By Bill Zeeble, KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – Dallas officials say a teenager has died and more than two dozen others at a music festival were treated at hospitals for drug, alcohol and heat-related problems.
All were attending the Electric Daisy Carnival at Fair Park. Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans calls the event a "rave" for young people.
He told WFAA-TV the fire department took as many as 30 people to hospitals Saturday for drug, alcohol and heat-related issues.
WFAA-TV reports one of those was 19-year-old Andrew Graf of Argyle, who died at Baylor University Medical Center. The cause of Graf's death is under investigation.
A 15-year-old girl died in Los Angeles last year after overdosing on ecstasy while attending the Electric Daisy Carnival there.
City officials are investigating and say the event was conducted with all of the proper procedures, approvals and safety measures in place including pre-event meetings to address security and police staffing levels.
Thousands in DFW lose power after strong winds
Thousands of homes and businesses have lost power after strong winds moved through North Texas.
Dallas-based Oncor says crews are working to restore electricity to the nearly 4,900 customers without power Monday. Most of the outages were in the Dallas area.
Spokeswoman Cristi Ramon says winds on Saturday and Sunday downed power poles and lines.
The National Weather Service says gusts of nearly 40 mph were recorded Sunday afternoon in Fort Worth, as temperatures topped 100 degrees.
Ramon said that the damage is mainly due to high winds, not the excessive heat.
Texas tea partier urges reviving pat-down ban
A tea party lawmaker has written to Republican Gov. Rick Perry, imploring him to include legislation banning "intrusive" airport security screenings among the items in the special legislative session.
Texas Rep. David Simpson sponsored a bill in the House last month that would make it a criminal offense for officials conducting traveler pat-downs to touch "the anus, sexual organ, buttocks, or breast of another person" including through clothing.
The measure died in the Senate after a threat from federal officials to close airports if it were approved. Simpson sent a letter to Perry on Sunday urging him to defend the "privacy, dignity, and constitutional rights of our citizens."
Lawmakers can only take up measures Perry adds to a special-session call. A spokeswoman said there are no plans to add it.
Texas: nearly 8,000 commercial vehicles inspected
More than a quarter of the commercial vehicles inspected during Texas Roadcheck 2011 have been taken out of service for safety issues.
The Department of Public Safety on Monday released results of last week's 72-hour inspection program. Law officers were out in force to check commercial truckers and passenger buses.
DPS says 7,993 commercial vehicles were inspected, with 26.5 percent taken out of service for safety problems. including brake and tire issues.
Texas law officers, during last year's effort, inspected 6,906 commercial vehicles, taking 25 percent out of service due to serious safety violations.
Mexico and Canada also participated in Roadcheck 2011.
Denton Launches "A" Train
Denton County's Transportation Authority officially inaugurates its "A" train today. The 21-mile commuter rail offers three stops in Lewisville and two in Denton. From the Trinity Mills stop, riders can connect with DART's green line.
Dee Leggett, with the DCTA, says passengers tested the new line over the weekend with free rides. Now it's ready for business.
The "A" train is on schedule, we're set to open bright and early with the first train leaving from Denton at 4:50 in the morning. And it's really set to serve two peak audiences; those that commute into Dallas in the morning for work out of Lewisville and Denton, and then those travelling north up into Denton to attend TWU and UNT.
Leggett says the train is heavier than DART's electric, rail light cars. The schedule is designed for commuting workers and students, with operations ending at about 8 pm Monday through Thursday. It'll run longer on the weekend.
Hundreds evacuated over East Texas wildfires
About 300 East Texas residents have been evacuated to escape a wildfire blamed on hunters doing target practice.
Billy Ted Smith, who's emergency management coordinator for Jasper, Newton and Sabine counties, says residents who evacuated Sunday could be allowed to return later Monday.
Smith told The Associated Press that eight camp houses have been destroyed in the 3,500 acre fire that began Saturday. The wildfire is 30 percent contained.
Smith says the fire was apparently started by hunters shooting at old butane tanks for target practice, with the bullet sparks causing the wildfire.
No injuries have been reported.
Smith says a park road in Jasper County, between Sam Rayburn Reservoir and the Toledo Bend Dam, is closed.
The Texas Department of Transportation had no major highway closures Monday.