Changes to 'bathroom bill,' spike in hospital bill cost, Cowboys' Lewis found not guilty: Your Wednesday morning roundup

July 26,  2017 By Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day. 🌡️ Weather: Heat Advisory. [Mostly sunny and hot.]( High: 99. 🔎 Prefer the online view? [It's here.]( State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, spoke to Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, during debate on the bathroom bill. (Eric Gay/The Associated Press) Texas legislature Texas Senate OKs bathroom bill with minor changes The Senate gave [preliminary approval Tuesday to a bathroom bill](that would limit restroom use by transgender men, women and children in Texas. Senate Bill 3 passed 21-10 with all Republicans and one Democrat voting in favor. A majority of senators must give the bill one more nod of approval before it is sent to the House, where it is expected to have a much tougher time passing. Several amendments were adopted Tuesday, the most significant of which would allow Texans to use facilities that match the sex on their state-issued identification card. Transgender children, many of whom cannot change their birth certificates or don't have driver's licenses, would be  barred from school bathrooms that don't match these documents. The bill was also amended to exempt privately leased government buildings, such as stadiums and convention centers. Custodians, parents of young children, emergency responders and caretakers of people with disabilities would be allowed to enter opposite-sex facilities under the bill. Under the bill, there would be no penalties for individuals who violate the law, so transgender Texans could not be arrested for simply using the restroom that matches their gender identity. U.S. politics: Donald Trump's public derision of his own attorney general [prompted discomfort bordering on alarm Tuesday in Congress](, with the president showing no sign of relenting -- or of ending the standoff by firing Jeff Sessions. More from Texas: A panel of House lawmakers on Tuesday got the ball rolling on one of Gov. Greg Abbott's top priorities of the special legislative session, [a measure that aims to address local property tax growth](. Editorial: [What Texas needs to do as its schoolkids get poorer and poorer](. Advertisement (Dave Plunkert) cost of care Yale research points to Dallas company for spike in hospital bill cost EmCare, a Dallas-based emergency room staffing company, [is to blame for a surge in “surprise” medical bills]( in Texas and other states, according to sources at Yale University. The Yale study found that EmCare’s rate of more-expensive out-of-network billing at emergency rooms was five times higher than its competitor, TeamHealth. The research sourced claims from a commercial health insurer, and that not only did the out-of-network bills have a higher rate when EmCare took over, but so did tests ordered and patient admissions at hospitals. And: Without Obamacare, companies [could roll back benefits,]( raise out-of-pocket costs. Also: A Dallas developer is [finishing up two major industrial buildings]( off Interstate 45 south of Dallas. Michigan defensive back and Cowboys third-round pick Jourdan Lewis runs a drill at the NFL Scouting Combine March 6 in Indianapolis. (Michael Conroy/The Associated Press) cowboys, rangers Cowboys rookie Jourdan Lewis found not guilty of misdemeanor domestic violence charges A Michigan jury found Cowboys rookie Jourdan Lewis [not guilty of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge]( on Tuesday. Lewis was facing the charge with relation to a March 15 incident in which Lewis’ girlfriend called police after a dispute with him, police said. SportsDay special contributor Mike Persak provided insight and information throughout the trial. You can find his tweets and more on this story [here.]( The news comes just a day after the Cowboys cut wide receiver Lucky Whitehead for a then-pending shoplifting charge. And: As work speeds up, [traffic will slow down]( near new Rangers stadium. Also: Changing his story? Read [the latest details on Lucky Whitehead’s release](, player reactions and new suitors. Advertisement Nathan Hunsinger/Staff Photographer Photo of the Morning A teddy bear remains among tents after Dallas officials [closed a large homeless encampment under Interstate 30 on 3rd Avenue]( in Dallas on Tuesday. Residents of the tent city were told earlier this month that they had to clear out by Wednesday. The clearing out and cleaning up of homeless encampments has become commonplace in Dallas since last May, when officials shuttered an encampment under Interstate 45 near downtown. It had been home to 300 people, many of whom simply dragged their tents under a different overpass. Around The Site - Crime: Five people have been [arrested in connection with the fatal robbery of a traveling jewelry salesman]( last year, as well as a series of other robberies in North Texas. - Local reaction: [Texas Scouts found Donald Trump's speech inspirational](, despite controversy. - Room for your 20 cars: An automotive collector’s dream house is [up for grabs]( in Collin County. First place design for Whataburger's #WhataThoseContest (Whataburger Official) Finally... Jake Danklefs of San Antonio makes one-of-a-kind sneakers in his home studio. Dank & Co. shoes are like little works of pop art for your feet. Know what looks really nice on his shoes? Orange and white stripes, baby. Whataburger has partnered with Dank & Co. to create [three unique pairs of Whataburger branded sneakers.]( They're not available for purchase, but you can win them. The company kicked off its #WhataThoseContest Tuesday. All you have to do to enter is create a post on social media — Twitter, Instagram or Facebook — describing your favorite custom Whataburger order before Aug. 6. 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 [djansen@dallasnews.com](mailto:djansen@dallasnews.com?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback). STAY CONNECTED WITH US  [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( [LinkedIn]( [Tumblr]( [Google]( [Ello]( [Ello](  [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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