Amber Guyger in court, Cowboys win takeaways, Dallas Arts District's new 'jewel': Your Monday morning roundup

Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day.  [Morning roundup]( 08/19/2019 By Chelsea Watkins and Mallorie Sullivan Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day. 🌞 Weather: Mostly sunny and hot. High of 100. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [her]( Former Dallas police Officer Amber Guyger departs with her attorneys after making a court appearance at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas on Thursday, June 6, 2019. Guyger is charged with murder in the Sept. 6 shooting death of Botham Jean in his own apartment. (Ryan Michalesko/Staff Photographer) DALLAS [Amber Guyger to appear in court a month ahead of murder trial for killing Botham Jean]( Fired Dallas police officer Amber Guyger is expected in court Monday for a hearing, [a month before her murder trial in the death of 26-year-old Botham Jean]( is scheduled to begin. Guyger, 31, was charged with murder in November, several weeks after she shot and killed Jean in his apartment, just south of downtown Dallas. On Sept. 6, the four-year police veteran was off-duty but still in uniform when, she told authorities, she confused his apartment for hers and mistook him for a burglar. Jean was watching football in the dark when Guyger opened the front door, which she told law enforcement was unlocked. The hearing will take place before state District Judge Tammy Kemp, who will preside over the trial, which is slated to begin Sept. 23. Kemp could rule on a range of issues, including whether witnesses can testify as experts and what evidence can be presented during the trial.  South Dallas: [Department of Public Safety troopers fatally shot a driver who pulled a gun on them]( authorities say.   And: A white supremacist group [says it protested in Dallas over the weekend]( posting videos of small gatherings in and near downtown.  ADVERTISEMENT OPINION [Twice as many Fs? What happened in Dallas' most troubled schools]( From The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board: There’s one sobering constant in trying to improve a school district: Whether it’s in Collin or Dallas or another county, even when you’ve made significant progress, there are still big challenges ahead. That’s the situation in which Dallas ISD finds itself after the release last week of the latest A-F academic accountability grades. [The district deserves high-fives for again earning an overall B]( achieving a grade five points higher from 81 last year to 86. But we’re disappointed that the number of schools on the failing list doubled from 4 to 8. To improve its overall score while getting the sobering news that more schools got F's means the district is doing a lot of things right. It reminds us, though, that raising the performance so that every child has a legitimate shot at a decent education takes persistence and dogged determination at reform.  Commentary: We were perfectly comfortable at a North Dallas private school. [So we switched to DISD]( writes Jimmy J. and Lisa P. Tran.   Commentary: Three hijabi women led a panel discussion at LeakyCon [and magic ensued]( writes Alia Salem.  SPORTS [5 takeaways from Cowboys preseason win vs. Rams: First-team offense scores, Mike White continues to struggle]( The Cowboys ended a five-game preseason losing streak with a 14-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night. A few positives from the game were the first-team offense scoring a touchdown, Taco Charlton's strong play and the defense recording another turnover. There were some issues with No. 3 quarterback Mike White and reserve receiver Reggie Davis muffed a punt, while misplaying another, and Jon'Vea Johnson dropped another pass. The Cowboys are now 1-1 in the preseason with two games remaining. [Here are our observations of the Cowboys-Rams game](.  Film room: Here are three things we learned from the Cowboys' win over the Rams, [including a player primed for career year](.    Also: Former Texas Longhorns running back Cedric Benson [died in a motorcycle accident Sunday in Austin.]( ADVERTISEMENT EDITORS' PICKS - Commentary: Students, if you want to succeed, [work hard and allow for a little serendipity]( writes Alex R. Piquero. - Education: How UT Dallas [evolved from a small research center into one of the fastest-growing universities]( in just 50 years. - Business: Fort Worth is facing an economic challenge: [How does it keep up with Dallas-Plano-Irving?]( Executive Chef Eric Dreyer of Ellie's restaurant prepares food at a test kitchen in West Dallas on Aug. 12. (Ben Torres/Special Contributor) FINALLY... [New 'jewel' of Dallas Arts District is Ellie's, a restaurant fronted by Oprah's chef and backed by a billionaire]( A restaurant named Ellie's is an important piece of billionaire Craig Hall's grand plan. The real estate mogul bought land in the Dallas Arts District in the '90s, joining a several-decades-long plan to turn a strip of downtown Dallas into a hub for arts and culture. After the AT&T Performing Arts Center and Klyde Warren Park sprang up in 2009 and 2012, respectively, Hall's $250 million hotel and luxury high-rise residences — fittingly called Hall Arts — are expected to open in late 2019 and early 2020. "People have referred to it as the upcoming jewel of the Arts District. And it is a gem," says Lily Weiss, executive director of the Dallas Arts District.  [Ellie's is located inside the hotel and is expected to be a fashionable meeting spot.]( It's named for Hall's late mother, Ellie Hall.  👋 That's all for this morning! 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