Five stories that have North Texas talking: the state of open carry in Texas in 2015; who won the Dallas Marathon?; Grand Prairie wants to build a ski resort; and more.
Could open carry soon be legal in Texas? The end of an outright ban on the open carry of handguns could come next year. The Associated Press reports: “Texas is one of the few states with an outright ban on the open carry of handguns. That could change in 2015, with the Republican-dominated Legislature and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott expected to push for expanded gun rights. ‘If open carry is good enough for Massachusetts, it's good enough for the state of Texas,’ Abbott said. … And if Texas, which allows concealed handguns, embraces open carry - rolling back a 140-year ban - it would be the largest state to have done so. Open carry drew wide support in the 2014 statewide election, and at least six bills have already been filed for the upcoming session, which starts in January. Abbott has already pledged to sign one into law if sent to his desk.” Texas, California, Florida, New York, Illinois and South Carolina don’t allow open carry. You might recall open carry supporters made waves over the summer with various efforts to raise awareness. Catch up on open carry issues here. [Associated Press/KERA]
- Unlike last year, Sunday’s MetroPCS Dallas Marathon didn’t get iced out. (Well, there was a bit of rain during the last part of the race.) Shitaye Gemechu of Ethiopia was the women’s champion, finishing in 2 hours, 46 minutes, 46 seconds, while Kimutai Cheruiyot was the men’s champion, finishing in 2 hours, 17 minutes and 11 seconds. Read more from The Dallas Morning News.
- Outgoing Gov. Rick Perry wants to address the Legislature one last time before he leaves office. The Texas Tribune reports: “[He’s] made an exit request that is unusual for governors of the Lone Star State — at least in recent decades. Perry has proposed addressing a joint session of the Legislature one more time before he leaves office, Felix Browne, the governor’s spokesman, confirmed on Sunday. ‘In addressing a joint session, the Governor will highlight the bipartisan accomplishments that have made Texas the economic engine that is powering our country in job creation,’ said Browne in an email. Perry’s speech would most likely happen after the new legislative session begins on Jan. 13, but before the Jan. 20 inauguration of his successor, Greg Abbott.”
- Justin Terveen of Urban Fabric Photography is getting lots of buzz for his stunning shots of North Texas. One of his latest photos -- of downtown Dallas surrounded by fog -- was shared widely on social media. "It was really luck,” Terveen told KERA’s Justin Martin about the fog photo. “I had a few friends who gave me a heads-up early in the morning, and another who was able to give me access. It all just kind of came together.” His tip for a budding photographer: “My heart and soul was poured into the camera, which I think is a part of why I've had this success." Listen to the interview here.
- Who needs Colorado when you can ski in Grand Prairie? KERA’s Doualy Xaykaothao reports: “The city of Grand Prairie wants to build an indoor ski resort with a run as tall as Arlington’s AT&T Stadium. The $400 million project would be the largest in the United States, with seven slopes, a snow-board course with an Olympic half-pipe, and the first Hard Rock Hotel in Texas. The ambitious venture is called The Grand Alps. If completed in four years, evergreen trees would dot a mountain-like resort on roughly 60 acres of prairie, just off Interstate 30 and Belt Line Road. ‘The front of it looks like you’re pulling up to a Swiss Alps ski resort, year around,’ said Ron Jensen, mayor of Grand Prairie.” Read more here.
