to his students even when it meant he had to put on formal wear.
Charles Lester picked a sassy red number after last week students at Truman Middle School in Grand Prairie bet Lester that they would be in class last Thursday despite icy weather.
The principal lost and the students got a lunchtime fashion show that had the kids cracking up.
Not only did he wear a red dress, he also changed into a black dress and tiara.
News from the Lone Star State
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TexasStooge
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Arrests show reach of teacher sex law
Garland: Statute applies even if it's consensual
By MARGARITA MARTÍN-HIDALGO / The Dallas Morning News
GARLAND, Texas - A few years ago, teachers like the two from the Garland school district who have been arrested in recent weeks couldn't have been prosecuted on charges of having sex with 17-year-old students.
But both face up to 20 years in prison and $10,000 fines if they are convicted under a 2-year-old law that outlaws sexual relationships between educators and students – even if the sex is consensual and the students are legally adults.
The educators could also lose their teaching certificates.
Dr. Bob Shoop, a Kansas State University education professor who has researched the issue, said more and more states are passing laws similar to the one in Texas. He said the laws send the message that students – even older teenagers who are legally adults – should not be considered capable of consenting to sex with a teacher.
Teachers and coaches, he noted, have power over students because they may control their grades and their ability to get college scholarships – and that power should not be abused.
Even if the teachers "don't drag the kids into the woods and rape them," Dr. Shoop said, that doesn't make the relationships right. "It's really an unprofessional, unethical and illegal act," he said.
Jim Moore, attorney for two accused Garland district teachers, said that the intent of the law is "probably good" but that it should have different provisions for students of different ages and should distinguish between students who consent and those who don't. He also said the penalties are too harsh.
"I'm not sure the Legislature thought it through," Mr. Moore said.
Incarcerations under the new Texas law have been rare. Since it took effect Sept. 1, 2003, five teachers have been convicted of the second-degree felony and incarcerated, according to data from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Two were from Bexar County and one each from Brazoria, McLennan and Travis counties.
At least two other teachers have received probation, records show.
The Dallas County district attorney's office has yet to prosecute a case under the statute, spokeswoman Rachel Horton said, though it has one case pending, also from the Garland district.
Third arrest in year
The arrest of Hernando Guerrero, 29, on Dec. 6 marked the third time this year that a high school teacher in the Garland district had been charged with an improper relationship between an educator and student.
Mr. Guerrero, who taught English as a second language at Sachse High, is accused of having consensual sex with a female student from the school. A Garland police spokesman said she was not a student in his class. Mr. Guerrero could not be reached for comment. He has been placed on paid leave until the investigation and trial are over, said a Garland school district spokesman.
Lindsey Holt, 23, who resigned from South Garland High School after being charged late last month, is accused of having sex with a male student from her homemaking class.
In the third case, the one pending with the district attorney's office, Garland police arrested a Naaman Forest High School speech teacher in February on suspicion of having sex with one of his students.
Because the student in that case was a minor, 27-year-old Wilfredo Carrion faces two counts of indecency with a child as well as the single charge of improper relationship between educator and student, according to the district attorney's office. His trial is set for March 20.
Mr. Moore, who is representing Ms. Holt and Mr. Carrion, said, "I think these are both young people who used poor judgment."
He said his clients' cases both involved consensual relationships.
"I do not think Ms. Holt is a criminal," he said. "I think Ms. Holt is a fine young lady."
Garland school district spokesman Steve Knagg said Mr. Carrion's contract was terminated as a result of the criminal investigation.
In addition to being sent to prison and fined, those convicted under the statute can lose their teaching certificates.
Although the district has had scattered similar incidents in the past, Mr. Knagg said he couldn't recall three such cases in a year in his nearly three decades with the district.
"We are obviously very concerned," Mr. Knagg said, though he stressed that such incidents are rare and that parents have no cause for concern.
He said the district thoroughly screens teaching applicants and weeds out those with criminal records.
Dr. Shoop, the Kansas State professor, said there are no studies that show whether sexual relationships between students and teachers are on the rise, but he said such incidents are being reported more frequently.
One reason, he said, is that successful prosecutions may have encouraged more students to out their abusers. Similarly, the students' parents may feel more confident that justice can be served.
Different dynamics
The dynamics of the relationships are different for boys and girls, Dr. Shoop said. Female students tend to become emotionally attached to the male teacher and may think they are in a committed relationship, he said. When the male teacher breaks it off, it can be devastating, Dr. Shoop said.
"Generally, the boy isn't in love" with the teacher, he said.
Among teachers, he said, males may have one relationship after another, while most female teachers tend to have a single relationship with one student. Also, female teachers generally fall in love with the male students, Dr. Shoop said.
Dr. Shoop said reports of female teachers having sexual contact with students have been on the rise for three or four years.
The 2003 law gives education officials extra authority to keep problem teachers out of the classroom.
"You can say I'm a big fan" of the statute, said Christopher Jones, who supervises Texas Education Agency attorneys who review cases related to the revocation of teaching certificates.
Jeri Stone, the executive director of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, a teachers group, said that the Texas law is a good tool but that incidents of teachers having sex with students are an anomaly.
Still, she said, teachers are in a position of trust, and that "should never be abused."
Staff writers Jennifer LeFleur and Diane Jennings and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Garland: Statute applies even if it's consensual
By MARGARITA MARTÍN-HIDALGO / The Dallas Morning News
GARLAND, Texas - A few years ago, teachers like the two from the Garland school district who have been arrested in recent weeks couldn't have been prosecuted on charges of having sex with 17-year-old students.
But both face up to 20 years in prison and $10,000 fines if they are convicted under a 2-year-old law that outlaws sexual relationships between educators and students – even if the sex is consensual and the students are legally adults.
The educators could also lose their teaching certificates.
Dr. Bob Shoop, a Kansas State University education professor who has researched the issue, said more and more states are passing laws similar to the one in Texas. He said the laws send the message that students – even older teenagers who are legally adults – should not be considered capable of consenting to sex with a teacher.
Teachers and coaches, he noted, have power over students because they may control their grades and their ability to get college scholarships – and that power should not be abused.
Even if the teachers "don't drag the kids into the woods and rape them," Dr. Shoop said, that doesn't make the relationships right. "It's really an unprofessional, unethical and illegal act," he said.
Jim Moore, attorney for two accused Garland district teachers, said that the intent of the law is "probably good" but that it should have different provisions for students of different ages and should distinguish between students who consent and those who don't. He also said the penalties are too harsh.
"I'm not sure the Legislature thought it through," Mr. Moore said.
Incarcerations under the new Texas law have been rare. Since it took effect Sept. 1, 2003, five teachers have been convicted of the second-degree felony and incarcerated, according to data from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Two were from Bexar County and one each from Brazoria, McLennan and Travis counties.
At least two other teachers have received probation, records show.
The Dallas County district attorney's office has yet to prosecute a case under the statute, spokeswoman Rachel Horton said, though it has one case pending, also from the Garland district.
Third arrest in year
The arrest of Hernando Guerrero, 29, on Dec. 6 marked the third time this year that a high school teacher in the Garland district had been charged with an improper relationship between an educator and student.
Mr. Guerrero, who taught English as a second language at Sachse High, is accused of having consensual sex with a female student from the school. A Garland police spokesman said she was not a student in his class. Mr. Guerrero could not be reached for comment. He has been placed on paid leave until the investigation and trial are over, said a Garland school district spokesman.
Lindsey Holt, 23, who resigned from South Garland High School after being charged late last month, is accused of having sex with a male student from her homemaking class.
In the third case, the one pending with the district attorney's office, Garland police arrested a Naaman Forest High School speech teacher in February on suspicion of having sex with one of his students.
Because the student in that case was a minor, 27-year-old Wilfredo Carrion faces two counts of indecency with a child as well as the single charge of improper relationship between educator and student, according to the district attorney's office. His trial is set for March 20.
Mr. Moore, who is representing Ms. Holt and Mr. Carrion, said, "I think these are both young people who used poor judgment."
He said his clients' cases both involved consensual relationships.
"I do not think Ms. Holt is a criminal," he said. "I think Ms. Holt is a fine young lady."
Garland school district spokesman Steve Knagg said Mr. Carrion's contract was terminated as a result of the criminal investigation.
In addition to being sent to prison and fined, those convicted under the statute can lose their teaching certificates.
Although the district has had scattered similar incidents in the past, Mr. Knagg said he couldn't recall three such cases in a year in his nearly three decades with the district.
"We are obviously very concerned," Mr. Knagg said, though he stressed that such incidents are rare and that parents have no cause for concern.
He said the district thoroughly screens teaching applicants and weeds out those with criminal records.
Dr. Shoop, the Kansas State professor, said there are no studies that show whether sexual relationships between students and teachers are on the rise, but he said such incidents are being reported more frequently.
One reason, he said, is that successful prosecutions may have encouraged more students to out their abusers. Similarly, the students' parents may feel more confident that justice can be served.
Different dynamics
The dynamics of the relationships are different for boys and girls, Dr. Shoop said. Female students tend to become emotionally attached to the male teacher and may think they are in a committed relationship, he said. When the male teacher breaks it off, it can be devastating, Dr. Shoop said.
"Generally, the boy isn't in love" with the teacher, he said.
Among teachers, he said, males may have one relationship after another, while most female teachers tend to have a single relationship with one student. Also, female teachers generally fall in love with the male students, Dr. Shoop said.
Dr. Shoop said reports of female teachers having sexual contact with students have been on the rise for three or four years.
The 2003 law gives education officials extra authority to keep problem teachers out of the classroom.
"You can say I'm a big fan" of the statute, said Christopher Jones, who supervises Texas Education Agency attorneys who review cases related to the revocation of teaching certificates.
Jeri Stone, the executive director of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, a teachers group, said that the Texas law is a good tool but that incidents of teachers having sex with students are an anomaly.
Still, she said, teachers are in a position of trust, and that "should never be abused."
Staff writers Jennifer LeFleur and Diane Jennings and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Water main issues put road redo at risk
Highland Park: Dallas delays decision on how to deal with Mockingbird line
By KRISTEN HOLLAND / The Dallas Morning News
The refurbishment of a prominent Dallas-area thoroughfare – Mockingbird Lane – may be delayed indefinitely.
With the project eight years into the planning, Highland Park officials say they may not be able to redo the town's major east-west thoroughfare next summer because Dallas Water Utilities can't decide what to do with a water main running underneath the road.
Meran Dadgostar, Highland Park's town engineer, said the town recently received a letter from Dallas Water Utilities stating that its work on the project must stop to evaluate other options. The letter stated that Dallas is considering a variety of ways to repair the main rather than replace it, Mr. Dadgostar said.
"If Dallas Water Utilities decides not to upgrade their systems, my recommendation to the council would be to not go forward with the improvements," he said.
Jody Puckett, director of Dallas' water utilities department, could not be reached for comment. Highland Park is working with Dallas city and county officials to rebuild the road between Hillcrest Avenue and the Dallas North Tollway. Highland Park and county officials say repaving is not an option because the road's underbelly has deteriorated beyond repair.
The town discovered the problem in 1998, when it last resurfaced Mockingbird. At the time, officials gave the street five to eight more years. Town leaders have been working since 2001 to secure funding.
The county is putting in a maximum of $2.1 million to help cover the estimated $12 million to $15 million total costs.
Dallas Water Utilities originally planned to invest $5 million to $6 million to replace its 36-inch water main with one 48 inches wide.
