08/20/2008

Heavy rains hit Dallas-Fort Worth, more rain expected
8:24 AM CT Minor flooding was reported around Dallas-Fort Worth this morning as storms dumped as much as 5 inches of rain. Up to 4 inches more was expected today, and a flash flood watch extends through this evening.
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Olympics blog: Usain Bolt breaks Michael Johnson's world record in 200 meters
The Jamaican broke the world record by winning the 200 meters in 19.30 seconds Wednesday night, becoming the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to sweep the 100 and 200 gold medals at an Olympics.
Olympics blog
Photos, video: 2008 Olympics

Allen parents of 3 shell out, tally up school expenses

VERNON BRYANT/DMN

The Allen family is keeping a tab to demonstrate just how much parents shell out for school-related expenses.
Video: Tracking expenses
Back-to-school tips, info

08/19/2008

American Airlines launches in-flight broadband service
For $12.95, passengers on AA flights using its Boeing 767-200 will be able to surf the Net, check e-mail, instant message and access corporate VPN accounts using the system by Aircell LLC.

08/20/2008

Dave Matthews Band sax player LeRoi Moore dies
LeRoi Moore, saxophone player for the Dave Matthews Band, died Tuesday of injuries suffered in an accident on an all-terrain vehicle in June. He was 46.

08/19/2008

Property tax losses create bigger gap in Dallas County budget
After weeks of cutting, scrimping and saving, Dallas County officials thought they had closed all but about $2 million of a $34 million budget shortfall. But that gap has just gotten bigger. The $7 million in revenue loss from appraisal lawsuits is the largest in recent memory, according to the auditor's office.

Texas agency urges end of construction commission
A powerful state agency recommended Tuesday that the Legislature abolish the 5-year-old Texas Residential Construction Commission, which was supposed to protect consumers but has been criticized since its inception as a boon for homebuilders.

Toll lanes may get I-35E up to speed for Dallas, Denton
Federal and state leaders, frustrated by delays in expanding Interstate 35E through parts of Dallas and Denton counties, said Tuesday that a private contractor and tolls could be the keys to fast-tracking the project.

Signals in Cedar Hill, DeSoto setting off sprinklers in Plano
The cities of Cedar Hill, DeSoto and Duncanville recently began testing a powerful new police communications system, but the system is so robust that the radio signals are reaching as far as 30 miles away and causing problems with radio-controlled sprinklers in Plano.

Jessica Simpson to be the face of Dallas' Stampede beer
Singer, actress and North Texas native Jessica Simpson will soon be marketing beer, according to an announcement expected today from a local brewing company.

Texas Education Agency official to monitor troubled schools in Dallas
The Texas Education Agency has assigned a monitor to keep tabs on improvement efforts at three schools in the Dallas school district.

Obama and VP pick to campaign on Saturday
Barack Obama's newly minted running mate will join the Democratic hopeful onstage Saturday at a rally in this capital city where Obama launched his White House bid, a campaign official said.

Americans' necks full of Olympic medals, but precious few are gold
The U.S. leads the overall medal count. But back in America, fans are finding it difficult to look past the fact that when it comes to gold medals, host China has forged a seemingly insurmountable 43-26 lead over the U.S. with five days of competition left.
Blog: Complete Olympics coverage

U.S. Mint picks Austin to help spread use of dollar coin
Austin is one of four communities nationwide that will heavily promote the new $1 coin, a gold-colored alternative to the dollar bill that the government hopes will save money on, well, money.

Audit leads to change at Dallas Housing Authority
The Dallas Housing Authority board on Tuesday made an organizational change in response to a critical federal audit. The commissioners voted unanimously to require the DHA's vice president of compliance to report to the board rather than the agency's president and chief executive officer.

Women outraged at priest's condemnation of miniskirts
A Catholic priest's condemnation of miniskirts on an official church Web site is causing outrage among some Mexican women, who say the Roman Catholic Church is making it easier to justify sexual violence against women.

Dallas' Metro Diner serving up 1963 prices as closing draws near

LARA SOLT/DMN

For two days – today and Wednesday – the popular greasy spoon has rolled back prices 45 years as a way of thanking its loyal customers before it closes for good on Saturday.
Video: Patrons pay farewell visits

Judge orders girl from Texas polygamist sect into foster care
A Texas judge has ordered a 14-year-old girl who was allegedly married to jailed polygamist leader Warren Jeffs be placed in foster care. Witnesses for the state have argued during the custody hearing in San Angelo that the girl's mother isn't a suitable caregiver.

