Five stories that have North Texas talking: a really old swordfish will be auctioned off; Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis face off in the first Texas governor’s debate; Ron Washington apologizes; and more.
The skeletal rendition of an 85 million-year-old swordfish will be sold later this month by a Dallas auction house. The Cretaceous era fossil, known as Protosphyraena nitida, measures about eight feet from sword to tail fin and contains 59 teeth. The fossil is notable in that it had teeth where modern swordfish do not. Craig Kissick, associate director of nature and science at Heritage Auctions, says the skeleton is 75 percent original bone, with the remaining 25 percent a restoration of areas that were not preserved. The fossil was found entombed in rock in Kansas' Smoky Hill Chalk of the Niobrara Formation in the late 1880s. The skeletal rendering is set to be auctioned off on Sept. 28. [Associated Press]
- Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Wendy Davis face off in their first governor’s debate. The Texas Tribune offers a preview: “Despite his front-runner status and longevity in Texas politics, Abbott has only appeared in one formal TV debate as a statewide candidate — a 30-minute 2002 encounter with then-Democratic attorney general candidate Kirk Watson, the Abbott campaign confirmed. ‘For Abbott, it’s going to be seen more as a source of risk than opportunity,’ said Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin.” KERA will air the debate live tonight at 6. You can watch on KERA-TV (Channel 13) or online at KERANews.org or hear it on KERA 90.1 FM. Starting at 5:50 p.m. today, KERA will air a special 10-minute program previewing the debate. KERA’s Shelley Kofler is in the Valley to cover the debate – she reports immigration continues to be in the spotlight.
- Former Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington says he is embarrassed for being unfaithful to his wife of 42 years. While offering no details, Washington publicly apologized to his wife and the Rangers during a 3 1/2-minute statement Thursday. It was his first public comment since abruptly resigning 13 days earlier. "I was not true to my wife,” Washington told reporters. “After 42 years I broke her trust. I’m here today to own that mistake and to apologize to her and to those that I disappointed and those who have trusted in me and I let her down.” [Associated Press]
- North Texas Giving Day set a new record Thursday. More than $26 million was raised in 18 hours, beating the 2013 results by more than $1 million. About 98,000 donations were recorded, up from 75,000 last year. Nearly 1,600 nonprofits participated, including KERA. “Today, donors showed unbridled enthusiasm for this community they clearly care so much about,” Brent Christopher said in a statement. He’s president and CEO of Communities Foundation of Texas, which founded and presents North Texas Giving Day.
- Watch some cute chimpanzees at the Dallas Zoo. The zoo has posted this sweet video on its YouTube channel:“Born Jan. 26, Mshindi is the second baby for mom Ramona," the zoo says. "He joins 5-year-old big brother Kona, along with seven other troop members. … For two to three years, Mshindi will be completely dependent on Ramona for care. Don’t expect to see him running around the habitat on his own. For now, he remains safely on mom’s belly– or in the arms of his big bro. Kona’s recently taken to scooping up Mshindi, playing with him and even carrying him around the habitat and high up into the trees.”
