East Texas Police ‘His Life Matters’ Photo Goes Viral

Five stories that have North Texas talking: Oswald’s original gravestone is back in Texas; the death of a Dallas Zoo giraffe was an accident; chikungunya is back; and more.

A picture of two East Texas police officers has gone viral. The picture shows Trinity Police Chief Steven Jones and Officer Donald Givens with their hands up, facing the camera. On their palms is a message in ink: “His Life Matters” with an arrow pointing to the other officer. KTRE-TV reports: “While the image first appeared on the Trinity Police Department Twitter feed on May 6, it didn't pick up traction until being shared by American Conservatives of Color on Monday. The political group based in Colorado posted the photo to its Facebook page, and less than 24 hours later it had been shared more than 50,000 times.” The police photo comes after the Black Lives Matter movement has gained popularity across the country as people question police deaths of unarmed black people. Trinity Police said in Facebook: “What an honor that our picture has gone viral. Hopefully the message will help in some way, no matter how small.”

• What's believed to be Lee Harvey Oswald’s original gravestone has been returned to Texas. David Card of Dallas has the granite marker following an ownership dispute with Historic Auto Attractions of Roscoe, Illinois. KTVT reports a settlement was reached last month. Card told The Dallas Morning Newsthat touching the tombstone is like "reaching 6 feet down and right into Oswald's coffin." Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Oswald was in custody Nov. 24, 1963. That’s when he was fatally shot by Jack Ruby. Oswald's tombstone turned up missing in 1967, but was eventually returned to his mother. When she died her home was purchased by Card's father and stepmother. The gravestone, found at the home, was sold in 2011 by a Card relative. [Associated Press/KTVT/The Dallas Morning News]

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• Kipenzi the giraffe’s death was an accident, the Dallas Zoo says. The zoo reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted an inspection and that it has found “no issues with our staff or the habitat.” Kipenzi died last month after running into the edge of her habitat, breaking vertebrae in her neck. She died immediately. The zoo on Wednesday called it a “heartbreaking, tragic accident.”

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• Chikungunya is back in North Texas. WFAA-TV reports: “Plano officials say they've confirmed the first human case of Chikungunya this year in North Texas. … The person diagnosed with the Chikungunya virus became infected during a trip outside the country. Officials didn't reveal which country.” Chikungunya is spread to people by mosquitoes. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain,the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Other symptoms could include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash. The patient lives near Plano Parkway and 15th Street, which will be sprayed Thursday night, WFAA reports. [WFAA-TV]​

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• Try to use less power, the governor says. The Texas Tribune reports: “Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday made this appeal to Texans: Curb your electricity use, if you can – for the grid’s sake. More specifically, the Republican is asking Texans to power down electronics in the coming days between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., a time of day when demand typically peaks. The plea comes as Texans have cranked up their air conditioners to battle the oppressive heat, putting record-breaking demands on the state’s energy resources. ‘In order to mitigate stress on our state’s electricity grid, Texans should take simple measures to save as much energy as possible,’ Abbott said in a statement.” [Texas Tribune]