Dallas hospital's tree fight, shutdown hits federal courts, Cowboy's offseason: Your Wednesday evening roundup

In north Oak Cliff, flags alongside the entryway to a grove of towering pecan trees on a hospital’s campus proclaim, “Trust Methodist.”  [Evening roundup]( 01/23/2019 By Wayne Carter Good Evening! Here is a look at the top headlines of the day. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here.]( Trees marked with red ribbons will be lost to progress in a pecan grove that Methodist Dallas Medical Center purchased in 1950. Methodist will continue to provide public access to the green space. (Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer) DALLAS [How a Dallas hospital’s fight over 11 beautiful North Oak Cliff pecan trees turned ugly]( From Metro columnist Sharon Grigsby: In north Oak Cliff, flags alongside the entryway to a grove of towering pecan trees on a hospital’s campus proclaim, "Trust Methodist." The motto is part of a branding campaign for Methodist’s entire health system. But in the green space at the Dallas hospital’s northern end — where old-growth trees wear ominous red ribbons — "Trust Methodist" unwittingly sums up a contentious zoning battle. Residents who have confidence in Methodist, which is also buoyed by influential supporters outside Oak Cliff, support building a 35,000-square-foot fitness center in the pecan grove. To them, the amenity is worth the loss of 11 granddaddy pecan trees. But as the hospital tries to win City Council approval next month, dozens of others who live in nearby East Kessler [have lost faith in their industrial-sized neighbor.]( Methodist has made too many land-use decisions that — while within its rights — didn’t build trust. Opinion: Dallas' juvenile curfew [does more harm than good]( writes Meagan Harding. Police blotter: [Two men were wounded in a shooting]( Wednesday morning at a northwest Dallas motel. ADVERTISEMENT POLITICS [Government shutdown has stalled some Texas federal court cases, putting justice on hold]( Criminal prosecutions are largely going forward in North Texas federal courts despite the government's shutdown for over a month, but the lack of money is hampering some criminal cases as well as most civil lawsuits involving Uncle Sam. Due to the partial shutdown, the courts are unable to pay third parties who play a crucial role in the administration of justice, like court-appointed attorneys, language interpreters and expert witnesses. Many North Texas criminal cases could be delayed if such key people are unwilling to work without a paycheck. That has already happened in at least one criminal case. Barbara Lynn, the chief U.S. district judge of the Northern District of Texas, said she had to postpone the case because an expert witness she had authorized did not want to work without pay. The delays and depleted resources are raising concerns among some judges, defense attorneys and other legal experts about [whether the federal justice system can adequately meet its constitutional duties and serve the public.]( Opinion: The shutdown [isn't really about border security]( writes Rep. Colin Allred. Editorial: There is still a deal to be had [to protect Dreamers and enhance border security.]( COWBOYS [How close does Jerry Jones think the Cowboys are to the Super Bowl?]( Surrounded by reporters on the concourse of Ladd-Peebles Stadium, home of the annual Senior Bowl, team owner Jerry Jones was asked [how close the Cowboys are to getting back to the Super Bowl.]( Dallas, of course hasn't played in one since the 1995 season. Its 2018 season ended in the NFC divisional round against the Los Angeles Rams, who will play the New England Patriots for the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 3 in Atlanta. Jones actually got emotional as he continued to talk about the Senior Bowl and all that goes into the NFL's offseason. Jones said at 76 he still has the drive to take part in all the events -- and that's even with his new purchase of a $250 million yacht. Draft strategy: Jerry Jones details how the Cowboys will approach the NFL draft [without a first-round pick.]( Film room: Here are 5 potential Cowboys targets [who are improving their stock at the Senior Bowl.]( (Ben Torres/Special Contributor) PHOTO OF THE DAY A vintage closet filled with items of clothing from Argentina represents Argentine dictator Jorge Rafael Videla and victims of his regime in [an exhibition by]( artist Rudolph Castro]( the Oak Cliff Cultural Center.]( Castro's pieces reflect on former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori's dictatorial government and its counterinsurgency crackdown, which left 69,000 people dead and thousands more missing during the 1990s, as well as other vivid memories from Latin American military regimes. EDITORS' PICKS - Good eats: Here are [seven healthy and delicious restaurant dishes]( to eat in Dallas right now. - Personal finance: Worried about a recession? [These four steps can help.]( - Take the wheel: Walmart says [it still needs 900 more truckers this year]( as shortages persist. FINALLY... [The influence of this Latino leadership group is growing in Dallas]( Dallas ISD trustee and mayoral candidate Miguel Solis says it was never part of a long-term strategy to build a political network around Dallas when he helped launch the Latino Center for Leadership Development in 2015. But almost four years after the center’s founding, [there’s no denying that its influence on Dallas-area politics is growing.]( Across the city a network of LCLD-affiliated young leaders have been elected to public office or have assumed community leadership roles through work with nonprofits or high-profile private sector jobs. And now two LCLD’s leadership academy fellows and Solis, its president, are looking to win three seats on the Dallas City Council. 👋 That's all for this afternoon! For up-to-the-minute news and analysis, check out [DallasNews.com](. 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