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Dallas church offers hope and healing as community grieves children killed in flood

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Dallas church offers hope and healing as community grieves children killed in flood


Green ribbons line the trees throughout North Dallas — a quiet but powerful tribute to the young lives lost in catastrophic flooding that swept through Central Texas.

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At least eight girls from North Texas were among the victims, including six who were attending a Christian summer camp and two who were on vacation with their families.

A church gathers to grieve

The heartbreak is being deeply felt at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, where the Bonner family are members. They lost their daughter, 9-year-old Lila Bonner, when floodwaters overwhelmed Camp Mystic.

On Sunday, hundreds gathered at the church to grieve, pray and search for comfort in the wake of unimaginable loss.

“When bad things happen, people often feel alone — and they’re not alone,” said Rector Christopher Girata. “Nobody who experienced this hardship is alone. And to gather together, to pray, to sing, and to be reminded that we walk through this grief together — that God actually comes alongside of us and carries the weight that is too much for us to bear — that’s when the church actually meets the moment and begins to plant the seeds of hope and healing that will happen in the future.”

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Faith offers comfort, not answers

Girata said the congregation has been hurting since learning the magnitude of the flooding. As the community mourns, many are turning to their faith leaders to help make sense of what happened.

“I firmly believe that these little children who lost their lives in the flood — they were swept right up into God’s arms,” Girata said. “I believe that God’s heart broke first for these children and that God was right there to welcome them in.”

When people ask why God would allow such a tragedy, Girata is clear: this was not part of a divine plan.

“In times of crisis, especially in death, a lot of times people are quick to say it was part of God’s plan,” he said. “That is not what we believe. And so when we speak of God’s plan, I want to be super clear — God does not plan for children to die. God’s promise — not God’s plan, but God’s promise — is that even when terrible things happen, God walks with us through those horrible moments and can make something good out of even the darkest experiences. That light of hope, that light of Christ, is what we have in that darkness.”

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Supporting those who stepped up

Girata said he wants to validate the pain people are feeling, while also pointing them toward hope and healing.

“One of the things I did not really anticipate was talking to some of the teenagers here in this church who had been counselors,” he said. “In the moment of need, they saved these children. And the responsibility that that puts on them — the kind of pressure that they would have felt. They’re heroes, and they’re also feeling this incredible grief.”

He said those young counselors are now processing the trauma of waking up to floodwaters above their windows and having to rescue the children in their care.

Healing through connection

Girata said the church will continue to support them — and the entire community — in the days and weeks ahead.

He encourages anyone struggling to seek out connection.

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“Do not stay isolated,” he said. “Whenever this kind of experience happens, it’s very natural to want to kind of close yourself off in your own grief, to try and process things on your own. And I would encourage people to not stay separated from others. When we get together, we can cry, we can laugh, we can pray, we can sing. Being together makes us better. Being together helps us to heal.”

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Cowboys Visit Hints at Potential Unexpected Day 2 Target in 2026 Draft

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Cowboys Visit Hints at Potential Unexpected Day 2 Target in 2026 Draft


We have heard a lot about the Dallas Cowboys meeting with edge rushers, linebackers and cornerbacks over the course of the pre-draft process, but offensive linemen meetings have been at a minimum.

In fact, according to our most recent Cowboys visits tracker, Dallas had only met with one offensive lineman, James Brockermeyer out of Miami, before Tuesday.

But we can now add another offensive lineman visit to the mix, as NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the Cowboys are one of about six teams to host Iowa guard Beau Stephens on a visit. He goes on to add that Beau could be a Day 2 pick.

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“Iowa G Beau Stephens had visits with the Cowboys, Seahawks and Falcons, and among a tour of a half dozen teams ahead of next week’s NFL Draft. A potential Day 2 pick, Stephens was a first-team AP All-America selection this past season,” Garafolo reported on Tuesday.

An unexpected pick

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

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This pick would be unexpected for a few reasons.

For starters, the Cowboys have a slew of needs on defense and very little Day 2 draft capital. In fact, the Cowboys have just one pick, which falls late in the third round.

Another reason this pick would be unexpected is because the Cowboys figure to have their guard situation locked in with Tyler Booker and Tyler Smith. Sure, it’s possible Smith moves to left tackle, but he made it quite clear he doesn’t want to.

“I mean, bro, like, I’m an All-Pro guard,” Smith said. “You feel me? That’s the simple truth, just looking at stuff purely off of facts. So we’ll see what happens. We’ll have those conversations and kind of see where everybody is at.”

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If anything, the Cowboys should be exploring their options at left tackle, where Tyler Guyton has struggled over two seasons. That said, we’d expect Guyton to get another year to figure things out.

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Now, if the Cowboys go against Smith’s wishes and put him on the left side, anyway, then exploring options at guard make more sense, as T.J. Bass would be in line to replace Smith.

