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Celina Father Accused of Making School Gun Threat

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A Celina man who allegedly told elementary school officials he had a gun as part of an experiment on school safety is facing third-degree felony charges.

School officials said Ronald Miller went to Celina Elementary School, where his child is a student, on Wednesday and claimed to have a gun.

Administrators said Miller first approached a school greeter with whom he was acquainted and said he had a gun.

"He told her he was a gunman and his target was on the inside -- and 'I'm going inside. What are you going to do about it?'" Superintendent Donny O'Dell said.

O'Dell says the school greeter froze in panic, allowing Miller to walk through the school's front door while children were entering the building for the school day.

Miller then entered the office and made similar threats, he said.

"He told them that he is a shooter and 'you're dead, and you're dead,'" O'Dell said.

O'Dell said Miller then asked to speak to the school principal, telling staff he was conducting an experiment into school safety.

Miller never produced a weapon.

School officials called administrators and, eventually, police once Miller left the property.

"The main thing that you learn is that it could be anybody at any time," O'Dell said.

Celina parent David Sciano, who has two children at the school, said the incident illustrates how little the district has stepped up security in the wake of last month's school shooting in Connecticut.

"A guy walks in, makes threats. Everyone is sitting there terrified, doesn't know what to do," he said. "It shows that this is going to happen again."

Sciano said he had heard about the incident through word of mouth.

School officials said they had held off communicating with parents so it would not interfere with the police investigation.

A letter went home with students on Thursday afternoon.

"We're not perfect, but what we've got to do is get more perfect," O'Dell said.

The superintendent said the district has looked at its security protocols since the fall and often runs emergency drills.

He said the district has considered and will look into hiring a school resource officer.

In the meantime, parents such as Sciano said they feel bad for Miller for making what seems to have been a poor choice with lasting consequences.

"His intent was probably just to say, 'Hey, you've done nothing,' and that's what it showed, so if that's what it takes, that's a shame," Sciano said. "This guy gave up his life to make a point. I don't know if he was going to hurt anyone or not, but if there's anything that we've gotten out of this, is that we know that we are not prepared."

Miller was arrested late Wednesday on a charge of making a terroristic threat. He is being held on a $75,000 bond.

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Plano ISD Adds Project-Based High School

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The Plano school district will open in the fall a standalone, academy-style high school that uses a project-based, collaborative learning model.

Administrators say part of the Plano Independent School District's future lies in giving students and parents more choices.

"I think public education is taking a turn," said Renee Godi, principal of the district's new Academy High School.

The academy is one of three opening in the fall of 2013 but is the only new standalone campus.

The school will have a project-based setup focused on a science, technology, engineering, arts and math curriculum.

While a lot of schools focus on a science, technology, engineering and math curriculum or have project-based learning, few schools have done "true interdisciplinary work," said Jim Hirsch, assistant superintendent of academics and technology.

The school will do away the traditional, structured eight-period school day to create what the district calls a "collaborative environment," much like a real-world office.

The school is housed in a former office building, much of which is open space.

"Our day is not defined by the courses students have to take, but more in line with the projects that they're working on," Godi said.

For example, students would study the moon landing event by looking at it from every angle, from the science behind the discovery to the math applications involved and even the social context, administrators said.

"It's really about identifying with the way of learning," Godi said.

Plano ISD parent Raj Menon served on the academy steering committee during its design and development phases.

"If I were to go to high school again, I would definitely pick this school," he said. "I really think it allows the kids to be engaged at a different level."

His eighth-grader is one of the 400 or more students vying for the school's 300 spots for incoming freshman and sophomores.

The academy has found support from corporate sponsors such as Texas Instruments.

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AA Asks for Another Extension on Business Plan

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The Fort Worth-based airline asked for an extension until April 1. It's the fifth time the carrier has asked to delay the process.

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American Airlines late Friday asked a bankruptcy judge for a delay in filing a business plan to emerge from restructuring -- a sign a consensual merger with US Airways is unlikely anytime soon.

The Fort Worth-based airline asked for an extension until April 1.

It's the fifth time the carrier has asked to delay the process.

American was joined in the request by the influential Unsecured Creditors' Committee, or UCC.

The airline has made "significant progress" in its restructuring effort but still needs more time, the company said.

"The work proceeds on many fronts concurrently, but is time and resource demanding, and therefore, additional time is necessary," the airline's attorneys wrote.

The board of directors of American's parent company, AMR Corp., met this week but made no announcements.

Friday's request, filed as the bankruptcy court in New York closed for the day, is an indication the airline has chosen to continue to evaluate its options and has decided not to pursue an immediate merger with US Airways.

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Bill May Force Sex Offenders to ID Themselves Online

Omar Villafranca, NBC 5 News

A bill introduced in the Texas House would force sex offenders, who are allowed to use the Internet, to identify themselves, their offense and even give out their address on social media sites.

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A new bill in the Texas Legislature would force sex offenders to identify themselves on social networking sites.

Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, said he is pushing House Bill 23 in part because social media sites such as Facebook aren't doing their jobs.

"When you become a member of Facebook, you agree to the terms and conditions, and one of the terms and conditions now is that you cannot be a sex offender, a convicted sex offender," he said. "Now, of course, it's not enforced and so now this is being left up to other states to make sure we have enforcement mechanisms."

If passed, the measure would make certain sex offenders who still have Internet access privileges put specific information in their profile. The information would include identifying themselves as a sex offender, the type of offense and where the offense took place, as well as the offenders' full name, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, eye color and hair color. The offender's current address or where they hope to live would also have to be included.

"In this day of the Internet, we are doing so much more online, and we need to make sure we're being pretty vigilant about who we're communicating with," Fischer said.

The bill doesn't include any specifics on who would enforce the bill should it become law. A spokesman for Fischer said while offenders do have to register with local law enforcement and DPS, exactly who would enforce the measure will be decided in the legislative process.

More: House Bill 23

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Husband and Wife, Both Kelly Hildebrandt, Divorce

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Kelly Hildebrandt is no longer married to Kelly Hildebrandt.

Nope, that is not a typo.

The same-name couple whose whirlwind, heart-warming romance drew headlines in the United States and abroad has divorced, the male Hildebrandt, Kelly Carl Hildebrandt, told NBC 6 on Friday.

"How do they term it at the courthouse? Irreconcilable differences, that is what I would say," Hildebrandt said. "We gave it our best shot."

After the couple separated, male Kelly returned in March last year to his hometown of Lubbock, Texas, where family and friends live and where his tree-service business is situated, he said.

"She's a Florida girl, and I'm a Texas guy," he said. "We really did come from pretty different worlds."

For the first time since the couple separated, male Kelly returned to South Florida for a visit this week, he said. He met with female Kelly a few days ago and there were "no hard feelings," he said.

