Federal funds are more like a promise, every few years Washington allocates dollars for states to build roads, bridges and other highway projects, but don't run out and cash the check. This week after congress failed to eliminate a provision in a six-year national highway funding bill it was forced to take back some of that money, exactly $8,708,000,000 nationwide. That's $8.7 billion less in federal dollars to spend on badly needed  infrastructure.

California was at the top of the list loosing $800 (m) followed by Texas with $740 (m). TXDOT says it will impact future projects but unlike some states we didn't run out and spend all that loot, only about  $100(m). Here's the breakdown by Metros in Texas.

UNOBLIGATED BALANCES TO BE RESCINDED IN TEXAS

Austin 5,207,206.00
Corpus Christi 1,696,967.00
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington 23,934,831.00
Denton-Lewisville 1,731,019.00
El Paso 3,743,892.00
Houston 22,069,135.00
Lubbock 1,167,540.00
McAllen 3,020,355.00
San Antonio 7,664,591.00

Total 70,235,536.00

  Does it surprise you that some U-S airports don't have surveillance systems? Grapevine Mills Mall has dozens of cameras that's are monitored by security staff 24-7, so why not our airports? Well this week the Transportation Security Administration announced it would be spending millions to do just that.  
   DFW and Love Field will get a combined 10 million for closed-circuit television cameras and recording devices. While both airports already had some surveillance the additional equipment will be a major step up.
   DFW says it's already purchased most of it's new equipment while Dallas Love is still waiting for it's new upgrades. 

Patricia and Terry Palmer are literally living on the edge. The recent rains soaked the couples back yard. Terry noticed his wooden deck had shifted in the soft soil, but when he looked over his iron railing he saw something far worse. His entire back yard slid down the hillside taking with it his retention wall, fence and trees. The scary part is the piers that hold up the homes foundation are partially exposed. Now the bad news, his insurance doesn't cover this kind of damage. The big question now is will they get assistance from the city. The city signed off on the homes construction. Did it know something like this might happen? The Palmer's are not alone, two other homes also have damage.
What do you think? Should they be left to deal with the damage or does the city have some responsibility?

The city of Dallas is trying to prevent the towing nightmare that some Texas-OU fans endured last year. Dozen of visitors paid illegitimate parking attendants who had conspired with a towing company to then tow the vehicles. Talk about a double whammy! Some fans paid more than $200 between the towing and parking fees -- not to mention hours of frustration.

     It's not a bad place to build a park if you don't mind the occasional flooding. Located off Sylvan Avenue on the Elm Fork of the Trinity, west of downtown you'll find Trinity Park. It's built around a small lake named after Dallas real estate mogul Trammell Crow who donated the park's unique marble cow sculptors. The cow art was designed by Harold Clayton in 1985 and from a distance they look real.

    The park also has facilities for football, soccer, hiking, running, boating and fishing.  What's incredibly to me, is whenever the Trinity gets above flood stage the park is submerged under several feet of mud and water. It's happened four times this month alone. When it drys out the city sends crews to clean it up so it can be reopened. It seems like a lot of work and frankly we saw few if anyone enjoying the park when we visited recently.

   I wonder how much time and resources go into maintaining the park and if anyone ever thought this a bad idea?