Henderson Avenue makeover approved, Mexican-American studies course passes initial test: Your Thursday morning roundup

April 12,  2018 By Nicholas Friedman and Carla Solórzano Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day. 🌤️ Weather: Partly cloudy, windy, and warm with a high of 84 degrees. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here](. New drawings show a scaled down version of a development on Henderson Avenue approved Wednesday by the Dallas City Council.  (Rendering/Open Realty Advisors) City Hall Henderson Avenue makeover wins Dallas City Council approval The Dallas City Council on Wednesday unanimously [approved a rezoning plan that will reshape a stretch of Henderson Avenue.]( While the plan had strong support from neighbors, it also faced fierce opposition from some vocal East Dallas residents who believe the project is too big and will bring too much traffic to the area. But the developer, Mark Masinter, agreed to scale back portions of the project. The 4.5-acre development will be located along the north side of Henderson from Glencoe Street to McMillan Avenue Since the City Plan Commission approved it last June, the buildings have been scaled back both in height and size during negotiations with residents and city officials. "I'm incredibly relieved. We've worked so hard and long on this," Masinter said after the approval. Meanwhile: On the path to opening as many as 10 food and drink spots this year, Victory Park has offered a few more details about the ones coming soonest. [And the developers are starting with a sugar rush.]( And: A deal for a $15.9 million development on the desolate west side of Dallas Executive Airport [had a hard landing Wednesday during a City Council meeting.]( Also: A lawyer for AT&T sparred with the government's star witness in the U.S. lawsuit [to block AT&T's takeover of Time Warner Inc.]( Advertisement [Nick Swardson at the Majestic Theatre]( Demonstrators rally outside the Texas State Board of Education building before a preliminary vote to create a statewide Mexican-American studies course during a public hearing Wednesday in Austin (Ricardo Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman) Education State board approves a Mexican-American studies course, in all but name High school students in Texas will likely soon be able to take a state-approved Mexican-American studies course — [but it won't be called that](. The state's board of education gave preliminary approval Wednesday for the creation of the course, the culmination of a four-year fight by advocates and educators to add it as an elective. A final vote will happen Friday. The course's creation won't mandate its instruction to students across the state. Instead, it would be included as one of a raft of state-approved courses, the selection of which is left up to local districts and schools. At its earliest, the course will be available for students for the 2019-20 school year. The new standards will be presented at the next board meeting in June, followed by a period of public comment. Final approval of the revised standards won't occur until September, said Texas Education Agency's Debbie Ratcliffe. Meanwhile: An Austin lawyer who dropped the state of Texas’ investigation of Trump University in 2010 [may get a lifetime post as a federal judge.]( Editorial: Our editorial board says it's particularly troubling that [Dallas ISD lags behind 27 other urban districts]( in the Nation's Report Card. And: A Dallas teen was arrested after police said [he made a threat on social media against Frisco High School.]( People watch the 2017 Texas Freedom Parade from the Legacy of Love monument at Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn in September in Dallas. (2017 File Photo/Tom Fox)  courts Houston loses court battle for LGBT workers' spousal benefits, but war goes on Nearly three years after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, the city of Houston [continues to battle for the rights of its gay workers.]( On Tuesday, a judge struck down Houston's attempts to defend its city benefits policy in federal court. The case will be remanded to state court, and the city will have to pay the legal fees of the two men who sued to overturn the policy, which extends spousal benefits to partners in same-sex marriages. The outcome of the case will be limited to the city of Houston. A similar Dallas policy has not been challenged. But the fight is a good example of the war waged to erase, erode or at least stop the expansion of LGBT rights since since the 2015 marriage ruling, said Noel Freeman, the first city of Houston employee to receive spousal benefits for his husband. Earlier: For the first time in Texas, a federal judge said LGBT workers should be protected [from employment discrimination based on their gender identity and sexual orientation.]( Commentary: As Boehner boosts pot, here's [a look back at a night of bourbon and banter,]( from editorial writer Michael Lindenberger. Commentary: Want women to run for Congress? First [we need someone to watch our kids.]( Advertisement [Nick Swardson at the Majestic Theatre]( (Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer) Photo of the Morning People watch from the balcony as musician Sarah Jaffe performs during a pop-up performance entitled "Eyes as Bright as Diamonds" to kick off the Soluna International Music & Arts Festival on Wednesday at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas. The performance [brought together New York artist Jen Ray, musician Sarah Jaffe and several Dallas performers.]( Around The Site - In Denton: FBI investigators [found a pistol and stun gun in the car of a man accused of killing]( and dismembering a Texas Woman's University student in September 2016. - In Dallas: After her mother was fatally shot outside Dallas' Medieval Times, [a college student made a frantic call to 911.]( - In Fort Worth: An elementary teacher has been indicted [on a charge that he sexually abused a young relative for months.]( - Airlines: An aviation security officer fired after forcibly dragging a passenger from a plane last year [has filed a lawsuit against United Airlines and the city of Chicago.]( - Courts: On Wednesday, a federal judge in Dallas sentenced Rueda-Medina, [a high-ranking member of the feared La Familia drug cartel,]( to 43 years in prison. - Sports: Martellus Bennett dishes on the Dallas Cowboys quarterback [who rescued his NFL career and 'saved my life'.]( - Food: Chick-fil-A is [opening three more restaurants]( this month, and the first 100 people in line get a year's worth of free meals. - More food: The NFL Draft Experience at AT&T Stadium [will feature Ascension coffee, Roots Chicken Shak, Torchy's Tacos]( and more. (Reddit) Finally... After a lawn company shamed his yard, Richardson man's Reddit post went viral A local lawn service company is cutting its losses after [one of its signs went viral on Reddit](. The lawn sign came from Dr. Green Lawn Service, which has locations in Carrollton and Grand Prairie. It says "Your lawn was not treated today, your neighbor's was" and advertises the company's rates. The sign was placed in the lawn of Robert Stricker's home in Richardson, and he was none too happy about it. He told WFAA-TV (Channel 8) that his lawn isn't immaculate -- he's received letters from the city telling him as much -- but he felt like it wasn't the lawn company's job to tell him that. AdVERTISEMENT [Nick Swardson at the Majestic Theatre]( 👋 That's all for this morning! For up-to-the-minute news and analysis, check out [DallasNews.com](. 💖 Share the love! 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