Dallas, TX

Letters to the Editor — Reading academies, striking dancers, Dallas Cowboys, health care

Published

2 hours ago

August 23, 2024

Press Room

Letters to the Editor — Reading academies, striking dancers, Dallas Cowboys, health care

Texas has reading program

Re: “Texas must invest in early reading,” by Bill Hammond, Monday Opinion.

Hammond, a former Texas state representative, chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, writes about the need to bring reading academies to Texas. He based that on the miracle in Mississippi, where reading academies have helped elevate reading scores for the last several years.

In fact, Texas does have a Reading Academy requirement. House Bill 3, passed during the 86th Texas Legislature, established the requirement that all teacher candidates who teach students in grades pre-K-6 demonstrate proficiency in the science of teaching reading on a new, standalone certification exam.

This includes principals and elementary math and science teachers as well. This requirement took effect on Jan. 1, 2021.

Knowing this, I urge Mr. Hammond to ask a different question now. Has there been an impact on reading since the RA requirement was implemented? The “Mississippi Miracle” may be happening already in Texas.

Unfortunately, those of us in the education business know that any new curriculum takes more than a year or two to be fully embraced by teachers and then effectively implemented.

Rebecca Good, Allen

Continue backing dancers

Re: “Backers rally for fired dancers,” Monday Metro story.

Elizabeth Myong did a fine job of covering the rally for the fired Dallas Black Dance Theatre dancers, and it was wonderful to see the solidarity from labor, retirees and the community at large. Labor and civil rights struggles are not won in a single day, though. All of us must continue backing the dancers until they prevail, and I’m sure we will.

Gene Lantz, Dallas

Believe the truth, too

Re: “Whatever happened to telling the truth? As King taught me, our nation must relearn the danger of lies,” by Peter Johnson, Sunday Opinion.

Johnson wrote about the importance of lies. And truth. I’d like to share another level of thought concerning the human condition. In East of Eden, John Steinbeck wrote: “An unbelieved truth can hurt a man much more than a lie.” I offer this truth as an addendum to Johnson’s writing.

Tom Agase, Highland Village

A dual stand on abortion

Re: “Many women oppose abortion,” by Keith Bernard Marx, Wednesday Letters.

You can be a woman who wants control over her own body and still be anti-abortion.

Mindy Vinton, Dallas/Oak Lawn

Substance behind dog whistle

Re: “There’s the dog whistle,” by Holly Skaggs, Sunday Letters.

In response to this letter, it’s important to clarify that while the GOP campaigns may not explicitly use the term “Christian nationalism,” the ideology is evident in their rhetoric and policies. Donald Trump, for example, has made several statements that align with Christian nationalist themes, such as promising to combat anti-Christian bias with a federal task force and framing political struggles as spiritual battles.

Moreover, at the Texas GOP convention, leaders pushed for policies promoting Christian values, like mandatory Bible teachings in public schools, which is a clear example of Christian nationalism in practice, even if the term isn’t used directly.

Dismissing this as mere journalistic bias ignores the real connections between current GOP rhetoric and Christian nationalist ideology. The claim that “Christian nationalism” is simply a “dog whistle” accusation overlooks these substantive issues.

Alan D. Bryan, Richardson

Cowboys grow with mediocrity

Re: “Team is league’s 1st valued at over $10B — Franchise is worth over $2.5B more than Rams, No. 2 on Sportico list,” Aug. 14 news story.

Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 for $150 million. Today, the franchise is worth more than $10 billion. Without a doubt, Jones is an amazing businessman. He had great success in the early years with Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer. Since then, he has nothing to brag about. There is no incentive when your assets are growing exponentially with a mediocre product.

It is time for Jerry Jones to take a page from President Joe Biden’s book and get out of football management and player negotiations. He should hire a good general manager who can take us back to the glory days of Tex Schramm and Tom Landry. He should use his newfound wealth to pay top talent and bring back championships to our community.

Rudra Nadhan, Arlington

Financial lock on Arlington

Someone please, remind me why the Dallas Cowboys (and any other professional sports franchise) need taxpayer funding to build stadiums for a private entertainment business.

I believe the Dallas Cowboys’ financial lock on Arlington is so absolute that residents who front busy streets on game days are not allowed to park fans cars and receive a few bucks lest they endanger the Cowboy parking lot monopoly.

