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Dallas has to get urgent about pedestrian safety

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Dallas has to get urgent about pedestrian safety


Dallas is not a city for pedestrians. High speed limits, few decent street crossings and long stretches without a sidewalk in sight. Crossing the street should not be a life-or-death situation, but too often it feels that way.

The city has a long-term plan that is already making an impact but is moving in slow motion. Officials still need to bring pedestrian safety to the forefront.

In 2023, there were 71 fatal crashes involving pedestrians and 198 crashes with severe injuries involving pedestrians, according to the city’s Vision Zero Dashboard. Vision Zero is an ambitious plan to reduce traffic fatalities and severe injury crashes by 50% by 2030, including pedestrian accidents.

Vision Zero has already identified the most dangerous intersections for pedestrians in Dallas, with the top spot going to Maple Avenue, between Oak Lawn Avenue and Hudnall Street. A safety plan that includes bike lanes and enhanced pedestrian crossings was presented in late July and has been given priority by the city.

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Another effective way to reduce pedestrian deaths and injuries is by reducing speed limits. There is a correlation between speed limits and fatality rates with pedestrians, studies show, even by reducing 5 miles per hour. This is the spirit of a new ordinance for the East Ledbetter corridor, which is part of Loop 12. That stretch of road, according to a Texas Department of Transportation analysis and highlighted by KXAS-TV (NBC5), is the deadliest roadway for traffic crashes.

Redesigning portions of Loop 12 to slow down cars is part of a larger multiagency plan, Michael Morris, director of Transportation at the North Central Texas Council of Governments, told NBC5.

NTCOG is presenting a legislative plan for the region to enhance street safety, including automated speed enforcement over 90 mph and measures that improve bicycle and pedestrian safety focusing on areas with pedestrian movements.

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Dallas also has ambitious projects for traffic safety that are waiting for bond money to kick in. However, completion dates in some cases are expected for 2027. With the information the city already has from Vision Zero, officials should consider repurposing funds to give priority to some of these projects.

Meanwhile, adding pedestrian crossings is relatively inexpensive and yet effective. Dallas City Council member Chad West told us some parts of his district, in north Oak Cliff, are using reflective delineators — bright traffic poles — that have been effective in reducing traffic speeds.

West, along with council member Jesse Moreno, started the Street Design Manual Work Group last year to review the city’s current Street Design Manual and to consider how to incorporate Vision Zero with other citywide initiatives. A report is expected by the end of this year.

Getting these plans into action takes time, but the city has enough information on the table to take immediate action in some high-risk areas with an added sense of urgency.

So far this year, there have been 48 pedestrian deaths and 107 severe injuries. These numbers are proof that there is much work to be done.

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Dallas, TX

Dallas dating app meeting ends in fatal shooting and murder charge

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Dallas dating app meeting ends in fatal shooting and murder charge


Dallas police arrested a man for murder after they say he shot a couple he met through an online dating app.

What we know:

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Investigators say 26-year-old Noah Trueba shot and killed a 57-year-old woman on Friday morning in Northwest Dallas. Dallas Fire-Rescue responded and pronounced one of the individuals, 57-year-old Guadalupe Gonzalez, dead at the scene.  

The second victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition. 

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According to an affidavit, Trueba drank and used drugs with the two, who called themselves husband and wife. Trueba later told police that the couple tried to sexually assault him, so he opened fire. 

A police drone located him hiding along a nearby highway, after he ran from the scene.

What’s next:

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Trueba was arrested at the scene. He is currently booked in the Dallas County Jail and being charged with murder.

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Brewster Billings at 214-671-3083 or at brewster.billings@dallaspolice.gov.

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The Source: Information in this article was provided from documents provided by the Dallas Police Department.

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Defensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026

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Defensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026


Sunday was another frustrating game for Dallas Cowboys fans who had to watch the secondary miss one tackle after another against the New York Giants.

In addition to the poor angles and inability to wrap up, the defensive backs couldn’t consistently stop an aerial attack that was without their top two players. That sums up the season for the Dallas defense, which is why Matt Eberflus being relieved of his duties feels like a foregone conclusion.

MORE: Dallas Cowboys’ 2026 NFL opponents, home & away schedule set

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From there, the question turns to who will replace Eberflus. While there’s no shortage of options available, here’s a look at some of the top candidates if Dallas made fixing the secondary their primary goal.