Beau Stephens scouting report

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Offensive Lineman Beau Stephens. | Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Stephens graded out as an elite pass-blocking and run-blocking guard last season. According to Pro Football Focus, Stephens posted an 85.1 as a run-blocker and 92.5 in pass protection, ranking fifth and first in those categories, respectively.

The concerns over Stephens have to do with his short arms, which are lacking even for a guard, and his lack of athleticism. Next Gen Stats ranked him 19th in Athleticism Score among guards at the combine.

For Stephens, finding the right fit will be everything at the next level. When it comes to the Cowboys, he’s a good fit because Dallas utilizes inside/outside zone, where Stephens excels.

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Stephen Jones’ Comments Add Fuel To Dallas Cowboys NFL Draft Trade Rumors

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Stephen Jones’ Comments Add Fuel To Dallas Cowboys NFL Draft Trade Rumors


If you have been paying attention to the Dallas Cowboys rumors leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, there is a growing belief that the team is strongly looking into a potential trade up into the top 10.

Every analyst appears to have heard the growing buzz that Dallas is one of the most likely teams to trade up in next week’s draft,

Now, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones is only adding fuel to the fire.

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Jones appeared on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday afternoon and discussed the possibility of a potential trade. He also commented on this year’s draft class, which indicates the Cowboys’ list of first-round targets is not as wide a net as in recent years.

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According to Jones, the Cowboys typically enter a draft with 16 to 22 first-round grades on prospects. However, Jones noted, “I’m not sure we will get there this year.”

Dallas Cowboys Trending Toward Active Draft Day?

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones during training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Cowboys are no strangers to picking up the phones and engaging in trade talks, and Jerry Jones is always looking to make headlines. So when the draft rolls around, don’t be surprised to see the chatter about a potential Cowboys move increase.

Jones noted that trade talks generally begin the week of the draft, but he’s a “big believer most of these trades happen when you are on the board.”If that’s the case, Dallas will actively be monitoring any potential slides in the top 10 and could be looking to move out of the No. 20 pick.

“Next week, people finalize their boards and have their strategy sessions. I’m a big believer that most of these trades happen as you’re on the board. Players fall off that you wanted, and then you’re willing to come out. Players are staying on the board that you thought might not be there, and then you’re attempting to move up a little bit,” Jones said. “You might not be willing to give up what it costs to move way up in the draft. But if a player starts to fall, then you get a little thought that maybe we could move up and it wouldn’t cost as much and we would still get the guy that we think is the best player for us at a particular position for where we’re going to pick.”

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Because of Jones’ comments that the team may not get to 22 prospects with first-round grades, a trade up seems like the most likely scenario.

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The Dallas Cowboys logo is projected on the video board during the NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Should a player like Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, or Rueben Bain begin to fall in the draft, it would be a perfect opportunity for the Cowboys front office to get active and make the splash that it has teased all offseason.

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Jerry Jones has promised to “bust the budget” in an effort to rebuild the roster, and while the team may not have done so with any high-profile signings in free agency, draft day could provide the perfect opportunity for Dallas to come through on its promise, so get your popcorn ready.

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The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25.

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TxDOT Dallas Seeks Input on Proposed Widening of FM 740/FM 548

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TxDOT Dallas Seeks Input on Proposed Widening of FM 740/FM 548


The Texas Department of Transportation Dallas District is preparing for in-personal and virtual public hearings on the proposed widening of FM 740/Fm 548.

TxDOT Dallas posted a reminder about the meetings to its social media page on Thursday afternoon.

The purpose of the hearings are to gather public input and provide more information about the proposed reconstruction and widening of FM 740/FM 548 from I-20 to FM 1641 in Mesquite and Forney within Kaufman County.

According to TxDOT, the proposal includes reconstruction of FM740/Fm 548 from a two-lane rural roadway to a four-lane divided urban roadway with raised medians, curb and gutter, a bridge widening at the Mustang Creek crossing, and a 10-foot-wide shared-use path on both sides of the road for approximately four miles.

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The roadway passes through the cities of Mesquite and Forney. The existing right-of-way width ranges from 60 feet (along FM 740) to 150 feet (along FM 548). Where proposed right-of-way is needed, the width is generally 130 feet wide.

That means the proposed project would potentially displace three residential and one non-residential structures. Relocation assistance is available for displaced persons and businesses.

The in-person meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 16 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Forney High School (1800 College Ave.).

The virtual hearing will start at 5:30 p.m. and will consist of a prerecorded video presentation. It will remain online for at least the next 15 days and materials can be viewed at any time during that period.

Anyone without internet access may call 214-320-4431 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. to ask questions and access project materials during the project development project.

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View the project materials online here. The materials will also be available in hard copy form for review at the in-person session.





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