Texas
Letters to the Editor — El Paso nonprofit, Texas’ $20B surplus, Sen. Katie Britt, choices
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/36CKVK5EPWWDPON27F2GHDNETA.jpg?ssl=1 "Letters to the Editor — El Paso nonprofit, Texas’ B surplus, Sen. Katie Britt, choices")
Shelter attack abuses power
Re: “Paxton wants shelter shuttered — AG locked in legal fight with El Paso nonprofit that helps migrants,” Monday news story.
My family’s acquaintance with Bishop Mark Seitz of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso goes back many years to several Dallas area parishes where he was a priest. He was one of the first people to visit my husband after his heart attack, and we have admired his kindness and faith because he genuinely cares about people.
We find Ken Paxton’s attacks against the shelters and services in El Paso to be against the Christian belief to love one’s neighbor. What a tragic misuse of political power this truly is! It’s like Paxton wants to rewrite the Ten Commandments, particularly those that he does not support.
Susan Stinson, Richardson
Paxton and Matthew 25:43-45
In Matthew 25:43-45, Jesus says: “I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me… They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes … and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”
By suing an organization that helps strangers who need food, clothing and shelter, Attorney General Ken Paxton is blatantly refusing to follow what Jesus commands us to do. What’s next — the food pantries around our state that give food to the documented and undocumented, our public schools that educate everyone? Oh wait, you’re already doing that by withholding needed funds.
I am ashamed to live in the state of Texas with Ken Paxton in charge of law enforcement.
Debbie Gallagher, Cedar Hill
Lieber for governor
Re: “Game plan for Texas’ $20B surplus,” by Dave Lieber, Sunday Metro column.
Lieber’s column sharing his ideas of what should be done with the Texas budget surplus was enlightening. I only have one request. Mr. Lieber, please consider a run for the governor’s office. Help us rid ourselves of what we are currently stuck with in Austin.
Thomas Kelly, Lantana
Surplus belongs to taxpayers
The simple and right thing to do is return the $20 billion to the taxpayers who provided it.
Frank M. Wagnon, Southlake
Use surplus to fix DPS
How is it that Texas has such huge budget surpluses, and yet the next appointment for my in-person license renewal at the closest Texas Department of Public Safety is more than three months from now? Wait times for driver licenses for individuals moving to Texas are similar.
As a volunteer voter deputy registrar, I am told by our newest Texans that this can play havoc when it comes time to vote as well, since Texas has strict ID laws, with the vast majority of voters using their driver’s license. Texans deserve better from our state government.
Cathy Murphree, Richardson
Extremes in both parties
Re: “GOP has true extremists,” by Ted Felinski, Sunday Letters.
I can’t agree with Felinski’s letter suggesting Democrats have no extreme platforms. Of course they do. People of a given party, no matter which one, tend to think they are not extreme, but that’s rarely the case. For the record, I am a center moderate.
Back to some of the extremes of the Democratic Party: how about student loan forgiveness, one health care system for all, strict bans on the fossil fuel industry, bans on guns and extreme controls on climate, for example?
I’m sure there are others, but you get the point. Moderation from both parties would provide the vast majority of today’s voters what they want, and what they want is what is good for the country.
Gary Tutt, McKinney
Alabama senator disingenuous
Re: “Britt defends story used to attack Biden — Senator pushes back on criticism of her choice to omit key context,” Monday news story.
When U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said, “This is a story of what is happening now at an astronomical rate, and we have to bring attention to it,” she was being disingenuous. If there had been a story from the Biden administration to illustrate her point, she would have used it.
Instead of trying to defend the indefensible, a better strategy would be to apologize for giving a misleading impression, then lay low until another story of Republican duplicity takes over the media. I’m sure we won’t have to wait long.
Deborah Kronschnabel, Grapevine
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
Just days before Mother’s Day, a North Texas father is grieving the sudden loss of his wife and unborn son after she died unexpectedly, only days before her due date. Avi Carey said he is still in shock over the death of his wife, Tiffany, whom he described as his “rock” and “soulmate.”
“Tiffany’s smile, her radiance, her presence … she didn’t meet a stranger,” Carey said.
Nearly two decades together
The couple had been together for nearly two decades, raising two children, Kingston and Kasyn, and preparing to welcome their third child, a baby boy they planned to name Kylo.
Carey said Tiffany began complaining of a severe headache just days before she was due to give birth. He recalled her sitting on the couch, dozing off multiple times – something he said was unusual.
A short time later, Carey found her unresponsive.
“I saw her face … her lips were blue. And I already knew,” he said with tears in his eyes.
