Dallas' 'Most Hated Chef' Bounces Back

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There appears to be redemption for the man "D Magazine" labeled "the most hated chef in Dallas."

The magazine gave John Tesar the dubious distinction after he abruptly left The Mansion on Turtle Creek, where he earned a five-star review in 2008 from the The Dallas Morning News.

"I got the opportunity to go on 'Top Chef' because I was 'the most hated chef in Dallas,' and that worked out really well," he said. "And we came back and opened Spoon, and the word on the street is, it's fantastic, and I'm having a great time."

Spoon Bar and Kitchen in Preston Center opened in January. The space, the kitchen and the food prepared here reflects Tesar's days growing up near the ocean in Long Island.

"You know, you can go out and eat fish but here at Spoon, we give you the flavors of the ocean," he said. "We bring the sea to our land-locked city."

"We're very simple. We let the fish be the star of the plate," Tesar said while he sliced foie gras torchon, placed it on croutons and layered it with tuna carpaccio, sea salt, chives and olive oil. (See the recipe and watch a video on preparing the dish here.)

It's one of the dishes he prepared at a recent Twenty at the Tower event benefiting the 2014 Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival. The three-day event next spring will put area chefs in the spotlight, they deserve, he said.

"I believe a lot of other people in the food world almost look down upon us, which is disturbing to me, because there are a lot of great chefs in Texas," Tesar said.

Tesar said the festival "allows everyone to come and meet chefs, taste good food and really understand what we're doing here in Texas."

The native New Yorker adopted Texas as his second home after marrying a woman whose family ranches in Stephenville. He lives in Dallas with his wife, Tracy, and their 3-year-old son, Ryder.

With a wife, a son, a new restaurant getting rave reviews and more culinary plans for the future, Tesar seems to be living a five-star life.

"I just really love to cook," he said. "Any time we can go out and meet new people and make them happy, we're having a good time."

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UTA Venue Attracts Visitors to Downtown Arlington

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Boxing is among the growing list of events hosted at downtown Arlington venues that compliment the nearby pro sports stadiums.

Local fighters entered the ring Friday at the University of Texas at Arlington's year-old College Park Center for the Bud Light Pro Boxing Series.

"[College Park Center] is probably the No. 1 venue for boxing in the whole state of Texas," said Dustin Haney, president of Standing 8 Promotions, which is organizing the event. "It's beautiful venue -- state-of-the-art and there's not a bad seat in the house."

Last year, ESPN's Friday Night Fights paid the city a visit.

The venue compliments the nearby Cowboys Stadium and Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and helps boost the growing list of restaurants, bars and shops that are making downtown home.

"[College Park Center] is bringing in new acts and new types of events," said Tony Rutigliano, Downtown Arlington Management Corp. CEO. "They've already had boxing there before. They've had Kansas -- they're playing Division I [college] basketball. It's our mini American Airlines [Center]. That's how valuable it is for us."

Rutgliano said that the venues around downtown -- Levitt Pavillion, Capital Bar, Arlington Music Hall -- bring people to the downtown area who may not know about all the new offerings

"We have lots of great venues, lots of great entertainment in downtown Arlington," he said.

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Garland Horse Ranch Fights Housing Development Plans

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A Garland horse ranch that has been in operation since the 1950s is fighting plans to use the land for a housing development.

Merriwood Ranch leased the privately owned land for years until the owners decided to sell it. A developer now wants to use the 10 acres of green space for a development with 45 single-family homes.

More than 600 people have signed an online petition asking the ranch be kept open.

"Merriwood is my life," said Hannah Buskin, a child who visits regularly. "I'm here 24/7, every day. The horses here mean so much to me. They're not just any ordinary horses -- they're one of my bestest friends and I just love being with them."

"Our babies are here, our horses," said Polly Whittle, who has worked for the ranch for years. "There is no other place for us to go that we can have this many horses. It would break the hearts of countless girls and moms and grandmothers."

The property owner has requested to change the zoning from agricultural so houses can be built on the land. A zoning hearing is scheduled for July 8 so the city can assess if a housing development is compatible with the surrounding land.

Some residents who live in the area said they are concerned about the environment and want keep the natural habitat.