Officials estimate the main to be 70 to 80 years old.
It stretches down the middle of Mockingbird Lane from the Dallas North Tollway to Airline Road, two blocks west of Central Expressway.
Mr. Dadgostar said that by delaying its decision, Dallas Water Utilities is violating a 2004 interlocal agreement.
The agreement between Dallas and Highland Park specifies the conditions and requirements for Dallas to replace its water main before Mockingbird is rebuilt. One section of the legal document states, "Dallas agrees to complete all reviews in a timely manner to avoid delays in design and construction schedule of the project."
Though Highland Park could redo the street without a new water main, it's not the best option because it could cause problems during and after construction.
"The problem is the line, first of all, is very old," Mr. Dadgostar said. "Second is the line is about 3 feet deep under the roadway. The city of Dallas criterion is that main water lines have to be about 7 feet deep."
Third is that it's a pipe containing lead, a highly toxic substance.
Highland Park's desire to move on the project isn't surprising given the amount of money – about $200,000 – and time the town has committed.
Town officials have spent much of the last two years collecting data, handling contracts and meeting with homeowners, business leaders and organizations.
Last month, the town held the initial round of public meetings to review the first set of detailed maps for the project.
The preliminary drawings indicate how far the curbs need to be moved back in order to add protected left-turn lanes at several intersections.
Residents have expressed mixed feelings about the project. They have concerns about removing trees and potentially bringing in more traffic.
Don Chase, a Highland Park resident who's on the town's Mockingbird Lane Reconstruction Committee, doesn't really care if the project is delayed.
"You could patch a couple holes here and there, but that [isn't] worth spending several million dollars to do," said Mr. Chase, who lives on Mockingbird.
That said, the main must be replaced soon.
"They're going to be hurting because they're going to be hard-pressed to find water line money in 2008 or 2009 when they've got a break in the darn thing," Mr. Chase said.
Mr. Dadgostar said the town can't move into the final design phase or develop a construction schedule until Dallas shares its plans.
"In the last five or six months, we have been basically not doing anything because we're waiting for them," he said. "We have met with their staff to inform them of the tight schedule we have. Those days that they have promised delivery of their decision have not been met."
Highland Park: Dallas delays decision on how to deal with Mockingbird line
By KRISTEN HOLLAND / The Dallas Morning News
The refurbishment of a prominent Dallas-area thoroughfare – Mockingbird Lane – may be delayed indefinitely.
With the project eight years into the planning, Highland Park officials say they may not be able to redo the town's major east-west thoroughfare next summer because Dallas Water Utilities can't decide what to do with a water main running underneath the road.
Meran Dadgostar, Highland Park's town engineer, said the town recently received a letter from Dallas Water Utilities stating that its work on the project must stop to evaluate other options. The letter stated that Dallas is considering a variety of ways to repair the main rather than replace it, Mr. Dadgostar said.
"If Dallas Water Utilities decides not to upgrade their systems, my recommendation to the council would be to not go forward with the improvements," he said.
Jody Puckett, director of Dallas' water utilities department, could not be reached for comment. Highland Park is working with Dallas city and county officials to rebuild the road between Hillcrest Avenue and the Dallas North Tollway. Highland Park and county officials say repaving is not an option because the road's underbelly has deteriorated beyond repair.
The town discovered the problem in 1998, when it last resurfaced Mockingbird. At the time, officials gave the street five to eight more years. Town leaders have been working since 2001 to secure funding.
The county is putting in a maximum of $2.1 million to help cover the estimated $12 million to $15 million total costs.
Dallas Water Utilities originally planned to invest $5 million to $6 million to replace its 36-inch water main with one 48 inches wide.
Officials estimate the main to be 70 to 80 years old.
It stretches down the middle of Mockingbird Lane from the Dallas North Tollway to Airline Road, two blocks west of Central Expressway.
Mr. Dadgostar said that by delaying its decision, Dallas Water Utilities is violating a 2004 interlocal agreement.
The agreement between Dallas and Highland Park specifies the conditions and requirements for Dallas to replace its water main before Mockingbird is rebuilt. One section of the legal document states, "Dallas agrees to complete all reviews in a timely manner to avoid delays in design and construction schedule of the project."
Though Highland Park could redo the street without a new water main, it's not the best option because it could cause problems during and after construction.
"The problem is the line, first of all, is very old," Mr. Dadgostar said. "Second is the line is about 3 feet deep under the roadway. The city of Dallas criterion is that main water lines have to be about 7 feet deep."
Third is that it's a pipe containing lead, a highly toxic substance.
Highland Park's desire to move on the project isn't surprising given the amount of money – about $200,000 – and time the town has committed.
Town officials have spent much of the last two years collecting data, handling contracts and meeting with homeowners, business leaders and organizations.
Last month, the town held the initial round of public meetings to review the first set of detailed maps for the project.
The preliminary drawings indicate how far the curbs need to be moved back in order to add protected left-turn lanes at several intersections.
Residents have expressed mixed feelings about the project. They have concerns about removing trees and potentially bringing in more traffic.
Don Chase, a Highland Park resident who's on the town's Mockingbird Lane Reconstruction Committee, doesn't really care if the project is delayed.
"You could patch a couple holes here and there, but that [isn't] worth spending several million dollars to do," said Mr. Chase, who lives on Mockingbird.
That said, the main must be replaced soon.
"They're going to be hurting because they're going to be hard-pressed to find water line money in 2008 or 2009 when they've got a break in the darn thing," Mr. Chase said.
Mr. Dadgostar said the town can't move into the final design phase or develop a construction schedule until Dallas shares its plans.
"In the last five or six months, we have been basically not doing anything because we're waiting for them," he said. "We have met with their staff to inform them of the tight schedule we have. Those days that they have promised delivery of their decision have not been met."
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TexasStooge
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Man targets Frisco ATMs with axe
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
FRISCO, Texas - Frisco police are searching for a suspect who targeted ATMs in Frisco with an axe.
Surveillance video shows a man boldly using an axe to try and break into the ATMs. He failed to retrieve any money from the machines.
A Chase ATM at 4900 Block on Preston Road in Frisco was among those he attempted to steal from. In total, he tried to break into three ATMs on Preston Road and Highway 121 in a matter of hours early on Monday morning.
Police are calling on the public to help identify the suspect.
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
FRISCO, Texas - Frisco police are searching for a suspect who targeted ATMs in Frisco with an axe.
Surveillance video shows a man boldly using an axe to try and break into the ATMs. He failed to retrieve any money from the machines.
A Chase ATM at 4900 Block on Preston Road in Frisco was among those he attempted to steal from. In total, he tried to break into three ATMs on Preston Road and Highway 121 in a matter of hours early on Monday morning.
Police are calling on the public to help identify the suspect.
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TexasStooge
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Charges filed in Arlington teen's gun death
Weapon used in accidental shooting had been stolen, police say
ARLINGTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/The Dallas Morning News) - A 15-year-old boy has been charged with criminally negligent homicide in connection with the accidental shooting death of an Arlington 13-year-old.
Several weapons were found in the apartment where Adrian Johnson was shot on Wednesday, and Arlington police said Thursday that a weapon linked to the shooting had been stolen in a burglary.
Officers found Johnson wounded inside the Running Brook Apartments shortly after 2 p.m. He died later at Arlington Memorial Hospital.
Police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour said investigators are trying to find out the number of guns taken and who was involved in the burglary.
Ms. Gilfour said that investigators do not expect any further charges related to the death.
Weapon used in accidental shooting had been stolen, police say
ARLINGTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/The Dallas Morning News) - A 15-year-old boy has been charged with criminally negligent homicide in connection with the accidental shooting death of an Arlington 13-year-old.
Several weapons were found in the apartment where Adrian Johnson was shot on Wednesday, and Arlington police said Thursday that a weapon linked to the shooting had been stolen in a burglary.
Officers found Johnson wounded inside the Running Brook Apartments shortly after 2 p.m. He died later at Arlington Memorial Hospital.
Police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour said investigators are trying to find out the number of guns taken and who was involved in the burglary.
Ms. Gilfour said that investigators do not expect any further charges related to the death.
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TexasStooge
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'Giving Tree' to aid Dallas officer with cancer
DALLAS, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Dallas police are hosting a “Giving Tree” on Friday to help one of their own now facing terminal cancer.
Senior Cpl. Robert Becker faces a huge financial burden due to his illness. To help the 15-year department veteran and his family, the department has teamed with the Southeast Dallas Chamber of Commerce to solicit monetary contributions from individuals and businesses in North Texas.
Those who want to contribute to the Giving Tree are encouraged to come to What’s Hot Fun World at 400 S. Buckner Boulevard on Friday, Dec. 16 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Additionally, an account in the name of Cpl. Becker has been set up at Texas Capital Bank, 2100 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, Texas.
All money collected from both efforts will assist Cpl. Becker, his wife Tina and their two children in meeting day-to-day expenses.
For more information, please contact the Southeast Dallas Chamber of Commerce at 214-398-9590.
DALLAS, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Dallas police are hosting a “Giving Tree” on Friday to help one of their own now facing terminal cancer.
Senior Cpl. Robert Becker faces a huge financial burden due to his illness. To help the 15-year department veteran and his family, the department has teamed with the Southeast Dallas Chamber of Commerce to solicit monetary contributions from individuals and businesses in North Texas.
Those who want to contribute to the Giving Tree are encouraged to come to What’s Hot Fun World at 400 S. Buckner Boulevard on Friday, Dec. 16 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Additionally, an account in the name of Cpl. Becker has been set up at Texas Capital Bank, 2100 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, Texas.
All money collected from both efforts will assist Cpl. Becker, his wife Tina and their two children in meeting day-to-day expenses.
For more information, please contact the Southeast Dallas Chamber of Commerce at 214-398-9590.
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Mansfield child support evader gets 180-day sentence
MANSFIELD, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - A Mansfield man has been sentenced to 180 days in jail for failure to pay child support.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said Charles Silva received the maximum sentence Wednesday in Dallas County District Court for failure to pay more than $39,000 in child support for his two children, who live in Carrollton.
Mr. Silva also is is required to make monthly payments on his unpaid child support.
He turned himself in to the Mansfield Police Department on Dec. 6, the day after his photo appeared in news coverage throughout the state.
In 1994, Silva was ordered to pay $550 per month for his two children’s care. Due to interest that accrues on unpaid child support, he now owes $39,320.
MANSFIELD, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - A Mansfield man has been sentenced to 180 days in jail for failure to pay child support.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said Charles Silva received the maximum sentence Wednesday in Dallas County District Court for failure to pay more than $39,000 in child support for his two children, who live in Carrollton.
Mr. Silva also is is required to make monthly payments on his unpaid child support.
He turned himself in to the Mansfield Police Department on Dec. 6, the day after his photo appeared in news coverage throughout the state.
In 1994, Silva was ordered to pay $550 per month for his two children’s care. Due to interest that accrues on unpaid child support, he now owes $39,320.
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Suspect dead, officer wounded in Houston shootout
HOUSTON, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - One man was killed and an undercover police officer was among three wounded early Thursday in a shootout that erupted during a drug sting operation.
The narcotics officer was shot at least three times in the stomach during the gunfight between four men and several officers shortly after midnight in the Montrose section of Houston, a trendy neighborhood replete with new townhomes, funky shops and tattoo parlors.
One of the four men was killed at the scene and two others were wounded, police said.
