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Letters to the Editor – Politicized words, Dallas traffic, RJK Jr., alcohol awareness

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Letters to the Editor – Politicized words, Dallas traffic, RJK Jr., alcohol awareness


Sound advice

Re: “’One language, many realities,’ — When words become politicized, we lose real meaning,” by Rudolph Bush, Sunday Opinion.

Bush argues that the way we use words is at the center of our political struggles. Language is now being used as a kind of political or cultural signaling. I agree. Evaluating what is said requires more than just listening to the words. It requires understanding their nuances.

As a lawyer who practiced for over 45 years, I appreciate the value of the shared meaning of words. Though retired, I still like to ask speakers questions about complex issues. Like Bush, what I am really trying to determine is whether they have any depth of understanding about the complexity of the matter or if they are just offering a slogan. Are they appealing to my reason or are they just playing me?

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Bush points out that words have become a battlefield. We need to evaluate not only the words that others use but also our own words. Do they appeal to reason or just emotion?

Bush’s opinion offers sound advice on how to deal with the political rhetoric of the 2024 elections.

Raymond J. Termini, Dallas/Turtle Creek

Our streets are dangerous

Re: “Dallas struggles to lower fatalities — Staffing hinders goal of cutting speed-related deaths, police chief says,” Friday news story.

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The recent six-car accident in Dallas points out how dangerous our city streets have become. Excessive speed and disregard for others’ lives and property have become quite normalized.

The Dallas North Tollway and Central Expressway, in addition to city surface streets like Preston Road and Northwest Highway, are largely unpatrolled and many drivers travel way too fast.

The real danger is the reckless drivers who speed and swerve in and out of traffic with no regard for others. Their vehicles are often uninsured. The rest of the driving public pays for this in increased insurance costs.

Drivers are also constantly running red lights, putting others at risk. Plus, increased traffic congestion contributes to these safety concerns.

Public safety should be a top priority of our city leaders. Taxpaying citizens have a right to expect basic levels of safety while driving. Increased enforcement of existing laws would go a long way to improving the situation. Recently, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia was quoted as saying he had 29 officers on traffic patrol for the entire city of Dallas. That seems shockingly low for a city of 384 square miles.

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Betsy Morton, North Dallas

Let’s define ‘populism’

Re: “Kennedy the populist candidate,” by Randolph Severson, Saturday Letters.

I read Severson’s opinion and wondered which dictionary he used to obtain his definition of “populism.” He expounds on why he believes Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the best candidate for president but uses a definition of populism that is far from reality as the basis for his reasoning.

According to Merriam-Webster, a populist is a member of a political party “claiming” to represent the common people. It doesn’t mention anything about a populist actually believing in the dignity and worth of the common person or his/her issues. That has been the ruse of using the populism moniker all along. It has been a means to a political end regardless of actual beliefs.

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Personally, if I was to promote a political candidate, I would not use a term that is associated with other famous and infamous political figures. Whereby there may be a few examples of someone truly concerned for the common man, more often than not, it is the other way around. Please remember that Huey P. Long, Hugo Chávez, Juan Perón and Donald Trump were or are all populist candidates.

Bill Hudman, Plano

Little family resemblance

The 1968 election was the first one in which I was eligible to vote, and I supported Robert F. Kennedy. When he was murdered, I was devastated. I still have his picture on my wall. Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel by Sirhan Sirhan. Roosevelt Grier, a former pro football tackle who was acting as a bodyguard for Kennedy, immediately grabbed Sirhan and seized his gun. Sirhan, who was from the Middle East, said “I did it for my country.” He was tried and convicted and given the death penalty, which was later commuted to life imprisonment.

Now Robert Kennedy Jr. says Sirhan is innocent and should be paroled. Most of the family of RFK Jr. totally disagree and are appalled.

RJK Jr. is not a populist. He is an anti-vaxxer and delusional conspiracy theorist who says because of what he knows our government “may try to kill him.” He is nothing like his father.

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Crawford Long, Waco

Funny, but …

Re: “Literally Anybody Else runs — Fed-up teacher makes name for himself as ballot protest,” March 27 Metro & Business story.

Votes for “Literally Anybody Else” could get Donald Trump elected. That’s truly frightening!

Bill R. Betzen, Dallas/Oak Cliff

Drink responsibly, y’all

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to think about your alcohol consumption to ensure you are enjoying alcohol responsibly and in moderation. According to the dietary guidelines for Americans, this means limiting alcohol to two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less for women.

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While any alcohol abuse is too much, the good news is federal data indicate harmful drinking in the U.S. is declining. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows binge drinking among adults ages 21 and older decreased 11% from 2018 to 2022, and 9 out of 10 (89%) say they drink the same amount or less than they did pre-pandemic.

Adults who choose to drink should commit to mindful drinking year-round. There are some people who should not drink alcohol at all, and talking with health care providers can help determine what is best, based on individual factors and family history.

Amanda Berger, Washington, D.C.

Vice president, Science and Health, Distilled Spirits Council

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

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Top 10 Dallas Cowboys of 2026: Rashan Gary is Complete EDGE Dallas Needed

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Top 10 Dallas Cowboys of 2026: Rashan Gary is Complete EDGE Dallas Needed


In need of help on the edge, the Dallas Cowboys tried to make a huge move this offseason. They made multiple attempts to trade for Las Vegas Raiders superstar Maxx Crosby, but were never able to get a deal done.