"Our concern is with the environment," Lynn Corey said. "There are plenty of homes in Garland. We invite people here, we want you to live here, but enjoy the wildlife and the beautiful treasure that is Merriwood."

Whittle said the ranch puts a new face on Garland.

"People from all over the Metroplex come to Camp Merriwood that never have any reason to come to Garland other than they bring their children to Merriwood and, instead of looking like a sleepy residential community, suddenly, Garland means something very new," she said.

The ranch is ready to clear any hurdles, including using social media and attending the zoning hearing.

"We've had so many memories here, and I would just hate to see it go," said Buskin.

The developer did not return requests for comment.

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Wall-E the Wallaby's Walkabout

Bob Fitch/GrandPrairieReporter.com

Apparently the wallaby was very excited and officers had a hard time controlling the wallaby while they waited for animal control to arrive.

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Wall-E the Pet Wallaby's Day Out

The Grand Prairie Police Department caught a wandering wallaby in a residential neighborhood on Friday.

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The Grand Prairie Police Department gets interesting 911 calls, but this one will be talked about for days.

Police in the Dallas suburb received a 911 call just before 7:45 a.m. Friday about a kangaroo hopping westbound in the 2200 block of Prince John Drive.

Officers arrived but didn't catch a kangaroo -- the animal was, in fact, a wallaby.

"I have been doing this for 20 years, and I will probably never see something like this again," Detective Lyle Gensler said.

John Richardson, the 911 caller, sent NBC 5 DFW a photo of the Wall-E the wallaby sitting at his front door.

Grand Prairie police said the wallaby was very excited, saying officers had a hard time controlling him while they waited for animal control to arrive. When asked how he knew how to catch a wallaby, Charles Munoz, the animal control officer, replied "Animal Planet" with a laugh.

The wallaby had tags and was returned to his owner unharmed.

"As far as we know, we don't have anything in our city ordinance that says you can't have one, " said Danielle Tate, animal services manager.

Wall-E's owners came to get him from animal control after friends saw on social media that he was loose. Their son-in-law said they believe someone tried to steal Wall-E because their fence was ripped.

Jessica Churchill, the owners' daughter, said her father gave the wallaby to her mother for Christmas after she said she wanted a kangaroo someday.

NBC 5's Julie Fine contributed to this report.

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Sheriff's Deputy Shot in the Head; Gunman Killed

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Sheriff's Deputy Shot in Head; Gunman Killed in Hood County Shootout

A sheriff's deputy is in critical condition and a police officer is in the hospital after a shooting in Granbury.

DPS Statement on Hood County Shootings

A Hood County Sheriff's Deputy suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound to the head and a Granbury police officer suffered a non life-threatening gunshot wound to the arm after a man opened fire on police Friday in Hood County. The gunman was killed by police near the Granbury City Hall. Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Lonny Haschel provides and update to the media.

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Investigators say a Joshua man shot a Hood County sheriff's deputy before being killed in a shootout with police officers in Granbury that also injured a police officer.

Sgt. Lance McLean, a 38-year-old Hood County sheriff's deputy, was shot in the head at a Granbury home while responding to a disturbance call, the Texas Department of Public Safety said. He is in critical condition at a Fort Worth hospital.

The shooting suspect, Ricky Don McCommas, 49, of Joshua, was later killed during a shootout just 50 feet from the doors of Granbury City Hall.

Chad Davis, a Granbury police officer, was injured in the shootout.

DPS spokesman Sgt. Lonny Haschel said McLean was dispatched to a residence in Oak Trail Shores shortly before 11 a.m. When he arrived, he made contact with McCommas. Moments later, shots were fired and McLean was struck in the head, Haschel said.

Another Hood County deputy responding to the call provided a description of McCommas' van as it left the scene -- white with its windows shot out.

A neighbor told NBC 5 that McCommas lives in Joshua and drove to the house in Granbury, where he started a ruckus that led to the shooting. Deputies were then called to the scene, the neighbor said.

Granbury police officers later spotted McCommas' van as he pulled into the Granbury City Hall parking lot. It is unclear if McCommas chose to enter the parking lot or was forced there by pursuing police officers.

Haschel said McCommas then got out of the van and exchanged gunfire with Granbury officers.

McCommas was hit several times and died at the scene.

