DALLAS — Over the last few days, it’s been widely reported that Dallas police are investigating what they believe was an attempted kidnapping in a North Dallas neighborhood Monday afternoon. A young man exiting a white SUV and approaching a group of kids was identified as the suspect. 

Thursday, the department said it’s still investigating, but provided more information. 

They said the involved individuals have been identified, are under the age of 18, and have been cooperating with the investigation. In this case, detectives do not believe there is a threat to the public at this time. No arrests have been made in this case.  

“Originally, we were very worried,” Cori Pratt said. “We were all on very high alert.”

Pratt lives about a half mile from Old Pond Drive, where the alleged incident occurred. 

As the Expanded Neighborhood Patrol coordinator for the nearby Highlands North Homeowners Association, she worked to learn more about this incident on Monday.

“I got in touch with an officer from our area, who patrols our area, and I asked him if he could verify, confirm any of this information and he said he could,” she said. 

Pratt said the next day, the officer contacted her with an update. 

“He reported that no one had been arrested and that it was not filed as an attempted kidnapping,” she said. 

She put this information in an email and sent it to homeowners. It also stated the officer confirmed with a lieutenant that the incident started when one of the children threw an object, possibly a water balloon or ball, striking the man’s vehicle, causing him to stop and confront the group.

“I certainly understand how anybody would be absolutely terrified if their kid came screaming and said I’m being kidnapped or somebody is coming after me,” she said. “I totally understand that.”

However, with this investigation now going viral across multiple platforms nationwide, Pratt is hoping people will wait to learn more from police before making judgment. 

“Innocent until proven guilty, right?” she said. 

The Dallas Mavericks’ schedule for the 2024-25 regular season is no longer a mystery.

After a slow trickle of marquee games over the last several days, the NBA officially revealed the full regular season schedule Thursday afternoon.

The Mavericks, the defending Western Conference champions, will begin the season Oct. 24 when Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs visit American Airlines Center, a reversal of last year’s season opener in San Antonio.

It’ll be a Texas Showdown between two revamped teams in the Southwest Division. It marks the debut of the newly formed trio of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, while Wembanyama will have a new co-star in veteran guard Chris Paul.

The Mavericks will take their new Big 3 on the road for the first time on Oct. 26 against the Phoenix Suns and another Big 3: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

The Mavericks finished 50-32 last season, fifth in the Western Conference, before they went on an improbable, electric run to the NBA Finals. They’ll have two rematches with the Boston Celtics, who captured the Larry O’Brien trophy in five games, on Jan. 25 in Dallas and Feb. 6 in Boston.

Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison told The Dallas Morning News in July that he’s looking forward to seeing how the team responds to last season’s success. Any team that’s fresh off a Finals run will likely receive every team’s best shot.

“You’re no longer hunting people,” Harrison said. “They’re going to be hunting. So how do you respond? Do we finish games off? Does everybody come in shape, ready to go? That’s the type of stuff I’m excited to see.”

Seven of the Mavericks’ first nine games are at home, which includes a five-game homestand – the first of two during the season. That serves as a calm before the storm because Dallas will embark on a brutal stretch of 11 of 15 games on the road throughout the majority of November. The Mavericks will also end the season playing 12 of their final 20 games on the road.

Here are a few takeaways from the Mavericks’ schedule, followed by the complete list of games, times and TV info.

National TV appearances

Dallas is scheduled to play on national television 30 times, including nine on TNT, nine on ESPN, seven on NBA TV and five on ABC.

Locally, the Mavericks are waiting to see what happens with Bally Sports Southwest, whose parent company, Diamond Sports Group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Minority shareholder Mark Cuban said at an event last week, according to WFAA-TV, that if Bally doesn’t renew its contract with the Mavericks, which appears likely, the franchise will do what it can to maximize distribution.

One option could be partnering with the Stars, who ended their rights agreement with Bally and will launch a direct-to-consumer streaming app, Victory+, that will allow in-market fans to watch games for free this season.

