The Dallas Morning News

Retiring U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, has missed votes in Congress since the summer and her son said she has been “having some dementia issues late in the year.” The last time the 81-year-old congresswoman cast a vote on the House floor was the morning of July 24. In other news, Mark Burnett, the power producer who helped reintroduce Donald Trump to a national television audience with The Apprentice, is being tapped by the president-elect as special envoy to the United Kingdom in his upcoming administration; Despite beating the Tampa Bay Bucs Sunday night, the Cowboys have been eliminated from the playoff race; And the Texas Rangers sent first baseman Nathaniel Lowe to Washington in exchange for lefty reliever Robert Garcia, the second lefty offspeed savant acquired by the club in a week. The 28-year old Garcia pitched 59 2/3 innings for Washington last year with a 4.22 ERA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clear skies and an abundance of sunshine today in Dallas with a high of 56. Clear tonight as well with a low of 34. Sunny and a little cooler tomorrow. Saturday’s high will be 53 with a low of 39. Some clouds will move in on Sunday with not much fluctuation between the high of 56 and the low of 50. President-elect Donald Trump lambasted U.S. Rep. Chip Roy after the Texas Republican pushed back on Trump’s call to suspend or abolish the debt ceiling. Trump posted criticism on social media Thursday that included an implicit political threat to the Austin congressman as he invoked the example of U.S. Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., who lost in the primary this year after getting crosswise with Trump. In other news, two ministries that broadcast TV shows on Daystar Television Network have announced they are parting ways with the Bedford-based company, which has been rocked by a family rift over child abuse allegations. LoveIsrael, a Bible teaching ministry led by Baruch Korman, announced in a YouTube video Tuesday that the organization is taking its shows off Daystar’s network; imagine a second arena in downtown Dallas. Imagine a second convention center and tourist hub, except this one would include an opulent arena, multiple luxury hotels and abundant fine dining. And casino gambling. While pondering realistic, foreseeable-future scenarios for downtown Dallas, it’s hard to imagine one that would be more transformative. But would it be for the better? That is the deeply layered, multibillion-dollar question that must be answered — likely within the next five years — as the Mavericks and Stars weigh arena possibilities; Earlier this year, Housing Forward counted fewer people experiencing homelessness in Dallas and Collin counties compared to the year before in January. In September, city officials and Housing Forward partnered with a coalition of nonprofits to embark on operation Street to Home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Through the medium of a White Elephant party, The Dallas Morning News food team shares ideas for favorite foods to take to a holiday gathering. The team also discusses a new restaurant in Dallas' Bishop Arts neighborhood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Texas Legislature is facing pressure to find creative ways to reform the state’s toll road system amid a growing chorus of vocal critics, including some Republican state lawmakers. From 2001 to 2021, Texas built more toll road miles than nearly all other states combined, according to the Dallas Morning News ongoing investigation, “Toll Trap.” In other news, Texas Republicans are demanding the Biden administration stop selling unused parts of the border wall that runs along the U.S.-Mexico divide; two malls in Dallas-Fort Worth are ready to help shoppers with a growing technology service: drone deliveries. Stonebriar Centre in Frisco and Hulen Mall in Fort Worth are rolling out deliveries through Wing drone service and DoorDash, the popular app for getting items to your door. Both malls are part of Brookfield Properties, which has shopping centers across the country. Over 50 merchants are available to folks within roughly 4 miles of the malls for deliveries from Wing, which is part of Google’s parent company, Alphabet; And more people today may care about the future of downtown Dallas — but sometimes it feels like many of them have a different take on where the heart of the city is. With over 1 million people joining North Texas since 2010, many ideas are in flux about what sidewalks, buildings and parks are within downtown borders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and David Moore discuss [4:27] the Cowboys’ third win in their last four games, even if it was just Carolina. David says it’s probably not enough to save Mike McCarthy’s job, but, with Bill Belichick off the market, the list of successors becomes problematic. [27:45] The guys make their CFP predictions about SMU (gonna be cold up there in Happy Valley) and Texas (hard to beat at home unless you’re Georgia). [48:49] Chris Young gets kudos for his excellent winter meetings performance, and Kevin tries to wish everyone well in the last podcast of 2024 but gets cut off by Evan, as usual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Texas House committee on Tuesday subpoenaed death row inmate Robert Roberson to testify Friday at the Capitol. The 58-year old Roberson was sentenced to the death penalty for the 2003 death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki. In other news, the body of Texas native, a U.S. Army vet killed fighting for Ukraine, returned home Tuesday; the Dallas County Commissioners Court has given its elections vendor an ultimatum: prove the software problems that plagued the Nov. 5 general election are solved or lose the county’s business; And Dallas is once again playing an early role in the physical rollout of a brand for Kendra Scott, who launched her namesake jewelry brand more than two decades ago. Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott has planted a flag in Dallas’ West Village. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An existing program is Whole Home Dallas, which connects residents with resources for essential home improvements, including weatherization, to improve home resiliency and reduce energy costs. Also, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham invited President-elect Donald Trump to build an immigrant detention center on a state-owned 1,400-acre ranch less than a 10-minute drive from Rio Grande City, the county seat; a Mesquite officer shot a person multiple times early Monday after police responded to sounds of gunfire and witnessed a vehicle crash, officials said. Shortly before 3 a.m., officers near Interstate 30 and Sorrento Boulevard heard gunfire from near the interstate, according to a news release from the police department; And, seafood restaurant Pesca opened in Trinity Groves, the restaurant park in West Dallas last week. It comes from Jesus Carmona, whose erstwhile restaurant Tacos Mariachi got a high-profile visit from Guy Fieri for an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network in 2018. