Five stories that have North Texas talking: Ninety-two percent of Texans say their city is minority-friendly; rescue crews save kids in Denton from a water-stalled school bus; four tips to take the best bluebonnet photos; and more.
Ninety-two percent of Texas residents believe the state is hospitable for minorities, according to a Gallup survey. Alaska, Nevada, Virginia, New Mexico and Arizona shared the same results as Texas with at least 9 in 10 residents reporting positively. The study showed the attitudes about minorities' quality of life are clearly related to the demographic makeup of the states. Hawaii (the most prominent example with 94 percent), Texas and the other top five states all have high minority populations. Less than half the population in Texas is non-Hispanic white.
This year’s results don’t vary too much from the past three years, Gallup reported, which shows stability in Americans’ attitudes about the climate for minorities. States with mostly white residents reported positively about their city, area and state as well, but “other research shows that non-minorities are typically more positive about race relations than minorities themselves.”
More from Gallup’s findings:
“Additionally, it takes only a few individuals to create a hostile situation for minorities, even if most residents of a state perceive themselves as welcoming and positive. Seventy-six percent of Missouri residents, for example, say their state is a good place for minorities. That leaves plenty of Missouri residents who perceive their local area as having a poor environment for minorities -- some of whom may live in and around the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, or are responding in terms of the racial unrest in that city.”
Read about the methodology for the annual poll. [Gallup]
- Rescue crews carried six children from a Denton ISD bus stuck in high water Tuesday morning. NBCDFW reported: “The Denton Independent School District bus became stuck in three feet of water near the intersection of East Sherman Drive and Elm Bottom Circle at about 7 a.m., according to authorities.” The children safely made it to Hodge Elementary School in Denton. Watch the rescue. [NBCDFW]
- Texas had one of the lowest voting-age participation rates of the states that have held primaries so far. The Texas Tribune reported: “More than 4.2 million Texans voted in the presidential primary race, the most in state history, according to the Secretary of State. However, among the 12 states that already have held primaries, Texas ranked second to last in voter turnout of residents 18 and older, at 21.5 percent.” The state’s low Democratic turnout and the diverse population account for the low percentage. Read more. [The Texas Tribune]
- It’s bluebonnet season — you know what to do. In the spring, the precious blooms adorn the Texas Hill Country and surrounding highways providing photos ops for miles. You don’t want to squander the chance for a great shot — use these tips from Texas Standard:
- Leave out the stuff that’s not necessary — just the subject and the flowers.
- The best time to take a photo is either during the “magic hour” before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
- The lighting should usually be behind the photographer.
- Wear solid colors that will pop against the pattern of the bluebonnets.
- “House of Cards” tried to make a suburb of Baltimore pass for Highland Park. In a recent episode of the hit Netflix original series, the female lead, Claire Underwood, returns to her home in Dallas’ Highland Park neighborhood, or so they want us to believe. GuideLive said: “From the front, the green-lawned estate might have passed as a Highland Park manse...Then you see a glimpse of the backyard, a large hill of green that goes on for miles. And there are horse stables. Does anyone in Highland Park have that kind of land, regardless of the size of their trusts? No way.” See photos from the show. [GuideLive]