The tale of the two Kellys began in February 2009, when Kelly Katrina Hildebrandt, of Coral Springs, found the Facebook profile of her future spouse. She saw that they had the exact same first and last name and sent him a friendly greeting to note their shared name.  

Same Name Couple Celebrates 1st Anniversary

They started having online exchanges and three weeks later, male Kelly, then 24, traveled from Texas to South Florida to meet female Kelly, then 20. They hit it off immediately and got engaged.

NBC 6 first reported about the Kellys in July 2009, and their story soon after went worldwide. They appeared on the "Today Show," "Inside Edition," Fox News, the front page of Yahoo.com, their wedding picture made People Magazine and they were mentioned in the monologue of late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien.

On Oct. 11, 2009, Kelly and Kelly tied the knot in Lighthouse Point. Things were going well for the newlyweds: They lived together in Coconut Creek and celebrated their first anniversary with a trip to Key West.

Then last year, the pair filed for divorce. The court case is still listed as pending, Broward County court records show.

A Tale of Two Kellys

Male Kelly said he has been happy back in Texas. "That's where all my connections are. It's been really great since I got back," he said.

When he moved, he didn't have to travel back to Texas alone. "Kelly let me keep my dog," he said.

Female Kelly couldn't be reached for comment Friday. But in a statement, her mother told NBC 6: "Yes, I am sorry to say they have separated. I am happy to say they have remained good friends and are both doing well."

Male Kelly said he would be reluctant to marry anyone with the same name again. He said he suspected there would be another spotlight if that were to happen.

"I wouldn't want my future spouse to have to deal with everything from before," he said. "That wouldn't be a fair situation, given the media coverage."

Asked whether the media spotlight affected his marriage, Kelly said he didn't have an answer. "You know, I really don't know on that," he replied.

He was sure, however, that having the same name didn't impede their love, he said. That just happened to be the "cutesy side" of a real relationship, he said.  

Female Kelly has since removed her Facebook account.

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Natural Gas Explosion Levels Lewisville Duplex

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A natural gas explosion destroyed a duplex in Lewisville hours after construction workers mistakenly cut a gas line.

The duplex behind the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church of God is owned by the Christian Community Actions, an organization that assists people who are in need.

The home exploded at 12:30 p.m., while crews were working to repair a gas leak. Construction workers mistakenly cut a 4-inch gas line in the area at about 10 a.m., investigators said.

Emergency crews at the time told NBC 5 they had the issue under control and that no evacuations were necessary. But fire officials later told another NBC 5 reporter that they had evacuated a block downwind of the gas leak.

The house that exploded was not included in the evacuations.

Atmos Energy said the cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Two Lewisville firefighters and a man who was inside the duplex at the time of the explosion were sent to area hospitals after the explosion, according to fire officials.

Witnesses said the explosion "felt like a bomb went off" and said they could feel the shock wave from blocks away.

"Honestly, I didn't see anything at first," said Danny Vigil, who lives in the area. "What I felt was a huge explosion. It was almost as if you were sitting in a movie, a big action movie -- you hear bombs going, that's what it sounded like."

"Pictures were rattling, falling onto the ground," he said. "The first thing I did was run out the front door -- ran all around because I thought some car hit our home. [I] ran to the back, I saw flames, smoke, debris in the air, shingles, branches. It was just an unbelievable sight."

"I was sitting at my desk whenever was a loud explosion," Dwayne Ryaman said. "[I] literally thought maybe an 18-wheeler had ran into my building at first."

"When I came out of my door, I immediately saw the black smoke and flames," he said. "I got a little bit closer to the scene, saw the debris that was strewn out in the middle of the street."

Debris covered the roadway in the 500 block of East Main Street in Lewisville. The road was shut down while emergency crews worked near the scene.

None of the surrounding homes or businesses were damaged in the explosion.

The man who was inside the duplex was critically injured and taken to Medical Center of Lewisville. He underwent surgery and was later airlifted to Medical Center of Plano, where he was in intensive care Friday night. He is expected to survive.

The injured firefighters were released from the hospital later Friday.

Crews are put out hot spots at the location of the explosion. Atmos Energy crews assisted, along with fire crews from Lewisville, The Colony and Carrollton.

NBC 5's Ellen Goldberg and Amanda Guerra contributed to this report.

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Natural Gas Explosion Levels Duplex in Lewisville, TX

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A natural gas explosion destroyed a duplex in Lewisville, Texas, hours after construction workers mistakenly cut a gas line, NBCDFW.com reported.

The duplex behind the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church of God is owned by the Christian Community Actions, an organization that assists people who are in need.

The home exploded at 12:30 p.m., while crews were working to repair a gas leak. Construction workers mistakenly cut a 4-inch gas line in the area at about 10 a.m., investigators said.

Emergency crews at the time told NBC 5 they had the issue under control and that no evacuations were necessary. But fire officials later told another NBC 5 reporter that they had evacuated a block downwind of the gas leak.

The house that exploded was not included in the evacuations.

Atmos Energy said the cause of the explosion is under investigation.

Two Lewisville firefighters and a man who was inside the duplex at the time of the explosion were sent to area hospitals after the explosion, according to fire officials.

Witnesses said the explosion "felt like a bomb went off" and said they could feel the shock wave from blocks away.

"Honestly, I didn't see anything at first," said Danny Vigil, who lives in the area. "What I felt was a huge explosion. It was almost as if you were sitting in a movie, a big action movie -- you hear bombs going, that's what it sounded like."

"Pictures were rattling, falling onto the ground," he said. "The first thing I did was run out the front door -- ran all around because I thought some car hit our home. [I] ran to the back, I saw flames, smoke, debris in the air, shingles, branches. It was just an unbelievable sight."

"I was sitting at my desk whenever was a loud explosion," Dwayne Ryaman said. "[I] literally thought maybe an 18-wheeler had ran into my building at first."

"When I came out of my door, I immediately saw the black smoke and flames," he said. "I got a little bit closer to the scene, saw the debris that was strewn out in the middle of the street."

Debris covered the roadway in the 500 block of East Main Street in Lewisville. The road was shut down while emergency crews worked near the scene.

None of the surrounding homes or businesses were damaged in the explosion.

The man who was inside the duplex was critically injured and taken to Medical Center of Lewisville. He underwent surgery and was later airlifted to Medical Center of Plano, where he was in intensive care Friday night. He is expected to survive.

The injured firefighters were released from the hospital later Friday.

Crews are put out hot spots at the location of the explosion. Atmos Energy crews assisted, along with fire crews from Lewisville, The Colony and Carrollton.

NBC 5's Ellen Goldberg and Amanda Guerra contributed to this report.