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It will be mostly cloudy today with rain and a possible thunderstorm in the area. The high will be 73. The rain will linger into the evening, otherwise cloudy with a low of 56. The Dallas Cowboys beat the Carolina Panthers 30-14 yesterday and kept their slim playoff hopes alive. It’s still hard to fathom a scenario that has the Cowboys making the playoffs, but they’re not done yet; In other news, Win a marathon on your first time running the distance? That’s exactly what Travis Dowd did Sunday morning at the 2024 BMW Dallas Marathon. The current UT Southwestern medical student and Rice alumnus broke the tape in a time of 2:26:08, winning by over four minutes over the rest of the competition; Shannah and Kelly Hayley didn’t run their first races until their 30s. And now the Plano couple have completed their goal of running marathons and half marathons in all 50 states before their 55th birthdays. Shannah and Kelly lead a run club and started working toward their 50-state goal around five years ago; And, in a study conducted by The Action Network, Texas has been identified as the state with the highest risk of porch piracy, with a 29.8% probability of package theft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A man has been found guilty of capital murder for the fatal shooting over two years ago of a former University of Oklahoma football player in downtown Dallas. In other news, three Texans are among the 39 Americans whom President Joe Biden pardoned on Thursday, along with commuting the sentences of about 1,500. This marks the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. Lashundra Tenneal Wilson from Arlington, Mireya Aimee Walmsley from La Porte, and Nathaniel David Reed III from San Antonio are the Texans pardoned by Biden; Arlington would simply like a little credit. As the city prepares to welcome millions of visitors to town for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, AT&T Stadium must change its name to comply with FIFA regulations that prohibit corporate sponsors from representing host venues. But AT&T Stadium, as just about any North Texan knows, is not in Dallas. Mayor Jim Ross suggested calling it the Arlington-Dallas Stadium for the nine North Texas matches. And, streets in Dallas will be closed for the BMW Dallas Marathon, which is expected to draw thousands of runners to the city this weekend. According to the city, additional streets along the race will be closed in downtown Dallas starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and won’t re-open until the last participant passes through, between 10 and 10:30 a.m. On Sunday, starting at 7:30 a.m. more streets around the city will be closed, reopening after the last runner passes through, between 3 and 4 p.m. Officials encourage residents to plan ahead and stay informed about alternative routes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dallas Morning News food team catches up on the local dining scene and childhood memories while enjoying holiday tea on-site at the Dallas Arboretum's DeGolyer House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The City of Dallas may be in for another lawsuit if it doesn’t enforce a state law that bans unauthorized camping in public spaces and removes homeless encampments from its sidewalks. Dallas Hero, the nonprofit that led the ballot measure to waive municipal immunity and expose the city to lawsuits if it violates the charter and state law, sent a 60-day notice to the Dallas City Council on Wednesday. In other news, the proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons is officially dead — and that just might be good news for Dallas-Fort Worth shoppers; Dallas could spend up to $15 million to get the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center ready to be the media hub for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup despite ongoing plans to tear it down for a new one. The City Council will vote Wednesday on whether to approve the terms of an eight-month deal with FIFA to use the downtown convention center as the tournament’s international broadcast center, which would host the main feed used to broadcast all World Cup matches and be the home base for thousands of journalists and broadcasters covering the event; And the Texas Rangers have moved into the Bullpen Eras of their offseason tour. The club on Wednesday agreed to a one-year deal with changeup artist right-hander Jacob Webb, who spent last season with Baltimore, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Dallas Morning News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington and Evan Grant [1:11] discuss the latest Cowboy catastrophe in a season chock full of them. More bad news: DeMarvion Overshown, the brightest light of a dim bulb of a Cowboys season, is out for who knows how long with another major knee injury. Kevin and Evan discuss Troy Aikman’s assertion that, short of Bill Belichick, no candidate for coach would be more qualified than Mike McCarthy. Can Jerry Jones really sell that to an angry fan base? [26:03] The guys also analyze what went wrong for Texas and SMU in their league title games and what their chances are going into first-round games next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time in five years, Texas was downgraded from an inbound migration state to neutral for those moving from other states in the U.S. That’s according to a new report from Atlas Van Lines. In other news, Jorgie Boy, the spider monkey who catapulted to internet fame after he was seized last month by Dallas police, has returned home; The Rangers agreed to terms with their top free-agent target Nathan Eovaldi on a three-year, back-loaded $75 million deal, two people with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed to The Dallas Morning News; and, Thomas Avenue Beverage Company, the Dallas bar known as TABC has been brought back from the dead nearly 30 years after it opened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It will be mostly cloudy, breezy and a good bit cooler than yesterday in Dallas. The high will be 52. Breezy and chilly this evening with a low of 35. A Terrell police officer was shot and killed Sunday during a traffic stop. Officer Jacob Candanoza pulled a vehicle