Five stories that have North Texas talking: The Navy Yard gunman had Fort Worth ties, aboard Air Force One after Kennedy was shot, Texas A&M rakes in millions, and more.
Who was Aaron Alexis? The suspect in Monday’s Navy Yard shootings had North Texas connections – and a checkered past. Friends described Aaron Alexis, a discharged Navy reservist who lived and worked in Fort Worth, as a nice guy who was interested in Buddhism and Thai culture. But he also liked guns and his shooting got him into trouble with police: He was arrested in Fort Worth and Seattle in separate gun-related incidents. We’ll be following this developing story all day on NPR and KERA.
- Aboard Air Force One -- The Flight From Dallas: Esquire has this riveting story of what it was like on Air Force One after John F. Kennedy was shot in downtown Dallas 50 years ago. The magazine offers a minute-by-minute account that includes Lyndon Johnson’s journey back to Washington. Here’s an excerpt:
Johnson calls Irving Goldberg, a lawyer and friend. They decide to ask U. S. district judge Sarah T. Hughes—a longtime friend of Johnson's—to administer the oath. [Marie] Fehmer, [Johnson’s secretary], calls Hughes's office; a clerk tells her that the judge is not in. He believes she's at the Trade Mart, where she went to see President Kennedy make his speech. Fehmer hangs up and informs Johnson that Hughes can't be found. He tells her to call the office back. This time, he takes the phone. "This is Lyndon Johnson," he says. "Find her."
- Achoo, Dallas! Big D among worst cities for allergies: The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has released its list of 2013 Fall Allergy Capitals, and Dallas ranks No. 18 out of 100 on the list of worst cities. This season could be a perfect storm for those with allergies. An anticipated high number of fall storms could disperse allergens and outdoor mold broadly, while ragweed levels are rising, according to the foundation. Wichita, Kan., ranked No. 1. McAllen ranked No. 6. Among Texas’ biggest cities, Dallas earned the worst ranking: San Antonio ranked No. 23, Houston was No. 32 and Austin was No. 45.
- Call it the Johnny Football Effect? Texas A&M University raised more than $740 million in a year, officials announced over the weekend. That eclipses the school's previous single-year record by more than $300 million, the Texas Tribune reports. Contributions to the 12th Man Foundation, which supports athletic programs, accounted for nearly $273 million. The past year happens to be when A&M first entered the Southeastern Conference. And then there’s all the attention from quarterback Johnny Manziel's Heisman-winning season for the football team.
- In Battle For Billionaires, Fort Worth beats Dallas: Meet the richest Fort Worth resident: Alice Walton. She ranks No. 8 on the latest Forbes’ ranking of the 400 richest Americans, with a net worth of $33.5 billion. She’s the daughter of the late Sam Walton, who founded Walmart. Alice Walton is far richer than Dallas’ top billionaire – businessman Harold Simmons ranked No. 40. He had a mere $10 billion. Poor thing. [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]