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Flu Outbreak Has Spread to 47 States: CDC

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A shortage of Tamiflu has many on edge, but it's not the only remedy this flu season. Dr. Bruce Hensel reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Jan. 10, 2013.

The flu is widespread now in more than two-thirds of the country. A widespread flu outbreak pushes up demand for popular treatment.

More Photos and Videos

The Centers for Disease Control's latest report on this unusually bad flu season shows that the virus'es geographic reach has grown but that the outbreak may have begun to wane.

"The bottom line: It's flu season," said Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a press conference addressing the report on Friday morning. "Most of the country is seeing or has seen a lot flu and this may continue for a number of weeks."

The report, which covers the week from Dec. 30 to Jan. 5, shows that the outbreak has now spread to 47 states, up from 41 the previous week.

Flu Spike: How to Stop It

"We're continuing to see influenza activity remaining elevated in most of the U.S.," Frieden said. "It may be decreasing in some areas, but that's hard to predict, because particularly when you have data from over the holidays season."

While 24 states are still reporting a high level of flu, that number is down from 29 the previous week. Frieden went on to say the data showing the flu could be waning may have been skewed by the holidays, a time during which doctors may be on vacation or people may be less likely to seek treatment.

Flu Tips for Parents

Since the outbreak began in October, more than 3,700 people have been hospitalized with the flu, and 20 children have died.

This year's vaccine has been 62 percent effective, about what the CDC expected given current conditions, according to Frieden, who warned that even if the flu is ebbing, flu season is far from over.

"Nationally, it's likely that flu will continue for several more weeks," said Frieden. "During the past decade we have seen an average of about 12 consecutive weeks — three months — of ILI (influenza-like illness) being elevated. But as we often say, the only thing predictable about flu is that it's unpredictable. Only time will tell us how long our season will last and how moderate or severe this season will be in the end."

States reporting widespread flu activity:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

States reporting high flu activity:

Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia

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35W Expansion Funding Could Be Model for Elsewhere

Chris Van Horne, NBC 5 Fort Worth Reporter

The project to expand Interstate-35W north of downtown Fort Worth will have a huge impact on commerce and commuters and the the success in funding the project could be a model used elsewhere in the state.

I-35W Expansion Funding Is a Story...

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Interstate 35W, the most heavily congested roadway in the state, will start to see work later this year.

The $1.6 billion expansion from Interstate 30 to the Highway 287 split will double the number of general lanes from two to four and add managed toll lanes.

The project is financed by the state, federal government and North Tarrant Express, a private entity. The partnership could be used elsewhere in the state as Texas Department of Transportation looks for new ways to fund roads.

"I think that's part of the solution," said Phil Wilson, TxDOT executive director. "When you're able to bring that tool to the solution box because it may build a project 20, 25 years faster than a traditional gas tax method of finance, I think people are open to that."

Wilson, who addressed the coalition's annual meeting at Texas Motor Speedway on Thursday morning, said toll roads aren't the only way to build highways. But with the gas tax not producing like it use to, his department will need more money from the Legislature to keep up with transit needs and costs, he said.

"We need a billion dollars in maintenance," he said. "We're short right now."

Anyone who drives I-35W knows that congestion is nearly an all-day issue.

"Our current infrastructure is currently inadequate to meet the traffic flows we encounter every day," said Bill Meadows, Texas Transportation Commissioner and former Fort Worth councilman.

But the impending highway expansion should make a world of difference for drivers and the economy.

"[Interstate] 35W connects Texas with the rest of the U.S., certainly Canada and Mexico, so improvements to 35W through the metropolitan area are absolutely huge," said Russell Laughlin, 35W Coalition president.

The 35W project is just one of the many projects under way or planned in North Texas that add up to $15 billion.

"Certainly the focus continues to be what else can we do in North Texas," Laughlin said.

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Celina Father Accused of Making School Gun Threat

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A Celina man who allegedly told elementary school officials he had a gun as part of an experiment on school safety is facing third-degree felony charges.

School officials said Ronald Miller went to Celina Elementary School, where his child is a student, on Wednesday and claimed to have a gun.

Administrators said Miller first approached a school greeter with whom he was acquainted and said he had a gun.

"He told her he was a gunman and his target was on the inside -- and 'I'm going inside. What are you going to do about it?'" Superintendent Donny O'Dell said.

O'Dell says the school greeter froze in panic, allowing Miller to walk through the school's front door while children were entering the building for the school day.

Miller then entered the office and made similar threats, he said.

"He told them that he is a shooter and 'you're dead, and you're dead,'" O'Dell said.

O'Dell said Miller then asked to speak to the school principal, telling staff he was conducting an experiment into school safety.

Miller never produced a weapon.

School officials called administrators and, eventually, police once Miller left the property.

"The main thing that you learn is that it could be anybody at any time," O'Dell said.

Celina parent David Sciano, who has two children at the school, said the incident illustrates how little the district has stepped up security in the wake of last month's school shooting in Connecticut.

"A guy walks in, makes threats. Everyone is sitting there terrified, doesn't know what to do," he said. "It shows that this is going to happen again."

Sciano said he had heard about the incident through word of mouth.

School officials said they had held off communicating with parents so it would not interfere with the police investigation.

A letter went home with students on Thursday afternoon.

"We're not perfect, but what we've got to do is get more perfect," O'Dell said.

The superintendent said the district has looked at its security protocols since the fall and often runs emergency drills.

He said the district has considered and will look into hiring a school resource officer.

In the meantime, parents such as Sciano said they feel bad for Miller for making what seems to have been a poor choice with lasting consequences.

"His intent was probably just to say, 'Hey, you've done nothing,' and that's what it showed, so if that's what it takes, that's a shame," Sciano said. "This guy gave up his life to make a point. I don't know if he was going to hurt anyone or not, but if there's anything that we've gotten out of this, is that we know that we are not prepared."

Miller was arrested late Wednesday on a charge of making a terroristic threat. He is being held on a $75,000 bond.

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DISD Communications Chief Resigns to Focus on Family

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After just one rocky semester, the head of communications for the Dallas school district says she is stepping down.

Jennifer Sprague told NBC 5 in an exclusive interview that she needs to focus on family. She said she and her family plan to remain in Dallas.

"Well, Superintendent Mike Miles offered me a great opportunity to come out to Dallas ISD and do some great work and really drive forward the improvements in his improvement plan," she said. "And I accepted the opportunity and moved my family out here from Colorado and just realized over the past couple of weeks -- after some personal reflection time over the holidays -- I just realized that, career-wise, Dallas ISD is not the place for me, and so I look forward to the next chapter of my career."

Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles brought Sprague with him from his previous school district in Colorado.

Her hiring sparked controversy from the beginning. Her salary -- $185,000 -- was about $100,000 more than she made in her previous job, and Miles hired her without interviewing any other candidates.

