FBI weighs in on DPD officer arrested for murder, guide to Dallas Cowboys free agency: Your weekend roundup

Plus, Dallas County could reach herd immunity by summer — but that doesn’t mean things will be back to normal  [Morning roundup]( 03/07/2021 By Chelsea Watkins and Carla Solórzano Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines of the weekend so far. 🌞 Weather: Mostly sunny. High of 67. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here.]( Matthew DeSarno, special agent in charge of the FBI Dallas Field Office, seen speaking at a news conference in August, said Friday that he disputed a statement by former Dallas police Chief U. Reneé Hall regarding the FBI's role in the decision to keep an officer on the job who was suspected in two murder cases. (Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer) CRIME [Former Dallas police chief, FBI official dispute reasoning behind decision to leave cop on the job during murder investigation]( The special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas office and a former Dallas police chief traded words Friday regarding the decision in 2019 to keep a Dallas officer on the job even though he was being investigated in a pair of murder cases. That officer, 36-year-old Bryan Riser, was arrested Thursday on two counts of capital murder and remains in the Dallas County jail on $5 million bail. Police were first made aware in August 2019 of Riser’s alleged role in the 2017 slayings of 60-year-old Albert Douglas and 30-year-old Liza Saenz, [but he remained on duty until his arrest](.  Also: After two days of back-and-forth statements between former Dallas Police Chief U. Reneé Hall and the FBI’s Dallas field office, current Chief Eddie García said Saturday that [it was time to end the finger-pointing](. And: Domestic terrorism has evolved [and is a major threat in North Texas]( says the head of the Dallas FBI office.  ADVERTISEMENT CORONAVIRUS [Dallas County could reach herd immunity by summer — but that doesn’t mean things will be back to normal]( With vaccinations scaling up and new cases of COVID-19 decreasing in many parts of the country, it may seem as though the end of the pandemic is in sight. Many experts have predicted the country will start moving toward normalcy sometime between late spring and fall. But what does normalcy look like? [How will we know when we get there?](  Also: Will February’s winter storms result in an uptick in COVID-19 cases? [Health experts say it’s hard to say](.   And: [The]( narrowly approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill](.  Summer Smith holds her son's hand during a press conference in front of the Plano Police Department about the racist bullying and abuse her 13-year-old son faced in Plano on Friday, March 5, 2021. Smith's son, a Haggard Middle School student, was called racial slurs, beaten and forced to drink a white former teammates’ urine during a sleepover. (Juan Figueroa/ Staff Photographer) ADVERTISEMENT PHOTO OF THE WEEKEND [Plano family pushing for hate crime investigation after viral bullying incident]( A Plano mother is pushing for a hate crime investigation after [she says her 13-year-old son was the victim of racist bullying and abuse]( from fellow students at his middle school. Summer Smith reported the incident to administrators at Haggard Middle School after she says she learned that her son, who is Black, was called racist slurs, beaten and made to drink his white classmates’ urine during a recent sleepover. Smith posted videos, which have since gone viral on social media, of the alleged abuse. A petition in support of her son has garnered tens of thousands of signatures, and she has raised more than $10,000 on GoFundMe to help her son get therapy. AROUND THE SITE - A committee pitching Dallas as a host city for the 2026 World Cup met virtually with FIFA representatives [to discuss AT&T Stadium’s viability as a home for matches](. - 15 days after losing service due to a winter storm, [some in Dallas still lack working plumbing](. - Dallas County reported 25 more COVID-19 deaths [and 372 new coronavirus cases Saturday](. FINALLY... The ultimate guide to Dallas Cowboys free agency A franchise quarterback without a contract. A salary cap taking a backward turn. Following a 6-10 season, the Cowboys face a slew of critical decisions, many of which come to a head this month. What transpires in these coming weeks will not only determine the makeup of the 2021 roster but also carry significant implications on seasons to come. [It all starts with a deadline fast approaching.]( ADVERTISEMENT  👋 That's all for this morning! 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 [the newsroom.]( STAY CONNECTED WITH US [Unsubscribe]( | [Free newsletters]( | [Dallasnews.com]( | [Subscriber login]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact us]( Copyright 2021 - [The Dallas Morning News, 1954 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75201, United States](