News

Michelle Rhee is a high profile education reformer with a capital “C.” That’s for controversial.

In an ideal world, senior citizens will have saved enough to comfortably retire. But with pensions disappearing and health care costs soaring, the golden years are becoming increasingly difficult. As part of KERA’s One Crisis Away initiative, Krys Boyd talks with Senior Source executive director Molly Bogen and Dallas Area Agency on Aging director Millie DeAnda about the financial challenges seniors face.

The University of North Texas System Board of Regents voted unanimously today to name Neal Smatresk president of UNT.

Smatresk succeeds V. Lane Rawlins, who announced in March that he would retire at the end of the year.

Rawlins will stay on until Feb. 3, when Smatresk will start work.

Five stories that have North Texas talking: George W. Bush sends a nice note to a college football player; the Texas Rangers' lead radio announcer gets a big honor; a Plano orchestra teacher gets an honor, too, and more:

Sen. John Cornyn on Wednesday expressed confidence he’ll be the Republican Party’s nominee despite a last-minute challenge by Congressman Steve Stockman. 

The Dallas City Council passed a new, more restrictive gas drilling ordinance this afternoon. It includes a 1,500-foot setback from homes, businesses, schools and other so-called protected uses.

An 11th hour amendment was approved that requires a tougher two-thirds majority council vote to reduce the setback.

Tea party activists have been gunning for Sen. John Cornyn. But even they were surprised when Steve Stockman, a Republican Congressman from the Houston suburb of Friendswood, filed on the last possible day to run against Cornyn in the March Republican primary.