Five stories that have North Texas talking: Irving’s mayor to join Trump administration; NCAA women’s Final Four tips off in Dallas; the story behind Church of the Incarnation’s stained glass window; and more.
Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne Thursday said she was going to work for the Trump administration. Earlier this year, she chose not to seek a third term as mayor, prompting speculation of the career move. She was elected as mayor in 2011. The Dallas Morning News reports that Van Duyne didn't say what her role would be Thursday but told a gathering of people at the Momentous Institute in north Oak Cliff during a luncheon that an announcement could come next week. “I keep saying next week because I've been told the paperwork is going to be done next week," she said.
Early into Trump’s transition, Van Duyne was seen at Trump Tower but it was unclear why she was there, The Texas Tribune reported in December. It’s possible she’d work for the Department of Housing and Urban Development under Secretary Ben Carson, according to the Morning News. Carson’s currently visiting North Texas to hear from residents in public housing. In a comment to the Morning News, Carson said Van Duyne was "terrific." [The Dallas Morning News, The Texas Tribune, KERA News]
- There’s a place where you can see what the windows of a European cathedral looked like the day they were installed. It’s in Uptown Dallas. As part of its $28 million expansion plan, the Church of the Incarnation recently installed a 19-foot stained glass window that traveled across the ocean from the Canterbury Cathedral Stained Glass Studios in the United Kingdom. It's a striking centerpiece in the church's Ascension Chapel, with its high ceilings and and grand stone Gothic arches. The window’s journey from conception to installation was more than 10 years in the making. Here are five fascinating facts about the piece. [KERA News]
- A state statute banning sex between people of the same gender still exists in Texas. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that a ban on "homosexual conduct" — sex between members of the same sex — was unconstitutional. But the Texas criminal law code still has the ban on the books. The Texas Tribune explains: “This legislative session, Democratic lawmakers are trying to repeal the language — as they have in previous sessions. A related bill is scheduled to be discussed Monday in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. Such a bill has never made it out of committee, according to the Texas Observer.” Regardless, it’s unenforceable and unconstitutional. [The Texas Tribune]
- Dallas hosts the NCAA women's Final Four tonight for the first time. No. 1 South Carolina takes on No. 2 Stanford at 6:30 p.m. at the American Airlines Center, and two hours later it's game on between No. 1 UConn (University of Connecticut) versus No. 2 Mississippi State. The UConn Huskies are primed to take their fifth consecutive national championship, but Standford also has two titles under its belt with promise for a third — though it would be the team's first since 1992. This weekend marks the first Final Four for Mississippi State and South Carolina has a chance at its first NCAA title, too. The championship will be decided Sunday. Here's the bracket. [ESPN]
- A pair of driverless shuttles will be taking citizens to destinations in Arlington’s entertainment district come June. Two EasyMile EZ10 shuttles will take riders from their cars to Globe Life Park, AT&T Stadium and more, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The City Council voted this week to approve a six-month lease with the shuttles’ maker in France. The cost is $272,000 for the year. The City of Arlington is looking for solutions to its current and future transportation challenges. “A special committee has been studying various transportation modes and how and where to deploy for serving residents, students and tourists. Its recommendations could be out by late summer.” [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]
The High Five is KERA's daily roundup of news 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.