Dallas Cowboys kick off 'Farewell to Texas Stadium' events with open practice
As construction crews ready a behemoth new home for America’s team in Arlington, a Cowboys marketing campaign is focusing on the last season in the 37-year-old Irving landmark with the famed hole in the roof.

3 human cases of West Nile virus confirmed in Arlington
Tarrant County Public Health confirmed that three human cases of the West Nile virus have recently been reported in Arlington.

Celebrations planned for Nastia Liukin's homecoming this week

TOM FOX / DMN

World Olympic Gymnastics Academy officials say Liukin and her parents will arrive Thursday on United Airlines Flight 478 from San Francisco.
Olympics blog
Photos, video: 2008 Olympics

Politics blog: VP buzz picks up as conventions near
The parties' national conventions are around the corner, and speculation is heating up about who John McCain and Barack Obama will choose as their running mates.

Texas Supreme Court rejects state Sen. Kim Brimer's bid to kick opponent off ballot
Mr. Brimer, a Republican, has argued that Wendy Davis, a Democrat and former Fort Worth City Council member, isn’t eligible to be on the ballot. He has claimed that Ms. Davis’s replacement on the council wasn’t seated until after the filing deadline in early January.

Texas death row inmate's defense hopes to prove romantic link between Collin County ex-prosecutor, retired judge
Defense lawyers for Charles Dean Hood are trying an unusual tack: they've asked a Collin County court at law to subpoena retired Judge Verla Sue Holland and former district attorney Tom O'Connell Jr. as part of a possible civil rights lawsuit.

Stormy weather hits Dallas-Fort Worth area, more rain this evening
A flash flood watch for the Dallas-Fort Worth area could be extended through Wednesday morning, as more storms are expected tonight.

Feds, state officials say private sector could speed up I-35 improvements
Federal and state leaders, frustrated by delays on the expansion of Interstate 35E through parts of Dallas and Denton counties, said a private contractor and tolls could be the keys to igniting the project.

Music blog: Flying beer knocks out Pat Green during show
When a singer asks the audience, "Anyone got a beer?", he's probably not asking for the airborne variety.

Fort Worth officer arrested in domestic assault
A seven-year veteran of the Fort Worth police department was arrested Monday on allegations that he assaulted his girlfriend. He is the the second Fort Worth officer arrested in recent days; another was pulled over on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

Dallas City Hall lobbying for range of issues prior to Texas legislative session
Dallas City Hall staffers are identifying 40 different legislative goals they’re recommending the City Council support in hope of improving Dallas’ environment, economy, public safety, governmental operations and educational opportunities.

I-20 near Wills Point remains closed after truck crashes into bridge pillar
At the earliest, officials may reopen one lane by Wednesday afternoon, said Larry Krantz, a Texas Department of Transportation spokesman. A detour at the Turner-Hayden Road exit remained in effect today.

Plano complains to FCC after police radio signals disrupt sprinklers
The cities of Cedar Hill, DeSoto and Duncanville recently began testing a powerful new police communications system, but the system is so robust that the radio signals are reaching as far as 30 miles away.

No injuries after tour bus catches fire in Dallas
A tour bus was evacuated this morning near Interstate 20 and Bonnie View Road after a report of a fire, a Dallas Fire-Rescue official said.

Arlington officials expected to call $141M bond election for Nov. 4
The biggest part of the proposed bond package would be a $103.7 million proposition for road improvements, street light replacements and new traffic signals. The next largest would raise $15.5 million for improvements to more than a dozen parks and recreation centers, land acquisition for new parks and reconstruction of the Ditto Golf Course clubhouse.

Wilmer moves to fire city secretary, citing incompetence, misconduct
The City Council raised 14 concerns about Crystol Birdwell, whose 10 years with this southern Dallas County town were plagued by a failure to perform her duties, including not publishing public notices as required by state law, failing to transcribe City Council minutes and neglecting to pay the town’s bills on time, according to the council.

Lakewood-area woman robbed, raped and dumped near cemetery
Dallas police are looking for two men who raped and robbed a 51-year-old woman, taking her from an apartment near the Lakewood Country Club and dumping her miles away at a vacant lot near Laurel Land cemetery.

Armed man robs Wells Fargo bank in Tom Thumb store
The robbery took place about 6 p.m. Monday in the 3400 block of Custer Parkway, Richardson police said. The robber made a verbal demand before fleeing through the Tom Thumb main entrance with an undisclosed amount of money.

