JFK Conspiracy Theorists: Questions Belong In 2013 Ceremony

KERA | By Lyndsay Knecht

Published December 27, 2012 at 10:19 AM CST

Dallas city leaders hope to celebrate JFK's life next year. But some believe we shouldn't put questions about his death to rest.

Five stories that have North Texas talking: Dallas' plans to honor JFK in the WSJ, former president George H.W. Bush lands in ICU, the "Overly Attached Girlfriend" returns and more.

Conspiracy theorists want to be included in the ceremony marking the anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas. Proponents told the Wall Street Journal's Ana Campoy that they've met at Dealey Plaza every year since 1964 and pledge to find a way to spread information about their beliefs at the gathering on Nov. 22, 2013.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said he would meet with the Coalition of Political Assassinations to talk things out. But, he told the Journal, the day should remain sacred. "For 40 minutes, we need to be focusing on the man, not the moment 50 years ago," he said.

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Former president George H.W. Bush is in intensive care with a high fever at Methodist Hospital in Houston. Bush, 88, was hospitalized for a cough in early November and was readmitted the day after Thanksgiving. The Houston Chronicle reports former president George W. Bush has made the trip from Dallas to visit his dad and is expected to return. [Houston Chronicle]

What did Dallas sound like in 1986? For Starck Club regulars, moody New Wave was the soundtrack to wild times as Ecstasy was (legally) passed around while bands like New Order played for celebrities and nightlife connoisseurs. As part of a lookahead at 2013, KERA's Stephen Becker reports on a new documentary about the storied club. [Art&Seek]

Keller's own "Overly Attached Girlfriend" tops NPR's eulogy of memes from 2012. The spooky Justin Bieber tribute thrown on YouTube by Laina (no last name given) leads as an example of a flavor-of-the-week viral hit more common now than in the days of 2008's "Charlie Bit My Finger," which is referenced. As TH5 mentioned in November, Laina spread more than a cheap laugh; she gave more than $22,000 of the video's ad share to a nonprofit that helps autistic kids with surf therapy. Now that's memorable. [NPR]

If you haven't already had enough of year-end lists and logs, well, there's a job for you. It's time for the Audubon Society's annual bird census. Each group of volunteers in DFW will scour a 15-mile radius -- ponds, parking lots, open fields apply -- and do a full canvas to report. [Dallas Morning News]