The Dallas Morning News

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and Calvin Watkins discuss [2:30] the Cowboys' OT win over the Giants. Dak Prescott's resolve to run this year after the Cowboys put him on a leash last year has made a big difference on offense, restocked by the likes of George Pickens and Javonte Williams. But the defense? Big problems. [25:48] Evan is in Houston for one of the season's biggest series, and Kevin says [42:12] Texas A&M's win over Notre Dame in South Bend doesn't rise to the level of Johnny Football's upset of top-ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa, but it sends a similar message. Plus: What's up with Arch Manning? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dallas County is poised to become the largest jurisdiction in the U.S. to hand-count paper ballots as the local Republican Party has decided to manually tally election day ballots during its March primary. In other news, for the third time, Robert Roberson III is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection next month in Texas. The 58-year old Roberson was convicted of capital murder in 2003 for reportedly shaking his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki, to death.; the McKinney City Council abandoned plans Tuesday for a deck park meant to reconnect the city's east side to its historic downtown after losing $15 million in federal funding as a result of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act; and SMU had been quietly conducting a rebrand until Board of Trustees Chair David Miller made a bold statement to an arena full of SMU fans Friday night. Miller said “‘Pony Up' has died a natural death.” It led to an outpouring of frustration from fans on social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CEO of the Baylor Health Care System on leveraging AI to transform a legacy system, empower people and drive the future of healthcare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dallas-Fort Worth hasn't seen a drop of rain since the first weekend of the month, but shifting air masses will bring a new pattern to North Texas at the end of the week. That's according to the National Weather Service's Fort Worth office. Rain chances are highest on Thursday, with a 40% probability of precipitation, but are expected to continue through Sunday. In other news, years into its famous growth story, North Texas has notched another distinction — the country's top large metro area for attracting workforce talent. for nearly 90 years, Oak Cliff's Glendale Park has served as a gathering place for the Black communities that surround it. For years, Dallas city leaders have promised to invest in it. Residents are still waiting, but the city is slowly moving forward; Collin County Animal Services paused dog adoptions as it investigates a possible disease outbreak, according to a social media post by shelter officials Sunday. The post did not disclose which disease or when adoptions might resume. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Autonomous trucking companies have been strategically relocating their headquarters to Texas to test driverless long-haul trucks across the region. State lawmakers have recently signaled they're paying more attention to the flock of driverless trucks that increasingly traverse Texas roadways — and changes are coming. In other news, the senior pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church has announced a temporary leave of absence after a medical diagnosis, according to a news release Sunday from the church. Frederick Douglas Haynes III has served at the church in Dallas for over 40 years; the Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Giants 40-37 in overtime after Brandon Aubrey booted a 64-yarder to force OT and a 46-yarder to win it; and Scottie Scheffler closed with a 5-under 67 to win the Procore Championship for his sixth PGA Tour victory of the year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John and Evan introduce us to the Legend of Michael Helman and continue to fumble for words on the Rangers rebound. David Murphy drops by to help them out, explaining how he came up with “The Little Rascals” description of the team, what he's liked about watching them, his initial bitterness about analytics and how he's transitioned into broadcasting. Finally, John explains how he manipulated an MLB record for a Ranger and the guys remember 9/11 with the team in San Francisco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lab-grown meat is now banned in Texas. So what's the deal and why? The Dallas Morning News food team discusses that intersection of dining and politics, along with recent restaurant openings and moves. They also talk about the new "straight to jail" social media trend in which folks share their absolute must-orders at iconic restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah on Wednesday sparked an outpouring of shock, fear and mourning from local religious leaders. Leading Christian, Jewish and Muslim voices grieved and condemned the murder of the 31-year-old activist. In other news, Irving-based subprime auto lender and dealer Tricolor Holdings filed for bankruptcy Tuesday and plans to liquidate its assets, according to court filings. The case comes after