Houston Police Lt. Robert Manzo said the shootout began after four men pulled up in a car as the two officers were trying to make an undercover drug buy.
"The one in the front passenger side of the vehicle had a shotgun in his hand," Manzo said, adding another had a semi-automatic pistol.
They both fired at the undercover officers who returned fire, he said.
Several backup officers joined the shootout. The man with a shotgun died at the scene. The man with the pistol was shot, tried to run, but was arrested, police said.
Two other men in the vehicle ran away, setting off an extensive police search of the area that included dogs and helicopters. They were both found and one who was shot was hospitalized.
The wounded officer is listed in stable condition. No identities were immediately available.
The Associated Press and KHOU CBS 11 in Houston contributed to this report.
HOUSTON, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - One man was killed and an undercover police officer was among three wounded early Thursday in a shootout that erupted during a drug sting operation.
The narcotics officer was shot at least three times in the stomach during the gunfight between four men and several officers shortly after midnight in the Montrose section of Houston, a trendy neighborhood replete with new townhomes, funky shops and tattoo parlors.
One of the four men was killed at the scene and two others were wounded, police said.
Houston Police Lt. Robert Manzo said the shootout began after four men pulled up in a car as the two officers were trying to make an undercover drug buy.
"The one in the front passenger side of the vehicle had a shotgun in his hand," Manzo said, adding another had a semi-automatic pistol.
They both fired at the undercover officers who returned fire, he said.
Several backup officers joined the shootout. The man with a shotgun died at the scene. The man with the pistol was shot, tried to run, but was arrested, police said.
Two other men in the vehicle ran away, setting off an extensive police search of the area that included dogs and helicopters. They were both found and one who was shot was hospitalized.
The wounded officer is listed in stable condition. No identities were immediately available.
The Associated Press and KHOU CBS 11 in Houston contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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Gay men's slayings may be linked
In slayings of 7 during past 5 years, police 'not ruling anything out'
By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News
Investigators in Dallas, Garland and Arlington are trying to determine whether seven unsolved slayings of gay men stretching back five years may be related.
No direct evidence links the killings, police said, but some of the victims were known to pick up sexual partners they barely knew.
"We're not ruling anything out," said Sgt. Kenneth LeCesne, a Dallas police homicide supervisor whose unit is investigating five of the slayings. "The similarities have been the lifestyles of the victims. We can't say it's a serial killer or anything like that."
Interest in the cases stems from reports in the Dallas Voice, a newspaper that covers the gay community, questions raised by Dallas City Council member Ed Oakley, and the concerns of gay and lesbian leaders. On Wednesday, Dallas homicide investigators prepared a report for Assistant City Manager Charles Daniels on the crimes, but the city has stopped short of forming a task force.
One of the victims was Lawrence Wheat, who served on the Dallas Plan Commission before he was found dead in his South Dallas loft June 5, 2004. At about 10:40 p.m., neighbors heard Mr. Wheat yelling for help. The medical examiner said he was beaten and probably strangled.
"Hopefully this will get the case back out there," said Frances Wheat, Lawrence's mother. "There's a part of me that wants to know [who killed her son] because I don't want anyone to suffer like this. There's a part of me that doesn't want to go through a trial."
The other victims are:
•Samuel Jarnigan Lea, 28, a University of Texas at Arlington student who was found the morning of Oct. 31 inside his ground floor apartment near campus. He appears to have been strangled, police said. He was last seen five days earlier in downtown Fort Worth. He was known to frequent gay bars in Dallas, where he may have met his killer and invited him to his apartment. Police are still looking for his 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche bearing Texas plate 34F YB1.
•Craig Ceson, 46, who was found at 4:15 p.m. Oct. 11 at his apartment on Forest Park Road near Love Field. He died from blunt force injuries to the head. There were no signs that anyone broke into the apartment, suggesting the killer was invited inside.
•James Stephen Watts, 64, who was found by his brother the evening of March 12, 2004, in his house in the 1000 block of North Edgefield Avenue in north Oak Cliff. Mr. Watts, an antiques collector and animal advocate, died from head trauma.
•Agustin Fernandez Jr., 44, who was found critically injured with head injuries in a field in the 600 block of North Franklin Street in west Oak Cliff on the evening of July 27, 2003. Police found $617 in cash on him. He was taken to Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead four days later.
•Bobby Dalton Berry, 63, who was found dead April 23, 2001, in the corner of a garage in the 6700 block of Mockingbird Lane near White Rock Lake. Police did not find his body for several days after his family reported him missing. Mr. Berry, a former Mobil Oil employee, lived in Athens, Texas, and frequently stayed at a Dallas house belonging to a friend who was in a nursing home. His car was found in a park near the lake.
•Keith Alexander Calloway, 33, who was found fatally stabbed Dec. 22, 2000, inside his Garland apartment on Chaha Road overlooking Lake Ray Hubbard. He was bound, and his throat was slashed. Investigators believe he had been to a bar in Dallas hours before he was found dead.
Arlington police have a suspect in the death of Mr. Lea, and that suspect's name has also emerged in the investigation into Mr. Wheat's slaying in Dallas. But detectives say they have no hard evidence that the man is connected to those cases, or to the other deaths.
The suspect is described as a Dallas man in his early 20s with a violent criminal past and no permanent address.
"He's a hustler. That's how he's taking care of his drug habit," said Arlington Detective Tommy LeNoir, who is investigating Mr. Lea's slaying. "Gay, straight, there's hustlers everywhere who want to go home with people and rip them off."
Anyone with information about the cases can call Dallas police at 214-671-3661, Garland police at 972-272-8477 and Arlington police at 817-459-5772.
In slayings of 7 during past 5 years, police 'not ruling anything out'
By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News
Investigators in Dallas, Garland and Arlington are trying to determine whether seven unsolved slayings of gay men stretching back five years may be related.
No direct evidence links the killings, police said, but some of the victims were known to pick up sexual partners they barely knew.
"We're not ruling anything out," said Sgt. Kenneth LeCesne, a Dallas police homicide supervisor whose unit is investigating five of the slayings. "The similarities have been the lifestyles of the victims. We can't say it's a serial killer or anything like that."
Interest in the cases stems from reports in the Dallas Voice, a newspaper that covers the gay community, questions raised by Dallas City Council member Ed Oakley, and the concerns of gay and lesbian leaders. On Wednesday, Dallas homicide investigators prepared a report for Assistant City Manager Charles Daniels on the crimes, but the city has stopped short of forming a task force.
One of the victims was Lawrence Wheat, who served on the Dallas Plan Commission before he was found dead in his South Dallas loft June 5, 2004. At about 10:40 p.m., neighbors heard Mr. Wheat yelling for help. The medical examiner said he was beaten and probably strangled.
"Hopefully this will get the case back out there," said Frances Wheat, Lawrence's mother. "There's a part of me that wants to know [who killed her son] because I don't want anyone to suffer like this. There's a part of me that doesn't want to go through a trial."
The other victims are:
•Samuel Jarnigan Lea, 28, a University of Texas at Arlington student who was found the morning of Oct. 31 inside his ground floor apartment near campus. He appears to have been strangled, police said. He was last seen five days earlier in downtown Fort Worth. He was known to frequent gay bars in Dallas, where he may have met his killer and invited him to his apartment. Police are still looking for his 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche bearing Texas plate 34F YB1.
•Craig Ceson, 46, who was found at 4:15 p.m. Oct. 11 at his apartment on Forest Park Road near Love Field. He died from blunt force injuries to the head. There were no signs that anyone broke into the apartment, suggesting the killer was invited inside.
•James Stephen Watts, 64, who was found by his brother the evening of March 12, 2004, in his house in the 1000 block of North Edgefield Avenue in north Oak Cliff. Mr. Watts, an antiques collector and animal advocate, died from head trauma.
•Agustin Fernandez Jr., 44, who was found critically injured with head injuries in a field in the 600 block of North Franklin Street in west Oak Cliff on the evening of July 27, 2003. Police found $617 in cash on him. He was taken to Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead four days later.
•Bobby Dalton Berry, 63, who was found dead April 23, 2001, in the corner of a garage in the 6700 block of Mockingbird Lane near White Rock Lake. Police did not find his body for several days after his family reported him missing. Mr. Berry, a former Mobil Oil employee, lived in Athens, Texas, and frequently stayed at a Dallas house belonging to a friend who was in a nursing home. His car was found in a park near the lake.
•Keith Alexander Calloway, 33, who was found fatally stabbed Dec. 22, 2000, inside his Garland apartment on Chaha Road overlooking Lake Ray Hubbard. He was bound, and his throat was slashed. Investigators believe he had been to a bar in Dallas hours before he was found dead.
Arlington police have a suspect in the death of Mr. Lea, and that suspect's name has also emerged in the investigation into Mr. Wheat's slaying in Dallas. But detectives say they have no hard evidence that the man is connected to those cases, or to the other deaths.
The suspect is described as a Dallas man in his early 20s with a violent criminal past and no permanent address.
"He's a hustler. That's how he's taking care of his drug habit," said Arlington Detective Tommy LeNoir, who is investigating Mr. Lea's slaying. "Gay, straight, there's hustlers everywhere who want to go home with people and rip them off."
Anyone with information about the cases can call Dallas police at 214-671-3661, Garland police at 972-272-8477 and Arlington police at 817-459-5772.
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8 steroid companies indicted
Largest operation against makers of drug targets Mexican manufacturers
By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT / The Dallas Morning News
WASHINGTON – Moving to cut off a major source of illicit steroids, the Drug Enforcement Administration on Thursday announced indictments against eight Mexican manufacturers accused of selling the drugs online to Americans.
The DEA said its 21-month investigation, conducted jointly with U.S. and Mexican law enforcement, marked the largest operation ever against steroid-makers. The eight Mexican companies named in an indictment made public Thursday in San Diego account for $56 million in yearly U.S. steroid sales on the Internet, the DEA said.
Alberto Saltiel-Cohen, a Mexican citizen described by authorities as an owner of three of the targeted companies, was arrested Wednesday in San Diego. The DEA declined to say how Mr. Saltiel-Cohen was enticed to the U.S.
"It was part of the investigation to get him to the U.S.," said DEA Special Agent Doug Coleman.
A total of 23 people were named in the indictments, some of which remained sealed Thursday, with a pair of arrests each in San Diego and Laredo. The other defendants remain in Mexico, and the U.S. will seek their arrest and extradition. Officials with the attorney general's office in Mexico City could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The companies and defendants are charged with conspiracy to import and distribute anabolic steroids and conspiracy to launder money.
More than 2,000 Americans identified as having bought steroids from Web sites affiliated with the Mexican drug-makers may soon find a DEA agent at their door. "As we speak right now, we have agents all over the country to track where these things have gone and who they have gone to," Agent Coleman said in an interview.
The customers include individual users, street-level dealers and members of organized trafficking groups, the DEA said.
It's a federal crime to purchase a controlled substance over the Internet without a prescription. "Are we going to arrest 2,000 people?" Agent Coleman said. "No. But we are going to talk to all of them." And some may face arrest, he said.
Sending a message
That may be a powerful deterrent for the high school students, body builders, athletes and others who turn to steroids, foes of the drugs say.
"We're going to get a message sent to the kids and athletes and everybody else that's fooling with this stuff that this stuff is illegal," said Don Hooton of Plano, whose son Taylor committed suicide in 2003 after months of steroid use.
Mr. Hooton, who went to San Diego for the DEA news conference announcing the indictments, said he hopes the operation "is going to make a very significant dent in the supply coming into the U.S."
