I had the pleasure of joining legendary chef Stephan Pyles in the kitchen to cook up some of his creations for his new restaurant, 'Samar'.  Tonight I'll take you inside the restaurant and the grand opening where goegeous women sipped signature cocktails, food lovers munched on food from afar and belly dancers and hookah smokers added to the already exotic atmosphere.  A fun evening.... I could have stayed all night people watching!

Cheers,

 Roni

You could have heard a pin drop in a federal courtroom in Dallas when an FBI agent began testifying about a teenage terror suspect trying to reach out to Osama Bin Laden. During a probable cause hearing, Special Agent, Tom Petrowski told a judge that Hosam Smadi videotaped a 7 minute message for OBL during a meeting a hotel. In the message, the agent says Smadi recited passages from the Qur'an and talked about his plans to attack a Dallas skyscraper.

It was really the new piece of evidence that came out of the hearing. Most of the other details have already been made public since the teen's arrest almost two weeks ago. Most experts agree that if the case against Smadi goes to trial, the videotape will be a very damaging piece of evidence.

An Arlington teen I spoke with today relived being run over by a car last week. 

She also talked about the good samaritan who chased down and caught the driver he says he saw leave the scene without stopping.

The 17 year old vicitm fought through her fears and went back to school for the first time today.  Nervous, but successful.

Watch the entire story online here at the33tv.com.

Can I afford anything in the book?!  No!  Does that stop me from flipping through every page? Of course not silly!  Yes, the economy is still in a deep slump, we're all cutting back, but fantasy is still alive and well in Neiman Marcus holiday world.  Today I went to the Dallas Contemporary to see what fantasy item they'll be selling in 'The Book' this year.  And I had plenty of fun trying out a couple items.  Check out the news at 5:30 and 9, I'll tell you what you can drool on this holiday season.

Cheers, Roni

It is the report that many people have been waiting for from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The non-regulatory arm of the Department of Commerce determined that the facility that toppled in May could not withstand proper wind strengths. The warranty guaranteed it would withstand 90 mph wind, but engineers say it collapsed under 55-65 mph gusts.

This is the news that attorneys for the injured, Rich Beam and Joe DeCamillis, expected. They have already filed lawsuits against Summit Structures and this will no doubt be more ammunition in court, as if it is needed. Beam was paralyzed and DeCamillis suffered a broken neck. We haven't heard much from Summit. An attorney today challenged the report findings, but wouldn't offer any more. I think many of the details will be revealed in court, if it gets that far. 

This may be the most disturbing thing I have seen. They are called "crush videos" depicting acts of animal cruelty. Small animals are crushed beneath a stiletto heel. This is usually as part of sexual fetish by the watcher.

The high court must decide if these videos are protected by the 1st Amendment as free speech. Being a journalist, free speech is something I hold dear. How can anyone support a crime being commited, recorded and then sold? Opponents of the videos ask what is next, the slaughter of human beings or maybe the rape of children?

The court didn't telegraph what it will decide, but let us hope for the sake of decency the justices actually watch one of these videos and make what many believe is the humane decision. 

No doubt you have heard there is a very public debate about whether the state executed an innocent man five years ago. Cameron Todd Willingham was sent to his death for setting a house fire in Corsicana that killed his three young daughters. 

Since his execution, critics have claimed that investigators used "junk science" to convict him. A panel is now looking into the matter and one of the newest appointees says he takes the responsibility very seriously. Fort Worth attorney, Lance Evans is on the panel. Imagine being on the commission that must decide if an innocent man was strapped to a guerney and given a lethal cocktail of drugs. 

We will have to wait a few months to see what the commission decides. If they rule it wasn't an arson fire, open the flood gates because there will be far-reaching ramifications.

Somewhere in North Texas a 23-year old rape survivor is rejoicing, police say after hearing her alleged attacker is behind bars. The woman was a 13-year old girl on her way to school when a man grabbed her and did unspeakable things. It has taken all these years to crack the case after leads went no where and then dried up.

It was DNA technology that gave police the break they have been waiting for. A sample from the crime scene matched a sample in a national data base, belonging to 53-year old Dennis Griffith. People in the tiny town of Morgan, where Griffith lives, can't believe the newspaper deliveryman might be the rapist. They say he doesn't fit the type.

Police however are confident they have the right guy. They think the DNA doesn't lie. 

