Dallas, TX

Why is City Hall shortchanging southern Dallas to save a library north?

Published

2 hours ago

September 9, 2024

Why is City Hall shortchanging southern Dallas to save a library north?

The Dallas City Council has trouble sticking to its convictions. The conversation surrounding the proposed closure of the Skillman Southwestern Library proves that.

Facing a budget shortfall and massive pension obligations, interim City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert and her staff set out to find cost savings to shore up the upcoming budget. That plan involves closing the Skillman library in northeast Dallas, largely due to its close proximity to other branches and low foot traffic.

But a wave of community opposition led council members last week to tentatively shuffle some money intended for underserved neighborhoods in southern Dallas to preserve the library branch in a well-resourced area of northeast Dallas. While the full council has yet to weigh in with a formal vote, the move highlights a recurring problem at City Hall.

Whether it’s the botched charter review process this year or the unchecked scope creep in the 2024 bond program, this council caves to outside pressure when it faces politically difficult decisions.

If our local representatives capitulate every time an interest group champions a pet cause or challenges an unpopular but well-reasoned policy proposal, then Dallas will just keep kicking cans down the road. Facing unpleasant but necessary decisions is part of the job description when you sit around the council horseshoe.

No one wants to see libraries close. They’re hubs for learning, community and creativity. But the 13,200-square-foot Skillman branch sits roughly a mile away from the state-of-the-art Vickery Park branch that opened in 2021. The bright and colorful 18,000-square-foot Vickery Park branch has multiple meeting rooms, a children’s play area and a tree-lined plaza. Closing the Skillman branch would surely be an inconvenience for some, but residents still have a great library option nearby.

The Dallas Public Library system doesn’t have enough money in its budget to keep the Skillman branch open while ensuring all the city’s other libraries remain open at least six days a week, this newspaper reported.

Instead, the council is considering using about $485,000 meant for the city’s infrastructure investment fund. That bucket of money was approved last year with the purpose of encouraging investment in the city’s high-poverty areas, mainly south of Interstate 30, by reimbursing developers for the cost of building infrastructure or related work.

To this day, Dallas is defined by its north-south divide. Taking funds meant to reverse decades of neglect in southern Dallas to keep a library open in a better-off part of town makes no sense. Council members haven’t even voiced a plan for how to fund the Skillman library beyond the next fiscal year.

None of this is to say that council members shouldn’t listen to their constituents. But emotional and personal attachments can’t be the reason to ignore good financial sense. The council should be fair to southern Dallas rather than crack under pressure.

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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Dallas, TX

Micah Parsons speaks on dominant Cowboys’ defensive display vs. Browns

Published

10 hours ago

September 8, 2024

Press Room

Micah Parsons speaks on dominant Cowboys’ defensive display vs. Browns

CLEVELAND — It was slated to be a dog fight when the Dallas Cowboys met the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Stadium to open the NFL regular season, but the latter got put in a kennel early and often as the former went rabid in their attack, and that is especially true for Micah Parsons and Mike Zimmer’s defense.

The world got its first look at what the unit might be capable of under Zimmer, and against a highly-mobile playmaking quarterback in Deshaun Watson with his stable of weapons — including five-time Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper and newly-acquired wideout Jerry Jeudy — wherein Parsons helped lead a brutal onslaught of pressure.

They allowed only one first down in the entire first half and ultimately only 17 points the entire game; and Parsons (agreeing with All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs after the game) says they’re just getting started.

“We didn’t open up the full bag,” said Parsons. ” … I think the sky’s the limit. This is just the beginning.”

The defense was flying around to the point where you have to wonder if American Airlines will give them frequent flier miles for their efforts. From Eric Kendricks to DeMarvion Overshown to DeMarcus Lawrence to Osa Odighizuwa and more, the defensive front was outstanding.

And then came the secondary, who basically shoved Cooper, Jeudy and Elijah Moore into a locker and spun the combination on the lock.

The run defense shined. The coverage shined. The contain on Watson shined.

“We have those rotational pieces and obviously we draft it pretty well, so it looks good and it helps that we can rotate when you’re tired and things like that,” said Parsons of the Cowboys being able to throw waves of talented defenders at teams. … Man, I feel like we could have done more to anybody else.

“Deshaun’s tough. He’s a tough quarterback, bro. He’s hard to get down. He’s scrappy, he’s relentless. He kept getting up, man [but] it was challenging for Cleveland to really dial into the offense.”

The three-time All-Pro pass rusher was lined up in several different spots on Sunday in Cleveland, making it difficult for the Browns to key in on him pre-snap, to resounding success.

He did give praise to Watson for his toughness and grit, though, and in being able to keep Parsons from having what could’ve otherwise been a multi-sack day to begin the season.

“I think I missed two or three [sacks],” said Parsons. “He’s tough. I’m going to have nightmares tonight for sure. I’m supposed to start this year off with [three sacks]. … I don’t think I played to my standard. I’ve gotta finish those plays..”

Parsons says he’s making no excuses and is determined to get back into the lab following this game to try and right that ship for Week 2 — in the home opener against the New Orleans Saints.

“First home game? They’ve got Derek Carr and they just dropped 40, so they’re clicking,” said Parsons. “We’ve gotta hit this lab and get cooking, but the Lion’s coming. Gotta protect the Den. Let’s go.”