Davis sustained a nonlife-threatening gunshot wound to an upper extremity believed to be an arm or shoulder. He was transported to Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, where he remains in the Intensive Care Unit.

McLean was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth for treatment of a life-threatening gunshot wound. Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds said McLean is in "extremely critical condition."

"He's hooked up on a lot of machines and on a ventilator right now, so it's about as bad as it gets," he said. "It took them quite a few hours before they were able to do a CAT scan on him, [which] was how unstable he was. ... They didn't find anything good when they did the CAT scan, so we're just waiting and seeing how everything goes in the next few hours over the night."

Several witnesses who were working at a residence just 15 feet away from where the van pulled into the City Hall parking lot saw it all go down.

"He had a cold look on his face. He was going to go for them," Joe Vanderveer said. "He put it in park, looked at us, he got out. He turned and then the cop cars pulled up, because they pulled up about 15 seconds after he pulled up. And then the shooting started."

Gary Farina, who is opening a restaurant next to City Hall, a half block north of the town square, said he heard 40 to 50 shots.

"We kept hearing a barrage of gunfire," he said.

Farina and Vanderveer took cover on their outdoor patio before hiding inside the business. They said McCommas appeared to be wearing a vest, but they were unsure if it was a tactical vest or bulletproof vest.

"He definitely looked like he had a purpose in mind," Vanderveer said.

At least 50 evidence markers were placed at bullet casings and other evidence at the scene. What appeared to be an assault rifle was next to McCommas' body for several hours as the investigation continued.

"Those of you who've been to the scene saw how big a scene it is, how many details are going to have to be looked at, so it's going to take some time for everyone to go out and interview witnesses, take a look at physical evidence on the scene, send officers out and really comb those areas," Haschel said.

Haschel had no other details to offer about the shootings, saying only it was an ongoing investigation with large, multiple scenes.

Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office and Joshua police spent hours Friday evening at McCommas' home along Joshua Boulevard. They removed several guns, boxes of bullets and what appeared to be body armor.

Neighbors said McCommas had been buying and selling guns to make ends meet since he lost his job as a security guard at Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital following a sexual assault arrest in August.

A man who identified himself as a friend of McCommas said he always carried a gun with him but was a nice man who was a good neighbor.

The case is being investigated by the Texas Rangers, the Hood County Sheriff's Office and the Granbury Police Department.

NBC 5's Chris Van Horne, Ben Russell and Kevin Cokely contributed to this report.

Editor's note: DPS originally reported the name of the gunman as 60-year-old Richard Randall McComas and then later identified the gunman as 49-year-old Ricky Don McComas.

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Fighting Mosquitoes With Fish

Omar Villafranca, NBC 5 News

The city of Dallas is taking the fight against the West Nile virus underwater. The city is deploying Gambusia, or mosquito fish, to battle mosquito larvae in stagnant pools that can serve as breeding grounds.

Dallas Begins Underwater Battle...

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The city of Dallas is using a finned fighter to combat the West Nile virus.

The city is deploying Gambusia fish, also known as mosquitofish, into stagnant pools and creeks.

"Each one of them can eat about 100 to 200 larvae per day," said Jose Ruiz with the Code Enforcement department.

On Friday, Ruiz deployed about 150 fish into a large stagnant creek in North Dallas. In a few days, Ruiz said the larvae count should be lower. Less larvae means less mosquitoes.

"They do eat them, so we do notice a difference," Ruiz said.

Ruiz said the fish can survive in hot temperatures and breed three times a year. That means the fish can eat larvae for longer periods of time as more fish are born.

"They're in our ponds. They're also in other creeks. Sometimes we take them from one creek to 

another creek so there's not telling we actually have, because they breed a lot," Ruiz said.

Ruiz said the city is also dumping the fish in abandoned ponds and pools to fight the spread of West Nile.

Doctor David Rothbart, a North Dallas resident, lives near the stagnant creek where Ruiz was dumping Gambusia. He said the creek is a problem area, and he'll take any help he can get fighting the mosquitoes.

We have our own mosquito abatement, the spray, but as soon as you walk in front of our house, outside the wire, it's like, oh my gosh," Rothbart said.

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Prop 8 Plaintiffs Wed as Calif. Same-Sex Marriages Resume

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Same-sex marriages resumed in California on Friday just after an appeals court issued an unexpected order clearing the way for such unions — and the two couples whose Supreme Court challenge helped torpedo Proposition 8 were two of the first to wed.

