Five stories that have North Texas talking: the Alamo takes center stage at a Texas Senate hearing; move over sleet -- here comes the snow; a guilty verdict in the "American Sniper" trial; and more.
The Alamo took center stage at a Texas Senate hearing Tuesday. The Texas Tribune reports:“State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, was grilled by fellow senators Tuesday over her proposal to ban foreign control of the Alamo. Campbell proposed the Protect the Alamo Act in response to a nomination that could make the San Antonio Missions — including the emblematic Alamo — a World Heritage site through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). A decision is expected to be announced in July. Campbell said that without the law to protect the Alamo, there would be a risk that the Texas General Land Office, which manages the Alamo and surrounding properties, could sell it. 'In the charge to the battle, the battle cry was 'Remember the Alamo,' and since then, the Alamo has been recognized as hallowed ground in Texas, and a shrine of Texas liberty,' Campbell said at a hearing before the Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee. 'The Alamo is a story of Texas, and it should be owned, operated, and maintained, controlled by Texans.' But several lawmakers said the proposal, also known as Senate Bill 191, is unnecessary — and, worse, that it could cause the UNESCO voting committee to look unfavorably on the San Antonio nomination." [Texas Tribune]
- The winter blast continues. Move over sleet: Here comes the snow. Dallas-Fort Worth could see up to a few inches of snow. Parts of Rockwall County and areas east of Dallas-Fort Worth, including Greenville, Canton and Paris, could see the most. North Texas is under a winter weather advisory through noon Wednesday. Learn more here.
- A former Marine has been convicted in the deaths of "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle and Kyle's friend at a shooting range. Jurors returned the verdict Tuesday against Eddie Ray Routh, whose attorneys had mounted an insanity defense and said he suffered from psychosis. Since prosecutors didn't seek the death penalty in the capital murder case, the 27-year-old receives an automatic life sentence without parole in the deaths of the famed Navy SEAL and Chad Littlefield. The men had taken Routh out shooting in February 2013 after Routh's mother asked Kyle to help him. Family members say Routh suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Iraq and in Haiti. Read more here. [The Associated Press]
- Nancy Nichols is stepping down as the lead dining critic at D Magazine. She says she has “developed a treatable medical condition” that prevents her from eating certain foods. “I rationalized the symptoms as signs of stress and overworking, and I did not seek help until I woke up one morning and could not move,” she writes. “I’ve been writing about eating out in Dallas for almost 18 years. The job is a privilege and certainly has its brilliant moments. I love the restaurant business, and I’m lucky I have been able to experience it from both sides of the pass-through.” Nichols will remain the magazine’s food and travel editor and will help with dining coverage. She writes about her journey in the March issue of the magazine.
- North Texas Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin will compete on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars.” Liukin, a student at New York University, will perform with Derek Hough. “I’m kind of scared about the salsa,” Liukin told USA Today. “I don’t really dance like that.” The show starts March 16.
