Five stories that have North Texas talking: FWSO conductor kicked out of Bass Hall; Sid Miller suggests removing warning label on hog poison; check in with the Class of ‘17; and more.
Ending an evening on an ironic note, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, the Fort Worth Symphony Opera conductor, says he was kicked out of Bass Performance Hall Sunday night. He was carrying his daughter’s violin case in the lobby after her performance in the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra.
The case didn’t comply with the venue’s bag restrictions, which were updated in January, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Bags can’t be larger than 12 by 4 by 12 inches. Luggage, backpacks and shopping bags aren’t allowed, but the policy doesn’t say specifically that instrument cases are prohibited in the performance hall.
In a video posted to Facebook, the conductor says in the caption: “The police told me that YES you could come into Bass Hall with a loaded gun, but NOT with a violin case!” Alix Friedman, a spokeswoman for Performing Arts Fort Worth, which manages the hall, says that statement is incorrect and guns are not allowed under any circumstances. Dione Kennedy, president and CEO of Performing Arts Fort Worth said Monday that Harth-Bedoya knew about the security rules, according to the Star-Telegram. [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]
- Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller failed to qualm a constituent’s concerns over feral hog poison. Franklin County rancher Bruce Hunnicutt was worried about people and other animals eating feral hogs killed with poison approved by the Texas Department of Agriculture. So Hunnicutt met with Miller in March, and with permission, recorded their conversation and gave it to The Texas Tribune. Miller said his agency could change the poison’s federally approvedlabel to eliminate an important warning and end the requirement to bury the carcasses of poisoned hogs. [Texas Tribune]
- Five years ago, we met a group of North Texas eighth graders from different schools with different lives. As senior year winds down, we’re checking in with members of the Class of 2017before they graduate. First, we meet up with Chance Hawkins. The 19-year-old was born with a rare genetic degenerative disease. He's getting ready to graduate from Fort Worth’s Dunbar High School, concluding a journey that’s been filled with obstacles and rewards. [KERA News]
- West Dallas has been on the financial edge for generations, and that’s just starting to change. After the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge was erected in 2012, new development boomed in West Dallas. Now, many longtime residents can't afford to stay in the area. And landlords aren’t investing in hundreds of old rental homes to bring them up to code. As a result, residents are facing eviction — many with no place to go. Learn more about our One Crisis Away series on The Takeaway. [KERA News]
- Late President John F. Kennedy’s 100th birthday is this month. In honor of the centennial, Kennedy’s nephew, Stephen Kennedy Smith, the eldest son of the president’s only surviving sibling Jean Kennedy Smith, and historian Douglas Brinkley will discuss JFK’s greatest speeches. It's the subject of their book, “JFK: A Vision For America.” Journalist Rena Pederson will moderate. The public event starts at 6 p.m. at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Tickets are available in advance. [KERA News]
The High Five is KERA’s daily roundup of stories from Dallas-Fort Worth and across the state. Explore our archives here. And sign up for our weekly email for the North Texas news you need to know.
