Five stories that have North Texas talking: Brr! It's cold out there; Rick Perry says states have a right to legalize marijuana; Skinny the cat isn't so fat; and more.
It was a very cold night and a very cold morning across North Texas. As of 8 a.m., it was only in the teens throughout much of Dallas-Fort Worth. We missed the snow and ice that fell across parts of Central Texas. Waco reported a trace of snow, while Centerville and Hearne reported 2 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Austin has reported snow and ice on bridges and overpasses – many schools are closed. If you’re heading south today, prepare for icy roads through midday. Expect a warmup by afternoon – we should hit a high in the low 40s. Tonight will be cool, but not as cold as last night – around 30 degrees. It warms up Saturday – into the mid-60s. By Sunday, we’ll approach the mid-70s.
- Is Gov. Rick Perry hot for pot? He said Thursday morning that states have the right to decide whether to legalize marijuana. Perry spoke as part of a high-profile panel about drugs at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Other panelists included Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary general, and Juan Manuel Santos, the president of Colombia. States should be able to set their own policies on abortion, same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization, he said, "then people will decide where they want to live,” according to U.S. News and World Report. But he added he doesn't favor outright legalization. Perry said that he has started to implement policies that “start us toward a decriminalization,” such as introducing drug courts that offer treatment and softer penalties for more minor offenses.
- Dallas is hosting the 82nd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors in June – more than 300 mayors are expected to gather in Dallas for the four-day session. And when they come to Big D, so-called “Texas grown artists” will entertain them – the list includes Lyle Lovett, LeAnn Rimes, Alseep at the Wheel, Marcia Ball and Bonnie Raitt. The mayors and their families plan to visit various North Texas venues, including the Dallas Arts District, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Klyde Warren Park, the Dallas Arboretum – and they’ll even venture to Arlington to see AT&T Stadium.
- The Dallas Woman's Forum will present a discussion, book signing and champagne reception with author Patricia Falvey at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Alexander Mansion, 4607 Ross Ave. Falvey, who was born in Ireland and came to the United States when she was 20, will discuss her books, The Yellow House and The Linen Queen, and offer a glimpse of her next novel, Connemara Manor, which she calls an “Irish Downton Abbey.” Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the door or online.
- In September 2012, a very fat cat was found in the backyard of a Richardson home and taken to the Richardson Animal Shelter. He weighed 42 pounds. Now he’s down to a relatively svelte 25 pounds, thanks in part to an underwater treadmill. Did you know Skinny is on Twitter? (@realskinnycat) HEAL Veterinary Hospital posted this video of Skinny:
