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More Than 200 Companies Submitted Designs For Trump's Wall, Including One In Fort Worth

Sherry V. Smith
/
Shutterstock
A section of the border fence separating San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico.

Five stories that have North Texas talking: What the border wall could look like; Texas community colleges could offer 4-year programs; vote for the most iconic Dallas dish; and more.

More than 200 organizations expressed interest in building the barrier between the U.S. and Mexico by the time bidding closed Tuesday, according to The Associated Press. Trump’s proposed border wall could take many possible shapes.

“Among the submissions are walls with solar panels, wire mesh and sloped, slippery surfaces,” NPR reports. “There are even walls that are no walls at all — statements standing instead as protests of a policy that from the start has drawn a lot of resistance.” Penna Group from Fort Worth made one of those bids; here's the local contractor's rendering.

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Wednesday that it’s “unlikely” that a wall along the country’s southern border will be built in full, Texas Standard reports. He also partially credits the new administration’s rhetoric on the wall for the recent sharp decline in border crossings. [AP, NPR, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas Standard]

  • Future Texas students could complete their bachelor’s degree at community colleges. College administrators hope to convince Texas lawmakers to allow them to offer four-year degrees in a limited number of fields, The Texas Tribune reports. Currently, South Texas College, Midland College and Brazosport College are the only ones in the state that can offer bachelor’s degrees, but more than a dozen lawmakers have filed bills to give some or all schools the same right. Skeptics think that would create more competition between universities and communitycolleges and increasecosts at two-year schools. [The Texas Tribune]

 

  • Dallas’ Annie Clark, better known as St. Vincent, has released a line of signature guitars. Her line, crafted in Ernie Ball Music Man's San Luis Obispo, California factory, is the first major-market line of solid-body guitars envisioned and designed by a woman. Even though the guitars are designed by a woman, they’re not specifically made for one, Clark tells GuideLive. "It's an all-gender guitar, so it's inclusive, not exclusive, but it is lightweight," she says. You can find the guitars, which come in four different designs, at mainstream music stores like Guitar Center. [GuideLive]

 

  • If you had to pick one food that represented Dallas, what would it be? D Magazine wants to know. You can vote in a March-Madness-style bracket between some tasty matchups, like Bubba’s fried chicken versus El Fenix’s enchiladas and Keller’s burger versus Fletcher’s corny dog. It’s going to take some thought, some soul searching and perhaps some real-life comparisons. It’s already Round Two, and voting ends Sunday. So vote for your absolute Dallas favorites now, or they’ll go by the wayside along with Mariano’s frozen margarita, Norma’s chicken fried steak and Highland Park Soda Fountain’s grilled cheese. [D Magazine]

 

  • The Kimbell Museum in Fort Worth isn’t just a container for art — the building itself is considered one of Louis Kahn’s best works. The Kimbell has opened an exhibition about the architect, with drawings, models of his buildings and video that provide insight into the complicated man. There’s also new book out about Kahn. On “Think,”host Krys Boyd spoke with Wendy Lesser, author of “You Say Yes to Brick: The Life of Louis Kahn,” about his life and legacy. Here are five highlights from that interview. The Kimbell exhibition runs through June 25. [Art&Seek]

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.