A spokesman for House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, the Virginia Republican who joined others in Congress to successfully convince Major League Baseball to strengthen its penalties for steroid use, also welcomed the action.
"If today's arrests help keep steroids out of locker rooms and American households, then it is indeed great news," said Davis spokesman Robert White.
The investigation, code-named Operation Gear Grinder, got its start after lab analyses of confiscated steroids showed that 82 percent were manufactured in Mexico.
Seeking to avoid legal jeopardy, the drug-makers package and market the drugs for veterinary sale, Agent Coleman said. But he noted that many of the steroids are not commonly used in veterinary medicine and that over the years manufacturers have refined steroids such as nandrolone, stanozolol and nandrolone decanoate to better suit human customers.
Sell, smuggle, ship
The eight Mexican companies sold their product through business Web sites that shipped to U.S. customers and used U.S.-based e-mail addresses, the DEA said. The steroids were smuggled into the U.S. and then shipped to customers or to traffickers who then re-sold the drugs, the agency said.
The General Accountability Office, in a report last month, traced the ease with which anabolic steroids can be purchased on the Internet without a prescription. Investigators found hundreds of Web sites openly offering banned steroids.
Beyond the difficulty of policing Internet sales, the GAO said law enforcement is hampered in its efforts to halt steroid trafficking by weak federal criminal penalties, difficulty in searching the mail and the fact that the drugs are overwhelmingly produced overseas.
"Drug traffickers prey on the belief that steroids enhance ability," DEA administrator Karen Tandy said, "but steroids only rob that ability, as we have seen so often from the affected lives of too many youth and professional athletes."
The three companies co-owned by Mr. Saltiel-Cohen are Quality Vet, Denkall and Animal Power, the DEA said. The other indicted companies are Laboratorios Tornel, Laboratorios Brovel, Pet's Pharma, Syd Group and Loeffler.
Largest operation against makers of drug targets Mexican manufacturers
By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT / The Dallas Morning News
WASHINGTON – Moving to cut off a major source of illicit steroids, the Drug Enforcement Administration on Thursday announced indictments against eight Mexican manufacturers accused of selling the drugs online to Americans.
The DEA said its 21-month investigation, conducted jointly with U.S. and Mexican law enforcement, marked the largest operation ever against steroid-makers. The eight Mexican companies named in an indictment made public Thursday in San Diego account for $56 million in yearly U.S. steroid sales on the Internet, the DEA said.
Alberto Saltiel-Cohen, a Mexican citizen described by authorities as an owner of three of the targeted companies, was arrested Wednesday in San Diego. The DEA declined to say how Mr. Saltiel-Cohen was enticed to the U.S.
"It was part of the investigation to get him to the U.S.," said DEA Special Agent Doug Coleman.
A total of 23 people were named in the indictments, some of which remained sealed Thursday, with a pair of arrests each in San Diego and Laredo. The other defendants remain in Mexico, and the U.S. will seek their arrest and extradition. Officials with the attorney general's office in Mexico City could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The companies and defendants are charged with conspiracy to import and distribute anabolic steroids and conspiracy to launder money.
More than 2,000 Americans identified as having bought steroids from Web sites affiliated with the Mexican drug-makers may soon find a DEA agent at their door. "As we speak right now, we have agents all over the country to track where these things have gone and who they have gone to," Agent Coleman said in an interview.
The customers include individual users, street-level dealers and members of organized trafficking groups, the DEA said.
It's a federal crime to purchase a controlled substance over the Internet without a prescription. "Are we going to arrest 2,000 people?" Agent Coleman said. "No. But we are going to talk to all of them." And some may face arrest, he said.
Sending a message
That may be a powerful deterrent for the high school students, body builders, athletes and others who turn to steroids, foes of the drugs say.
"We're going to get a message sent to the kids and athletes and everybody else that's fooling with this stuff that this stuff is illegal," said Don Hooton of Plano, whose son Taylor committed suicide in 2003 after months of steroid use.
Mr. Hooton, who went to San Diego for the DEA news conference announcing the indictments, said he hopes the operation "is going to make a very significant dent in the supply coming into the U.S."
A spokesman for House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, the Virginia Republican who joined others in Congress to successfully convince Major League Baseball to strengthen its penalties for steroid use, also welcomed the action.
"If today's arrests help keep steroids out of locker rooms and American households, then it is indeed great news," said Davis spokesman Robert White.
The investigation, code-named Operation Gear Grinder, got its start after lab analyses of confiscated steroids showed that 82 percent were manufactured in Mexico.
Seeking to avoid legal jeopardy, the drug-makers package and market the drugs for veterinary sale, Agent Coleman said. But he noted that many of the steroids are not commonly used in veterinary medicine and that over the years manufacturers have refined steroids such as nandrolone, stanozolol and nandrolone decanoate to better suit human customers.
Sell, smuggle, ship
The eight Mexican companies sold their product through business Web sites that shipped to U.S. customers and used U.S.-based e-mail addresses, the DEA said. The steroids were smuggled into the U.S. and then shipped to customers or to traffickers who then re-sold the drugs, the agency said.
The General Accountability Office, in a report last month, traced the ease with which anabolic steroids can be purchased on the Internet without a prescription. Investigators found hundreds of Web sites openly offering banned steroids.
Beyond the difficulty of policing Internet sales, the GAO said law enforcement is hampered in its efforts to halt steroid trafficking by weak federal criminal penalties, difficulty in searching the mail and the fact that the drugs are overwhelmingly produced overseas.
"Drug traffickers prey on the belief that steroids enhance ability," DEA administrator Karen Tandy said, "but steroids only rob that ability, as we have seen so often from the affected lives of too many youth and professional athletes."
The three companies co-owned by Mr. Saltiel-Cohen are Quality Vet, Denkall and Animal Power, the DEA said. The other indicted companies are Laboratorios Tornel, Laboratorios Brovel, Pet's Pharma, Syd Group and Loeffler.
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Euless pastor steps down
Methodist minister accused of lewdness with man
By MARISSA ALANIS / The Dallas Morning News
EULESS, Texas - Dr. James “Jimmy” Finley, the senior pastor at First United Methodist Church of Euless, has withdrawn from the church ministry after allegations that he fondled a 21-year-old man.
On Dec. 6, officials with the Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church suspended him from ministerial duties for 90 days. On Wednesday, Mr. Finley, 68, submitted his ministerial credentials to Bishop Ben R. Chamness.
Mr. Finley can no longer be listed as the pastor of the Euless church, nor will he serve as pastor of any other churches.
Mr. Finley was arrested earlier this month and charged with public lewdness, a Class A misdemeanor. He was released after posting bond.
According to police reports, Mr. Finley was accused of molesting the man at his apartment. Mr. Finley was later recorded by police offering to perform sex acts on the man, according to the report.
Mr. Finley faces up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine if he is convicted.
Rev. Charles McClure will serve as interim pastor at the Euless church through Jan. 31.
Methodist minister accused of lewdness with man
By MARISSA ALANIS / The Dallas Morning News
EULESS, Texas - Dr. James “Jimmy” Finley, the senior pastor at First United Methodist Church of Euless, has withdrawn from the church ministry after allegations that he fondled a 21-year-old man.
On Dec. 6, officials with the Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church suspended him from ministerial duties for 90 days. On Wednesday, Mr. Finley, 68, submitted his ministerial credentials to Bishop Ben R. Chamness.
Mr. Finley can no longer be listed as the pastor of the Euless church, nor will he serve as pastor of any other churches.
Mr. Finley was arrested earlier this month and charged with public lewdness, a Class A misdemeanor. He was released after posting bond.
According to police reports, Mr. Finley was accused of molesting the man at his apartment. Mr. Finley was later recorded by police offering to perform sex acts on the man, according to the report.
Mr. Finley faces up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine if he is convicted.
Rev. Charles McClure will serve as interim pastor at the Euless church through Jan. 31.
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Carrollton church saved from demolition
CARROLLTON, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - The leaders of Carrollton's oldest black church have made enough progress in plans to renovate the dilapidated building to essentially remove the threat of city-mandated demolition.
Almost all the plans and paperwork are in to obtain the necessary construction permits for the work on St. John Baptist Church. But The city's Constuction Advisory and Appeals Board still wants to see a construction schedule. The board on Thursday ordered church officials to return with that in February.
City Assistant Building Official Gary Heubach said that because most of the contractors are volunteering their time to save the church, getting the work scheduled has been difficult. The church was ordered shuttered last spring after an engineer found the building unsafe. The building needs a new foundation, roof, heating and air conditioning system, and plumbing and electrical work.
CARROLLTON, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - The leaders of Carrollton's oldest black church have made enough progress in plans to renovate the dilapidated building to essentially remove the threat of city-mandated demolition.
Almost all the plans and paperwork are in to obtain the necessary construction permits for the work on St. John Baptist Church. But The city's Constuction Advisory and Appeals Board still wants to see a construction schedule. The board on Thursday ordered church officials to return with that in February.
City Assistant Building Official Gary Heubach said that because most of the contractors are volunteering their time to save the church, getting the work scheduled has been difficult. The church was ordered shuttered last spring after an engineer found the building unsafe. The building needs a new foundation, roof, heating and air conditioning system, and plumbing and electrical work.
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TexasStooge
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Convicted Dallas ax murderer gets life in prison
By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - A Dallas County jury handed down the stiffest possible punishment Thursday to a disabled Vietnam veteran who used an ax to kill his 80-year-old roommate in April.
Jurors deliberated about 30 minutes before sentencing 55-year-old James Moseley to life in prison, as well as fining him $10,000, for the death of Porter Bledsoe.
Police didn’t have to look far for Mr. Bledsoe’s killer. Shortly after the attack inside a duplex in the 4200 block of Wycliff Avenue, Mr. Moseley showed up at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center and confessed.
He described the grisly slaying in great detail to detectives, saying he had gone into a rage during a discussion over Mr. Bledsoe’s will, which named him as the sole beneficiary of an estate valued at about $250,000.
With a double-edged ax in his hands he reportedly told Mr. Bledsoe, "Get ready for what’s coming ... welcome to hell,’’ according to trial testimony.
Mr. Bledsoe suffered several blows from the ax before he "buried it in his cranium,’’ Mr. Moseley told detectives.
Despite his earlier confession, Mr. Moseley denied in trial that he was responsible for his friend’s death. He said he was asleep when Mr. Bledsoe was murdered or that someone might have drugged him with the powerful hallucinogen PCP.
Although Mr. Moseley had no felony record and was eligible for probation, prosecutors Michael Jarrett and Sam Moss said the case deserved the stiffest sentence possible.
During closing arguments, Mr. Jarrett said to jurors, "What crime could you think of that could be worse than Mr. Moseley’s? Every day you sentence him to prison will be a day he cannot hurt another human being.’’
By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - A Dallas County jury handed down the stiffest possible punishment Thursday to a disabled Vietnam veteran who used an ax to kill his 80-year-old roommate in April.
Jurors deliberated about 30 minutes before sentencing 55-year-old James Moseley to life in prison, as well as fining him $10,000, for the death of Porter Bledsoe.
Police didn’t have to look far for Mr. Bledsoe’s killer. Shortly after the attack inside a duplex in the 4200 block of Wycliff Avenue, Mr. Moseley showed up at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center and confessed.
He described the grisly slaying in great detail to detectives, saying he had gone into a rage during a discussion over Mr. Bledsoe’s will, which named him as the sole beneficiary of an estate valued at about $250,000.
