Texas judge releases defendants after losing re-election, report claims Six Flags could buy SeaWorld: Your Thursday morning roundup

November 08,  2018 By Carla Solórzano and Dom DiFurio Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day. 🌧️ Weather:  Cloudy and chilly with a 50% chance of showers. High of 54. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here](. Juvenile offenders sit in chairs during a group session. (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News) elections Texas juvenile judge frees defendants a day after losing re-election to Democrat A Texas judge ousted in Tuesday's midterm elections spent Wednesday morning [releasing nearly all of the juvenile offenders who came before him](. Harris County Juvenile Court Judge Glenn Devlin lost his re-election bid to Natalia Oakes as Democrats swept the county's juvenile judicial offices. "He was releasing everybody," public defender Steven Halpert told The Houston Chronicle. "Apparently he was saying that's what the voters wanted." Also: Democrats flipped two Texas Senate seats on Tuesday in victories [that may change the chamber's tone and even shift its policy priorities](. And: From high school class president to Congress: [Here's 7 questions for U.S. Rep.-elect Colin Allred](. Commentary: Why progressives [keep losing elections.]( business Six Flags could be readying bid to buy amusement park rival SeaWorld SeaWorld is staying mum on a report that [Grand Prairie-based Six Flags is looking to buy it](. Blogger Themed Reality has reported Six Flags Entertainment is in talks to buy all or some of SeaWorld Entertainment's parks — a portfolio that includes the marquee SeaWorld Orlando, the Aquatica Orlando water park and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. SeaWorld also has a park in San Antonio, where Six Flags Fiesta operates. The report emerges after SeaWorld posted strong financials for the third quarter in a row Monday. A Six Flags spokeswoman did not return messages for comment Tuesday. Also: A Tarrant County judge issued a temporary injunction [blocking Grapevine from enforcing restrictions on Airbnb-style short-term rentals](. And: Here's one more measure of how North Texas' red-hot jobs market is saving us: [The Dallas area has relatively few zombies](. News Colder temperatures, rain headed to Dallas-Fort Worth on Thursday North Texas got a taste of cooler air Wednesday and [even colder temperatures are on the way along with some rain](. Rick Mitchell, KXAS-TV (NBC5) meteorologist, said widespread light rain is possible for Dallas-Fort Worth on Thursday. D-FW could pick up about a quarter to half an inch of rain, he said. Showers will begin Thursday morning and increase by late afternoon, but there could be some dry periods during the day. Meanwhile: A Lufkin middle school principal [has resigned during an investigation into an offensive Facebook comment]( he was accused of posting about immigrants. And: Dallas City Hall [is ready to be a target again in the Texas Legislature]( — even as leaders look for a 'new center' after the election. EDITORS' PICKS - Guinness: The McKinney Fire Department [will attempt to set a Guinness World Record in CPR training sign-ups](. - Here we go: A ['Mario Kart'-inspired go-kart race]( is coming to Dallas. - Education: An East Texas principal has resigned during an investigation [into an offensive Facebook comment he was accused of posting](. - Sports: Cowboys defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford and cornerback Byron Jones [took part in a ride-along with Grand Prairie police](. - Have you seen this man? Dallas police are asking for the public's help identifying a man [who robbed a bank in Buckner Terrace on Monday](. - Crime: A second Texas police officer [was arrested Tuesday in connection with a double homicide]( in New York last month. Vikki Martin, executive director and founder of the Ferguson Road Initiative, poses for a photograph at White Rock Hills Branch Library in Dallas. Ferguson Road Initiative is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. (Carly Geraci/Staff Photographer) Finally... Meet the dynamo who has been fighting for ‘Forgotten Far East Dallas’ for more than 20 years [More than two decades after Vikki Martin began fighting for the Ferguson Road corridor](, just north of Interstate 30, the most fitting name for her part of town too often remains “Forgotten Far East Dallas.” The Ferguson Road Initiative, Martin’s nonprofit, still has a long to-do list as it celebrates its 20th anniversary this weekend. But Martin and her crew have accomplished a lot of what other neighborhoods are still just talking about. Martin’s grass-roots organization represents 37 neighborhoods that are home to about 93,000 people in an area bounded by Garland Road, Interstate 635, the Mesquite city limits and Interstate 30. It is perhaps the best example in Dallas of a community coming together, taking ownership and improving quality of life. And FRI, as its known, exists and has succeeded because Martin dug in and refused to ever let go. 👋 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=). 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. 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