For decades, Candace Wicks has seen the good the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center can do.

Some of her first memories of the 10.5-acre South Dallas campus are volunteering with her church to hand out free meals to the area’s unsheltered community — a service she says is “just one of the many” examples of the center’s critical work.

But she said she has watched the center also make do with limited resources.

“I like to say — and it has been quoted several times — that ‘we make bricks out of straw’ here,” said Wicks, a vice chair appointed to the center’s advisory board, which she has served on for nearly 10 years. “This is one of the most underappreciated locations in the city.”

Wicks thinks that is starting to change: On Thursday, she joined a crowd on the campus to celebrate a $2.5 million earmark to benefit the center — federal funding that will go toward improving the facility and kickstart work before a forthcoming renovation approved by Dallas voters this spring as part of a $1.25 billion bond package.

The campus, originally called the Crossroads Community Center, opened its doors in February 1969 as the city’s first multi-service community facility. The Dallas City Council renamed the facility after Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1975.

Since then, the center has become a hub for services and educational and cultural enrichment in South Dallas. It was the venue for nearly 30 events and hosted nearly 200,000 visitors last year, according to a report from the center’s advisory board.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, paved the way for the $2.5 million earmark. The earmark to the South Dallas center was the largest allocation the first-term representative directed as part of the fiscal year 2024 Appropriations Bill.

Crockett, whose district includes South Dallas, said her office received requests for more than 70 projects seeking funding in fiscal year 2024. Her staff reviewed the proposals and made recommendations based on the parameters set by the Republican-led House.

The bill passed earlier this year.

“I looked for spaces in which I felt, ‘if we don’t do this, I don’t know that this gap will get filled,’” Crockett said in an interview. “The MLK center is kind of one of those that falls into a bit of a unique category … I was concerned the gap may not get filled.”

Wick said that upcoming improvements to the center include accessibility enhancements.

Nearly four years ago, Wicks fell ill with a life-threatening sickness that resulted in sepsis. She survived, but the harsh treatments took a toll on her body. She now uses an electric wheelchair — something that has changed her perspective using the center.

“Not to say that I wasn’t already aware, but it’s changed how I view it,” she said. She added that she saw the $2.5 million earmark as “a prayer answered.”

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Bazaldua, who represents District 7, where the center is located, described the earmark as “more than an investment in a building.”

“It’s an investment in the future of South Dallas,” he said.

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MIAMI (WSVN) – A South Florida family sprang into action to save a heron that was tangled up in trouble.

Speaking with 7News on Thursday, Miami Beach resident Suzanne Wilkinson said she found a white heron in distress in her backyard.

“And I heard this screaming, strange noise, right here, right outside this sliding glass door, really kind of screaming for help,” she said.

After getting a closer look, Wilkinson said, she saw the heron was tangled up with a fishing line, which was still hooked to a fish, and the hook was in the bird’s wing.

“Struggling, all wrapped up in fishing line,” she said.

Wilkinson said she panicked after seeing how badly injured the bird was.

“I didn’t know what to think, and I just called for Morgan,” she said.

Wilkinson’s son, Morgan Wilkinson-Leon, said he was calm and collected since he knew what to do next.

“I just looked up what to do if you find an injured animal in your yard,” he said.

Wilkinson-Leon called the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station in Miami. While they waited for their arrival, his father went into action.

“My dad had gotten home and had been able to free the bird of the line on his wing,” said Wilkinson-Leon.

“He was so injured that he just kind of jumped over onto the boat and was sitting and staring there,” said Wilkinson.

Amanda Burke, a wildlife rehabilitator at Pelican Harbor Seabird Station, later arrived at the home and was able to grab the heron.

“The herons have these really, really sharp beaks that they always trying to jab you right in the eye,” said Burker, “I was able to contain him with a towel and get him back up to the dock and take him into the station.”

The heron underwent surgery during which veterinarians closed up the hole left by the hook.

“We like to call [the heron] Spicy. He is really active and a fighter,” said Burke.

As for Spicy, he has some stitches but is recovering in the station’s outdoor enclosures.

The family who rescued him is rooting for Spicy to make a full recovery.