When two Hollywood heavyweights come to Dallas, you know I would be there to interview them!  They're dropping by for Simmons' charity organization, Diamond Empowement, which educates children in South Africa.  What did we talk about in the interview?  Tune in tonight to catch a glimpse.... and see the 5 carat diamond and emerald earrings that will be auctioned to benefit the organization.

Cheers and have a great weekend!

Roni

Activists in Fort Worth are angry after the Fort Worth Police Chief, Jeffrey Halstead, declined to give the officer involved in the taser death of a young man any punishment. 24-year old Michael Jacobs died in his yard last April after being tased by Officer Stephanie Phillips.

Phillips for now, remains on the job and won't face disciplinary action. Jacobs' family believes that because the death was ruled a homicide, Phillips should have been reprimanded in some way. 

Halstead says he can't say much about why he kept the officer on the job because of potential legal action. He asked the DOJ to look into the matter. I think we will see a lot more to come on this issue. Police have a very tough job, but are tasers being used in too cavalier of manner? That is my question. What do you think?

I've spent the last two hours trying to figure out how to upload videos from our website to Youtube.  Maybe I'm just not tech savvy enough, but no matter how many times I try, it's still not working!  So in the meantime, tonight I have a great story on a Texas clothing designer who's making incredible clothes out of unusual materials.

Let's see, maybe if I can figure this out, it will be on youtube by the morning :)

Cheers,

Roni

I have a confession to make. 

I need 6 hours sleep!  I can barely function on less than 6 hours.  Last night I got 10 hours sleep!   That is better than chocolate ice cream.   I blame my torrid love affair with sleep on parenthood.

Before I had my first child, one person warned me that I would never sleep again.  How true they were.  Parents, you know what I'm talking about.   I got very little sleep, disjointed sleep, interrupted sleep for the first year of my daughters life.  Then my son came along and it was another year of "no"sleep. 

But like anything, your body adjusts.  You get use to it.  You HAVE to get use to it or you will not survive.   Plus I'm a better parent to my children if I'm well rested.

 Luckily my daughter and son now sleep through the night, but they still wake up at the crack of dawn-- 6:30 a.m.  So when we can, my husband and I go to bed EARLY.  I'm talking 8 p.m. sometimes 7:30 p.m. on Sundays. 

That is how exhausted we feel, and it is the only way I can catch up on my beauty sleep.  Benjamin Franklin said it best "Early to bed.  Early to rise." 

Moms, Dads tell me what you do to get more sleep.  If you don't have kids how important is sleep to you?

Nighty night..

A family in Denton has waited for years for the answers about who killed their son in 2002. 37-year old Billy Gene Dillon was shot by a sniper while cutting trees along a rural street. He was shot in the head and died instantly.

Dillon's family believes DC snipers, John Muhammad and Lee Malvo may be behind the shooting. Malvo reportedly confessed to the killings a few years ago, but because of a lack of forensic evidence no one was ever charged in Dillon's murder.

Now, with Muhammad's execution looming, the family hopes he may be willing to tell what he knows. The sniper is set to die next month. Friends hope for a confession, but it may be a long shot. Denton County Sheriff's investigators have requested an interview with Muhammad, but every time he has turned them down. His attorney still hopes to spare his life with a last minute plea for clemency.  

That's what some local health departments got today.

The first doses of the injectable H1N1 vaccine arrived, but the supply was a lot less than they wanted, expected or needed.

But not everyone is concerned by the limited arrival amount.

Find out why over in the online news department.

You know the way!

P.s. Wash your hands!

When you watch TV there is a whole group of people who work on the newscast.. who you never see.

I am a TV producer. That means I sit in a control room and write stories for the newscast. And tell people ON TV what to do.

Producers are NOT normally on TV. But we wanted to show viewers what it is like in the newsroom. So every day at 5:30... I wind up on TV to tell you.... at home... what it is like.

So it seems like it would be easy, but it is NOT easy. I have learned the following things:

1. If you get popped up on TV and you weren't ready it is very distracting. And you will probably mess up and stumble all over yourself

2. You have to wear A LOT of make up or you will look pale on camera

3. Walt is funny in real life, but on TV he may ask you a question you don't know the answer to and then you have to quickly think of something smart to say... because you are on TV.

