Fantasy Impact:

If Goedert is to miss extended time, TEs Grant Calcaterra and Jack Stoll should split the reps on offense in the meantime. Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. (abdomen) remains on injured reserve.

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Injury Updates |
More Dallas Goedert: News, Rankings, Projections, Stats

Voters in Dallas may not have been paying attention to the 17 proposed charter amendments lurking at the end of the November ballot, even though many of these amendments would have an impact — some positive and others not so good — on our daily lives as residents. Some voters may not even be aware these propositions are on the ballot.

In the last several weeks, the discourse on amendments has ramped up, particularly as it relates to Propositions R, S, T and U. These are all proposed amendments that were added to the ballot using state law procedure to obtain 20,000 signatures for charter measures, rather than the Charter Commission and City Council review process. In response, a “Vote No Dallas” campaign directed at certain amendments has emerged, and, as a result, you may find yourself confused when you reach the end of your ballot.

It’s refreshing to see the charter review amendments — which are frustratingly at the end of a lengthy ballot following federal, state, and county partisan races — getting much-needed attention after languishing in obscurity for many months. This allows us to have conversations about each individually proposed amendment, instead of solely focusing on partisan races.

The first 13 amendments on the ballot went through a rigorous review process starting with a Charter Review Commission and then the City Council. The Charter Review Commission received extensive public comment and input before ultimately determining what amendments to recommend to the City Council. The City Council then made the final call on what proposed amendments to place on the ballot. While this process didn’t result in a perfect slate of amendments, it has allowed all of us to make informed decisions about which amendments we would like to see implemented.

After getting through the federal, state and county partisan elections, you might be tempted to reflexively vote for or against all proposed amendments or possibly leave these items blank. But each amendment is worthy of careful review and an up or down vote, and we have the chance to impact meaningfully and positively by passing some things. And if we pass one of the proposed amendments, by state law the City Charter can’t be amended for two more years.

For example, Proposition D would allow the city of Dallas to begin the process of moving municipal elections from May of odd-numbered years to November of odd-numbered years. This is expected to increase our voter turnout and save the city over $400,000 and has received overwhelmingly positive support from both civic organizations and individual residents during the Charter Review Commission and City Council review.

If Proposition D fails, the very earliest we’d be able to implement this meaningful and positive change would be in 2029, and that assumes something like Proposition D even makes it onto a future ballot. This is our best chance to start the process of increasing dismal voter turnout by procedural means.

Another positive amendment is Proposition L, which creates an independent office of the inspector general at City Hall. If enacted, this would maximize the inspector general’s independence and help create a true deterrent for misconduct and ethical violations.

These are just two of several carefully considered amendments that we should approve to help save costs and maximize efficiency at City Hall. There are others that are certainly worthy of debate, as evidenced by the robust discussion our Chamber board leadership had on some of these before finalizing our recommendations. Simply rejecting all amendments, however, would cause us to miss out on enacting some much-needed charter modifications. Worse, it would entirely dismiss the extensive work of the volunteer Charter Review Commission, plus the many members of the public who participated in this process.

While there may be amendments that voters should reject — and no doubt you’ve by now seen a profusion of mailers on some of the amendments — let’s also make sure to pass some good amendments like Proposition D and Proposition L.

Jeff Kitner is chief operating officer at the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce.

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There’s a quote emblazoned on the gymnasium wall at Byron Nelson that reads: “Winners are a different breed of cat.”

Byron Nelson showed it’s a different breed from any other volleyball team in Dallas and the area’s best bet to win a state title in a dominant 3-0 win over Keller on Tuesday night.

In a matchup of The Dallas Morning News’ top ranked teams, Byron Nelson (30-1, 11-0 District 4-6A), which is ranked first in the nation by MaxPreps, swept Keller (24-3, 11-1) for the second time this year, this time in front of its home crowd. The Bobcats played like they were a class above their opponent in every phase of the game and put the rest of the Dallas area on notice, as if it wasn’t already.

“The first time we played Keller, it was a complete win,” Byron Nelson head coach Brianne Barker-Groth said after the match. “This time, it was a dominant, complete win. That’s what we’re looking for, to get better and better during the year.”

Byron Nelson flexed its power right away, winning the first set 25-10 in just 12 minutes. Outside hitter Ashlyn Seay had seven kills and dialed up a jump serve on the final point. Setter Sophee Peterson sealed the set with an emphatic block at the net.

The Bobcats turned up the heat even more in the second set, with Seay and outside hitter Kylie Kleckner, a Washington pledge, tallying three kills each. Middle blocker Rayvyn Thomas also made her presence felt, coming up with several big blocks and spikes as Byron Nelson cruised 25-14.

Keller challenged the home team more in the third set, but Byron Nelson found a way to keep rallies alive and finish the points. With the set tied at 9, Kleckner made a diving play to her left to save a ball going out of bounds, and Seay then hit a cross-court smash to put the Bobcats in front. They never relinquished the lead and won the set 25-16.

This match is always enticing for followers of Dallas-area volleyball because Barker-Groth’s sister, Danielle Barker-Spivey, is Keller’s coach. The two teams also have some history, as Keller knocked Byron Nelson out of the playoffs last year in the regional quarterfinals in a five set thriller.

“Anytime we play Keller, it’s an extra level of intensity you don’t get with a lot of other teams,” Barker-Groth said. “With it being my sister on the other side, she knows me and how I coach so well, and there is a lot of strategy going back and forth making in-game adjustments. It’s a lot harder, but it’s fun.”

Byron Nelson is trying to become the first Dallas-area team to win a 6A state title since 2019, when Byron Nelson defeated Plano West. Barker-Groth believes District 4-6A is the most competitive district in the state this year, and that playing in it as the No. 1 team in the country will make the Bobcats even better in the postseason.

“You don’t get a night off. It’s night in and night out,” she said. “But playing in this district prepares us for the playoffs, to go in and face a more challenging team every time we hit a new round.”

Barker-Groth wasn’t shy about her aspirations for the 2024 version of Byron Nelson, either.

“I think this team might be a more complete team than 2019,” she said.

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