Mike Cantrell

Dallas County Adds Domestic Partner Benefits As Commissioner Maurine Dickey Calls Lesbian Activist a "He"

This morning, Dallas County joined the growing roster of local agencies (the city of Dallas, Parkland Hospital, the DFW Airport) to add domestic partner benefits, meaning same-sex partners of any of its roughly 6,500 employees are now eligible for health coverage and other benefits through the count ... More >>

Dallas County Got Out the Vote Today, But Republicans Say the Drive Targeted Dems

Today, in case you haven't been on Twitter, is National Voter Registration Day, in which volunteers around the country hit the streets and Internet to get people signed up to vote in November. It's an admirable effort, particularly seeing as, per organizers, more than 6 million people didn't vote la ... More >>

The Ropes Will Stay at Dallas County Commissioner's Court, But is it Really That Big a Deal?

The Dallas County Commissioners Court will vote today on whether to keep in place the rope barriers that sparked an outcry (from the media at least) put up three weeks ago. County Judge Clay Jenkins said he made the order to maintain order and decorum, but, coming as it did on the heels of the FBI's ... More >>

Commissioners Call Special Meeting to Approve Controversial New Dallas County Map

Compare the new map above (much bigger here, even if it's impossible to tell which district is which without a magifnying glass) with the existing one.​If you want to be there when the Dallas County Commissioners Court votes on the new boundaries for the county, you'd best reshuffle your schedule: ... More >>

The Incredible Shrinking Bond Forfeitures: At This Rate, County Will Owe Bondsmen Money

Photo by Brantley Hargrove​On Sunday the daily reported that Dallas County had some $35 million in outstanding bond forfeitures. Oh, but wait: Yesterday Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins shot back, calling the number a "gross misinterpretation of the true nature and totality of the bail bond fo ... More >>

Before He Meets the Press Over Bail Money, Clay Jenkins Wants to Correct Some Things

Get your copy here. I may take mine to get it signed tomorrow.​So, let's work backward. On Sunday, The Dallas Morning News reported that "bail bondsmen owe Dallas County at least $35 million in uncollected default judgments, many dating back decades." Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, ... More >>

Maurine Dickey Would Like to Apologize For Her Comments Made During FBI Raid

One of the first people with whom I spoke Monday morning, following news that federal agents had swarmed Dallas County HQ, was Commissioner Maurine Dickey. Some of what she said that morning had been repeated myriad times since. Like, say, her response to the news that FBI agents were in John Wiley ... More >>

FBI Confirms: It's Conducting Searches of John Wiley Price's Office and Home Right Now

​Jim's on his way to Dallas County HQ at this very moment to watch with his own eyes as FBI agents search the downtown offices of Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, as initially reported by KTVT-Channel 11. The CBS station also notes that "federal investigators have also been dispatched ... More >>

Dickey's So Angry About Redistricting Map She Wants Texas Attorney General, DOJ to Intervene

Photo by Mark GrahamMaurine Dickey​No doubt you recall Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey's blow-up over that redistricting map sprung on her during commissioners court a couple of weeks back. Long story short: She'd agreed to one map, only to have John Wiley Price give her, at the last sec ... More >>

New Elections Administrator Explains Her Relationship With John Wiley Price and Talks About the Ousting of Her Predecessor

Photos by Sam MertenNew Elections Administrator Toni Pippens-Poole in her office at the Elections Department.​As you likely know by now, longtime Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet retired last month after, as he claims, Commissioner John Wiley Price told him that he had been in the positio ... More >>

Critical Condition: War Between Dallas News and Parkland Escalates Over "Ouster" Story

Dr. Lauren McDonald​A few weeks back we took a look at the back-and-forth between The Dallas Morning News and Parkland Memorial Hospital, which, in recent months, has been the subject of numerous investigative pieces detailing patients put at risk and "needlessly harmed," in the words of News Depu ... More >>

Why Is County Judge Gunning for Elections Chief Bruce Sherbet, "One of the Good Guys"?

Via.Dallas County Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet​[Update: For reasons explained in the piece below, Bruce Sherbet tells Unfair Park he has resigned, effective March 1. He says when he spoke to Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price today, he told him he would work through the May mayor ... More >>

In Garland Last Night, Craig Watkins and Mike Cantrell Were "Fighting Like Kids"

Brian HarkinIn this corner, Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins ... Last night, Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins pleaded his case against Dallas County-wide budget cuts in the Garland City Council chambers, where a town hall meeting with Dallas County Commissioner Mike Cantrel ... More >>

HIV Numbers Cloud Condom Sense

Take It Easy On Lupe. And: EARTHQUAKE!

Keys to the Jail

There's only one thing tougher than running for Dallas County sheriff—getting people to care

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Electronic monitoring may dramatically curb truancy. So why isn't DISD interested?

A Family Tells Commissioners: Our Son's "Treated Like an Animal" in County Jail

The Dallas County Commissioners Court, As Seen Through the Eyes of a 15-Year-Old-Girl

Party Poop

With Dems likes these, who needs the GOP?

Hell to the Chief

County to State: Secure This

Grounded

Sheriff Bowles: Gone, But Not Forgetting

Heck of a Job, County

In case of catastrophe, dial 1-800-UR-EFFED

The Lone Ranger

Right, but not quite right, Dallas County Judge Margaret Keliher is reforming county government while infuriating her Republican colleagues

Cell Disease

Being sick in Dallas County's troubled jail can be a death sentence

After the Flood

Plus: Still Living, Wrist Slap, We Screwed Up

If You Can't Argue the Facts...

Plus: Every Picture Tells a Story

Babel-Licious

Some menu items seem out of place. What's going on?

Lens of Approval

How many drinks does it take to get beer goggles?

Absent Without Leave

Think cutting class is child's play? Tell it to the judge.

Malternative Lifestyles

Does drinking flavored malt beverages make men more appealing to women?

Living La Vida SIDA

After his younger brother died of AIDS, Joseluis Partida dedicated his life to warning people about the disease. But the politics of being gay and Hispanic made it tougher than he ever imagined.

Tippling Tips

Can you please solve all our alcohol-related mysteries?

Near Beer

The fad fades, but brewpubs survive

Good Sports

Forget chicken wings. The modern sports bar serves sautéed artichoke hearts--God help us all.

Money talks

Dallas County commissioners increase the pay for independent court interpreters

Letters

It's the details, stupid

Candidate Bob Stimson claims his opponent's shoddy bookkeeping is a sneaky way to campaign at taxpayer expense

Mr. Mellow

John Wiley Price, the man who once toted a bullhorn in protests outside Mayor Ron Kirk's home, learns that it helps to have friends in high places

Courthouse coup

How County Commissioner Jim Jackson and his right-wing Republican cronies have Dallas' judges running scared

Who ya gonna call?

Lawyer Kenneth Mayfield racks up a winning record in the courts he helps oversee as a county commissioner

Babe in the 'hood

Accused of bribery, ineptitude, and cattle rustling, rookie constable Aurelio Castillo can't tell his friends from his enemies anymore

Betty's In Charge

Is Dallas County's most explosive bureaucrat ruining the health department?