Paul Katami and Jeff Zarillo, two of the lead plaintiffs who had challenged California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, were married in outgoing Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's press office at L.A. City Hall, with Villaraigosa officiating.

A few hours earlier, just before 5 p.m. Friday, Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier were married at San Francisco City Hall by California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

The jubilant public ceremony, shown below at right, marked the resumption of same-sex unions in the country's most populous state after a 4-1/2 year break. California is now the 13th state, along with the District of Columbia, to allow same-sex marriages.

"Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier, I now declare you spouses for life!! #Prop8 #MarriageEquality," tweeted Harris just minutes after the ceremony.

Less than two hours earlier, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had issued a brief order lifting a stay ordered in 2012 that had allowed time for an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2010, a federal trial court judge found California's Proposition 8 unconstitutional, a finding that was upheld by the 9th Circuit.

Same-Sex Marriages Resume in California

In a surprise decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order clearing the way for same-sex marriage to resume in California Friday afternoon. Jean Elle and George Kiriyama report.

RAW VIDEO: Kris Perry and Sandy Stier Get Married

Proposition 8 plaintiffs Kris Perry and Sandy Stier become the first same-sex couple to be married in California since Prop 8 was overturned.

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The appellate court order came two days after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to rule on the Prop 8 a case, effectively paving the way for same-sex unions in California.

Full Coverage: Prop 8 Page | Read: Supreme Court's Prop 8 Opinion | Prop 8 Timeline

Same-sex marriage opponents who had argued in court on behalf of Proposition 8 -- the 2008 ballot measure that state officials refused to defend -- said the appellate court's order Friday was an "outrageous act" that denied the group its rights.

But the state's top elected officials celebrated the shift, which came just as San Francisco was beginning its massive annual gay pride celebration.

"LOVE WILL RULE THE WEEKEND. CONGRATS TO ALL THOSE PLANNING TO GET MARRIED," tweeted Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who as San Francisco's mayor in 2004 had ordered the issuance of the state's first same-sex marriage licenses.

"Same-sex marriage is now the law in California!," Gov. Jerry Brown tweeted after the federal appellate court order came down Friday afternoon.

The Prop 8 plaintiffs' wedding ceremonies marked the end of an historic week for the gay rights movement, which also saw the Supreme Court strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, a law that allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages permitted in other states.

In its 5-4 ruling on Proposition 8, the Supreme Court on Wednesday had decided the ballot measure's backers lacked standing under federal law to appeal the case, effectively leaving in place the 9th Circuit's 2012 finding that the law was unconstitutional. State officials had refused to defend the ballot measure in court, leaving a group including ProtectMarriage.com to argue on behalf of the measure.

The Supreme Court decision meant same-sex marriage could soon resume in California pending a legal process that many expected would mean a wait for the lifting of the stay on the 9th Circuit Court's order overturning Prop 8. It seemed it could takes weeks for same-sex marriages to resume.

Under Supreme Court rules, rulings are usually final after 25 days, and the court said earlier this week that it would not finalize its ruling in the Proposition 8 dispute until after that time had elapsed.

It was not immediately clear whether the appeals court's action would be halted by the high court.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had said after Wednesday's ruling that it would take at least the 25 days for the Supreme Court's ruling to become official. The San Francisco-based appellate court had also said it might continue to bar same-sex marriages beyond that time if proponents of Proposition 8 ask for a rehearing.

But Attorney General Harris had on Wednesday called for the stay to be lifted as soon as possible, after Gov. Brown said he wanted counties to prepare for same-sex marriages to resume once the 9th Circuit confirmed the stay was lifted.

And on Friday, the federal appellate court did so.

"The stay in the above matter is dissolved effective immediately," said the one-sentence order, issued just after 3 p.m. Friday.

County clerks in several of the state's 58 counties had on Wednesday put out statements that they would begin issuing marriage licenses once the stay was lifted.

With that done on Friday, same-sex marriage supporters in California celebrated.

"On my way to S.F. City Hall. Let the wedding bells ring! #Prop8," Harris tweeted Friday afternoon.