over around 11 p.m. in the Super 8 motel parking lot in the 1600 block of South State Highway 34 and requested assistance. Moments later, Terrell police dispatchers received two 911 calls reporting an officer shot. In other news, poor planning and inadequate communication led to the deaths of six people in a 2022 mid-air plane collision. That’s according to the National Transportation and Safety Board’s investigation that was announced Monday; TXSE’s search for a permanent home “in the heart of Dallas” is ongoing. For now, the Texas Stock Exchange will temporarily be based in Weir’s Plaza, a 12-story mixed-use space on the border of Highland Park; The holiday season is a scammer’s dream. While people are spending more money, scammers often take advantage of people who do not protect their information. Check out a few tips on how to avoid scams at DallasNews.com; And the Dallas Cowboys found a new way to lose last night. Instead it was a 27-20 loss at AT&T Stadium last night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

t will be mostly sunny and warmer today with a high of 70. Clouds will move in this evening and the temperature will drop into the low 40s in preparation for Tuesday’s high of only 49. It took three rounds of voting, but two-term Rep. David Cook emerged Saturday as the choice of most House Republicans for speaker when the Texas Legislature convenes in January. It may not be enough. Shortly after the closed-door meeting at the Capitol ended with Cook’s selection, his opponent — Rep. Dustin Burrows of Lubbock — announced that with support from Democrats, he had the votes needed to become speaker. In other news, A man fatally shot near a park in Seagoville was identified by the Dallas County medical examiner’s office; Steve Sarkisian filed his own complaint Sunday about the College Football Playoff process, adding to the pile around committee members. Sarkisian took issue with first-round byes for the four highest-ranked conference champs. If the byes went instead to the four highest-ranked teams regardless of whether they’re wearing league crowns, Texas would be off until New Year’s. Meanwhile, SMU fans and players were forced to sweat it out for more than half an hour watching ESPN’s College Football Playoff Selection Show Sunday, but ultimately they got the reward they deserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A mix of sun and clouds today with a chance of an afternoon shower. The high will be 51. Clouds and more rain on the way this evening with an overnight low of 40. It will be a rainy weekend as well. Rain is expected both days with the high on Saturday of 53 and Sunday will get to 59. Lows will be in the mid-40s. In the council chambers on Thursday, flanked by 14 of his peers on the Dallas City Council, Mayor Eric Johnson began his assessment of the city’s track record with an emphasis on 4 P’s: public safety, parks, potholes and property tax relief. In other news, Dallas-Fort Worth residents who regularly travel the TEXpress lane network can get exclusive savings and prizes as part of a new pilot program through the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Geico is putting a “down payment” on North Texas with the unveiling of its commercial insurance regional operations hub in Richardson on Thursday. The company, best known for private car insurance, is looking to grow its new venture covering small businesses, and it is investing in its existing Richardson campus to do so. The expansion will bring 500 new jobs to Richardson. And Dallas will move forward with plans to consider adding digital kiosks on sidewalks around the city, which could include paying nearly $1 million to get rid of existing non-electronic stands before their 2028 contract end date. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After catching up on the Thanksgiving holiday, The Dallas Morning News food team discusses restaurants in the Dallas area that are quieter and calmer amid a loud season, in addition to answering other questions from listeners and readers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Retailers, including Walmart and Kroger, issued recall warnings to consumers for cucumbers tied to potential salmonella contamination from a supplier. Walmart voluntarily recalled “Marketside Fresh Cut Cucumber Slices” at 34 Texas stores because of the potential for salmonella contamination. That includes several locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including three in Dallas, two in Plano and Garland along with other locales such as Allen, Frisco and McKinney. Kroger, which has several stores in D-FW, issued a recall for 36-count cucumber items sold in Dallas for purchases between Oct. 16 and Nov. 29. The moves come after SunFed Produce in Arizona recalled whole fresh American cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard containers and were sold between Oct. 12 and Nov. 26. In other news, concluding a weekslong trial, a jury issued the death penalty Wednesday for Jason Alan Thornburg. He was convicted of killing and dismembering three people more than three years ago in an Euless motel room. Next up, a Dallas Morning News investigation found that North Texas meth sentences are the longest in the nation. The News’ analysis of 10 years of federal sentencing data from October 2013 through September 2023 shows that the national median sentence for a federal meth crime is six years. And Seager & Sons, a 1970s-inspired restaurant, is set to open in Plano next Tuesday. The restaurant is near State Highway 121 and the Dallas North Tollway, at the Boardwalk at Granite Park, where 33 Restaurant Group already owns Union Bear and Suburban Yacht Club. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and David Moore talk football, football and more football. [4:27] Kevin says Texas may be ready for Georgia in the rematch in Atlanta because of its improved running game, and Evan makes the case that SMU should make the College Football Playoff even if it loses to Clemson in the ACC title game. [25:16] David spells out a scenario in which the Cowboys could possibly make the playoffs. The guys are unanimous that it would be a bad idea. And they reveal how many of the Cowboys' remaining five games look winnable as starters return from injuries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The lead meteorologist for the Texas power grid said Tuesday there is an elevated chance for extreme winter weather similar to the storm that pushed the power grid to the brink of collapse in 2021. In other news, the Vatican says it no longer recognizes an Arlington monastery at the center of a bitter monthslong feud with the Fort Worth bishop over allegations the head nun violated her vow of chastity with a priest. In a statement published Monday on the Fort Worth diocese website, the Vatican called the monastery “extinct” and asked followers to pray for the women to repent. a discussion on how to boost city revenue generated from rowing clubs on White Rock Lake and Bachman Lake put a spotlight, once again, on a unique turf war between the Park Board and the City Council. On Monday, council members told park officials to reassess the city’s contracts with the rowing and sailing clubs, come up with ways to raise more dollars and tamp down budgetary pressure. And weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy are increasingly popular among adults, who have flocked to the new medication as an alternative to the traditional — and often ineffective — advice to “eat less and exercise more.