News from the Lone Star State

[TexasStooge]

Padre: surf, sand and police recruits

Mesquite: Officers join spring break crowds for job fair on the beach

By MARGARITA MARTÍN-HIDALGO / The Dallas Morning News

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - Spring break on South Padre Island: bikinis, margaritas ... future police officers?

That's what Mesquite police officials are hoping for. The future officers, anyway.

For the first time, the department is sending two officers beachcombing for quality recruits in the Gulf Coast town this week. Police Chief Gary Westphal knows of no other police departments that are doing the same, but he is not deterred.

"What better way to hit a mass group of potential qualified candidates?" he said.

Indeed, roughly 85,000 young revelers from multiple colleges are expected to descend on South Padre next week, according to the town's visitors bureau. The familiar image may be of drunken students cavorting at surfside, but Chief Westphal noted that many will soon be college graduates ready to start careers. And he wants those who are qualified to consider patrolling the streets of Mesquite.

The Army and the Marines also consider resort sands fertile ground for recruiting; both have sent recruiters in recent years to spring break destinations such as Panama City Beach and Daytona Beach, Fla., as well as South Padre. And corporate employers have also been hitting the beaches.

The Mesquite officers will drive a trailer with a colorful billboard up and down the beach. And – accompanied by their wives – they'll pitch a tent on the beach and pass out Mesquite police-branded beach balls, flying discs and other trinkets.

"No coozies, no bottle openers," said police spokesman Steve Callarman. "We might hand out free water."

The department expects to spend about $630 for the officers' hotel and meal expenses during the trip.

Rockwall police Lt. Carl Alsabrook said his smaller department might consider such a trip if it were having trouble recruiting, though he was skeptical that South Padre would yield more recruits than local colleges that have criminal justice programs.

"But it's innovative," he said, "and it may work."

Officer Molly Boyd, the Garland department's recruiter, said she wouldn't be going because college students don't seem interested in applying. That's one reason she hasn't been traveling to many colleges, she said.

Officer Boyd said most applicants this year have been soldiers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan.

"College students ... on the beach – I don't know how interested they're going to be," she said. "But that could go either way."

[TexasStooge]

Six Flags investigating incident that injured 4

ARLINGTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - The Texas Tornado ride at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington is likely to remain closed Monday as park engineers try to determine what caused at least four people to suffer minor injuries.

The Texas Tornado is described as a circular swing ride, which is suspended in the air.

Six Flags released a statement that said the Texas Tornado experienced an "unexpected interruption" shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday. As the operator shut down the ride, as he was trained to do, some of the chairs came to a jolting stop, according to the company.

Patrons were treated at the first aid station for minor injuries. One woman was hospitalized with back pain.

Jamie Peakell, who was on the ride with her two children and niece, talked to News 8 via cellphone while she was en route to a hospital.

"All of a sudden we heard a loud pop, and the swings went from OK to, basically, they collapsed," she said. "It was like bumper cars. It was horrible. ... My kids were in front of me and the swings got really, really loose. My kids were screaming [and] my niece was screaming."

The Texas Tornado ride debuted at Six Flags in 1983 and was moved to its current location in the "Boomtown" section in 1989, according to ParkTimes.com, a Web site that documents the history of the theme park and its attractions.

Six Flags, located midway between Dallas and Fort Worth on Interstate 30, is open daily this week to accommodate young people on spring break.

Dallas Morning News staff writer Marissa Alanis contributed to this report.

[TexasStooge]

Fire damages Grand Prairie apartments

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) — Grand Prairie firefighters asked for help from surrounding communities in battling a three-alarm apartment fire Monday afternoon.

The fire, at the Riverhill Apartments in the 2700 block of Highway 360, severely damaged a three-story building. Aerial views showed the entire roof of the brick structure had collapsed.

It was not immediately known whether anyone was hurt.

Firefighters from Arlington, Cedar Hill and Cockrell Hill provided assistance to Grand Prairie.

[TexasStooge]

Power out in parts of Downtown Fort Worth

FORT WORTH, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) — Parts of downtown Fort Worth were dealing with a power outage at midday Monday.

Tarrant County Administrator G.K. Maenius said a small fire in underground cabling at Belknap and Taylor streets knocked out the electric grid Monday morning.

The jails downtown were in "good shape," Maenius said, and no trials were disrupted. However, non-essential county employees were sent home.

The 911 emergency dispatch system was operating on a backup generator.