allegations of “significant fraud.” Also, a motel manager was attacked and decapitated by an employee following an argument Wednesday. And UT Southwestern scientist Steven McKnight won the 2025 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hemp-based THC products such as gummies and drinks infused with the cannabis compound will be restricted to adults age 21 and older while state alcohol regulators study how to further regulate the burgeoning industry, under an executive order issued Wednesday by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. In other news,Texas lawmakers offered an outpouring of prayers and condemnation after learning that popular conservative activist Charlie Kirk had been killed at an event in Utah; a former Texas Christian University student filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the school, arguing its sexual assault policies do not protect students from rape and seeking $100 million in compensatory and punitive damages; and Dallas Area Rapid Transit riders will feel service cuts aimed at saving the agency $24 million per year early next year. Approved by the transit agency's board Tuesday, the changes include frequency reductions on many buses, weekend peak frequency changes from 15 to 20 minutes on light rail and the discontinuation of seven low-performing routes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and Joe Hoyt discuss [00:13] the Cowboys' near-miss against the Eagles, the elite play of Dak Prescott and what difference Micah Parsons would have made if Jerry Jones hadn't sent him to Green Bay. They also look at the shifting landscape at the top of the NFC and Parsons' role in shaping that. [24:50] Evan shares his thoughts on what the Rangers' reserves have done to spark a late surge into contention and gives us a rundown on who's coming back and when, as well as what it'll mean for the spark plugs. [41:36] Kevin breaks down the big Texas A&M-Notre Dame game this week as well as the state's other big college stories. But he can't make sense of Steve Sarkisian's comment in response to a question about Arch Manning.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Efforts to open Dallas' first H-E-B store are drawing… opposition. A move to rezone the property to pave the way for the popular store is turning into a familiar zoning fight between neighbors who would like to see the grocery store and those who worry the new development will increase flooding and traffic on the already congested roads. In other news, sprawling across nearly 27 square miles, DFW International Airport is one of the largest in the world. It is serviced by 34 airlines that provide nonstop flights to more than 250 destinations, including domestic and international. That includes the newest, Royal Jordanian Air, which announced at the beginning of September it would start flying to Jordan's capital, Amman, next May; Eddie García is taking a five-figure pay cut to return to North Texas and head Fort Worth's police force; and Plano leaders voted unanimously Monday to raise the city's tax rate for the first time in 16 years, anticipating increased costs amid slowing growth and adopting a nearly $800 million budget. The city's tax rate has held steady at 41.76 cents per $100 of assessed property valuations for three years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Constitutional law expert and antitrust lawyer Rob Walters speaks about different contexts and perspectives in law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Citing safety concerns and dedicated school days, the State Fair of Texas will not offer free admission to high school students this season. One free ticket will still be offered to pre-K through eighth grade students and all teachers within a 100-mile radius of Fair Park. In other news, OSHA called Union Pacific a “serial violator” of the Federal Railroad Safety Act, citing 20 past violations.  A Texas railroad engineer was awarded more than $300,000 in back wages, damages and attorney's fees after a federal investigation found Union Pacific unlawfully fired him. Also, Grocery Connect, a program started by Bonton Farms partnering with Kroger in late 2023, is expanding its pickup locations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Climate Prediction Center, a branch of the weather service, is currently forecasting below-average precipitation chances for the middle of the month. The end of September currently has average rainfall chances, giving little insight into just how many days of rain North Texans can expect. In other news, for the first time in 16 years, Plano leaders could soon raise the city's property tax rate, citing slowing growth and the higher costs of maintaining its infrastructure and quality of life;  the Texas M&A landscape continues to defy economic headwinds in what has proven to be an uneven deal environment. The third quarter kicked off with a handful of transactions valued at a billion dollars or more, including a few involving notable brands headquartered in North Texas; and Powerball players in Missouri and Texas won the nearly $1.8 billion jackpot on Saturday, overcoming astronomical odds to end the lottery game's three-month drought without a big winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Actress and