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Democratic Dallas County judge won a seat on Texas’ Fifth District Court of Appeals by less than 1,600 votes, thwarting a Republican sweep of the Dallas-based appellate court this election. Judge Tina Clinton narrowly defeated Republican attorney Matthew Kolodoski. Clinton received 50.05% of the vote to Kolodoski’s 49.95%. In other news, Freeman Martin was sworn in Monday as the new director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, taking over from longtime leader Steve McCraw. Next up, as child hunger rises in North Texas, schools are searching for solutions. One federal program could help. During the pandemic, the federal government expanded funding for free lunch in schools, which allowed meals to be served to all children regardless of income. And North Texas federal judges hand out the harshest sentences for methamphetamine trafficking in the country, a new investigation from The Dallas Morning News reveals. Even for first-time, non-violent offenders, getting caught with meth in North Texas can land them a longer prison sentence. The Dallas Morning News spent years investigating the harsher sentences, factors and guidelines judges use to hand out decadeslong prison sentences. Visit dallasnews.com/methpipeline to read the whole series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deborah Oakes Evans, the retired state district judge who issued the execution warrant for Robert Roberson III earlier this year, has apparently voluntarily decided to recuse herself from the legal proceeding. According to the court filing, Evans signed the order of recusal on Nov. 25. It was not immediately clear why she opted to step aside from the case, which has garnered national and international headlines. In other news, after enduring this year’s brutal primary season, Texas Republicans are bracing for another bruising primary pitting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in 2026. The two politicians, titans in Texas Republican politics, have been circling each other for more than a year, setting up a potential clash that would test the power of Paxton’s appeal to hard-right conservatives and Cornyn’s strength as a well-funded incumbent and prolific vote-getter. the city of Ennis issued a boil water notice Sunday because of “low water pressure caused by a water main break,” prompting Ennis ISD to cancel classes and activities today for students and staff. Ennis residents are urged to boil their water before using it, including before drinking, cooking, making ice, washing their hands and face, or brushing their teeth. The city will be distributing cases of water at Fire Station No. 1, located at 1700 West Lake Bardwell Drive. And Southwest Airlines says it is ending its cabin service earlier on its flights starting next month. Beginning on Dec. 4, a company spokesperson said, flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. The change in procedure is designed to “reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries” for crew members and passengers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dallas Cowboys won their second game in a row and their second straight against a division rival. The Cowboys also picked up their first win at home yesterday with a 27-20 victory over the New York Giants. In other news, a federal appeals court Wednesday ruled that Border Patrol agents cannot cut razor wire that Texas installed on the U.S.-Mexico border in the town of Eagle Pass, which has become the center of the state’s aggressive measures to curb migrant crossings; Tim Cofer, the new CEO of Keurig Dr Pepper, is usually on his second K-Cup coffee by around 6 or 6:30 a.m. And when it’s time for something cold, he reaches for a version of the company’s namesake soft drink. While that might be expected, that’s only a fraction of what his firm offers — and he’s not about to let its lineup go flat; And Looking for a festive, bright and light-filled holiday pop-up? Chicken N Pickle plans to bring Christmas nostalgia in 2024 with decked ceilings and walls, plenty of trees and candy canes, and red stockings galore with its Holiday Hideaway pop-up cocktail bar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Collin College student accused of a financial scheme targeting older adults was arrested last week on campus, authorities say. 21-year old Mark Aiseosa Kadiri was taken into custody Thursday evening following an investigation into reports of “fraudulent activities” with victims in multiple states, the Collin County Sheriff’s Office said in a Monday news release. In other news, Texas unveiled its newly acquired border ranch – offered as the site of detention facilities to help the Trump administration with proposed mass deportations — and Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said Tuesday the state is looking to identify additional land to aid the federal effort. a Dallas police officer pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor assault charge for firing “less lethal” ammunition and wounding a demonstrator who lost an eye during the 2020 protests, court records show. Sr. Cpl. Ryan Mabry was sentenced to two years deferred adjudication probation and must give up his license with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, the state entity that certifies police officers. And with it being Thanksgiving week, no doubt you may be a bit frazzled. With family coming, a turkey to defrost and numerous football games to watch, it can be a little stressful. Have you thought about what to do with the family after the big meal is in the books? Not to worry. The Dallas Morning News has a long list of events that are perfect for your visiting out-of-town family this post-Thanksgiving weekend. From Turkey Trots to a campy Christmas and even burlesque, there’s a little something for everyone. Check out DallasNews.com to find the event for you or for those you