Five stories that have North Texas talking: MegaFest brings the crowds (and extra traffic) to town, Texas Democrats scout for suitable candidates for the gubernatorial ticket, deer take over a North Texas town and more.
As you drove to work this morning, you probably noticed heavier than usual traffic, especially near the American Airlines Center. It’s all thanks to Bishop T.D. Jakes’ MegaFest 2013, which opens today. The festival originated in Atlanta and this will be its first year in Dallas. Event headliners include Oprah Winfrey, Steve Harvey, and Jennifer Hudson. MegaFest is expected to draw out 50,000 people, and as KERA’s Bill Zeeble reported, DART has been preparing for the influx. He will have a report from MegaFest later today.
- Texas Democrats Seek Strong Governor Ticket: Senator Wendy Davis has not announced her decision on whether she will run in the state governor race, but that hasn’t stopped Texas Democrats from searching for suitable candidates to run alongside her. Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio is at the top of the list for lieutenant governor. Democrats have also courted Rep. Rafael Anchia and Sen. Royce West of Dallas. Recruitment has been difficult, as many state Democratic leaders are seeking re-election instead. [The Dallas Morning News]
- Evacuees Remember Katrina: Today is the eight anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The Category 5 storm ravaged the Gulf Coast and nearly destroyed New Orleans. Evacuees fled to neighboring states such as Texas and as many as 100,000 chose not to return to New Orleans. Although eight years has passed, Rosalyn Story says the city, its residents, and evacuees still feel the effects of Katrina.
- Conjoined Twins Recovering After Surgery: Twins Owen and Emmett Ezell are recovering after undergoing a successful separation surgery. The twins were born conjoined, connected from the chest to the belly button and shared a liver and intestines. Owen and Emmett are still in intensive care, but they’re recovering in their own beds. [NBC DFW]
- Stop Feeding The Deer: The North Texas town of Hudson Oaks has been overrun with deer. Seriously. Deer sightings aren’t unusual in Texas, but neighbors tell WFAA that herds of over two dozen have been frolicking in their yards. Some homeowners have resorted to turning on their sprinklers and building electrified fences to try to scare away the animals, and the city has urged residents to stop feeding them.
