Dallas, TX
Dallas non-profit organization provides free welding certification to veterans
NORTH TEXAS – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that more than 33,000 veterans are homeless in the United States, including about 4,000 in Texas.
A North Texas nonprofit organization is helping to change that by providing free job training in a trade to help veterans experiencing homelessness and housed veterans looking for a good-paying career.
The Homeless Veterans Services of Dallas, also known as the Veterans Resource Center, is a safe haven for many veterans, including retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Devoe Pelcher.
“I served in Germany, and from there I went to Korea,” Pelcher said.
Pelcher served the country from 1978 to 1987 and still has vivid memories of surviving combat.
“That was stressful because you never know when something is going to happen. I used to wake up thinking I was on fire, and I was so glad that I wasn’t when I woke up,” Pelcher said.
Pelcher is learning how to turn the old into new by crafting works of art from discarded scraps of metal.
“There was no way I was going to be able to pay for school,” Pelcher said. “My life was totally changed when I got that certificate that I completed the welding course.”
The veterans take welding classes taught by Dallas College instructors five days a week. Homeless Veterans Services of Dallas President Ken Watterson said the classes originally started out for veterans experiencing homelessness, but now about 10% of veterans in the class are unhoused.
“It doesn’t cost the veteran anything but his time. It’s a 10-week program. We pick 12 veterans at a time. So far, we’ve had over 500 veterans graduate from the program,” Watterson said.
The Texas Veterans Commission helps to provide funding for the program.
“It’s a mix of homeless veterans and veterans who are looking for that specific job skill,” TVC Commissioner Chuck Wright said.
The veterans come out of the program certified in a high-paying trade.
“Welding is a trade that is well needed and well paid, and that’s what I’m looking for, the money. The M-O-N-E-Y,” Pelcher said.
“Plumbers, electricians, welders, it doesn’t take long to get into the $80,000 to $100,000 a year range,” Wright said.
The veterans pick pieces of scrap metal and turn them into works of art. They also create practical projects as they transform the metal and their lives.
Retired radio operator Breeana Lopez served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2015 to 2018.
“It’s a lot of ups and downs. I really enjoyed it though and am thankful I went through it,” Lopez said. “It’s a brother and sisterhood.”
She plans to use her welding skills to sell unique items at the state fair, and she made one-of-a-kind gifts from scratch for her wife.
“It makes me feel great. I’ve always been the one that I love to help out,” Lopez said. “I try to help out where I can, and I love making things.”
“The life lessons that we need, the trades that we learn, they pour so much in me. I need to pour something out,” Pelcher said.
Pelcher feels ready to pick up what’s discarded and create magic in his community as he steps confidently into his future.
The veterans also get a forklift certification in addition to their welding training.
Editor’s note: See World Cup standings and scenarios updated in real time
Ivory Coast is headed to the knockout round at the 2026 World Cup.
With everything on the line Thursday afternoon, the Ivory Coast played perhaps its best match of the tournament so far to lock down second place in Group E and advance to the knockout stage of the tournament. Ivory Coast will head to Dallas where they will play their first elimination match on Tuesday, June 30 against the second-place team from Group I.
SHOP: Ivory Coast round of 32 World Cup tickets in Dallas
While we don’t yet know Ivory Coast’s opponent, we do know that it will either be France or Norway, meaning either way the African squad will have to defend against one of the best goal scorers in the world.
Here is everything you need to know in order to buy Ivory Coast World Cup tickets in Dallas.
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Ivory Coast round of 32 World Cup tickets
As of publication, the cheapest round of 32 ticket to see Ivory Coast in Dallas on Tuesday, June 30 is $895, making this one of the cheapest tickets for the round of 32.
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Ivory Coast Round of 32 opponent
As the runner-up of Group E, Ivory Coast will take on the second-place finisher from Group I. Ivory Coast’s opponent will be finalized on Friday, but given the current standings it will be either France or Norway.
