New GOP face in Allred's district, prosecutors' death penalty decisions, Texas ties to 'Old Town Road': Your Monday evening roundup

Contending that Washington needs more outside voices, retired Navy SEAL Floyd McLendon, now an executive aide for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is challenging incumbent Democrat Colin Allred for Dallas' 32nd Congressional district.  [Evening roundup]( 07/29/2019 By Wayne Carter and Chelsea Watkins Good Evening! Here is a look at the top headlines of the day. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here.]( Retired Navy SEAL Floyd McLendon is planning to run in 2020 to challenge Democratic Rep. Collin Allred for the seat Allred won from Republican Pete Sessions in 2019. (Floyd McLendon) POLITICS [Republican challenging Democrat Colin Allred for Congress says Donald Trump will help his campaign]( Contending that Washington needs more outside voices, retired Navy SEAL Floyd McLendon, now an executive aide for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is challenging incumbent Democrat Colin Allred for Dallas' 32nd Congressional district. Allred won the seat last year by beating longtime incumbent Pete Sessions, who has said he'll decide in September whether he wants a rematch. Some of Sessions' allies have said they want to see a different Republican in the race. The district has been trending Democratic for several election cycles, and Allred made Sessions' opposition to the Affordable Care Act a major issue of the campaign. Democrats also benefited from a strong coordinated campaign in Dallas County, as well as voters pushing back against the 2016 election of President Donald Trump. Trump, who is unpopular with most Dallas County voters, is running for reelection next year and could provide coattails or be an albatross for down-ballot candidates. McLendon [praised the president and said he would be an asset to his candidacy]( because of the bustling economy, low unemployment rate, the appointment of conservative judges and border security. "The president of the United States will have a positive impact on my race," he said. "He kept his promises." Pivotal moment: In this week's Democratic presidential debates, [is it make or break for Beto O'Rourke and Julián Castro?]( Editorial: If we care about foster kids, [we need to fix the state’s computer database.]( ADVERTISEMENT CRIME & COURTS [With crimes as 'heinous' as Dallas' serial murder case, prosecutors overcome objections to death penalty]( After Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot's decision this week to seek the death penalty for serial murder suspect Billy Chemirmir, current and former top prosecutors said Friday they know the emotional toll that came with that choice. Take former Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, who said Friday he has struggled with the death penalty even though as district attorney he sought it time and time again. His qualms about the ultimate punishment aren't just political. They're personal. His great-grandfather was executed by the state in 1932 for the murder of a Fort Worth man. Choosing when to seek the death penalty is never easy, say other district attorneys who've had to weigh the evidence and make the call. [It's a decision they don't take lightly.](   Animal cruelty: Dallas police are asking for help finding the person [who]( an 8-year-old dog named Beethoven in the back.](   Kidnapping case: Three men were in custody Monday morning [after holding a hostage at gunpoint at a Fort Worth home]( police said.  BUSINESS [For Uptown Dallas' sleepy Routh Street, it's high-rise and shine on the horizon]( In Dallas' Uptown neighborhood, along Routh Street between McKinney Avenue and Cedar Springs Road, the view hasn't changed much in the last couple of decades. There are several blocks of old homes converted into business, a couple of parking lots and — of course — the familiar Quadrangle retail and office center. Come back in 12 to 18 months, and the view down Routh Street will be a lot different. Two of the biggest high-rise developments planned for Dallas are gearing up to start across the street from each other at Routh and Howell streets. Together these projects have the potential to [dramatically transform the area between the Crescent and Turtle Creek.](  Opinion: It isn't hard to see why [r]( states are surging past blue states in growth and business]( write Stephen Moore and Clara Hathorne.   Big screens: International luxury cinema Cinépolis adds six Texas theaters to its stable [with its acquisition of Moviehouse & Eatery.](  ADVERTISEMENT (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor) PHOTO OF THE DAY Looking for a Louisiana-flavored fix in North Texas? From holes in the wall to food trucks, to places that are open only one day a week, [we've got the scoop on spots serving southern Louisiana classics.]( Private Chef Kenneth Temple, a Louisiana native new to D-FW, is adamant about giving North Texas a taste of his hometown. One of his cajun specialities? His crawfish turkey burger. Harry Potter fans! ⚡Want to win four passes to LeakyCon Dallas? We heard [Tom Felton is going to be there](. Click the button below for a chance to win and for more information. Remember, it's wingardiam leviOsa, not leviosAH. [ENTER ME TO WIN ⚡]( Best in D-FW: Best BBQ Update As of right now, 407 BBQ is in the lead! Following closely behind is Hurtado Barbecue, Smoke Sessions Barbecue, Hutchins BBQ and Pecan Lodge. Which BBQ joint is the best in D-FW? Click the button below to cast your vote! [SHOW ME THE BBQ LIST]( EDITORS' PICKS - Editorial: [What kind of intelligence director will John Ratcliffe be?]( - 'Struggle does not defeat you': Here's how music helped [save this young Arlington composer’s life.]( - What to watch: 'The Righteous Gemstones,' 'The Dark Crystal,' 'Good Eats' and more: [Here's your August TV preview.]( FINALLY... [How a rising Texas tech entrepreneur helped make 'Old Town Road' a thing]( It's the unlikely hit that's hung at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 16 weeks and still refuses to come down. Originally classified as country — before Billboard disqualified it from that genre, sparking a whole lotta controversy — "Old Town Road" is one of the most recognizable, and weird, radio standards you're bound to hear at the moment. And the story of how it came together is even weirder. Enter: Abe Batshon, a 37-year-old Austinite who grew up just outside Oakland, Calif. In 2008, Batshon founded a digital music marketplace called BeatStars designed to let hip-hop producers sell their beats online without having to negotiate typical licensing arrangements. Years later, an aspiring Georgia rapper by the name of Lil Nas X was stumbling around on the platform when he happened across a beat called "Ninety," made by an equally obscure Netherlands producer called YoungKio, who had sampled the Nine Inch Nails song "34 Ghosts IV" in order to create it. Lil Nas X purchased the beat from YoungKio for $30. And just like that, two artists who'd been unknown to the world — and even to each other, seeing as they'd never actually met — [birthed the song that made them both famous.]( 👋 That's all for this afternoon! 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? 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