Texas

For Many in North Texas, It's Still Lights Out (Possibly Until Saturday)

Published

2 years ago

May 29, 2024

For Many in North Texas, It's Still Lights Out (Possibly Until Saturday)

The good news is that more than half of the 650,000 customers without power after Tuesday morning’s hurricane-force winds now have power. The bad news is obvious: hundreds of thousands of people still do not. The number of affected Oncor customers is now 261,000 in total, 179,000 of whom are located in Dallas County.

That would include the Erickson household, where things are getting a little surly. We’re trying to maintain perspective by remembering all we’ll have to do is throw away dodgy perishables and sweat. Many more are coordinating with insurance adjusters, hiring tree trimmers, and tarping roofs.

Wednesday morning Oncor said that teams are working 16-hour shifts to restore power and have called in nearly 5,000 more personnel from other states. The electricity provider says that it expects that most people will have power by Friday evening, but some may not get relief before Saturday.

On social media, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said there are 25 feeders that “must be repaired before they can be powered from the substation.” Twenty of those 25 are in Dallas County, which likely explains the disparity with neighboring counties.

Flooding yesterday, combined with fallen trees and other debris, has slowed progress. “In heavily damaged areas, wide swaths of power lines and distribution equipment are not only being repaired but must also be reconstructed,” Oncor said in a statement Wednesday morning. “In these areas, Oncor teams are facing complex repairs like removing uprooted trees and debris and replacing damaged utility poles and transformers before we can install new power lines.”

City of Dallas officials offered a quick update last night and have another press conferenced scheduled for 1:30 p.m. The city has opened respite centers where residents can seek shelter and air conditioning. Downed limbs or trees in the roadway can be reported via 311, either online, through the app, or by phone. Downed power lines should be reported through 911.

In an email to the City Council Wednesday, Dallas Office of Emergency Management Director Travis Houston said that Dallas has ordered a debris removal team to clear roads ahead of Oncor’s trucks. Those crews are dispatched by 311 operators.

“The debris collection team includes 34 so-called ‘saw crews’ and crews from Streets and Sanitation,” Houston said. “Using mapping tools, data from those 311 calls are identifying where crews should focus efforts.”

Garbage and recycling collection will be delayed by one day. The city has also suspended the rules on setting out bulk trash early, and all residents will be able to put out up to 20-cubic yards of debris for the next 15 days.

Houston also said there are 182 traffic signals out and 139 are flashing. Temporary stop signs will be placed at some intersections.

When signal lights are flashing or are out, the rules for an all-way stop apply: the vehicle that arrives first has the right-of-way, and each vehicle then takes its turn through the intersection by order of arrival. If it’s unclear who came first, the driver (or drivers) on the left should yield to the driver on the right. The car furthest to the right has the right of way. If one car intends to turn and another intends to go straight, the driver going straight goes first. If one plans on turning left and the other plans on turning right, the vehicle on the right has the right-of-way.

The city’s 1:30 p.m. update should deliver more details, including how it plans to deal with potential storms in the forecast for Wednesday night, Thursday, and Friday. Included in that press conference will be Houston, Interim City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, and representatives from Dallas Fire-Rescue, Public Works, Sanitation, Transportation, and Oncor.

We’ll update this post after.

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Bethany Erickson

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Bethany Erickson is the senior digital editor for D Magazine. She’s written about real estate, education policy, the stock market, and crime throughout her career, and sometimes all at the same time. She hates lima beans and 5 a.m. and takes SAT practice tests for fun.

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Texas

Scouting the women’s NCAA Elite 8 contest between Michigan and Texas

Published

11 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

Scouting the women’s NCAA Elite 8 contest between Michigan and Texas

Free Press staff writer Arpan Lobo breaks down the Elite Eight matchup between 1-seed Texas and 2-seed Michigan in the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament.

Fast facts

Matchup: 1-seed Texas (34-3, 13-3, SEC) vs. 2-seed Michigan (28-6, 15-3 Big Ten); 2026 NCAA Tournament Fort Worth-3 regional final.
Tipoff: 7 p.m., March 30; Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas.
TV: ESPN.
Series: 1-0 Texas. The only other meeting between the two programs was in 2018, when Texas won, 69-52.

