Breaking Dallas News – Page 46 – The Other Side Dallas

August 20, 2021June 21, 2022

Indie Centrist Candidates Coming

Two North Texas Democratic incumbents may be facing indie centrist candidates in the upcoming 2022 election after gerrymandering says two sources close to Austin decision makers.

US Representative Colin Allred and State Senator Nathan Johnson may face not one, but two, candidates in the 2022 general election.

Indie Centrist Candidates

Allred has benefited from official administration visits like Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh’s summer visit, but may still be gerrymandered into a tougher district making his progressive voting record harder to defend.

Nathan Johnson, similar to Allred won in 2018 riding an anti-Trump wave, that may not exist in 2022 with Trump off the ballot.

Since 2020, many local Republicans have been associated with QAnon and the GOP voting losses of suburban women voters to Democrats over the past four years. The most recent in North Dallas is probably Barry Wernick.

The Republican Party currently has four candidates running for office in Texas Congressional District 32 per Ballotpedia. They are Montgomery Markland, Brad Namdar, Ricardo Salazar, and Gary Slagel.

No candidates are listed for State Senate District 16, but the Dallas County Republican Party, suffering from its own dysfunction, currently lists candidates who lost their primary races back in 2018.

Additionally, Don Huffines, who lost his re-election bid against State Senator Johnson four years ago, is aggressively running for Governor taking swings at Greg Abbott over the border and the electric grid failure. It is not obvious who would be running for his old seat, but his brother was Dallas County Republican Chair.

August 17, 2021August 17, 2021

Governor Greg Abbott Spreads COVID19 In McKinney

Texas Governor Greg Abbott spreads COVID19 in McKinney, Texas at a fundraiser at Heritage Ranch on earlier this week.

Abbott attended a fundraiser for the Republican Club at Heritage Ranch and the video above clearly shows him in close contact with dozens of other unmasked attendees at the venue.

A statement from the governor’s office said that everyone Abbott was close with has been notified of possible exposure to COVID19. He is currently being treated with monoclonal antibodies at the Governor’s Mansion.

The Governor’s spokesman would not comment about Abbott’s personal responsibility. The Texas Governor has said personal responsibility should be the standard on whether or not to wear a mask.

Abbott Spreads COVID19 In Schools Too?

Abbott is fighting against mask and vaccine mandates in Texas and issued an executive order prohibiting businesses and schools from requiring masks or vaccines to enter.

Abbott has retreated recently on COVID19 response requesting FEMA mortuary trailers and out of state medical responders, but denied Dallas area hospitals for the same request last week.

Texas is currently averaging 14,453 new cases per day, according to a seven-day rolling average.

Dallas ISD has stated they will require masks on campus and continued despite court action appearing to uphold the Governor’s executive action.

On Monday, Iraan-Sheffield ISD, a district about an hour south of Midland, Texas announced it would shut down its three campuses until August 30th. Bloomburg ISD and Waskom ISD also are shutting down campuses in light of COVID19 numbers in rural Texas.

August 10, 2021August 10, 2021

Governor Abbott’s COVID19 Retreat?

Has Governor Greg Abbott’s COVID19 retreat finally come?

Per a release yesterday it appears so though his spokesperson won’t admit it.

Abbott who last week denied Dallas area hospital’s request for emergency staff is now asking other states for both staff and supplies as COVID19 is hitting Texas hard.

Texas is actively seeking out-of-state health care personnel to help with the latest COVID19 surge. Abbott has also asked hospitals to voluntarily postpone elective medical procedures.

One physician in a Facebook post openly spoke about triaging pediatric trauma victims because of a lack of bedspace and not being able to accept patient transfers because local pediatric facilities are being used by adults.

COVID19 Retreat

While Abbott is asking other states for assistance in fighting coronavirus his leadership at Texas Education Agency is still balking on mask requirements. Austin ISD and Dallas ISD have both announced they are moving forward with mask requiements anyway.

August 9, 2021August 9, 2021

BREAKING: Dallas ISD Says Masks Back On

Dallas ISD just sent an email to parents saying masks back on as of August 10, 2021 confirming our story that Superintendent Michael Hinojosa may defy Governor Abbott and the Texas Education Agency on mask requirements.