With a double-edged ax in his hands he reportedly told Mr. Bledsoe, "Get ready for what’s coming ... welcome to hell,’’ according to trial testimony.
Mr. Bledsoe suffered several blows from the ax before he "buried it in his cranium,’’ Mr. Moseley told detectives.
Despite his earlier confession, Mr. Moseley denied in trial that he was responsible for his friend’s death. He said he was asleep when Mr. Bledsoe was murdered or that someone might have drugged him with the powerful hallucinogen PCP.
Although Mr. Moseley had no felony record and was eligible for probation, prosecutors Michael Jarrett and Sam Moss said the case deserved the stiffest sentence possible.
During closing arguments, Mr. Jarrett said to jurors, "What crime could you think of that could be worse than Mr. Moseley’s? Every day you sentence him to prison will be a day he cannot hurt another human being.’’
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TexasStooge
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'Massive explosion' rocks Palo Pinto County
PALO PINTO COUNTY, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Firefighters in Palo Pinto County were working to extinguish a large fire that resulted when a gas well exploded early Friday morning.
The gas well is located on Highway 180 at Highway 16 on the western edge of the county.
Witnesses said they heard a large boom and saw the sky light up around 2 a.m.
"It was a massive explosion, evidently," said Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer. "It created a large crater in the ground."
A fire one mile wide burned the area around the well, and the glow in the sky could be seen more than 50 miles away in Tarrant County.
At least one field worker was slightly injured.
The fire continued to burn three hours later. "We are concerned possibly about other well heads exploding," Sheriff Mercer said.
The drilling rig is in a rural portion of Palo Pinto County, and no evacuations were ordered.
The Texas Forest Service and other state regulatory agencies were en route to assess the situation.
PALO PINTO COUNTY, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Firefighters in Palo Pinto County were working to extinguish a large fire that resulted when a gas well exploded early Friday morning.
The gas well is located on Highway 180 at Highway 16 on the western edge of the county.
Witnesses said they heard a large boom and saw the sky light up around 2 a.m.
"It was a massive explosion, evidently," said Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer. "It created a large crater in the ground."
A fire one mile wide burned the area around the well, and the glow in the sky could be seen more than 50 miles away in Tarrant County.
At least one field worker was slightly injured.
The fire continued to burn three hours later. "We are concerned possibly about other well heads exploding," Sheriff Mercer said.
The drilling rig is in a rural portion of Palo Pinto County, and no evacuations were ordered.
The Texas Forest Service and other state regulatory agencies were en route to assess the situation.
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TexasStooge
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High School Project to help close gap in math
By HOLLY K. HACKER / The Dallas Morning News
Most high school students don't count math or science among their favorite subjects. A new state effort backed by $71 million in public and private dollars aims to change that – and to make the next generation of Texas workers more competitive.
Gov. Rick Perry announced Thursday that the money will help build and retool 35 small schools in Texas with a focus on math, science and engineering. The funds will also establish five or six centers to help teachers across Texas improve their math and science instruction.
The initiative "will help us close that science and math gap that exists in our schools today before it becomes a salary gap and an opportunity gap for tomorrow's workers," Mr. Perry said at a news conference at Southern Methodist University.
The $71 million goes to the Texas High School Project, a school reform plan that Mr. Perry helped start two years ago. Private foundations created by people who care deeply about technology – Bill and Melinda Gates and Susan and Michael Dell – are contributing $50 million, with $20 million coming from the Texas Education Agency and $1 million from National Instruments, an Austin-based technology company.
The project is starting with grants for three schools with successful track records in teaching math and science, including The Academy of Irving ISD.
During the next five years, the project will invest in more public and charter schools, with a goal of eventually reaching 25,000 students each year, with an emphasis on low-income and minority students. Some schools in the program will be new; others will be existing schools that want to boost science and math instruction.
The money also will create five or six centers across the state to help teachers learn how to do a better job teaching science, math, engineering and technology. Project officials also want to come up with "best practices," so teachers can share successful methods with their peers across the state.
Mr. Perry said Texas students have made some gains in math and science, but too many leave high school without a good foundation in those areas.On the 11th grade state test given last spring, 81 percent of students passed the math test, and 80 percent passed in science. However, far fewer students scored at the highest level, "commended" – only16 percent in math and 5 percent in science.
The Texas High School Project started two years ago with $130 million from the state and private foundations. The goal is to help students graduate from high school and go to college. To date, project officials have not released results on how much schools that receive money have improved. In October, Melinda Gates said she was frustrated at the slow pace of the project. However, officials say that they're studying the effects now and that they plan to track returns on the new $71 million infusion.
Shirley Neeley, the state's education commissioner, said she welcomes help from the private sector. "We can't do this alone. This is about partnerships, this is about collaboration," she said.
A new report by the National Education Association, a teacher's union, found that Texas was the only state to spend less on public education this year compared with last year. Texas spends $7,142 per student, according to the report, ranking 40th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Mr. Perry's office disputed the NEA report, saying it did not reflect a small spending increase approved by the Legislature.
The science and math program will be overseen by the Communities Foundation of Texas, which has given money to the high school project in the past.
Mr. Perry predicted the math-science venture would be a model for the rest of the country.
"I'm not sure people know what a big deal this is and how powerfully we're going to impact young Texans," he said.
National Instruments president Jim Truchard also had a message for Texas students.
"Today, Texas companies like mine are making a promise to you. If you do your part and become the best math and science student you can be, we will make sure that there's a good job waiting for you when you graduate," he said. "I hope you will answer our challenge for your sake and ours."
By HOLLY K. HACKER / The Dallas Morning News
Most high school students don't count math or science among their favorite subjects. A new state effort backed by $71 million in public and private dollars aims to change that – and to make the next generation of Texas workers more competitive.
Gov. Rick Perry announced Thursday that the money will help build and retool 35 small schools in Texas with a focus on math, science and engineering. The funds will also establish five or six centers to help teachers across Texas improve their math and science instruction.
The initiative "will help us close that science and math gap that exists in our schools today before it becomes a salary gap and an opportunity gap for tomorrow's workers," Mr. Perry said at a news conference at Southern Methodist University.
The $71 million goes to the Texas High School Project, a school reform plan that Mr. Perry helped start two years ago. Private foundations created by people who care deeply about technology – Bill and Melinda Gates and Susan and Michael Dell – are contributing $50 million, with $20 million coming from the Texas Education Agency and $1 million from National Instruments, an Austin-based technology company.
The project is starting with grants for three schools with successful track records in teaching math and science, including The Academy of Irving ISD.
During the next five years, the project will invest in more public and charter schools, with a goal of eventually reaching 25,000 students each year, with an emphasis on low-income and minority students. Some schools in the program will be new; others will be existing schools that want to boost science and math instruction.
The money also will create five or six centers across the state to help teachers learn how to do a better job teaching science, math, engineering and technology. Project officials also want to come up with "best practices," so teachers can share successful methods with their peers across the state.
Mr. Perry said Texas students have made some gains in math and science, but too many leave high school without a good foundation in those areas.On the 11th grade state test given last spring, 81 percent of students passed the math test, and 80 percent passed in science. However, far fewer students scored at the highest level, "commended" – only16 percent in math and 5 percent in science.
The Texas High School Project started two years ago with $130 million from the state and private foundations. The goal is to help students graduate from high school and go to college. To date, project officials have not released results on how much schools that receive money have improved. In October, Melinda Gates said she was frustrated at the slow pace of the project. However, officials say that they're studying the effects now and that they plan to track returns on the new $71 million infusion.
Shirley Neeley, the state's education commissioner, said she welcomes help from the private sector. "We can't do this alone. This is about partnerships, this is about collaboration," she said.
A new report by the National Education Association, a teacher's union, found that Texas was the only state to spend less on public education this year compared with last year. Texas spends $7,142 per student, according to the report, ranking 40th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Mr. Perry's office disputed the NEA report, saying it did not reflect a small spending increase approved by the Legislature.
The science and math program will be overseen by the Communities Foundation of Texas, which has given money to the high school project in the past.
Mr. Perry predicted the math-science venture would be a model for the rest of the country.
"I'm not sure people know what a big deal this is and how powerfully we're going to impact young Texans," he said.
National Instruments president Jim Truchard also had a message for Texas students.
"Today, Texas companies like mine are making a promise to you. If you do your part and become the best math and science student you can be, we will make sure that there's a good job waiting for you when you graduate," he said. "I hope you will answer our challenge for your sake and ours."
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TexasStooge
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Joggers, Highland Park police feud over road usage
By KIMBERLY DURNAN / DallasNews.com
HIGHLAND PARK, Texas - Highland Park residents are battling a unique brand of street crime: small herds of runners who they say block traffic and slow their morning commutes.
The quiet, scenic community, with its smooth roads and low crime, has long drawn area runners. And for years, Highland Park police have advised the athletes to move to the sidewalks, sometimes using sirens, lights or bullhorns to get their attention.
But police recently escalated the long-simmering feud with a stern warning: If they are going to run in the streets in groups of 30 or more, they must obtain a special events permit. Running in the street and running in a large group without a permit are both Class C misdemeanors punishable by fines of up to $500 each.
"Citizens have complained of joggers in the roadway, joggers who will not move over to allow vehicles to pass, loud talking and dogs not on a leash," wrote Darrell Fant, director of public safety, in a notice to the loosely formed Park Cities Runners.
The joggers say they are doing nothing wrong and prefer the streets to avoid such obstacles as buckled sidewalks, newspapers or low-hanging branches.
Sam Chaundhry said he broke his ankle in February 2004 after tripping on a buckled sidewalk and fell a second time later in the year and broke two fingers.
"We try to run on the street, but if there is any sign of a police officer, we get on the sidewalk," he said. "It's usually dark, the lighting is poor and the sidewalk is uneven. Many people have been injured out there, not just me."
Diane Golden, who has run with the group for 10 years, said the runners refuse to be run off, but they may consider altering the route to include the Katy Trail and to limit time in Highland Park.
"There are some residents over there who want to keep other people out of 'The Bubble,' " said Ms. Golden. "Just leave us alone. We are going for a run. What's the big deal?"
She acknowledged that the runners knew the rules but generally chose not to obey them.
The police "drive by slow and yell, 'Get on the sidewalk,' and then we do, but we get back off," Ms. Golden said. "It's just something to entertain us while we are running. Some officers are a little gung-ho and lecture us. We just laugh it off."
Highland Park police Detective Randy Millican said complaints had been increasing, particularly about the Thursday-morning run that begins at the Knox-Henderson Starbucks. Although he couldn't say exactly how many complaints had been received, he noted that 30 to 50 athletes may run six abreast during the busiest times of the day.
Highland Park Mayor Bill White said residents are mostly concerned with accidentally striking the runners because it's dark.
"The complaints I have heard is that runners did not have anything reflective on and the people came close to hitting them," he said. "I like the runners, and I used to be one myself, but they should not be in the street."
Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle, who sometimes runs with the group, said he has never heard of a city that would ticket runners on residential streets.
"I don't know of any cities in the area or country that have taken that approach," he said. "The people I see running try to be sensitive to the concerns of the neighborhood."
Highland Park isn't the only community that has battled with runners. Conflicts have also arisen in Dallas, particularly with organized training programs such as those offered by Run On, Team in Training and Luke's Locker that bring hundreds of athletes to White Rock Lake.
