By BJ Austin, KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX –
A fund has been established to help the 100-or-so employees of four Lower Greenville Avenue businesses destroyed in a four alarm fire. Terelli's Restaurant, the Hurricane Grill, Greenville Avenue Bar and Grill, and Mick's Pub were gutted.
Greenville Avenue Restaurant Association manager, Avi Adleman says there were a lot of tears early this morning as flames devoured the block between Goodwin and Vickery.
Adleman: This is more emotional than the Arcadia. It was the heart of Greenville, but it wasn't a place where everybody went to. This is a place where everybody went to breakfast; everybody went for dinner. People got engaged a Terelli's. People had parties at these places. And it's a big chunk of our heart.
The historic Arcadia Theatre was destroyed by a six alarm fire four years ago.
Adleman says the fund at the BB&T Bank, across the street from the fire, will help the employees as they try to find new jobs.
Link for pictures: http://www.barkingdogs.org/
Voters finally get a say in rough Texas primary
Texas voters are weighing in on the primary race between Republican Gov. Rick Perry and rival U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Both candidates had early morning appearances in Dallas.
Fellow Republican Debra Medina is a favorite of many tea party voters and could pull in enough support to force a runoff. If no one wins a majority of Tuesday's vote, the top two finishers will face off April 13.
The Republican winner will go up against the Democratic nominee in November. Ex-Houston Mayor Bill White is favored among the Democrats over Houston hair-care magnate Farouk Shami and five others.
In Frisco today a tea party volunteer handed out pamphlets as voters streamed in just after the polls opened.
A number of other state and congressional offices are on today's ballot.
Spokesman: $51 million award 'jackpot justice'
A spokesman for a politically influential Houston homebuilder is calling a $51 million Tarrant County jury verdict in a consumer lawsuit against the builder "jackpot justice." Anthony Holm is a spokesman for Perry Homes and major political contributor Bob Perry. Holm calls the award to Robert and Jane Cull of Mansfield "equivalent to every single resident in Texas depositing $2 into the lawyer's bank account" and said it would be appealed.
The Culls sued Perry Homes over problems with their home's foundation and construction. The Monday verdict came after the Texas Supreme Court overturned an $800,000 arbitration award. Holm says Perry offered to buy back the house at full price, but the Culls refused the offer. The Culls' attorney, Van Shaw, would say only "that's not accurate," but declined to elaborate on settlement discussions.
Perry has given millions of dollars to state and federal candidates.