coffee entrepreneur Sofia Vergara shares some of her favorite Texas things with the Dallas Morning News food team. And burgers, burgers and more burgers seem to be popping up across North Texas, and the team gets into some of the biggest news between two buns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After stumbling all year over how to explain the Rangers' stumbles, John and Evan stumble over how to explain an illogical hot streak and tales of travel woes. The former Rangers ace Cole Hamels joins the guys to recall his unexpected trade to the Rangers, the run to 2015 AL West title and if there is anything these Rangers can take from that. And he reminisces about the day of two Coles, when the Rangers asked him to chaperone first-round draft pick Cole Ragans around spring training. Finally, when John cranks open the Archives in Arlington, out tumbles the tale of the Ranger who played all nine positions - in five innings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a short proceeding Thursday, Morris waived a preliminary hearing and an arraignment was set for Oct. 2nd. Morris' attorney declined comment when asked why he requested the hearing be waived. The Oklahoma attorney general's office, which is prosecuting the case, said in an email statement that it “looks forward to presenting our case against the defendant at trial.” In other news, Attorney General Ken Paxton has appealed a federal court ruling that blocked a law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in some Texas classrooms. Paxton announced the appeal Thursday; as the annual State Fair of Texas season nears, the Dallas venue will soon be packed with visitors looking to win prizes, ride attractions or eat fried treats. Keeping those visitors safe is a top priority of fair officials; nd the Dallas Cowboys went toe to toe with the reigning Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles last night but came up a little short in 24-20 loss on the road to start the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dallas County Republican Party could decide this month if it will hand-count tens of thousands of ballots that will be cast in its March 3 gubernatorial primary, a monumental proposal that elections experts say is prone to inaccuracies and logistical issues. In other news, the annual mandatory Texas STAAR test for millions of public school students would be gone in two years under legislation sent to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk late Wednesday; the town of Fairview is pushing back on McKinney's expanding airport, creating a citizen's task force to draft a plan to minimize the project's potential harm to the environment, property values and the town's quality of life; and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints inched closer to breaking ground on its Fairview Texas Temple Tuesday after the Town Council voted to approve a parcel map for the divisive building, which has pitted the small Collin County town in a stand-off for nearly two years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and Calvin Watkins discuss [00:10] the fallout from the Micah Parsons trade and how that impacts the Cowboys for Thursday's opener in Philadelphia, which, according to our panel, will not be good. [20:52] Kirk Bohls, who covers Texas for the Houston Chronicle, joins Kevin and Evan to talk about Texas' 14-7 loss to Ohio State at the Horseshoe. Evan and Kevin wonder [41:38] if the kids have given the Rangers a spark in a late climb in the wild card standings. And SportsDay Insider bids farewell [50:50] to the all-time great Cowboys linebacker, Lee Roy Jordan.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Intersections Podcast: Clay Cooley is a Dallas-born entrepreneur known for his car dealerships in the region. Cooley talks about how he got his start in the car business, his family-oriented approach and how the car business has both evolved and stayed the same over the years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Texas Senate on Tuesday gave initial approval to a much-anticipated bill aiming to tamp down on the mailing of abortion pills into the state. The bill, if signed into law, would create a new pathway for enforcing Texas' strict abortion ban. It would allow regular citizens to file civil lawsuits against anyone who distributes abortion pills within Texas or anyone who mails abortion pills to Texas. In other news, Texas' business-friendly climate has helped make it the “headquarters of headquarters.” With Dallas becoming what Christopher Kleinert, chief executive officer of Hunt Realty Investments, recently called an “epicenter for financial activity,” many Fortune 500 companies are planting down roots in the region, or adding to their Texas operations; the sale of lab-grown meat has been banned in Texas for two years as part of Senate Bill 261. The law states that “a person may not manufacture, process, possess, distribute, offer for sale, or sell cell-cultured protein.” Although its production and use were not widespread in the state, some believe its ban violates people's constitutional rights, impacting what consumers can and can't purchase; and cases of COVID-19 are spiking in Texas as a new variant spreads across much of the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID