Zeke's new deal, Dems want special session, MD-80s' last flight: Your Wednesday evening roundup

Elliott reported to The Star in Frisco around 7 this morning to begin preparation for Sunday's opener against the New York Giants.  [Evening roundup]( 09/04/2019 By Wayne Carter Good Evening! Here is a look at the top headlines of the day. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here.]( Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott participates in a drill Wednesday morning at The Star in Frisco, just hours after the club and Elliott agreed to what sources said is a six-year, $90 million contract extension. (Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer) COWBOYS [Source: Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott ends holdout, agrees to 6-year, $90 million contract extension]( The Dallas Cowboys and their star running back are finally on the same page. The Cowboys reached an agreement Wednesday morning on a contract extension with running back Ezekiel Elliott to end his 40-day holdout, according to sources. The extension is for six years and $90 million, [making Elliott the highest-paid running back in NFL history]( sources said. He's guaranteed $50 million, according to sources, which also is the highest for a running back. He also received a $7.5 million signing bonus. Overall, Elliott, who had two years remaining on his original rookie deal, is now under contract for eight years at $102.9 million. Elliott reported to The Star in Frisco around 7 this morning to begin preparation for Sunday's opener against the New York Giants. Coach Jason Garrett said in his morning news conference that it was important for Elliott and the Cowboys to strike a deal before Wednesday's practice. "I think it was big," Garrett said. "I think both sides wanted that to happen. I know Zeke wanted that to happen." Bar raised: The Cowboys and Ezekiel Elliott [just elevated the pressure on OC Kellen Moore to extraordinary levels]( writes Tim Cowlishaw. Busy man: Here's why Jerry Jones [was in New York to ring the NYSE's opening bell]( on the day Zeke's holdout ended. ADVERTISEMENT POLITICS [Texas House Democrats urge Gov. Abbott to call special session to curb gun violence, hate crimes]( Texas House Democrats on Wednesday asked Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session that would allow lawmakers to pass legislation designed to curb gun violence and "racial hatred." Democrats unveiled the letter to Abbott Wednesday morning 30 minutes before joint news conferences across the state, including one at Dallas County's administration building. The letter signed by 63 House Democrats urged Abbott to act in the wake of recent mass shootings in El Paso and Odessa. The El Paso mass shooting claimed 22 lives at a Walmart, while last Saturday's shooting in Odessa resulted in 7 deaths. Dozens more were injured in the shootings. [Abbott is not receptive to the call by Democrats.](   Editorial: Mass murder is bigger than Texas, and Gov. Greg Abbott [should convene a special session of the Legislature.](   "Texodus" continues: Bryan Rep. Bill Flores on Wednesday became the fifth Republican congressman from Texas [to voluntarily retire ahead of the 2020 elections.](  BUSINESS [American Airlines' final 'Super 80' MD-80 flight leaves Dallas bound for Chicago and retirement]( American Airlines' last McDonnell-Douglas 80 flight took off Wednesday morning full of longtime employees, flight enthusiasts and other eager aviation fans wanting a final piece of the iconic aircraft before it's retired. The last commercial revenue flight left at 9 a.m. bound for Chicago, while about 24 other MD-80s had already taken off from airports around the country bound for Roswell, N.M., the retirement site for the planes. "I've been waiting for this flight for years and got tickets pretty much as soon as they went up," said Christopher Cooper, a 21-year-old flight student in Georgia. ["It's really the end of an era."]( The plane has been a workhorse for American Airlines since 1983, when the more fuel-efficient plane was brought in to replace the older Boeing 727 aircraft. Fans of historic planes adore the aircraft for its five-wide seating and its rear engines that loudly hum in the ears of rear passengers.  Bright idea? Rick Perry's Energy Department [is rolling back rules requiring more energy-efficient light bulbs.](   Grape deal: A Collin County estate that's up for grabs comes with a unique feature —[its own vineyard.](  ADVERTISEMENT (Vernon Byant/Staff Photographer) PHOTO OF THE DAY Dallas Cowboys running backs Tony Pollard (left), Ezekiel Elliott and Alfred Morris go through warm-ups before practice Wednesday at The Star in Frisco. The Cowboys and their fans are hoping that they got a leg up on the New York Giants for Sunday's season opener after coming to terms with Elliott early Wednesday on what sources say is a six-year, $90 million contract extension. Elliott told reporters that despite missing all of training camp, [he'll be ready for as many touches as the coaching staff wants to give him.]( EDITORS' PICKS - Jane Doe: The Parker County sheriff hopes sketches released Wednesday will help identify a woman [whose remains were found last year by hunters.]( - Criminal enterprise? A Dallas pilot faces 10 years to life in prison if convicted of [helping violent South American drug traffickers buy aircraft.]( - Road rage case: A 26-year-0ld man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison [for the fatal shooting of a postal worker on a Dallas freeway.]( FINALLY... [Refugees, the homeless and war: The 2020 Nasher Prize goes to an American who makes a bold statement]( The winner of the 2020 Nasher Prize for Sculpture is an artist whose work [makes a lasting statement about refugees, the homeless and the horror of war.]( Michael Rakowitz, 45, is also an American, the second in the five-year history of the prize. He was born in Great Neck, N.Y., but now makes his home in Chicago, as does previous Nasher Prize winner Theaster Gates. Rakowitz is an American of Iraqi Jewish descent whose work deals graphically and powerfully with his family's home country. He is also a professor at Northwestern University. He'll receive his $100,000 check and an award designed by Nasher architect Renzo Piano at a ceremony in Dallas on April 4, 2020. In making the announcement in an exclusive interview with The Dallas Morning News, Nasher director Jeremy Strick said Rakowitz is "an amazing and brilliant choice, because of his engagement with history and the history of sculpture and the way he's making history so visible — and so relevant — at this particular time." 👋 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? Send your thoughts, questions, praise and corrections to [newsletter-feedback@dallasnews.com](mailto:newsletter-feedback@dallasnews.com?subject=). 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