4. If you don't stand a certain way, you will definitely look fat.

5. Amanda is really good at using her hands to convey messages. I, on the other hand use my hands while talking way too much, and will probably hit someone one of these days.

Here's a link to one of my "appearances":

http://www.the33tv.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=5c674d03-b789-4824-8265-6b80d17d8fa7&src=front

I don't think I'll be getting Walt's job any time soon :)

What are the latest trends in handbags?  My story tonight is all about the coolest shades, styles and prints for fall!  I'll give away one trend, no labels.  Possibly because of the economy, big, bold designer labels are considered tacky and understated handbags (Even the very expensive ones) are in.  But you can still make a huge statement with your bag.  Tune in tonight at 9!

Image courtesy Elaine Turner

Cheers!

Roni

Fort Worth Police are really getting hammered over the use of tasers by cops. An attorney is preparing a new lawsuit against the department after an incident last year that was caught on tape.

It is disturbing to watch. A 29-year old man is screaming in pain while cops tase him up to 8 times. He's now suing, claiming excessive force. The family of Michael Jacobs, who died after being hit with a taser is also suing.

This will be a tough legal road to hoe, according to experts. Attorneys have to prove there is some kind of pattern of negligence in the department to hold police and individual officers, accountable. But, with the cases of bad taser use mounting there may be growing ammunition, so to speak, to prove their points in court.

Check out the home video of the taser atttack in my story at the33tv.com.  

That's me hard at work in Denton.  My photographer and I headed up I-35 to Borman Elementary School.  We interviewed 1^st grade teacher Ashley Moser and his principal Ruben Molinar.  It's for my "Class Act" Teacher of the Week segment.

What a busy day it was.  From getting the kids out the door to school at 7:45 a.m. to squeezing in a quick workout , then off to an appointment in Dallas and on to work and out the door to Denton.  It was go go go today, but I would not have it any other way.

I love being busy.  I enjoy having a purpose to my day.  I'm a happier person if I'm occupied.

The book "CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked and About to Snap" by author Edward M. Hallowell, addresses how we can take control of life's hectic pace. He says we're too busy to notice we're busy because:

A) It's easy with cell phones and BlackBerrys to stay in touch.

B) Being busy is kind of a high. (Guilty)

c) We're afraid we'll be left out if we slow down.

I'm just not a big fan of lazy.  At least not during the workweek.  After all days off are made for lounging.

How do you feel about being busy?  Are you overwhelmed?  Or addicted to the crackberry?  Tell me.

Do you know how many countries are represented here in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex?  This weekend at Addison's Conference Center over 50 countries will showcase the food, music and drinks of their native land.  I tried out a few of them today (making a fool of myself, which photographer Jose Sanchez took full advantage of) and had a blast!  Tomorrow I'll have the full story.... let's just hope the weather clears up before the festival so everyone can enjoy the fun!

Cheers,

Roni

Today, instead of working out, I spent my morning doing chores.  That's the pile of clothes I folded; most of it my children's.  Yesterday, I swept the kitchen.  We have a pretty big house, so the housework is inevitable and with two children it gets messy pretty quick. 

Here's the interesting part - because my household chores won't hold your attention--a new study shows that for husbands and wives, the more housework you do, the more likely to have sex with your spouse.  Really??

The study, published in the Journal of Family Issues, says research show high achievers -go getter couples--make sex and housework a priority.  Also, doing housework promotes intimacy and reflects a deep bond between the couple.

The study defined housework as nine chores: cleaning, preparing meals, washing dishes, washing and ironing clothes, driving family members around, shopping, yard work, maintaining cars and paying bills.

My better half makes a big effort to keep the house clean.  Maybe it's because my mother in-law is a neat freak;-) All I can say is thank you honey.  If it wasn't for you the dishes would never get done. 

We could be poised for a shift in guidelines for some cancer screenings.  It follows just released research in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

We spoke with local doctors today about their reactions to the findings.  Authorities tonight are stressing the importance of education, communication and personalized treatment that weigh the potential benefits and risks. 

Add to your educational arsenal by watching our story below. 

http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-screenings-questions-unreliable-story,0,3875235.story

Stay on line and visit our website's entire section devoted to your Health.

Right before sports, one of us asks him to insert an entertaining phrase into his sports show. It can be anything from ... "ice cream cone".... to "picket fence" to "fly a kite." He then has to figure out how to ad-lib it into one of his scripts.