variant XFG, nicknamed Stratus, accounts for three-fourths of COVID cases in the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new law partially regulating the state's burgeoning retail consumable-hemp industry went into effect yesterday, banning THC-laced “vapes” from smoke shops and gas stations across Texas. In other news, McKinney leaders are considering a $942 million budget and lower tax rate that includes funds for dozens of new city employees and millions for its expanding airport as the city benefits from continued growth in population and property value; U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and his allies spent the summer attacking primary challenger Ken Paxton as unfit for office in an effort to erode the state attorney general's robust early support among more conservative Lone Star State voters; and a father of five and former football standout at L.D. Bell High School was shot and killed early Monday after a fight erupted outside a Euless bar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

North Texas passengers may have noticed for many years that international flights aren't available from Dallas Love Field Airport. That's because it's illegal to do so. In other news, closing Dallas' nine aging community pools has been in the works for a decade. Decommissioning the city's nine community pools was part of the city's 2015 aquatic master plan, which called for developing newer aquatic facilities to replace the functionally obsolete community pools. The shift was funded mainly through the 2017 bond program, which allocated $262 million for parks and recreation; the legality of a 2023 law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott that allows the state to enforce federal immigration law will be decided by all 17 judges of a federal appeals court; and North Texas' population is set to grow from eight million to twelve million by twenty-fifty. The surge creates challenges for the region and its resources, including water, energy and land. Is North Texas prepared for such explosive growth? The Dallas Morning News is working to answer that question. That's why the newsroom is launching a bold new initiative to address these challenges and how regional planners meet them. It's called the Future of North Texas. Throughout the project, the D-M-N will track the data and explore topics like housing and economic mobility, energy and natural resources, health disparities and how neighborhoods like southern Dallas are affected. We'll cover how a surging population changes the region's workforce, schools and communities. To dive into the data and learn more about the initiative, go to dallasnews.com/futureNTX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Rangers President of Baseball Operations joins the guys to break down the remainder of the season and to share thoughts on what has gone right and what's gone wrong. The guys wonder if the 5-1 homestand is a harbinger of a run and theorize on why the offense might have a different dynamic. Also, Evan gets emotional over the Rangers' great smiles and a little wistful when John mentions Yu Darvish in the Archives in Arlington. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chefs in North Texas and the Dallas Morning News food team have some thoughts on what it looks like to dine out in 2025. Get your fill of restaurant etiquette hot takes, with a side of dining-out horror stories, on this episode of Eat Drink D-FW. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, two people familiar with the deal told The Dallas Morning News. In other news, both protesters and job seekers alike came out in droves for a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hiring event in Arlington this week, as the agency looks to fill thousands of open positions using new funding from the Trump administration. Nearly 2,000 people preregistered for an ICE hiring event at Esports Stadium Arlington, part of a nationwide recruiting effort with big incentives; Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton expressed concern Thursday that Plano ISD “is allowing antisemitic behavior to take place,” asking in a letter to the superintendent for documentation about the district's investigations and disciplinary actions related to pro-Palestinian protests, anti-Israel rhetoric and antisemitism; and The All-American Rejects wound back the clock to the 2000s on Wednesday night, playing several of their old hits at a skate park in South Dallas. The band will sign copies of a limited tour-only vinyl edition of Sandbox at Good Records in East Dallas at 1 p.m. today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the 10th straight year, the Dallas City Council is considering lowering the property tax rate — even though many homeowners will still pay more due to rising home values and costs. However, the exact new rate is still under discussion, as city officials continue to review a proposed $5.2 billion budget and gather public input before a final vote in mid-September. In other news, While work has slowed from historic highs, Dallas-Fort Worth is second in the nation for new apartment construction in 2025 — adding more rental units than entire states like Georgia and Arizona. The Dallas metro is expected to welcome nearly 29,000 new apartments before the end of the year, trailing only New York City. DART delayed a vote on public transportation cuts aimed at saving $24 million a year. And, a months-long impasse over how to replace the unpopular mandatory Texas STAAR test for millions of public school students inched toward closure Wednesday – as Republican lawmakers drew closer to an agreement and the legislature's second special session approached its halfway mark. