Measuring the blue wave, Dallas crossing guards, Cowboys OTAs: Your Thursday morning roundup

May 24,  2018 By Carla Solórzano & Dom DiFurio Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day. 🌞 Weather: Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High of 93 degrees. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here](. Gubernatorial candidate and former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez makes her way to the podium at a Democratic party celebration at Ellen's in Dallas following her runoff win on Tuesday. (Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)  Election Is the blue wave really rising? Democrats see historically low voter turnout in runoff election Texas made history Tuesday night by nominating the first openly gay and the first Latina from a major party for governor. But the state also made history for a more dubious distinction — the [lowest voter turnout in a Democratic gubernatorial runoff](. In 1920 — the same year women gained the right to vote — Democratic runoff turnout was 449,000. In 2018, it was 432,000. Also: Does Valdez's presence on the ticket [hurt or help Beto O'Rourke](? Experts weigh in. And: San Antonio Rep. Will Hurd is taking heat from all sides as the lone Texas Republican [pushing to force a vote to protect young immigrants living in the country illegally](. Russell Roberson, 77, helps students and parents cross the stree in January at Lorenzo De Zavala Elementary School in Dallas. (David Woo/Staff Photographer) dallas schools Dallas will pay firm $15.5 million to provide school crossing guards Dallas City Hall will [turn over the school crossing guard program]( that it didn't want to a private security firm. The City Council on Wednesday approved a three-year, $15.5 million contract for All City Management Services Inc., which had the winning competitive bid to take over the crossing-guard program. Dallas County Schools, which is disbanding, had run the program in recent years. City Council members unanimously approved the deal after expressing concerns about intersections in their districts that they felt needed crossing guards. Meanwhile: [Oak Cliff community leaders distributed close to $20,000 in grants]( to five neighborhood schools across North Oak Cliff. And: A 14-year-old student in Frisco ISD faces a felony charge after police say [threats were made against Cobb Middle School](. A GoFundMe set up for funeral expenses gave Eric Hall's name as Nicole and described her as a "true gem" and a pioneer in the Texas black trans community. (GoFundMe) Crime Woman found dead in White Rock Creek remembered as pioneer in Texas' black transgender community A body found floating in White Rock Creek earlier this month has been identified as 39-year-old Eric Hall, police said Tuesday. The Dallas County medical examiner's office has not released an official cause or manner of death. [A GoFundMe set up for funeral expenses named the deceased as Nicole Hall and described her as a "true gem"]( and a pioneer in the Texas black trans community. "If you've met her, she made you smile with kind words or her humor," the fundraiser said. "She had a very generous heart, many of our trans sisters often had to retreat to Nicole and [her mother's] house to escape the harsh reality that we often faced at our homes." A vigil is being planned for Saturday evening at the park area near Merriman Parkway where Hall's body was found, the Dallas Voice reported. Also: Police are looking for two people in connection with a [shooting at a southeast Oak Cliff nightclub last week](. And: The public's help is needed in identifying [three men who robbed a Mesquite jewelry store while brandishing a handgun]( Monday afternoon. Advertisement (Louis DeLuca/Staff Photographer)  Photo of the Morning Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott participates in practice during OTAs Wednesay at the Star in Frisco. Who was absent was more notable than who was present Wednesday, as star guard Zack Martin, who is negotiating a new contract, skipped the voluntary practice. But SportsDay's David Moore is confident that [Martin's absence doesn't bode ill for the Cowboys.]( Around The Site - Tased and arrested: [The video of former SMU basketball player Sterling Brown's arrest has been released]( by the Milwaukee Police Department. - Three-day summit: [Texas Gov. Greg Abbott met with gun rights supporters and gun control activists to discuss violence]( after the Santa Fe school shooting. - Commentary: [Parking fees at Dallas Farmers Market are a small price to pay for resurrecting downtown](, writes Robert Wilonsky. - Get down in Cowtown: USA Today recently called Billy Bob's [one of its top 10 reasons Fort Worth is "visit-worthy."]( - Ring, ring: If illegal telemarketers are bugging you, [the Watchdog has a solution that will waste their time and frustrate them]( right back. - Texas Rangers: George W. Bush was in attendance at last night's game and [had some words of encouragement for the mascot version of himself](. - Grab-and-go: Sisters launch [a vegan meal-prep store in North Dallas](. (iStock) Finally... If every adult gave an hour a week to show up for a child who's hurting, maybe we could stop the violence By Peggy Wehmeyer I heard the news of the massacre at Santa Fe High school while I was driving the short distance from my home in Dallas [to the elementary school where I volunteer each week](. My big tote bag of candy, crafts and the day's lesson rested in the passenger seat beside me. Ten dead. An angry 17-year old. I wondered if he was once like any of the fourth graders whom I'd be working with that day. The school counselor assigned 10-year-old Alex to my group because he's been picking verbal fights in the classroom and refusing to follow directions. His mom moves him to a new school every year. Ryan lays his head on the desk in class and cries. He has almost no interpersonal skills. Little Brianna, with her long braids and wiry body, talks tough and gets angry at her classmates. I have just 10 weeks with each set of third and fourth graders selected for my groups. We talk about everything from peer pressure to self-esteem to bullying and emotions. This day, the lesson is on anger and how to manage it. In light of the morning in Santa Fe, it feels almost too relevant. [Read former WFAA and ABC News correspondent Peggy Wehmeyer's full essay here](. 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? Send your thoughts, questions, praise and corrections to [newsletter-feedback@dallasnews.com](mailto:newsletter-feedback@dallasnews.com?subject=). 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