The Cowboys owned the longest home win streak in the league before it was derailed by the Green Bay Packers in January, and they’re looking to start a new one, effective Sept. 15.

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Cowboys-Browns live updates: Newly-paid Dak Prescott, Dallas open 2024 season on the road

Published

17 hours ago

September 8, 2024

Press Room

Cowboys-Browns live updates: Newly-paid Dak Prescott, Dallas open 2024 season on the road

After a long offseason, the wait is finally over.

Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys hit the road to open the 2024 season against Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns. Although Dallas enters the matchup with a favorable record (3-0 in lifetime in openers against the Browns), Cleveland could present various challenges for Mike McCarthy’s squad.

Before Sunday’s matchup, Prescott notably agreed to a four-year extension with the Cowboys. He’s now the highest-paid player in NFL history.

Can Dallas open the season with a win for the second consecutive year? Will Amari Cooper get some revenge on his former team?

Follow along for live coverage, scoring updates and more from our team of writers and photographers on scene at Huntington Bank Field:

Pregame updates

— Inactives for Sunday’s game:

– Cowboys: QB Trey Lance (emergency third QB), CB Andrew Booth, LB Buddy Johnson, OT Matt Waletzko, WR Ryan Flournoy, TE John Stephens.

– Browns: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, CB Kahlef Hailassie, CB Myles Harden, DE Isaiah McGuire, OG Javion Cohen, OT Jedrick Wills Jr., OT Jack Conklin.

— All smiles in Cleveland:

— Dak Prescott is now the highest-paid player in NFL history. The quarterback agreed to a new deal with the Cowboys just before the team’s season opener in Cleveland. Here’s a look at our coverage of the signing:

– Cowboys extend Dak Prescott, make him highest paid player in NFL history

– What we know about Dak Prescott’s record-breaking deal with the Dallas Cowboys

– The negotiations may be over for Dak Prescott, but the clock is ticking on his career

– Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is now the highest paid player in NFL history. Who did he top?

– National reactions to Dak Prescott extension: Jimmy Johnson, Skip Bayless weigh in

How to watch Cowboys-Browns

When: 3:25 p.m. (Sunday, Sept. 8)

Where: Huntington Bank Field (Cleveland, Ohio)

Betting line: CLE -2.5; Over/under 42.5 (via ESPN BET)

TV: FOX Streaming: foxsports.com, NFL Plus

Broadcasters: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews (sideline) and Tom Rinaldi (sideline)

Radio: 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM), 107.5 La Grande in Spanish (KMVK-FM)

Pregame reading

— After tragedy, loss and grief, Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer has a chance to heal in Dallas

— An illustrated prediction of every Dallas Cowboys game in the 2024 season

— Expert predictions for Cowboys-Browns: Will Dallas kick off season with tough road win?

— 5 final thoughts about Cowboys-Browns: Road woes, containing Myles Garrett, gameday roster

— Tom Brady previews Cowboys-Browns season opener ahead of NFL on Fox broadcast debut

Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Best Bets for Cleveland Browns versus Dallas Cowboys

Published

24 hours ago

September 8, 2024

Press Room

Best Bets for Cleveland Browns versus Dallas Cowboys

The Browns and Cowboys square off in what is one of the most highly anticipated Week 1 games. These are two teams and franchises that have not lived up to their expectations over the past couple of seasons and are feeling the pressure to go all the way in 2024.

Not only are each of these teams expecting to win a ton of football games, they are also expecting to have explosive offenses. The Browns believe that this is the season Deshaun Watson finally finds his old self in the form a top five QB in football. Cleveland loaded up the offense with weapons in the offseason and built and offense that suits his skillset.

Meanwhile, Dallas comes into Sunday’s game with a proven passing attack but a ton of question marks in the run game. Dak Prescott is looking to again be one of the top passers in the league and with CeeDee Lamb’s contract extension worked out, he has his biggest piece back in place to make it happen.

Sunday has the potential to have some fireworks if both teams show up with their “A” games. If they do, here are the best bets that will win you some money.

Amari Cooper is poised for another great season and he is the leader of the Cleveland receiving room. Unlike his first two seasons, he has guys around him that will take the defense’s attention elsewhere. Dallas’s secondary is riddled with injuries and the two starters at corner will be Trevon Diggs and rookie Caelan Carson. Advantage Cooper against either of those players.

Last year in week one Cooper finished with just three catches in a rain-drenched opener with Cincinnati. Of the five games that quarterback Deshaun Watson started last year, Cooper had 5 or more catches in four of them. He is a main target for Watson and he will be on Sunday.

Njoku and Watson didn’t get into rhythm in 2024 but Njoku really caught fire with Joe Flacco under center. By doing that, he showed the entire organization what he is capable of and where his value is. Maybe he breaks away for a big one, or maybe he is a big red zone target for Cleveland when they get down near the endzone. Either way, the Chief will find paydirt on Sunday.

Dec 17, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) catches a touchdown as Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker (9) defends during the second quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images / Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Jerome Ford is the bell cow for Cleveland until Nick Chubb returns. Cleveland loves to lean on the run early in the year as the offense irons some things out. Last year in week one, Nick Chubb carried it 18 times and Ford carried it 15 himself. Cleveland will try and control the pace of the game and slow down the Cowboy pass rush. One way to do that is by running the ball effectively.

If Cleveland’s offense comes out in sync, they will not only hit each of these prop bets, but they will be in a good position to win the football game.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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