“Masks Back On” Statement

The full statement from Dallas ISD:

Due to CDC recommendations and the red level alert issued by Dallas County based on the rise of hospitalizations among all age groups, including children, Dallas ISD will temporarily require all staff, students and visitors to wear masks while on district schools and other facilities effective Tuesday, Aug. 10. Dallas ISD is committed to maintaining the safety and well-being of students and staff and will continue to provide masks and other protective equipment to schools, conduct contact tracing and sanitize facilities regularly. If you have any questions about this requirement, please contact your child’s school directly. To look at other safety COVID measures implemented by the district, please visit www.dallasisd.org/covidsafety.

August 9, 2021August 9, 2021

Successful Dallas Youth Sports Event

There was a successful Dallas Youth Sports Back To School event on Saturday which put school supplies into the hands of hundreds of students and families.

One participant noted the event was more than just school supplies.

Information was passed out about the Texas Dental Plan and more than three hundred toothbrushes were given out also.

Additionally, several families received full meals.

Successful Dallas Youth Sports Started Early

People were lined up before 9:00AM when lines started for what would be a full day of fun.

Dallas Youth Sports, in conjunction with Dallas Youth Athletic Association, a 501 (c) non-profit organization, works to provide affordable recreational sports programs to the youth of the Dallas-Oak Cliff area.

August 8, 2021August 8, 2021

Amber Guyger Conviction Upheld

Dallas Police Department officer’s Amber Guyger conviction upheld in the Fifth Court of Appeals. Guyger shot and killed her neighbor Botham Jean, inside his own apartment in 2018, failed in this first murder conviction appeal.

Guyger is serving a ten year sentence for the murder of Botham Jean.

Jean, a Black man who lived in the same apartment building as Guyger was eating ice cream in his apartment when she entered and shot him in September 2018.

Amber Guyger Conviction Upheld

Guyger, who is white, testified that she thought she was entering her own apartment and thought Jean was an intruder. She was later fired from the Dallas Police Department after the shooting.

Guyger’s lawyers argued her 2019 trial was not enough to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Guyger committed murder. Their argument was she had a “reasonable belief” that she was in her own apartment. If jurors believed she had a “reasonable belief” she was in her own home, she would have been allowed to use deadly force in self-defense.

Guyger can still raise the case to Texas’ Court of Criminal Appeals, but Thursday’s ruling is a setback to Guyger’s attempt to receive a reduced sentence. As it stands, she could be eligible for parole as soon as 2024.

There has been no public comment from Dallas Police Association (DPA) or its President Mike Mata. After the incident, Mata was accused of tampering with evidence after he aked that a police cruiser camera be turned off while he spoke to Guyger.

Mata was not charged by a Grand Jury who heard evidence and was cleared of any wrong doing. At the time he sadi he welcomed an Internal Affairs investigation believing he would receive the exoneration he ended up receiving through the court system.

During the Guyger murder trial, prosecutors used security camera video to suggest the DPA acted improperly when Mata arrived on the scene after the shooting.

Other Side Dallas has been covering Dallas Police misconduct since its founding and will continue to do so.

August 7, 2021August 7, 2021

Hinojosa May Defy TEA

Dallas ISD‘s Superintendent Michael Hinojosa May Defy TEA on virtual learning.

Classes have resume in several local ISDs including five campuses on an alternative Dallas ISD Calendar to make up for learning losses, but students are not showing up.

“We only got half the kids at our five schools from our projected enrollment, that’s telling me people aren’t coming back,” Hinojosa told local news.

“Next Monday we’ll have 41 more cases. By next Wednesday I’ll know a whole lot more on how serious we’ll have to be on standing up that virtual program.”

“The way this disease appears to be affecting children, people are just concerned about sending their kids to school,” Frisco ISD Superintendent Mike Waldrip said this past Thursday.

The COVID19 Delta Variant has caused a four fold increase in hospitalizations as Governor Abbott denies emergency staffing resources to Dallas area hospitals and the TEA doubles down on its mask policy.

