Joe Biden is supported by an Electoral College nominee – Terri Hodge – previously convicted of felony tax fraud after being caught in a bribery scandal. This news comes on the first day of early voting in Texas. She is listed as a representative of the Democratic Party per Texas Secretary of State records.
On the same day Dr. Jill Biden comes to Dallas we learned that Terri Hodge, the former state representative for HD100, is an Electoral College member designate for the Texas Democrats.
In July we noted both the momentum for Democrats – and the challenges – across the board in Texas to flip Texas blue. This incident along with the recent ethics issues surrounding Congressman Colin Allred and the public spat between MJ Hegar and Senator Royce West seem to be spoiling potential victories.
Problems For Terri Hodge In Texas Electoral College
Terri Hodge pleaded guilty to fraud and false statements on a tax return in February 2010 and was sentenced to a year in prison. Hodge was to go on trial March of that year on charges outlined in a 31-count indictment charging 14 public officials and their associates with various offenses related to a bribery and extortion scheme involving affordable housing developments in Dallas, but her plea agreement avoided trial.
As a condition of her plea with the government, Hodge, who was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, District 100, in 1996, and had been re-elected until her conviction, has agreed to resign her office and never seek or hold future public office.
It is not clear if Ms. Hodge has had her voting rights restored for elections, but she has worked as a community outreach and constituent services representative for Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.
Dallas ISD‘s COVID19 cases triple. One week after return to campus for hybrid learners Dallas ISD is reporting three times the case load as last week’s numbers.
Initial numbers had Dallas ISD cases at 42 including students, school staff, and central office employees.
The DISD Auditor Report should be back in the news shortly. An affidavit was filed by a former employee of a local construction firm stating that there were both significant and intentional cost issues to projects discussed in the DISD Audit Report of Steven Martin, but additionally several Dallas ISD Trustees including two former members were receiving payments and benefits including Dallas Cowboys game tickets for their support of project procurement practices.
The affidavit was filed with the US Attorney’s Office in Dallas. They would have jurisdiction over federal taxpayer dollars being lost due to fraud, waste, or abuse.
This should be the second report received on the topic by federal authorities. Trustee Dustin Marshall claimed to have sent similar information to the FBI in February 2020. He has not responded to a request for tracking or other confirmatory information on his submission.
One former Dallas ISD employee familiar with school leadership commented “wow.”
A second person said “this has been going on for years and no one does anything. We saw financial problems when Hinojosa was here before, it continued with [Mike] Miles. Why is anyone surprised?”
Dallas ISD officials’ focus has shifted to battling COVID19 as district numbers have tripled since they re-opened hybrid school on Monday, but this would be a major financial setback for the DISD who has struggled with getting students to return to campus and generate enthusiasm for a $3.7B bond package given ongoing issues with Dallas ISD procurement policies.
In September, the Texas Education Agency took over Desoto schools after travel procurement issues were found to have cost taxpayers more than $400,000. It is not clear how far and wide this scandal might spread.
DISD Auditor Report
The DISD Auditor Report has left more questions than answers. Dallas ISD staff including interim Chief Internal Auditor Alan King have not responded to multiple email requests for comment.
Eight years ago local news reported on what was then a rough start to the school year for Dallas ISD and this year has been worse. King is described then as leading the district in the “aftermath of former Superintendent Michael Hinojosa’s departure last year” was resigning from the district for the first time then.
King served as Chief Financial Officer from January to June of 2011, when he was elevated to interim superintendent. Most considered King a success as both CFO and Interim Superintendent. Hwas described “as the perfect fit for an interim boss role: pragmatic, straight-forward, no-nonsense.”
Board of Trustees President Justin Henry and 1st Vice President Dan Micciche have not responded to emails for comment either.
Multiple whistleblowers reported problems with Dallas ISD procurement. To date they have all been terminated, asked to resign, or forced out of their positions. An example includes Zachariah Manning who alleged criminal activity as far back as 2016.
