The Night Dallas Aired Its Confederate Statue Grievances

Robert E. Lee’s statue is gone, but it’s not forgotten. That much was clear Wednesday night as a long line of North Texas residents made their way to Dallas City Hall to tell the City Council they want the city’s other Confederate monuments left intact and, most of all, they…

President Trump Visits Dallas Today But Won’t Be Sticking Around

President Donald Trump is visiting Dallas today, but chances are you won’t see him unless you work at Love Field or are a major GOP donor. This trip is about filling Trump’s and the Republican National Committee’s piggy banks, not whipping up the base at one of the president’s trademark…

Watch George W. Bush Take on Trump in New York Speech

During President Barack Obama’s terms, Dallas resident and former President George W. Bush, for the most part, kept his mouth shut about matters of policy, following in a long line of ex-presidents who declined to criticize their successors despite obvious political differences. But on Thursday, Bush made his clearest stretch…

Dallas Police Say 911 Call Center Back on Track After Crisis

Dallas Police Department officials announced Wednesday that they’ve solved many of the issues that led to soaring 911 wait times during a crisis that stretched from last fall into the spring. Staffing levels have been increased, facilities have been improved and police officers, called into emergency duty taking 911 calls,…

PBS Does West Dallas, and Nobody Comes Out a Hero

Last week, the national PBS television program Frontline did a long story focused on West Dallas landlord Khraish Khraish, part of a series on the national affordable housing crisis. Khraish is somebody I have written about a lot in the last year, and the Frontline piece evoked strong feelings in me —…

Philip Kingston First Target of City’s New Ethics Requirements

When the Dallas City Council finally passed its long-gestating ethics reform package in March, council member Philip Kingston was among those dissatisfied with the new rules because they weren’t strong enough. On Friday, Kingston became the first council member rung up on the new rules. The city’s ethics advisory commission found…

City Attorney Wins a Big One on Water, but Dallas Gets Soaked Anyway

Dallas’ mayor is crowing about a settlement on rates that the city attorney reached recently with an East Texas water authority, and he’s right. Our new city attorney, Larry Casto, did way better than his predecessors, meaning he more or less pulled our bacon out of the trashcan, where somebody…

Texas Judge Stops State from Releasing Voter Data to Trump Commission

For now, at least, personal data from millions of Texas voters won’t be handed over to President Donald Trump’s commission on voter fraud. Earlier this week, a Travis County judge issued a restraining order barring the Texas secretary of state from turning over the records, which the Trump administration sought…

John Wiley Price Takes All Comers To Obstruct Pot Cite-And-Release

A key drug reform policy passed by the city of Dallas this spring remains under threat by the continued efforts of Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, who wants to submarine cite-and-release before it starts. On Tuesday, Price sparred with Dallas City Council member Philip Kingston, Dallas County District Attorney…