The nearby Renaissance-Worthington Hotel was functioning on half of its usual power. "None of our guests are affected," said hotel operations manager Mark Books.

TXU Electric Delivery asked everyone affected to bring their power consumption to a "low level" so they can bring the power grid back up slowly.

No estimate was available when power would be fully restored.

[TexasStooge]

Prisoners, deputies hurt in Collin County crash

COPEVILLE, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A Rockwall County Sheriff's Department prisoner transport vehicle was involved in a major accident in the Collin County community of Copeville around noon on Monday.

The four-door Crown Victoria police sedan was carrying three inmates and two deputies when it collided with a flatbed tractor-trailer near the intersection of Highway 78 and Collin County Road 546.

Investigators told News 8 both vehicles were traveling in the same direction at the time of the accident, but it was not yet clear how it happened.

Medical evacuation helicopters took one of the injured deputies to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas; the other went to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

The three inmates were taken by ground ambulance to Medical Center of McKinney.

None of the injuries was life-threatening.

Copeville is eight miles southwest of Farmersville in southeastern Collin County.

WFAA-TV Collin County reporter Steve Stoler contributed to this report.

[TexasStooge]

Carrollton parents sues over moment of silence

By KATHERINE LEAL UNMUTH / The Dallas Morning News

CARROLLTON, Texas - An atheist couple whose children attend a Carrollton-Farmers Branch elementary school have filed a complaint in federal district court arguing that the state's mandated moment of silence in public schools is unconstitutional.

David and Shannon Croft named the school district and Gov. Rick Perry in their complaint, filed Friday. In it, they say one of their children was told by a teacher to be quiet because the minute is a "time for prayer."

"I do not believe there is any secular reason for a moment of silence," said Mr. Croft, 37, a computer programmer. "This is just a ruse to get prayer in school without calling it prayer in school. Is there any study showing a moment of silence helps education?"

School district spokeswoman Angela Shelley said she could not comment about the complaint because the district had not received a copy.

Most administrators were out of town because of spring break and could not be reached.

Since 2003, Mr. Croft has documented his battle against perceived violations of the separation of church and state at Rosemeade Elementary, where his three children attend.

His past complaints, he said, include objecting to religious-themed songs such as "Silent Night" and "God Bless the U.S.A.," Good News Bible Club meetings at the school and a poster reading "In God We Trust."

Kathy Walt, spokeswoman for the governor, said state law clearly gives children the freedom to do what they wish with the moment of silence.

The law, passed in 2003, allows children to "reflect, pray, meditate or engage in any other silent activities" for one minute after the American and Texas pledges at the beginning of each school day.

"If the student wants to review mentally to get ready for a test or pray silently, they can," she said. "The law does not set it up specifically as a moment for prayer. The student can use that moment to collect their thoughts in whatever manner they choose."

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1985 that a moment of silence in Alabama public schools was unconstitutional, saying it showed the government was promoting prayer. But the court declined to hear a challenge backed by the American Civil Liberties Union to Virginia's moment of silence in 2001.

Dean Cook, Mr. Croft's Plano-based attorney, said the Alabama case set a precedent. He said the moment violates the establishment clause and church-state separation.

"This is an issue of trying to impose religion," he said. "There's nothing stopping students from silently praying during the day, so there's no need for this accommodation."

State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, who co-sponsored the 2003 law, said legislators were aware of challenges to similar laws and were careful with the wording to establish it as a neutral time. He said teachers have told him the law helps calm children down.

Letting children pray in school makes them feel the school is not hostile toward their religion, he said.

"There were some Republicans who wanted a verbal public prayer, and they were opposed to it [the legislation] because they thought it didn't go far enough," Mr. Branch said. "I just wanted to create an opportunity for families who want their children to be able to pray at the beginning of the school day toward a higher being to be able to do so."

Ms. Walt and Mr. Branch said they believe this is the first challenge to the law in Texas.

Mr. Croft ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in 2002 and for the state Legislature in 2004. As a Libertarian he advocated that the only legitimate functions of government are police, the courts and the military. He now is involved in the North Texas Objectivist Society and Humanist Fellowship. His wife is a member of the school's PTA and volunteers at the school.

Mr. Croft called Michael Newdow of California a hero for challenging the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance because of the phrase "one nation, under God."

Mr. Croft said his children sometimes feel uncomfortable because of their refusal to say the pledge or sing certain songs he believes promote religion.

