Dallas, TX
Cothrum: I’m optimistic about Kim Tolbert as Dallas city manager
Give her a chance. That’s what I’ve been telling clients and friends since the Dallas City Council named Kimberly Bizor Tolbert the new city manager. Most of these people are surprised that I’m cautiously optimistic. Those calling are mostly City Hall insiders, even employees and elected and appointed officials. They know I’m critical of most things coming out of Marilla Street, and that the city has serious problems — unhappy citizens, a poor debt rating, homelessness, aging infrastructure and high taxes, to name just a few.
So why am I optimistic?
Because Tolbert works. Hard. She puts in long hours. She actually comes into the office — something her predecessor T.C. Broadnax didn’t do.
In many ways, she reminds me of Mary Suhm, who started her career as a librarian. Suhm learned from the ground floor up and worked hard as the city leader. She earned her spurs, gaining wide levels of expertise across many city departments. Most important, she had institutional knowledge. She combined this with an admirable work ethic.
Effort counts, and ability begins with availability. So far, so good with Tolbert.
My optimism has increased after seeing that rank-and-file city employees began filling the council chamber as the agenda item to name her came closer. They filled the place. They were excited that someone from the ranks would lead them. I also believe they know that she works, not just presides.
I believe these people will work for her and be willing to make the changes she promotes.
I am hopeful she will not allow employees to hide, coast or provide poor customer service. It’s become a norm in the building. Calls and emails go unanswered. Plans go unreviewed. Most galling, employees boast about their side hustles, a dynamic facilitated by work-from-home policies.
The Broadnax years featured managers that wanted to make employees happy. I hope Tolbert empowers directors and their assistants to hold employees accountable and help them improve.
Other cities treat people like customers and know they are competing. I’ve been concerned that Tolbert uses platitudes — that Dallas is winning, and keeping the city at the top. I’m hoping that is just excited rhetoric, because it’s not true.
In my experience, the city of Dallas is the most dysfunctional, siloed, political, expensive and rude place to do business in the region — by a wide margin. This must change quickly for Dallas to even begin to be competitive.
Tolbert is going to lead from out front. I worried it might be more from the Broadnax playbook. So far, I was wrong — and I’m happy to admit it. She crawled out of the wreck of the good ship Broadnax and got to work repairing the damage, while many others scurried to his new ship in Austin.
I believe Tolbert is going to make different choices and run a different and more accountable government. She is willing to be graded. Only someone confident they will do the job behaves that way.
She’s not waiting for leadership from the council; she’s leading. She’s asking for input, not instructions.
She’s certainly not waiting on the mayor to provide inspiration or insight. The next expected sighting of the mayor, predictable like a comet, is in 2026, when he will take full credit for the World Cup games and be out and about in a new cowboy hat.
Tolbert has worked outside City Hall enough to know what the real world is like. More important, she started at the lowest level inside City Hall and made it to the top. Tolbert has had a variety of mentors during her career.
There’s no honeymoon for Tolbert. There’s no time for it, and too much to do. I’m optimistic, but I’m watching for backsliding. She’s got two and a half years to get things headed in the right direction, so when the city has a mayor willing to lead, the pace can quicken. The City Council must make explicit that she must blaze this path swiftly.
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DALLAS – Slow-moving thunderstorms brought localized flash flooding to parts of North Texas on Tuesday evening, blocking highways near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and dropping several inches of rain in portions of Tarrant and Parker counties.
Flash Flood Warnings
Local perspective:
Flash flood warnings are in effect for Hopkins, Hunt, Rains and Van Zandt counties until 7:45 p.m.
Flooding was reported along Texas 183 near Valley View Lane south of DFW Airport, where stranded vehicles and water-covered roadways created hazardous travel conditions.
A flash flood warning remained in effect near the airport, although rainfall rates had begun to diminish as the storm weakened.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
The National Weather Service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northern Hood County, citing the potential for gusty winds and small hail. Forecasters reported hail ranging from pea-sized to marble-sized in parts of Hood, Parker and Denton counties.
Forecasters attributed the weakening storms in Denton County to an outflow boundary, a meteorological feature that can disrupt thunderstorm development.
The warning area was reduced as the storm weakened near sunset.
LIVE RADAR
What they’re saying:
FOX 4’s Kylie Capps said the storms moved unusually slowly from east to west, allowing heavy rain to accumulate over the same areas for several hours.
Rainfall estimates showed some locations in eastern Parker County and western Tarrant County received nearly 5 inches of rain during a six-hour period, while areas near DFW Airport recorded more than 2 inches.
Elsewhere in North Texas, northern Rains County received nearly 5 inches of rain.
7-Day Forecast
What’s next:
Forecasters expect a quieter overnight period, with only isolated showers lingering into the evening. Additional thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon, though coverage and the threat of severe weather are expected to remain limited.
Temperatures are forecast to reach about 90 degrees Wednesday.
Rain chances are expected to continue through the remainder of the workweek and into the weekend as an upper-level low-pressure system sends multiple disturbances across North Texas.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by FOX 4’s Weather Team
Monday was a wild day for the NFL with two blockbuster trades. First was Myles Garrett, who both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles were rumored to have interest in.
Cowboys fans never bought into these rumors, knowing that Jerry Jones was unlikely to make such an investment. The Eagles, however, have been known to get aggressive. Thankfully for Dallas fans, they didn’t make the move as the Cleveland Browns sent Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and a package of picks.
Not long after that trade was finalized, the Eagles did wind up making a trade. After months of speculation surrounding A.J. Brown and the New England Patriots, the two sides made it official as Brown was reunited with Mike Vrabel in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Dallas Cowboys could take the NFC East crown in 2026
The writing has been on the wall all offseason regarding Brown, who has been unhappy with the Eagles for a while. His departure seemed confirmed when they traded up with Dallas in the 2026 NFL draft for USC receiver Makai Lemon.
While Lemon has the tools to be a difference-maker, he won’t be able to perform at the same level as Brown during his rookie season. The Eagles do still have DeVonta Smith at receiver as well as running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts.
That said, there’s no denying that they’re weaker this season than they were with Brown. Just as important, however, is the fact that general manager Howie Roseman didn’t pull off a shocking move for Garrett, which would have made them the overwhelming favorites in the division.
Cowboys chances hinge on defensive changes
Another reason the Cowboys are confident they can hang with Philadelphia this season is the presence of Christian Parker, who they hired as their defensive coordinator after he spent the past two seasons as the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Eagles.
Parker brings in a new scheme and plenty of confidence, but more importantly, he has several new weapons at his disposal. Dallas traded for veterans Rashan Gary and Dee Winters, signed Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant, and selected Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the draft.
Those are just some of the moves they made on defense, and they’re banking on that to be enough to help propel them past the team that has won the division the past two seasons.
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