Recently Next Generation Action Network’s Dominique Alexander was highly critical of Dallas ISD officials for ending a contract for Thomas Jefferson High School’s rebuild in a Facebook Live video.
From the Dallas Morning News editorial: “This could not come at a worse time for DISD. The board just approved placing its largest bond package ever before voters in November. The $3.2 billion request is really a vote of confidence in whether Hinojosa’s administration and whatever follows it can effectively manage a huge number of construction projects over a long period of time.”
In additionally to current allegations, Dallas ISD’s audit webpage no longer includes reports from Steven Martin. They are attached below. Dallas ISD has also not responded to Public Information Requests since March 2020 citing disaster declarations surrounding COVID19 as reasons to not respond. Dallas ISD operations have been in operation since August 2020.
The Community Police Oversight Board Chairman, Jesuorobo Enobakhare, appeared to attempt to take law into his own hands after a reported hit and run near downtown Dallas.
It is not clear if being an appointed member of a citizen advisory board provides some indemnification against vigilante style actions. He does provide a license plate and vehicle description – effectively doxxing a private citizen – who hasn’t been convicted of any crime.
Neither Council Member Thomas, nor the City Secretary’s Office has responded to a request for comment about the behavior of their appointee.
Community Police Oversight Board
The Community Police Oversight Board has largely been absent due – with one notable exception – due to a lack of subpoena power and a questionable relationship between its Chairman and the lame duck Police Chief U Reneé Hall, but few CPB members seem intent on actual oversight.
A Dallas based Assistant US Attorney is implicated in an amateur hotwife porn allegation by Barrett Brown.
Brown says Candina S Heath was involved as a performer in the amateur hotwife porn titled Queen of Spades Hotwife Part 2.
Brown intimates that he is bringing ethics questions into the issue because of the implications for a US Attorney who prosecutes national security cases.
Heath has been involved in both national security and corporate hacking cases in the office of the US Attorney for North Texas. Brown states in another part of his post that the video is available via Amazon.
Amateur HotWife Porn – Only The Tip?
In addition to Barrett Brown’s allegations, a Twitter account alleges she likes to record sexual interactions without the consent of those involved.
In Texas, recording of this nature would be a State Jail Felony under state criminal code. It is unclear if Dallas or other police authorities have investigated this behavior, but it would appear to be another example of the local justice community acting poorly again and again.
Neither Ms. Heath, nor the US Attorney’s Office, has responded to requests for comment.
Parents of Sudie Williams TAG Magnet school students were informed their child may have been exposed to COVID19 less than nine hours after re-opening for Hybrid Learning.
Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) staff promised a thorough action plan to keep students safe, but in today’s notice note it is a staff member who was infected and will “no longer be on campus.”
District officials then went on to downplay the danger of infection despite it not being clear who the staff member was exposed to, how they passed health screenings, etc. Students attend the school from across Dallas ISD – so this event has the potential to spread the virus to multiple other neighborhoods.
Sudie Williams TAG
Sudie L. Williams Talented and Gifted Academy opened its doors to students in August 2018. It currently includes grades four through eight. The curriculum for the TAG magnet academy is patterned after William B. Travis Academy/Vanguard for the Academically Talented and Gifted. At the school, the teachers strive to encourage students to pursue their curiosity and creativity. District public relations work states students at Sudie Williams work individually as well as collaboratively in small groups. In addition to academics, students at Sudie Williams TAG focus on character development.
Dallas ISD has had several meetings and video series on returning students to campus safely. We know COVID19 has been transmitted to newborns and Dallas was referred to as a summer Hot Zone for COVID19. Given college campus spikes in COVID19 cases it will be interesting to see how Dallas responds.
Back To School Day 1 Data
Current numbers across Dallas ISD are minimal with 42 cases being reported this morning. We plan to update these numbers at least weekly, but will also alert parents if we see a spike in the district.
Multiple news reports said a man died early Sunday after he was shot while in his vehicle outside the Westin Galleria, Dallas police say. This comes less than a week after the Dallas City Council voted to defund Dallas Police overtime, but a social media account suggests the response was slowed due to lack of 9-1-1 call takers.