Luke's Locker hired Dallas police Officer Perry Skidmore to keep the peace between runners and residents in neighborhoods around the lake on Saturday mornings.
In Dallas, the policy regarding pedestrian sidewalk use is to enforce state law, but it's not a priority, Officer Skidmore said.
In neighborhoods around White Rock Lake, for example, some people run through the streets at 5 a.m. and cause no problems, he said.
"Most officers aren't going to write that ticket unless there are extenuating circumstances," Officer Skidmore said. "At the lake, they can be in the street facing traffic because there is not a sidewalk."
Officer Skidmore, who is also a runner, said he gives orientations to running groups to explain state laws, traffic safety and common courtesies when sharing the road with cyclists and vehicles.
"Any time you get motor vehicles, runners and cyclists in on one spot, you are going to have people upset about how things are going," he said. "That's why we are trying to do everything we are supposed to do by law and courtesy."
Sometimes joggers get distracted and end up in the middle of the road, so the coaches yell at them to keep them out of traffic.
"Runners are runners, and if you are doing a 20-mile run and you are coming down Lakewood [Boulevard], your head may not be where it's supposed to be, but they try," Officer Skidmore said. "And when they don't, we hammer them."
Detective Millican said some runners hurt their own cause. One recent morning on the way to work, he honked at a woman who was running down a Highland Park street. She responded with an obscene gesture.
"I've had runners shoot me the finger, bang on the hood of my car," he said. "I'm not trying to be overly disrespectful, but it's a problem, and we get telephone complaints regularly. They are holding up traffic. If you stop and talk to them they are nice, but they don't understand."
Ms. Golden said motorists aren't always in the right, either.
"There may be one car coming, and they will hug the curve to force us to move over," she said. "They are mad. They will honk their horn and flash their lights. It would be no big deal for them to drive around."
Rebecca Wallace, who co-owns Run On, said she tries to avoid guiding runners through Highland Park, but its central location makes it difficult. She recalled an evening when she drove a van behind a group of about 30 athletes who were taking in the Christmas lights and decorations. A police officer pulled her over and told her she could not stay without a special events permit, Ms. Wallace said.
"Highland Park is the most runner-unfriendly," she said. "I guess it's kind of the Highland Park attitude."
By KIMBERLY DURNAN / DallasNews.com
HIGHLAND PARK, Texas - Highland Park residents are battling a unique brand of street crime: small herds of runners who they say block traffic and slow their morning commutes.
The quiet, scenic community, with its smooth roads and low crime, has long drawn area runners. And for years, Highland Park police have advised the athletes to move to the sidewalks, sometimes using sirens, lights or bullhorns to get their attention.
But police recently escalated the long-simmering feud with a stern warning: If they are going to run in the streets in groups of 30 or more, they must obtain a special events permit. Running in the street and running in a large group without a permit are both Class C misdemeanors punishable by fines of up to $500 each.
"Citizens have complained of joggers in the roadway, joggers who will not move over to allow vehicles to pass, loud talking and dogs not on a leash," wrote Darrell Fant, director of public safety, in a notice to the loosely formed Park Cities Runners.
The joggers say they are doing nothing wrong and prefer the streets to avoid such obstacles as buckled sidewalks, newspapers or low-hanging branches.
Sam Chaundhry said he broke his ankle in February 2004 after tripping on a buckled sidewalk and fell a second time later in the year and broke two fingers.
"We try to run on the street, but if there is any sign of a police officer, we get on the sidewalk," he said. "It's usually dark, the lighting is poor and the sidewalk is uneven. Many people have been injured out there, not just me."
Diane Golden, who has run with the group for 10 years, said the runners refuse to be run off, but they may consider altering the route to include the Katy Trail and to limit time in Highland Park.
"There are some residents over there who want to keep other people out of 'The Bubble,' " said Ms. Golden. "Just leave us alone. We are going for a run. What's the big deal?"
She acknowledged that the runners knew the rules but generally chose not to obey them.
The police "drive by slow and yell, 'Get on the sidewalk,' and then we do, but we get back off," Ms. Golden said. "It's just something to entertain us while we are running. Some officers are a little gung-ho and lecture us. We just laugh it off."
Highland Park police Detective Randy Millican said complaints had been increasing, particularly about the Thursday-morning run that begins at the Knox-Henderson Starbucks. Although he couldn't say exactly how many complaints had been received, he noted that 30 to 50 athletes may run six abreast during the busiest times of the day.
Highland Park Mayor Bill White said residents are mostly concerned with accidentally striking the runners because it's dark.
"The complaints I have heard is that runners did not have anything reflective on and the people came close to hitting them," he said. "I like the runners, and I used to be one myself, but they should not be in the street."
Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle, who sometimes runs with the group, said he has never heard of a city that would ticket runners on residential streets.
"I don't know of any cities in the area or country that have taken that approach," he said. "The people I see running try to be sensitive to the concerns of the neighborhood."
Highland Park isn't the only community that has battled with runners. Conflicts have also arisen in Dallas, particularly with organized training programs such as those offered by Run On, Team in Training and Luke's Locker that bring hundreds of athletes to White Rock Lake.
Luke's Locker hired Dallas police Officer Perry Skidmore to keep the peace between runners and residents in neighborhoods around the lake on Saturday mornings.
In Dallas, the policy regarding pedestrian sidewalk use is to enforce state law, but it's not a priority, Officer Skidmore said.
In neighborhoods around White Rock Lake, for example, some people run through the streets at 5 a.m. and cause no problems, he said.
"Most officers aren't going to write that ticket unless there are extenuating circumstances," Officer Skidmore said. "At the lake, they can be in the street facing traffic because there is not a sidewalk."
Officer Skidmore, who is also a runner, said he gives orientations to running groups to explain state laws, traffic safety and common courtesies when sharing the road with cyclists and vehicles.
"Any time you get motor vehicles, runners and cyclists in on one spot, you are going to have people upset about how things are going," he said. "That's why we are trying to do everything we are supposed to do by law and courtesy."
Sometimes joggers get distracted and end up in the middle of the road, so the coaches yell at them to keep them out of traffic.
"Runners are runners, and if you are doing a 20-mile run and you are coming down Lakewood [Boulevard], your head may not be where it's supposed to be, but they try," Officer Skidmore said. "And when they don't, we hammer them."
Detective Millican said some runners hurt their own cause. One recent morning on the way to work, he honked at a woman who was running down a Highland Park street. She responded with an obscene gesture.
"I've had runners shoot me the finger, bang on the hood of my car," he said. "I'm not trying to be overly disrespectful, but it's a problem, and we get telephone complaints regularly. They are holding up traffic. If you stop and talk to them they are nice, but they don't understand."
Ms. Golden said motorists aren't always in the right, either.
"There may be one car coming, and they will hug the curve to force us to move over," she said. "They are mad. They will honk their horn and flash their lights. It would be no big deal for them to drive around."
Rebecca Wallace, who co-owns Run On, said she tries to avoid guiding runners through Highland Park, but its central location makes it difficult. She recalled an evening when she drove a van behind a group of about 30 athletes who were taking in the Christmas lights and decorations. A police officer pulled her over and told her she could not stay without a special events permit, Ms. Wallace said.
"Highland Park is the most runner-unfriendly," she said. "I guess it's kind of the Highland Park attitude."
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TexasStooge
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More schools take dive in state ratings
575,000 students can transfer, including those at 77 Dallas ISD campuses
By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas – For the second year running, the number of low-rated schools in Texas skyrocketed, giving more than half a million students at the worst campuses the right to transfer to a better school.
The Texas Education Agency identified 821 campuses across the state Thursday where students will have the right to leave if their parents are dissatisfied. That's nearly double the number of campuses last year – 420.
Few families, though, have exercised the transfer option, largely because the program does not force districts to provide transportation to other schools.
The Dallas school district had 77 campuses on the list, up from 48 a year ago and the second most of any district. Houston had 109 campuses that failed to make the grade, up from 62 last year.
State education officials attributed the large increase to tougher performance standards used to rate schools. Two years ago, just 126 schools were on the statewide transfer list.
"Science and math continued to be areas that tripped up a lot of schools," said Debbie Ratcliffe, a spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency. "Science, in particular, was a problem at the elementary school level."
Dallas Superintendent Michael Hinojosa also attributed the increase of DISD schools on the list to tougher standards. As such, he said, the results were not unexpected.
"It's not a surprise, because it's just the next step in the process" of rating schools and gauging whether they're improving, said Dr. Hinojosa, who had not seen the results Thursday night.
Other North Texas school districts with campuses on the list were Arlington, Birdville, Cedar Hill, Denton, DeSoto, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Irving, Lancaster, Lewisville, Mesquite, Richardson and Wilmer-Hutchins. The Fort Worth district had 26 campuses on the list.
Few transfers in past
Though few use the program, called the Public Education Grant, to switch schools, the rating of schools fuels debate over school-choice options popular with conservatives. Republican leaders in the Legislature have been trying to push a private-school voucher plan into law the past few years, and schools on the Public Education Grant list would be primary candidates for a pilot program.
The names of schools on the list are being published now because most districts consider transfer requests several months before the start of each school year. Parents must be notified of the option by Feb. 1, with students allowed to enroll at a new school for the fall.
Students can transfer to another public school in their own district or to another district entirely – if that district agrees to accept them. Districts that enroll students under the program receive a financial incentive from the state – an extra 10 percent in funding per pupil. Since the program began in the late 1990s, about 2,000 students have used it to transfer to a new school.
Officials had no exact figures Thursday on the number of students who will have the transfer option, but estimates indicated that as many as 575,000 students are enrolled at the 821 campuses.
Low TAKS scores
Schools make the list if more than 50 percent of their students fail the TAKS in any two of the last three years or the schools are rated academically unacceptable in 2004 or 2005.
The state's annual school performance ratings in August showed the number of "academically unacceptable" schools nearly quadrupled this year based on poor TAKS scores. A handful of factors were cited for the lower test scores and lower school ratings, including that students had to get more answers correct and, for the first time, special education students' test scores were included in overall passing rates.
Large numbers of students had trouble with the science and math sections of the exam even though only a minority of students – 25 percent in science and 35 percent in math – were required to pass those sections for their school to be considered academically acceptable.
Obstacles to transfers
Critics contend that participation won't increase significantly until transportation is offered and school districts are required to accept students from low-rated campuses in neighboring districts. Many districts refuse to enroll students who don't live within their boundaries.
But Ms. Ratcliffe said other reasons keep participation low, including the multitude of school-choice options that already exist for students, such as independent charter schools, magnet schools and open enrollment schools that accept students who live anywhere within a district.
The state's charter school program is one of the largest in the nation, allowing students to leave their neighborhood school and attend a campus that is independent of the school district and operates free of many of the state requirements that govern regular public schools. Texas has about 275 charter schools.
Staff writer Tawnell D. Hobbs in Dallas contributed to this report.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DallasNews.com/extra:
Complete list of schools
575,000 students can transfer, including those at 77 Dallas ISD campuses
By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas – For the second year running, the number of low-rated schools in Texas skyrocketed, giving more than half a million students at the worst campuses the right to transfer to a better school.
The Texas Education Agency identified 821 campuses across the state Thursday where students will have the right to leave if their parents are dissatisfied. That's nearly double the number of campuses last year – 420.
Few families, though, have exercised the transfer option, largely because the program does not force districts to provide transportation to other schools.
The Dallas school district had 77 campuses on the list, up from 48 a year ago and the second most of any district. Houston had 109 campuses that failed to make the grade, up from 62 last year.
