Changes in West Dallas, Confederate plaque verdict, Cowboys visit LA: Your Friday evening roundup

Good Evening! Here is a look at the top headlines of the day.  [Evening roundup]( 01/11/2019 By Todd Davis Good Evening! Here is a look at the top headlines of the day. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here.]( New construction can be seen directly across the street as Leonardo Garcia walks out the front door of his West Dallas home on Thursday. (Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer) DALLAS [This is what happens when a new West Dallas devours the old one]( Columnist Robert Wilonsky writes: The remaking of West Dallas did not happen all of the sudden; there was plenty of warning. Years ago, before the zoning changed and the speculators bought and the builders arrived, there were neighborhood meetings. The residents, so many lifers amid the transients and transplants, were warned: Their West Dallas, full of quiet streets and chaparral hilltops and skyline views, wasn't going to look the same. Residents were told, again and again: The bulldozers are coming, try not to get run over. Now, residents say, there are no more neighborhood meetings. Because, perhaps, [there is not much neighborhood left here]( atop the perch behind the Belmont Hotel that stretches almost to the city pound. Also: A [Dallas ISD middle school]( will be expanded after the City Council approved needed zoning changes. Commentary: Dallas isn't alone in hoping deck parks such as Klyde Warren Park are millennial magnets, [writes Mitchell Schnurman](. ADVERTISEMENT POLITICS [Texas board votes to remove Confederate plaque from state Capitol]( AUSTIN — The Texas board in charge of historical monuments at the state Capitol has voted to remove a divisive Confederate plaque. On Friday morning, [the State Preservation Board voted unanimously to take down the Children of the Confederacy plaque]( which claims slavery was not the underlying cause of the Civil War. The board members — which include Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker of the Texas House Dennis Bonnen — did not make any remarks at the meeting, which lasted only about five minutes. They did not discuss how or when the plaque would come down, or what would be done with it when it does. Preservation board officials told The Dallas Morning News after the meeting they were still discussing how to remove the plaque and do not expect it to come down this weekend. Also: [Texas Sens. Ted Cruz, John Cornyn say yes to border wall]( but no to using Harvey relief dollars to build it. Watchdog: Texas should copy California and pass a new internet privacy law like the Golden State's, [writes Dave Lieber](. SPORTS [The Cowboys' challenge in Los Angeles? Offensive firepower vs. defensive brutality]( FRISCO -- Tick off the glossy particulars about the Los Angeles Rams' offense ahead of Saturday night's NFC divisional-round playoff against the Cowboys, and there are many. The Rams average 37.1 points per game at Memorial Coliseum. None other than Hall of Famer Kurt Warner has blessed them as Greatest Show on Turf II. In a regular season dominated by high-flying offenses, quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley, wunderkind coach Sean McVay and their brethren fit the part, ranking No. 2 in the NFL in scoring and total offense. [So the classic battle between offensive firepower and defensive brutality takes the stage]( as Dallas tries to win a true road playoff game for the first time since the 1992 season. Commentary: Ending Dallas' NFC title game drought feels like too much to ask of this young Cowboys team, [writes Tim Cowlishaw](. Expert predictions: Just one panelist picks [the Cowboys to beat the Rams]( and advance to the NFC title game. (Brian Elledge/The Dallas Morning News) PHOTO OF THE DAY Denisa Ulloa of Dallas sits in a replica of the Iron Throne from the HBO TV series Game of Thrones set up in the headquarters of AT&T in Dallas on Friday. Game of Thrones fans hanging around downtown Dallas have the chance to take what is theirs, for Instagram at least: [From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, you can rule the realm — err, snap a picture on it.]( COWBOYS SWEEPSTAKES Cowboys nation, We won our wildcard game! As a result, we have re-opened the Cowboys Coins Sweepstakes. Enter to win collectible Cowboys prizes during this playoffs season and show off your Cowboys pride! [Click here to enter to win.]( Stay updated on all Cowboys news updates, stats and insights by [signing up here](. Good luck! — Your friends at The Dallas Morning News EDITORS' PICKS - No prison time: [A Dallas teen who drowned her 'extra' baby]( gets parole from a North Texas judge. - Stepping down: [City Manager Bruce Glasscock]( will retire in April after 30 years with Plano. - To be indoors or not: For 'Hamlet,' [Shakespeare Dallas says yes]( to a dramatic change. FINALLY... [Gigi's Cupcakes files for bankruptcy amid ongoing fight with franchisees]( A nasty fight may be shaping up between a Fort Worth-based cupcake chain and its franchisees, even as the company's founder travels to Dallas to promote a new book touting her success. Gigi's Cupcakes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Jan. 4 amid a tangle of lawsuits from current and former franchisees who say they were misled about the company's finances. Gatti's Pizza, owned by the same parent company, is also part of the bankruptcy filing. [It reads like a cupcake war for Gigi's.]( The parent company is not speaking beyond a statement, and former franchisees like Bruce Speidel of Tennessee are alleging "disgusting" business practices. "You really can't make any money with the way these companies are set up," he said. his is the last thing. 👋 That's all for this afternoon! For up-to-the-minute news and analysis, check out [DallasNews.com](. Share the love! 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