"I am thrilled that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its stay to allow same-sex couples to legally marry in California," Harris said in a statement issued just before 4 p.m. "Gay and lesbian couples have waited so long for this day and for their fundamental right to marry. Finally, their loving relationships are as legitimate and legal as any other."

Anthony Pugno, the general counsel for ProtectMarriage.com, said in a statement that the court order deprived the group of its "right to ask for reconsideration."

"This outrageous act tops off a chronic pattern of lawlessness, throughout this case, by judges and politicians hell-bent on thwarting the vote of the people to redefine marriage by any means, even outright corruption," Pugno wrote. "The resumption of same-sex marriage this day has been obtained by illegitimate means."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Meet the First Same-Sex Couple in the First State to Wed

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Delaware State Senator Karen Peterson was a co-sponsor of the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the First State, and she will be the first person to say her "I do's" on July 1.

"It just validates our relationship, and that's the most important part of it: In the eyes of society, it gets validated," said Peterson.

Peterson and her partner of 24 years, Victoria Bandy, will make history as the first same-sex couple to wed in Delaware Monday morning, when they will exchange their vows at the New Castle County Clerk of the Peace in Wilmington, Del.

It's a day she never imagined would come. "Never, ever. I still can't believe it. Who would think at 63 I'd be getting married, you know?" said Peterson.

But the senator says she didn't say yes right away, when Equality Delaware asked her to be first. That's because the Senate's last night in session is Sunday and it usually runs all night.

"I hesitated because I thought, 'well, I'm not even going to be awake.' Sometimes I drive home from Dover when the sun is coming up," said Peterson.

Peterson and Bandy's wedding ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning.

Later that evening, after Peterson sleeps off her Senate all-nighter, they will celebrate with family and friends at their wedding reception.

"It's a real thrill, it's a thrill for both of us. It's not something that we ever expected in our lifetimes, but it means a lot personally and financially," said Peterson.

On June 26, the Supreme Court struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which barred married same-sex couples from receiving federal benefits.

This is the icing on the wedding cake for same-sex couples in Delaware, less than a week before gay marriage becomes legal there.

Peterson said after the rulings came down, she got a note from a friend that said: "What a great wedding gift you got from the Supreme Court." She agrees.

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Naked Man Shot While Attacking Officers: Police

NBC10.com - Matt DeLucia

A man is in criticial condition after he was shot by the police officers he allegedly attacked while naked. NBC10's Matt DeLucia has the details.

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A man is fighting for his life after investigators say he tried to attack police officers while naked and was shot in the process.

Officials say the naked man was on the 2000 block of Westmoreland Street in the Tioga section of the city around 5:30 a.m. and throwing rocks at cars that were passing by. As a police cruiser approached him, investigators say the man threw himself on top of the vehicle in an attempt to attack the officers inside.

Officials say the officers opened fire and shot him through the windshield, striking him twice in the chest. After he was struck, police say the man ran an entire block before collapsing to the ground.

The man, who has not yet been identified, was taken to Temple University Hospital where he is currently in critical condition. Police suspect the man was on some form of drugs during the incident. No officers were hurt.

Another shooting took place in North Philadelphia shortly after 3 a.m. Police say a 16-year-old boy was walking home on the 1500 block of Judson Way after buying food at a Chinese restaurant. Suddenly, investigators say, someone opened fire and the teen was struck in the upper left thigh.

The teen was taken to the hospital where he is in stable condition. Investigators are unsure at this point whether the teen was the intended target or an innocent bystander. No arrests have been made.
 

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Gettysburg Prepares to Reenact Historic Battle

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As the nation marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, Civil War buffs gathered in Pennsylvania to prepare for a massive re-enactment.

Organizers are expecting 80,000 people in the Gettysburg area every day through July 7. Many of them are already checking in online, but they're not only doing it on social media -- they're also checking in at motels. There's not a single vacancy for miles, reports News4's Richard Jordan.

"It takes a little time to get them all here, but it's a lot of fun once it happens," said re-enactor Chuck Stephens.

"We're got people here from California, Oregon, Germany," said volunteer Bill Scott.

Thousands are eager to bear witness to mark the anniversary of the bloodiest battle in American history. Combined, the Union and the Confederacy suffered 51,000 casualties. Fought July 1-3, 1863, the battle is considered a turning point in the Civil War, forcing Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's troops out of the north.