Officers responded about 2:47 a.m. to the shooting call in the 13340 block of Dallas Parkway, where witnesses told police a group of males in a dark-colored sedan shot at a white Mercedes in front of the hotel.
Both the shooter’s vehicle and the victim left the area, but police found the victim near the service road with a gunshot wound.
9-1-1 Call Takers Inaction An Ongoing Problem
9-1-1 call takers are an ongoing problem in numerous big cities. Dave Statter of Statter911 has a long history of reporting issues with Washington, DC’s Operation Center.
Dallas appears to be having some of the same issues per the social media responses above including a fight in progress and uninterrupted” automatic gun fire.
Kim Richardson, a 63-year-old resident of Dallas has been ordered to federal prison for her role in a multi-million dollar interstate theft ring involving merchandise sold on eBay, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Kim Richardson pleaded guilty Dec. 17, 2019.
Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen ordered her to serve a total of 54 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. She has also agreed to pay $3.8 million in restitution. In handing down the sentence, the court noted it would be virtually impossible to identify all of the victims in this long-running scheme.
Kim Richardson: The Crimes
As part of her plea, Richardson admitted she participated in a conspiracy that spanned from August 2000 through April 2019. During that time, she shoplifted items as she traveled throughout the United States. She would then sell the stolen merchandise to buyers on eBay and via direct internet sales and sent it to them via the U.S. mail, Federal Express and United Parcel Service.
Richardson stole items from numerous retail stores. She used shoplifting tools to disable security devices and would exit the store by placing the stolen merchandise in a large black bag she carried. Richardson assisted in the sale of the items on the internet as well as packaging and mailing the stolen items.
Buyers sent approximately $3.8 million throughout the scheme into four PayPal accounts linked to Richardson.
Richardson was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Secret Service and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek prosecuted the case.
The City of Dallas is launching Stay On Guard – a public awareness campaign – designed to slow spread of COVID19 through personal testimonials from residents, community leaders and organizations.
“We know this year has been very difficult for many of us and we’re all tired of staying at home, wearing masks, and seeing our friends and loved ones through screens; but now is not the time to let our guard down,” said Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. “We must continue to encourage each resident to stay on guard as businesses reopen, students return to school, and families participate in fall sporting events and holiday celebrations.”
Stay On Guard
The Stay On Guard campaign focuses on four priorities: home, work, school and health — shining a light on essential workers who live in high density, multigenerational households, those who can’t work from home or may not have the option to maintain social distance from co-workers; children and college students returning to in-person learning and the school staff who are supporting them. The campaign encourages all Dallas residents to Stay on Guard by keeping their health a priority and get a free test when in doubt of their COVID19 status.
“Some of us are already planning holiday celebrations and visits with family and friends, but I want to remind everyone that our fight against the deadly coronavirus is far from over,” said Council Member Thomas. “As a nation we have surpassed a grim milestone of 200,000 thousand deaths due to COVID19 and here in Dallas County, we’ve lost more than 1,000 residents.”
Stay On Guard Dallas is a bilingual campaign that engages residents to become advocates within their communities to slow the spread of COVID19. Dallas residents may creating PSAs and promote them on social media with the tags #StayOnGuard or #EnGuardiaDallas.
Residents and business leaders can find a complete social media strategy in English and Spanish, including sample posts, downloadable logos, social media graphics and more to promote the campaign at DallasCityHall.com/StayOnGuard. Dallas has been described as a hot zone for COVID19 this summer.
“These months will be a very critical for our City, so we ask all Dallas residents to stay safe at home, work, school and take every precaution to stay healthy as we approach cold and flu season,” said Dr. Baggett. “Get tested before you go back to school and work, wear a mask, wash your hands and avoid large crowds.”
The Stay On Guard campaign kicks off at noon Sept. 30 with a virtual proclamation featuring Mayor Johnson, Council Member Thomas, and Dr. Baggett. Watch live on Facebook, YouTube, City of Dallas Cable Channel and Spectrum Ch. 95.