Daniel Bullocks, DB Coach/Pass Game Specialist, San Francisco 49ers

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Detailed view of a San Francisco 49ers helmet at State Farm Stadium. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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The San Francisco 49ers have one of the most impressive coaching trees. While Robert Saleh didn’t excel as a head coach, he returned to his role as defensive coordinator and continued to excel. They’ve also seen DeMeco Ryans do an extraordinary job in Houston as a head coach, with a staff loaded with former 49ers assistants.

That’s why looking at their staff is a wise move. One name to consider is Daniel Bullocks, who has been an assistant with San Francisco since 2017. He currently serves as the safeties coach and pass game specialist. While they haven’t been elite this year, his unit is usually among the best in the NFL.

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Aubrey Pleasant, Assistant Head Coach/Pass Game Coordinator, Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant on the sidelines. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Aubrey Pleasant has been a name to watch for years, even interviewing for multiple defensive coordinator vacancies. He’s been with the Los Angeles Rams since 2023, and was promoted to assistant head coach in 2024.

Cory Undlin, Pass Game Coordinator, Houston Texans

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Houston Texans defensive passing game coordinator Cory Undlin reacts during pre game against the Indianapolis Colts. | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

DeMeco Ryans was mentioned earlier as a great coach to come out of San Francisco. One assistant he brought along with him is Cory Undlin, who has been a pass game specialist for the 49ers (2021-2022) and now the Houston Texans (2023-present).

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MORE: Dak Prescott explains why he’s not blaming himself for Cowboys’ failed season

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Houston has a vicious defense led by hard-hitting safeties and physical cornerbacks. Undlin deserves credit for helping develop their young talent and could help Dallas get back on track in the secondary.

Al Harris, Pass Game Coordinator/DB Coach, Chicago Bears

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Dallas Cowboys player player Trevon Diggs talks with Al Harris during training camp at Ford Center. | Handout Photo-Imagn Images

Everyone who follows the Cowboys knows, and loves, Al Harris. He was part of Dan Quinn’s defensive staff and was credited for developing ballhawks such as Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland.

Harris left this offseason and while the Cowboys fell apart, the Chicago Bears began to generate turnovers at a high rate. We’ve seen enough to know Harris should have been kept.

Raheem Morris, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons

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Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the sideline against the Seattle Seahawks. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Raheem Morris was fired after two seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad coach. Morris remains one of the more well-respected defensive minds in the NFL, even winning the Super Bowl in 2021 as the Rams’ defensive coordinator. That was his second Super Bowl ring, as Morris earned one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the 2002 season. That year, he was a defensive quality control coach for Jon Gruden.

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Morris excels at coaching defensive backs and brings extensive experience to the table. He may be exactly the kind of hire Jerry Jones would feel comfortable making, and one Cowboys fans could believe in.

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Dallas, TX

Cowboys updated 2026 NFL Draft order: Current 1st-round pick after Week 18

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Cowboys updated 2026 NFL Draft order: Current 1st-round pick after Week 18


The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up their 2025 season on Sunday and will now turn all of their attention to offseason work in the name of not finding themselves out of the playoffs this time next year. Obviously that is much easier said than done.

This upcoming offseason is one of the most important and critical in recent Cowboys history as they have multiple first-round draft picks for the first time since 2008. With the Cowboys now officially done for the season, we know where they will be picking come the 2026 NFL Draft.

Updated 2026 NFL Draft order

Here are the first 12 picks of the draft, through the Cowboys selection at number 12 overall, courtesy of Tankathon.

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If all of this sounds familiar it is because it is… the Cowboys held the 12th overall pick last year and used it to select Tyler Booker. They also used it in 2021 to select Micah Parsons, more on him in a moment, although they picked it up after trading back two spots. For what it’s worth the Detroit Lions held the pick in consecutive seasons beginning the year after and landed Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs, so hopefully that type of success is what the Cowboys find.

While we know where the Cowboys are picking, it is still unknown exactly where their other first-round pick will land. Dallas holds Green Bay’s selection in the 2026 NFL Draft and the Packers are currently set to visit the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card Round which means we are all rooting for Chicago to take care of business.

Updated rundown of Cowboys Draft Picks

Keep in mind that Dallas has also already dealt away 2026 draft capital as well.

The Cowboys are projected to receive a couple of compensatory picks as well, potentially in the fifth-round, but those are not fully known at this time.

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