"I don't want my children exposed to people telling them the supernatural is real," Mr. Croft said. "I completely reject Judeo-Christian monotheism."

[TexasStooge]

Robbers hit Albertson's for a third time

By Carol Cavazos, WFAA ABC 8

Robbers hit Albertson's again - this time, in Plano.

They robbed the Albertson's on the 3100 block of Custer Road an hour after it opened Sunday morning.

Plano police say the description of the suspects and their method of operation look very similar to robberies at an Albertson's in Arlington.

Robbers first hit that store, located on the 6,000 block of Highway 2-87, on February 11th. They robbed it again March 3rd.

Plano police hope a surveillance video from the Albertson's robberies in Arlington will help their investigation.

They say the mode of operation connects the burglaries.

"The two armed individuals did run through the store. They threw a couple of employees on the ground, took the manager back into the office and had the manager open the safe," said Detective Michael Johnson of Plano Police.

This is similar to what happened to employees at the Arlington Albertson's.

Only, robbers hit the Arlington store during the hour before closing and the Plano store in the hour after opening - times when the store is full of employees, but not a lot of customers.

Police have several descriptions of the suspects - for each of the robberies - but none leading to an arrest.

So the message to the shopping public.

As always, if you see anything suspicious or out of the ordinary, please call 911.

[TexasStooge]

Mom talks about baby snatch attempt

By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8

BENBROOK, Texas - Shaylynn Espinoza's walk around the block Sunday evening in broad daylight with 3-month-old Lilly quickly developed into a struggle with a stranger who jumped out of a car.

"As soon as I got out of sight of my house the men drove up behind me," she said.

"The passenger, the white male got out, tried to grab the stroller from the carrier part. Thankfully, it was strapped in.

"I grabbed the stroller and put her up like this and stood right here and was yelling at them and they got in the car and drove off that way but he had his hands on her carrier trying to pick her up out of the carrier. I was yelling at them."

Espinoza's boyfriend of 10 years, Lilly's father, was at work.

Benbrook police are still searching for the two men Espinoza says she's never seen before.

The frightened mother has no doubt.

"They were trying to kidnap my child but I've waited 10 years for a child. They're going to have to take me with her," she says.

Jennifer Gabbert of Benbrook Police says the car was an early 90s model Oldsmobile or Cadillac which very dirty and white.

Benbrook police are not advising that parents and babies stay inside.

But they say if anybody finds themselves in a similar situation they should make a lot of noise.

But Espinoza says - no walks for Lilly unless two adults are out.

"I've got to watch for cars now. That car driving by scared me," she says.

[TexasStooge]

Video is declared obscene

Dallas: Former Arlington residents convicted for mailing torture movie

By TIM WYATT / The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS, Texas - For the second time in two years, a federal jury in Dallas deemed a bootleg adult movie to be obscene, drawing convictions on Monday for a pair of merchants who peddled it over the Internet.

But another movie, a much-touted rape video defined as obscene by a jury in 2003, was not found to violate contemporary community standards – one of the key elements in deciding what's obscene and what isn't.

In the more recent case, jurors convicted two Las Vegas men for distributing another movie billed as sexual torture, drawing more debate over when an adult movie crosses the obscenity line.

After about six hours of deliberations, jurors convicted Clarence Thomas Gartman and Brent Alan McDowell, former Arlington residents, of mailing the video to adult customers.

Jurors also found Mr. Gartman guilty of a conspiracy charge linked to a four-count indictment in 2004. He was acquitted of two other counts, including one involving the rape video. Mr. McDowell was acquitted of three other counts.

A third man, Lou Anthony Santilena of Henderson, Nev., was acquitted on two charges accusing him of helping duplicate and mail the rape video.

Prosecutors Richard Green, a member of the Justice Department's Obscenity Task Force, and Linda Groves declined to talk about Monday's verdict. But U.S. Attorney Richard Roper said he was pleased with the outcome.

"No one – including defense attorneys – disputed that these videos weren't offensive and disgusting," Mr. Roper said. "You could have polled 100 different people on that issue and gotten the same answer."

Defense attorneys argued that federal law doesn't criminalize consenting adults who own adult pornography – just those who sell it – and that jurors are left to sort it out with little evidence or guidance as to how to determine what's acceptable in their community.