Dave Crome: "Huge play for the Mavs! Dirk was unstoppable! Like a chubby kid eating ice cream cone on a Texas August day!"

Dave Crome: "Wade Phillips is trying to build a stronger defense...but it's turning out to be more like a picket fence... you can step right over it." 

Dave Crome: "Romo looking a little winded after the 3rd sack... enough to fly a kite."

So yes -- listen closely. Next time you hear something that seems a little weird on air during sports.... it probably is just part of Dave Crome's "Word of the Day"

I just finished logging my tape (that's when we write all our soundbites to help form the script for our story) from our Worldfest shoot.  I am always up for a new adventure, even at the cost of looking foolish!  Tonight you'll see what I mean.  I tried out several different activities, from dressing up in traditional Turkish costume, to cooking Bulgarian dishes, and yes, even trying my hand at one of the oldest forms of martial arts.  Let's just say it wasn't pretty!  Tune in tonight to see how I did with the experts and what other fun activities and events will be going on this weekend at Worldfest.

Cheers,

Roni

I have to admit, with this gorgeous weather, it will be hard to get me into a theater over the weekend.... but if you're craving taking in a good flick there are lots to see!  Click here to see my pick for this week's Roni Recommends:

I was supposed to be out of town this weekend, but now I'm actually glad I'm here.... I'm planning to spend the next couple days picking out pumpkins at the Farmer's Market, taking in a good yoga class and cooking some fresh, seasonal fall food.... I'm thinking roasted butternut squash soup.Happy fall hunting everyone, and I'll see you back on Monday!

Cheers,

Roni

It seems the debate over public intoxication just will not go away and for good reason. Even police admit it is a subjective charge. An officer must think that a person is drunk and poses a danger to himself/herself or others. The officer normally uses a kind of checklist to make the determination. You know the bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, etc.

The problem is: many of the people who are being arrested say they haven't had anything or at least very little to drink. People who aren't drunk are being busted and sent to the drunk tank, which can not be a pleasant experience. The Class C misdemeanor charge can also be expensive and embarassing. 

Dallas Police say they are going to change the way they do business. The department is giving officers a little more room to expand the narrative on the arrest report. Critics however want more. Some want to see field sobriety tests or even breathlizers used on PI suspects. It may be a long shot, but at least a department is considering it. Be sure to check out my story at the33tv.com. You will see an interview with a 22-year old who was maced and arrested all because he went out to dinner with friends. 

Now there is offically a state of emergency surrounding the H1N1 outbreak, but it seems some people aren't paying attention. Yes, you see the headlines in the paper and on the news, but many of the people I talk with aren't that worried. Yes, people have died including children, but still that doesn't seem to scare people very much.

So tell me. How concerned you about H1N1? What measures are you taking in your home?

I often wonder if viewers know everything that goes into a work day for reporters.  I have to admit that may day isn't typical, for the most part my stories aren't shot the same day they air.  Most reporters throw out a lot of story ideas during the morning or afternoon 'pitch' meeting.  Then they get cracking from scratch to get all their interviews, video and facts to report for the news that evening.  Trust me, it's a ton of work.... I really admire my co workers!

As the Entertainment Reporter I often set up stories in advance.  That's because covering fashion, celebrity interviews, beauty, special events, etc. we need to get clearance from stores, to organize models or make sure that we can shoot in a variety of locations.  That takes a lot of work, but ensures a seamless shoot!

Tonight's story, for example, I shot previously, but spent the morning writing it.  It's about deciphering dress code etiquette.  Have you ever wondered what to wear to an event when the attire on the invitation says 'Dressy Casual' Business Chic' or 'Cool Cocktail'?  Tune in tonight, I definitely have you covered.

Cheers,

Roni

It is the news that health care providers in North Texas have waited to hear. About a million doses of H1N1 vaccine are "in the mail", according to state health officials.

Many providers have been concerned about the scarcity of the vaccine, especially the injectible type for very young children. Texas was among the last in line to get the vaccine, behind a lot of other states.

Some believe the delivery system needs to be reviewed. It is difficult to get answers about why it took so long. The state blames slow vaccine production, but that doesn't answer why other states received it. The answers may lie with the vaccine maker that distributes it to providers. 

