Dallas County's opioid lawsuit, North Texas MLK parade permit denied: Your Friday morning roundup

Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day. [Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day.] January 12,  2018 By Tara Bryant Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day. 🌞 Weather: [Sunny and cold](. High: 47 degrees. Wind: N 10 mph. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here](. [OxyContin pills are among the opioid drugs that a growing number of Americans are becoming addicted to, authorities say. (Toby Talbot/The Associated Press)]( OxyContin pills are among the opioid drugs that a growing number of Americans are becoming addicted to, authorities say. (Toby Talbot/The Associated Press) Courts Dallas County sues big drug companies over opioid epidemic [Dallas County sued a slew of drug companies and doctors this week]( over their alleged roles in the deadly opioid epidemic, joining dozens of other governments nationwide that have launched court battles. The 59-page claim filed Monday in Dallas County court accuses at least 11 pharmaceutical companies — including Purdue Pharma, which makes the bestselling painkiller OxyContin — and three local doctors of knowingly pushing addictive drugs on patients while claiming they were safe. The three doctors have all been convicted of illegal "pill mill" over-prescription practices. Every day, 91 Americans die on average from opioid overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Dallas County, at least 1,928 people have died of opioids or heroin overdoses since 2011, according to a Dallas Morning News review of autopsy records. Opioids include the codeine in some cough syrups, heroin and prescription drugs such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. Texas politics: Unlike 10 other states, [Texas hasn’t applied for Medicaid work requirements]( under Trump's new policy. Public health: In North Texas, Dallas, Tarrant and Denton counties have seen flu deaths. Here are [the most up-to-date flu death totals](. SPECIAL OFFER [special offer unlimited digital access]( The North Texas Martin Luther King Day Parade, which named Texas Gov. Greg Abbott an honorary grand marshal, has been denied a permit for Monday's event. (Rose Baca/Staff Photographer) Arlington MLK parade that drew backlash for Gov. Abbott's role as honorary marshal denied permit in Arlington The city of [Arlington has denied a permit to organizers of a controversial Martin Luther King Jr. parade]( after they reportedly failed to pay the full $34,000 needed for security and other logistics. Organizers of the Toyota North Texas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade had named Gov. Greg Abbott an honorary grand marshal for Monday's event, drawing anger and criticism from civic leaders, including the local branch of the NAACP. City spokesman Jay Warren said that controversy had nothing to do with the city's decision, which was announced Thursday night. The deadline to turn in the permit fees was 45 days prior to the event. The city extended the deadline for the organizers multiple times and tried to be accommodating, Warren said. Parade organizer Winsor Barbee didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment, but she told KTVT-TV (Channel 11) that she hopes to appeal the city's decision. Texas politics: Gov. Greg Abbott has [a staggering $43.3 million to spend on his re-election campaign](, a major hurdle for any of the nine Democrats trying to replace him. Meanwhile: The Democrat hoping to oust Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has [announced he has nearly 1 million dollars to bankroll his run]( against the Republican incumbent. Texas: Former Texas first lady [Rita Crocker Clements was remembered]( in a simple Dallas ceremony Thursday. President Donald Trump also attended a prison reform roundtable discussion Thursday inside the Roosevelt Room at the White House. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times) Washington Trump’s vulgar immigration remarks reportedly alarm lawmakers [President Donald Trump questioned Thursday why the U.S. should permit more immigrants]( from "shithole countries" after senators discussed revamping rules affecting entrants from Africa and Haiti, according to three people briefed on the conversation. Trump made the remark in the Oval Office as two lawmakers described details to him of a bipartisan compromise among six senators that would extend protections against deportation for hundreds of thousands of young immigrants and strengthen border protections. Asked about the remarks, White House spokesman Raj Shah did not deny them. Politics: The San Antonio police chief [is being investigated under Texas' sanctuary cities ban](, the attorney general's office says. Perspective: [Trump could destroy the dreams of 200,000 Salvadorans](, writes contributor Jose Martinez. Advertisement (Rose Baca/Staff Photographer) Photo of the Morning Bee Behrman walks her dog Saucie, dressed in a sweater vest, in Main Street Garden Park in Dallas late Thursday. Temperatures dropped into the 30s as a front moved into the DFW area. The snow flurries may not have lasted long in Dallas-Fort Worth, [but the cold weather will](. Around The Site - Courts: Zoe Hastings' parents [used a phone finder app to trace the Dallas teen to the creek where she was killed](, her mom testified Thursday at Antonio Cochran's capital murder trial. - Dallas Cowboys: Staff writer Jon Machota ranks [the five positions the Cowboys need to address most]( in the NFL draft and free agency. - Commentary: [Dallas is really good at spending millions of our dollars on land it renders useless](, writes city columnist Robert Wilonsky. - Sports business: [Dallas billionaire Thomas Dundon is the new owner of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes]( after the league Thursday approved a  pact that gives him a 61 percent share for "north of $500 million." - Celebrities: Kelly Clarkson is reportedly ["not above spanking" her children](, and people have feelings. Finally... Cidercade and Peticolas brewery taproom to reopen after being shut down by Dallas fire marshal Joel Malone, co-owner of the Cidercade, [confirmed the bar and arcade will reopen Friday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m.]( The business will also be adding a sprinkler system and fire alarm in the coming months to ensure the safety of its patrons, he added. Along with the Cidercade, Peticolas Brewing Co., which reopened Thursday, and Noble Rey Brewing Co., which is still closed, were forced to cease taproom operations by the fire marshal in a recent sweep and have been working with the city to individually to resolve the issues that led to closure. AdVERTISEMENT 👋 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? 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