At stake: Winner advances to the Final Four in Phoenix on April 3-5.

Michigan women’s basketball: Meet the Wolverines

Location: Ann Arbor.
Coach: Kim Barnes Arico (311-150 over 14 seasons at U-M, 487-284 career).
School tournament record: 15-13 in 13 appearances.
Past 10 games: 9-1
Scoring leaders: Olivia Olson, 19.2 points per game; Syla Swords 14.8; Mila Holloway, 12.4.
Rebounding leaders: Olson, 6.2; Brooke Quarles Daniels, 5.2; Te’yala Delfosse, 4.6.
Assist leaders: Holloway, 4.8; Quarles Daniels, 2.9; Olson, 2.5.
3-point leaders: McKenzie Mathurin, 40%; Macy Brown*, 36.1%; Holloway, 34.9%.

*Out for season.

The buzz: Michigan is back to the Elite Eight for only the second time in program history, with its only other appearance being a loss to Louisville in 2022. They’ve outclassed and outworked their first three opponents in the tournament, most recently overcoming an early deficit against Louisville to run away late in a 71-52 victory in the Sweet 16.

Even after slow shooting starts from stars Olson and Swords in their past two contests, the Wolverines have been able to break down their opponents by deploying constant pressure, picking up ballhandlers deep in their own backcourts. They force turnovers and create easy looks in transition. Olson, a third-team AP All-American, was big in the second half against both North Carolina State and Louisville, and has been Michigan’s leading scorer in the tournament.

Another factor aiding Michigan’s run? Outworking their opponents on the glass. Guard Brooke Quarles Daniels, at all of 5-foot-7, had a whopping seven offensive boards against Louisville. Michigan has won the rebounding battle in all three of its tournament games so far.

The Wolverines haven’t met an opponent like Texas yet, and particularly an individual force like Madison Booker.

Texas women’s basketball: Meet the Longhorns

Location: Austin, Texas.
Coach: Vic Schaefer (177-29 at Texas, 478-211 career).
School tournament record: 58-36 in 38 appearances.
Past 10 games: 10-0.
Scoring leaders: Madison Booker, 19.3 points per game; Jordan Lee, 13.5; Kyla Oldacre, 10.4
Rebounding leaders: Booker, 6.7; Oldacre, 6.1; Breya Cunningham, 5.6.
Assist leaders: Rori Harmon, 6.1; Booker, 3.8; Lee, 2.5.
3-point leaders: Harmon, 45.8%; Bryanna Preston, 44.4%; 43.8%.

The buzz: After a dominating season, the Longhorns find themselves a win away from a second consecutive Final Four appearance. And the team’s biggest star is three-time All-American forward Madison Booker, who’s led the Longhorns in scoring on the way to another deep tournament run.

Booker is more than just a scorer, however, and is able to facilitate in half court. Although her 3-point field goal percentage has dipped compared to her sophomore season, she’s still able to provide spacing for Texas. Against Kentucky in the Elite Eight, she totaled 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists on the way to a 76-54 win for Texas that was never really in doubt.

Although the Longhorns have others with better percentages from deep, guard Jordan Lee is the team’s most willing outside shooter, hitting nearly 36% from range on more than three attempts a game.

Against Kentucky, Texas forced 24 Wildcat turnovers. The Longhorns boasted the third-best turnover margin in the country this season. Against a Michigan team that likes to bring pressure as well, the turnover battle could play a sizeable role in determining which program heads to Phoenix. The matchup represents a styles clash as well — the Wolverines are the eighth-best scoring offense in the country at 83.9 points per game, but Texas owns a top-15 scoring defense, limiting opponents to 56.4 points per game.

The contest is also taking place in Fort Worth, a much shorter trip from Austin than from Ann Arbor. The crowd is likely to be behind the Longhorns.