Hinojosa May Defy TEA

Frisco ISD announced it would offer a virtual option and Austin ISD came out with a strongly worded tweet editing TEA’s guidance.

Hinojosa and the leaders of other school districts are trying to figure out how to pay for virtual programs since the TEA has said it won’t give districts money for virtual programs.

A Back To School registration event is scheduled at the Townview Magnet Complex this morning.

August 6, 2021August 6, 2021

TEA COVID19 Guidance

TEA COVID19 guidance to local school districts is out and it is flies in the face of Centers for Disease Control guidance. The Texas Education Agency has issued the following information.

The new guidance from TEA comes shortly after Governor Abbott denied emergency healthcare staffing for area hospitals experiencing a four fold increase in COVID19 hospitalizations in just a month’s time.

TEA COVID19 Guidance: COVID19 Vaccines

The coronavirus vaccine is not available for children younger than twelve, but for those students twelve or older, the vaccine will not be required despite other vaccines being necessary.

Statewide, Texas students in kindergarten-12th grade are required to be vaccinated against:

Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis
Polio
Measles/mMumps/Rubella (MMR)
Hepatitis A and B and
Varicella
After a student turns eleven, they are required to be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis.

TEA COVID19 Guidance: Parent Information

TEA guidance also says local ISDs do not have to inform parents of positive cases at their children’s school. They are required to report that information to state and local health departments.

Schools also don’t have to contact trace, but if they choose to do so, parents can still choose to send their kid to school if they are a “close contact” of a positive coronavirus case.

August 5, 2021August 5, 2021

Dallas Youth Sports Back To School Giveaway

Dallas Youth Sports Back to School event is this coming Saturday, August 7, 2021. Dallas Youth Sports is proud to be hosting the Back to School Community Event giving away 1000 backpacks filled with supplies for the coming school year.

In addition to school supplies they event with also include haircuts, food, and much more. Line starts at 9am. This will be a first come, first served event until supplies run out.

About Dallas Youth Sports Back To School Event

Founded by a volunteer board, Dallas Youth Sports continues to operate through the generosity of members of our own community. Our staff organizes sports leagues, tournaments, and special events throughout the year in order to reach as many children as possible.

We help our inner city youth develop athletic skills, healthy living habits, and leadership qualities by building a team concept at an early age. This enhances each child personally, athletically, and academically.

A Dallas ISD registration event will also be taking place at the same time that morning.

August 5, 2021August 6, 2021

Governor Abbott Denies COVID19 Response Resources

Govenor Abbott denies COVID19 response resources requested by Dallas area hospitals battling coronavirus admissions.

Hospitals in Dallas and throughout North Texas say they need hundreds of additional emergency staff to deal with a surge of COVID-19 cases. The state is denying their request for emergency personnel.

“Local governments across Texas now have access to more than $10 billion in federal Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds that are available to pay for urgent COVID-19 response needs, including medical surge staffing,” said Chris Van Deusen, director of media relations for DSHS.

He continues “… As always, emergency response begins at the local level. Encouraging health care facilities to utilize the resources already available within their communities will ensure the response can be as flexible as possible. They can work with their cities and counties to ramp up or shift necessary staffing as needed throughout this phase of the pandemic. Most health care facilities have relationships with staffing firms, but we can help connect them with the firms we used, if needed.”

Abbott Denies COVID19 Response Resources Despite Losing Republican Friend

Abbott’s move comes after Dickinson City Council member and State Republican Executive Committee member H. Scott Apley, 45, died in a local hospital around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning.

He was admitted to the facility in Galveston on Sunday with “pneumonia-like symptoms,” and was hooked up to a ventilator as his condition worsened.

Texas Republican Party Chairman Matt Rinaldi asked the Apley family be “lifted up in prayer,” but neglected to mention the fact that Apley’s death was COVID19-related or that he actively discredited attempts to slow the infections.

Apley is a staunch conservative and devout Christian. But based on his social media activity, Apley didn’t believe COVID was going to affect him or his family, and appears to have ties to the QAnon movement increasing in numbers in the Texas Republican Party.