It takes a lot to get people to look forward to Monday mornings, but tomorrow's commute may do it for some North Texas drivers. 

Today a stretch of State Highway 161 opened between State Highway 183 and Interstate 30. 

A few businesses we talked to today say it will help them, too, creating more traffic and hopefully more sales.

But not everyone is thrilled.  For some, the expansion is too close to home.

Jump on over to the story here on the33tv.com

Drive safely.

As the clock counts down to the start of the 2009 NFL season, Cowboys fans and lottery players alike can get in on the action off the field by playing the Dallas Cowboys scratch-off game.

The $5 Dallas Cowboys scratch-off ticket will offer players a chance at cash prizes up to $100,000.  In addition to cash prizes, players will also have the opportunity to win exciting Cowboys merchandise and once-in-a-lifetime experiential prizes to be awarded in the second-chance drawings.  Players can return non-winning tickets by mail to participate in the five second-chance drawings to be held throughout the run of the game. Prizes to be awarded include gift certificates, signed jerseys, pairs of season tickets and some very special trip packages, as shown below.

o   5  Dallas Cowboys "Wild Weekend" Packages, which include

§  One suite for 20 guests at a Dallas Cowboys home game

§  Private tour of the Dallas Cowboys practice facility

§  Private tour of the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium

§  Pre-game party for 20 guests at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium

§  Round-trip airfare or ground transportation and hotel accommodations for 20

o   10  Dallas Cowboys Draft Weekend Packages for two, which include

§  An inside look at the War Room on Draft Day

§  Transportation on Dallas Cowboys Luxury Bus to the official Dallas Cowboys Draft Party

§  VIP Passes to the Draft Party

§  Round-trip airfare or ground transportation and hotel accommodations for two

o   5  Away-game trips for two, which include

§  Two game tickets to one away game of the prize winner's choice

§  Round trip airfare and ground transportation

§  Hotel accommodations for two for one night at the team hotel

"We are thrilled to be able to announce this partnership with the Dallas Cowboys," said Texas Lottery Commission Deputy Executive Director Gary Grief.  "Cowboy fans will be thrilled with the unique football-related prizes this game has to offer."

"Not only are the Dallas Cowboys among the elite teams in the National Football League, but the team has a strong history of working in their local community through organizations such as the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation, the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Dallas Cowboys Charities and numerous other non-profit organizations," said Grief.  "The Texas Lottery is extremely proud to partner with the Cowboys' organization to generate funding for the school children of Texas."

"We are thrilled about our new partnership with the Texas Lottery," said Jerry Jones Jr., the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for the Dallas Cowboys.  "This game will give our fans an exciting new way to be a part of the Dallas Cowboys.  Just as importantly, this program will dramatically help the youth of Texas by supporting education."

In fiscal year 2008, approximately 95 cents of every dollar spent on lottery products by Texas Lottery players was returned to the people of Texas in the form of contributions to education, prizes, retailer commissions and other state programs, with over $983 million going directly to the Foundation School Fund.   The Foundation School Fund is a dedicated account that is administered by the Texas Education Agency and helps pay for public education in the State of Texas.

Before you send your kid out for those "2-a-days" you may want to know there are new heat guidelines, that some districts may or may not follow. The recomendations from UIL and the National Athletic Trainer's Assoc. are only advice and not mandates, but still most coaches agree -- the suggestions could save young lives.

It was only a few years ago a Dallas high school lost a young man to heatstroke after several intense practices, so the threat is real. Problem is it can be tough for parents to find out their districts policies on heat, so dig deep and ask questions -- because even though heat-related deaths are rare and the percentages low -- if it's your kid, it's one too many.

Didn't we just have this conversation? Well, tonight someone else is on the "anti" bandwagon, calling for a summit of experts to look at the issue.

I know you may be disappointed to hear that Paula Abdul won't be returning to American Idol.  To help you out of your depression, why not find out where to go out and grab drinks with friends.  Who knows, maybe you'll make some new ones!  Tonight I feature The Park, the impossible to get a table in, packed to the brim, bar and restaurant that's only been open two weeks.

Tune in the The 33 tonight, 9pm!

Cheers,

Roni

Ten seconds before our sports director Dave Crome was live on the air, the show director got into his earpiece and said the word of the night is "Flibbertigibbet."  After a loud, "WHAT, NO WAY." Dave responded, "That is not even a word."  Four seconds til air now. I Googled it and told Dave it was a real word and gave him a quick definition. Cue Dave.  Dave rolled into his first story about Cowboys camp. He described a big hit on the field, not missing a beat said, "There are no flibbertigibbets here." The dude nailed it, in context even. So just in case you were wondering what a flibbertigibbet is...here it is according to Dictionary.com.

