Sam Merten

Mark Cuban Wants to Adios the NBA's Salary Cap? Apparently. Quite the "Game Changer."

Photo by Sam Merten​This morning's New York Times looks at the NBA lockout and wonders whether all the owners -- those from small markets, those with big payrolls, those losing money, those winning titles -- are on the same page when it comes to demanding givebacks from their players. Long story s ... More >>

Hot or Not: Are You on Feds' JWP List?

Photo by Sam MertenWillis Johnson​Looks like at 11:18 this morning, John Wiley Price attorney Billy Ravkind, or someone in his office, faxed to Channel 5 the search warrant issued on June 24 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Stickney. It's a seven-page catalog of everyone and everything with whom the ... More >>

Running Perry, Leppert Up UT/Texas Trib's Poll

Photo by Sam Merten​If anything, the results of an already outdated University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll posted this morning -- outdated in that it features three would-be GOP presidential candidates who've said they aren't running -- more than likely reveal that at least 800 registered-to-vote ... More >>

Days Before Council Considers Forming Gas Drilling Task Force (Or Not), Angela Hunt and Dave Neumann Join Hands in Support

Photo by Sam Merten​At long last, the Dallas City Council's set to tackle the subject: What to do about allowing natural-gas drilling on city property. According to a presentation prepared by city staff for Wednesday's briefing, the council can choose from one of the following options: form a task ... More >>

Why'd Mayor Tom Really Quit Early?

Photo by Sam Merten​U.S. Senate candidate Tom Leppert posted to his website today a piece titled "Serious Leadership," in which he says he's just the man to take Kay Bailey's place in D.C. because, look, "I'm not a career politician and I didn't expect to be in this position. I'm a businessman." O ... More >>

City Proposes Redesign of Second Calatrava Bridge to Green-Light Construction in Mid-2012 and Add Pedestrian and Bicycle Components

Photo by Sam MertenWe're not sure what the new plan is for the new IH-30 bridge, but if this model's any indication, perhaps they've axed one of the approaches?​Following Thursday afternoon's presser celebrating the anticipated approval of a plan to restore the Trinity River levee system's 100 ... More >>

Trinity Levee Repairs on Track to Beat FEMA's Deadline, But Corps Stresses Approval "Cannot Be Guaranteed"

Photos by Sam MertenTrinity Trust Foundation chair Margaret McDermott Cook says Dallasites will be running from her as fund-raising for the Trinity project resumes.​It was all smiles and back-slapping this afternoon as the city, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Trinity River Corridor Project p ... More >>

And Why Do You Want to Be Dallas Mayor?

Sam MertenNo, you're not having a flashback: Ex-Mayor Tom spoke before his would-be replacements took their turns at Thomas Jefferson.​Who says the four Dallas mayoral candidates haven't distinguished themselves from one another? Last night at that forum at Thomas Jefferson High School, the first ... More >>

Mayor Caraway: "It's Time to Move On."

Sam MertenState Rep. Barbara Mallory Caraway, Dwaine and Dave Neumann at Dallas City Hall​Below, of course, you can listen to Mayor Dwaine Caraway's account of what happened between him and his wife on the night of January 2, per a recording made by Dallas Police after Chief David Brown sent offic ... More >>

This Season, Themed Mayoral Debates

Sam MertenNatinsky, Rawlings and Kunkle at their first "forum" way back on February 25​In the last 24 hours, press releases have piled up in the in-box announcing three very different mayoral debates featuring ex-Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle, current city council member Ron Natinsky and former ... More >>

Turns Out DPD Has Audio of Supposed Dispute Between (Ahem) Arthur and Archie -- and Attorney General Says They Must Release It

Photo by Sam MertenMayor Dwaine Caraway​Along with a handful of other media outlets that filed open records requests about the incident at Mayor Dwaine Caraway's home near Cedar Crest Golf Course known as the "Arthur and Archie" ordeal, we asked for notes, audio, video and any other possible d ... More >>

What's the Matter, Protesters? You Aren't Afraid of John Wiley Price, Are You?

​Oh, man. You guys call that a protest? You went down there yesterday to tell the Dallas County Commissioners Court what you think of them, and they slapped the spit out of your mouths. Told you to sit down and be quiet. And you did. People, that's just embarrassing. It's why we can't have p ... More >>

Dwaine Caraway Talks About Why He's Decided Not to Run for Dallas Mayor After All

Photo by Sam Merten​Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway just sent The Official Announcement: He's decided not to run for mayor after all. His statement follows, but I also spoke to Caraway about his decision -- one he came to, he says, after speaking with his family and concluding that now was not the ri ... More >>

Well, At Least the City of Dallas Is Getting a $1.25 Million Check Out of Brian Potashnik

Sam MertenBrian Potashnik​As you'll no doubt recall, Brian and Cheryl Potashnik were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn the week before Christmas. The couple, of course, was among the first to take guilty pleas in the Dallas City Hall federal corruption case that eventually landed forme ... More >>

Smokestack Lightning: Since Texas Won't Regulate Emissions, E.P.A. Will Handle Permits

