Dallas, TX
Dallas non-profit organization provides free welding certification to veterans
NORTH TEXAS – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that more than 33,000 veterans are homeless in the United States, including about 4,000 in Texas.
A North Texas nonprofit organization is helping to change that by providing free job training in a trade to help veterans experiencing homelessness and housed veterans looking for a good-paying career.
The Homeless Veterans Services of Dallas, also known as the Veterans Resource Center, is a safe haven for many veterans, including retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Devoe Pelcher.
“I served in Germany, and from there I went to Korea,” Pelcher said.
Pelcher served the country from 1978 to 1987 and still has vivid memories of surviving combat.
“That was stressful because you never know when something is going to happen. I used to wake up thinking I was on fire, and I was so glad that I wasn’t when I woke up,” Pelcher said.
Pelcher is learning how to turn the old into new by crafting works of art from discarded scraps of metal.
“There was no way I was going to be able to pay for school,” Pelcher said. “My life was totally changed when I got that certificate that I completed the welding course.”
The veterans take welding classes taught by Dallas College instructors five days a week. Homeless Veterans Services of Dallas President Ken Watterson said the classes originally started out for veterans experiencing homelessness, but now about 10% of veterans in the class are unhoused.
“It doesn’t cost the veteran anything but his time. It’s a 10-week program. We pick 12 veterans at a time. So far, we’ve had over 500 veterans graduate from the program,” Watterson said.
The Texas Veterans Commission helps to provide funding for the program.
“It’s a mix of homeless veterans and veterans who are looking for that specific job skill,” TVC Commissioner Chuck Wright said.
The veterans come out of the program certified in a high-paying trade.
“Welding is a trade that is well needed and well paid, and that’s what I’m looking for, the money. The M-O-N-E-Y,” Pelcher said.
“Plumbers, electricians, welders, it doesn’t take long to get into the $80,000 to $100,000 a year range,” Wright said.
The veterans pick pieces of scrap metal and turn them into works of art. They also create practical projects as they transform the metal and their lives.
Retired radio operator Breeana Lopez served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2015 to 2018.
“It’s a lot of ups and downs. I really enjoyed it though and am thankful I went through it,” Lopez said. “It’s a brother and sisterhood.”
She plans to use her welding skills to sell unique items at the state fair, and she made one-of-a-kind gifts from scratch for her wife.
“It makes me feel great. I’ve always been the one that I love to help out,” Lopez said. “I try to help out where I can, and I love making things.”
“The life lessons that we need, the trades that we learn, they pour so much in me. I need to pour something out,” Pelcher said.
Pelcher feels ready to pick up what’s discarded and create magic in his community as he steps confidently into his future.
The veterans also get a forklift certification in addition to their welding training.
Jeff Kolb and Sam Gannon welcome Cowboys insiders Clarence Hill (All City Dallas) and Calvin Watkins (Dallas Morning News) for a hilarious breakdown of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Giving insight, arguments, and plenty of laughs as two of the best Dallas Cowboys writers in the business go head-to-head on what Dallas should do next.
Dallas, TX
New video of Lake Dallas explosion draws focus on order decades ago to remove old plastic pipes
The search for the next general manager or president of basketball operations of the Dallas Mavericks has begun. They terminated Nico Harrison in November, which was about nine months too late, and gave any available candidates clear notice that they were open for business.
The plan was always to wait until after the season to start the search. While names popped up as the season reached an end, they didn’t begin turning over the staff until the Monday after the season ended. However, Dallas Mavericks fans are not going to like how the team is going about the search.
Patrick Dumont Leading Search for General Manager
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Mavericks are not hiring a search firm in their hunt for a new lead executive. Instead, team governor Patrick Dumont is “acting as his own point person.”
This is an… interesting decision, to say the least. Dumont is not a basketball person whatsoever, and most organizations usually hire a search firm. The Chicago Bulls hired one as they look for their replacement for Arturas Karnisovas. Just because a firm is hired doesn’t mean a team will listen, though.
The Mavericks hired a firm in their last search for a GM. They let Donnie Nelson go in 2021 after a long tenure with the Mavs. Instead of listening to the firm, though, Mark Cuban ignored it to hire Nico Harrison, who had no previous NBA front office experience. Harrison had been an executive with Nike, which gave him connections with players like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and plenty of others.
For a while, that seemed to be working out okay. While he still had some questionable transactions, such as trading for Christian Wood and letting Jalen Brunson walk in free agency, they were still able to make a run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Then, he blew it all up, trading away Luka Doncic for an older and injured Anthony Davis, and the team hasn’t been the same since.
It’s imperative that the Mavericks get this hire correct. The interim Co-GM setup with Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley has performed admirably, but the 2026 NBA Draft is important for the Mavs to get right. It’s their best chance to pair Cooper Flagg with another young star, as they don’t own their first-round pick again until 2031 after this.
Hiring the right GM could help bring in more draft capital by bringing in bad contracts or flipping veterans into picks.
Dumont was able to convince Rick Welts, a Hall of Famer, to come out of retirement to be the CEO and lead the charge for a new arena. Maybe Dumont pulls another rabbit out of his hat for the GM.
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