Election day arrives, Texas DPS defends trooper, primate gets loose: Your Tuesday morning roundup

May 22,  2018 By Carla Solórzano and Nicholas Friedman Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day. 🌤️ Weather: Partly cloudy and warm with a 20% chance of an isolated shower. High of 88 degrees. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here](. (DMN File) elections Who's on the ballot and what you need to know to vote in today's runoff election Well, that was quick. Early voting has ended, and Election Day is here. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. If you get in line by 7 p.m., stay in line — you're still able to vote. North Texans can vote in 12 runoff races, including four U.S. congressional races out of 17 statewide and two state representative contests. [Here are the answers to questions you might have]( about races in your area, what you need to bring to the polls and where you can vote. Runoff rundown: Meet the candidates [in today's election.]( Get informed: We've got this sweet voter's guide for you as well. [Read it in line at the polls!]( Attention Democrats: Here's who we recommend [in the Democratic primary runoffs.]( Attention Republicans: Here's who we recommend [in the Republican primary runoffs.]( This photo taken Thursday, May 11, 2017, shows an IHOP sign at a restaurant in Hialeah, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) LGBT Transgender activists say they were gawked at, denied service at Nashville IHOP A group of transgender activists says [they were laughed at and denied service at an IHOP in downtown Nashville on Monday.]( The activists, in town for a meeting of Southern LGBTQ advocacy leaders, said a waitress initially refused to help them because they brought along a service dog. Then, after explaining the situation with the dog and asking for another server, the group said the restaurant's employees continued to seat and serve other patrons "while leering and staring — but never coming to help our table." "As we waited there longer and longer without anyone taking our order, it became clear they were more interested in whispering and gawking [at] our group than coming to take our orders," Emmett Schelling, executive director of the Transgender Education Network of Texas, told The Dallas Morning News. "Using the service animal initially was a thinly veiled cover-up to discriminate against our group." Meanwhile: President Donald Trump digs in on 'animals.' Aides insist [he meant only MS-13, but others hear anti-immigrant hate speech.]( Commentary: Sen. John Cornyn's bill to shrink the prison population [will reduce crime and costs.]( Commentary: America has [an ugly history of separating families.]( File Photo/The Associated Press Crime DPS says video proves trooper didn’t sexually assault woman, despite viral online claims The [Texas Department of Public Safety says it has video footage that disproves a woman’s allegations]( that she was sexually assaulted by an officer in Ellis County early Sunday morning. The dash-cam video has not been released publicly. DPS said Monday it is working to release the video to the public "as soon as possible." Lee Merritt, a Dallas attorney representing the woman, said in a statement Monday that his client was pulled over around 1:30 a.m. Sunday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. The DPS trooper who pulled over the woman offered to let her go in exchange for sexual favors, according to the statement. Merritt said when his client declined, the officer sexually assaulted her. An afternoon news conference with Merritt and attorney Daryl K. Washington was abruptly canceled. Merritt said DPS was preparing to release the video footage at that time, and [he wouldn’t be able to address questions about the situation until after video had been released.]( Dallas: [Police are searching for two people suspected in a hate-crime assault]( early Sunday in Oak Lawn. Edinburg: A 16-year-old boy was found unresponsive in the Evins Regional Juvenile Center. [The death is being investigated as a potential suicide](. Advertisement (Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer) Photo of the Morning U.S. Army Cpl. Chad Pfeifer, and Sgt. Andrew Smith talk before teeing off at the [Warrior Open at the Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas on Monday](. Around The Site - Deep Ellum: Ian Brooks, a well-known bartender in Deep Ellum, [died over the weekend after being ejected and killed]( while driving his motorcycle. - Fannin County: Neighbors of a planned lake that would help quench North Texans' water needs [are suing the federal government to block the project](. - Big bucks: [The Dallas-Fort Worth region is home to 22 companies]( on this year's Fortune 500 list - Airlines: The price of jet fuel is surging, [but so far the airline industry hasn't passed on much of the cost to consumers](. - Travel tips: How to not get [taken for a ride this summer at the theme park.]( - Safer online transactions: People buying or selling items from strangers can now use a [designated safety exchange zone at a police substation](. - Dallas ISD: Around 5,000 middle and high school students from around the district attended a "[first-of-its-kind active shooter prevention and situation awareness training](." File Photo/The Associated Press Finally... Primate on its way to Texas sanctuary gets loose at San Antonio airport A primate escaped its crate Monday afternoon at the[San Antonio International Airport, setting off an attempt to recapture the animal.]( Dawkins, a 10-year-old rhesus macaque, was on his way to the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in Cotulla, about 83 miles outside San Antonio, when he got out, Born Free CEO and general counsel Prashant Khetan said. The macaque was traveling from Boston by way of Chicago O'Hare on American Airlines. "American Airlines, the San Antonio Aviation Department and officials from the San Antonio Zoo all worked in conjunction to ensure his safety and well-being as he continues his journey to his new home," the airline said in a written statement. AdVERTISEMENT 👋 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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