just want to get out of the house for a few hours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and David Moore discuss the Cowboys' zany last-second win over Washington and the prospects of a two-game winning streak with the Giants the main course Thursday. David notes that better health has been the biggest factor behind improved play by the defense. Even with their deficiencies, David notes, the Cowboys are still good enough to draw the interest of a high-profile head coach. Kevin wonders if winning is a bad thing given how it impacts their draft slot. [30:12] Kevin and Evan make their predictions on the resumption of the A&M-Texas rivalry, and Evan makes a case for SMU's Kevin Jennings as the best QB in the state. " Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get ready to bundle up, North Texas. The recent rollercoaster weather, including a warm-up over the weekend, is taking a plummet this week with two cold fronts expected. After a brief warmup on Wednesday, a second cold front overnight into Thanksgiving brings another batch of cooler air. High temperatures on Thanksgiving will be in the 50s. Conditions may become icy overnight. Right now, there’s no rain in the forecast this week in Dallas; In other news, Joni Lamb, CEO of Bedford-based Daystar Television Network, shared her first public comments Monday after her son’s firing earlier this month from the family TV empire. She said the decision to terminate him came after a 15-month review of her son’s performance and “his refusal to take any steps to satisfy a detailed performance improvement plan put in place.”; The bell atop St. John’s Episcopal Church rings again after being silenced for 35 years. The Dallas Mavericks ended their three-game road trip with a 129-119 win over the Atlanta Hawks last night. The Mavs are back home Wednesday vs. the New York Knicks. And on the ice, the Dallas Stars gave up 5 third period goals on the road at Carolina last night that turned a 3-1 lead into a 6-4 loss. The Stars conclude a three-game road trip on Wednesday against Chicago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dallas Cowboys snapped their losing streak yesterday with a 34-26 win over Washington. The Cowboys scored 24 points in the fourth quarter to turn around a sloppy and lackluster game. In other news, Dallas pastor T.D. Jakes experienced a “slight health incident” on stage Sunday, according to a statement from the church posted on social media. Next up, with a combined $270 million in worldwide ticket sales, “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” breathed fresh life into a box office that has struggled lately, leading to one of the busiest moviegoing weekends of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally for Universal Pictures, according to studio estimates Sunday. And the holiday season is already underway with lots of Yuletide-themed events around North Texas. Check out DallasNews.com for a full list with dates, times, and if there is any cost. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Dallas for the second time in three months, this time arguing the city is violating state law by enforcing a voter-approved charter amendment banning arrests for low-level marijuana offenses. The latest legal action follows suits Paxton filed in January against cities like Austin and Denton, where similar voter-supported mandates on weed passed. In other news, a jury ruled this week that a chain of health clinics knowingly filed more than 20,000 false Medicare claims from North Texas locations. And with statutory penalties attached to each individual claim, the clinic chain could be facing a total fine of more than $300 million; Derrick Morgan, executive vice president of The Heritage Foundation and a contributor to Project 2025, spoke at the University of Texas at Dallas on Wednesday morning at an event meant to unpack this year’s election; And license plate readers have spread rapidly to cities across the country, to help police solve crimes and locate missing people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dallas Morning News team hears from a returning guest, science fellow Miriam Fauzia, on what spices to add to your Thanksgiving food that might make your feasting more healthful. Plus, the team answers more Michelin questions and hears more about a recent deep dive on Eatzi's. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Dallas anesthesiologist was sentenced Wednesday to 190 years in prison for injecting a nerve-blocking agent and other drugs into bags of intravenous fluid at a surgical center where he worked, leading to the death of a coworker and causing cardiac emergencies for several patients. The emergencies began two days after 60-year old Raynaldo Riviera Ortiz Jr. was notified of a disciplinary inquiry into an incident during which he allegedly “deviated from the standard of care” during an anesthesia procedure when a patient experienced a medical emergency. In other news, the Plano Independent School District broke ground Tuesday on a $72 million Career & Technical Education Center that will offer training in fields like welding, hairdressing and cybersecurity for students in grades 9-12; students whose families make less than $100,000 annually will get free tuition and waived fees at any of the academic universities in the University of Texas System, the board of regents announced Wednesday. The initiative is an expansion of the Promise Plus Program, a needs-based financial aid program approved by the board in 2022; And property taxes are rising in nearly every U.S. metro area, but the burden is not equal. Texas is home to some of the hardest hit cities in the country, according to a new study by RedFin. Three Texas cities round out the top 10: Fort Worth, San Antonio and Dallas. In Fort Worth, property taxes jumped 44% since 2019, to a median monthly payment of $508. Homeowners in San Antonio saw a 43% increase, to $449 a month. And in Dallas, property taxes soared 41% for $573 a month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and David Moore [00:30] discuss the latest Cowboys debacle in what’s shaping up as one of the most frustrating seasons in the Jerry Jones era. David explains why it’s come to this when expectations were still fairly high. Jerry isn’t firing anyone at midseason, much to Evan’s dismay, but the guys go over Mike McCarthy’s heirs, including the prospects of Bill Belichick and a certain coach at Colorado. [33:44] Kevin and Evan also discuss Texas, Texas A&M and SMU and [44:47] lament the end of heavyweight boxing as we once knew it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Texas elementary students are closer to having Christian stories weaved throughout lessons in a move