Back-to-backs

The Mavericks are scheduled for 13 back-to-backs:

• Five are home-to-road.
• Four begin and end on the road.
• Two begin and end at home.
• One is road-to-home.
• Four don’t require any travel.

On the road

Dallas’ longest road trip is five games, from Jan. 29 to Feb. 6, against New Orleans, Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Boston.

The Mavericks also have two four-game trips.

Home cooking

The Mavericks’ longest homestands are two five-game stints from Oct. 31 to Nov. 8 and Feb. 8 to Feb. 21.

Complete schedule

October

Thu. Oct. 24: San Antonio, 6:30, TNT

Sat. Oct. 26: @ Phoenix, 9:00

Mon. Oct. 28: Utah, 7:30

Tue. Oct. 29: @ Minnesota, 6:30, TNT

Thu. Oct. 31: Houston, 7:30

November

Sun. Nov. 3: Orlando, 6:30

Mon. Nov. 4: Indiana, 8:45

Wed. Nov. 6: Chicago, 7:30

Fri. Nov. 8: Phoenix, 6:30, ESPN

Sun. Nov. 10: @ Denver, 7:00

Tue. Nov. 12: @ Golden State (NBA Cup group play), 9:00, TNT

Thu. Nov. 14: @ Utah, 8:00, NBA TV

Sat. Nov. 16: San Antonio, 7:30, NBA TV

Sun. Nov. 17: @ Oklahoma City, 6:00

Tue. Nov. 19: New Orleans (NBA Cup group play), 7:30

Fri. Nov. 22: @ Denver (NBA Cup group play), 9:00, ESPN

Sun. Nov. 24: @ Miami, 5:00

Mon. Nov. 25: @ Atlanta, 6:30, NBA TV

Wed. Nov. 27: New York, 6:30, ESPN

Sat. Nov. 30: @ Utah, 8:30

December

Sun. Dec. 1: @ Portland, 8:00

Tue. Dec. 3: Memphis, 7:30 (NBA Cup group play)

