Five stories that have North Texas talking: the King of Country continues to shatter records; Gov. Rick Perry loves California; the New Cities Summit continues in Dallas; and more.
George Strait’s Arlington finale continues to break records. We already knew the King of Country’s June 7 show set an attendance record -- 104,793 fans crammed into AT&T Stadium – but now comes news that the concert generated nearly $18.2 million in ticket sales. Billboard reports that tops last year’s record by $10 million – a record Strait also had set. Also, Strait’s Arlington show broke a Billboard record for “largest attendance at an indoor venue.” Billboard reports: “The [two-year] Cowboy Rides Away tour ends its run with an overall gross that tops the $99 million mark based on 996,583 sold tickets at 44 performances during both legs of the tour.” Catch up on his final performance here and here.
- Could Texas Gov. Rick Perry be California dreamin'? The Republican has made persuading top employers to move to Texas a centerpiece of his administration. He's led job-poaching missions in Democratically controlled states. California has been a prime target, with Perry bashing what he calls the Golden State's high-tax, over-regulated ways. But a New York Times Magazine story released Tuesday says Perry told the reporter "he loves California" and "might even move" there in January, when his term ends. In response, Perry's office noted the governor was asked, if he could live anywhere in the U.S. other than Texas, where would it be. According to a partial transcript provided by Perry's office, he replied: "California if I could afford it." He added: "Why wouldn't you want to live out here? Seriously?" [The Associated Press]
- Eccentric Texas artist and businessman Stanley Marsh 3, whose partially buried row of Cadillacs became a road-side tourist attraction in the 1970s, has died. He was 76. Paul Nugent, Marsh's criminal attorney, says Marsh died Tuesday afternoon in Amarillo. An heir to his family's oil-and-gas fortune, Marsh bought the struggling KVII-TV in 1967, and turned into Amarillo's top-rated television station. His passion, however, was art. He was best known for "Cadillac Ranch," a display of 10 cars seemingly standing on their noses along Interstate 40 west of Amarillo. Late in his life, faced felony charges that alleged he molested teenage boys. He denied the claims. Read more from KERA News. [The Associated Press]
- The New Cities Summit opened Tuesday, drawing 800 public, business and academic leaders from 40 countries to the Dallas Arts District. The goal? Bring together the best innovators from various disciplines to encourage them to think big, KERA’s Shelley Kofler reports. They’ll share ideas on everything from transportation gridlock, to how cultural districts attract top talent, to technology that can connect cities. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Re-Imagining Cities: Transforming the 21st Century Metropolis.” The event is also attracting many international journalists. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings says the arts district is a prime reason the conference chose to come here.
- What’s behind the earthquakes in North Texas? KERA and StateImpact Texas will host a free public event to explore the issues at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Azle High School Auditorium. Learn more here. What’s Behind the North Texas Quakes? A KERA/StateImpact Texas Discussion will be moderated by KERA’s Doualy Xaykaothao. The panel will include state Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford; Reno Mayor Lynda Stokes; Heather DeShon, SMU associate professor of geophysics; Bill Stevens, government relations consultant at the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers; and StateImpact Texas reporter Mose Buchele, who's covered the oil and gas industry for many years. In recent days, KERA has been airing stories about the North Texas earthquakes. Catch up on that series, What's Behind the North Texas Quakes?
