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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A July trade delegation led by Gov. Greg Abbott hopped aboard a bullet train for a fast trip to Tokyo, feeding the appetite for high-speed rail for some Texans.

As week five of the NFL season approaches, discussion of which NFL head coaches are on the hot seat is trending. One big name is Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy. Why is McCarthy on the hot seat? McCarthy’s 1-3 NFL playoff record with Dallas leaves much to be desired. He is on the final year of his contract with the Cowboys.

One college football coach to keep an eye on is USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley. Coach Riley’s name is already in discussion to be a top candidate, along with legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick.

On the first Sunday of the 2024 NFL season, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott signed a four-year extension. This contract makes Prescott the Cowboys quarterback for the foreseeable future. If there is one coach that can bring out the best in Prescott it is Coach Riley. He has coached several NFL quarterbacks, including Caleb Williams, Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, and Baker Mayfield. 

Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb also signed a four-year extension with the Cowboys in September. This keeps Prescott and Lamb together. With the top offensive pieces already there, Coach Riley would be coming into a team with some elite talent.

The Cowboys are 2-2 coming off of an NFC East win against the New York Giants. Dallas lost to the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens.

So far, Prescott has thrown for 1,072 passing yards and six touchdowns, with two interceptions and has been sacked 10 times this year. There has been little to no run game for the Cowboys offense. They have a total of 301 rushing yards this year. The leading rusher is running back Rico Dowdle with 134 yards. 

McCarthy was hired as the Cowboys head coach in January 2020. The 2020 season was the worst by the Cowboys under McCarthy’s reign only winning six games. From 2021 to 2023 the Cowboys ended the regular season with a 12-5 record. The issue has not been in the regular season as much as it has been in the playoffs. 

The Cowboys have not made it past the divisional round with McCarthy as the coach. Dallas lost in the wildcard round in 2021 and 2023 and lost in the divisional round in 2022. The wild card loss from the 2023 season was a blowout by the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys were the number two seed, and the Packers were the seventh. 

Even if McCarthy and the Cowboys turn it around in the regular season, it is the playoffs that matter. If they lose in playoffs early again, it is expected that this is the end of Coach McCarthy’s time in Dallas.

Throughout Coach Riley’s career, he has not yet made the move to the NFL. There is no indication of if he would be interested in the job yet. He is currently focusing on the 2024 USC season. Riley is a constant name brought up during NFL coaching changes though, and this could be the year he does move to the league. 

Before the Cowboys hired McCarthy in 2020, Riley was the name to watch during that time as well. Considering Coach Riley’s name has been involved with the Cowboys since the 2019 season if McCarthy does lose his head coaching job, Coach Riley’s name will be one to watch.

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Then there were two. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are one of only two remaining unbeaten teams in the NFL, although it has not been easy getting there

The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs are seeking their first 5-0 start since 2018 after a slew of tight wins, and they move on with a newish cast — top receiving threat Rashee Rice suffered a knee injury in a 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers last week, when running back rejoined the team Kareem Hunt.

Minnesota, the more surprising 4-0, with make its prime debut Thursday, Oct. 24.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will attempt to rebound from their first loss when they host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Tampa Bay and Atlanta open the prime time with an NFC South clash Thursday.

THURSDAY NIGHT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) at Atlanta Falcons (2-2)

How to watch: Prime Video, 7:15 pm ET

Key matchup: Baker Mayfield vs Kirk Cousins

After being seemingly left for the scrap heap two years ago, Bucs quarterback Mayfield has continued his remarkable resurgence by throwing for 984 yards and eight touchdowns against two interceptions this season. He has been sacked 15 times, but eating the ball is much better than an ill-advised throw.

Rookie halfback Bucky Irving has worked his way into the Bucs’ game plan, and the offense chewed up Philadelphia with 445 yards in a 33-16 victory last week after beating Super Bowl contender Detroit two weeks before.

The Falcons could consider this a mini-revenge game. Tampa Bay beat them 29-25 on Mayfield’s touchdowns pass with 31 seconds remaining in Week 14 last season, a victory that pushed the Bucs toward the division title and significantly hurt Atlanta’s chances.

The Falcons acquired Kirk Cousins to correct a sluggish offense, but he has yet to throw for as many as 250 yards his four starts.

SUNDAY NIGHT

Dallas Cowboys (2-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)

How to watch: NBC/Peacock 7:20 pm ET

Key matchup: Dak Prescott vs Pittsburgh D

This is an intriguing matchup on several levels. Pittsburgh has jumped to the AFC North lead by using coach Mike Tomlin’s old-school approach — run the ball and play defense. Steelers’ opponents are averaging only 261.3 yards and 13.3 points per game, both in the top four in the league.

ForbesBertie

At the same time, this is the most explosive offense the Steelers have faced, although the Cowboys with quarterback Prescott are quite one-sided. Prescott averages 268 passing yards per game, but the Cowboys’ running game has been non-existent. The defense has not been any better. Dallas ranks No. 26 in total defense and No. 27 in rushing defense.

Justin Fields, who became the Steelers’ starting quarterback when Russell Wilson was injured before the opener, has accounted for six touchdowns — three rushing and three passing. Baltimore attempted only 12 passes in a 28-25 victory over Dallas two weeks ago. This game looks to have a similar feel.

MONDAY NIGHT

New Orleans Saints (2-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-0)

How to watch: ESPN, 7:15 pm ET

Key matchup: Mahomes vs Derek Carr

ForbesBertie

Squint at the game film, and these teams’ records could be reversed. Such is the NFL. Atlanta’s Younghoe Koo made a 58-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Saints 26-24 last Sunday, the week after the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley scored on a 4-yard run with 1:01 remaining for a 15-12 victory.

The Chiefs have won their four games by a total of 20 points, and they needed Harrison Butler’s 51-yard field goal as time expired to beat Cincinnati 26-25 in the second week.

Mahomes and Carr have thrown for about the same amount of yardage — Mahomes is averaging 20 more per game — but Mahomes has thrown five interceptions, one short of the league high.

The Chiefs traded up in the draft to acquire wide receiver Xavier Worthy, and he has two long touchdown receptions this season. Hunt returned to replace injured Isaiah Pacheco.