Thu. Dec. 5: @ Washington, 6:00

Sat. Dec. 7: @ Toronto, 6:30

Dec. 10-17: NBA Cup

Thu. Dec. 19: LA Clippers, 7:30

Sat. Dec. 21: LA Clippers, 7:30

Mon. Dec. 23: Portland, 7:30

Wed. Dec. 25: Minnesota, 1:30, ABC

Fri. Dec. 27: @ Phoenix, 8:00

Sat. Dec. 28: @ Portland, 9:00

Mon. Dec. 30: @ Sacramento, 9:00, NBA TV

January

Wed. Jan. 1: @ Houston, 7:00

Fri. Jan. 3: Cleveland, 7:30

Mon. Jan. 6: @ Memphis, 7:00

Tue. Jan. 7: LA Lakers, 6:30, TNT

Thu. Jan. 9: Portland, 7:30

Sun. Jan. 12: Denver, 2:00

Tue. Jan. 14: Denver, 8:30, TNT

Wed. Jan. 15: @ New Orleans, 7:00

Fri. Jan. 17: Oklahoma City, 7:30

Mon. Jan. 20: @ Charlotte, 11:00, NBA TV

Wed. Jan. 22: Minnesota, 6:30, ESPN

Thu. Jan. 23: @ Oklahoma City, 7:00

Sat. Jan. 25: Boston, 4:30, ABC

Mon. Jan. 27: Washington, 7:30

Wed. Jan. 29: @ New Orleans, 7:00

Fri. Jan. 31: @ Detroit, 6:00

February

Sun. Feb. 2: @ Cleveland, 2:30

Tue. Feb. 4: @ Philadelphia, 6:30, TNT

Thu. Feb. 6: @ Boston, 6:30, TNT

Sat. Feb. 8: Houston, 2:00

Mon. Feb. 10: Sacramento, 7:30

Wed. Feb. 12: Golden State, 8:30, ESPN

Thu. Feb. 13: Miami, 7:30

Feb. 14-16: NBA All-Star 2025, San Francisco Bay Area

Fri. Feb. 21: New Orleans, 8:30, ESPN

Sun. Feb. 23: @ Golden State, 2:30, ABC

Tue. Feb. 25: @ LA Lakers, 9:00, TNT

Thu. Feb. 27: Charlotte, 7:30

March

Sat. March 1: Milwaukee, 7:30

Mon. March 3 Sacramento, 7:30

Wed. March 5: @ Milwaukee, 8:30, ESPN

Fri. March 7: Memphis, 6:30, ESPN

Sun. March 9: Phoenix, 2:30, ABC

Mon. March 10: @ San Antonio, 7:30

Wed. March 12: @ San Antonio, 7:00

Fri. March 14: @ Houston, 7:00

Sun. March 16: Philadelphia, 12:00, ABC

Wed. March 19: @ Indiana, 6:00

Fri. March 21: Detroit, 7:30

Mon. March 24: @ Brooklyn, 6:30

Tue. March 25: @ New York, 6:30, TNT

Thu. March 27: @ Orlando, 6:00, NBA TV

Sat. March 29: @ Chicago, 7:00

Mon. March 31: Brooklyn, 7:30

April

Wed. April 2: Atlanta, 7:30

Fri. April 4: @ LA Clippers, 9:30

Sat. April 5: @ LA Clippers, 9:30, NBA TV

Wed. April 9: LA Lakers, 6:30, ESPN

Fri. April 11: Toronto, 7:30

Sun. April 13: @ Memphis, 2:30

Mavericks radio

The Mavericks’ flagship radio station, 97.1 The Eagle, will continue to broadcast all of the team’s games. Each game will also be available via live stream on iHeartRadio.com and in Spanish on Zona MX 99.1 [KFZO].

OXNARD, Calif. — The Cowboys will sign defensive end Carl Lawson, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Dallas Morning News on Thursday.

Lawson’s arrival is the latest move for a defensive line that has gone through a series of changes.

Defensive end Sam Williams’ season-ending knee injury on July 28 prompted the Cowboys to find a replacement. Initially, second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland was cast as the projected starter opposite DeMarcus Lawrence.

The Cowboys also worked out three players (Shaka Toney, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Lawson) following Williams’ injury. The team signed Toney and Muhammad in early August and each played in the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams.

But Toney suffered an injury and was waived/injured by the team Wednesday. That move allowed the club to sign center/guard Cohl Cabral because the offensive line needed increased depth because of health issues.

“Marshawn’s done a nice job,” coach Mike McCarthy said before Wednesday’s practice when asked about the defensive ends. “I think, clearly, the amount of reps he received in the game is also tied to his work last week in the Rams [joint] practice. I think we got some new guys we’re still breaking in. Chauncy [Golston] has gone out there and played some end and I like what he did. He had some really good plays in the [preseason] game. The biggest thing, not only the individual, but getting the techniques, getting that part right, making sure we’re getting everything fitted together, the fundamentals, techniques and the calls.”

Defensive end isn’t the only position the Cowboys seek to upgrade.

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said he wanted to find another nose tackle for depth behind second-year player Mazi Smith.

After a difficult rookie season, a scheme change was thought to benefit Smith in his second season. He pushed back on that slightly after Wednesday’s joint practice with the Rams.

“Yeah, it ain’t the scheme,” he said. “It’s more about time and warming up to people and getting with the program and everybody getting on the same page and becoming part of the team.”

The Cowboys acquired defensive tackle Jordan Phillips in a trade with the New York Giants on Wednesday for conditional late-round 2026 draft picks.

There is familiarity with Lawson within the Cowboys’ coaching staff. Paul Guenther, the Cowboys defensive run game coordinator, was the Bengals defensive coordinator in 2017 when Lawson was drafted in the fourth round.

In six NFL seasons, Lawson has 27 sacks. Two years ago, he signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the New York Jets. In 23 games, Lawson had seven sacks before he was let go.

The Cowboys will make a roster move to clear the way for Lawson.

Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.