Record number of Texans registered to vote, VP Pence in Dallas: Your Monday evening roundup

October 08,  2018 By Dom DiFurio and Tommy Cummings Good evening! Here is a look at the top headlines of the day. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here](. Julie Leuzinger (right), a political science librarian at the University of North Texas and vice president of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, helped students fill out voter registration cards in the lobby of UNT's Kerr Hall. (Denton Record-Chronicle) Texas Record number of Texans registered to vote before Oct. 9 deadline, but there's still time to apply In Texas as of Monday, [15,698,626 people are registered to vote in this year’s midterm elections — a new record](, according to the secretary of state’s office. But many people who sent in their applications to register aren’t seeing it reflected in the state’s “Am I Registered?” database. The state says not to worry — as long as you complete, sign and postmark your application by Tuesday, you will be registered to vote, said Sam Taylor, communications director for the secretary of state. You should receive your voter registration certificate in the mail within 30 days. Meanwhile: An anti-Ted Cruz group is poking fun at the senator's "Tough as Texas" slogan by pointing out how [he cozied up to Donald Trump despite the abuse the president heaped on him]( during the 2016 campaign. BUSINESS $1.5 billion Frisco Station ramping up with new construction Three years ago, the fields along Warren Parkway just east of the Dallas North Tollway were known for producing some of the finest hay in Frisco. This week real estate execs and city leaders were on the property to launch construction of the next phase of the $1.5 billion Frisco Station development. The 242-acre mixed-use project is [part of Frisco's so-called $5 billion mile and wraps around the Dallas Cowboys' new headquarters complex.]( Housing market pullback: North Texas home sales in September [dropped by the largest percentage in more than seven years.]( Mixed-use project in Richardson: A new [urban village is in the work at the entrance to Richardson's historic downtown district.]( POLITICS Beto O'Rourke needs to smack Ted Cruz in the mouth, figuratively From Gromer Jeffers Jr., political writer: [Beto O'Rourke needs to hit back. It's tougher than it sounds.]( His campaign against incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz has been defined by a positive message. He says Texans can come together to solve some of the nation's biggest challenges, like immigration policy, improving public education, criminal justice reform and affordable health care. Polls show he's within striking distance of pulling off the upset against Cruz in a statewide electorate that favors GOP candidates. [Cruz knows that if Texas conservatives stick with him, he'll win the election.]( So he's trying to show conservatives that O'Rourke is too liberal for Texas. In doing so Cruz sometimes exaggerates O'Rourke's positions. Politically charged issue: Domestic violence gun laws are [contentious in the race between Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, and Democrat Colin Allred.]( Editorial: Why did Brett Kavanaugh's [friendship become Facebook's intolerance problem?]( Editorial: Finally, thankfully, Congress finds something to agree on — [fighting the scourge of opioid abuse.]( (Michael Hogue / Staff illustrator) 2018 ELECTIONS 1 day left until the Oct. 9 deadline to participate in the Nov. 6 elections The stakes are high for Democrats and Republicans as Texans head to the polls this November to decide this year’s midterm elections. Do your part to have a say in what happens next in your town, your state and your nation. [Find more on the process, what's up for you to consider and if you're eligible with our primer on voting in the midterm elections.]( (Ashley Landis/Dallas Morning) Photo of the Day Vice President Mike Pence on Monday told a largely Republican crowd that if U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions was not re-elected, it [would result in Democrat Nancy Pelosi returning as speaker of the House](. "They keep talking about that blue wave out there. The other side is absolutely determined to win back the majority," Pence said during a rally for Sessions at the Hilton hotel in North Dallas. "The road, they know, for their majority comes right through Pete's district, so while they talk about a blue wave, we need to make sure a red wave starts here." editors' picks - New rebooking policy: American Airlines' new rebooking [policy could mean longer waits for stranded passengers.]( - Keep an eye on the sky: [Storms are expected in Dallas-Fort Worth on Tuesday]( — and some could be severe. - STAAR test: Dallas ISD's investment in early childhood education is [paying off with test gains that outpace many others in the state.]( - Growth begets growth: Amazon's HQ2 finalist sites are [places with the resources and infrastructures that project growth.]( - From the archives: Southern Methodist University's namesake [mustang was also known for its 'kick.']( - Arrest affidavit: A 19-year-old was arrested Sunday night in the [death of a girl who was shot in the head at a Far North Dallas party.]( - Costly post: [Laredo police find nearly $25,000 in stolen tequila]( after alleged thief advertises on social media. Finally... Are electric scooters here to stay? Razor thinks so, and so does Dallas City Hall By Robert Wilonsky Razor has told City Hall it will bring its scooters to Dallas — about 1,000 of them. I used to groan at such announcements when they came from purveyors of cheap rental bikes looking to clutter the city's sidewalks and crowd each other out of the market. But for the moment, [I welcome our new two-wheeled overlords](. City Hall does, too. On Monday, the City Council's Mobility Solutions, Infrastructure and Sustainability Committee got early look-see at how those motorized scooters are doing — early, because we're not quite four months into a six-month trial period that expires two days after Christmas. If the council chooses to do nothing, scooters go bye-bye over the holidays. But Michael Rogers, the city's newish transportation director, suggested the council approve an extension that stretches into June 2019 —and the committee wholeheartedly endorsed his proposal. I didn't hear even a whisper of dissent. The council used to talk forever about the bikes. Scooters took up 15, maybe 20 minutes Monday — and most of that was Pleasant Grove's Rickey Callahan talking about riding electric scooters with buddies down in Austin. [Read more about the future of electric scooters in Dallas]( [Subscribe to our Real Estate newsletter]( 👋 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]( [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](#)