Dallas voters back LGBT candidates, Jeff Sessions steps down, Motel 6 pays up: Your Wednesday evening roundup

November 07,  2018 By Wayne Carter Good evening! Here is a look at the top headlines of the day. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here](. Julie Johnson (left) and Jessica González were elected to the state Legislature Tuesday night. Both women, who are openly gay, will represent parts of Dallas in the Texas House. (Photos from candidates' Facebook pages) elections 2018 Thanks to Dallas voters, the number of LGBT lawmakers in Texas just doubled The number of openly LGBTQ lawmakers in Texas just doubled. On Tuesday, Jessica González and Julie Johnson, who are lesbians, were elected to represent the Dallas area, and Erin Zwiener, who is bisexual, was chosen to represent central Texas. González and Johnson will be the first openly gay lawmakers to represent Dallas-Fort Worth. All three ran as Democrats. When the women are sworn in in January, they'll join Reps. Celia Israel of Austin, a lesbian, and Mary González of El Paso, who identifies as pansexual, as well as more than 120 other lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer politicians who were elected nationwide this year. [Gay rights advocates hope the wins are a signal that Texas is changing.]( Not over yet: As incumbent U.S. Rep. Will Hurd claims victory in Texas 23, [Gina Ortiz Jones is still fighting]( in a race that could drag on through November. Editorial: No, [Texas isn’t turning purple](, and here’s why. WAshington Jeff Sessions' often-turbulent run as attorney general ends at Trump's request Attorney General Jeff Sessions [has turned in his resignation, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday](, and will be replaced by Matthew Whitaker on an acting basis. The Washington Post reported that Trump requested his resignation. Trump tweeted the news at 1:44 p.m. Rumors had indicated that Sessions might resign or be fired after the midterm elections. He had often been the subject of Trump's anger after recusing himself from the federal investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. Environment: Global efforts to protect the ozone [could be working](, a new report says. Editorial: America's divisions won't heal with words alone, [but with better government.]( Business Motel 6 to pay $8.9M settlement for funneling guests' names to ICE Motel 6 has agreed to pay nearly $9 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by a Latino civil rights organization [after some locations within the motel chain shared guest information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.]( Under the proposal, which still must be approved by the court, the company will compensate Motel 6 guests whose names were submitted to ICE, including some who were questioned by ICE or placed in deportation proceedings. At least one plaintiff was deported, according to an attorney in the case. Terminal traffic: DFW International Airport is getting [a new Panda Express restaurant and more duty-free stores.]( Airline safety: [Boeing is warning airlines about false sensor readings]( after a 737 Max crash in Indonesia. (Carly Geraci/Staff Photographer) Photo of the Day Clockwise from left: Besan barfi, a chickpea fudge; mathri spice Indian crackers; and Khajur Katli, a date nut roll are dishes associated with the Hindu holiday of Diwali, which is celebrated over five days during the fall season. Every family has traditional recipes for special sweet and savory treats that are exchanged among friends and family, [and we have recipes for the three dishes pictured here to share with you.]( editors' picks - Fatal crash: [A Kimball High student died]( and four of her schoolmates were injured in a rollover crash in west Oak Cliff. - No, Bueno: Fast-food Mexican chain Taco Bueno [has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.]( - Crossing crash: Four passengers were injured aboard a TRE train [that was hit by an 18-wheeler]( near the Richland Hills station in Tarrant County. - Commentary: After the racist video, [we black residents of Southlake want to help make things better](, writes Ronell Smith. - Child sex abuse: A Texas woman [raped an autistic boy while his grandparents watched](, police say. - Dining options: There are [10 new restaurants at one corner]( of Walnut Hill Lane and U.S. Highway 75 in Dallas. - Animal cruelty: Authorities [seized 110 animals from a Texas home]( in a case that started with a child endangerment investigation. - X factor: Dez Bryant, the Cowboys' all-time leader in receiving TDs, [has signed with the New Orleans Saints](, who visit AT&T Stadium this month. Finally... Colin Allred for president — of Hillcrest High School's senior class Editor's note: It turns out that Colin Allred's successful run in U.S. House District 32 wasn't his first victorious campaign covered by The Dallas Morning News. Here's [a flashback to Allred's earliest political days](, courtesy of reporter David Tarrant and our intrepid archives department. Jutting over the curb, the Toyota Landcruiser looks like an amphibious tank storming a beachhead. The silver sport utility vehicle lumbers onto the sidewalk in front of Hillcrest High School for a campaign whistle-stop. Posters plastered all over the hood show two students running for president and vice president of next year's senior class. Perched precariously atop the vehicle is Alan Ricks, the vice-presidential candidate. He's wearing a red-and-black Cat in the Hat hat and uses a karaoke sound system to greet sleepy-eyed students hurrying to their first-period class. [He's joined by Colin Allred, a popular football and baseball star who's seeking re-election as president.]( Colin hands out Dum-Dums suckers with slips of paper attached that read: "Don't Be Dumb. Vote Allred and Ricks." [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](#)