U.S. housing starts dip to lowest level in 17 years

Bloomberg News

Finished houses sit next to empty lots for sale in Forsyth, Ga.

The Commerce Department said that builders broke ground on 965,000 housing units on an annualized basis. That was down from a pace of 1.08 million in June and the weakest showing since March 1991.
Map: Dallas-area home sales and prices

Airline Biz Blog: PETA wants to buy restroom ad space at DFW
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on Monday sent a letter to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport chief executive Jeff Fegan offering to buy advertising space in the airport's bathroom stalls.

Olympics blog: Cramp drops Texas ex Sanya Richards to bronze in women's 400

Getty Images

Richards led going into the home stretch but barely held on for a third-place finish.
Jeremy Wariner wins 400M semifinal
Photos, video: 2008 Olympics

Another lawsuit filed in deadly Sherman bus crash
The estate of one of 17 people killed on a trip to a religious festival has filed a lawsuit against the driver, owner and manufacturer of the bus that blew a tire and skidded off the highway.

08/18/2008

Obama could name VP choice as soon as Wednesday
Barack Obama remains likely to chose someone relatively safe and avoid taking a chance with a game-changing selection. A similar strategic choice now faces John McCain.
Blog: Trail Blazers
More Elections

Auction of fixtures is upside of Reunion Arena's demolition

BRAD LOPER/DMN

Details of a public auction aren't solidified, but the city could conduct it on the arena's downtown grounds as soon as next month.

08/19/2008

Texas Rangers' Kinsler could be out for season

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler is batting .319 with 18 homers and 71 RBIs.

Another day, another catastrophe for the Texas Rangers. Ian Kinsler has very possibly played his last game of the season. What was initially called a sore left groin after Kinsler left Sunday's game is probably a sports hernia
Blog: Texas Rangers

08/18/2008

Plan to build 700 homes for homeless headed to Dallas council
Dallas' homeless czar outlined a plan on Monday to build 700 homes for chronically homeless people throughout the city within five years – at an estimated cost to taxpayers of $7.2 million to $18 million.

State Rep. Terri Hodge maintains combative persona as she fights corruption charges

KYE R. LEE/DMN

State Rep. Terri Hodge, the only sitting elected official indicted in the federal government's sprawling public corruption case, has asked the court to try her separately from other defendants.

08/19/2008

Police say sex offender assaulted 2 girls at same Farmers Branch church 8 years apart
A convicted sex offender faces charges he sexually assaulted two young girls at the same Farmers Branch church eight years apart, police said.

08/18/2008

2 Mexican states trying out new justice system
The border city of Ciudad Juárez, with record levels of drug violence and a long history of impunity, is at the center of a U.S.-supported effort to rebuild Mexico's crumbling justice system, where it's been estimated that 99 percent of all crimes go unpunished.

Architect with Dallas-based firm critiques Beijing's Big Five buildings

TOM FOX/DMN

China's love of spectacle, so evident at the opening ceremonies of the XXIX Olympiad, is also apparent in Beijing's modern cityscape. Beijing hosts five structures that are considered to be among the most arresting new buildings in the world, including the Olympics venues known as the Bird's Nest stadium and the Water Cube swimming center.
Olympics Blog
More Olympics coverage

Truck holds up bridge on I-20 near Wills Point, lanes remain closed
An 18-wheeler left the road and began riding the guardrail before it crashed at about 5:30 a.m., said State Trooper Jean Dark. A short time later, a second 18-wheeler crashed into the first vehicle.

Olympics blog: Liukin's silver provides obligatory scoring flap

TOM FOX/DMN

Never mind that Nastia Liukin scored the same as He Kexin, writes Kate Hairopoulos. This is gymnastics. This is the Olympics.
Photos, video: 2008 Olympics

Storms to bring more rain, keep temps down all week
Showers moving through North Texas this morning brought much needed rain — nearly half an inch at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport — and are keeping temperatures down, said Nick Hampshire, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

It's an open case: Who's stealing manhole covers in Lufkin?
It's an open case – someone has been stealing manhole covers in Lufkin. Police say at least nine manhole covers have been swiped this month.

Weather blog: Rain could last into Wednesday
The National Weather Service says a "vigorous" low pressure system is trucking this way from eastern Colorado, arriving tonight and hanging around into Wednesday morning.