More questions are being raised about the sudden departure of the Richardson Superintendent, David Simmons. He resigned this week -- seeingly out of the blue. Trustees paid him $300,000 to walk -- with the agreement that neither side would say anything bad about the other. 

So what is the deal? .. that is the question so many are asking. A successful school chief doesn't just "walk away" from a $225,000 job, with perks. Officials say rumblings of trouble in Dr. Simmons personal life played no role in in the decision to part ways. "We did not discuss his personal life" .. says board president, Kim Quirk.

Let me know what you think -- and if you know more about Simmons decision to leave, should be an email at dtongish@tribune.com.  

Thousands of Cowboys fans were screaming for Tony Romo after Saturday mornings practice at the Alamodome, but only one of them got a hug.  It was none other than Eva Longoria who watched practice with a small entourage from the sideline. 

"I'm so happy when the Cowboys do camp in San Antonio because I tell Tony, I was a Cowboys fan before a Spurs fan"  said Longoria who was speaking about her husband, Tony Parker of the Spurs.

Parker wasn't at the practice when Romo came to the sideline for a brief chat.  She was wearing a silver number 9 around her neck, which is Parker's number with the Spurs, but she was willing to make a concession for today.

"This is a number nine for my Tony (Parker) but I'll put it in honor of Tony Romo today. 

The Cowboys have another practice this afternoon and we'll wrap them up for you on The 33 News at Nine.

Tonight you heard me report on a growing trend -- more states are examining the cost of sending offenders to death row. It can cost up to $1,000,000 to prosecute, house and then execute an inmate. In Texas, the average cost of housing one inmate is $47.50 per day -- even with a hefty sentence, like 40 years that is still far less than the price of strapping someone to the guerney in the death chamber.

The "cost" isn't usually an issue that is debated when it comes to capital punishment -- most talk about accuracy and fairness, even the method of execution (lethal injection). Last year, I witnessed killer Michael Rodriquez go to his death inside the Walls Unit. While some would say any "forced" death is grisly, I found it to be very clinical, almost like a surgery. The inmate is strapped to the guerney when the witnesses enter the rooms adjacent to the execution chamber. He/she is given the opportunity to give a last statement -- sometimes it is rambling others times it is as short as "let's go Warden". After that the chemicals begin to flow and the inmate appears to drift off to sleep. Rodriguez actually began snoring -- before taking a couple of deep breaths. A doctor pronounced him dead 7 minutes after the drugs started flowing. It was carried out in a dignified and respectful manner -- very much UNLIKE the heinous crimes these inmates are accused of committing against innocents.

If you've ever wanted to give back to your community or make the future a better place, this might be your chance.  In all seriousness, the educational arm of LULAC is looking for 50 volunteers to mentor 12, 13, 14 year olds from Greiner Middle School in Dallas' Oakcliff neighborhood.

It's once a week for one year.  If you are interested in the program,  there will be a Mentor Orientation and Training will be Tuesday, August 11 at 5pm at Greiner Middle School 501 S Edgefield Ave in Dallas, Texas.

Food, drinks and prize giveaways will take place.  Including, comedy club tickets, hotel packages, and dinner certificates.

Wow! 230 miles-per-gallon!  GM says its new Chevy Volt gets 230 mpg in the city and 100 mpg on the highway.

Wait a minute? Isn't the car suppose to get more miles-per-gallon on the highway? Well, as I now understand it, yes and no.

First, GM says the Volt can only go 40 miles on a single charge and it must charge its lithium-ion batteries 8-hours a day.  But, it also has a gas powered, "range extending" engine that powers the generator past the 40-mile mark. So, GM say you can rack up 230 miles per gallon during city driving because you'll barely tap into the gas powered, "range extending" engine.  Meanwhile, if you have a long road trip, one gallon of gas is suppose to give you about 100 miles.

Most importanly to me, the Volt looks great and hopefully it has some performance.  That was always my knock on hybrids and electric cars.  They looked terrible and there was no head snapping acceleration.  Plus, if you really did the math, you weren't saving money in the long run, saving the environment, maybe. 

But, the Volt is actually cool enough to buy. And, if it delivers some performance and 230 mpg in the city...SAAAWWEEET.

It's the talk of the town in Kelly Clarkson's hometown -- a Burleson drill team member suspended for one game, after school officials found profanity on her "private" MySpace page. Lindsey Wessel says she shouldn't be punished for something that was intended only for a close circle of friends -- but school officials say students who take part in extra-curricular activites are held to a higher standard; a code of conduct that prohibits this kind of posting.

So what do you think? Who has it right here? ... school authorities or Wessel. Attorneys say it does raise a lot of questions about 1st amendment and free speech rights. In this new age of social-networking, there will likely be more of these questions as we all wade through these untested waters.  

Want to know where to go and what to drink?  In about 5 minutes I'll be bringing you hot sumemr drinks and what bars are shaking up the best cocktails in town!

