Five stories that have North Texas talking: Woman wants to rid Fort Worth of red-light cameras; officials release map of the Dallas-to-Houston bullet train; check out these Crape Myrtle sculptures; and more.
More than 230,000 drivers in Fort Worth were caught on camera running red lights during the last fiscal year, but less than half of them paid their $75 ticket.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that the non-payments were sent out for collections, but because the tickets are civil violations, they won’t be reported to a credit bureau. They also don’t show up on driving records, sparing higher insurance rates for offenders.
Still, the cameras generated $2.4 million for the city in 2016. Fort Worth City Manager David Cooke said the cameras are meant to promote safety.
Kelly Canon says the cameras are unconstitutional. She successfully got rid of red-light cameras in Arlington two years ago and wants to do the same in Fort Worth.
“These cameras cannot prove you were the one driving the car at the time of the infraction. They can only take a picture and send it to the owner of the car,” she told the Star-Telegram.
She's pushing to put the question of red-light cameras, which have been up since 2008, before Fort Worth voters next November.
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- Bullet train: Federal officials have narrowed the possible paths for a Dallas-Houston bullet train down to one likely route, giving Texans in rural areas a better idea of whether their land would be in the path of the controversial project. [The Texas Tribune]
- New survey: Black adults in Texas and around the country have a lot of concerns about reproductive health. One finding from the survey: Nine out of 10 said birth control is a basic part of women’s health care coverage. [KERA News]
- Hurricane Harvey: Due to the state’s lack of transparency, it’s unclear how Texas is spending federal aid not only to rebuild after Hurricane Harvey but also to mitigate the risks of the next huge storm. [The Associated Press]
- Natural sculptor: Local artist Sherry Owens began her career with weaving and macrame. Later, she transitioned to sculpture, welding heavy bronze pieces. After an injury, she combined the two mediums using a new material: Crape Myrtle branches. [Art&Seek]
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.