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and Joe Hoyt take a look [00:12] at the Cowboys' final roster decisions and how it impacts several positions, running backs in particular. For the second year in a row, no one's impressed. Kevin notes that Derrick Henry, who wanted to sign with the Cowboys last year, was ranked this year among ESPN's top 100 players. The guys also try to figure out why Jerry Jones refuses to negotiate with Micah Parsons' agent, David Mulugheta, and give their best guess when something gets done. [25:32] Kevin and Evan were both surprised at Bruce Bochy's enthusiasm about his job, putting the ball in Chris Young's court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Texas Water Development Board would be charged with identifying flood-prone areas in the state and require municipalities in those areas to install flood sirens under a bill advanced by the Texas House on Tuesday morning. In other news, anticipating increased costs, Plano city leaders will vote next month on a proposed budget that includes $788 million in expenses, adds no new programs or services, recommends keeping the same tax rate and focuses on maintaining the city's aging infrastructure; a trip to the State Fair of Texas this year will be a little more expensive for patrons compared with previous years. The 2025 fair opens Sept. 26 and runs until Oct. 19. Prices for regular, single-day admission will vary depending on the day of the week. This year, adult tickets cost between $19 and $29, while children's admission tickets will range from $14 to $24; and Smoothie King now serves a food menu at its more than 1,200 locations. Some menu items from the smoothie maker, unsurprisingly, come with a healthy twist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A mix of sun and clouds today with a cold front bringing a chance for an afternoon thunderstorm. It will also bring a little relief in the temperature for a few days. Today's high will be 89. Clouds and a chance for more rain and rumbles of thunder this evening with a low of 70.  The high won't get out of the 80s tomorrow. Thursday will be back in the 90s but another cold front is on the way that may drop temperatures back to the 80s by the time the holiday weekend comes around. In other news, A DART bus crashed at White Rock Station on Monday morning, injuring five people. At least one person had to be extricated from the vehicle. It was not immediately clear how many people were on the bus, or what caused the crash; Dallas plans to increase its budget to maintain its buildings after discovering earlier this year the city is spending half of what it needs to keep up with all of its facilities. The recommended budget includes about $36 million for the facilities and real estate management department, which is about $2 million more than last year's budget; with less than three weeks to go before the second special legislative session ends, Gov. Greg Abbott is still waiting for nearly all of his priorities to land on his desk; nd Fort Worth's political and business leaders have touted the city's economic success for years, but new data is backing up those assertions. Among large American cities, Cowtown ranks fifth best for economic growth, buoyed largely by strong marks in education and international trade, according to a new study from Coworking Cafe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since 1996, the value of the Dallas Cowboys has outgained the S&P 500 by more than double, increasing 47 times over to a world-record $12.8 billion. That's according to Sportico's latest analysis. Simultaneously, the team has failed to reach the NFC championship game over that same time frame — the longest such drought in the National Football League. In other news, a Dallas firm plans to give a historic downtown hotel new life in a first-of-its-kind project. Sycamore Development plans to renovate the 29-story Magnolia Building placing hotel rooms and for-rent, mixed-income apartments within the Dallas landmark; when Jane Gow was 13 years old, she fled with her family to the United States during the fall of Saigon. That collapse marked the end of the Vietnam War. Fifty years later, the former refugee is using her nonprofit shop, BeKinder Coffee, to help refugees and asylum-seekers build new lives in Dallas; and across Texas, doctors and patients say anxiety, confusion and legal concerns have transformed a routine adherence to standard of care into something new — a standard of fear. An anonymous emergency doctor based in Dallas said the state's abortion ban has created a world of distrust in doctor's offices. Patients don't know if they can trust their physicians. Physicians don't know if they can trust their patients. In “Standard of Fear,” we share doctors' firsthand accounts of the impact Texas' abortion