Sam MertenWhat Gov. Rick Perry thinks of the Environmental Protection Agency​Surely you're aware of the ongoing battle between the Environmental Protection Agency and Governor Rick Perry over the state's enforcement (cough) of the Clean Air Act. Long story short: The governor says the feds don't h ... More >>

Riddle in an Enigma: Puzzled by Austin's Odd Priorities

"Hardass" Election Judge Explains Why Troy Aikman Got Really Wet Before Voting Tuesday

Sam MertenTroy Aikman signs autographs last year while kicking off the inaugural Friends of the Katy Trail membership drive.​Inevitably, a slew of anecdotes make the rounds in the days following an election, most of which we're unfortunately sworn to secrecy not to expose. However, we've been ... More >>

Greenberg Asks Rangers Fans to "Believe"

Sam Merten​Win or lose, tonight's the final home game of the 2010 Texas Rangers season. And, yes, even the die-hards must admit at this late date (November 1, itself a remarkable achievement) that the Rangers' chances of winning the World Series look slim. But Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg, postin ... More >>

Like The News, Old Wells Fargo on Cedar Springs Can't Decide Between Broden and EBJ

Photos by Sam MertenSo confusing...Eddie or Stephen? Scholarship scandal or frightening anti-government rhetoric? Pick one for us, please, because we're flipping a coin if you don't.​In this week's paper version of Unfair Park, Schutze takes a lengthy look at Republican Stephen Broden, which m ... More >>

In Other Rangers News, Mark Cuban and Jim Crane Still Fighting to Get Their Bid Refund

Sam Merten​A few weeks back we noticed that Mark Cuban and Jim Crane wanted their millions back for trying to buy the Texas Rangers out from under Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan (and Ray Davis and Bob Simpson). Long story short: Cuban and Crane, as Radical Pitch LLC, figured they're owed a refund ... More >>

All About the All About Uptown Fest

Photos by Sam MertenMike Rhyner​Despite the rain early on Saturday, I found myself at the All About Uptown Festival for the third-straight year, and it wasn't until checking out the festival's website just now that I realized it's only the third year of its existence. Not a heckuva lot has cha ... More >>

A Year After Dallas Federal Judge Booted SEC's Case Against Mark Cuban, It Lives Again

Sam Merten​In July 2009, U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater dismissed the Securities and Exchange Commission's complaint that Mark Cuban violated insider-trading laws when, in 2004, he sold off $750,000 in Mamma.com stock. Cuban, of course, poo-poohed the claim when originally brought by the SEC ... More >>

Leppert on Tax Hike: "I Don't Want it Coming on the Shoulders of the People Who Live Here."

Sam Merten​While I had Mayor Tom Leppert on the phone Monday evening, to discuss the walkout by six council members before the tax-rate hike briefing even got going, we talked for a few minuts about his opposition to a property tax hike. He acknowledged: Yes, some council members are leaning that ... More >>

Chuck Greenberg on Cuban-Crane's Ninth-Inning Bid: "We Didn't Resent It, But We Just Weren't Going to Be Denied."

Sam MertenCEO Chuck Greenberg​As Robert mentioned, the Texas Rangers held a presser at the Ballpark at Arlington Friday afternoon to announce the club's "Stretch Drive Pricing" initiative, which includes lowering prices on beer, soda, hot dogs, hats and parking -- or "five of the basic staples ... More >>

"Dallas Tomorrow" ... Tonight!

Sam Merten​A programming note.A few weeks ago we gave you the very advance heads-up that tonight, at the Belo Mansion, the Dallas Bar Association is hosting the "Dallas Tomorrow" forum featuring quite the bold-faced line-up: Mayor Tom Leppert, University of North Texas Chancellor Lee Jackson, Trin ... More >>

In Two Weeks, Mary Suhm Will Present the FY2010-11 Budget to Council. Then: Town Halls!

Sam MertenMary Suhm presenting the budget to council last year.​We're less than two weeks away from finding out How the City Manager Spent Her Summer Vacation: On August 9, Mary Suhm will give present to council her proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. We've sneak-peeked a few of the pendin ... More >>

Recapping the Rangers' Week That Was (in Court), and Reviewing the Lengthy Legal Docs

Sam MertenWas this press conference just one week ago today? My, how time flies.​This morning in the Sports Business Journal, Daniel Kaplan recounts the wild doings in the Fort Worth courtroom where, at the end of last week, the Texas Rangers, their creditors and Major League Baseball squared off ... More >>

Ex-NFL Greats Say It's 1982 All Over Again While Pumping Billy Joe DuPree's New Book

Sam MertenBilly Joe DuPree points to Emmitt Smith's quote on the cover of his new book. We knew it was time to bolt when we noticed DuPree's keys in his hand.​A small group of former NFL players scheduled a press conference this morning to question the NFL Players Association leadership and co ... More >>

Public Safety Committee Shuns Preservationists, Approves New Historic Demolition Ordinance

Sam MertenYup, Dwaine. This briefing was way over the collective heads of your committee.​Baffled and outraged preservationists quietly vacated Monday afternoon's Public Safety Committee meeting after the city council committee voted unanimously to adopt a new historic building demolition ordi ... More >>

