Storms are in, Dez is out, Hitch is out: Your Friday evening roundup

April 13,  2018 By Holly Rusak Good evening! Here is a look at the top headlines of the day. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here](. Weather Storms bring golf ball-sized hail to parts of D-FW as tornado watch continues A tornado watch has been put in place for much of North Texas, including Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin and Rockwall counties. The watch will remain in place until 10 p.m., according to KXAS-TV (NBC5). [A severe thunderstorm warning is also in place for Tarrant County, Denton County, Collin County and Wise County until 4:30 p.m.]( Some areas under the severe thunderstorm warning are experiencing golf ball-sized hail, according to KXAS-TV. The Fort Worth Office of Emergency Management tweeted that five sirens have been activated in the Burleson area to warn of large hail. In this 2015 file photo, Dez Bryant walks disconsolately up the players' tunnel after Green Bay's 26-21 win at Lambeau Field. (Louis DeLuca/Staff Photographer) dallas cowboys 'This wasn't my decision': Cowboys release Dez Bryant after eight seasons Dez Bryant's time with the Cowboys has come to an end. [The team announced Friday that it released Bryant after he met with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at the Star in Frisco](. The decision ends an eight-year association, one in which the receiver's career burned bright early but tailed off dramatically the last three seasons. After the decision, Bryant tweeted to Cowboys fans that "I need you to know this wasn't my decision. I will always have love for y'all." Bryant was on the books for $16.5 million this season with a base salary of $12.5 million. More dez coverage - [The highs and lows of Dez Bryant's career with the Cowboys.]( - [National reaction to Dez Bryant's release.]( - [Would Dez take a cheaper deal with a rival to exact revenge?]( - [How Cowboys can replace the 'X' receiver in the NFL draft.]( - [The craziest off-the-field moments in Dez's Cowboys career.]( - [What does the Cowboys' receiving corps look like now?]( Advertisement [Get tickets now for Savor Dallas]( Dallas Stars head coach Ken Hitchcock speaks during a press conference following the conclusion of the 2017-18 regular season.(Andy Jacobsohn/Staff Photographer) dallas stars Ken Hitchcock steps down, will stay with team he led to 1999 Stanley Cup Ken Hitchcock announced his retirement from coaching Friday and is expected to accept a job as advisor with the Stars, according to a source close to the situation. Hitchcock, 66, finishes third in all-time NHL coaching wins with 823 and fourth all-time in NHL games coached with 1,536. He also is the Stars' franchise leader in games coached (585), wins (319), playoff games coached (80) and playoff wins (47). Hitchcock started his NHL head coaching career with the Stars and coached the team from 1995 to 2002. He won five division championships, two Presidents' Trophies, two Western Conference championships and the 1999 Stanley Cup with Dallas. He returned this season and coached the team to a 42-32-8 record, finishing 10th in the Western Conference. What about Jim? With Ken Hitchcock gone, another question lingers: [Why is Stars GM Jim Nill still safe?]( 'A true treasure in the game of hockey': [Read national reaction to Ken Hitchcock's retirement](. Who's next? [Three names to watch to replace head coach Ken Hitchcock](, including Alain Vigneault. Dallas attorney J.J. Koch running for the Republican nomination for Dallas County commissioner in District 2 answers questions atan editorial board meeting at The Dallas Morning News on Feb. 9. (Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer) local politics Dallas politician says 'illegal immigrants' to blame for city's middle class problem J.J. Koch, who has a high chance of becoming the next sole Republican on the Dallas County commissioners court, [says that blame for the city's declining middle class falls in large part on one group: unauthorized immigrants](. They make up roughly 7 percent of the county, according to the Pew Research Center, but Koch believes they have put an outsize burden on public schools, social services and the economy. "This shrinking of the middle class won't stop until we end the flow of illegal immigrants into our County," Koch said Thursday in a campaign email to his supporters. "That time-tested formula for achieving the American dream will end in Dallas County if we don't take immediate action to change course and enforce our laws." Koch, a Dallas attorney, led the Republican primary for northern Dallas County's District 2, which has long leaned Republican. He faces former State District Judge Vickers "Vic" Cunningham in the runoff election on May 22. As county commissioner, Koch would not have much power over immigration, besides oversight of the county jail which already hands over unauthorized immigrants to the federal government. 'A slap in the face': The five Democrats on the State Board of Education attempted but [failed to change the controversial name of a Mexican-American studies course](. At City Hall: A political push is on to [give Dallas voters the chance to mandate that private employers provide sick leave]( to every employee they hire. Commentary: [There's n]([othing funny about carpetbaggers trying to run Dallas Comedy House out of Deep Ellum](, writes City Columnist Robert Wilonsky. Advertisement [Get tickets now for Savor Dallas]( (DMN File) Photo of the Day Back in 1995, [John Prather of Sentry Electric balances on the Reunion ball while changing the light bulbs](. This weekend, offer a hearty "happy birthday" to The Ball, which turns 40 years old on Sunday. Reunion Tower will light it up with lights-out parties through Sunday. Around The Site - Ready to wine and dine: [Sixty Vines' new Dallas restaurant]( is opening soon. - Who do we think we are? Two new books [explore the myths and realities of Texas](. - Lawsuit: A former waitress has filed a [sexual harassment suit against Main Event Entertainment](. - Editorial: Backpage is gone, but [sex trafficking needs to remain on the front burner for Texas](. - Commentary: [Were lawmakers drunk when they wrote Texas alcohol laws?]( - From the archives: Tom Landry, black cats and [other coverage from Friday the 13th in Dallas](. Finally... 4 new restaurants and one fast-food joint always worth the wait We eat with our eyes first. Of course we do. But this smattering of new restaurants in Dallas, Irving and Addison is exceptionally stylish. They're the kinds of restaurants that are easy to like from the pictures — though you'll have to visit yourself to decide whether you'll go back. [After you browse the four notable, new restaurants, you'll find information on four new or coming-soon Chick-fil-A fast-food joints](. The company has consistently been named one of America's best fast-food chains. Maybe it's the chicken biscuits. Or is it the lemonade? Perhaps it's the lick-your-fingers barbecue sauce. We're not going to argue. In a world where you should visit Dallas' newest protein-bowl shop and Neapolitan pizza place, you probably also want to know where the newest Chick-fil-A has cropped up. Advertisement [Get tickets now for Savor Dallas]( 👋 That's all for this evening! For up-to-the-minute news and analysis, check out [DallasNews.com](. 💖 Share the love! If you like this newsletter, please [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=Evening%20Roundup%20Feedback).[Dennis Jansen](mailto:djansen@dallasnews.com?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) 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 2018 - [The Dallas Morning News]( | [1954 Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75201](#)