bans have had on their practice. Read the series now at DallasNews.com/Texasabortions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dallas-Fort Worth chefs share some of their guiltiest of guilty pleasure foods, and the Dallas Morning News food team takes you on a journey around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eddie García, the former Dallas police chief who departed for Austin last year despite efforts by city leaders to keep him, will be Fort Worth's next police chief. The appointment comes less than a year after García became an assistant city manager in Austin, joining former Dallas city manager T.C. Broadnax. García's swift return to North Texas was driven by a realization during his time in Austin that he was “born to be a cop.” In other news, Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, the North Texas mother accused of killing her young son, is now in Tarrant County custody, FBI and Tarrant County officials said Thursday; the Powerball jackpot rose to $700 million after no one won the big prize Wednesday night. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, while the odds of winning some sort of smaller prize are about 1 in 25. And the first White Castle burger in Texas is expected to open in The Colony in the summer of 2026, a spokeswoman for the fast-food company confirmed to The Dallas Morning News. And if you'd like to learn more about the North Texas food scene then listen to Eat Drink D-FW, a podcast produced by the Dallas Morning News. A new episode just dropped with the title, ‘Chefs are just like us!' and you can find it in this feed or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Texas House delivered President Donald Trump a victory Wednesday when it approved a congressional redistricting plan that could be crucial for Republicans to hold control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. The partisan gerrymander could flip as many as five Democratically held seats to Republican, taking aim at districts in North Texas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and South Texas. In other news, Dallas hired a commercial real estate investment and development company earlier this year to find potential sites for a new Dallas Mavericks arena; a sophomore junior varsity football player at Lancaster died Wednesday morning, two days after he reported feeling unwell while at practice. Preston Malone III, a 15-year-old student at Lancaster High School, was pronounced dead at Children's Medical Center after he was rushed there on Monday by paramedics; nd across Texas, doctors and patients say anxiety, confusion and legal concerns have transformed a routine adherence to standard of care into something new — a standard of fear. An anonymous emergency doctor based in Dallas said the state's abortion ban has created a world of distrust in doctor's offices. Patients don't know if they can trust their physicians. Physicians don't know if they can trust their patients. In “Standard of Fear,” we share doctors' firsthand accounts of the impact Texas' abortion bans have had on their practice. Read the series now at DallasNews.com/TexasAbortions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington and Evan Grant are joined [1:00] by Calvin Watkins in an effort to figure out exactly what the Cowboys have done leading up to the final preseason game to make us think they'll be better than what got Mike McCarthy fired. Holes at backup quarterback, defensive line, cornerback and possibly in the offensive line. [27:45] Meanwhile, the Rangers, in the midst of their most important week of the season, decided to do it without Josh Jung, who, not so long ago, showcased the advancement of their player development system. Not a good time for faint of heart fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John and Evan break down the season's most critical week (though it feels like the Rangers have had lots of critical weeks) with a series at Kansas City and one vs. Cleveland, the two teams directly ahead of them in the playoff race. Then Hall of Famer Adrián Beltré joins to discuss the statue of him that will be unveiled this week outside Globe Life Field. What will the pose be? Will fans be able to touch the statue's head without getting tased? And finally, the great countdown to the Rangers most iconic regular-season moment has come to a close. Which won the fan vote: Kenny Rogers' perfect game or the first playoff berth in team history? And does John, the ultimate authority on Rangers' history, agree? Lots of mysteries to unravel this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rep. Nicole Collier, who has been on the House floor since noon Monday said, “I'm so grateful for their support. There has been a crowd out here all demanding my release, and they're doing what they can to show their resistance. They're tired of this government overreach.” Twenty-four hours earlier, Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows told Collier and the rest of the Democrats on the floor who had been absent the previous two weeks that they could not leave the House unless they were accompanied by a Texas Department of Public Safety agent or officer every minute they aren't in the Capitol. Collier refused the police escort, choosing instead to