Sprague said she didn't necessarily think her salary would be so controversial.

"I think that I was hired here for the chief of communications position and it's a cabinet-level position," she said. "But most importantly, I agree with some of the ideas of the board as far as 'pay for performance.' I was asked to come to Dallas ISD to implement his -- Superintendent Miles' -- goals and improvement goals, and that consists of a pay-for-performance plan for our teachers and staff, and I am a huge supporter of that and I agree with the system."

At a news conference in June, Miles defended Sprague's appointment and salary by saying that she represented national-level talent and competency.

"I'm not trying to diss the people who have already been here, but we're getting national-level expertise and we're changing the paradigm of communications," he said.

In that same press conference, Miles said: "If Jennifer Sprague were an ugly, slightly older male with 20 years of experience who had won all these national awards, would any of you in this room make a story of it if he received the same salary as a communications person in Houston ISD?"

Sprague said in her interview with NBC 5 in her rented Pleasant Grove home this week that, in hindsight, there were things she could have said and done differently in the beginning.

"I think the superintendent would agree and, in many cases, there's always things that we could have done better or said differently," she said.

A board meeting in August fired up her naysayers even more. Sprague was criticized for being unprepared to answer questions from trustees.

Sprague said she kept a "laser-like focus" on what she was hired to do through it all.

"We really focused on internal communications, getting the staff on board with the changes and with the Destination 2020 goals and making sure everybody understood the core beliefs," she said.

Sprague didn't elaborate on how Miles responded to her resignation, but said that if she were not resigning, her job would be safe.

And she said she stands by the superintendent.

"Superintendent Miles is a great leader, and he knows what he's doing, and I back him 100 percent," she said.

Sprague said she is looking forward to the next chapter of her career.

"I, again, made the decision to resign based on my family and based on what's best for my family," she said.

Links to interview excerpts:

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Woman, 3 Children Killed in Haltom City House Fire

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Three children and a woman were killed in a house fire in Haltom City on Thursday evening.

The fire was reported at a two-story home in the 4900 block of Colonial Park at about 5:15 p.m. It appeared from Chopper 5 that the fire was out before 6 p.m.

MedStar EMS said fire crews pulled a 6-month-old girl, a boy who is 5 or 6 years old, a girl who is 10 or 11 years old and a woman from the house. They sustained smoke inhalation and had minor burns, MedStar said.

Firefighters found the children and the woman from upstairs, MedStar said.

The children were taken to Cook Children's Medical Center, and the woman was taken to North Hills Hospital. MedStar confirmed later Thursday night that the three children and the woman had died.

A neighbor tells NBC 5 that the three children were siblings and the woman was the children's grandmother.

Crews from North Richland Hills and Fort Worth assisted Haltom City firefighters in battling the fire.

A neighbor called 911 when he noticed the fire.

"I walked out and I noticed the front window -- there was smoking coming out of it -- so I ran next to it to the curb and I yelled, 'Hey! Your house! The house is on fire! Is anybody in there?' And nobody said anything, so I called 911," Phillip Heard said.

Heard said he thought the house was empty.

Several neighbors broke down when they heard the news about the deaths.

Heard said he was heartbroken.

"It's just very devastating to know that this tragedy happened," he said.

"Oh, we're here for them," said Connie Webb, another neighbor. "We're just a close neighborhood. We try to be, a lot of us, and we try to watch out for each other's homes, even if we don't know each other."

Webb said the children's mother was at work when the fire broke out and rushed home in tears.

"I hugged her when she walked up and I said, 'Go to the hospital and be with your family. We'll watch out for your home and take care of everything,'" Webb said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

NBC 5's Amanda Guerra contributed to this report.

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Where to Get Flu Shots

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This year's flu season is being called an epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control with some medical centers suffering a shortage of the flu vaccine and medical supplies.

There are still vaccines available to North Texans. If you have not received your flu shot and need to know where to go, below is a list of locations, organized by county, where you can still get a flu shot.

Collin County Health Care Services: (only one clinic that opens at 7:30am)

825 N. Mc Donald St. # 130     map
McKinney, Texas 75069
Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 11am & 1pm - 4pm

Dallas County: (earliest clinics open at 8a)

Dallas County Health Department Children's Immunization Clinic
2377 North Stemmons Freeway in Dallas
Room 159, first floor
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday*
*Children's clinic is open until 6 p.m. Wednesdays
214-819-2163 or 214-819-1903

Oak Cliff Branch Immunization Clinic
1113 E. Jefferson Boulevard, Suite 200 in Dallas
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
214-948-0425

John West Branch Immunization Clinic
3312 N. Buckner Boulevard, Suite 200 in Dallas
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
214-321-5747

Carrollton Farmers Branch Immunization Clinic
2774 Valwood Parkway in Farmers Branch
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
972-241-2684

Irving Branch Immunization Clinic
440 S. Nursery Road in Irving
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
972-721-3661

North Dallas Branch Immunization Clinic
8202 Spring Valley Rd. #100
8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
214-358-0926
* This clinic location is located at the corner of Waterfall Way and Spring Valley behind the laundromat.

Dallas County Health & Human Service Refugee Clinic
8202 Spring Valley Rd. #100
8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
214-570-1469
214-570-1465(F)
* This clinic location is located at the corner of Waterfall Way and Spring Valley behind the laundromat.

Grand Prairie Immunizations
1413 Densman Street in Grand Prairie
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. every first four Wednesdays of the month

Lancaster Immunizations
Cedar Valley College
3030 N. Dallas Avenue
12 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. every first Thursday of the month

Seagoville Immunizations
Church of Christ
510 N. Kaufman Street
1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. every first Friday of the month

Cockrell Hill Immunizations
Anson Jones Elementary School
3901 Meredith Street
1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. every second Wednesday of the month

Balch Springs Immunizations
Balch Springs Recreation Center
4372 Shepherd Lane
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month

Dallas Immunizations
Ridgewood Clinic
6445 E. Lovers Lane
12 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. every third Friday of the month

Grand Prairie Immunizations
Immaculate Conception
1710 Small Street
8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. every fourth Monday of the month

Denton County: (clinics open at 7am Mon-Thurs; 8am Fri)

Denton Office
535 S. Loop 288
Denton, Texas 76205
(940) 349-2900
(940) 349-2905 Fax

Lewisville Office
190 N. Valley Parkway, Suite 203
Lewisville, Texas 75067
(972) 434-4700
(972) 434-4701 Fax

Days and Hours of Operation (for both Denton and Lewisville clinics):
Clinic Hours: Monday - Thursday 7:00am to 11:30am and 1:00pm to 5:30pm
Fridays 8:00am to 11:30am & 1:00-4:30pm