State education officials attributed the large increase to tougher performance standards used to rate schools. Two years ago, just 126 schools were on the statewide transfer list.
"Science and math continued to be areas that tripped up a lot of schools," said Debbie Ratcliffe, a spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency. "Science, in particular, was a problem at the elementary school level."
Dallas Superintendent Michael Hinojosa also attributed the increase of DISD schools on the list to tougher standards. As such, he said, the results were not unexpected.
"It's not a surprise, because it's just the next step in the process" of rating schools and gauging whether they're improving, said Dr. Hinojosa, who had not seen the results Thursday night.
Other North Texas school districts with campuses on the list were Arlington, Birdville, Cedar Hill, Denton, DeSoto, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Irving, Lancaster, Lewisville, Mesquite, Richardson and Wilmer-Hutchins. The Fort Worth district had 26 campuses on the list.
Few transfers in past
Though few use the program, called the Public Education Grant, to switch schools, the rating of schools fuels debate over school-choice options popular with conservatives. Republican leaders in the Legislature have been trying to push a private-school voucher plan into law the past few years, and schools on the Public Education Grant list would be primary candidates for a pilot program.
The names of schools on the list are being published now because most districts consider transfer requests several months before the start of each school year. Parents must be notified of the option by Feb. 1, with students allowed to enroll at a new school for the fall.
Students can transfer to another public school in their own district or to another district entirely – if that district agrees to accept them. Districts that enroll students under the program receive a financial incentive from the state – an extra 10 percent in funding per pupil. Since the program began in the late 1990s, about 2,000 students have used it to transfer to a new school.
Officials had no exact figures Thursday on the number of students who will have the transfer option, but estimates indicated that as many as 575,000 students are enrolled at the 821 campuses.
Low TAKS scores
Schools make the list if more than 50 percent of their students fail the TAKS in any two of the last three years or the schools are rated academically unacceptable in 2004 or 2005.
The state's annual school performance ratings in August showed the number of "academically unacceptable" schools nearly quadrupled this year based on poor TAKS scores. A handful of factors were cited for the lower test scores and lower school ratings, including that students had to get more answers correct and, for the first time, special education students' test scores were included in overall passing rates.
Large numbers of students had trouble with the science and math sections of the exam even though only a minority of students – 25 percent in science and 35 percent in math – were required to pass those sections for their school to be considered academically acceptable.
Obstacles to transfers
Critics contend that participation won't increase significantly until transportation is offered and school districts are required to accept students from low-rated campuses in neighboring districts. Many districts refuse to enroll students who don't live within their boundaries.
But Ms. Ratcliffe said other reasons keep participation low, including the multitude of school-choice options that already exist for students, such as independent charter schools, magnet schools and open enrollment schools that accept students who live anywhere within a district.
The state's charter school program is one of the largest in the nation, allowing students to leave their neighborhood school and attend a campus that is independent of the school district and operates free of many of the state requirements that govern regular public schools. Texas has about 275 charter schools.
Staff writer Tawnell D. Hobbs in Dallas contributed to this report.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DallasNews.com/extra:
Complete list of schools
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TexasStooge
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- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
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Crews to plug burning oil well with mud
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
PALO PINTO COUNTY, Texas — Firefighters in Palo Pinto County are continuing to work to extinguish a large fire that resulted when a natural gas pipeline exploded early Friday morning.
Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer says crews are trying to contain the flames to the crater while oil field contractors prepare to try to plug the burning well with mud.
The pipeline is located near a well on Highway 180 at Highway 16 on the western edge of the county.
Witnesses said they heard a large boom and saw the sky light up around 2 a.m. Closer to the scene, it looked like a volcano was erupting.
"It was a massive explosion, evidently," said Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer. "It created a large crater in the ground."
The crater was estimated to be 100 feet wide.
A fire one mile wide burned the area around the eruption. The glow in the sky could be seen more than 50 miles away in Tarrant County, and sheriff's dispatcher Linda Ezell said the flash from the initial explosion was visible for 100 miles.
At least one field worker was slightly injured.
The fire continued to burn five hours later at 7 o'clock. "We are concerned possibly about other well heads exploding," Sheriff Mercer said.
The drilling rig is in a rural portion of Palo Pinto County, about 15 miles from the nearest community. No evacuations were ordered.
Representatives from the Texas Forest Service and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality were en route to assess the situation.
Officials were trying to identify the owner of the pipeline that exploded.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
PALO PINTO COUNTY, Texas — Firefighters in Palo Pinto County are continuing to work to extinguish a large fire that resulted when a natural gas pipeline exploded early Friday morning.
Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer says crews are trying to contain the flames to the crater while oil field contractors prepare to try to plug the burning well with mud.
The pipeline is located near a well on Highway 180 at Highway 16 on the western edge of the county.
Witnesses said they heard a large boom and saw the sky light up around 2 a.m. Closer to the scene, it looked like a volcano was erupting.
"It was a massive explosion, evidently," said Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer. "It created a large crater in the ground."
The crater was estimated to be 100 feet wide.
A fire one mile wide burned the area around the eruption. The glow in the sky could be seen more than 50 miles away in Tarrant County, and sheriff's dispatcher Linda Ezell said the flash from the initial explosion was visible for 100 miles.
At least one field worker was slightly injured.
The fire continued to burn five hours later at 7 o'clock. "We are concerned possibly about other well heads exploding," Sheriff Mercer said.
The drilling rig is in a rural portion of Palo Pinto County, about 15 miles from the nearest community. No evacuations were ordered.
Representatives from the Texas Forest Service and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality were en route to assess the situation.
Officials were trying to identify the owner of the pipeline that exploded.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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Council: 'Jews' remark isolated
Dallas: Thornton-Reese outburst seen as part of frustration with Miller
By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas City Council member Maxine Thornton-Reese's comments Wednesday about fellow member Mitchell Rasansky's faith were out of line, their colleagues say – and not emblematic of any institutional discord between blacks and Jews.
"Religion is not a divisive factor in how we as council members make our decisions," Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill said Thursday. Dr. Thornton-Reese "just got out of control. I know this isn't the way she feels. She wasn't able to rein her emotions in."
But some local politicians and longtime City Hall observers say Dr. Thornton-Reese's afternoon outburst – in which she allegedly told Mr. Rasansky that "You Jews are controlling City Hall" – was a reflection of her long-running frustration with Mayor Laura Miller. She took it out on Mr. Rasansky because he's so often allied with her, they said.
"Her frustration is with the mayor, and Mr. Rasansky has been the mayor's bulldog," said Rufus Shaw Jr., a southern-sector political analyst. "They just happen to be Jewish. And as a result, it was a simple but unfortunate leap to make."
Dr. Thornton-Reese could not be reached for comment Thursday. But she told The News on Wednesday that her words had been taken out of context and that she was simply trying to have a discussion on race and religion at City Hall.
She said that she hoped to convey to Mr. Rasansky how sometimes "Jews gravitate to Jews, the same way African-Americans gravitate to African-Americans" but that he cut her off before she could finish.
Wednesday's dustup occurred during a heated City Council exchange over a controversial burglar alarm policy that will require commercial alarm users to authenticate an emergency before police respond.
Dr. Thornton-Reese opposed the measure, as did Mr. Rasansky. But she became agitated when Mr. Rasansky seconded a motion made by council member Ron Natinsky, who is also Jewish, to delay the vote until next month. She made her own substitute motion to defeat the measure immediately.
Mr. Rasansky told The News that Dr. Thornton-Reese pulled him into a back room behind the council chambers, closed the door and grabbed hold of his arm, shouting comments like, "You Jews need to stop."
Mr. Rasansky said he shook her off and left the room immediately, then told Mr. Natinsky and Ms. Miller what had happened.
Both Dr. Thornton-Reese's and Mr. Natinsky's motions failed. In the end, the burglar alarm policy passed, with Dr. Thornton-Reese, Mr. Rasansky and Mr. Natinsky all voting no. Ms. Miller supported verified response.
Mr. Hill, who was out of town and couldn't attend Wednesday's council meeting, said he worried from afar that Dr. Thornton-Reese might lose her cool. He spoke to her before the meeting, he said, and she was already agitated.
Several council members said Dr. Thornton-Reese had been in the hospital last week, forcing her to miss a council convention in North Carolina.
"I had a clear sense this was a day that was going to be very emotionally challenging for her," said Mr. Hill, who "almost got tears" in his eyes when he heard about Wednesday's aftermath.
While Mr. Hill said he rejects Dr. Thornton-Reese's comments, "on issues that council members have an extra degree of passion about – she was really feeling the anxiety many [opponents of the burglar alarm policy] have expressed to us."
The regional office of the Anti-Defamation League on Thursday called Dr. Thornton-Reese's comments "shocking, inappropriate, unfortunate and hurtful" and said it would "be appropriate if she apologized."
And Gary Weinstein, the CEO and executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, said such assertions "give a misperception of coercion and collaboration that is furthest from the truth."
"We understand people say things in the heat of debate," he said. "But it's ridiculous to assume that because of their religion, folks will vote one way or another."
But council member James Fantroy said Thursday that he blames Mr. Rasansky for going public with his and Dr. Thornton-Reese's back-room discussion. The City Council is like a family, he said, in which conversations behind closed doors "should be left behind closed doors."
"If it's said at the [council table], that's a different story," said Mr. Fantroy, who is black. "But even if the N-word was said behind closed doors, it shouldn't come out. Maybe something got heated. There are a whole lot of things said behind doors that [people] don't mean to say."
Mr. Rasansky said Thursday that he has not asked Dr. Thornton-Reese for an apology. They have spoken, he said, and agreed that the discussion is over.
"This needs to go away, for the good of Dallas," he said.
Mr. Shaw agreed that Dr. Thornton-Reese's choice of words was unfortunate. But he said her frustration has nothing to do with religion, and everything to do with the perception of Ms. Miller and Mr. Rasansky as political allies. They're the two council members who are most often seen as "adversaries of the African-American community," he said, and they just happen to be Jewish.
"The truth is, we have differences with Laura Miller, not with the Jewish community. But when you start playing divisive politics, it's the inevitable evolution," he said. "Since the Laura Miller regime, there has been a growing distance between African-Americans and Jews on the City Council."
Ms. Miller said Thursday that Dr. Thornton-Reese's comments to Mr. Rasansky – while inappropriate – don't reflect any kind of trend at City Hall. And she said she doesn't think they have anything to do with her.
Dr. Thornton-Reese also was involved in a controversial council debate in January in which she suggested that a comparison between Adolf Hitler and a proposal to strengthen mayoral powers was valid.
But Ms. Miller said she wishes the council member was happier at council meetings. Lately, the mayor said, Dr. Thornton-Reese has been "anxious and loud" and gotten into heated spats with her colleagues.
"She has become kind of a weekly wild card at City Hall," Ms. Miller said. "This week was probably the most frenetic I've ever seen her."
Dallas: Thornton-Reese outburst seen as part of frustration with Miller
By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas City Council member Maxine Thornton-Reese's comments Wednesday about fellow member Mitchell Rasansky's faith were out of line, their colleagues say – and not emblematic of any institutional discord between blacks and Jews.
"Religion is not a divisive factor in how we as council members make our decisions," Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill said Thursday. Dr. Thornton-Reese "just got out of control. I know this isn't the way she feels. She wasn't able to rein her emotions in."