that supporters say will raise the academic bar but that critics lambast as religious indoctrination. Teachers, parents and advocates packed the State Board of Education meeting this week ahead of Tuesday’s 8-7 preliminary vote on state-crafted lesson plans, known as Bluebonnet Learning; In other news, some Dallas City Council members doubt whether a new charter mandate should stand after voters supported banning police from arresting people on suspicion of having up to four ounces of marijuana; Spirit Airlines declared bankruptcy Monday, but your holiday travel plans shouldn’t be affected. The budget airline announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in order to restructure over $1 billion worth of debt. Spirit says Chapter 11 proceedings are “expected to reduce Spirit’s debt, provide increased financial flexibility, position Spirit for long-term success and accelerate investments providing Guests with enhanced travel experiences and greater value.”; And drivers planning to use Dallas North Tollway should plan ahead for major delays amid construction. Two north- and south-bound lanes of the tollway between Interstate 35E and Mockingbird Lane will close for bridge maintenance. The closure runs from 10 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday. The southbound Dallas North Tollway entrance ramp at Lomo Alto Drive will also be closed during this time. Apple Maps, Google Maps and Waze will be informed of the closure and route drivers accordingly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

he HoustonTexans found the perfect hosts to end their two-game losing streak. But Houston’s 34-10 victory over Dallas extended the Cowboys’ losing skid to five games; Andrew Wayne Roark was tried decades ago based on medical evidence prosecutors said proved his girlfriend’s 1-year-old child was violently shaken, causing permanent brain damage. Roark’s exoneration comes in the wake of Robert Roberson’s stayed execution and increased national awareness of shaken baby syndrome; several Lewisville police officers didn’t understand what is required for a prostitution charge and allowed intimate contact with women they were investigating; And Burger Schmurger, the pop-up shop The Dallas Morning News says serves the best burger in Dallas, will open its first permanent restaurant in East Dallas, near White Rock Lake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It might soon be time to break out winter coats. After an unseasonably hot early fall, Dallas’ first freeze is on the horizon. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth predicts a 25% chance the temperature dips to 32 degrees Friday; In other news, a top credit rating firm dimmed its outlook on Dallas’ financial future after voters approved changing the charter to require at least half of annual city revenue increases to boost police pensions, staffing, starting pay and benefits. Moody’s Ratings downgraded the city’s debt outlook from “stable” to “negative” Thursday, citing the expected impact on Dallas’ credit due to the passage of Proposition U, a charter amendment backed by nonprofit group Dallas Hero; David Roberson, both a pastor and chef for the Men of Nehemiah, a Christian addiction recovery program uses discipleship, counseling and a military structure to help the men rebuild their lives. The program serves men as they recover from addiction, working with them to reunite with loved ones, find jobs and build their faith.; And the Michelin Guide, the standard bearer for excellence in the restaurant business, made two major mistakes in this year’s inaugural Texas Guide: honoring the wrong of two similarly named restaurants with the same owner and adding a restaurant to the guide that has been permanently closed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new rideshare service featuring armed drivers is launching and Dallas and two other Texas cities. BlackWolf, a small ridesharing startup that gained fame through TikTok, is recruiting drivers in Dallas, Houston and Austin and hopes to launch by the end of this year or early 2025; In other news, at least 78 changes were made to University of North Texas courses in attempts to comply with the state’s DEI ban. Faculty members fear the law — which bans diversity, equity and inclusion offices and programs from public colleges and universities — is leading to censorship of classes despite the exemptions for course instruction and research; River Central, a planned $2 billion mixed-use development near the DFW airport, is moving forward. The Fort Worth City Council unanimously approved rezoning nearly 57 acres on State Highway 360 in eastern Fort Worth from agricultural to high-density mixed use earlier this week; And an internet-famous spider monkey named Jorgie Boy faces a long recovery but is settling into his new home, says the owner of a sanctuary that took him in. Jorgie Boy has metabolic bone disease caused by poor nutrition, lack of Vitamin D, elevated liver levels and pancreatic levels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dallas Morning News food team is filled with hot takes and quick takeaways from what the first Michelin Guide Texas means for Dallas-Fort Worth. The team also answers reader questions about the restaurant picks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday that Texas universities should not approve tuition increases for the next two years. In a letter to higher education leaders, citing families’ rising costs of living. Abbott wrote that his office spoke with the Board of Regents at every public university system, and they are in agreement about no tuition increases through the 2027 academic year. He promised college affordability will remain a “top priority” in the next legislative session; In other news, State Wildlife officials say Mountain lion sightings are rare in the Dallas-Fort Worth area but the last few weeks seem to challenge that notion. