Dallas, TX
Our recommendation for Dallas City Council, District 7
We have supported Adam Bazaldua in each of his three previous races for Dallas City Council District 7, but we think it’s time for voters in this area to select another representative.
In a five-person race, we recommend Navy veteran Jose Rivas Jr., an ombudsman for the Texas Department of Juvenile Justice and the former vice chairman of the Dallas Community Police Oversight Board.
Rivas, 54, has demonstrated a more balanced approach to governing the district that doesn’t lean into national politics or the kind of reflexive progressivism that has become the incumbent’s stock in trade.
District 7 includes some of southern Dallas’ most important historic neighborhoods, from South Dallas to Joppa to Cadillac Heights. It is home to the city’s architectural jewel of Fair Park.
It is sadly also an area that experiences far too much violence and poverty.
We believe that Rivas offers the best chance to help the neighborhoods of District 7 realize their potential. The first step in achieving that goal is to ensure that people are safe in their homes and safe on the streets.
Rivas is calling for a 90-day plan, including mutual-aid assistance from other law enforcement agencies, to address crime in the district. Hot-spot policing has helped address crime, but it has also forced Dallas police to concentrate resources in high-crime areas. Residents in other parts of town see fewer cops as a result, and the entire city’s sense of safety is drained.
We have spoken to many residents and leaders in this district over the years. They have been clear that they want strong but fair policing. Rivas strikes us as the candidate most likely to deliver that.
Bazaldua, 38, is a gifted politician. When he meets with us, his answers on matters ranging from policing to development are nuanced and serious. But we see another side to him that embraces a view of governing that is well to the left of many residents in this district. We have long expressed concern about dragging City Hall in a partisan direction. Mayor Eric Johnson has been the leader in treating his office as a political stepping stone. What Johnson does from the right, Bazaldua does from the left.
His leadership on city charter amendments, including an embarrassing preamble that had to be revised in a scramble, indicated to us that he is more focused on burnishing his standing among local Democrats than in unifying the city under serious policies.
Rivas has done his homework on the trouble with Fair Park’s operations. His focus on streamlining the city’s regulatory processes to increase housing affordability is on target. And his recognition that the city has to be quicker to address homeless people struggling with addiction and mental illness is refreshing.
Of the remaining candidates, project manager Cydney Walker, 52, impressed us as thoughtful. We urge her to remain engaged in city work.
O’Neil Hesson, 31, and Lamar “Yaka” Jefferson, 44, are not prepared for this office.
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
DALLAS – Slow-moving thunderstorms brought localized flash flooding to parts of North Texas on Tuesday evening, blocking highways near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and dropping several inches of rain in portions of Tarrant and Parker counties.
Flash Flood Warnings
Local perspective:
Flash flood warnings are in effect for Hopkins, Hunt, Rains and Van Zandt counties until 7:45 p.m.
Flooding was reported along Texas 183 near Valley View Lane south of DFW Airport, where stranded vehicles and water-covered roadways created hazardous travel conditions.
A flash flood warning remained in effect near the airport, although rainfall rates had begun to diminish as the storm weakened.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
The National Weather Service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northern Hood County, citing the potential for gusty winds and small hail. Forecasters reported hail ranging from pea-sized to marble-sized in parts of Hood, Parker and Denton counties.
Forecasters attributed the weakening storms in Denton County to an outflow boundary, a meteorological feature that can disrupt thunderstorm development.
The warning area was reduced as the storm weakened near sunset.
LIVE RADAR
What they’re saying:
FOX 4’s Kylie Capps said the storms moved unusually slowly from east to west, allowing heavy rain to accumulate over the same areas for several hours.
Rainfall estimates showed some locations in eastern Parker County and western Tarrant County received nearly 5 inches of rain during a six-hour period, while areas near DFW Airport recorded more than 2 inches.
Elsewhere in North Texas, northern Rains County received nearly 5 inches of rain.
7-Day Forecast
What’s next:
Forecasters expect a quieter overnight period, with only isolated showers lingering into the evening. Additional thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon, though coverage and the threat of severe weather are expected to remain limited.
Temperatures are forecast to reach about 90 degrees Wednesday.
Rain chances are expected to continue through the remainder of the workweek and into the weekend as an upper-level low-pressure system sends multiple disturbances across North Texas.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by FOX 4’s Weather Team
Monday was a wild day for the NFL with two blockbuster trades. First was Myles Garrett, who both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles were rumored to have interest in.
Cowboys fans never bought into these rumors, knowing that Jerry Jones was unlikely to make such an investment. The Eagles, however, have been known to get aggressive. Thankfully for Dallas fans, they didn’t make the move as the Cleveland Browns sent Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and a package of picks.
Not long after that trade was finalized, the Eagles did wind up making a trade. After months of speculation surrounding A.J. Brown and the New England Patriots, the two sides made it official as Brown was reunited with Mike Vrabel in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Dallas Cowboys could take the NFC East crown in 2026
The writing has been on the wall all offseason regarding Brown, who has been unhappy with the Eagles for a while. His departure seemed confirmed when they traded up with Dallas in the 2026 NFL draft for USC receiver Makai Lemon.
While Lemon has the tools to be a difference-maker, he won’t be able to perform at the same level as Brown during his rookie season. The Eagles do still have DeVonta Smith at receiver as well as running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts.
That said, there’s no denying that they’re weaker this season than they were with Brown. Just as important, however, is the fact that general manager Howie Roseman didn’t pull off a shocking move for Garrett, which would have made them the overwhelming favorites in the division.
Cowboys chances hinge on defensive changes
Another reason the Cowboys are confident they can hang with Philadelphia this season is the presence of Christian Parker, who they hired as their defensive coordinator after he spent the past two seasons as the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Eagles.
Parker brings in a new scheme and plenty of confidence, but more importantly, he has several new weapons at his disposal. Dallas traded for veterans Rashan Gary and Dee Winters, signed Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant, and selected Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the draft.
Those are just some of the moves they made on defense, and they’re banking on that to be enough to help propel them past the team that has won the division the past two seasons.
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