Between June and August of 2008, the Dallas Police Department recorded 30 homicides — 17 fewer than in ’07, a stunning 33 fewer than in 2006. Even ABC News took note of the news, particularly the “astonishing low of eight homicides in July.” But last summer’s dip will, most likely,…
Mitchell Rasansky, who served with Don Hill on the Dallas City Council for six years and is listed as a potential witness in Hill’s ongoing federal corruption trial, says any direct ties between Hill and developer Brian Potashnik weren’t apparent to him because the majority of the city’s affordable housing…
First there was Bernie Madoff; then, Alan Stanford. Then came Minnesota’s Tom Petters, who, as The Wall Street Journal documented in April, was popped by federal authorities who claimed he operated a $3-billion Ponzi scheme built upon his taking investors’ hard-earned scratch to buy flat-screen TVs and other electronic whatchamacallits…
Earlier today, the Fort Worth Police Department sent out the following press release in response to Saturday night’s raid on the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth. In short, the FWPD’s temporarily breaking up with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission till both agencies figure out how the raid on the newly…
For the Fourth of July weekend, the Dallas Police Department is partnering with Dallas Fire-Rescue — they’re going to ride in patrol cars together — to strictly enforce the no-no’s listed above, especially the part about shooting stuff into the air. It’s the first time the two departments have gone…
Whilst we’re on the subject of universities and technology, there’s this intriguing addendum to yesterday’s tale concerning the arrest of Carrell Clinic security guard Jesse William McGraw, who federal authorities say was planning a major hack attack on July 4 … or, as McGraw allegedly referred to it, “Devil’s Day.”…
Welcome to “Watch Your Car Month” — and, no, we’re not referring to this. Not exactly. But this morning at 10 at the Dallas Police Department Auto Pound on Vilbig Street, officials from several local auto-theft task forces will gather ’round stripped and recovered cars — and a working one…
One day after sending word that the “Little Hacker” got 135 months in prison for “swatting,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office says today it has arrested an Arlington man federal authorities allege is the leader of the hacker group called “Electronik Tribulation Army.” (As in …?) According to the press release,…
Well, looks like the frequent mentions of former Dallas Mayor Laura Miller in the federal Dallas City Hall corruption trial ain’t just Dixie. The defense clearly plans to argue that the FBI should have gone after Miller, because she took a ton of money from developer Brian Potashnik, who’s agreed…
Kathy Colvin in the U.S. Attorney’s Office just sent word that late Friday, Matthew Weigman — otherwise known as the “Little Hacker” about whom we wrote in January — was sentenced to 135 months behind bars by U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn, who, at this very moment, is presiding…
Schutze is at the Don Hill trial today, and during the lunch break he was sent word that WFAA and The Dallas Morning News buildings on César Chávez were cordoned off by police. Till moments ago, the Dallas Police Department’s Web site listed an active call down thataways with no…
Moments from now in U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn’s courtroom, opening statements will be delivered in the public corruption case against former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, his wife Sheila Farrington Hill, former Dallas City Plan Commissioner D’Angelo Lee and others indicted in October 2007. But per the…
In the comments to our earlier Don Hill item this morning, a Friend of Unfair Park points our direction to this Web site: DonHillTrial.com. Hoo-boy. What gag order indeed. But, this question: Is this the first public corruption trial in history to provide its own logo?…
This just in from the U.S. Department of Justice’s press department: The government and the Dallas Independent School District have settled their dispute involving the misuse of funds provided to the district for the so-called E-Rate program, created in 1996 to give “affordable access to telecommunications services for all eligible…
Late yesterday, Don Hill’s PR man, Ken Carter, sent to media an objection filed in federal court in which the former Dallas mayor pro tem and his wife, Sheila Farrington, want U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn to keep from the public’s prying ears the feds’ “audio-visual evidence” against the two…
A motion was filed in federal court today in the Dallas City Hall public corruption case in which developer Brian Potashnik’s high-priced, high-profile attorneys tell the feds that their client’s all good and really doesn’t need to see their evidence, but thanks. Brian and Cheryl Potashnik, of course, weren’t in…
This morning, a Very Special Unfair Park Correspondent — which is to say, Herschel Wilonsky, my dad — found himself in U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn’s courtroom for Don Hill’s contempt of court proceedings. Lynn didn’t rule this morning, except to say last night’s prayer vigil didn’t violate her initial…
Former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill’s public corruption case finally heads into an Earle Cabell Federal Building courtroom tomorrow morning, shortly before the Dallas City Council is sworn in at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center one mile away. But tonight, just outside the building on Commerce Street downtown,…
Thursday morning, I asked publicist Ken Carter — who, very helpfully, has been sending out press releases on former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill’s behalf in advance of his corruption trial — if he thought doing so violated U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn’s gag order, which is now one…
I finally got a hold of that letter the South Dallas pastors sent to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder concerning Don Hill’s case, scheduled to go to trial next week. In the missive, they demand “FAIR JUSTICE” for the former mayor pro tem. “We find this case appalling,” they write…
We’re still waiting on the preachers’ letter to U.S. Attorney Eric Holder, but in an interview with Gromer Jeffers Jr. just posted to The Dallas Morning News Web site, Don Hill yet again claims he’s being subjected to federal prosecution and persecution because, look, he’s a Democrat and not because…
And the press releases keep coming from the Don Hill camp: Only a few days after inviting us to a Sunday-eve prayer vigil for Don Hill and Sheila Farrington in advance of Monday’s start date in the City Hall corruption case, Ken Carter at Focus Communications last night sent out…
