Five stories that have North Texas talking: Killer winds whip through DFW, @ArlingtonPD crosses state lines, Plano churns out hockey players and more.
It wasn't just you! Those winds in North Texas last night were fierce -- so fierce, in fact, that 40,000 people still didn't have power this morning and traffic lights across the area were blinking, according to Oncor. Among the casualties of the storm is a giant decorative ball that fell downtown, still hanging just above the street before the sun came up. Matt Peterson of the Dallas Morning News has more.
- So the windstorm's not the end of the world, but tomorrow could be, according to the Mayans. Might be a good time to make fake apocalypse plans. You have many choices for last hurrahs in North Texas, from end-of-this-world comedy to a planet-eulogizing planetarium experience. [Dallas Observer] And NPR's David Greene asked an expert on the Mayans, UT-Austin archaeologist David Stuart, whether we should be worried. His succinct answer: "Absolutely not." [NPR]
- Plano pumps out a lot of high-grade hockey players -- so many that the city could be home to another top pick in next summer's NHL draft. If Seth Jones is chosen No. 1 next summer, he'd be the second top pick from Plano in three years. As a (slightly embittered) Canadian newspaper reporter writes, "That's potentially two more than, say, Montreal has produced in that time." Jones, by the way, is the son of former Dallas Mavericks hoops standout Popeye Jones. [Edmonton Sun]
- The University of Texas football team may only be headed to the Alamo Bowl this season, but Forbes ranks the Longhorns as the most valuable football program in the nation. The publication estimates that the 'Horn program is worth $133 million, up $4 million from last year. [Forbes]
- The Arlington Police Department is really getting into Twitter as a way to keep citizens safe and connected. Its “tweetalongs” continue today with a trade across state lines with the Baltimore Police Department. And tomorrow, you can watch @ArlingtonPD and @FortworthPD from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. for a preview of how both departments hope to wield Twitter. [@ArlingtonPD]