“I hope that he can come out here and just be able to fly off and go back to wherever he originally was,” said Wilkinson-Leon.

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The Atlanta Falcons, led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by quarterback Kirk Cousins in Week 4 of the NFL season on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 (10/3/24) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of Amazon Prime

Here’s what you need to know:

What: NFL, Week 4

Who: Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When: Oct. 3, 2024

Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Time: 8:20 p.m. ET

TV: N/A

LIVE STREAM: Amazon Prime

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons had big plans for their offense when they decided to invest heavily in quarterback Kirk Cousins and add new coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.

The widespread belief was they only needed an established quarterback and a fresh game plan to utilize the playmakers added in the first rounds of recent drafts — tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson.

Entering Thursday night’s visit from NFC South leader Tampa Bay (3-1), the Atlanta offense has yet to find its momentum. The Falcons (2-2) have shown flashes of promise as Cousins has led two game-winning drives, but the veteran hasn’t matched the production of Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield that has led the Buccaneers to the top of the division.

The most recent evidence of mixed results came Sunday in the Falcons’ 26-24 win over New Orleans. Atlanta won despite not scoring an offensive touchdown, while Pitts was held without a catch and Bijan Robinson ran for only 28 yards.

Morris said he’ll take the win and let others fret about the numbers.

“Really for me, stats are for losers,” Morris said after the game.

Morris and Robinson acknowledge improvement must come and the offense can’t always rely on the defense and special teams to produce the points.

“Have we reached our peak of what you want to play and how you can be best?” Morris asked on Monday. “No. But I think that’s a part of what the season is. I think that’s a part of steady improvement, steady growth, and I love that about our football team. I think we know that, I think they know that, and I think we’re really comfortable being able to go out there and win football games however we can.”

Mayfield threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score in Sunday’s 33-16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mayfield has passed for eight touchdowns with two interceptions. Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million deal as a free agent, has four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Wide receiver Mike Evans became the Buccaneers’ career scoring leader last week. Evans is only one part in a passing game that also features wide receiver Chris Godwin and then promoted Sterling Shepard from the practice squad as another option for Mayfield.

“I think that it really makes it difficult for the defense,” Godwin said. “It’s one thing when a guy is going off because you feed the hot hand, right? But if we’re able to spread the ball around that much, everybody gets involved. … You can mix in your quick game, your deep passing game, play actions, screens.”

Success in the South

The Bucs have won the past three NFC South titles. This is their fourth 3-1 start in the past five years. They’ve also been successful against Atlanta lately, winning six of the past eight meetings between the division rivals, outscoring the Falcons by 51 points in those games.

Yellow flags

The Falcons committed nine penalties for 76 yards on Sunday and already have 30 penalties for the season.

“We can’t have those,” Zac Robinson said Tuesday. “There’s certain situations we’re trying to avoid, and obviously it’s at the discretion of the refs to call those. And you got to just keep playing, and so those have been tough.”

Cooking with Baker

Mayfield is off to a solid start after resurrecting a stalled career in 2023 and signing a three-year, $100 million contract to remain in Tampa Bay.

The No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 draft is coming off throwing for 347 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in last Sunday’s 33-16 rout of the Philadelphia Eagles. He also ran for a TD.

He enters Thursday night with a 106.9 passer rating that ranks fourth in the NFL. He’s second in TD passes (eight) and fourth in passing yards (984).

Falcons offense is coming

Zac Robinson says more offensive consistency is close because “there’s been games where we’ve executed really well.”

“We’re trying to find that mix to where we know we’re close to getting over the hump with some things, and guys are just — they’re eager,” Robinson said. “They want to be the most explosive offense and the best offense in the NFL.”

Comfort zone in Tampa

Godwin attributes some of Mayfield’s success to the comfort level that comes with being with the same team for a second season.

“And yes, this is our first year in this offensive system, but it’s his second year with this group of guys and I think the camaraderie that we built last year really helped,” Godwin said.

“I think the adversity that we faced when we all stuck together — I think (that) really helps this year,” Godwin added. “I think it’s just a natural maturation process, just for him as a player.”

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