"The obscenity law is still mired in inconsistency," said Andrew Chatham, Mr. Gartman's attorney. "It simply does not give clear directions as to what is allowed to be sold or not sold to consenting adults."

Clint Broden, Mr. McDowell's attorney, said the government resources on the case could have been better spent.

"Between the FBI and the postal inspectors, the government had to have spent about 5,000 man hours on this one case," Mr. Broden said. "It just astounds me that this is the best use of taxpayer money when you look at a criminal issue like child pornography."

To convict, the jury had to decide unanimously that the videos appealed to prurient or unhealthy sexual interests alone, violated contemporary community standards for acceptable content, and lacked serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

The six men and six women unanimously decided that only one video in the case offended contemporary community standards. It depicted a woman being pierced repeatedly with needles.

During three days of testimony, many jurors were moved to tears while watching that film and the rape video. But they acquitted all three men on counts linked to the rape movie and a third video that featured urination and defecation.

The same rape video, however, was deemed obscene in the conviction of Garry and Tamara Ragsdale in October 2003, and connected Monday's case to the Fort Worth couple.

The Ragsdales were former business partners with Mr. Gartman.

Last fall, the Ragsdales lost the appeal of their convictions. Mr. Ragsdale began serving his 33-month prison term in January. Mrs. Ragsdale also reported to federal prison that month to begin her 30-month sentence.

Judge Barefoot Sanders set a sentencing hearing for Mr. Gartman and Mr. McDowell for June.

[TexasStooge]

Miss Deaf Texas struck by train, killed

AUSTIN, Texas (DallasNews.com/AP) – Tara Rose McAvoy, the reigning Miss Deaf Texas, died Monday afternoon after being struck by a train, officials said.

State pageant director Laura Loeb-Hill told The Associated Press via e-mail Monday night that McAvoy, 18, had been deaf since birth.

McAvoy, who won the state title in June, was to represent Texas at the Miss Deaf America pageant this summer in Palm Desert, Calif., according to Loeb-Hill.

Witness Carlos Burgos told Austin television station KTBC that the train was sounding its horn right up until the time the accident happened.

Authorities believe McAvoy was walking near some tracks when she was struck by a Union Pacific train.

McAvoy had represented Texas "with dignity and pride," Loeb-Hill said.

McAvoy graduated last year from the Texas School for the Deaf, attended Austin Community College and then started at Gallaudet University in January, but had returned to Texas, Loeb-Hill said.

[TexasStooge]

Plano woman faces second murder trial

DA wants judge to hear case in which Schlosser severed daughter's arms

By JENNIFER EMILY / The Dallas Morning News

Dena Schlosser will face a second trial in the death of her 10-month-old daughter, the Collin County district attorney said Monday.

District Attorney John Roach said prosecutors would ask state District Judge Chris Oldner at a pre-trial hearing Wednesday to decide the case instead of a jury. It will be up to Ms. Schlosser whether a jury would hear her case.

The Plano mother's capital murder trial ended in a mistrial last month when jurors deadlocked at 10-2 in favor of not guilty by reason of insanity.

"The issue now is whether Dena Schlosser and her attorneys will waive her right to a jury trial," Mr. Roach said. "If she does, the case will be submitted to the judge without a jury. If she does not waive her right to a jury trial, there will be no other choice but a full-blown jury trial. We are ready whatever their choice."

One of Ms. Schlosser's attorneys, David Haynes, said the defense hopes to decide by Wednesday's pre-trial hearing whether Ms. Schlosser will ask for a trial by judge or jury.

"He [the district attorney] plans to retry the case; that's what we've been expecting," Mr. Haynes said. "We're thinking about it."

A recent change in state law would allow the defense and prosecution to agree that Ms. Schlosser was insane when she severed Maggie Schlosser's arms at the shoulders in November 2004. But Mr. Roach said Monday that the only options he would consider were a trial by judge or jury.

The state and defense do not disagree that Ms. Schlosser killed her daughter – only about her state of mind at the time.

Doctors diagnosed postpartum depression and psychosis in Ms. Schlosser after Maggie was born. Testimony showed she had numerous religious-based hallucinations and delusions that year. She thought God wanted her to kill Maggie. Three psychiatrists testified at the trial that Ms. Schlosser was insane when she killed her daughter.

The state is seeking to send Ms. Schlosser to prison for life. The defense wants Ms. Schlosser to go to a mental institution until the judge and doctors say she should be released.