It requires an ironic sense of humor to justify socialism for the rich and free enterprise for the poor.

Matt Wenthold, Denton

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

Source link

Click to comment

Dallas, TX

Fire at home in Far North Dallas sends plume of smoke over Dallas

Published

10 hours ago

August 22, 2024

Press Room

Fire at home in Far North Dallas sends plume of smoke over Dallas

5:54 PM on Aug 22, 2024 CDT

A fire ignited by sparks from a welder damaged two houses in Far North Dallas Thursday afternoon, a Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson said.

At 2:44 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a two-story home in the 16700 block of Village Lane. Responders arriving at the scene saw “heavy smoke” rising from flames near the rear of the house, Jason Evans, the Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson, said. A large pillar of black smoke from the fire was visible for miles.

No one was inside the home at the time of the fire. A neighboring house damaged by the flames was also unoccupied at the time, Evans said.

The fire was under control at 3:38 p.m. Though the fire was “largely controlled” shortly after firefighters arrived, Dallas Fire-Rescue classified the fire as a two-alarm fire — a designation calling for more responders and resources — because of the high heat and the close proximity of the homes in the neighborhood, Evans said.

As of 4:30 p.m., 40 units had responded to the fire, according to a list of active calls on Dallas Fire-Rescue’s website.

Investigators determined the fire was “accidental in nature” and began due to sparks from welding being done on a fence near the back of the home, Evans said in a statement Thursday evening.

Source link

Dallas, TX

DFW Restaurant Openings to Know in August

Published

17 hours ago

August 22, 2024

Press Room

DFW Restaurant Openings to Know in August

Every month, a new crop of restaurants open in the Metroplex. While everyone loves a good steak house, sushi spot, and burgers, this round up will give you the high-end spots and the low-end spots that are new to town, be they good, bad, or so bad they’re good/so good they’re bad. Whether it’s a locally-owned restaurant or the latest addition of a chain, here’s what’s happening in the world of restaurant openings in Dallas and beyond for the month.

Send your openings news to dallas@eater.com.

2401 Cedar Springs Rd., Suite 120

East meets West in this steakhouse that brings together South Korean and Texas food, with just a dash of New Orleans thrown in, all to reflect owner and Smoothie King magnate Wan Kim’s life story. Check out our Inside the Dishes for a look at what is on the menu.

5463 Beltline Rd.

Looking for house-made pasta, Allen Brothers steaks, and fresh seafood? James Beard recognized chef Omar Flores kinda surprised DFW by announcing he was opening Even Coast in Addison on the day the doors flung open, but it’s nothing but a boon for us to have his work back in a kitchen here. It is open for lunch and dinner.

7859 Walnut Hill Ln., Suite 170

There’s some buzz around this Turkish/Mediterranean fusion restaurant in the nondescript shopping center by Trader Joe’s on Walnut Hill. The light and airy decor is inviting, while the menu features intriguing dishes like beetroot hummus, pacanga borek (Phyllo rolls stuffed with Turkish beef pastrami and kasseri cheese), and zirh kimya adana (hand-ground lamb seasoned with Turkish spices, onion, piyaz, and grilled tomato).

302 N. Market Street

The West End’s most prolific restaurateur, Jay Khan, opens his sixth restaurant in the neighborhood with this barbecue spot that is inspired by his wife’s family (they are the Moaks). Word is, Khan already has his seventh and eighth places plotted out.

3015 Gulden Ln., Suite #105

Speaking of barbecue, a Las Vegas chain has opened a barbecue shop in Trinity Groves. Seriously, what is going on over there?

101 S Coit Rd. #50 in Richardson

This cute spot in the Cottonwood Market Antique Mall gets a rebrand from the catering truck Saucy Savories that’s been around for a few years, CultureMap Dallas reports. Shop for antique and vintage finds and pop in for a seat and a plate of chickpea Caesar salad or a pulled pork sandwich with chimichurri.

2301 N. Akard St.

Sushi lovers have a new spot to stop in Uptown. The interiors are maximalist to the max and the plates feature sushi and pan-Asian fare. Head in for a business lunch or a date night dinner.

7709 Inwood Rd.

Hey, did you like Dea over off Lovers Lane in West Dallas? It’s now called Perch Bistro. More or less the same-ish menu, reboot on the decor to take it down a notch (er, make things more approachable).