You can be sure issues surrounding the swine flu are going away any time soon. I've posted a link to a story about a family who feels a certain amount of stigma attached to having the virus.    

http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-swine-flu-family-story,0,524438.story

You've seen her on the runway for the most famous designers in the world, she's graced the cover of Vogue Magazine and been featured in countless campaigns... but who is this super model?  Turns out she's a girl from Colleyville, TX and when she was in town for the Fashion Dallas Kim Dawson Model Search we went shopping with her to see what her picks are for fall.  Tune in tonight to see what she has to say about the modeling industry, living her dream, and of course, fashion.

Cheers,

Roni

Anyone's jaw would drop at the thought of paying a lawyer more than $1 million in legal fees, but for Texas exonerees that has to be a very bitter pill to swallow.

Some exonerees are paying very expensive fees to attorneys who helped pass the state's new compensation plan for the wrongly convicted, but at least one man is refusing to fork over the cash so easily. Steven Phillips spent 26 years in prison for a rape he didn't committ. Now that he is exonerated, he doesn't feel he owes his Lubbock attorney the million bucks. Phillips has filed a lawsuit to fight it.

The attorney, Kevin Glasheen says he earned every penny and helped to get Phillips about triple the amount he would have gotten under the old law. Glasheen says other exonerees are already paying him and Phillips should too because of a contract. 

The fees have caused a rift in the Innocence Project of Texas. Some board members have quit in protest. They feel attorneys connected to the non-profit organization shouldn't be profiting from exonerees. Stay tuned as Phillips lawsuit goes forward. To learn more about the compensation plan, check out the link below. 

http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-exoneration-pay-story,0,3065484.story

An estimated eight percent of Americans are depressed, of those, fifteen percent find that therapy and drugs don't work. When that happens, they now have something else to try, it's called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Magnetic impulses go through the skull to create low-dose electricity which doctors say helps blood flow and corrects chemical levels. The patient we talked to is convinced it works. He used to have trouble simply getting out of bed. He wasn't enjoying life. After a few sessions, he felt better and now does projects around the house. For people living in the darkness of depression, there may be ray of light.

Doctors say it's a first. H1N1 and Halloween. The seasonal flu has never arrived in time for Halloween, but H1N1 has. Health experts say it could be scary, but not if we all practice common sense. Those plastic or rubber masks that you have to pull over your head? Dr. Doug Hardy at Medical City Dallas says that in the proper environment, viruses can live on them for up to 12 hours. And what about those bowls and bags of candy that kids rummage through to find their vavorite sweet? Those tiny hands and fingers may be grubby and leave behind germs for the next group of kids. Dr. Hardy says this Halloween doesn't need to scary. Here are a couple of good ideas: If you try on a mask, be sure to wipe it down with alcohol. While you're trick or treating with your kids, be sure to take along some hand sanitizer. It's only Halloween, and that should do the trick.

Governor Rick Perry made a stop in Grapevine to pick up another endorsement from yet another group. This time it was the Texas Association of Builders. The group booked a room at the Gaylord Texan to make the big announcement. But reporters had other questions on their minds. "What do you think of Dick Cheney endorsement to Kay Bailey Hutchinson?" Perry's impromptu response, "I don't keep score of all of these endorsements," said Perry. 

Be honest. Would you get up at the crack of dawn, stand in the cold with more than a thousand people to get poked in the arm with a needle? Plenty of people did today to get the H1N1 vaccination in Tarrant County.

You could see the determined look on parents faces. They wanted to get their high-risk children protected and so they put up with the hassles to get it done. You have to admire a woman, 8.5 months pregnant waiting in line for hours. If you have been pregnant, you know at that stage, you need to be close to a restroom.

People threw up their hands like they just won the lottery after getting the shot. It was interesting to see and very telling about just how serious people are taking this flu bug.

Be sure to check out my complete story at the33tv.com. Also, see how parents are stopping the spread of swine flu this Halloween.   

We wondered how many germs kids would pass around if we let them dig into a bag full of candy and root around for their favorite treat. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. The results were pretty gross. We took the extra candy wrappers to an infectious disease expert who tested the candies for germs and bacteria. Oh boy, did he find germs and bacteria. More testing would be needed to learn if H1N1 was among the germs, but the results were clear. The controlled candies were germ free. The heavily handled candies were full of germs. Was this a groundbreaking study? Nope. But it was a fun little test to see how those tiny hands can spread germs. Now, let's all get out there and have a Happy Halloween!