Tarrant County: (clinics only open at 8am)

Arlington                                 
536 W. Randol Mill Rd., 76011   Monday – Friday       8 am – Noon & 2 – 4 pm
817-548-3990
 
Lake Worth                         
3800 Adam Grubb Rd., 76135    Monday – Friday       8 am – Noon & 2 – 4 pm
817-238-4441
 
Watauga                               
6601 Watauga Rd., 76148   Monday - Friday           8 am – Noon & 2 – 4 pm
817-514-5036
 
Bagsby-Williams                      
3212 Miller Ave., 76119      Monday – Friday              8 am – Noon & 2 – 4 pm
817-531-6738
 
La Gran Plaza Mall*                  
4200 South Frwy., 76115    Monday – Friday              8 am – Noon & 2 – 4 pm
817-920-5752      
*Saturdays available,  please call for details
 
Southwest                              
6551 Granbury Rd., 76133    Monday – Friday            8 am – Noon & 2 – 4 pm
817-370-4530                         

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Fire at Historic Grapevine Home

Keaton Fox, NBC 5 News

A Grapevine home built in the 1860s went up in flames Friday morning. Investigators are looking into the cause of the fire.

Historic Grapevine Home Goes Up in Flames

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Firefighters responded to a fire in Grapevine Friday morning at a historic two-story home.

The fire started at about 4 a.m. on the 500 block of Wildwood Lane.

Crews quickly called for a second alarm due to the heavy flames.

The home collapsed as firefighters battled the blaze.

A man and woman were in the home at the time of the fire. They escaped without injuries.

Police say the home was built in the 1860s and was the first postmaster of Grapevine.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire. 

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Flu Tips for Parents of Young Children

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Flu Forces Ambulances to Bypass Some Hospitals

The harsh flu season has hit several Chicago-area hospitals hard, overflowing emergency rooms and packing hospital wards. Nesita Kwan reports.

Van Takes Flu Shots to Neighborhoods

As ERs and clinics deal with an ongoing flu outbreak, public health officials continue to beat the drum about the flu shot and how it can offer protection. Nesita Kwan reports.

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As the flu outbreak grows nationwide, pediatricians are seeing patient volumes increase dramatically.

And Loyola University pediatrician Bridget Boyd says it's not just one child per visit.

"I'm seeing either one child or two children in the family, and the parents are also sick with flu like symptoms. ... I'm seeing entire families," said Boyd.

Boyd on Thursday said there's a safe way to battle the flu virus, and the first "no no" on the list is providing cough and cold medicines for kids under the age of four years.

For children between the ages of four and six years, over the counter cough and cold medicine should only be administered under a physicians supervision, she said.

The assistant professor of pediatrics explained that even for children older than six, parents should be careful to read labels because age is only part of the equation; many of the dosage recommendations are based on weight.

So what's the danger if young children get these over the counter cough and cold meds?

"The reason we don't recommend them is that accidental overdose is especially common with over the counter cough and cold medications," she said. "The side effects can even include an rapid or irregular heart beat and even convulsions."

As a parent herself, Boyd said she understands a caretaker's caring concern.

"The most frustrating thing is you want to give them something to make them feel better," she said.

Aside from medicine, Boyd reminded that there are other remedies:

For babies under the age of one year, nasal passages can be cleared using a nasal spray and bulb syringe. It's especially helpful if done before the child eats.

A humidifier by the bed also helps, and for kids three months or older, Boyd suggested a chest rub like the one Vicks makes.

Once a child is older than one, they can get honey, a natural cough suppressant.

For all ages, however, parents need to keep an eye out for dehydration.

Sometimes, she said kids won't drink because their throats are so sore. Parents can try giving the child a Popsicle or painkiller before they drink something so it's less uncomfortable.

However, Dr. Boyd said the most important measure is one parents have likely heard: get a flu shot.

For babies under the age of six months, who can't get the vaccine, protection comes from having all the adults and other kids around them vaccinated.

In this outbreak, she said the youngest and the oldest are most at risk because of how sick they can get.

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Scientists Forced to Rethink the "Big One"

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For the first time, scientists and emergency planners are examining whether a super quake could affect both Northern and Southern California, rendering the entire state helpless in the aftermath of the "Big One."

Seismologists have warned Southern California that a major quake on the lower San Andreas Fault, the so-called Big One is inevitable. But that the population centers of both Southern and Northern California could be affected simultaneously by one quake on the San Andreas Fault has only recently been recognized as a possibility.

The study by Professor Nadia Lapusta at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and Japanese collaborator Hiroyuki Noda focused on explaining the behavior of two devastating quakes in Asia: the 1999 magnitude 7.6 temblor in Taiwan, and the 2011 magnitude 9.0 quake off the eastern coast of Japan.

Special Section: Earthquake Info, Maps and Resources

In both cases, the quake spread across so-called "creeping" fault segments long thought to be incapable of transmitting quakes, according to Caltech Staff Seismologist Kate Hutton, a Lapusta colleague.

"The general idea until this paper was that they would stop a quake," Hutton said.

It was believed the slow, creeping movement prevents stress from building up and keeps such a segment stable, Hutton added.

Lapusta and Noda developed a computer model to explain how under certain conditions "a rupture could just kind of barge right through," Hutton said. "Now the question is how this would apply to California."

Such a creeping zone has been identified in a stretch of the San Andreas Fault in central California, just north of seismically active Parkfield.

The Great San Francisco quake of 1906 occurred on the San Andreas north of the creeping zone. The 1857 Fort Tejon quake occurred to the south. No known quake has ever spanned across that creeping zone.

Whether the model developed by Lapusta and Noda could apply there would depend on local geological variables not yet completely understood, Hutton said.

Responsible for statewide emergency planning and disaster preparedness, California's Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) is reviewing the new study, according to spokesman Greg Renick. The agency already has in place a plan for responding to a catastrophic quake in Southern California, and another plan for the San Francisco Bay Area.

Cal EMA anticipates that a catastrophic quake affecting a major population center, much less two, will require response assistance from outside California, and has established procedures in place. Beyond that, Cal-EMA now intends to review the newly published research to see if it exposes any gaps in the current response plans that could be corrected before they're needed, Renick said.

Every fall, Cal EMA's Golden Guardian program creates a disaster scenario for a multi-agency response drill. The scenario this year involves a catastrophic quake in the San Francisco Bay Area. A magnitude 7.8 temblor on the southern section of the San Andreas was drilled in 2008.

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Man Jumps Out Apartment Window After Morning Fire

Keaton Fox

Dallas fire crews say a man jumped out of his second story apartment window after a fire broke out Friday morning.

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Dallas fire crews say a man jumped out of his second story apartment window after a fire broke out Friday morning.