spend the night at her desk. In other news, Fort Worth police said Tuesday that a driver who was shot a day earlier while in traffic has died from his injury, and a suspect is now facing a murder charge in connection with the shooting. Police have not publicly disclosed the identity of the victim or the suspect as of Tuesday evening; new data shows electric vehicle sales in Texas continue to rise — but the charging network remains spotty. The automobile class represented just under 7% of the state's new light-duty vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2025, according to an analysis by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation; nd it's been nearly four years since Texas implemented one of the country's most strict and punitive abortion bans, ushering in the most seismic change to women's health care in a half-century. The Dallas Morning News set out to explore how overlapping abortion laws in Texas have altered the landscape of obstetric health care across the state. Through more than 100 interviews with physicians, researchers, healthcare experts, patients, and families, reporters documented deviations from what was in the best interest of the patient and other unintended consequences. “Standard of Fear,” a new investigative series, reveals how the abortion laws have been sweeping in their collateral damage, leaving patients, families, and medical providers caught in the middle. Read the entire series now at dallasnews.com/texasabortions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than a year ago, The Dallas Morning News set out to explore how Texas' overlapping abortion laws have altered the landscape of obstetric health care. Through more than 100 interviews with physicians and other health care professionals, researchers, advocates, legal experts, patients and family members, reporters documented deviations from the standard of care, as well as other unintended consequences. In other news, Dallas' new inspector general, tasked with uncovering corruption and ensuring the city government complies with its code of ethics, is not an attorney, and his recent hiring by the City Council violates the city's charter. In June, council members unanimously hired Timothy Menke, a former federal official who held a similar role in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; a group of teens in a car were shot at after police said they played ding, dong, ditch at a Frisco man's house in July. 58-year old Damon Wolfe faces a felony aggravated assault charge; and America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders has been renewed for a third season and is slated for a 2026 return. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Texas Senate could move the GOP's redistricting plan forward in the next few days after the redistricting panel advanced the map on Sunday afternoon. Wasting little time in the second special session, the redistricting committee voted out the map on a 6-3 party-line vote. In other news, Authorities are investigating after Nazi Germany flags were found hanging outside on Rockwall-Heath High School's facade over the weekend. Heath police were called to the Rockwall ISD school at about 6:40 a.m. Saturday after “antisemitic materials” were discovered hanging from the school's east side, police said in a statement; Chris Carpenter, co-owner of Dallas restaurant Hendy's on Henderson, died on Sunday, August 10th after spending the prior evening at the bustling bar. Hendy's has been open barely a month. Carpenter was 41. His cause of death is unknown. Friend and fellow bar operator Andrew Young called him a “high risk, high reward” person who was a “meticulous manager” with a magnetic personality. Friends and family hosted a celebration of life for Carpenter at Hendy's last Thursday; and a lot of questions still remain for the Cowboys after Saturday's 31-13 loss to Baltimore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Dallas Morning News food team discusses an A.I. tool developed at SMU that deciphers wine reviews and discovers some of the most overlooked wine regions in the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To file your claim over the AT&T Data Breach: https://www.telecomdatasettlement.com/ The weather warnings are back for parts of North Texas. A heat advisory has been announced by the National Weather Service's Fort Worth office from noon until 8 p.m. today. The alert warns of heat index values up to 107 degrees across the region. Dallas-Fort Worth may be slightly lower, as the max heat index forecasted for DFW International Airport is 104. Counties across northeast Texas are all under the advisory, as well as much of Oklahoma. Denton, Tarrant and Ellis counties make up the western edge of the alert. In other news, Texas House Democrats signaled Thursday they will likely return to the state for a second special session on redistricting and “take this fight to the courts” after the Legislature adjourns the current session on Friday as planned; amid a strained school budget and declining enrollment, the Plano Independent School District is halting school bus service for hundreds of students, leaving parents scrambling to find safe transportation for their children; AT&T customers whose information was stolen in two separate