The top local stories this morning from KERA News:
Several businesses have sustained damage in a four-alarm fire that struck Denton's historic downtown square. The fire in downtown Denton appears to have started early this morning in a building that houses a market selling vintage items and other collectibles.
A portion of the building's roof collapsed and adjacent buildings also sustained damage. It's not immediately clear how the fire started.
The building is across the street from the historic courthouse at the center of the square.
There were no reports of injuries but one firefighter was treated for dehydration.
The Denton Record-Chronicle reportsfirefighters couldn't gain access to the building to investigate until 9:30 this morning. The newspaper reports authorities tore down the back wall of the building and identified several hotspots.
The fire has forced some street closures in downtown Denton -- Locust and Austin Streets are both closed between Oak and Hickory Streets.
#BREAKING Fire erupts inside Denton mini mall. At least 5 other structures outside the mall also affected. MORE: https://t.co/dvVvzBRffN pic.twitter.com/NgJFMfwYp4
— Larry Collins (@LarryNBC5) December 26, 2017
Other stories this morning:
- The Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services has issued a flu advisory. The number of flu cases in Dallas County has been increasing, with about 20 percent of tests reported positive this past week. The first three influenza-associated deaths of the season and an influenza outbreak in a long-term care facility have also been reported.
- In the aftermath of racial violence in Charlottesville this summer, the Dallas school board said every district school named for a Confederate general must change. Well, the toughest part of the process is almost done. Statewide Coordinating Editor Rachel Osier Lindley sat down with KERA Education Reporter Bill Zeeble
- Ted Davey, owner of the Balcony Club in Lakewood, died Friday in hospice care. He was 54 and had battled cancer for a decade.In 2013, Davey bought the venerable but failing club and turned it into a favorite musician’s hangout. One thing Davey did was turn Monday nights at the Balcony into a popular showcase for actor-singer Liz Mikel. Before he died, Davey said his wife Lorena would continue running the Balcony. No memorial arrangements have been announced yet.
You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.