Kinky Friedman Says: There'd Be No Tea Party If Molly Ivins Were Still Around

Sam MertenFriedman campaigning at Urban Dog Coffee on Oak Lawn back in February​So insists the Texas Jewboy and former gubernatorial candidate in a piece penned for Tina Brown's Daily Beast, the headline of which is "Why Democrats Should Blame Themselves for the Tea Party." Friedman, who lost to h ... More >>

Hunt: Trinity Toll Road's Dead, So Let's "Get Going on Some Park Improvements"

Sam MertenAngela Hunt from way back when she dropped off the petitions launching the Trinity River Toll Road vote​OK, Jim, so Michael Lindenberger didn't ask Angela Hunt for a "told-ya-so" quote. Didn't need to, because, after all, the District 14 council rep has her own blog, to which she just po ... More >>

Mayor Tom on Frank Poe's Abrupt Adios: "We Will Conduct a Nationwide Search"

Sam MertenFirst Assistant City Manager Ryan Evans (left) and Frank Poe (right), the city's director of convention and event services, signing the financial documents finalizing the convention center hotel project in August 2009​I just returned from today's showdown between the city of Dallas and t ... More >>

A Quick Note Before Reading This Week's Paper Version of Unfair Park

Patrick MichelsWe're sorry, Chief.​In our effort to get some last-minute extra reporting into this week's cover story, "High Time For Change" by Dave Farrell, about how, just maybe, there's a bright future ahead for those pushing for the legalization of marijuana, the Observer managed to misqu ... More >>

The Day Before Spring Is Sprung, Brian and Cheryl Potashnik Will Receive Sentences

Sam MertenBrian Potashnik, outside the Earle Cabell Federal Building in July​Sorry, but one last bit of bookkeeping before I hit the nog: We've known for a while when Don Hill and the missus, former City Plan Commissioner D'Angelo Lee and two others found guilty in the federal City Hall corruption ... More >>

With City's First Municipal Management District Official, Let the Self-Taxing Begin!

Sam MertenThe board of directors of the Cypress Waters Municipal Management District take their oaths today at One Arts Plaza.​The Cypress Waters Municipal Management District officially became the city's first such district -- that is, one with the power to levy taxes and issue bonds -- this ... More >>

Things Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison Apparently Hates: Rick Perry, Iran, Iraq, Obama's Health Care Plan and TxDOT

Sam MertenSenator Kay Bailey Hutchison criticized Governor Rick Perry in a speech to the local Republican Jewish Coalition this afternoon, claiming Texas has the country's highest property taxes, an education system with the worst dropout rate in the nation and a government growing faster than the ... More >>

Steel Yourself: Next Month, An All-Star Party to Celebrate "Bridging the Trinity"

Sam MertenTurns out, we'd like to take back everything we ever said about that Trinity River Corridor Project model. It was accurate after all.​The steel for the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge's been down by the Trinity River for, oh, a few days at least -- I breathlessly ogled the two cylinders, each ... More >>

Mitchell Rasansky Speaks Up About Mayor Tom and the Trinity a Little Too Late

Kay Bailey Tells Mark Davis She Will Stop Being a Senator in October or November

Sam MertenWhy'd we run this picture of Kay Bailey standing next to Mayor Tom? No reason at all.​Via Swing State Project, we find a link to Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's interview with WBAP-AM's Mark Davis this morning, in which the senator said she'll officially launch her gubernatorial campaign ... More >>

La Calle Doce Re-Opening. Leppert To Attend, Scout Out Hotel Possibilities

Sam Merten'Is there a lake in Lakewood? Maybe we can put up a bridge...'La Calle Doce's Lakewood location will finally reopen its doors today--officially--after the August fire that shut down the beloved Mexican seafood restaurant. To help celebrate the restaurant's Grand Re-Opening, Mayor Tom Leppe ... More >>

Why Saturday's Vote Wasn't the Most Significant on the Hotel and Fighting Mayor Tom Leppert and City Hall is Futile

Sam MertenHarlan Crow cheers on Anne Raymond after she read a prepared statement shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday. "I'll get over it before I get home," he told us after losing a close vote.Now that I've had some time to reflect on Saturday night's narrow loss at the polls by Harlan Crow and the 41,2 ... More >>

JWP: "We Need to Vote No to Jim Crow."

Sam MertenA crowd of approximately 75 Vote No'ers gathered in front of City Hall this afternoon in support of Mayor Tom Leppert and the convention center hotel; among them were Dr. Frederick Haynes of Friendship-West Baptist Church, former council member Ed Oakley, county commissioner John Wiley Pri ... More >>

Lets Talk | What Woodshed? | The Young and the Restless | Getting to NO | Buzz |Buyer Beware

What's the Good Word, Mayor Tom?

Virtual Coffee: Episode 2

Why the Council Isn't Voting on Ross and Industrial Name Changes Today

Room Service|Work Smarter, Not Harder|Sweet on the Tea|Yeah, But It Was Tons to Read|F-Bombed Out

Wait, Even the Trinity Project Model Isn't Done Yet? And It Took Two Years?

Modano, Cuban and Irvin Gather For Charity Game That Looked Like Baseball