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department confirmed the third mountain lion sighting in North Texas in less than a month — this time in Plano; Julian Shaffer, bar manager at Rye on Lower Greenville, made his way to the stage and stood in disbelief as he received solo recognition for Exceptional Cocktails. Pointing to the award in his hand and sticking out his tongue through a jocular smile, Shaffer posed as camera shutters clacked. He knew, rationally, that his life has just changed, but he couldn’t fathom it. Shaffer joined Rye, which earned a spot on Michelin’s Recommended list; And the city of Dallas is helping renovate the historic Forest Theater in South Dallas with an $8 million grant for the redevelopment project on Wednesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and David Moore open with their take on the Michelin ratings for Texas restaurants and Dallas’ third-place ranking behind Houston and Austin, then dive into the Cowboys’ latest humiliation. [3:49] David tells us when to expect Trey Lance to start over Cooper Rush. The guys also explain why Jerry Jones refuses to budge on curtains for his stadium and what it costs in terms of any credibility he still retains. [39:51] Evan explains the Rangers’ potential pursuit of Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki and what they have to do first to make it a possibility. [48:15] And the guys analyze where Texas (up) and SMU (down) may be going in the CFP after the latest weekend of upsets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Of the 52 districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, nearly 40% gave employees no raises for this school year. Steven Poole, the association’s executive director said school districts are cash-strapped. The ones who did give raises had to dip into reserves. Some school districts just couldn’t even do that. District leaders say they are working with strained budgets in part because the Legislature hasn’t increased the base amount of funding provided per-student since 2019. In places that prioritized raises, leaders made tough decisions. In Richardson, for example, school trustees voted to close four campuses to deal with their financial strain; In other news, President-elect Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had picked former director of national intelligence and former Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe to serve as director of the Central Intelligence Agency; a North Texas imam known for leading online Quran education programs was arrested on child pornography-related charges on Oct. 30; And Nick Jonas is ready to help the struggling Fossil brand and its new leader. Jonas, the singer and all-around celebrity, has signed a deal with Fossil, the watch and accessories company based in Richardson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Texas history was made last night, when the star-studded Michelin ceremony in Houston crowned the state’s best restaurants for the first time. Across the state, Michelin handed out 15 1-star awards. No restaurant in Texas received a 2- or a 3-star award. That’s Michelin’s highest honor, saved for the best of the best. In Dallas, just one Michelin star was given: a 1-star honor to Deep Ellum omakase restaurant Tatsu. Following that, East Dallas restaurant Rye received a special award for Exceptional Cocktails. Seven Bib Gourmands were handed out to Dallas-Fort Worth eateries with reasonably-priced menu items. And 20 restaurants in North Texas received a Recommended nod; In other news, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was already busing migrants from the border to New York when he picked a new northern target in 2022 — Chicago, another destination chosen because it was run by Democrats; Southwest Airlines will offer buyouts to workers at 18 airports across the country as the Dallas-based carrier cuts back on flying planes due to “aircraft delivery delays” from Boeing; And Micah Parsons is coming under fire from national media analysts for his comments about head coach Mike McCarthy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After months of disagreement and dispute, the North Texas town of Fairview agreed to participate in mediation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over the proposed McKinney Texas Temple, which has drawn national attention in a debate around religious freedom, zoning laws and the town’s identity; In other news, Proposition U requires Dallas to direct at least 50% of excess yearly revenue toward funding its police and fire pension system, hiring more cops and boosting officers’ starting pay. The mandate would require the city to redirect a projected $37.5 million in revenue in its first year; another Sunday, another Dallas Cowboys loss; And later today, Michelin will announce its first round of Texas’ best restaurants. If you weren’t one of the lucky ones to get an invite, you can still watch. Michelin will live-stream the 90-minute show on YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A boil water notice in Richardson continues today as the city awaited results of tests on the water supply, while Richardson ISD planned to reopen schools that were closed Thursday. The boil water notice, issued Wednesday evening, affects almost 17,000 customers in the southwest portion of Richardson and prompted five Richardson ISD schools to close Thursday; In other news, Dallas residents planning to use the Dallas North Tollway this weekend can expect significant delays. Part of the thoroughfare is closed for construction. Two northbound and southbound lanes of the tollway between Interstate 35E and Mockingbird Lane will be closed Friday beginning at 10 p.m. through Monday at 5 a.m.; Texas wildlife officials are warning residents after a mountain lion was captured on video strolling through the backyard of a Denton County home last week. Rachel Richter, an urban wildlife biologist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said a resident who lives in western Frisco near Lewisville Lake reported the sighting to the agency on Monday; And on Monday, Michelin will announce its first round of Texas’ best restaurants. Chefs, restaurateurs and media have already received invitations to attend this high-profile evening in Houston. If you weren’t one of the lucky one to get a seat? You can still watch. Michelin will live-stream the 90-minute show on YouTube. The ceremony announcing Texas’ best restaurants starts at 7 p.m. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dallas Morning News team discusses hopes and fears for the forthcoming announcement of the restaurants that made Texas' first-ever Michelin Guide. Part of the team also talks about a recent dining experience in which they accidentally went to the same restaurant at the same time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has a partial avulsion of his right hamstring tendon. Team officials are trying to determine if Prescott needs surgery for the portion of the tendon that has torn from the bone or if it can heal on its own. The Cowboys are hopeful that pass rusher Micah Parsons and cornerback DaRon Bland can return to the field for this week’s game against Philadelphia; In other news, in a controversial city charter election, McKinney voters decided against allowing City Council members to run for a third term and getting a pay raise. The decision means Mayor George Fuller will not be eligible to run for a third term in May. In a 5-4 opinion, Texas' Supreme Court ruled Texas Seven prison