Once that one was off the table, they decided to send a fourth round pick to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for veteran Rashan Gary. The move was criticized, which is rather confusing when you think about it. Dallas gave up a mid-round pick, and reworked his contract to where it hardly makes any impact on a salary cap. They also filled a position of a great need with a player who might not threaten to lead the league in sacks, but is well-rounded and can help against the run just as much as he does when rushing the passer.

Gary is entering his eighth season in the league and has 271 tackles and 46.5 sacks. He’s coming off another solid campaign, which is why he’s No. 9 on our list of top 10 players on the Cowboys’ roster.

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Rashan Gary 2025 review

Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Rashan Gary against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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Gary’s numbers in 2025 were respectable, but could be misleading. He was on pace to record 18 sacks, as he had 7.5 through the first seven games of the year. He then disappeared for the final nine games, recording no sacks while struggling to generate pressure.

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That led to his season as a whole being considered rather disappointing, which is why the Packers were willing to move on. It’s also why Dallas was able to convince him to take a pay cut after he joined their team. What was most frustrating for Green Bay was the fact that they needed him to step up when Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL late in the year and Gary was unable to do so.

Rashan Gary 2026 prediction

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Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary celebrates during the season opener against the Detroit Lions. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

One thing critics of the move are failing to see is the fact that Dallas doesn’t need Gary to record double-digit sacks. They need him to be the veteran voice for a group of young pass rushers who are trying to find their footing in the league.

Second year player, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and rookie Malachi Lawrence both have the talent to be game-changers off of the edge. What they don’t have, is the experience. That’s where Gary comes in.

As those two continue to develop, Gary will be the stabilizing veteran force who can make plays on early downs, while also being disruptive as a pass rusher. We can’t ignore the struggles that he had in 2025, but perhaps the change of scenery will give him some motivation to turn back the clock. And Dallas didn’t have to give up much to give him that opportunity.

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Former Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa runs for Dallas Mayor

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Former Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa runs for Dallas Mayor


Former Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa announced that he is running for Mayor of Dallas on Monday.

Hinojosa says the city needs experienced leadership to address the budget challenges and pro sports teams leaving Downtown Dallas.

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Addressing Dallas’ budget and pro sports team

Local perspective:

Michael Hinojosa served two stints as superintendent of Dallas ISD, totaling 13 years. He told FOX 4 that he officially filed paperwork to enter the race and plans to formally launch his campaign at a Tuesday morning news conference at Dallas City Hall.

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Hinojosa points to financial track record at Dallas ISD

What they’re saying:

Hinojosa cited his tenure leading Dallas ISD as evidence of his financial management experience, saying the district’s reserves grew from about $32 million when he took over in 2005 to nearly $1 billion in obligated and unobligated fund balances by the time he left.

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“I think that it’s really important for this community to know that we’re at an inflection point and that the city and the community need a strong, proven leader,” Hinojosa said.

He pointed to the city’s budget shortfall, employee furloughs and concerns over major sports franchises potentially leaving downtown as examples of challenges facing Dallas.

He said solving the city’s challenges would require coalition-building and pledged to focus on issues important to residents, taxpayers and businesses.

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“I believe that a vision is a dream with a deadline,” Hinojosa said, adding that if elected he would aim to address the city’s biggest challenges within two terms.

Campaign announcement at Dallas City Hall

What’s next:

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Hinojosa said he will outline his priorities during a 10 a.m. campaign announcement on Tuesday, July 14, at Dallas City Hall.

The Source: Information in this article was provided by an interview conducted by FOX 4’s Shaun Rabb.

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Viral East Dallas coffee shop fears major sales drop amid six-week road closure

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Viral East Dallas coffee shop fears major sales drop amid six-week road closure


Construction plans disrupt business in East Dallas. Just a few days ago, the owners of Juju’s Coffee off La Vista Drive in Dallas were informed by Oncor that the street on which their shop is located will be closed.

One of the owners, Nick Rocha, said the closure will last six weeks, but if there are any delays, it could be extended until October.

The coffee shop, which opened in 2023, has recently gained a lot of popularity. One of their drinks, called the “do-si-dos,” has gone viral, and now they have lines out the door on a regular basis.

“It’s a peanut butter milk latte… We probably doubled our sales or more if I had to be honest,” said Rocha.

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Since the drink’s release in April, the flow of customers has been nonstop.

“We were like, ‘We’ll go viral and then we’ll die out.’ Then we’re like, ‘Well, when is it going to be over, because we’re just getting slammed?’ We were both doing like 60- to 70-hour weeks… And it just kept going, and it turned from like, ‘Okay, we’re scared of it,’ to, ‘Okay, we can do this,’” said Rojas.

Rojas says that just as they were adjusting to the new normal, the notice from Oncor came.

“They were just like, ‘Yeah, so we’re going to close the street, sorry.’ That was tough… because we’re in the middle of dreaming and vision casting for what’s coming and what’s next,” said Rojas.

Starting July 20, La Vista Drive will be closed, sidewalk accessibility will be difficult, and street visibility will be too. Rojas believes the impact could drop their sales by about 50%. He says they’ve had meetings with the city and Oncor, but says there’s nothing they can do, and now their only plea is to their customers.

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“Anybody that comes in and supports, it’s a genuine gratitude from us,” said Rojas.



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