You can reach Arpan Lobo at alobo@freepress.com

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Texas A&M avoids sweep taking Game 3, 9-7, hands Texas rare home loss

Published

23 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Texas A&M avoids sweep taking Game 3, 9-7, hands Texas rare home loss

No. 15 Texas A&M walked out of Austin with a hard‑earned win on Sunday, taking Game 3 of the rivalry series 9–7 to avoid the sweep in what felt every bit like a postseason matchup. The Aggies built an early lead, added crucial insurance late, and held off a furious seventh‑inning push from No. 1 Texas to snap the Longhorns’ nation‑leading win streak.

A&M once again struck first, continuing a trend from the entire weekend. Kennedy Powell’s speed immediately created pressure, turning a single into extra bases after a throwing error. Ariel Kowalewski followed with an RBI double, and Micaela Wark delivered a two‑run home run to give the Aggies a 3–0 advantage before Texas recorded its third out.

The Longhorns answered with a run in the bottom of the first, but KK Dement erased it with a solo shot in the second inning. A&M’s pitching and defense kept Texas quiet for the next three frames until a two‑run double trimmed the lead to 4–3.

With momentum shifting, the Aggies responded with their biggest inning of the series. Frankie Vrazel doubled, Powell doubled her home, and after a walk to Mya Perez, Kowalewski punched a two‑RBI single through the infield. Texas appeared ready to escape the inning, but consecutive defensive errors extended the frame and allowed three more Aggie runs to score, pushing the lead to 9–3 entering the seventh.

Texas refused to fold. The Longhorns put two on with no outs and pushed across a pair of runs, one on a sacrifice fly, another on a groundout. Down to their final out with no one on base, Texas launched back‑to‑back solo home runs to suddenly cut the deficit to two. Sydney Lessentine steadied the moment, inducing a pop‑up to the catcher to close out the win.

Across all three games, the rivalry delivered exactly what it promised. Intensity, high‑level softball, and postseason energy. While Texas claimed the series, the Aggies leave Austin with a top‑25 win, a snapped streak, and a performance that reinforced their ability to compete with anyone in the country.

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Texas chose John Cornyn as a principled conservative, not a Trump lackey | Opinion

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Texas chose John Cornyn as a principled conservative, not a Trump lackey | Opinion

Voters deserve better than scorched-earth partisan politics that divide our country.

Getty Images

Not for us

In 35 years as a loyal Republican, I watched my party become unrecognizable. Now, Sen. John Cornyn’s transformation from principled conservative to full-throated Donald Trump sycophant is complete.

In the span of a week, Cornyn reversed his longstanding defense of the Senate filibuster, trying to appease Trump and secure his coveted endorsement. He also co-sponsored the SAVE America Act, which would force Texans to present passports or birth certificates that match their current surnames. Texas voters deserve better than scorched-earth partisan politics that divide our country and paralyze effective governance.

– Malcolm Jacobson, The Woodlands

Real fraud

I am sick and tired of hearing about voter fraud. There isn’t any to speak of, and what has been found was not perpetrated by people in the country illegally. Donald Trump has consistently claimed that there’s rampant fraud. Please show us your evidence, Mr. President. You can’t, because there is none, but people still believe him.

Please wake up to what this man is doing to our country.

– Zelda L Blalock, North Richland Hills

Death penalty

Texas is nearing its 600th execution since the death penalty was reinstated, with three already this year and three more scheduled. It should give us pause to know that four of the offenders are not white.

Legislators and district attorneys should step up, lock up the worst of the worst criminals and end the senseless barbaric practice of the state killing in our name.

– Bob Michael, Grapevine

What reason?

For more than 80 years, nuclear deterrence has kept the world safe from nuclear war, largely because of the power of the U.S. military, skilled diplomacy and moral leadership. Even hostile nations have understood the risks of nuclear engagement.

In just a few weeks, the United States’ war on Iran has cost billions, displaced millions and killed thousands of civilians, according to United Nations and Iranian officials. U.S. military stockpiles are degraded, energy prices are rising and the Iranian people are suffering increased repression.

The Iranian regime and military have been set back, but the country still has much enriched uranium and an even stronger incentive to develop nuclear weapons. It is difficult to understand the need for or benefits of this war.

– Karen Myers, Fort Worth

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