Local defense attorney Barry Sorrels, who has successfully used the insanity defense in a Collin County court, said deciding whether to proceed with a trial by Judge Oldner or a jury is a "tough call."

"I would trust Judge Oldner, that he would make the right decision. The expert testimony in this case is overwhelming ... that she was insane at the time," Mr. Sorrels said. "He will make a good call based on the evidence, not politics. I would seriously consider waiving the jury trial."

He added that he also wouldn't hesitate to try the case before a second jury. Considering that most of the jurors voted for insanity, Mr. Sorrels said, a second jury would probably do the same.

"And if you look at the results, she should have been found not guilty last time," he said. "The only reason she wasn't was because one juror made up his mind before the whole thing started."

[TexasStooge]

Six Flags guest upset with accident response

Arlington: Park says it followed rules in mishap that hurt eight

By JEFF MOSIER / The Dallas Morning News

ARLINGTON, Texas – Jamie Teakell's ride on the Texas Tornado at Six Flags Over Texas lasted just seconds before she realized something was wrong.

Her swing seat had circled the giant pole in the middle about a time and a half Sunday when she heard and felt a loud bang. The ride picked up speed for a moment, she said, then slowed and dropped to the ground.

"Everyone was tangled up and hitting each other," said Ms. Teakell, 26, describing the swings colliding.

Sandra Daniels, a spokeswoman for the theme park, said that eight people reported injuries from the ride's malfunction. One woman was transported to a hospital with back pain and was evaluated and released, according to a park news release.

However, Ms. Teakell said that she and the other four members of her party were treated at Las Colinas Medical Center in Irving on Sunday night, too. Ms. Daniels said she was unaware of that when the list of the hospitalized was released.

Most of the injuries were described as minor in the news release.

"This was an unfortunate incident, and we are working aggressively to ensure that this kind of thing does not happen again," Ms. Daniels said.

The Texas Tornado is closed while workers inspect and repair the 23-year-old ride.

Ms. Daniels said there was a mechanical failure with one of the bearings, and the operator followed standard procedure by stopping the ride. She said that an electronic monitoring system also recognized that there was a problem and shut down the ride at the same time.

The ride stopped rotating and quickly lowered the seats, which "jarred" some of the chairs, according to park officials. Riders in seats, connected to the center pole by chains, circle at about 10 mph and as high as 24 feet off the ground.

Ms. Teakell said she was frustrated with the park's response to the accident.

"The mechanics were there before the doctors," she said.

Ms. Teakell also said that she and her party had to walk to the first-aid station instead of receiving a ride from park employees. Ms. Daniels said it is standard procedure to offer rides to injured customers, but she didn't know the details relating to Ms. Teakell.

Later, Ms. Teakell said that she, her two children, a niece and a friend were told by doctors that they had sprains, ligament tears and bruises. She said that she and two others were still on crutches Monday afternoon.

The Texas Tornado does not have a long history of accidents. Four injuries were reported on the ride between Jan. 1, 1990, and Dec. 31, 2005, according to data from the Texas Department of Insurance.

The Texas Tornado accounted for about 1 percent of the 624 injuries reported on rides at the Arlington theme park during that period.

At least two of those injuries occurred when the ride wasn't moving. A 6-year-old boy ran into a pole while waiting in line, and a 16-year-old girl twisted her ankle when she left the ride.

A 9-year-old boy chipped or broke a tooth on the safety bar, but it wasn't clear whether that happened while the ride was moving. And a 33-year-old woman suffered neck pain during the ride.

Six Flags Over Texas has had one guest fatality since the park opened in 1961. A woman drowned and 10 others were injured in 1999 when a Roaring Rapids raft capsized.

Staff writer Jennifer LaFleur contributed to this report.

[TexasStooge]

New style, tenants have Tyler Street on upswing

By FRANK TREJO / The Dallas Morning News

Jesse Hornbuckle smiles a lot these days as he waits for figurative lightning to strike his little corner of Oak Cliff.

There's little doubt in his mind that it will come; he has seen it before just a few blocks away. And for the past year, he has spent considerable time, effort and money ensuring the spark is lit.

"When I first came here, people would tell me all the time that I was crazy for wanting to put my business here," said Mr. Hornbuckle, a longtime Dallas photographer who specializes in commercial studio photography.

Most people saw only dilapidated, boarded-up structures ready for the bulldozer, Mr. Hornbuckle said. He saw buildings with character, ready to be revitalized and turned into useful facilities again.

