11/22/2008

Dallas school officials missed, misread signs of deficit
Years of slipshod accounting and inexact budgeting had produced financial statements that looked solid, but were in fact deeply flawed.

Texas lawmakers look to rein in cost of higher education
Once home to state universities that were enviable educational bargains, Texas is now ranked the 19th-most-expensive in the country.

Thanksgiving Day with the Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are 25-14-1 on Thanksgiving Day.

Some of the most memorable moments in Dallas Cowboys history have taken place on Thanksgiving Day. We take a historical look.
Blog: Dallas Cowboys
More Cowboys | Classic Cowboys

Creamed by crimson: OU thrashes No. 2 Tech, 65-21

LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN

Oklahoma linebacker Keenan Clayton (22) returns a third-quarter fumble, setting up a Sooners touchdown.

For new Heisman frontrunner Sam Bradford, for quicksilver running back DeMarco Murray, for Oklahoma every player who left Lubbock beaten and bruised last season, the Sooners' 65-21 demolition Saturday of No. 2 Texas Tech represented redemption and payback, writes Chuck Carlton.
 Photos: OU-Tech
BCS standings | Big 12 standings
Blog: Colleges

Hundreds gather in Dealey Plaza in Dallas on anniversary of JFK assassination
The 45th anniversary drew more than 300 spectators on a chilly and overcast day. Some snapped photos, and others sought answers.

Obama vows quick action on more ambitious stimulus plan
President-elect Barack Obama signaled Saturday that he would pursue a far more ambitious plan of spending and tax cuts than anything he outlined on the campaign trail.

How to save money on your turkey dinner
Thanksgiving dinner might be the most daunting meal of the year, but it sure doesn't have to be the most expensive.

Dallas Fire-Rescue tests response with disaster drill
The department planned the drill to evaluate communication between units and to look for shortcomings in training, equipment, and planning and response.

Allen family's costs pile up for kids' education
Parents know putting three kids through public school can be expensive. The Swiateks in Allen know exactly how much.

DeSoto, Duncanville become involved in 'new urbanism'
DeSoto is in the final stages of building its $27 million Town Center, while the Duncanville City Council will consider a final vote on a $4.8 million condominium project early next month.

Conservancy to seek funds to rebuild on site of historic Dreyfuss Club in Dallas
Plans are under way to replace the facility, which was destroyed by a fire in 2006.

Haltom City man accused of trying to sexually assault woman after break-in, police say
Haltom City police on Saturday arrested a man who they said broke into a home and tried to sexually assault a woman earlier this month, police said.

Police investigating shooting death of driver on Stemmons near Royal
Dallas police detectives are investigating the shooting death of a man early Saturday on a highway in northwest Dallas, police said.

11/21/2008

Texas Tech kicker taking an unlikely road to stardom

Associated Press

Matt Williams is living out a story that has attracted national attention. The 20-year-old contest-winner from Weatherford dropped in on the Red Raiders season at just the right time.
Video: Contest-winning kick.
Blog: Colleges

11/22/2008

Dallas County officials unsure sheriff's canines worth the cost

VERNON BRYANT/DMN

Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez's purchase this year of two drug-sniffing dogs has sparked concerns among county commissioners.
See the lawsuit filed by Deputy Constable Matthew Rollins
Video:Dogs show their talents

Family outraged, distraught over teen's suicide on live Webcam
he family of a college student who killed himself live on the Internet say they're horrified his life ended before a virtual audience, and infuriated that viewers of the live webcam or operators of the Web site that hosted it didn't act sooner to save him.

Mockingbird Lane reopens today
Mockingbird Lane opens to traffic today in Highland Park. Reconstruction of the two-lane road is complete, a little more than a year after it began.

Man dies in southeast Dallas car crash
Roberto Rojas-Perez of Dallas was found on the eastbound service road of U.S. Highway 175.

Some North Texas cities lock in electricity rates for 24 years
The cost of electricity is the great unknown for city budget planners.

Boy, 8, severely hurt when 200-pound TV topples on his head
A child was seriously injured Friday night after a TV set toppled on him.

Obama aiming for 2.5 million new jobs by 2011
President-elect Barack Obama promoted an economic plan Saturday he said would create 2.5 million jobs by rebuilding roads and bridges and modernizing schools while developing alternative energy sources and more efficient cars.

