Grigsby on Catholic Diocese raid, Texas votes to lift brass knuckle ban: Your Thursday morning roundup

 [Morning roundup]( 05/16/2019 By Mallorie Sullivan and Carla Solórzano Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day. 🌤️  Weather: Mostly sunny and warm. High of 87. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [her]( Dallas police officers on Wednesday morning raided several Dallas Catholic Diocese offices after a detective said church officials have not cooperated with investigations into sexual abuse by its past clergy members. (Tom Fox/Staff Photographer) COMMENTARY [‘Same ol’ blind eye’: Thank goodness police ran out of patience with Dallas Catholic Diocese on sex abuse]( Metro columnist Sharon Grigsby writes: For the sake of Myrna Dartson and the many others who have suffered at the hands of the Catholic Church, [it’s a relief to see law enforcement run out of patience with the local diocese and its foot-dragging on sex abuse allegations](. Wednesday’s warrant affidavit lays out accusations of how the local diocese stonewalled the police’s good-faith efforts to investigate allegations of sexual violence. Dartson, who got a run-around from the church in the 1980s about her accusations of inappropriate behavior by a priest, was the first person I thought about after hearing that the police had raided diocese offices Wednesday. The first words out of her mouth when I called her were "None of this is surprising. So much is still being covered up." Victims’ voices went unheard for years as the Dallas Catholic Diocese claimed that it had done nothing wrong. And when it could no longer cling to that outrageous and arrogant lie in the face of growing evidence of molestations and allegations of cover-ups, the diocese begrudgingly apologized.  Also: [How police felt stonewalled by the Dallas Diocese]( at every turn during the sex abuse investigation.   Catch up: Here are [5 things to know about the Dallas police raids]( on the Catholic Diocese.  ADVERTISEMENT TEXAS LEGISLATURE [Texas Senate votes to lift ban on brass knuckles, kitty keychains and clubs]( Texas lawmakers [have passed legislation lifting the state ban on brass knuckles, kitty keychains and other self-defense items](. The Texas Senate gave the bill its final OK on Wednesday morning; it now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature or veto. Abbott's staff did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday. Bill author Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, said the bill was "another step" toward getting rid of" antiquated laws regarding weapons." "We did it with switchblades. We did it with knives and now with knuckles," Moody said Wednesday. "Hopefully, now, with this on the way to the governor, we can ensure these types of laws aren't being used inappropriately to go after folks who have legitimate tools of self-defense." It's legal to openly carry rifles and handguns in Texas, and in 2017, lawmakers eliminated a 145-year-old ban on carrying knives in public. But brass knuckles remain illegal. Simply possessing something that fits this description — including plastic "kitty keychains" and other self-defense items — is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to $4,000 in fines and a year in jail. Moody's bill would lift that ban and also legalize the carrying of clubs.  Also: The Texas Senate [approved the revived 'Save Chick-fil-A' bill]( over concerns about anti-LGBT discrimination.   And: State lawmakers [approved]( bill to legalize hemp]( clear up confusion about what CBD products can be sold]( in Texas.  CRIME [Serial killer suspect now charged with smothering a dozen elderly women in Dallas, Collin counties]( A serial killer suspect [faces 11 new capital murder charges in the deaths of elderly women in Dallas and Collin counties.]( Chemirmir, 46, has been in the Dallas County Jail since March 2018 facing a capital murder charge in the death of 81-year-old Lu Thi Harris. Chemirmir, a former health care worker, was indicted Tuesday on six additional counts of capital murder in Dallas County and five counts in Collin County. In each of the cases, he smothered his victim with a pillow and robbed her, according to court records.  Also: A Euless man was arrested in McKinney [after making plans to meet what he thought was a 13-year-old for sex]( officials say.   And: [Dallas police have released video]( in hopes of identifying the person who shot a motorist in Lake Highlands on Saturday morning.  ADVERTISEMENT EDITORS' PICKS - Sold! Former Dallas Cowboys star player and longtime ESPN analyst Darren Woodson [is hitting the field in Dallas commercial real estate](. - Activists are opposed: [The Brazilian president still plans to visit Dallas business leaders today]( despite criticism from politicians and LGBTQ activists. - Dak Prescott on contract negotiations: ["I want to be a Cowboy forever."]( Joel Ferrell, associate artistic director at Dallas Theater Center, announced earlier this week that he's leaving. (2016 File Photo/Staff) FINALLY... Dallas theater executive says there is no 'espionage-y' reason for his sudden, unexpected departure Joel Ferrell, the associate artistic director at Dallas Theater Center, surprised the local theater community this week by announcing he's leaving. So, of course, we all wondered why. Why would he leave a Tony Award-winning theater? We reached Ferrell on Tuesday and asked: [So what's the real reason you're leaving — to which he replied with a laugh](. Ferrell was a full-time employee for a decade at DTC, where he worked under artistic director Kevin Moriarty. "I wish there was something fabulous and espionage-y to say, but really, no, there isn't," he said. "Over the last couple of years, I have been hoping to pursue things with a little more freedom. The double-edged sword is, my whole early career, I dreamed of having an artistic home, where I felt truly integrated and really valued. And the Theater Center has been that and then some.  👋 That's all for this morning! 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