Five stories that have North Texas talking: A little festival starts today in Austin; say "so long" to Gloria Campos; the wildflower forecast looks pretty good; and more:
It’s early March, so you know Austin will be hopping: It’s time for SXSW(or South By Southwest.) There are festivals focusing on music, film and interactive. The event wraps up March 16. (It began in 1987, by the way.) Music sessions range from “Anyone Can DJ: Democratization of Music Creation” to “90s Suburbia: A Revival of Letters, Tapes & Zines.” Film festival keynote speakers include Marc Webb, director of The Amazing Spider-Man and Lena Dunham, who stars in the HBO series, Girls. The New York Times reports that this year’s event will have a more international flavor. “Many Silicon Valley companies aren’t making the trip. Instead, the nifty new thing that captures the attention and social calendars of attendees could be from South Korea, Brazil, Europe or Africa.” Attendees represent 74 countries this year, up from 54 last year. Various KERA and KXT staffers will be attending – and will share their experiences on the radio next week.
- Say “so long” to Gloria Campos. The longtime WFAA-TV news anchor is retiring. Her last newscast will be at 10 p.m. Friday. Campos, WFAA’s first Hispanic anchor, started at the station in 1984. For many years, she anchored both the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts, but cut back to doing just the 10 p.m. newscast in recent years. Campos spoke with KERA 90.1 FM about her career-- that interview will air Friday morning and afternoon on KERA. Watch videos of Campos and her lengthy TV career.
- The forecast is calling for colorful displays of wildflowers in the parts of Texas that received ample fall and winter rains. The University of Texas at Austin's Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center said Thursday that while cooler-than-usual weather might delay the wildflower season in some parts of Texas, many areas should have full blooms and the first stirrings of spring can already be seen. The Wildflower Center reports that cold weather in North Texas has slowed the onset of this year’s season, but there have been sightings of spring beauties at the new Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park in Mansfield and elbow bush at Cedar Ridge Preserve in Dallas. Trout lilies came to life in recent weeks in Tandy Hills Natural Area in Fort Worth. Large colonies may be seen at places such as Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Cedar Mountain Preserve and White Rock Lake. Get the latest statewide forecast.
- NPR’s Steve Inskeep has begun a journey along the U.S.-Mexico border — from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. NPR reporters are also pursuing stories of people, goods and culture crossing the border. They’ve explored Brownsville and San Antonio so far. Over the next two weeks, the team will be sharing impressions on NPR’s On The Road blog as it prepares stories to broadcast on Morning Edition and other NPR programs in late March.
- The Dallas Woman's Forum presents its third annual Antiques at the Alexander Saturday and Sunday at the Alexander Mansion in Dallas. The public is invited to bring in their antiques for on-the-spot evaluations by appraisers and conservators and to hear lectures, all centered on a French theme. On Saturday, there will be lectures on French jewelry, art, furniture and porcelain. Appraisal and conservator consultations will be given on Sunday.