And as he looked into it further, he found others who shared his vision.

Mr. Hornbuckle, who bought three storefronts a year ago and turned them into sleek, contemporary loft-life spaces, has since purchased four additional structures. Across the street, a vibrant multicultural theater company is renovating an 89-year-old building that once housed a silent movie theater into a state-of-the-art performance and educational facility.

Next door an art frame shop has been operating for some time.

Mr. Hornbuckle says he's hoping the spaces he has renovated attract creative people: traditional artists, graphic designers, architects and other photographers.

Business owners along the 200 block of South Tyler Street, just north of Jefferson Boulevard, say they are ready to take steps toward turning around their neighborhood, much as the Bishop Arts District less than a mile away has seen its fortunes change in recent years.

"If you look at what's going on in cities, with people trying to create 'town centers,' what they are actually creating is something that's already here," said Mr. Hornbuckle, who grew up in Oak Cliff. "These areas already exist in cities, but many have been neglected and overlooked."

Creative people, he said, are naturally drawn to these areas because they are affordable and because the buildings have style and character.

"I think the mall thing is over; the suburban thing is over. People are finding out that they are interested in being in the city," Mr. Hornbuckle said.

He and his wife live in nearby Winnetka Heights, and he can walk to work at his TriBecCa Studios.

Across the street, work is progressing on the third and final phase of renovating the Bluebird Theater, built in 1917, into a 218-seat theater and educational facility for TeCo Theatrical Productions.

"We're really excited about this new building home for us and about coming to this community," said TeCo executive director Teresa Coleman Walsh. "The business owners around there are welcoming us to the community, and we have begun to work with them to make the most of what we all have there."

Ms. Walsh said her theater company, founded in 1993 in Atlanta, moved to Dallas about six years ago. Since then the group, which is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, has been staging productions at the Hall of State in Fair Park.

About two years ago, an anonymous donor gave the building on Tyler Street to TeCo Theatrical Productions. Since then, the company has raised and invested almost $500,000 to renovate the building.

"Corporations and foundations have been very generous, and our patrons have put their money where their mouths are," Ms. Walsh said.

The new facility in Oak Cliff also will allow TeCo to expand its critical education component, which includes outreach to young people in area schools.

Ms. Walsh believes the area, with its diverse population, is a perfect place for not only plays and musicals, but also concerts.

She said the final phase of the building renovation should be completed by October, and TeCo hopes to begin a new theatrical season in its South Tyler Street home by December or January.

Just up the block from Mr. Hornbuckle's studios, Leo Evans has seen the recent developments and is pleased.

"It's about time," he said with a laugh.

Mr. Evans has operated Evans Engraving on South Tyler Street since 1975.

"When we first moved here, everything was rundown," he said. "Just about every weekend, we could count on having busted windows, the crime was so bad."

But Mr. Evans said that he stuck it out in part to be closer to his southern Dallas home, and also because he owned the building and did not want to pay rent for another location.

"But now with everything that is going on around us, I'm very optimistic," Mr. Evans said. "I think everybody is in total agreement that the area is on the upswing."

David Spence, a historic-building preservation contractor and landlord in the Bishop Arts District, said the Tyler Street area is a district to watch.

"There's already a lot of work going on there, and I think they have a lot of plans to bring in different kinds of businesses," Mr. Spence said.

Mr. Hornbuckle said the goal is not only to draw creative people to Tyler Street, but also to come up with a unique vision and identity for the area.

"I think this area has all the components, but it just doesn't have the reputation," he said.

[TexasStooge]

Texan gets probation for kidnapping grandchild

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill./GLADEWATER, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) -- An East Texas woman who touched off national abduction alerts in January when she fled southern Illinois with her granddaughter has been sentenced to two years of probation.

As part of a deal with Madison County, Illinois prosecutors, 44-year-old Deborah McFadden of Gladewater, Texas, pleaded guilty yesterday to kidnapping.

Prosecutor Kyle Napp says McFadden's daughter, Laura Booth of Granite City, Illinois, refused to cooperate with authorities about the January 29th abduction of five-year-old Makayla Booth. Napp says that lack of witnesses forced prosecutors to bargain with McFadden.

Yesterday, Laura Booth called the matter a misunderstanding and said she loves her mom.

Makayla Booth was taken from her home, then was found the next morning in a Fairmont City hotel.

