December 26, Ă‚ 2017
By Wayne Carter
Good evening!
Here is a look at the top headlines of the day.
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Dallas city hall
A Dallas developer's major Henderson Avenue makeover is in limbo — here's why
Two weeks before Christmas, Dallas developer Mark Masinter thought his years-long dream of a mixed-use makeover for North Henderson Avenue Ă‚ was coming to a swift end at the hands of Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano and some fierce East Dallas critics.
"I was getting the sense that unfortunately, it was going the wrong direction," Masinter said. "And I'm often accused of being too positive of a thinker."
Masinter's proposal, which requires approval for a significant zoning change, won a reprieve after Medrano and neighboring council member Philip Kingston moved to leave the project in limbo for another three months.
Now, they'll try to find a solution — one that tones down Masinter's ambitions — [in what has become a contentious and complicated zoning case](.
Education: Dallas ISD [will play a role in developing local alternatives]( to the state's A-F accountability system
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Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, arrives for a meeting of House Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Susan Walsh/The Associated Press)
washington
Farenthold's foibles aren't new to Congress, but the consequences are suddenly more severe
Corpus Christi Rep. Blake Farenthold is one of numerous politicians, media moguls and business executives [whose fortunes have been upended in recent months]( amid a national gut-check over sexual misconduct.
Recent complaints against high-powered men run the gamut from rape, sexual assault and groping to harassment and lewd, inappropriate remarks. Some of the perpetrators resigned immediately or were terminated. Others have dug in. Some, including Farenthold, found a middle ground, keeping their jobs for another year.
The consequences haven’t always followed a predictable pattern, reflecting an evolving definition for what’s out of bounds, or at least politically survivable.
Tax penalty? Big-money boosters losing a tax deduction for ticket rights [could hit big-time college sports in the wallet.](
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on his weekly radio show that head coach Jason Garrett's job is not in jeopardy after the Cowboys were knocked out of playoff contention in Sunday's 21-12 home loss to Seattle. (File 2017/Ashley Landis)
sports
Coaching change 'not in the best interest of the Cowboys right now,' says Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones voiced his frustration Tuesday morning. The Cowboys owner and general manager envisioned the return of Ezekiel Elliott leading to a victory over the Seattle Seahawks, possibly followed by some momentum and good fortune that could turn into a playoff run.
"It was there to take," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM]. "We should be disappointed. I'm sick. I'm really sick about it."
Jones praised the talent on the roster, making it seem that he was putting the blame for the 21-12 loss on Jason Garrett and the coaching staff. [But he later clarified that he was not.](
"I know a lot about our coaching staff," Jones said. "I certainly know a lot about Jason Garrett. Because of that, I can very quickly and candidly say his job is not an issue here at all."
Decoding Linehan: Bob Sturm breaks down what’s wrong with the Cowboys offense [beyond Dak and Dez](.
'Something unraveled': An American League scout says [the Rangers changed noticeably last season.](
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(Louis DeLuca/Staff Photographer)
Photo of the Day
A client performs an exercise in the studio of Dallas fitness trainer John Benton, who has been dubbed the “hips whisperer” for [his ability to tailor workouts to meet the exacting standards of the modeling industry.](
Through diet and exercise, Benton helps health-conscious women shrink sometimes two, sometimes five inches from the most stubborn area of their bodies.
Benton remembers his first breakthrough client: Rachel Thomas, an emerging Kim Dawson Agency model who had enormous potential but wasn’t booking many jobs — yet.
“Her hip measurement was a little off,” Benton says.
Around The Site
- Blanket accusation: Some first-class passengers' warm gesture [got two basketball players booted from an American Airlines flight]( on Christmas Eve.
- Denton blaze: A four-alarm fire early Tuesday [engulfed the Downtown Mini Mall and other businesses on the square.](
- Gift exchange: What you need to know [if you can't wait to return that present you just opened.](
- Needle point: Christmas is over -- [now what to do with that tree?](
Finally...
Since Harvey devastated Houston, [local comedians have used humor to capture the surreal experience]( of the storm and its aftermath.
On a recent Wednesday night, Grady Pruitt, 22, took the stage in a little club called The Secret Group, where women in all black and men in plaid shirts drink Lone Stars and seek laughs. After Hurricane Harvey, he said, he wanted to donate.
He didn't want to give to a big charity " 'cause like, you give to them, only like, 10 percent actually goes to the relief," Pruitt said. "So what I decided to do is, I gave $200 to the city of Houston directly — by getting my car towed."
"And yeah," he said. "That feels good. Feels good to give."
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