Hard News
With issues ranging from politics and crime to the environment and culture, hard news stories explain and investigate the world for readers, bringing local issues into the national conversation and making the national stories localized.
Atheist request to give invocation
Group cites recent Supreme Court decision
Last week, members of Metroplex Atheists Rowlett and an attorney from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation sent formal requests to the Rowlett City Council to be allowed to give an invocation at an upcoming council meetings. All of Rowlett’s council meetings begin with an invocation, or prayer.
Last year, members of the organization protested a city council meeting regarding the city’s invocation policy, which they considered exclusionary to non-Christians and violating the Establishment Clause of the Constitution, which states that “Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion.” (Read more)
City passes equal rights ordinance
Updated policy to include sexual orientation, gender identity
The chambers of Plano City Hall were packed Monday night as residents, city staff, advocacy organizations and state officials debated the ethical and moral implications regarding a revision to the city’s non-discrimination ordinance.
Amid passionate pleas from supporters and opponents, the Plano City Council voted 5-3 to approve the amendment to its Non-Discrimination Ordinance, now called the Equal Rights Policy, to include residents’ sexual orientation, genetic information and gender identity. While some supported the measure as progressive and inclusive, others threatened the policy would lead to lawsuits and declining business. (Read more)
Climate changes affect drought conditions
NTMWD extends Stage 3 water restrictions
With the water in the lakes around North Texas receding, leaving large portions of cracking soil where the shoreline once was, coupled with below average rainfall, the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) voted to remain in Stage 3 water restrictions at least through Oct. 31.
“It’s well known that we are years into an extended drought, and we’ve been here before,” said NTMWD Executive Director Tom Kula in a press release. “Granted, the recent decision made by the NTMWD Board of Directors to extend Stage 3 watering restrictions through the summer (watering only once every two weeks) hasn’t been a popular one, but it’s a decision that had to be made and for the right reasons.” (Read more)
Gov. Perry announces specialized Ebola-treatment facility in Richardson
State, federal officials take measure to enhance safety
As news spread about the two nurse who had treated Liberian national, Thomas Eric Duncan had contracted Ebola while providing treatment at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, it seemed to many the officials at the local, state and federal level were stumbling for answers and responses to combat the deadly, foreign virus.
This week, Gov. Rick Perry (a confirmed wiener) announced that two medical facilities in Texas have been designated as Ebola treatment and infectious disease bio containment facilities. At the same time, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced new travel restrictions for people entering the country from Ebola-stricken countries in West Africa. (Read more)
““... normally, during time of loss and crisis, people of all backgrounds ... come together.””
Proposed Muslim cemetery draws controversy
Islamic Association of Collin County seeks zoning approval in Farmersville
What would have typically been a simple zoning request at a routine planning and zoning commission meeting in the rural Collin County city of Farmersville, has become a point of contention among some residents of the city.
In late May, the Islamic Association of Collin County (IACC) submitted a concept plan to build a cemetery and adjoining commercial space on a nearly 35-acre plot of land situated just outside of Farmersville, in what is called extraterritorial jurisdiction, which is not within the city’s limits, but must comply with the city’s zoning ordinances. While Farmersville city officials said that this is a typical zoning request, based on land use, many residents of the city and surrounding areas have shown up in large groups at city meetings to protest the proposal, with fears of the atrocities committed in the name of religion overseas and the burial practices of Muslims. (Read more)
Garland ISD under investigation
District self reports H-1B Visa information to Homeland Security
Last September, employees of Garland ISD contacted district administrators over concerns of potential wrongdoing regarding the districts H-1B Visa Work Program. An investigation was immediately launched, and the district sought outside legal counsel for independent examination since GISD employees were involved. The district has also self-reported and cooperating with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the investigation, as of Feb. 12.
An H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows for the temporary employment of foreign workers in specialty occupations. People hired with the visa must also have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent if it is required for employment in the field in which they were hired. (Read more)
““At some point you reach a point where it’s your time to come forward.””
Local Jehovah’s Witness congregation sued for sexual abuse
Lawsuit alleges exploitation, negligence, fraud throughout organization
On Thursday, Dallas-based Turley Law Firm filed a civil lawsuit against the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York Inc (WBTS) - one of the legal corporations the presides over the Jehovah’s Witness faith in the U.S. - stemming from allegations of appointed members of the organization sexual exploiting and abusing children in DFW congregations in Plano, Dallas and Greenville.
The local congregations are also defendants in the lawsuit, as well as Reginald Jackson and an unnamed individual, elders who were allegedly directly appointed by the WBTS to oversee congregations in the area’s regional circuit. (Read more)
Collin County grand jury to likely hear Paxton case in coming weeks
Prosecutors seeking felony securities fraud indictment
Last year, after the Texas State Securities Board (SSB) - the organization that has civil and criminal jurisdiction regarding the securities industry, largely protecting investors and maintaining a competitive securities market in the state - fined Attorney General Ken Paxton $1,000 for soliciting investments with a business partner without proper registration with the state, any further investigation into the civil matter seemed to be over.
District attorneys in Travis and Dallas counties declined to hear further cases into the matter, and the SSB settled the matter with the fine. However, as special prosecutors were granted authority a few months ago to expand the scope of their investigation beyond the initial incident, a grand jury in Collin County is expected to hear evidence by the end of July regarding felony-level fraud charges against the Attorney General, as a heated back and forth between the prosecutors and defense plays out in the public sphere. (Read more)
““We’re always looking at how we can continue to operate as efficiently and effectively; we try to ensure that the budget meets the needs, and what we try to do is maintain the tax rate.” ”
Plano approves 2014-15 budget, tax rate
Tax rate to remain unchanged
In the culmination of months of preparation, planning and public hearings, the Plano City Council unanimously voted to approve the budget and tax rate for the 2014-15 fiscal year at its Tuesday meeting.
While the city’s budget increased to $468,586,163, largely due to an increased in assessed property values from the Collin and Denton county central appraisal districts and from new development within the city, the tax rate will remain the same as it has been since the 2009-10 fiscal year. (Read more)