Dallas, TX
A look back at instances where Dallas-area sports were impacted by inclement weather
As the Dallas area braces for the possibility of wintry precipitation, sports fans are shifting their focus to Friday’s Cotton Bowl Classic between Texas and Ohio State.
In a statement to The Dallas Morning News, a Cotton Bowl spokesperson said the game’s organizers are routinely monitoring weather reports and have plans in case inclement conditions bring any changes. If this week’s weather event does lead to a delay or postponement, it wouldn’t be the first time this area has seen its sports impacted by meteorological conditions.
Here’s a look at a few instances where bad weather affected D-FW sports, starting with Super Bowl XLV at AT&T Stadium:
2011 Super Bowl at AT&T
One of the biggest topics of discussion that came from Super Bowl XLV was the weather. A few days before the NFL’s largest event took over AT&T Stadium, snow and ice blanketed the Dallas area and led to a variety of issues.
While the game between the Packers and Steelers went on as planned, a few people suffered injuries after ice and snow fell from the stadium. A halftime show worker notably sued the Cowboys and stadium architects after being injured at the venue, saying he suffered a skull fracture and lasting medical problems. The lawsuit was settled in 2014.
At least six people suffered a range of injuries on the Friday before Super Bowl XLV when warming weather melted layers of ice and snow on the stadium roof.
Temperatures sat at 27 degrees or lower for more than three days in that stretch.
2017 tornado warning keeps Cowboys at AT&T Stadium
Weather events are usually associated with delays or postponements when it comes to the sports world. In this instance, the weather affected fans after a game ended.
Just a few short moments after the Cowboys fell to the Green Bay Packers in a 2017 divisional round playoff game, a tornado warning was issued in Arlington. AT&T Stadium was under a lockdown due to the weather, and several Cowboys employees, fans and players were told not to exit the venue as storms moved through the area.
Then-rookies Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott were among those taking shelter at the stadium, spending some time on the field before they received the all-clear to leave.
2018 First Responders Bowl
This is another scenario where the weather impacting a sporting event wasn’t exactly wintry. In December 2018, Boise State and Boston College were set to face off in the first-ever SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.
The game kicked off at the Cotton Bowl and Boston College took a 7-0 lead early. With about five minutes left in the first quarter, the momentum was halted. As thunderstorms rolled through the area, continued lightning strikes near the stadium meant a string of 30-minute delays would take place.
The contest would eventually be canceled and ruled a no-contest.
2021 ice storm postpones Mavs and Stars
A severe Arctic outbreak impacted a large portion of the state in February 2021, leaving more than 1.7 million Texas homes without power. The Dallas Stars and Mavericks saw their schedules affected by this winter storm.
The Stars were scheduled to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 21, but the NHL postponed the matchup due to ongoing power issues in the area. That was the team’s fourth postponement attributed to the storm, with other games that week against the Nashville Predators and Lightning already being pushed back.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks had a game against the Pistons postponed. The game, scheduled for Feb. 17, could not be played because of a “government shutdown of American Airlines Center” due to the ongoing storm.
2023 Pistons, Pelicans have travel issues due to icy weather
In February 2023, icy conditions in the Dallas area put a game between the Mavericks and Pelicans in jeopardy.
Ice and freezing temperatures disrupted travel across the state, meaning the Pelicans were unable to leave Denver after a Tuesday night game with the Nuggets. New Orleans was scheduled to face Dallas on a Thursday night.
While some travel-related headaches occurred, the game went on as scheduled when the Pelicans were cleared to head to Dallas. New Orleans wasn’t the only team experiencing issues. The Detroit Pistons were stuck in Dallas after a game with the Mavericks and saw a game against the Wizards postponed.
Other notable instances
1993 Thanksgiving Day Cowboys game: This game wasn’t delayed or postponed, but it was memorable. A mix of rain and sleet fell in the Dallas area on Nov. 25 1993 when the Cowboys and Dolphins faced off at Texas Stadium.
The stadium’s turf was covered, marking the first time snow fell in Dallas during an NFL game. The matchup featured a wild finish, seeing Miami come away with a 16-14 win.
2010 NBA All-Star festivities: Snow blanketed the area when AT&T Stadium hosted the NBA All-Star Game in February 2010. The event’s public opening was impacted by gloomy conditions, but the weekend was still considered a success.
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Dallas, TX
Dallas County eyes new multibillion-dollar jail to replace aging Lew Sterrett facility
It became Dallas County’s new, contemporary facility to house accused criminals in 1993. Today, close to 7,000 men and women each day either serve time, wait for trials, or transfer to state prison inside the county’s Lew Sterrett jail.
The elected leader of county government, Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins, says it’s time for a new facility — and it will cost billions to build it.
“We’ve got to begin planning and doing the work, because we can’t wait until this jail is absolutely just failing,” said Jenkins.
Expansion and development in and around downtown Dallas have the county keeping quiet about future locations.
“So we are looking at sites, and I think we’ll have land purchased this year,” Jenkins said. “And a land purchase in the relative scheme of things is a very insignificant financial amount of this.
“When I’m talking about starting on planning and building of a jail, I’m talking about something that will open perhaps 8 or 9 or even ten years from now.”
To complete a new facility in 10 years, Jenkins said the costs will be in the billions, based on a desire to build a jail that offers mental health and substance abuse treatment, trying to end the cycle of folks filling the jail, arrested over and over again for non-violent crimes.
Dallas, TX
Dallas church stands firm with rainbow steps art win
A hearing room at Dallas City Hall was packed with an overflow crowd. Supporters of Oak Lawn United Methodist Church were ready for a fight, but that fight was one-sided.
“Rainbow steps shouldn’t be controversial,” one supporter said during his 3 minutes at the public comment microphone. “It’s just paint, y’all!”
The church came to the Dallas Landmark Commission to get permission for the rainbow steps painted last month in response to Governor Greg Abbott’s order to paint over crosswalks with political or ideological references, like the rainbow crosswalk outside Oak Lawn United Methodist.
“”These rainbow steps that I’m sitting on are an art installation,” Oak Lawn United Methodist Church Senior Pastor Reverend Rachel Griffin-Allison said. “We feel that it is urgent to make a statement, make a bold statement, and a visible statement, to say that who you are is queer, and beloved, and belongs here.”
As NBC 5 spoke with the pastor, someone yelled homophobic insults from a passing car.
“This is important to have because that kind of heckling happens all the time,” Griffin-Allison said somberly.
The church, a Gothic revival building, is a designated historic landmark, which is why it needed the Dallas Landmark Commission’s approval.
“They are not considered part of the historic preservation building; they are just steps,” one speaker said during public comments.
Several speakers pointed out that the steps had been painted a “gaudy blood red” in the past, and then a shade of gray with no comments or approval.
“When I see the stairs, I see love, support, inclusion, and kindness,” a woman wearing sequin rainbow sneakers said. “They bring a smile to my face and my heart.”
“If you don’t like rainbow steps on your church, then go to one of the 500 churches that don’t have them,” a young man said to the commissioners. “We have one street that represents this culture, and we have one church with rainbow steps!”
Not a single speaker spoke out against the rainbow steps art installation, and it was apparent there was no fight with the commissioners either, as they unanimously voted to allow the rainbow steps to stay up for 3 years.
Dallas, TX
Dallas dating app meeting ends in fatal shooting and murder charge
DALLAS – Dallas police arrested a man for murder after they say he shot a couple he met through an online dating app.
What we know:
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.
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:
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.
The Source: Information in this article was provided from documents provided by the Dallas Police Department.
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