Texas
Texas’ biggest cat deserves better protection
Although most people have probably never seen one of these solitary cats, the mountain lion is an important part of Texas’ ecosystem, identity and history. But they can be hunted without restriction in our state. We hope residents will speak up in favor of changing that.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is asking for resident input on proposed rule changes that would mark the first attempt to control the state’s mountain lion population. Residents can voice their opinion through an online survey until 5 p.m. on May 22. The following day, the TPWD commissioners will vote on the proposal, according to advocacy group Texans for Mountain Lions, and we hope they approve it.
The new rules would ban “canned hunting” for mountain lions, which involves hunting and killing captive animals. It’s the worst sort of hunting in our view, and something Texas can do without.
The proposed rules would also make it illegal to leave a live mountain lion in a trap or snare for more than 36 hours. The idea is to prevent animals from languishing in traps for days, waiting to die. Lawful hunting and trapping of mountain lions would remain under this proposal.
These measures are a good start, but we want to see these animals better protected. Texas classifies mountain lions as a “species of greatest conservation need.” Ranked between imperiled and vulnerable, that means just what it sounds like.
Right now, Texas mountain lions are considered a “nongame” species, and they can be killed any time of year, without seasons, bag limits or harvest reporting. That can make it difficult to track populations. We think the state should institute closed seasons and bag limits, and add permitting and reporting requirements.
The rule changes being considered right now emanate from the Texas Mountain Lion Stakeholder Working Group, a 19-member body created in 2022 to discuss changes to how mountain lions are managed, according to a Texas Farm Bureau news release.
The group was created to make recommendations across topics including the development of a mountain lion management plan for Texas, according to the news release, which is sorely needed.
Joseph Fitzsimons, the group’s chairman, said there isn’t a full management plan yet largely because of a lack of data. Gathering more information about mountain lions is a key step to better conservation, and we think a great avenue for doing that is to more tightly control how and when they can be hunted, and importantly, to add reporting requirements.
Of 16 states with populations of breeding mountain lions, Texas is the only one that doesn’t regulate hunting and trapping of the species, according to Texans for Mountain Lions. It shouldn’t be that way. It’s time for Texas to take better care of these important predators.
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
Texas
Texas man arrested after allegedly throwing bucket of possible human remains toward FBI field office
A Texas man has been charged with abuse of a corpse after he threw a bucket containing suspected human remains over a fence at the FBI’s Dallas field office and posted a video of it on YouTube.
Michael Chadwick Fry, 41, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, the Bartonville Police Department said in a news release.
The investigation began on March 16 when a Bartonville police officer responded to a call from Fry’s mother, who said he asked her for money to pay for a U-Haul. When asked why, he said he “had a body that needed to be moved,” the probable cause affidavit said.
Fry then became “irate” and left the home. Shortly afterward, the officer received information from Fry’s sister that he had “filmed himself on YouTube” at the Dallas FBI field office, the affidavit said.
The video showed Fry throwing a large, closed white bucket over the fence into the secure parking lot of the FBI building, according to the affidavit.
Fry claimed in the video he was trying to compel the FBI to intervene “in what he describes as wrongdoing by Denton County officials from a past arrest,” the affidavit said. It’s not clear what that alleged wrongdoing was.
An FBI special agent said “the bucket contained numerous bones” that appeared to be human, per the affidavit. The bones are awaiting further forensic analysis.
Fry had also posted another video on YouTube that showed what appeared to be a human skull at his Denton County home.
The mother told police that she found in her vehicle’s GPS history three searches for cemeteries — one in Arlington, Texas, and two in Oklahoma City. She also said she found a shovel that was never at the residence before and her son had started to lock the shed in the back of the home, which he didn’t do previously, the affidavit said.
In the investigation by Bartonville police and FBI agents, Fry was found to have posted videos online showing separate human remains and an urn of ashes.
Investigators later determined that Fry had stolen an urn containing human remains from a cemetery in Oklahoma City — which was the subject of an Oklahoma City Police Department investigation from February, according to Bartonville police.
FBI agents also found evidence at a cemetery in Denton, Texas, “indicating that a coffin containing human remains had been removed from a mausoleum,” Bartonville police said.
Officials did not disclose whom the remains belonged to or why Fry might have targeted them.
The case remains active and next of kin have been notified, police said.
Fry remained in custody Sunday on a $30,000 surety bond, according to booking records. It’s not immediately clear if he has retained a lawyer.
Fry had made headlines in the past for ramming a truck into a FOX 4 building in downtown Dallas in 2018. In that case, police determined Fry was upset about a 2012 police shooting in Denton County that killed his friend. He apologized to the local news station during a court hearing, FOX 4 reported.
Texas
Where to watch LSU vs. Texas Tech in March Madness Second Round: Time, TV Channel
March Madness is underway and college basketball’s big dance continues with No. 2 seed LSU taking on No. 7 seed Texas Tech in a Second Round matchup on Sunday, March 22. Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the clash between the Lady Raiders and Lady Tigers.
USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering women’s March Madness to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.
USA TODAY Studio IX: Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more
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What time is Texas Tech vs LSU Second Round game?
No. 2 LSU vs No. 7 Texas Tech tips off at 3:00 PM (ET) on Sunday, March 22 from Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).
What channel is Texas Tech vs LSU Second Round game?
No. 2 LSU vs No. 7 Texas Tech is airing live on ABC.
How to stream Texas Tech vs LSU Second Round game
No. 2 LSU vs No. 7 Texas Tech is available to stream on Fubo.
Watch the NCAA Tournament all March long with Fubo
Women’s March Madness schedule today
See the schedule, live scores and results for all of Sunday’s NCAA Tournament action here.
2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament full schedule
- March 18-19: First Four
- March 20-21: First Round
- March 22-23: Second Round
- March 27-28: Sweet 16
- March 29-30: Elite 8
- April 3: Final Four
- April 5: National Championship
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Texas
Kahil Fennell of Texas-Rio Grande Valley takes over struggling Western Michigan program
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Western Michigan has hired Kahil Fennell away from Texas-Rio Grande Valley to take over its struggling men’s basketball program, athletic director Dan Bartholomae announced Saturday.
Fennell was 35-29 in two seasons with the Vaqueros and will take over a WMU team coming off its eighth straight losing season and fourth under Dwayne Stephens, who was fired two weeks ago. The Broncos were 10-21 this season and tied for last in the Mid-American Conference.
“As we set out to find our next head coach, we sought a leader who not only had experience working with some of basketball’s finest programs and coaches, but one who had also led his own program to new heights at the Division I level,” Bartholomae said.
“We also sought someone who would be a great community partner as we prepare for the most transformative event in the history of our athletics program,” he added. “There is no question that Western Michigan University and the entire Southwest Michigan community has found that leader in Kahil. His track record of recruiting, developing and connecting with student-athletes stood out, and his vision and leadership acumen was unmatched.”
Fennell was an assistant at Louisville and BYU before he was hired to lead a UTRGV program that had won six games in 2023-24. His first Vaqueros team went 16-14. This season, UTRGV finished 19-14 and third in the Southland Conference.
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