The FBI’s computer forensics lab in Dallas [Photo: Michael Samples]

North Texas Innovation Alliance (NTXIA) and FBI Dallas are developing a series of educational workshops and sessions to talk about the future of information and cybersecurity, threats to connected infrastructure, risk management strategies, and other issues that could affect North Texas.

“By teaming up with the FBI, we aim to empower our members with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate and mitigate the complexities of modern threats,” NTXIA Executive Director Jennifer Sanders said in a statement.

Sanders said that the partnership highlights the organization’s commitment “to fostering a secure and resilient innovation ecosystem in North Texas.”

“By engaging directly with the community, we can better understand local challenges and develop tailored solutions that ensure our cities and businesses thrive in a safe environment,” Sanders said. “This collaboration is particularly timely as North Texas continues to experience rapid technological growth, making risk management a top priority.”

North Texas Innovation Alliance is a 501(c)3 regional consortium of more than 40 municipalities, agencies, corporations, and academic institutions across North Texas, pursuing the goal of creating “the most connected, smart and resilient region in the country.”

Building resilience against cyber threats

North Texas is recognized as a rapidly advancing hub of urban innovation, NTXIA said, necessitating a focus on potential threats. Themes for the sessions will be driven by issues and questions brought forward by the ecosystem and academic and research communities.

The workshops will cover a range of critical topics, including safeguarding critical infrastructure, understanding the dual nature of AI as both an asset and a risk, cybersecurity and fraud prevention, digital literacy, corporate data and IP theft, combating misinformation, and ensuring supply chain transparency.

Challenges include safeguarding IP

The FBI said it will share its perspective on major challenges to safeguarding intellectual property and provide advice on proactive measures across the public, private, and academic sectors. Also, the agency said the series will highlight federal resources available to help prepare and protect communities and businesses against threats.

“Partnering with NTXIA allows us to extend our reach to critical segments of academia, public and private sector communities,” FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough said in a statement. “Together, we can enhance the region’s defenses against a spectrum of threats, ensuring that North Texas has the tools and knowledge to remain a leader in innovation.”

Yarbrough said the meetings come “at a pivotal moment, as the threats we face today are increasingly sophisticated.”

The mission is to educate and equip community members throughout North Texas.

Yarborough added, “By working closely with local stakeholders, we aim to provide the necessary resources and knowledge to build resilience against both insider and foreign malign threats.”

The series kicked off on June 5 with the first workshop focusing on artificial intelligence and cyber security.

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The Dallas County Jail continues to get rebuilt.

The Jan. 12, 2023, EF-2 tornado severely damaged the jail, tearing off the roof and destroying the interior. Over 120 inmates were relocated to Perry County and Limestone County. 

The Dallas County Commission often discusses the jail at its monthly meeting and gets reports from Sheriff Mike Granthum. 

Perry Juvenile Center was recently repaired and now housing juvenile inmates. At a recent commission meeting, Perry Varner Director Marcus Hannah thanked the County Commission for their help.

The kitchen, surveillance equipment and other electronics will be replaced. Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn and Granthum predict at least a year and a half before inmates and employees return to the “state-of-the-art” jail.

NBA Finals’ Game 3 is set for tonight in Dallas.

The Boston Celtics now have a two-game lead against the Dallas Mavericks. The question is: Can they turn it into a three-game lead in the Lone Star State?

Game 2 had the Celtics and the Mavs neck-and-neck for much of the contest, ending with the Celtics pulling through in the second half, with the final score being 105-98.

Center Kristaps Porziņģis was a key asset in the Game 1 victory for the Celtics and played a significant role in Game 2’s win. After appearing to tweak his knee in the fourth quarter, he sat out with less than five minutes left in the match-up.

However, Porziņģis assured the public that he would be playing in Game 3 tonight.

In the regular season, the Mavericks were 50-32, and the Celtics were 64-18.

Game 3 will be on June 12, 2024, and will be held at Dallas’ American Airlines Center.

What time does Mavericks vs. Celtics Game 3 start

Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m.

How to watch tonight’s Celtics game

You can watch tonight’s game on ABC.

Here is the full schedule for the 2024 NBA Finals

• Game 3: Wednesday, June 12, 8:30 p.m. in Dallas
• Game 4: Friday, June 14, 7 p.m. in Dallas
• Game 5*: Monday, June 17, 8:30 p.m. in Boston
• Game 6*: Thursday, June 20, 8:30 p.m. in Dallas
• Game 7*: Sunday, June 23, 8 p.m. in Boston

All games will be aired on ABC.

*if necessary.

Jaylen Brown stats

Jaylen Brown won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP after averaging a team-high 30.3 points a game in the series.

Brown averaged 23 points per game with 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists during the regular season. He also shot 35% from behind the arc.

In the postseason, he’s only gotten better, with 24.6 points per game with 6.0 rebounds, although a lower assist stat. He is now shooting 35.6% with three-pointers.

In Game 2 of the Celtics-Mavs series, Brown put 21 points on the board.

Kristaps Porziņģis stats

Returning Celtics star Porziņģis has averaged 13.5 points and is shooting 37.0% from 3-point territory this postseason.

If that point average seems underwhelming, that makes sense. Porziņģis has been gone for slightly over a month due to injury and only played in the Miami series in this postseason up until now. His stats reflect that absence.

However, at 7-foot2 and with a 3-point percentage of 50% during Game 1 and Game 2 against the Mavs, he remains a powerful part of the team.

Porziņģis scored 20 points in Game 1 and 12 points in Game 2.

Luka Dončić Mavericks stats

Luka Dončić is averaging 29 points per game in this playoff run and shooting 34.8% from three-point land.

In Game 2, Dončić scored 32 points.

Kyrie Irving Mavericks stats

Kyrie Irving, who suited up for Boston in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, is averaging 22.2 points this postseason, and shooting 40.2% from behind the arc.

In Game 2, Irving put up 16 points.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.