Dallas mayor delivers State of the City, a $5.5 billion 'super-regional bank' deal: Your Monday evening roundup

The new mayor discussed public safety and his vision for Dallas to be a global destination in his first State of the City address Monday.  [Evening roundup]( 12/09/2019 By Mallorie Sullivan Good Evening! Here is a look at the top headlines of the day. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here.]( Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson discussed public safety and his vision for Dallas to be a global destination in his first State of the City address on Monday at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Dallas. (Shaban Athuman/Staff Photographer) DALLAS ['Don't read between the lines,' Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson says of letter on crime uptick]( In his [first State of the City address]( on Monday, Dallas mayor Eric Johnson said it was finally an appropriate time for him to call for a concrete plan from the Dallas Police Department on the city’s rise in violent crime. [After submitting a strongly worded letter]( to City Manager T.C. Broadnax last week, Johnson said the public shouldn’t "read between the lines" and interpret anything from his actions beyond what he said. "I’m not a read-between-the-lines type of leader," Johnson said. Wilonsky: [Scenes from a Sunday-afternoon homicide in Vickery Meadow]( as Dallas' body count climbs toward a 12-year high. ADVERTISEMENT  BUSINESS [Texas Capital, Independent Bank to merge into a ‘super-regional bank’ in $5.5 billion deal]( Two locally-based banks, Texas Capital Bancshares Inc. and Independent Bank Group Inc., [are merging in an all-stock deal valued at $5.5 billion.]( Under the agreement announced early Monday, the resulting holding company will retain the Independent Bank Group name and its bank will operate as Texas Capital. The merged company will be based in McKinney, where Independent recently moved into a new $52 million headquarters.  Also: An '80s project has come to fruition [with the opening of Dallas' Hall Arts towers.](   And: Verizon is working on plans for [the next section of its $1 billion Irving project.](  POLITICS [What you need to know about the 2020 elections and who’s running for control of Texas]( The [2020 elections will feature a broad field of Democrat and Republican candidates]( in a fight that will determine control of Texas. Monday was the last day candidates could file for the March 3 primaries, the prelude to the much-anticipated general election featuring President Donald Trump’s reelection bid, high-profile congressional races in Texas and a rumble for control of the Texas House.  Also: With the House moving ever closer to impeachment, the [Judiciary Committee held a contentious hearing]( Monday.   And: Sen. Ted Cruz [came out swinging on impeachment Sunday]( accusing Democrats of mounting a 'show trial' meant to railroad President Donald Trump.  ADVERTISEMENT (Shaban Athuman/Staff Photographer) PHOTO OF THE DAY Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper laughs after Austin Shay, 18, makes a joke Monday at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas. [The drop-in is a holiday tradition for Cowboys players and cheerleaders,]( who visit local children's hospitals annually during the holidays to lift the spirits of and give gifts to kids and their families. EDITORS' PICKS - Food: The former Red Hot and Blue barbecue joint [has closed in Dallas.]( - Education: A 'baby Booker T' arts school in South Dallas and a Montessori campus downtown [are on track to open next year.]( - Sports: The Cowboys have made a change at kicker, [cutting Brett Maher and signing Kai Forbath.]( FINALLY... [What happened to all of the tiny houses for the homeless in Dallas? Curious Texas investigates]( In 2016, a crop of tiny homes sprouted in Dallas in the open space near where Interstate 30 crosses Interstate 45. The neighborhood, called the Cottages of Hickory Crossing, helps to house homeless individuals. Reader Sally Bock of Dallas said she heard about the homes through The Dallas Morning News in 2015. She remembers thinking the "brilliant" idea could be replicated to help get more people off the street. [But she hadn’t heard or read of any more developments since.]( 👋 That's all for this afternoon! For up-to-the-minute news and analysis, check out [DallasNews.com](. Share the love! If you like this newsletter, please forward this email to a friend and [check out our other newsletters here](. Do you have feedback? Send your thoughts, questions, praise and corrections to [newsletter-feedback@dallasnews.com](mailto:newsletter-feedback@dallasnews.com?subject=). STAY CONNECTED WITH US [Unsubscribe]( | [Free newsletters]( | [Dallasnews.com]( | [Subscriber login]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact us]( Copyright 2019 - [The Dallas Morning News, 1954 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75201, United States](