Cheers,

Roni

I love meetings.  I mean it I really enjoy covering government meetings. I know I'm nuts.  Today I was at DISD.  The board was discussing possible name changes for replacements schools for OM Roberts Elementary and Billy Earl Dade Middle School.  Both campuses are located in South Dallas.  That's District 9, trustee Ron Price's district.  Price is who made the suggestion. 

The discussion was very lively today, and in my opinion I don't think the other board members are against the name change because of **who** the schools would be named after, but rather the manner in which this is happening.

Many trustees said it is just too soon, it's out of the naming cycle for the district and both President Obama and Justice Sotomayor don't meet the age requirements, nor do they have North Texas ties.

District policy does all "persons who have attained prominence locally or nationally" to have a school named after them.

I guess we'll find out on the 27th the board has its vote.

If you have ever looked into the big eyes of a horse, you know they are next to human. But, what I saw in Denton County today was enough to make anyone cry. These beautiful animals with hip bones protruding so much, it looked as though they were about to punch through hide.

The owner is under arrest -- facing possible jail time and a fine. But, how does this happen? If a livestock owner is feeling financially strapped there are rescue groups that are willing to help. Check out the Humane Society of North Texas -- please look for resources .. it is much kinder than letting this majestic animal, starve. 

So that slurpee may have cost you a whole lot more than you thought ... 7-11 has been targeted by identity thieves, who officials say stole 130 million credit and debit card numbers. 3 men were indicted today in New Jersey, one is in custody in an elaborate case of what prosecutors say is corporate hacking.

Unsuspecting customers have been exposed and didn't even know it until now. Experts say even though most of us take precautions to guard against identity theft, this may be one avenue that is almost impossible to prevent ... unless you carry cash and use it. 

It was an interesting mix at the rally in Dallas as Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison takes on incumbent, Rick Perry -- in the gop race for governor. She was very late for her own party, but not as late as the Mayor of Dallas -- who completely missed her speech. I'm told he was supposed to "surprise" her with his support. Oops!

But, most people were talking about the plane overhead -- pulling a banner that read, "Kay come clean, release your taxes". She called it classless, but I think it's just a sign of more to come -- in what is expected to be an expensive, bruising battle. 

Okay, but first we have to get through tomorrow night's Paul McCartney concert.

It's another big parking and traffic test for Cowboys Stadium, which has passed with flying colors to date.

The Rangers are also in town tomorrow night at the team's neighboring ballpark. 

Leave early?  Stay late?  What's the answer?  We'll be covering all of the above on tomorrow's newscast.

Stay with us at 9pm and all the time here on the33tv.com

Modern, chic, stylish... yes it's the W Hotel and we paid a visit to the Living Room bar for a lounge experience with comfort.  Here's a picture of the beautiful staircase that greets you when you walk in through the front door

Courtesy W Hotel and Starwood Properties

Tune in tonight to see my review on the bar!  Ch.33, the CW, 9 pm!

Cheers,

Roni

Watch Pinpointing Gold Meeting -- from the News Director's Office

Most businesses have meetings. But when you have a daily meeting with two television anchors, you better believe there's going to be some getting off track.

Every day Walt and Amanda sit in the 5:30 Rundown meeting and listen to the producer tell them about the stories in the newscast. Other employees come too. Most of the time, it is very professional. UNTIL... the producer gets to the point of the newscast where it is time to talk about the "Pinpointing America" stories of the day.

"Pinpointing America" is a franchise in the 9 PM newscast each night. It consists of WILD stories from across the country. You know... bears going through someone's kitchen in Wisconsin... Car chase in California... surveillance video of an old lady getting mugged in Florida.... and then the old lady fighting back. (To conclude these stories are AWESOME)

And when the stories are REALLY REALLY REALLY awesome... we call it "Pinpointing Gold." And by "we" I mean myself, and Walt.  Each day Walt strives to get "Pinpointing GOLD" in his "Pinpointing America." Then he describes each story during the rundown meeting. Then I judge him and deem what is really "Pinpointing Gold."

Past "Pinpointing Gold" stories include:
1. A giant python stuck in a bathtub
2. Chocolate covered bacon
3. A prisoner so over-weight, he stored a gun in his fat
4. A woman who slow dances with her horse

You get the idea.

Our news director (as well as several other people in the meeting) is entertained by the entire ordeal, so he recorded the whole thing on his flip cam. I posted it... above...  check it out. 

Reporters Aaron Smith and Shana Franklin thought they escaped an embarrassing birthday celebration at work.... because everyone forgot their birthdays (they were last week)

Luckily for us, Weekend Anchor Dawn Tongish has the best memory ever.... and supplied a SURPRISE birthday cake for her two colleagues, and us to eat. Not so lucky, the cake decorator at Wal-mart misspelled Shana's name.