Obama names longtime spokesman Robert Gibbs as White House press secretary
President-elect Barack Obama has named longtime spokesman Robert Gibbs as White House press secretary.

GM says board doesn't see bankruptcy as option
General Motors Corp.'s board of directors does not consider bankruptcy protection a viable option to solve the company's financial troubles, but it has discussed Chapter 11 because it has a legal duty to do so, a spokesman said Saturday.

11/21/2008

Clinton will leave Senate to become Obama's secretary of state, her confidants say
Hillary Rodham Clinton becoming secretary of state would be yet another direction in the unlikely journey of a one-time political spouse in Arkansas who went on to build a political base of her own and become a symbol of achievement to many women. And, in another major Cabinet decision, President-elect Barack Obama is expected to tap New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson as secretary of commerce, NBC News said Friday.

11/22/2008

Tennis champ Jimmy Conners arrested in California, police say
Jimmy Connors, an eight-time Grand Slam tennis champion, was arrested late yesterday outside the arena where the University of California Santa Barbara basketball team was playing North Carolina.

Thriving video game industry hits right buttons in troubled economy

JENN ACKERMAN/DMN

Nintendo’s Wii game systems remain popular.

Bailouts, bankruptcies, liquidations and layoffs have been the latest business buzzwords, but the video game industry remains stubbornly resistant to the gloom.
More personal technology
Blog: Video games

Dallas Mavericks down Grizzlies, 91-76

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

The Dallas Mavericks' Jason Terry (left) drives on Memphis' Quinton Ross during the first half on Friday.

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle is no screamer. But he pushed the right buttons in the locker room as the Mavericks came to life after a death-warmed-over first half, scooting clear for a 91-76 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center.
Photos: Mavs-Grizzlies
Blog: Dallas Mavericks

11/21/2008

On 45th anniversary of JFK assassination, eyewitnesses becoming scarce

AP

Bill Newman points to the spot he and his wife Gayle, left, were located when President John F. Kennedy was shot Nov. 22, 1963, as they tour The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza curator estimates that less than half of eyewitnesses survive today.
Video: The Newmans shortly after JFK’s assassination
Editorial:View from the Sixth Floor
Oswald co-worker no longer silent about JFK assassination role | Video
Special report: JFK

Drag queen's role, gay bar venue spark controversy for Miss Texas preliminary pageant

JENN ACKERMAN / DMN

James Love, 36, has worked as drag queen Cassie Nova with the same company for 17 years. He said controversy about his job doesn’t surprise him, but hypocrisy does.

As co-host of a preliminary Miss Texas pageant held Sunday night in Dallas, Cassie Nova was all woman — except for one thing. She’s a man. Now a controversy has caught wind.
Video: Pageant contestants, organizers address controversy
Photos: Miss Texas preliminary pageant

Thieves steal $3 million worth of boots, other items in Fort Worth
During the Labor Day weekend, a boot snatcher cut the chain on a locked gate at the center, drove a white truck onto the property and got away with containers that held 10,740 pairs of boots and 7,404 sets of boot uppers. This month, Justin Boots was hit again by thieves who cut through the chain link fence and towed away containers holding 9,952 pairs of boots.

Texas hearing on Dick Cheney, Alberto Gonzales indictment turns chaotic
A county prosecutor who brought indictments against Vice President Dick Cheney, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and others pounded his fist and shouted at the judge Friday about special treatment for high-profile defendants as a routine motions hearing descended into chaos.

GM won't cut production at Arlington plant
General Motors Corp. will extend its holiday shutdown or make other production cuts at five other factories at as it deals with a continued U.S. auto sales slump and fights to stay solvent.

1 dies of injuries from Tyler refinery blast, fire
; One man has now died of injuries from a Tyler oil refinery explosion and fire.

Dallas fans burn midnight oil for Twilight debut

TIM GRUBER/DMN

9:15 AM CT Twilight fans spent hours in line to catch the highly anticipated film.
Find show times, buy tickets
Video: Fans line up for premiere
Tell Us: Grade the film
'Twilight' chat: 4 p.m., Monday
Learn more about Twilight

Long-awaited Guns N' Roses album means free Dr Pepper for you
Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" is a reality.