With fentanyl claiming North Texas lives, why aren’t more people tested for it?

Also, Cowboys' linebacker out for season, SMU faces Texas A&M in basketball, textbooks battle brewing [EVENING ROUNDUP]( Sponsored by: Content and story selection are solely editorial's decision. Good evening, friends! Hope your day was as nice as the weather. It's Todd Davis with tonight's newsletter. It was holiday lunch day at the office, which has us in a festive mood. Do you need a little Christmas right this very minute? We have [a look at how Galleria Dallas constructs its holiday tree](, which includes 50 workers and 200,000 programmable LED lights. It just might make your decorating feel a little easier to accomplish. Thanks for your readership! We'll have more tomorrow morning in your inbox.   [Fernabelle Fernandez prepares for a screening in a chemistry analyzer at Parkland Memorial Hospital’s Rapid Response Laboratory in Dallas.]( Fernabelle Fernandez works at Parkland Memorial Hospital’s Rapid Response Laboratory in Dallas on Oct. 11. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) Fentanyl is claiming lives across North Texas, so why aren’t more people tested for it?]( Drug users switch to fentanyl and pass court-ordered drug tests. Courts lecture first-time drug offenders on the dangers of fentanyl but don’t screen them for it. Emergency rooms send overdose patients home without testing them for the substance driving the nation’s drug crisis. These are several of the alarming gaps in fentanyl drug testing The Dallas Morning News found during months of reporting this year on the synthetic opioid’s deadly impact across North Texas. While fentanyl is linked to more deaths of Americans under the age of 50 than any other cause, The News’ reporting for its “Deadly Fake” series revealed the [inconsistency and infrequency with which fentanyl is tested]( for in many medical and judicial systems. [READ MORE](   ADVERTISEMENT   TOP STORIES [What pollutants are West Dallas residents being exposed to? The EPA aims to find out]( Some West Dallas residents said they are excited that EPA leaders are looking into conditions in their [...] [Stopgap bill in House likely punts chances of government shutdown into the new year]( Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, says the plan is hardly ideal, but buys more time for the two parties to hash [...] [Whistleblower suit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton can move forward, court rules]( Whistleblowers fired by Texas Attorney Ken Paxton won a victory in a Burnet County court Tuesday after a judge [...] [Dallas to consider street name change to Santos Rodriguez, 12-year-old killed by cop]( The City Plan Commission’s subdivision review committee is scheduled to hear a proposal at Dallas City Hall on [...] [Castle home, wedding venue overlooking lake hits the market for $5.5 million]( A lakefront castle just over an hour’s drive from Dallas and Fort Worth is on the market for $5.5 million. [READ MORE NEWS](   ADVERTISEMENT   EDUCATION [In reversal, Sherman High School students get their ‘Oklahoma!’ roles back]( Trustees in the North Texas district changed course after an emotional school board meeting Monday night. [What will Texas children learn about climate change, evolution?]( The State Board of Education is meeting this week in Austin to discuss proposed science textbooks [GoFundMe seeks to help family of Dallas ISD educator whose remains were identified Monday]( The GoFundMe, created to help cover funeral expenses for 24-year-old Jennifer Mendez Olascoaga, said she had [...] CRIME AND COURTS [DART security officer shoots person after being assaulted on train Monday, officials say]( A DART transit security officer shot a person after they were reportedly assaulted on a train Monday evening, [...] [Fort Worth police officer arrested on aggravated assault charge, department says]( Carlos Zelaya faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, his department said, and was off duty [...] [Man fatally shot while following his stolen vehicle in Old East Dallas, police say]( A man was fatally shot early Tuesday in the 5300 block of Parry Avenue in Old East Dallas, according to [...] SPORTS [Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch ruled out for year, putting rest of career in jeopardy]( The Cowboys intend to leave Vander Esch on the injured list for the remainder of the season and find a spot [...] [Early test for SMU as No. 13 Texas A&M visits Moody Coliseum for first time in 14 years]( Both teams are working with undefeated starts to the season, the Mustangs having just beaten Lamar on [...] [Previews and predictions for notable D-FW area round Texas high school football games]( Twelve Dallas-area notable games for the second round of the Texas high school football playoffs.   We're here to celebrate the Rangers winning the World Series with you. Special edition memorabilia is now available. To purchase online, [head here](.   ADVERTISEMENT   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( [YouTube]( [Privacy Policy]( | [Account Login]( | [Help Center]( [Terms of Service]( | [Manage Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( The Dallas Morning News 1954 Commerce Street Dallas, TX 75201 © Copyright 2023