1321 Commerce St.

This spot made it’s pop-up in the Adolphus a full-time commitment. The two have hitched their wagons to each other for the foreseeable future, as Dallas’s love affair with omakase services rolls on. Interesting call.

Source link

Dallas, TX

Forget Last Year’s Finals Loss, The Dallas Mavericks’ Championship Window Is Still Wide Open

Published

24 hours ago

August 22, 2024

Press Room

Forget Last Year’s Finals Loss, The Dallas Mavericks’ Championship Window Is Still Wide Open

The Dallas Mavericks suffered a disappointing defeat in the NBA Finals last season, falling to the Boston Celtics in five games. They were clearly outmatched against a team with shooting and versatile defensive options to throw at Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, but that’s no reason to be discouraged about the future of the Mavericks.

Bleacher Report recently ranked every team’s three-year championship window and placed the Mavs fifth behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Boston Celtics, the Denver Nuggets, and the Philadelphia 76ers. An argument can be made about whether they should be placed above the 76ers and Nuggets but this is what B/r had to say about the Mavs’ placement.

READ MORE: The Dallas Mavericks’ Addition of Klay Thompson Is Underrated

“SuperDuperUltraMegaAbsurd stars have a way of wedging open title windows almost entirely on their own. Luka Dončić is that brand of brilliant—and just about to enter his age-25 season, which is SuperDuperUltraMegaAbsurdly ridiculous. That alone puts the Dallas Mavericks into the top-10 conversation.

“But Dončić is not alone. Not even close.

“Landing Dereck Lively II at the 2023 draft was a stroke of genius by the Mavs front office. The closer he inches toward his prime during this window, the better off Dallas will be.

“Kyrie Irving arms the Mavs with a certified co-star. He’s also one of their question marks—not because of his fit, but because he’ll close this window in his age-35 season. For as deep as Dallas is now, it’s not built to withstand much measurable regression from him.

“The integration of a 34-year-old Klay Thompson looms as well. But the Mavs are younger elsewhere. P.J. Washington is about to turn 26. Daniel Gafford turns 26 in October. Naji Marshall turns 27 in January. Quentin Grimes is a sneaky candidate to emerge as a big-picture three-and-D anchor and is only entering his age-24 season.

“Any prospective downside tethered to the Mavs’ window likely won’t manifest until the final year—at the absolute earliest. And that’s assuming they don’t have another notable trade or two in them. They might. They have two first-round picks to peddle in trades now, and that number climbs to three if they wait long enough.”

READ MORE: ESPN Predicts 2025 MVP Race Between Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Dallas’ championship hopes mainly rest on Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson aging gracefully while Luka Doncic remains one of the best players in the world. Thompson and Irving are entering their mid-30s and Thompson has already lost some athleticism due to injuries in the last few years, but his shooting and Irving’s control of the ball are two skills that shouldn’t fade.

Any improvement Dallas sees from Dereck Lively II or P.J. Washington would be a bonus. The Mavs have done the hard part in acquiring a player of Doncic’s level and surrounding him with star talent. If the role players can become better shooters and smarter defenders, the Mavericks should have as good a chance as any to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the next few years.

The Thunder and Celtics placed in the top two spots makes sense. Both are young teams with All-NBA talents entering their prime and have the shooting and versatile defenders necessary to win in today’s NBA. The Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, winner of three of the last four MVP awards, while the 76ers have a star trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George.

Given Embiid’s injury history and Paul George’s age and recent playoff performances, the Mavericks should be ranked ahead of them. Denver has lost a lot of pieces and is dealing with cap constraints. Jamal Murray also played poorly in the Olympics and some have to wonder if that will carry into the season. Jokic is Jokic but they’re not the same team they were and don’t have a lot of moves to make.

It feels like the 2000s again when Dallas was constantly in title contention with Dirk Nowitzki leading the way. The Mavs are hopeful Doncic can carry a similar impact through the rest of the decade and beyond.

READ MORE: Former All-Star Has High Expectations for Klay Thompson’s First Game Against Golden State Warriors

Stick with MavericksGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the NBA Offseason

Follow MavericksGameday on Twitter and Austin Veazey on Twitter

Source link