Former TODAY anchor and New York Times bestseller Hoda Kotb was the keynote speaker at Community Partners of Dallas’s annual Chick Lit Luncheon on Friday, March 28, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Luncheon co-chairs Alison Malone and Kelley Schadt, with honorary chair Kameron Westcott, were joined by 1,100 attendees at the annual event.

The Chick Lit Luncheon is Community Partners of Dallas’s largest annual fundraiser. Funds raised through sponsorships, tickets, and individual contributions go directly to serving more than 20,000 abused and neglected children and their dedicated caseworkers each year in Dallas County through vital tangible resources and transformational services.

Kotb left the TODAY anchor desk in January after more than 17 years on the show and 26 years at NBC News in various roles. She told NBC 5’s Laura Harris, who moderated the discussion, that she is just enjoying actually being able to take her young daughters to school in the morning.

In the final minutes, Hoda answered a lightning round of questions, which included:

What are you currently reading? “Maria Shriver’s book ‘I am Maria’ – it’s so good y’all!”

Favorite celebrity you’ve had on your podcast Making Space – “Probably Viola Davis.”

Thomas Garza & Tamytha Cameron

Thomas Garza & Tamytha Cameron

Where is your happy place? “Lately in my bed with my kids.”

What’s your favorite trash TV? “It’s not trash – but Kate Hudson’s new series ‘Running Point’ – we need more stuff like that.”

Who would you pick as Jenna’s new co-host? “Oh… you’re going to get me in trouble but, Scarlett Johansen!”

If you were to get stuck in an elevator with someone, who would you want? “You know who it would be? Kelly Clarkson! She would sing to me!”

What’s the best compliment you have ever received? “I met your mom and I love her.”

What’s a belief that shaped who you are today? “You have to be, like I am, spirit-led.”

Thomas Garza & Tamytha Cameron

Advertisement

Thomas Garza & Tamytha Cameron

The Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks will begin their postseason journeys on Wednesday, April 16.

The Kings enter the Play-In as the ninth best team in the Western Conference with a record of 40-42, one game better than the Mavericks.

Sacramento won on Sunday to stay ahead of the Mavericks and host Wednesday’s win-or-go-home game.

The Kings won all three matchups against Dallas this season, including a 129-128 overtime thriller back in February.

Here is everything you need to know in order to buy Kings vs. Mavericks NBA Play-In game tickets.

Shop Kings vs. Mavericks NBA Play-In tickets

As of publication, the cheapest tickets to attend the Kings vs. Mavericks Play-In game cost $90.

When is Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks Play-In game?

The Kings will host the Mavericks on Wednesday, April 16 at the Golden 1 Center. The game is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The winner will play again on Friday, April 18.

Shop Kings vs. Mavericks NBA Play-In tickets

The race for Dallas City Council District 11 is arguably the most watched race in our city this cycle. Incumbent Jaynie Schultz decided not to seek another term amid a bruising fight over the redevelopment of Pepper Square, an aging strip mall in Far North Dallas that has become emblematic of the tension between single-family neighborhoods and higher-density housing.

Mona Elshenawy, Jeff Kitner, Kendal Richardson and Bill Roth are running to replace Schultz. Kitner and Roth are by far the strongest contenders, but Kitner has a track record of accomplishments at City Hall that make him the best choice for this district.

Kitner, chief operating officer of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, served on the Dallas Park Board from 2017 to 2024. During his tenure, the Park Board expanded the Northaven Trail, installed new playgrounds in District 11 and helped create the Woods at Valley View Park, a natural trail through a forested area that was the site of homeless encampments.

Kitner, 49, also served on the Friends of the Dallas Public Library board for six years. During the city’s recent charter review process, he advocated through the North Dallas Chamber for an amendment to move city elections from May to November of odd-numbered years, contingent on approval from the state Legislature. The move could improve turnout in local elections. Dallas voters overwhelmingly approved the amendment last fall.

In our candidate interview, Kitner told us that areas like the Valley View Mall site are ideal for multifamily housing and mixed uses, noting that recent city investments in parkland can catalyze development.

We sounded the alarm about the level of vitriol in the debate about Pepper Square, though residents raised valid concerns about the rezoning. The City Council ultimately approved a mixed-use development with more than 850 apartments.

With Schultz out of the race, there has been an effort to pin the backlash on Kitner. He told us residents’ views range from total opposition to any apartments to tolerance for some number of units. He said he would have handled the matter differently than Schultz, noting she got involved too early and was too attached to the density itself. He told us he would have preferred an apartment tower shorter than 12 stories, but he said overall the Pepper Square redevelopment is a good project. Kitner cited the success of Preston Hollow Village, a development at Walnut Hill Lane and North Central Expressway with a Trader Joe’s, restaurants and apartments.

Roth, who works in commercial real estate, told us he would have supported a compromise of up to 500 apartments, in line with neighbors’ wishes. He said the person asking for rezoning has the burden of proof of persuading the neighborhood that the change is acceptable.

In our interview, Roth, 71, voiced frustration with dysfunction around the council horseshoe. He emphasized the need to reach consensus around priorities including public safety, homelessness and basic city services. While we agree with Roth that City Hall is not working as it should, he lacks Kitner’s record of experience with city government.

Elshenawy, 39, a community and government relations professional, is a passionate advocate for single-family neighborhoods but offered little nuance in her responses.

Also running is Kendal Richardson, 46, who ran for mayor in 2023 as a write-in candidate.

We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com