But some local politicians and longtime City Hall observers say Dr. Thornton-Reese's afternoon outburst – in which she allegedly told Mr. Rasansky that "You Jews are controlling City Hall" – was a reflection of her long-running frustration with Mayor Laura Miller. She took it out on Mr. Rasansky because he's so often allied with her, they said.
"Her frustration is with the mayor, and Mr. Rasansky has been the mayor's bulldog," said Rufus Shaw Jr., a southern-sector political analyst. "They just happen to be Jewish. And as a result, it was a simple but unfortunate leap to make."
Dr. Thornton-Reese could not be reached for comment Thursday. But she told The News on Wednesday that her words had been taken out of context and that she was simply trying to have a discussion on race and religion at City Hall.
She said that she hoped to convey to Mr. Rasansky how sometimes "Jews gravitate to Jews, the same way African-Americans gravitate to African-Americans" but that he cut her off before she could finish.
Wednesday's dustup occurred during a heated City Council exchange over a controversial burglar alarm policy that will require commercial alarm users to authenticate an emergency before police respond.
Dr. Thornton-Reese opposed the measure, as did Mr. Rasansky. But she became agitated when Mr. Rasansky seconded a motion made by council member Ron Natinsky, who is also Jewish, to delay the vote until next month. She made her own substitute motion to defeat the measure immediately.
Mr. Rasansky told The News that Dr. Thornton-Reese pulled him into a back room behind the council chambers, closed the door and grabbed hold of his arm, shouting comments like, "You Jews need to stop."
Mr. Rasansky said he shook her off and left the room immediately, then told Mr. Natinsky and Ms. Miller what had happened.
Both Dr. Thornton-Reese's and Mr. Natinsky's motions failed. In the end, the burglar alarm policy passed, with Dr. Thornton-Reese, Mr. Rasansky and Mr. Natinsky all voting no. Ms. Miller supported verified response.
Mr. Hill, who was out of town and couldn't attend Wednesday's council meeting, said he worried from afar that Dr. Thornton-Reese might lose her cool. He spoke to her before the meeting, he said, and she was already agitated.
Several council members said Dr. Thornton-Reese had been in the hospital last week, forcing her to miss a council convention in North Carolina.
"I had a clear sense this was a day that was going to be very emotionally challenging for her," said Mr. Hill, who "almost got tears" in his eyes when he heard about Wednesday's aftermath.
While Mr. Hill said he rejects Dr. Thornton-Reese's comments, "on issues that council members have an extra degree of passion about – she was really feeling the anxiety many [opponents of the burglar alarm policy] have expressed to us."
The regional office of the Anti-Defamation League on Thursday called Dr. Thornton-Reese's comments "shocking, inappropriate, unfortunate and hurtful" and said it would "be appropriate if she apologized."
And Gary Weinstein, the CEO and executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, said such assertions "give a misperception of coercion and collaboration that is furthest from the truth."
"We understand people say things in the heat of debate," he said. "But it's ridiculous to assume that because of their religion, folks will vote one way or another."
But council member James Fantroy said Thursday that he blames Mr. Rasansky for going public with his and Dr. Thornton-Reese's back-room discussion. The City Council is like a family, he said, in which conversations behind closed doors "should be left behind closed doors."
"If it's said at the [council table], that's a different story," said Mr. Fantroy, who is black. "But even if the N-word was said behind closed doors, it shouldn't come out. Maybe something got heated. There are a whole lot of things said behind doors that [people] don't mean to say."
Mr. Rasansky said Thursday that he has not asked Dr. Thornton-Reese for an apology. They have spoken, he said, and agreed that the discussion is over.
"This needs to go away, for the good of Dallas," he said.
Mr. Shaw agreed that Dr. Thornton-Reese's choice of words was unfortunate. But he said her frustration has nothing to do with religion, and everything to do with the perception of Ms. Miller and Mr. Rasansky as political allies. They're the two council members who are most often seen as "adversaries of the African-American community," he said, and they just happen to be Jewish.
"The truth is, we have differences with Laura Miller, not with the Jewish community. But when you start playing divisive politics, it's the inevitable evolution," he said. "Since the Laura Miller regime, there has been a growing distance between African-Americans and Jews on the City Council."
Ms. Miller said Thursday that Dr. Thornton-Reese's comments to Mr. Rasansky – while inappropriate – don't reflect any kind of trend at City Hall. And she said she doesn't think they have anything to do with her.
Dr. Thornton-Reese also was involved in a controversial council debate in January in which she suggested that a comparison between Adolf Hitler and a proposal to strengthen mayoral powers was valid.
But Ms. Miller said she wishes the council member was happier at council meetings. Lately, the mayor said, Dr. Thornton-Reese has been "anxious and loud" and gotten into heated spats with her colleagues.
"She has become kind of a weekly wild card at City Hall," Ms. Miller said. "This week was probably the most frenetic I've ever seen her."
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TexasStooge
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Controversial North Lake plan advances to council vote
Dallas: Panel backs development, to dismay of Coppell and Irving
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - Despite strong opposition from Coppell and Irving officials, Dallas' Plan Commission on Thursday endorsed a controversial residential development near North Lake and passed it on to the City Council for a vote.
Commissioners recommended that the council approve Billingsley Co.'s request to allow for denser zoning for its Cypress Waters project in northwest Dallas.
The vote followed a tense exchange between Coppell and Billingsley officials over actions each side has taken leading up to the vote, including threats of condemnation from the suburb and the company's request to potentially fill its land with more houses, apartments and shops.
The fight over Cypress Waters is far from over. While the zoning request moves forward, specific development plans must be presented to Dallas officials before Billingsley starts building.
Coppell Mayor Doug Stover was disappointed with the commission's decision, but he said he remains confident his city can reach a compromise with the developer over the project's size and density. Mr. Stover and Irving Mayor Herbert Gears also have met with Dallas Mayor Laura Miller about the project.
"We haven't abandoned hope," Mr. Stover said after the vote.
Neighboring Coppell and Irving oppose the developer's plans, saying the project is too big and would diminish quality of life and potentially cause traffic problems. The property borders Coppell and Irving, and most of the land is in the Coppell Independent School District, where officials say such a large project could lead to overcrowded schools.
But Dallas officials support Cypress Waters because it would boost their city's tax base. Commissioners followed suit, voting 11-1 Thursday to forward the matter to the City Council.
Many commissioners expressed support for Billingsley's plans, saying it's the best use for the land.
"I'm hopeful that ... at some point in the future we can all co-exist and enjoy this development," Bill "Bulldog" Cunningham said. "I can't see anything that's any better for that land."
Before the vote, Coppell officials issued their harshest words yet about Billingsley's plans and offered impassioned pleas to commissioners, encouraging them to halt the zoning request and allow the three cities to talk about revising the project and developing long-range plans for the area. Several dozen people from Coppell, including city staff members and city officials, attended the meeting.
Mr. Stover called Billingsley's revised denser zoning request an "ill-advised charade" and outlandish, saying it was in retaliation for separate condemnation petitions his city and school district filed to seize parts of the company's land.
"We all know it cannot and will not work," Mr. Stover told commissioners.
Billingsley attorney Kirk Williams said Coppell officials were throwing around "a lot of misinformation" and taking part in legal posturing.
"Their interest is not in long-range planning," the attorney told commissioners. "Their interest was in being sure that this case did not go forward."
Developer Lucy Billingsley, who says the revised zoning request wasn't retaliatory, told commissioners her company is enthusiastic "about the opportunity to bring an amazing new development ... an important development to Dallas."
While the commission wasn't focused on the density of Cypress Waters, the topic came up frequently.
The city has given Billingsley the go-ahead to request denser zoning so that Dallas can generate enough tax revenue to provide Cypress Waters with utility and public safety services. Coppell and Irving say they'll withhold those services unless a compromise is reached.
But Billingsley representatives say the suburbs' density concerns are premature. The company will have a better idea of the density when it issues its development plan to Dallas officials.
There were other skirmishes on Thursday. Some commissioners questioned whether Coppell's opposition to the development was fueled by worries that Cypress Waters students might negatively affect the quality of Coppell schools.
Coppell city and school officials say they're concerned about the number of children who would attend their schools, not the makeup of the student body.
Dallas: Panel backs development, to dismay of Coppell and Irving
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - Despite strong opposition from Coppell and Irving officials, Dallas' Plan Commission on Thursday endorsed a controversial residential development near North Lake and passed it on to the City Council for a vote.
Commissioners recommended that the council approve Billingsley Co.'s request to allow for denser zoning for its Cypress Waters project in northwest Dallas.
The vote followed a tense exchange between Coppell and Billingsley officials over actions each side has taken leading up to the vote, including threats of condemnation from the suburb and the company's request to potentially fill its land with more houses, apartments and shops.
The fight over Cypress Waters is far from over. While the zoning request moves forward, specific development plans must be presented to Dallas officials before Billingsley starts building.
Coppell Mayor Doug Stover was disappointed with the commission's decision, but he said he remains confident his city can reach a compromise with the developer over the project's size and density. Mr. Stover and Irving Mayor Herbert Gears also have met with Dallas Mayor Laura Miller about the project.
"We haven't abandoned hope," Mr. Stover said after the vote.
Neighboring Coppell and Irving oppose the developer's plans, saying the project is too big and would diminish quality of life and potentially cause traffic problems. The property borders Coppell and Irving, and most of the land is in the Coppell Independent School District, where officials say such a large project could lead to overcrowded schools.
But Dallas officials support Cypress Waters because it would boost their city's tax base. Commissioners followed suit, voting 11-1 Thursday to forward the matter to the City Council.
Many commissioners expressed support for Billingsley's plans, saying it's the best use for the land.
"I'm hopeful that ... at some point in the future we can all co-exist and enjoy this development," Bill "Bulldog" Cunningham said. "I can't see anything that's any better for that land."
Before the vote, Coppell officials issued their harshest words yet about Billingsley's plans and offered impassioned pleas to commissioners, encouraging them to halt the zoning request and allow the three cities to talk about revising the project and developing long-range plans for the area. Several dozen people from Coppell, including city staff members and city officials, attended the meeting.
Mr. Stover called Billingsley's revised denser zoning request an "ill-advised charade" and outlandish, saying it was in retaliation for separate condemnation petitions his city and school district filed to seize parts of the company's land.
"We all know it cannot and will not work," Mr. Stover told commissioners.
Billingsley attorney Kirk Williams said Coppell officials were throwing around "a lot of misinformation" and taking part in legal posturing.
"Their interest is not in long-range planning," the attorney told commissioners. "Their interest was in being sure that this case did not go forward."
Developer Lucy Billingsley, who says the revised zoning request wasn't retaliatory, told commissioners her company is enthusiastic "about the opportunity to bring an amazing new development ... an important development to Dallas."
While the commission wasn't focused on the density of Cypress Waters, the topic came up frequently.
The city has given Billingsley the go-ahead to request denser zoning so that Dallas can generate enough tax revenue to provide Cypress Waters with utility and public safety services. Coppell and Irving say they'll withhold those services unless a compromise is reached.
But Billingsley representatives say the suburbs' density concerns are premature. The company will have a better idea of the density when it issues its development plan to Dallas officials.
There were other skirmishes on Thursday. Some commissioners questioned whether Coppell's opposition to the development was fueled by worries that Cypress Waters students might negatively affect the quality of Coppell schools.
Coppell city and school officials say they're concerned about the number of children who would attend their schools, not the makeup of the student body.
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