The one-alarm fire started around 7:20 a.m. in the 1700 block of Hudspeth Avenue in Oak Cliff. 

Witnesses said they saw flames coming out of windows on both the first and second floors, and then saw a man jump out a window to safety.

Fire crews said he broke his ankle and was taken to a nearby hospital. Another man was treated for minor injuries on the scene.

Fire investigators are on scene looking for a cause of the fire.

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Health Officials Promote Flu Shots

Randy McIlwain, NBC 5 News

While a Dallas father waits to find out if his daughter died from flu complications, doctors and health departments are urging everyone to get vaccinated. Adults 65 and older and children are at high risk for getting the flu.

Flu Season: Children at Risk

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Health officials are continuing to stress the importance of getting vaccinated for the flu.

Experts say too many people who are insured do not get flu shots, allowing the virus to spread.

"We've got a lot of people out there who have myths about the flu shot and don't take it, and what we're seeing right now is that we don't have that widespread vaccination that we need against the flu virus, and that's contributing to the problem," said Zach Thompson, Dallas County health director.

Forrestwood Middle School in Flower Mound is hosting a free flu clinic Wednesday night in part to honor the memory of Max Schwolert, a high school student who recently died of a combination of the flu and a staph infection while on vacation in Minnesota.

Dallas County does not have any confirmed flu-related deaths in children as of Wednesday.

The family of 6-year-old Tahila Johnson, who died the day after she visited a hospital emergency room in Mesquite with flu-like symptoms, is awaiting the results of an autopsy.

"It would be surprising to have a healthy child get influenza and then have a fatal illness the next morning," said Janet Glowicz at Parkland Hospital. "That takes a community off their feet. It's a very tragic thing. It can happen; it is uncommon."

Experts say 90 percent of influenza-related deaths are in adults age 65 and older with other health complications.

But experts say children are also high-risk.

"Flu can be fatal for healthy young people," Glowicz said.

Children can have medical issues that have yet to be diagnosed, such as diabetes or cancers.

NBC 5's Randy McIlwain contributed to this report.

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Dallas License-Plate Cameras Raise Privacy Concerns

Ken Kalthoff, NBC 5 News

Dallas police will soon have a new tool to fight crime, new cameras and software will allow officers to scan license plates on vehicles, but there's some concern about the privacy of innocent people.

Dallas Police to Scan License Plates

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Dallas will be one of the nation's largest cities to use license plate-tracking cameras, the police chief says.

The City Council on Wednesday approved a plan to mount 14 cameras on Dallas police squad cars to scan vehicles on streets.

The plan includes more than $3 million worth of special software that allows the cameras to instantly alert police about stolen cars or wanted drivers. Much of the money comes from confiscated drug money.

And most city leaders welcomed the plan that would mount 14 more of the license-tag cameras on utility poles in high-crime areas.

"Most people in and around drug houses are wanted for crimes and so, if we use this right and protect privacy, Dallas will be safer," Police Chief David Brown said.

Unlike the surveillance cameras Dallas police use to watch for crimes in progress, the license-scanning camera equipment could store tag information to be used years later.

Councilwoman Angela Hunt said it raises invasion of privacy fears because information on innocent people could also be held and tracked by police.

"I'm concerned about how it will be retained, and it is setting up a system where this could be abused in the future," she said.

Hunt voted against the plan, but all the other council members voted yes.

"It's our job to use power in a thoughtful and disciplined manner," Mayor Mike Rawlings said.

Council members want to review the privacy policy for the license-plate cameras before they are ready for use by Dallas police in April.

Carrollton and some other smaller cities already use the technology.

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Arlington Webcams to Help Drivers Navigate Closures

Mola Lenghi, NBC 5 Arlington Reporter

The City of Arlington plans to use webcams to keep residents informed of road closures during a month-long railroad intersection construction project.

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Arlington drivers will be forced to rethink their normal routes through the city when the Union Pacific Rail Renewal project gets underway next week and the city plans to give drivers as much information as it can about road closures.

The City of Arlington will use webcams to keep residents informed during a month-long railroad intersection construction project that will shut down some intersections simultaneously for 24 hours.

"We're expecting, frankly, gridlock on some of these streets, especially on the first day or so as people try to figure out the best alternate routes," said city spokeswoman Rebecca Rodriguez.

The city plans to give drivers as much information as it can.

Existing traffic cameras will capture images of 27 different intersections throughout the city and display them on MyArlingtonTX.com. The images refresh every five minutes.

"It's going to be a fairly recent snapshot of what conditions look like before you leave the house," added Rodriguez.

An interactive map will also show the progress of construction and which intersections will be closed on what day. Closings will begin with Bowen Road and move east through the city and include Davis Drive as well as Cooper, Mesquite and Collins Streets.

The city says patience and planning will be key for drivers.

"Think ahead and think now about where you need to be and the best way to get there and that includes every aspect of life - whether it's getting your child to school, getting to work or running some errands," said Rodriguez.

The project begins Jan. 16 and is scheduled to run through Jan. 24.

The city plans to hold a public meeting on Monday, Jan. 14, to provide information about the project.

More: MyArlingtonTX.com Web Cams

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Truck Driver: Good Samaritan "Was An Angel to Me"

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A Parker County father says he can't say "thank you" enough to a stranger who rescued him from his burning 18-wheeler after he crashed in Dallas on Wednesday morning.

"She was an angel to me," Elias Uribe said. "She's my hero."

Uribe lost control of his semi-trailer on a rain-slickened Interstate 30 near downtown. The truck burst into flames. His door was jammed shut. He remembers the fire just inches from his elbow.

"Probably 30 seconds more and I would have caught on fire," he said.

Seconds from certain death with the flames spreading, a stranger showed up from nowhere, he said.

"And then in the distance I could hear a woman screaming, 'Can you get out? Are you OK? Can you get out? It's burning,'" he said.

The voice belonged to Terry Sims, who happened to be driving by on her way to work.

"I came around, and I saw flames coming from underneath the trailer, so I pulled him out of the truck. she said soon after it happened.

Sims said she was concerned for her own safety but ran up to the burning truck anyway.

"He was in the truck, and the door wouldn't open," she said. "We had to pull him out the window. I was just so scared it was going to blow."

Sims then led Uribe to safety.

"I could barely walk, but I leaned on her and she pulled me all the way," he said.

Within minutes, the entire cab was engulfed in flames.

Uribe said Sims single-handedly saved his life -- "no doubt."

His three children -- Eliazar, 8, Elizabeth, 10, and Elias Jr., 12 -- would have been left without parents.

"I don't know if they understand, but I tell them I made it," Uribe said. "That's all that matters."

His longtime wife, Dolores, was killed in May in a car crash near their Parker County home. It makes what Sims did all the more special.

