Cruz challenger, monument firing, anthem protests: 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.] August 22,  2017 By Holly Rusak Good evening! Here is a look at the top headlines of the day. 🔎 Prefer the online view? [It's here.]( [Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and other senators, gather for final votes on Capitol Hill in Washington on Aug. 3. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)]( Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and other senators, gather for final votes on Capitol Hill in Washington on Aug. 3. (J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press) Texas Politics Houston energy lawyer Stefano de Stefano hopes to oust Ted Cruz Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is one of the state’s best known conservative politicians, but [one GOP long shot is hoping he can oust the firebrand Republican with a simple appeal](: "A return to normalcy." Stefano de Stefano, a little-known Houston energy attorney with no prior political experience, said Cruz’s brash politics have contributed to national divisiveness, and that he’s running as the candidate for "anybody who wants to see Cruz gone, see change, see more normal politics in this country." He’s the first of potentially many to challenge Cruz in what most political observers expect will be an easy primary victory for the sitting senator. Dan McQueen, the former mayor of Corpus Christi who resigned after just 37 days, has also said he's eyeing a run. In the running? Angela Paxton, the wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is [considering a run for the state Senate](. Logjam: A government-induced [clog that's delayed billions of dollars in pipeline projects]( is about to get cleared. Advertisement Dallas Parks department workers pack up after removing graffiti from the Robert E. Lee statue in Lee Park on Saturday morning. One of the workers said the word "Nazi" had been painted on the monument to the Confederate General.  (Michael Hamtil/Staff Photographer) Texas McKinney gun instructor loses volunteer cop job after advocating 'deadly force' for monument vandals A firearms instructor lost his volunteer police position in Tioga after a [Facebook post suggesting "deadly force" could be used against vandals who deface a monument](. Phil Ryan had worked for about three years as an unpaid reserve officer for the Tioga Police Department, a small town east of Lake Ray Roberts, according to KTVT-TV (Channel 11). A statue honoring the Confederate general was defaced in Dallas over the weekend. Ryan’s post, which has since been deleted, said if a person is "destroying a monument or statue that isn’t theirs, you can defend it by force during the day with deadly force at night." The town's police chief dismissed Ryan after the post made the rounds online, according to the station. The chief added that he does not support the comments. Commentary: University of Texas at Austin alumni received an email Monday from [UT president Gregory Fenves regarding the removal of Confederate statues on campus](. Commentary: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said [tearing down of UT statues in the middle of the night]( sends a poor message. Commentary: A Confederate memorial [isn't history if it isn't true](, writes Michael Williams, the only black American elected to a statewide post in the executive branch of Texas state government. Buffalo Bills' Cameron Jefferson raises his fist during the national anthem Aug. 17 before an NFL preseason football game against the Eagles in Philadelphia. Jefferson says he gained the courage to raise his fist in protest during the anthem once he saw Chris Long hug Eagles teammate Malcolm Jenkins on the opposite sideline. (Matt Rourke/The Associated Press) NFL Jerry Jones feels 'very strongly' players shouldn't protest anthem [Jerry Jones has made it clear in the past that he's not a fan of national anthem protests](. During a radio appearance Tuesday morning, the Cowboys owner and general manager was asked for his thoughts on the increasing number of protests by NFL players before preseason games this year. "I just feel so strongly that the act of recognizing the flag is a salute to our country and all of the people that have sacrificed so that we can have the liberties we have," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan's Shan and RJ show [KRLD-FM]. "I feel very strongly that everyone should save that moment for the recognition of the flag in a positive way, so I like the way the Cowboys do it." Jones last broached the topic last September, saying: "We strongly, strongly support the flag. In every way, we support — it's almost ridiculous to be saying it — the people that for generations and generations have given it all up so we can get out here and show off in front of millions of people on television. We respect that so much. That's the real business. No sophomore slump: Jerry Jones says it [wouldn't be wrong to expect a better Dak Prescott]( in 2017. Who’s No. 2? While [many on the outside are calling for Cooper Rush to be the Cowboys' No. 2 quarterback](, Jerry Jones doesn't seem as convinced. Advertisement (Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer) Photo of the Day Dallas Cowboys offensive guard Joe Looney (73) comes out jokingly saying "I'm Dak," with a taped #4 on his jersey before practice in the Ford Center during training camp at The Star in Frisco on Monday.  [We've got lots of photos from Cowboys practice]( and more. Around The Site - Fire: A [vehicle burst into flames early Tuesday in the TEXpress lanes]( of Interstate 820 in Haltom City. - Child endangerment: A drunken driving suspect was arrested Saturday night after officers found him [passed out in a car with his 1-year-old son in the back seat](, Denton police said. - Shooting: A group of armed [robbers shot a man who was getting his child out of a car seat]( early Tuesday in southeast Dallas, police said. - Home invasion: A [serial burglar is targeting homes south of Fort Worth](, primarily while people are sleeping, authorities say. - Navy crash: A [Houston-area man is among the 10 sailors missing after a U.S. Navy destroyer collided]( with an oil tanker near Singapore on Monday. - Guilty: Jurors found Xavier Taylor found guilty Tuesday of three counts of criminally negligent homicide for [his role in a March 2016 crash that killed three children](. Finally... The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek is renown for its elegant aesthetic, luxury hotel accommodations and, of course, its place in Dallas history. For most locals, especially those on a budget, the hotel's Mansion Bar might not be the first spot that comes to mind when looking for a decent happy hour. But [you don't need a six-figure salary to enjoy its new happy hour specials](. 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 [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]( [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. Copyright 2017 - [The Dallas Morning News]( | [508 Young St., Dallas, TX 75202](#)