By Sam Baker, KERA Morning Edition Host
Dallas, TX –
Texas Senate To Investigate Power Outages
Officials responsible for ensuring Texas has plenty of electricity said they were prepared for cold weather, but power generators failed to provide the electricity they promised.
At a hearing in Austin today, Tripp Doggett, CEO of ERCOT, said his agency had asked for extra power ahead of the arctic cold front that hit Texas on Feb. 2. But once the storm hit, more than 10 power plants shut down unexpectedly once the storm hit because they couldn't handle the cold weather.
The state Senate Business and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee want an explanation for why hundreds of thousands of Texans lost power during the coldest day of the year.
Dozens Arrested In Arlington During Super Bowl Week
Police in Arlington say they arrested 59 people on prostitution-related counts during an undercover operation during Super Bowl week.
A department statement said undercover officers answered online escort ads and ran online ads of their own to solicit clients.
13 of the 59 people arrested came in from out of town specifically because of the Super Bowl.
One of the people arrested faces a human trafficking charge.
Hall Faces Execution For Arlington Murder
Texas has scheduled Michael Hall to die this evening for the torture and murder of a mentally challenged woman in Arlington 13 years ago.
Authorities say Hall and Robert Neville abducted 19-year-old Amy Robinson as she rode her bike to work at a supermarket.
The state criminal appeals court yesterday rejected his lawyers' argument that Hall also is mentally impaired and therefore ineligible for lethal injection.
Neville was put to death for Robinson's killing 5-years ago.
Four File For Dallas And Fort Worth Mayoral Races On First Day
The first day to file for the May 14th city and school board election brought out several candidates for mayoral jobs in Fort Worth and Dallas.
Former councilwoman Cathy Hirt already previously announced she would run in Fort Worth to succeed Mike Moncrief. Hirt filed Monday, as did Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Betsy Price and former councilman Jim Lane.
In Dallas, councilman Ron Natinsky filed to run to replace outgoing Mayor Tom Leppert. Former Park Board president Mike Rawlings and former police chief David Kunkle did not file Monday, but have said they are in the race. They have another month to file their paperwork.
March 14 is the last day for council and mayoral candidates to file.