"I'd like to thank her very much," Uribe said, choking back tears. "I don't have words to say."

After all this, Uribe said he's going to take a break from driving professionally and "take some time with my kids and be with them.

"More than ever, you don't know how fragile life is," he said.

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Deion Sanders Says Divorce Has Him "Tapped Out"

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Sanders: "I Can't Afford All This Mess"

Eight weeks before their divorce heads to trial, Deion and Pilar Sanders were back in a Collin County Courtroom on Wednesday. The therapist for Sanders children and some teachers took the stand, along with Deion Sanders himself.

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Deion and Pilar Sanders and their attorneys met in a special hearing Wednesday, eight weeks before their divorce heads to trial.

During the hearing, a continuation of proceedings that began in late December, Deion Sanders said he won't be able to bring himself to speak to his soon-to-be-ex wife once their divorce is final.

A therapist who had treated the three Sanders children took the stand for much of the morning.

She said that while she had not had a session with the two boys and girl in about two months, she had noted during several months of visits that there was a lack of co-parenting between Deion and Pilar Sanders. The therapist said the couple do not communicate at all and that the children seem divided.

The court heard testimony about an incident in which the Sanders' oldest son ran away from his mother's custody, entered a paint store in Celina and begged to use a phone to call his father, citing abuse.

But Deion Sanders said his children are doing well, despite the very public divorce.

"You can't take a snapshot of one moment and say that's how my kids are doing," he said. "My kids are wonderful. We came off a wonderful vacation. They're doing great in school, great in sports."

He added, however, that the children have been exposed to too much information from the Internet and other reports on the divorce.

Sanders currently has primary custody of his two boys and pays $5,500 per month in child support to Pilar, who keeps the couple's daughter most of the time.

Both parents have visitation.

During his testimony, Sanders asked for his child support to be reduced, saying his income has dropped and he isn't covering his expenses.

"I can't afford it," he said, also referring to his legal fees. "I live a modest life. I'm no longer a player. I live on a strict budget -- I can't afford all this mess."

Sanders added that he does not understand why the divorce process is taking so long, given that a judge upheld the couple's prenuptial agreement.

"This is ignorant -- this is taxpayer money, on something that the judge ruled a couple of months ago that the prenup was valid," he said.

Sanders added that he has lost out on $500,000 to $750,000 in endorsement deals because of the negative publicity surrounding his divorce.

The divorce will go to a jury trial in March.

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Pet Treats Recalled Due to Antibiotics Contamination

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Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Milo's Kitchen, owned by Del Monte Corp. of San Francisco, are recalling chicken jerky dog treats due to unapproved antibiotics contamination.

The two national retailers announced the recall on Wednesday.

The New York Department of Agriculture and Marketing told veterinary officials at the federal Food and Drug Administration that trace amounts of poultry antibiotics, not approved for use in U.S. poultry ,were found in the retailers' jerky dog treats, according to NBC News.

The antibiotics include sulfaclozine, tilmicosin, trimethoprim, enrofloxacin and sulfaquinoxaline, a department spokesperson, Joe Morrissey, told NBC News.

The recall affects Nestle Purina PetCare Co.'s Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch brand dog treats; also Milo's Kitchen's Chicken Jerky an Chicken Grillers dog treats.

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New York Gov. Proposes Assault Weapons Ban

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for closing loopholes on a state ban on assault weapons and ammunition magazines that carry more than 10 bullets as part of a wide-ranging gun control package he proposed in his State of the State speech Wednesday.

"Guns have both a noble and a tragic tradition in America and in New York state," Cuomo stated in remarks provided before his speech. "They are a sign of our nation's fiercely defended independence and self-reliance ... (but) in the wrong hands, guns are also weapons of untold destruction and heartbreak.

The state already has among the most restrictive gun control laws in the nation, but a deal is expected soon that could make New York one of the first states to pass gun control laws following the Dec. 14 shooting, in which 20 first-graders and six educators were gunned down with a powerful weapon at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The shooter also killed his mother and himself.

New York's effort was hastened further by the Christmas Eve killings of two firefighters in western New York by a man who set his neighborhood on fire, lay in wait with a high-powered rifle for responders, shot them and killed himself. Webster residents related to the firefighters were honored guests at the State of State address.

"Some weapons are so dangerous and some ammunition devices so lethal that we simply cannot afford to continue selling them in our state," Cuomo said.

Cuomo would also require follow-ups for owners of handgun licenses to make sure they are still qualified to possess a gun based on criminal and other records. He would increase sentences for gun crimes including for using guns on school property and for gang activities.

Legislators were working Wednesday behind closed doors to reach agreement on the governor's demand for tighter controls on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Republican Sen. Martin Golden agreed the closed-door talks have brought all sides to within 95 percent of a deal, which could be announced and acted on this week.

"New York leads the nation, it's time New York lead the nation in this," Silver said. His priorities are bans on assault rifles and high-capacity magazines of ammunition.

Golden, a leader in the Senate on crime-fighting measures, said in an interview that the final deal is expected to have some stiffer sentences for gun crimes, although not as severe as he hoped. Also, he said, the deal will crack down on the trafficking of illegal guns. The Brooklyn Republican, a former New York City police officer, said illegal guns are the weapons of choice in New York City crime.

The priority for Cuomo and Silver is to close what they say are loopholes that let some weapon designs escape a ban on assault weapons. They also want to outlaw the high-capacity magazines.

"I think we will come up with a reasonable definition and a reasonable closing of loopholes," Silver said.

Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos is insisting on changes to a state law that authorizes longer court-ordered mental health treatment for individuals who won't seek help but are deemed a safety threat.

Legislators are prepared to be called into session by Cuomo as early as Thursday if a deal is struck, though a Cuomo spokesman said he knows of no plan to call legislators into session that day. The Legislature isn't scheduled for regular session until Monday.

In other priorities, Cuomo proposes raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $8.75 an hour, an idea he also pitched a year ago; allowing three casinos for upstate New York and none in New York City; and making possession of up to 15 ounces of marijuana seen in "open view" punishable as a violation.

In addition, the governor would eliminate the Long Island Power Authority as part of measures to better protect New York City and Long Island and would "harden" the energy network that failed for millions of New Yorkers for as many as 21 days with the Oct. 29 storm. The governor said the Long Island Power Authority failed during the storm.

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Homeowner Shoots, Kills Armed Invader

Kendra Lyn, NBC 5 News

Police say a homeowner shot and killed an armed intruder who tried to break into a third floor apartment in North Dallas Wednesday night.

Homeowner Shoots, Kills Armed Intruder

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A grand jury will decide if a homeowner had the right to shoot and kill an armed man trying to break into a home in North Dallas Wednesday night.

The shooting happened in the 7700 block of McCallum Boulevard in North Dallas around 8:30 p.m.