data breaches can apply for their share — up to $7,500 — of a $177 million settlement. The Dallas-based company agreed to settle a class action lawsuit following data breaches last year that resulted in the leak of sensitive information of millions of customers; and The Ramble Room and Monarch restaurants are hosting fundraisers for victims of the floods in the Texas Hill country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a new state law that eases zoning restrictions looming, the Dallas City Council approved a controversial plan to rezone the Hampton-Clarendon corridor in West Oak Cliff after months in the process. In September, Senate Bill 840 will loosen city regulations and allow developers to build housing in commercially zoned areas without community input. In other news, the family of a woman who died during flooding in Kerr County has filed a civil lawsuit against the RV park where she was staying when catastrophic floodwaters swept through the region last month. Relatives of 22-year old Jayda Floyd filed the suit Tuesday in the 216th judicial district in Kerr County against HTR TX Hill Country Resort; Illinois law enforcement officers cannot arrest Texas House Democrats who have been staying in the northern state in protest of a congressional redistricting map, a state judge ruled Wednesday; and just two years after setting a post-pandemic record for international visitors, and a year before hosting one of the world's most popular international events, Dallas is projected to see a decline in tourists visiting from abroad. Political, economic and immigration-related concerns are affecting international tourism in Dallas, which is on pace to decline 8% this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and Joe Hoyt discuss Dallas' most perplexing sports franchises, each for different reasons. [1:58] The Rangers continue to challenge anyone to write them into the playoffs or write them off. Evan says they don't have an identity. Kevin says the fact that you don't know what to expect tells you that's exactly who they are: unpredictable. [20:17] Joe, who's relatively new to the Cowboys beat, has discovered what we've all come to know: A documentary about a team that hasn't won anything of consequence in 30 years is proof that the appeal of the Cowboys isn't about football.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John and Evan once again find themselves breaking down the lack of offense in key moments before turning to the more pleasant topic of Nathan Eovaldi's Cy Young candidacy. The guys go over his case, the obstacles he faces, the historic nature of his ERA and a little insight into how voting works. Then Ian Kinsler becomes the first live in-studio guest when he sits down for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with how the 2010-13 Rangers went into games knowing they were going to beat opponents and his role in that. And then it goes off in all kinds of directions. John and Evan review the finalists for the Rangers Best Regular Season Moment in club history. And how you can win a nice prize package for voting in the finals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As more drivers have traversed Texas roads over the past decade, they've become more dangerous. Despite an 8% decline in year-over-year Texas traffic fatalities since 2021, road deaths have risen 18% overall in the last decade, resulting in nearly $165 billion in economic and “quality of life” costs last year. In other news, Texas public schools will navigate a slate of new state laws this school year. State legislators passed hundreds of new laws related to education this year, from a ban on cellphones in schools to a ban on school-sponsored LGBTQ clubs; investors are coming back to the real estate market, reversing a slowdown over the past few years. Market conditions saw significant recuperation in the first half of 2025; and for about five years, McKinney has toyed with a plan to build its own version of Klyde Warren Park on State Highway 5, a project that had been backed by $15 million in federal funding intended to restitch communities ripped apart by highways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Texas House Republicans teed up a slate of bills addressing the deadly July 4 Hill Country floods on Monday, but Democrats' continued boycott left the chamber without the quorum needed to vote — setting the stage for Republicans to use the flood relief measures as leverage against their absent colleagues. In other news, a suspect is in custody after a gunman opened fire Monday outside a Target store in Austin, killing at least three people; volunteers assisting in the cleanup following the flooding in the Texas Hill Country in July discovered something unexpected — dinosaur tracks. Researchers say that they're common for the region and, with cleanup efforts still underway, there may be more to find. Volunteers in northwest Travis County discovered the dinosaur tracks in a layer of limestone; and it's been called the Beetlejuice house. The cereal box. The Oreo house. The leaning tower of Cedars. It's a narrow, 64-foot-tall home on a small lot that feels a little out of place. Read more about the unusual house in today's edition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices