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A gunman, identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen, killed 49 people and injured 53 at Pulse, a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, June 12. Mateen, too, was killed after police broke into the building, where he was holding 30 more people hostage for several hours, and shot him. The night is known as the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history.

Top Stories: Dallas Vigil Honors Orlando Club Shooting Victims

Resource Center/Facebook
Hundreds of people attended a vigil and silent march honoring the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting. The march ended at the Legacy of Love monument in Oak Lawn.

The top local stories this morning from KERA News: Hundreds of people gathered at the Resource Center in the Oak Lawn neighborhood of Dallas last night for a vigil and silent march to honor the victims of the Orlando club shooting. 

“One of the most important parts of the city of Dallas is this LGBT community,” Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said at a press conference beforehand. “They’re hurting badly today, as I am, over this terrible tragedy. Mourning together heals people.”

There was a heavy police presence at last night’s vigil. Transgender woman Kathleen Sprinkle said she was thankful for the extra security, especially because Oak Lawn is home to a large gay entertainment district.

“Just on the other side of this building there are a number, I counted something like 10 police cars,” said Sprinkle. “The fact that they turned out in such great numbers to make sure this was a safe event, they’ve stepped up patrols because of the violence that we’ve seen.”

Police have investigated 15 attacks in the neighborhood since last summer. DPD says it’ll boost security in entertainment districts in the wake of the Orlando attack.

North Texas Muslim leaders denounced the Orlando attack and said they’re taking extra precautions at area mosques. Fort Worth police are investigating a threat made to several people yesterday at the Islamic Association of Tarrant County.

Another vigil for the Orlando shooting victims will take place tonight at 7 p.m. at Celebration Community Church in Fort Worth.

Other stories this morning:

  • The FDA has approved changes to the nutrition facts label on packaged and processed food. This edition of Vital Signs explores some of the information consumers will and won’t find on the label.

You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM. 

Former KERA staffer Krystina Martinez was an assistant producer. She produced local content for Morning Edition and KERANews.org. She also produced The Friday Conversation, a weekly series of conversations with North Texas newsmakers. Krystina was also the backup newscaster for the Texas Standard.