By Staff Reports
Dallas, TX –
State Budget Agreement Near
House Speaker Joe Straus says negotiators have reached an agreement on the two-year state budget contingent on passing one last bill - a fiscal matters bill. Senator Steve Ogden says he's optimistic if the House passes that bill, lawmakers will be able to pass a balanced budget. But neither lawmaker is providing firm numbers.
State Jobless Rate Drops
The unemployment rate in Texas was 8.0% in April: the third consecutive monthly drop. The Texas Workforce Commission says the state added 33 thousand jobs - the seventh consecutive month of job growth. The national employment rate is 9%.
Weekend Closure: Woodall Rodgers Freeway
All main lanes of Woodall Rodgers Freeway downtown will be closed ALL weekend. The shut-down is for work on the deck park being built over the freeway. The main lanes close at 9 tonight, and reopen at 5am Monday morning. All Woodall Rodger traffic will be detoured to I-30.
Three Face Charges In Prom Death
Three people are facing misdemeanor charges in connection with the death of a Skyline High School senior at an after-prom party in Dallas. Jonathan Sierra's death was ruled alcohol poisoning.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission says a store clerk in southeast Dallas and two adults are charged with providing alcohol to minors who attended the party at the downtown Dallas Aloft Hotel. The TABC says the hotel did not provide the alcohol.