escapee Randy Halprin will get a new trial in Dallas County because the judge at his 2003 capital murder trial harbored antisemitic views. And Dallas City Hall and Dallas County officials have joined together to support a pilot program that aims to transform urban agriculture. The effort, known as the Growers Education and Workforce Development program, will work to educate and prepare aspiring growers, farmworkers and producers for careers in agribusiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington and David Moore discuss [1:25] the Cowboys’ abysmal state at 3-5, especially with Dak Prescott’s extended absence looming. David says the season is already over. Instead of spending fourth-round draft picks on the likes of Jonathan Mingo, Kevin says, they should be hoarding assets on a team that will pick eighth or ninth in the draft. [33:15] Kevin lays out the CFP hopes of SMU, Texas and Texas A&M. Each has its destiny squarely in its hands. Win out, and you’re in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump greeted supporters onstage at a watch party in West Palm Beach, ahead of a speech where he declared victory over Kamala Harris. The former president won Texas with 56 percent of the vote to Harris’ 42 percent and crossed the 270 Electoral vote threshold this morning; In other news, Texas voters sent Republican Ted Cruz back for a third term in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, turning back Democratic challenger Colin Allred, a congressman from Dallas; Next up, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett won her race for the U.S. House in District 30 with 85% of the votes; And about 67% of Dallas voters supported decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana, according to preliminary unofficial election results, though its recreational use is still illegal in Texas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today is election day and polling locations all across the state will be expecting the last wave of voters to cast their ballots just before polls close. Dallas County voters can find all Election Day polling locations using the county’s “Vote Center Finder” at www.dallascountyvotes.org/vote-centers. Here's the link to the Dallas Morning News Voter Guide. In other news, Intercity bus service Greyhound will relocate its main terminal to Harry Hines Boulevard when the lease extension on its downtown station expires in April. The national bus company, owned by Flix, will soon break ground on the new station near Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Bachman Station. The new location is expected to open in mid-2025 and will allow the company to eventually expand routes to and from Dallas, CEO Kadir Boysan said; and the bad news keeps piling up for the Dallas Cowboys. Quarterback Dak Prescott is expected to miss multiple weeks due to his hamstring injury. Head coach Mike McCarthy said Cooper Rush will be the starting quarterback moving forward. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb also joined the team’s growing list of injured players, suffering a sprained AC joint in his shoulder during Sunday’s loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re sharing “‘Medium Stories” from The Dallas Morning News’ sister company, Medium Giant, a creative marketing agency. In this episode, The News' executive editor Katrice Hardy talks with Medium Giant president John Kiker about: What makes a great story from the perspective of an editor How the multifaceted nature of storytelling formats can be used to meet people where they are The surprising correlation between journalism and advertising when it comes to storytelling Why it’s so important to bring light to stories that would otherwise go untold How journalistic storytelling is going to evolve over the next decade Subscribe to the show by searching for “Medium Stories” wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A singer is in stable condition after being shot Saturday while signing autographs at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters in downtown Dallas; In other news, Last month the Dallas-Fort Worth area topped the charts as the warmest October since the National Weather Service began record keeping in 1898. The determination comes after a number of days last month were reported as unseasonably warm with above-normal temperatures; it was another rough Sunday for the Dallas Cowboys. Not only did Dallas lose to Atlanta 27-21 to drop to 3-5, but they lost quarterback Dak Prescott in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury; And are you ready to cast your ballot in tomorrow’s general election? The Dallas Morning News introduced a new tool to help you vote with confidence, Back to the Ballot. Back to the Ballot is a personalized voter education course. Simply take a three question quiz, tell us about your interests, and we’ll send you stories directly to your inbox. The News polled thousands of voters who said they’d like more information about voting essentials, issues that will appear on the ballot, and how their vote impacts the community they live in. Back to the Ballot is our way of helping our community stay informed and confident as they head to the polls. Ready to get started? Take the quiz now at dallasnews.com/ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Arlington nuns at the center of a bitter dispute with the Fort Worth bishop called their dismissal from religious life ridiculous and egregiously false. In a fiery response Wednesday, the nuns said the dismissal, announced this week by the Fort Worth diocese, is a “moot point” because they do not recognize the authority of Mother Marie of the Incarnation, who issued the order; In other news, Austin comedian Tony Hinchcliffe has faced fierce backlash over remarks he made Sunday at former President Donald Trump’s New York City rally, calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” and using an offensive stereotype about Black people. For Peng Dang, an Arlington comic, the racist jokes came as no surprise. Three years ago, at a comedy club in Austin, Hinchcliffe referred to Dang, an Asian American, using a racial slur after Dang had introduced him; roughly 200 people descended upon a regional water meeting in northeast Texas on Wednesday afternoon with “Stop Marvin Nichols” signs, custom T-shirts and handwritten speeches. Nearly 40 attendees looked officials in the eyes and repeated the same sentiment: The proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir project needs to be removed from all future water plans; And Dallas-Fort Worth is expected to be the nation’s hottest real estate market for investment and development next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices