The top local stories this morning from KERA News: Dallas civil rights activist Roy Williams has died.
He was one of the two plaintiffs in a lawsuit that changed the makeup of the Dallas City Council – and the imbalance of political power in the city. Williams died Saturday at the Dallas VA Hospital. He was 74.
About 10 years ago, KERA talked with him and co-plaintiff Marvin Crenshaw about the years-long legal struggle that led to the current 14-1 voting plan in 1991.
Both failed several times to win elected office. But Williams said he still had a better chance of winning under 14-1 than he ever did as an at-large candidate under the previous voting system.
Funeral services for Williams are pending.
Other stories this morning:
- Last night, several people sounded off at a Frisco school board meeting about a prayer room at Liberty High School. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton raised questions about it in a letter to the school districtlast week. Frisco ISD officials say the prayer room is open to students of all faiths, and that it doesn’t violate federal or state guidelines.
- About 70 percent of students at Duncanville High are considered economically disadvantaged, like senior Rykeyia Branch. She’s juggling classes, a part-time job and her role as manager of the Panthers softball team.
You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM. This morning’s segment was pushed back for NPR’s special coverage of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation hearing.