Dallas, TX
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
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Dallas, TX
FC Dallas comes from behind to defeat Sporting Kansas City 2-1
The good vibes at Toyota Stadium are back for FC Dallas. On Saturday night, FC Dallas snapped a two-game losing streak at home as they came from behind to defeat Sporting Kansas City 2-1.
Lucho Acosta scores his third goal of the season, while Leo Chu scored his first goal in a Dallas uniform to help guide FC Dallas to its third win of the 2025 season.
Sporting put Dallas on the back foot early and in the 32nd minute, Daniel Salloi scored the game’s opening goal off a cross into the penalty box from Shapi Suleymanov. The goal was Salloi’s ninth against FC Dallas in the regular season.
Five minutes later, FC Dallas responded on a counter attack goal from Acosta. The ball was played forward where Acosta was able to dribble it forward before taking on a few Sporting defenders. He laid the ball off to Musa, who then played it directly back to him in the penalty box where he beat Sporting keeper John Pulskamp.
Two minutes later, FC Dallas took over the lead thanks to Chu’s first goal in a Dallas uniform. Osaze Urhoghide played a long ball over top the Sporting defense where Sebastian Lletget was able to get on the end of it. Lletget dribbled the ball into the penalty box and then slipped the ball through where Chu was able to meet it and fire home a shot past Pulskamp.
Sporting pressed for an equalizer and came close in the 80th minute on a free kick from Memo Rodriguez that found Dany Rosero open at the back post to head the ball toward goal, but Maarten Paes was able to make a stop.
Instant Reaction: After the opening 20 minutes, it felt like this was going to be another one of those nights for FC Dallas. But the team’s response after going down a goal was great to see tonight. Once Dallas finally started pushing the ball forward into the Sporting end, the chances came and were good. The defense was still put under a ton of pressure in the second half and had Paes not come up big a couple of times, this could have been a different game.
About the Subs: Eric Quill went to his bench about eleven minutes into the second half as he had a double dub to bring on Tsiki Ntsabeleng and Logan Farrington for Leo Chu and Patrickson Delgado. In the 75th minute, Quill had two more subs as Sebastian Lletget and Nolan Norris came off for Marco Farfan and Kaick. The final sub came in during stoppage time as Lalas Abubakar came on for Lucho Acosta.
Man of the Match: Acosta pulled the strings tonight and helped get the three points, but let’s also give a shout out to Maarten Paes for keeping things where they were when FCD got the lead.
Where does this fit into the season: It is still early but the win pushed FC Dallas into fourth place in the Western Conference with ten points. That could easily change by the end of the night.
What’s next for FC Dallas: The club kicks off the new month that will see them on the road for three of four weeks, starting first with a trip to battle Atlanta United next weekend.
Dallas, TX
Cowboys draft polls: 5 draft questions for Dallas on Day 2

This week, we present five newly crafted draft-related questions, all obviously focused on the Dallas Cowboys. Specifically, these questions will center around the team’s options on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, asking how their strategy should work and potential impact that could have on the season. Cast your vote on each and leave your opinions in the comment section.
Which position should be the top priority for Dallas in the second round of the NFL draft? (Their first pick was CB Will Johnson in this hypothetical)
We come in fast and ask you what position the Cowboys should prioritize if they were to take a cornerback in the first round of the draft. Defensive back is still a primary need and taking a high-flying cornerback like Will Johnson would transform the secondary. But what would be the next position to target after that?
Poll
Which position should be the top priority for Dallas in the second round of the NFL Draft?
Which potential Day 2 running back would be the best fit for the Cowboys?
Day 2 is the sweet spot with plenty of options at the running back position. The Cowboys have signed two running backs to the roster but both carry question marks as to their production. If Dallas went out and targeted a running back on Day 2, who would you want it to be?
Poll
Which potential Day 2 running back would be the best fit for the Cowboys?
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TreVeyon Henderson
(0 votes)
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Quinshon Judkins
(0 votes)
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0%
Cameron Skattebo
(0 votes)
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0%
Ollie Gordon II
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Which second-round prospect should the Cowboys target to improve their defense in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Switching to the defense, there are great options for Dallas to target in Day 2 of the draft. Whether it’s defensive back, a run-stuffing defensive tackle. or linebacker, there are some great prospects to choose from that carry great value. But who would you want to take on Day 2 to bolster the defense?
Poll
Which second round prospect should the Cowboys target to improve their defense in the Draft?
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DL Darius Alexander
(0 votes)
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DT Alfred Collins
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DE Landon Jackson
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LB Carson Schwesinger
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DE J.T. Tuimoloau
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DE Princely Umanmielen
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0 votes total
Vote Now
Which Round 3 wide receiver would be the best fit for the Cowboys?
The wide receiver talent depth is not what we are usually accustomed to from previous seasons. But if Dallas waited until the third round to take a shiny new pass catcher, which prospect would be the best fit?
Poll
Which Round 3 wide receiver would be the best fit for the Cowboys?
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Xavier Restrepo
(0 votes)
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Savion Williams
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Which Day 2 offensive lineman would give the Cowboys the biggest immediate impact?
Offensive line is still an obvious area of the roster that needs improving. Dallas may look to go BPA in the first round or land an unexpected talent that falls to pick 12. That means waiting till Day 2 to find the next offensive line upgrade. If that was the case, who’s your pet cat to fill the offensive line needs in the second or third round?
Poll
Which Day 2 offensive lineman would give the Cowboys the biggest immediate impact?
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Jonah Savaiinaea
(0 votes)
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Cameron Williams
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Dallas, TX
Suspect arrested in brazen Dallas attack on bride-to-be

A man has been arrested in connection with a brazen attack on a bride-to-be.
Dallas police say Trevon Woodards, 27, was arrested in Bedford on Friday.
He faces an aggravated assault charge for alleged attacks near Gaston and Good Latimer near Deep Ellum.
Woodards is accused of punching Canada Rinaldi, 27, in the face as she and a group of friends walked toward their Uber on Floyd Street just before 2 a.m. Sunday.
Rinaldi was in town from Oklahoma for a bachelorette trip. She’s getting married in April.
Rinaldi suffered a broken nose, three broken teeth and needed stitches in her forehead.
One of the bridesmaids, Kelly Peralta, says she was also struck by the suspect when she tried to help Rinaldi.
Peralta suffered a black eye and swelling.
Woodards was identified by police on Friday afternoon, hours before his arrest.
“It’s really relieving,” said Rinaldi.
Stephanie Keller Hudiburg is executive director of the Deep Ellum Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes public safety in the area.
“It’s a community that has a very passionate response to safety and cares deeply. We have a community safety plan for that reason,” said Keller Hudiburg.
The Deep Ellum Community Safety Plan includes a SeeSay app where the public can report a variety of issues and problems. Keller Hudiburg says the Foundation also has security working around the clock, along with more than 100 security cameras in and around Deep Ellum.
“We are grateful,” Keller Hudiburg told NBC 5 in response to the arrest.
Three photos of Woodards released by Dallas police Friday show him on a DART platform, a police body camera image of Woodards during an interaction with him at Target on March 21, and a mugshot of Woodards from February after he violated probation on a previous assault charge. It was recommended that he spend 10 days in jail.
“I don’t think that he’s an awful person; I think that he just needs help,” said Rinaldi. “I think he still has to pay the price for what he did.”
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