Police say the intruder tried to break into the third floor apartment at McCallum Corners armed with a handgun. 

Investigators say the 36-year-old man from Denton was shot and killed by the homeowner on the spot during the home invasion. 

The intruder had several gunshot wounds to his upper body.

Officers seized marijuana, cash, and a semi-automatic pistol from the apartment.

Police say the intruder had an accomplice who got away when gunshots rang out.

Under Texas law, the Castle Doctrine typically sides with the homeowner. The law states that a person's home is their castle and has the right to defend themselves from criminal intruders.

Lawmakers say it presumes that use of force is reasonable and necessary when someone is illegally entering or trying to get into an occupied home, car, or workplace to commit a crime.

A homeowner can still be charged if police discover the killing wasn't truly self-defense.

We do not know if there is any connection between the intruder and resident.

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Firefighters Battle 5-Alarm Blaze

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Dallas Fire Rescue is fighting a five-alarm apartment fire in Dallas Thursday morning.

The fire was reported at the Courtney Place Apartments, a two-story apartment building on 3200 Chapel Creek Drive, at about 7:20 a.m.

DFR officials say 24 units have been damaged in the fire, but no injuried have been reported yet. Firefighters are still checking units to make sure everyone is accounted for.

Fire officials say they have the blaze mostly contained and that no firefighters have been injured.

The Red Cross will be providing relief supplies at the scene of the fire for the families that have lost their homes.

As this is a developing story, some details and information may change as the event continues. Please refresh this page for the latest published information.

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Girl With Flu-Symptoms Dies Hours After Leaving ER

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Flu Shots Urged; 6-Year-Old Treated for Flu Dies

The health department and doctors are urging everyone to get a flu shot even before a 6-year-old girl who was being treated for the flu died.

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Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Tahila Johnson was diagnosed with the flu. However, because the child was never given a flu test, it is not known if she had the flu.

A 6-year-old child with flu-like symptoms died hours after she visited an emergency room, where doctors declined to administer a flu test, her father says.

Tahila Johnson's grandmother found her unresponsive shortly before 7 a.m. Tuesday and called 911.

The family said the girl seemed to be doing fine when it last checked on her at about 2 a.m.

Johnson's family took her to the emergency room at Dallas Regional Medical Center in Mesquite on Monday after she missed school because of aches and pains. They waited for four hours before doctors told them she didn't need a flu test.

"'We're not going to test her for the flu; we're not testing anybody today,' and there was a lot of kids in the lobby, so is my child the only one? You never know," said her father, Earl Johnson.

After seeing doctors, the family was sent home with instructions to treat the illness with Tylenol and Zyrtec.

"My daughter didn't get tested, and I woke up in the morning and it wasn't even 12 hours from leaving the hospital, and she's dead," Earl Johnson said. "I wish I could have made them do more."

The hospital released a short written statement Tuesday.

"The staff at Dallas Regional Medical Center would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Tahila Johnson," hospital spokesman Adam Groshans said. "This is a tragic loss for which we are deeply saddened."

The statement did not address questions about the care the child received, but a hospital spokesman said administrators are reviewing what happened.

Her father said his daughter had not had a flu shot.

"She rarely got sick, ever. She didn't have allergies; she wasn't allergic to anything," he said. "She never missed school -- that's how we knew she was sick; she didn't want to go to school."

"She was daddy's girl," he said. "I don't know what to do. It's like my heart is gone now."

The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office will determine Tahila Johnson's cause of death. It is expected to perform an autopsy Wednesday, but officials said it could take several weeks to determine if her death was flu-related.

Flu vaccine supplies run low

Dallas County has run low on flu vaccines with the early onset of flu season, but the county health director says that enough are on hand now and more supplies are on the way.

"There's not a vaccine shortage nationally," said Zach Thompson, county health director. "There's just a low inventory because you try to get as many people vaccinated before the holiday period."

The county health department has ordered 1,000 more vaccines and has 200 on hand.

Health officials are encouraging people to get vaccinated. The vaccination takes 10 days to be effective.

"We know vaccines work. We know they're effective, and so if we can get the message out to the community that the more people we get immunized, the less disease we have spreading," said Vicki Yeatts, Garland Health Department public health administrator.

Dallas Regional Medical Center said it is encouraging people to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's flu-prevention guidelines:

• Get a flu vaccine
• Take steps to prevent the spread of germs, such as frequent hand-washing
• Take the antivirual drugs prescribed by a physician if you get the flu

If complications such as difficulty breathing, persistent fever, excessive vomiting or difficulty swallowing become apparent, people should immediately go to closest emergency room, the hospital said.

NBC 5's Ken Kalthoff, Tammy Mutasa and Scott Gordon contributed to this report.

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Report: Cowboys Fire Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan

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ESPN Dallas is reporting that the Dallas Cowboys have fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, with a year remaining on his three-year deal--and he sounds none to pleased about the sudden and unceremonious way he will exit Dallas.

"I inherited a team that was 31st in the league in defense and made them better," Ryan told Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas fame. "I (expletive) made them a hell of a lot better. I'll be out of work for like five minutes."

Ryan's defense had an incredibly rough year, despite coming a win away from the playoffs. By season's end five defensive starters had gone down with season-ending injuries--safety Barry Church, inside linebackers Sean Lee and Bruce Carter, nose tackle Jay Ratliff and defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman.

Ryan made mention of the banged-up unit on Tuesday evening.

"I think I did a good job and I think our staff did a good job on defense trying to compete with what we had at the end of the year," Ryan said. "But the best job we did was when we were able to coach our starters."

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Woman Fatally Shot in UT Southwestern Parking Garage

Ben Russell, NBC 5 News

Dallas police are investigating a fatal shooting inside a parking garage on the campus of UT Southwestern Medical Center.

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Dallas police are investigating a deadly shooting at a parking garage on the UT Southwestern Medical Center campus.

The shooting was reported in a parking structure in the 5300 block of Harry Hines Boulevard on Tuesday night. A witness heard at least three fired in Garage 2 at about 7:30 p.m., UT Southwestern spokesman Russell Rian said.

The female victim has not been identified and police have not said what relationship, if any, she had with UT Southwestern.

Rian said the parking garage is available to any visitors to the campus.

The parking garage is on county property, but Dallas police will investigate the shooting.

The campus was locked down and remained on lockdown as of 10 p.m.

Graduate students who parked nearby told NBC 5 that the school sent alerts by text message that warned of a possible homicide.

"So we all just got text messages at the same time saying don't go outside, there's been a possible homicide and they said which garage and we all scrambled to the Internet because we don't know what all the garages are numbered as," grad student Dorothy Cupka said.

No arrests have been made in the shooting.

NBC 5's Ben Russell contributed to this report.

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