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Ivory Coast World Cup schedule
- Sunday, June 14 – Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador – WIN 1-0
- Saturday, June 20 – Ivory Coast vs. Germany – LOSS 2-1
- Thursday, June 25 – Ivory Coast vs. Curacao – WIN 2-0
- Tuesday, June 30 (Round of 32) – Ivory Coast vs. Group I runner up at AT&T Stadium in Dallas – Shop tickets
World Cup Group E standings
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Oftentimes, it’s a good idea to extend players early. The Dallas Cowboys have learned this the hard way as they’ve allowed negotiations with key contributors such as Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons to get out of hand.
Prescott was able to use his leverage to land a contract worth $60 million per season, which was a record at the time. Lamb held out during that same offseason, eventually landing a deal worth $34 million annually, whereas Parsons forced his way out after his negotiations stalled.
To their credit, the Cowboys might have tried to avoid more issues by signing a few players early. That includes guard Tyler Smith, who landed a four-year, $96 million extension in 2025. That has proven to be a home run, but the same can’t be said for another one of their big extensions.
Dallas decided to lock up cornerback DaRon Bland, signing the former fifth-round pick to a four-year, $92 million extension. This was a surprise move from the Cowboys since Bland was coming off a frustrating season, which was marred by a foot injury. The Cowboys were banking on Bland returning to the form we saw in 2023, but that wasn’t the case.
Bland continued to struggle with durability and wasn’t the impact player we saw during his breakout season when he was on the field. Now, he enters his fifth season in the league with a hefty price tag, and there are questions about his long-term status with the team.
DaRon Bland’s cap hit in 2026 is a problem
According to Over The Cap, Bland has the fifth-highest cap hit on the team this season. Bland, who is earning an annual average salary of $23 million, has a hit of $17 million this year.
The good news for the Cowboys is that they seemed to protect themselves slightly with this deal. While they can’t feasibly move on in 2026, even if Bland loses his starting job, they do have a way out of his deal next year.
Dallas can release Bland ahead of the 2027 season while absorbing a dead cap hit of $12.941 million. That would essentially make his deal a two-year contract for $36.355 million. That’s still not an ideal situation for the Cowboys, but that’s also what happens when the front office rolls the dice.
It’s also an unfortunate trend, as the Cowboys decided to extend Michael Gallup and Terence Steele while coming off injury-plagued seasons, and the results weren’t much better.
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Why Gabby Williams chose to play for Golden State Valkyries
Valkyries’ Gabby Williams shares with USAT’s Meghan L. Hall why she chose Golden State in the wild WNBA free agency.
Sports Seriously
When the Dallas Wings travel to Las Vegas for a clash with the Aces on Thursday night, they’ll be without one of their key players.
Alanna Smith is listed as out for Thursday on the latest WNBA injury report as she is in concussion protocol.
Smith seemingly suffered an injury to her face on Saturday night during the Wings’ 93-92 win over the Chicago Sky. In the first quarter, Smith was shaken up after a head-to-head collision with Gabriela Jaquez as Smith was defending the Sky rookie’s drive to the basket. At halftime, the team announced that Smith would not return to the game.
On Monday, Smith didn’t play in the Wings’ 112-110 overtime win over the Seattle Storm, listed as being out due to a face injury. Smith has worn a protective face mask after she suffered a nasal fracture in the Wings’ preseason game against the Aces on May 3.
Smith is the highest-paid player on the Dallas roster, signing a three-year deal worth about $3.7 million this offseason. Last season with the Minnesota Lynx, she was the co-Defensive Player of the Year, sharing the award with A’ja Wilson.
A 6-foot-4 forward from Australia who played collegiately at Stanford, Smith found a consistent role over the past two seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, starting in all 81 games she appeared in for Cheryl Reeve’s squad. Across two seasons in Minnesota, Smith averaged 9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game, helping the Lynx make back-to-back playoff appearances — including a trip to the Finals in 2024.
With the Wings, she’s started in just seven of the 15 games she’s appeared in, playing an average of 15.1 minutes per game. She’s posting 3.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
Dallas has instead turned to Jessica Shepard in the frontcourt, who also arrived via free agency after spending last season with the Lynx. The Notre Dame product is posting career-highs in points (14.2), rebounds (11.1) and assists (5.6) per game while shooting 57% from the floor.
Still, Smith brings an imposing presence on defense, one that would have come in handy against the Aces.
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