 

But the hard work is just beginning for car dealers.  Many are scrambling to submit their paperwork for tonight's 7pm deadline.

Car buyers, too, are running for the finish line.  One Hurst dealership had people lined up when it opened this morning.

Find out the latest on the program's end tonight on the 33tv.  9pm. 

Be there or be square (yeah, that never gets old). 

It is a stark reality -- but investigators may never know what happened to 3 tiny infants, whose skeletal remains were found on a mobile home park in rural Tarrant County. 2 of the infants were found in a bag and box underneath the porch, the other was found in suitcase nearby, 18 months ago.

But, because there are only a few bones and not much tissue -- investigators may not be able to determine how or why the infants died -- and if their deaths were foul play. They may be able to determine if the 3 are related. The first was a baby boy. It seems like such an injustice, whether there is a crime involved or not, that these deaths may remain a mystery. But, evidence that even with advanced science and technology -- there is not an answer for everything. 

Paul Quinn College president Michael Sorrell tells me he's very optimistic that the Historically Black Institute will regain it's accreditation status. 

Worse case scenario, Sorrell has promised his students that if the loses the next step he will "personally get on the phone and find places for our students to go to school."  Right now the college is preparing to file an injunction in Federal Court.  That should stay the SACS, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, appeal decision.

Say I can't finish my story in time to make it's slot in a newscast. It's called "Floating" a story. Other stories are bumped up while my story is floated down. It's only happened to me once in my career. The story may not have been pretty, but it didn't float. That's what Texas health officials did today when they extended the immunization deadline until October 1st. That's what I call floating a deadline. These are the newly required vaccinations:

Meningococcal

Tetanus/diptheria/pertussis (Tdap)

Varicella

If students don't have the required vaccinations by October 1st, they'll have another floating holiday from school, but the state probably won't float another deadline. The state could get away with it, but in TV, not so much.

Two Dallas Cowboys employees have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer of the practice facility and several other companies, after the structure collapsed during a thunderstorm in May.

So who is getting sued:

Summit Structures -- U.S. sales and construction affiliate  

Cover-All Building Systems -- Canada-based, designer

JCI -- Las Vegas consulting firm -- that helped with redesign after a flaw was discovered

Wrangler Concrete Construction -- Burleson-based, built the facilites foundation

Midwest Building -- Minnesota-based contractor

Dallas police are investigating the deaths of two cats.  Their bodies were found mutilated in two different front yards.

The woman who found them fears it is the work of a person, not an animal, saying their bodies were cut cleanly in half.

Find out the next steps and what neighbors say this could be part of by jumping your fingers on over to the online news department for a look.

Did you know there's a free practice tonight at Cowboys Stadium?

Gates open at 5pm.  Team practices at 6pm.

We'll have it covered in both news and sports tonight.  Dave Crome and I will be out there, making sure you miss NOTHING if you can't attend.

Watch tonight at 9m...and again on the33tv.com.

Well, you didn't see me at Cowboys practice tonight, as promised.  (Did you even look?)

We got our story coverage changed to Ft. Worth.  A fatal tasing incident by police was ruled a homicide by the Medical Examiner's office.

Jump on over to the online news department here on the33tv.com for details.

Have a good weekend.

I've been talking with the folks at U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Dallas. Wow, busy, busy people. Not only do they protect the border, track down drug smuggles and keep terrorists and weapons out of the country but they have the task of enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.On this day I talked with them about the seizure of more than 1,400 illegal scooters imported from China. The work is non-stop and I'm amazed at how thorough the officers need to be. Imagine a warehouse filled with crates and boxes and they need to check each one. It's a big responsibility but after meeting this bunch it's clear we're in good hands. - Jim Grimes

The TABC fired 3 employees involved in the controversial gay bar raid in Fort Worth. Agent Chris Aller, Agent Trainee Jason Chapman and Sergeant Terry Parsons all got the boot for their actions during the raid in June.

Most spectators agree that with the slew of policy violations, the agency probably had no choice but to terminate the agents -- but what will happen to Fort Worth police officers also involved in the raid? Perhaps they didn't call the shots like the TABC agents did, but they were there and it doesn't appear anyone tried to put the brakes on when people were being hauled out in zip ties. So, stay tuned to see what punishment those officers may face. 

You have to feel the horrible loss suffered by a Grapevine woman, whose 61-year old mother was killed by a man on a cell phone. She now wants cell phone makers and providers to increase warnings on cell phones ... something like the black box warnings on the most dangerous drugs.

It is an interesting concept -- but some will argue that people already know it's dangerous and do it anyone. 2600 people die a year in crashes related to people distracted by cell phone use. People think they can "multi-task", but they can't.

Jennifer Smith thinks the answer is better warning labels, but her proposal is unpopular -- because it could pave the way to an all out ban on cell phone use while driving. Do you want to give up your phone in traffic?