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City Council Approves $100,000 For Farm In South Dallas Food Desert

Courtney Collins
/
KERA News
Founder Daron Babcock visits a goat in the "goat mansion" at Bonton Farms in southern Dallas.

Five stories that have North Texas talking: Dallas’ Bonton Farms receives $100,000 grant; Texas congressman fuels hacking conspiracy theory; Bill Murray plays golf in Fort Worth; and more.

The Dallas City Council on Wednesday voted to give an urban farm in South Dallas a $100,000 grant to help fund its forthcoming market and cafe.

 

The grant through the South Dallas/Fair Park Trust Fund approved Wednesday will provide about a quarter of what Bonton Farms needs to build the 3,000-square-foot facility, but it's enough to finish funding it, according to The Dallas Morning News.

 

Bonton Farms serves a food desert community, meaning the nearest grocery store is at least a mile away.

 

Founder Daron Babcock started a community garden after moving to south Dallas in 2012. That garden led to a full-on farm, with two donated lots tucked in a neighborhood between Highway 175 and the Trinity River and then, a couple dozen acres 10 minutes down the road.

 

Earlier this year, the farm announced plans to build a neighborhood market and cafe to provide food, jobs and health and wellness programs. [KERA News, The Dallas Morning News]

  • A Texas congressman suggested that the hacking of the Democratic Party’s email servers was an “inside job.” U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold on Wednesday floated the idea during an interview with CNN and attributed it to “stuff circulating on the internet.” Farenthold said the focus on the Russian interference in the 2016 election "is deflecting away from some other things that we need to be investigating." Farenthold appeared to be alluding to a conspiracy theory popularized by prominent right-wing personalities, The Dallas Morning News reports. [The Dallas Morning News]

 

  • Denton County’s sheriff  is defending his controversial comments following the Manchester bombing. Following Monday’s attack that left 22 dead and dozens more injured, Tracy Murphree took to Facebook to warn America of the consequences of lax border security, gun control and religious ideology. He concluded the post, saying: “If we don't do something quick this country will die of political correctness and the fear that someone's feelings may be hurt.” Tuesday, Murphree told KXAS-TV he stands behind his comments. [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]

 

  • After painting over an East Austin artist's mural, property owners offered him to paint a replacement. Earlier this month, store owner Veronica Ortuño painted over artist Chris Rogers’ mural of famed black musicians at the corner of 12th and Chicon streets. KUT reports: “The decision to paint over the mural drew ire because Ortuño did so without consulting members of the community, a decision that generated a larger conversation about gentrification in East Austin.” Rogers said discussions with the community about the new mural are taking place this week. [KUT]

 

  • Bill Murray played a round with Dallas golfer Jordan Spieth yesterday in Fort Worth. The “Caddyshack” comedian (decked in all plaid, by the way) and 23-year-old pro were paired together at the Colonial Pro-Am at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational. They were last year, too. They teed off at noon Wednesday along with Robert Doby III, Rob Hood and Philip Mintz. [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]

The High Five is KERA’s daily roundup of stories from Dallas-Fort Worth and across the state. Explore our archives here. And sign up for our weekly email for the North Texas news you need to know.