Dallas, TX
Dallas City Council halts proposal to close four neighborhood libraries
Dallas City Council members and residents slammed a proposal this week that would have closed at least four libraries throughout the city. While the plan to close these libraries is now on hold, a solution for what to do next is still up in the air.
One of the libraries on the chopping block was the Oak Lawn Branch Library, a space referred to as a neighborhood staple.
“It brings, I think, just a good cultural piece to the community,” said Kevin Miller, the president of the Cedar Springs Merchants Association. “It has the greatest number of authored books for the LGBTQIA generation. It also serves as a resource for folks that may not have access to technology, or the internet, or materials that might be needed to help them get a job.”
But the future of this library is now in limbo, along with three other branches: Skyline, Renner Frankford and Arcadia Park. That’s after residents and city council members raised concerns Tuesday over a city proposal to close the four libraries under a new regional model.
“I think that would be very hurtful for our community, and I know that’s a simple term, but I think it would have ripple effects for future generations,” Miller said.
The new regional model would have extended hours and shifted staff to larger branches. Library officials said the proposed model would have saved the city an estimated $4.5 million. But council member Cara Mendelsohn, whose district includes the Renner Frankford Branch, said the plan was poorly executed.
“The whole plan was developed without input from communities, without input from the library commission, which all of the council members appoint somebody to that, and without even talking to the council member who is in the affected area,” she said.
After unanimous pushback from the council, the plan is now on hold; however, Mendelsohn said taking away services from certain communities to save money isn’t the answer. Some of these libraries also serve as voting locations.
“The truth is we can save all these libraries and have them stay open and serve the residents, and reduce costs in other places pretty easily,” said Mendelsohn.
Community members like Miller agree.
“Just because it’s the easiest doesn’t mean that’s the right thing,” said Miller. “So let’s look a little bit harder and see what else we can do to preserve these places, because they’re important to our community.”
Council is expected to revisit the issue sometime in March.
Morton started 15 games in 1972 for an injured Staubach, who eventually returned in the playoffs. The Cowboys decided to trade Morton in 1974 to the Giants, who sent back a first-round pick, which turned out to be the No. 2 overall pick in 1975. The Cowboys used that selection to take Randy White, a 10-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer.
Ironically enough, White’s best game was likely Super Bowl XII, when he was named Co-MVP with Harvey Martin. The Cowboys’ Doomsday defense dominated the Broncos, who were quarterbacked by Morton.
Overall, Morton played for the Cowboys, Giants and Broncos before officially retiring at the end of the 1982 season.
His career ended with 27,908 passing yards, ranking him 71st in NFL history, just ahead of Hall of Famer Joe Namath (27,663).
With the official NFL schedule coming this week, the Dallas Cowboys have revealed when, where and against who their Week 1 contest will be.
The Cowboys announced that they will square off against the New York Giants on the road in Week 1, with the game set for Sunday, Sept. 13, at 7:20 p.m. CT. So, it’s prime time for the Cowboys to start the season.
This is the second game we know about for the Cowboys this year. Of course, we know they will be playing on Thanksgiving, also.
The official schedule will drop on May 14, the NFL announced last week. Schedules for all 32 teams will be revealed on ESPN and the NFL Network, but each team will unveil its own schedule on social media, also.
The Cowboys were always likely to play a road game in Week 1 because of an Usher and Chris Brown concert taking place at AT&T Stadium that week.
Dallas will also be impacted by an Ed Sheeran concert in Week 7, so that’s another potential road game. They could also play on Monday or Thursday that week, or have a bye.
Cowboys’ strength of schedule
According to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis, the Cowboys are not going to have an easy road to make the postseason.
The Cowboys have the fourth-toughest schedule in the NFL going into the 2026 season, with only the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers having tougher slates.
Dallas’ schedule is also the third-toughest in the NFC, and the most difficult in the NFC East.
Sharp does his strength of schedule rankings based on win totals from Vegas oddsmakers rather than utilizing the previous season’s records because that metric doesn’t factor in offseason changes.
The Cowboys will play home games against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders.
On the road, Dallas will square off against the Giants, Eagles, Commanders, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.
Of those opponents, seven of them made the postseason in 2025, a list that includes the Jaguars, 49ers, Eagles, Texans, Rams, Seahawks and Packers.
All of those teams should be as good in 2026, and teams like the Colts, Titans, Ravens, Bucs, Giants and Commanders have a very real chance to be improved as well.
It won’t be an easy road for Dallas to get back to the playoffs in 2026, but there’s at least hope following a defensive overhaul.
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