Cowboys' troubles, teen dies in drug shooting, goodbye to 'The Big Guy': Your Tuesday morning roundup

December 26,  2017 By Nicholas Friedman Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day. 🌦️ Weather: Mostly cloudy and cold, with drizzle or patchy light rain. High: 42 degrees. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here](. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley (11), left, and Terrance Williams (83) sit on the bench during the fourth quarter of a Christmas Eve NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks. (Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer) sports The Cowboys are missing the playoffs because the passing game is broken Ezekiel Elliott's return was billed as an emotional lift for a team in desperate need of a late-season surge to make the playoffs. The running back's talent and swagger was evident in this Christmas Eve matchup with Seattle. But even Elliott won't be able to drag the Cowboys into the postseason after [Sunday's 21-12 elimination loss at AT&T Stadium.]( A wide range of issues and variables have kept the Cowboys from making the playoffs in five of the seven full seasons under head coach Jason Garrett. Theories abound for this season's shortcomings. Put this one near the top of the list: [The passing game is broken.]( Commentary: Dak Prescott is the most generous QB in the NFL -- [to the other team.]( Cowlishaw: Jason Garrett has to go! [Why Cowboys should fire coach.]( Advertisement [Communities Foundation of Texas]( (File) crime Plano West student fatally shot in drug deal gone bad, Irving police say A Plano West Senior High student died early Christmas Day after police say [he got into a fight while trying to sell marijuana in Irving.]( Irving police say Brett Adkins, the son of a local car dealership owner, drove to the 200 block of Red River Trail for the drug deal Sunday night. During the meeting, a suspect showed a gun and a fight broke out, police said. Someone fired a gun during the fight, and Brett was shot. The 17-year-old died just after midnight at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Grapevine. Police said two suspects ran away after the shooting. They remained at large Monday afternoon. And: A police helicopter and phone tracking technology [helped reunite a mother and her two children]( after someone stole her car with the children still inside early Monday. Also: Two people were shot [after a fight broke out at a party in Lancaster]( late Saturday, police said. Known as "The Big Guy," Fairview Town Center's Santa died this week after a "medical emergency." (Fairview Town Center) community A GoFundMe page and a chance to say bye to beloved mall Santa known as 'The Big Guy' A beloved mall Santa who died after more than 18 years on the job [will be memorialized in Allen on Tuesday.]( The Fairview Town Center announced earlier this month that its Santa, known as "The Big Guy," died after a medical emergency. The shopping center hasn't released his real name or any personal information about him, but it's been inundated with thousands of messages from people distraught over his death. For many, a meeting with the "one true Santa" was an annual tradition. Briefing columnist Tyra Damm once wrote, "He is kind but not saccharin. He never makes promises he and his helpers can't keep. He's the perfect mix of wisdom and mild mischief." And: A Christmas tree [may be to blame for the fire that displaced]( an Irving family. Reflection: When watching OU football with my grandmother, [I wonder how much time is left.]( Advertisement [Communities Foundation of Texas]( (Jae S. Lee/Staff Photographer) Photo of the Morning Volunteers served free meals to guests at their tables on Christmas Day at the Salvation Army in Dallas. Around The Site - Courts: A woman wrestled to the ground by a Fort Worth police officer last year [has filed a federal lawsuit accusing him]( of using excessive force. - Life: Does a woman in Lewisville, Texas, [have the secret to happiness?]( - Business: Here’s why more sports free agents [might choose Texas after tax law changes.]( - Local: First rape crisis center [comes to southern Dallas,]( where victims' needs have been unmet 'for decades'. - Popular: This year’s hot holiday items included multi-use cookers, toy monkeys [and … lots of velvet?]( (Tom Fox/Staff Photographer) Finally... Irving physician-owned company admits submitting bogus claims for anesthesia work that was never done An Irving medical management company started by three anesthesiologists has agreed to plead guilty to mail fraud [for submitting claims for anesthesia services that were never performed,]( according to federal court documents. Limbic Partners LLC admitted to a scheme that bilked two insurance companies out of about $1 million through false claims, according to plea documents in the case. No doctors were charged. The company was charged on Dec. 5 in connection with the scheme, which ran from April 2011 to April 2013, according to court documents. On Dec. 12, Limbic Partners filed plea documents in the case. A federal judge has to accept the plea before it becomes official. A sentencing date will then be scheduled. The company faces up to five years' probation, victim restitution and a maximum fine of $500,000, records show. AdVERTISEMENT [Communities Foundation of Texas]( 👋 That's all for this morning! 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  [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( [LinkedIn]( [Tumblr]( [Google]( [Reddit](  [OTHER NEWSLETTERS]( [SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS]( [Unsubscribe](  |  [Manage Preferences](  |  [Privacy Policy](  |  [Contact](  |  [Advertise]( You received this message because you signed up for this Dallas Morning News newsletter or it was forwarded to you. Copyright 2017 - [The Dallas Morning News]( | [508 Young St., Dallas, TX 75202](#)