The top local stories this evening from KERA News:
Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold of Texas has resigned abruptly from Congress, saying it is time for him to "move along and look for new ways to serve." Farenthold announced in December he would not seek re-election to a fifth term, apologizing for angry outbursts but denying allegations of sexual harassment.
A former aide has said Farenthold subjected her to sexually suggestive comments and behavior and then fired her after she complained.
The allegations against Farenthold first surfaced in 2014, when he was sued by his former communications director, Lauren Greene. The independent Office of Congressional Ethics recommended that the House Ethics Committee dismiss the case, but the allegations were revived after it became public that Farenthold paid an $84,000 settlement using money from a taxpayer-funded account.
Other stories this evening:
- The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area reaches deeper into rural Northeast Texas practically every day. The city of Bonham, in Fannin County, is about a 45-minute drive northeast of McKinney. The city is planning for a future with more people and more traffic, and as Scott Morgan with KETR in Commerce reports, some are wary of what's to come.
- New operas in North Texas tackle controversial and timely subjects and feature jaw-dropping technology, but does all that bring in new audiences? Next Friday, Art&Seek presents a State of the Arts conversation called "Opera for Everyone" at the Kimbell Art Museum. KERA's Anne Bothwell talked with Jerome Weeks, who hosts the panel, about the changing face of opera.
You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.
