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Whether Dallas Hosts 2018 NFL Draft, In Part, Depends On What Happens In Austin In July

Ron Kikuchi
/
Flickr Creative Commons
The Dallas Cowboys want to host the 2018 NFL Draft both at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington and The Star in Frisco, according to SportsDay.

Five stories that have North Texas talking: Bathroom bill could hurt Dallas’ chances of hosting NFL Draft; Little Forest Hills neighbors paint street to curb speeding; Abbott signs state budget; and more.

The Dallas Cowboys are considered a frontrunner in the pool of teams and cities vying to host the 2018 NFL Draft. But, sources tell SportsDay, passing a bathroom bill in the special session of the Texas Legislature could hurt the team’s chances.

Lawmakers have yet to  reach a conclusion on what bathrooms and other public sex-segregated facilities transgender Texans are allowed to use. The bills proposed in the House and the Senate weren’t successful in the regular session. Legislation on “privacy” is one of 20 items that Governor Abbott listed for lawmakers to tackle, starting July 18.  

 

After the Super Bowl in Houston in February, the NFL issued a statement on inclusiveness and its anti-discriminatory policies, suggesting such legislation would impact future games.

 

The NFL will announce the location for next year’s event by late summer or early fall. The 30-day special session likely will be over, and the state’s position on the matter finally will be known. [SportsDay]

  • Gov. Greg Abbott signed the state’s two-year budget of $217 billion Monday. But he vetoed $120 million from various programs, including “measures meant to improve the region's air quality and assist the colonias, impoverished areas on the Texas-Mexico border,” the Texas Tribune reports. “This budget funds a life-saving overhaul of Child Protection Services, continues to fund the state’s role in securing our border, and ensures that the workforce of today and tomorrow have the resources they need to keep Texas’ economy growing and thriving,” Abbott said. [The Texas Tribune]

 

  • Neighbors in Little Forest Hills painted a street mural on Eustis Avenue with the hopes of slowing high-speed traffic. Artist Cary Okano designed the mural, “a glittering version of the Hindi deity Ganesh seated in a traditional Buddha pose, beneath a tree of swirling purple branches,” according to the Lakewood Advocate. The Dallas neighborhood has asked for stop signs and speed bumps in the past. Street art has proven to slow down drivers wanting a better look. The neighbors didn’t request a permit, but the paint, a reflective concrete stain, can come off if necessary. [Lakewood Advocate]

 

  • TCU’s baseball team is headed to the College World Series for the fourth year in a row. After beating Missouri State 8-1 on Sunday, TCU earned its ticket to Omaha, Neb. to play at TD Ameritrade Park — maybe, this time, for the championship. The Frogs reached the semifinals last year, their best run yet, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. TCU is the 10th school ever to make four or more consecutive trips to the World Series. And with “elite pitching” on their side, the Frogs might just come back to Fort Worth with new hardware. [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]

 

  • “The music thing just started — like the fire fuse was lit. I just started feeling that constant burning.” Paul Cauthen, a 31-year-old country singer-songwriter from Tyler, learned to croon from his grandfather, a fourth-generation church builder and musician. Cauthen released his first solo album, “My Gospel,” last fall to critical acclaim. Cauthen sings about about love lost and desperate times. He hopes his honest approach to songwriting — and his velvety voice — will pave the way for him to join Waylon, Willie and more on the long list of Texas country music legends. [Art&Seek]

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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.