[TexasStooge]

Breaking News

DALLAS, Texas (WFA ABC 8) - Two suspects have reportedly stolen a minivan with a child inside. They were last seen in the 600 block of Woodlawn Ave. in Oak Cliff. The stolen vehicle is described as a dark green Plymouth Voyager with damage on the left side. It bears Texas license plate 311-GZG.

[TexasStooge]

Armed robbers target Dallas McDonald's

By DON WALL / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - Police are searching for a gang of armed robbers who stole money from a McDonald's on Ross Avenue last night.

The robbery took place at the Lower Greenville restaurant at about 9 p.m. - at least one customer was inside at the time.

Four men wearing masks entered the McDonald's - two pulling out guns, demanding clerks empty the cash tills.

The apparent gang leader then demanded the manager open the safe - which he did.

A fight broke out between the robbers and the manager, as he tried to dial 911. The McDonald's employee ended up getting pistol whipped.

All four robbers escaped on foot - one of them dropping some of the stolen cash.

"The store manager received some injuries as a result of the fight. He got struck on the head with one of the hand guns," said Sr Cpl Max Garon from Dallas Police.

The store manager has the night off today.

[TexasStooge]

Baby-snatch suspects pictured

BENBROOK, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Benbrook police have released sketches of two attempted kidnapping suspects.

Shaylynn Espinoza told detectives she was on a walk with her three-month old baby late Sunday afternoon when two men tried to take the baby—stroller and all.

She fought back, saving her daughter, and later provided police with a description of the two men.

They were driving an early 90s model white Oldsmobile or Cadillac which, Espinoza said, was very dirty.

Police advise any parent who faces a similar situation to make a lot of noise to attract attention.

If you have any information about the two men pictured, contact Benbrook police at 817-249-1610. You can remain anonymous by calling Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS.

[TexasStooge]

Say hello to 'Stretch'

FORT WORTH, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) — Sunshine and blue skies greeted the newest resident of the Fort Worth Zoo as he made his public debut on Tuesday morning.

They call him "Stretch."

The baby reticulated giraffe—born just 12 days ago—stands at 5"-7" tall, just short of the six-foot average for newborn giraffes.

But zoo officials say Stretch is growing fast, and has already gained 40 pounds since birth.

An adult reticulated giraffe is the world's tallest animal and can stand 19 feet tall. Males like Stretch can weigh up to 4,200 pounds at maturity.

Stretch is part of the Fort Worth Zoo's African Savannah exhibit. The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.


WFAA ABC 8
Stretch, right, was born 12 days ago.

[TexasStooge]

Police probe 911 response in kidnapping

By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - Dallas police and 911 operators' handling of an emergency call from a woman who was kidnapped and beaten has resulted in an investigation into their response time.

Laquisha Harp, 23, called 911 while her boyfriend of six years was trying to break into her home after she kicked him out. The incident was caught on 911 tape and sounds of Nathan Wayne Green breaking down the door and grabbing Harp could all be heard.

"He's here right now," Harp said on the 911 call. "Help me."

Next, a strange sound could be heard on the tape as the phone went dead.

"I was actually on the phone with them screaming for help when they could have rushed right over here," she said.

Harp said Green took her in his Cadillac and beat her off and on for two hours. In the end, she was dumped on the side of the road.

It took police 23 minutes to get to Harp's apartment for help. Operators at Dallas Fire-Rescue told the police there was a domestic disturbance, which did not require a priority one response.

"I could have been dead in less than five minutes," Harp said. "It seems to me they didn't really care what was going on."

When police finally arrived at the scene they saw Harp's broken down door but couldn't find her. However, instead of issuing a description over police radios to search for her, officers only filed a report and left.

Harp is still recovering from her wounds and continues to look after her 1-year-old son she had with Green.

[TexasStooge]

Child in stolen vehicle found near field

DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Police have found a two-year-old child who went missing when the van she was in was stolen.

The child was found unharmed near a field by two boys playing basketball.

The van went missing from the 600 block of Woodlawn Ave. in Oak Cliff on Tuesday afternoon. The mother had taken some shopping into her house - when she returned the vehicle was gone.

Two suspects are in custody.

About 40 minutes after the kidnapping, the van was found on I-45 but the child was not in it.

Shortly after, police got a call from the two basketball players saying they had found the girl.

"I tried to run after them, but they were speeding away," said one of the players.

The child has been reunited with her parents. It will be her birthday tomorrow.