Obamacare overhaul, wasn't Whitehead, police vs. 'bathroom bill': Your Tuesday evening news roundup

Good evening. Here are some stories you may have missed today. [Good evening. Here are some stories you may have missed today.] July 25,  2017 By Holly Rusak Good evening! Here is a look at the top headlines of the day. 🔎 Prefer the online view? [It's here.]( Vice President Mike Pence, center, and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 25, 2017, for the health care legislation vote. (Andrew Harnik/AP) politics Vice President Pence breaks tie vote to allow Senate to debate overhauling Obamacare After months of raucous negotiations and embarrassing setbacks, [GOP leaders narrowly cleared a critical procedural hurdle on Tuesday in their embattled quest to dismantle the Affordable Care Act](. Fifty Republican senators voted to begin debate on a health care replacement measure, with just two defections. Vice President Mike Pence broke the tie, setting in motion what will be hours of debate over health care legislation that will include a flurry of amendments as conservative and moderate Republicans seek to shape the bill in their favor. Democrats, meanwhile, will pitch a last ditch — but likely unsuccessful — effort to salvage President Barack Obama’s landmark health care law. The final bill — what it will look like and how it will affect health care for millions of Americans for years to come — is unknown. Dueling jabs: A hot mic snagged a [Maine senator's hot takes on the "huge" Texas lawmaker]( who suggested dueling her and other female senator’s over the health care bill. Down payment: The U.S. House is poised to set aside [$1.6 billion to start construction of the border wall promised by President Donald Trump]( — a costly yet modest deposit on a massive project that would cost far more if ever finished. Advertisement Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Lucky Whitehead (13) carries the ball after making a catch during afternoon practice at training camp in Oxnard, Calif., on Aug. 16, 2016.  (Tom Fox/Staff Photographer) cowboys Ex-Cowboy Lucky Whitehead was not cited for shoplifting in June, charges to be dropped [Lucky Whitehead will be cleared of charges of petit larceny]( in June in his native Virginia. The Dallas Cowboys cut him from the team on Monday within hours of new emerging of the charges. Police in Virginia confirmed Tuesday that Whitehead was, in fact, not the man who they cited for shoplifting at a convenience story June 22. Police say the man they did cite did not have ID but that he provided name, birthday and social security number of Whitehead. Whitehead's agent, David Rich, claimed it was a case of mistaken identity. But head coach Jason Garrett said Monday that the team made a necessary act. "The Cowboys were looking for an example, and it backfired on them," Rich said Tuesday. Wish list: Three-quarters of players surveyed at Big 12 media days said [they would like to see the conference grow](. Their top hope for a membership bid: the Houston Cougars. 'This is Dak's team': Dallas Cowboys’ star receiver, [Dez Bryant, is sick and tired of the Tony Romo questions](. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, from left, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley, Dallas Police Major Rueben Ramirez and San Antonio Police Chief William McManus take part in public safety event where they spoke against a proposed "bathroom bill," on Tuesday in Austin. (Eric Gay/AP) texas legislature Police rally against 'bathroom bill' as Texas Senate debates divisive legislation As Texas senators huddled inside a chilly chamber to debate the so-called bathroom bill, [police from across the state met under the hot midday sun to rally against the divisive legislation](. Senate Bill 3 would require public school students to use multi-use restrooms that match the sex on their birth certificate. But one after another, law enforcement officials from the state's major cities, including Dallas, rejected that claim on Tuesday. Meeting on the Capitol steps just before midday, they protested the legislation they said was a "solution looking for a problem." Major Reuben Ramirez of the Dallas Police Department said the bill would make it more difficult for police to do their job and pull resources away from fighting violent crime. He urged legislators to vote against it. "If you support your police, listen to your police," he said. "There's no need for this legislation." Commentary: Why the [smartest argument for the bathroom bill isn't smart](at all, writes author and teacher Jean Kazez. Crime: One of two brothers accused of attacking a woman last week in Austin [admitted that he targeted her because she's transgender,]( according to reports. Advertisement (Nathan Hunsinger/Staff Photographer) Photo of the Day Last August, beloved country musician Andie Kay Joyner was fighting for her life. Having been diagnosed with Juvenile Hemochromatosis Type 2A more than a decade ago, doctors in March had told Joyner she had congestive heart failure and that she desperately needed a heart and liver transplant. The Wills Point resident [recently underwent both a heart and liver transplant as the result of her hemochromotosis.]( She's doing well so far. Texas attorney Rachel Lindsay stars in the 13th edition of ABC's The Bachelorette. (Paul Hebert/ABC) Around The Site Things you may have missed 'The Bachelorette' does Dallas: See [where Rachel Lindsay took her](guys and the reality TV series in the Big D. Contract demands: More than 1,000 [American Airlines mechanics and ground workers plan to picket the carrier]( at DFW International Airport on Wednesday. Editorial: The horrific death of at least 10 immigrants sneaking across Texas this weekend in the back of a tractor-trailer rig with no air-conditioning is a [tragic reminder of the need for humane immigration laws](. For your virtual refrigerator: Nine wonderful(ly terrible) [Dallas skyline pictures made in MS Paint](. Commentary: How [Trump turned the Boy Scout Jamboree into a partisan cringe-fest](, writes Editorial Writer Jim Mitchell. At large: An assailant remains at large after [carjacking another man, dragging him behind his own vehicle and leaving him to die](, police said. Nikki Swofford's son lost his teddy bear, at right. (Picasa/Nikki Swofford) Finally... Toy story Dallas Love Field needs help to [reunite two best friends separated last week at the airport](. "Teddy Bear," a teddy bear, disappeared around 8:45 p.m. Thursday. It belongs to a little boy who is staying with his grandparents in Rockwall this week.  The boy and Teddy were waiting with family on a bench outside of baggage claim. As the the family and their luggage were loaded up, Teddy was apparently left behind. The grandparents quickly realized Teddy was missing, but they were unable to find the bear when they returned. Nikki Swofford, the boy's mom, asked for help and advice in finding her son's missing "best friend" on Facebook. Advertisement 👋 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 [djansen@dallasnews.com](mailto:djansen@dallasnews.com?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback). 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