A celebration turned to heartbreak
Tiffany Carey and her unborn son died May 2, leaving behind a grieving husband and two children. The loss came less than a week after the family had celebrated a baby shower.
“We went from celebrating the baby shower to planning a funeral in less than five days,” Carey said.
A crisis affecting Black mothers
Health officials say cases like this highlight a broader crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women in the United States are more than three times as likely as white women to die from pregnancy‑related causes, and most of those deaths – around 80% – are considered preventable.
Carey said he is still searching for answers and now lives with questions about whether warning signs were missed.
“I would say educate yourself. Take everything seriously,” he said. “That should have been a red flag … the headache.”
Honoring Tiffany’s legacy
Now, surrounded by baby supplies meant for a child who never arrived, Carey said he is focused on honoring Tiffany’s memory and raising their children with the values she lived by.
“She always said, ‘You’ve got to lead with love,’” he said. “She did that in everything.”
Trump administration to release UFO files soon, president says
President Trump said his administration plans to release information and materials relating to UFOs.
Ever look up at the vast Texas sky and see something move across it? It could be a shooting star, a satellite — or a UFO.
The Pentagon released several documents Friday, May 8, detailing sightings of unidentified flying objects, or “bogeys,” in U.S. airspace, including reports from Texas.
The documents were released by the U.S. Department of Defense at the directive of President Donald Trump, marking the release of government files related to “alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)” and UFOs.
“These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves. This release of declassified documents demonstrates the Trump Administration’s earnest commitment to unprecedented transparency,” said U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in a statement.
Here’s a look at the files related to Texas.
UFO spotted in 1948 above Abilene, Texas
A DoD incident summary shows that on Jan. 1, 1948, a man identified as “Mr. A. Schroeder” reported a UFO in the 1100 block of Highland Ave in Abilene, Texas.
Schroeder reported seeing a stationary bright blue-green bell-shaped object in the western sky above Abilene at 1:25 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.
Fort Worth man sees UFO above Alaska
Also in 1948, Lt. Aytch Johnson noticed a silver flat disk in the sky in Fairbanks, Alaska.
According to the incident report, the Fort Worth man observed the object flying over Alaska at around 1:06 p.m. on April 18, 1948, at an estimated speed of 250 to 300 miles per hour.
The report also noted that the sighting “may have been the reflection of sun from wings” of aircrafts flying in the area at the time.
Possible UFO sighting during the NASA Gemini 7 space launch
The DoD released the transcript and audio file of NASA’s Gemini 7 mission in 1965 when astronaut Frank Borman reported to NASA mission control in Houston his sighting of an unidentified object, which he referred to as a “bogey.”
While the launch didn’t take place in Texas, the report came back to space control in Houston.
The conversation occurred on Dec. 5, 1965 — 4 hours and 24 minutes into the flight — when Borman notified space control that there was a “bogey” on their left-hand side.
When asked to clarify what they are seeing, Borman said he was seeing “hundreds of little particles” on their left, about three to four miles away.
As NASA Public Affairs clarified, the bogey was an unidentified object, along with the particles.
Pentagon documents report of other possible sightings in Texas
Some documents have connections or reports of possible UFO sightings in Texas, but are missing details to understand the situation.
For example, the DoD received a clipping from the Yoakum Times-Record reporting UFO sightings by Mrs. Anna Banys in 1947, but it is unclear why she was writing to the DoD.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
Concern over effectiveness of AMBER Alerts
For nearly 30 years, the AMBER Alert has helped locate hundreds of children, but one of its founders believes changes should be made to make the emergency alert system more effective.
Fox – 7 Austin
An AMBER Alert has been issued for a 13-year-old girl abducted from Louisiana who was last seen in North Texas.
Merlin Chirinos-Argueta was last seen around 7:10 p.m. May 7 in Allen, Texas, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Authorities say the teen was abducted from Keithville, Louisiana, and may be traveling in Texas
Chirinos-Argueta is described as a 13-year-old Hispanic girl with black hair and brown eyes. She is about 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 120 pounds, officials said.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office said Merlin was reported missing Thursday. May 7 from the 6200 block of Bain Boulevard in Keithville. Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. said investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating the teen.
Investigators believe she may be with 18-year-old Daniel Vasquez Mejia, who has black hair and brown eyes.
Merlin has not been in contact with her family, which has raised concerns for her safety and well-being, authorities said. The investigation is ongoing.
Authorities say they may be traveling in a white Chevrolet SUV with Texas license plate VML6061. The vehicle is believed to have a skull sticker on the rear driver’s side back window and a “mojo” sticker on the passenger side rear window.
Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or contact the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-675-2170.
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