Over the next several days, re-enactors on horseback will portray the reality of a war far back in time. The clothing is heavy and hot -- these men and women are wearing wool from head to toe.

"Wool in July. They call it the Jenny Craig weight-loss program of 1863," quipped re-enactor Rex Orton.

"I'm just in awe, when I saw the cavalry go by," said visitor Pamela Yates. "Where we're from, we have a lot of cavalry at the Moore Park event, which is the largest in California, but it's nothing compared to this."

Those taking part in the re-enactment have prepared for weeks to create an authentic representation that brings Gettysburg's past to the present for all to see. The battle isn't all -- re-enactors also represent scenes of camp life, drill demonstrations, period music and more.

"We just love history, and the camaraderie," Orton said, while donning a Union uniform. "You know, we're friends with all the Confederate people, and it's just like a big family."

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Josh Brent Fails 2nd Drug Test

[DFW] Cowboys DT Brent Jailed After Failed...

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Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent has been jailed in North Texas after failing a second drug test. Court records in Dallas County on Thursday show Brent tested positive for marijuana after submitting to a urine test last week.

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Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent is back behind bars after surrendering to police Thursday morning. Brent was then booked into Dallas' Lew Sterrett Justice Center on Thursday, where he has been denied bond following a second positive drug test for marijuana.

According to court documents, Brent was tested for marijuana on June 19 and on June 25 a positive result from that test was confirmed. (See Dallas County's court notification on Brent's failed drug test here)

This is the second time the Cowboys player has tested positive for the drug since his arrest on an intoxication manslaughter charge. 

Brent appeared in court May 24 when questions were raised about whether he'd consumed alcohol based on readings from an ankle monitor he wears as a condition of his bond.

At that time, Brent was ordered by the court to submit to a urinalysis test to insure his compliance with the bond agreement. The results of the test showed Brent tested positive for marijuana use within 30 days of the administering of that test.

Brent is charged with intoxication manslaughter in connection with a Dec. 8, 2012, car crash that killed teammate and best friend Jerry Brown Jr. Police said Brent had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit for driving.

Brown was on the Cowboys practice squad and a college teammate of Brent's.

Bond has been denied after this latest incident. Initially Brent was free on a $100,000 bond after being charged in the crash that killed Brown. 

Brent's next scheduled hearing was set for July 19.

NBC 5's Randy McIlwain contributed to this report. 

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Boy's Body Identified; Teen in Custody for Murder

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Teen Arrested in Sida Osman Murder: Police

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the death of Sida Osman, police say he was beaten to death.

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Fort Worth police and the Tarrant County medical examiner's office have confirmed the identity of a boy's body found behind a vacant house and taken another child into custody for his murder.

According to the medical examiner, the body has been identified as 5-year-old Sida Osman.

Police said Osman was hit multiple times in his head, causing his death, by a 13-year-old who became irritated by the child after they both went into the back yard of a vacant house on the 4800 block of Lois Street.

Police said investigators have obtained a capital murder warrant for the 13-year-old and have taken him into custody.  Due to his age, his identity is not expected to be revealed.

Multiple sources confirm for NBC 5 the 13-year-old suspect was recently released from a juvenile detention facility, and has a history of burglary and theft.

"It's very sad news if something happened like that, 13-year-old killed this five-year-old, if it's true what is going on?" said Muktar Mohammed, a family friend.

Family members on Thursday expressed relief to hear of an arrest, but they were still left wondering why anyone would harm a five-year-old boy.

Osman's mother, Dahabo Abdi, thanked the police and the community for all their efforts. Abdi doesn't speak fluent English and said this through her younger brother when asked how she felt now that someone was in custody.

"She wanted to see him," Ali Abdi said. "And see why, why would he do that and what caused him to do that?"

Ali Abdi said he and his side of the family moved out of that apartment complex several years ago. He says it's an area that has never been safe.

Relatives and friends had gathered at the apartment on Thursday to take part in funeral rituals, which included lending support and bringing food. The men and women separate during the custom. A family friend says they will bury Osman as soon as his body is released to the family.

Outside the apartment, neighboring children delivered handwritten notes of affection about Osman to his mother. Some read the notes to the media.

"That's not right what they did to you, you were just an innocent kid," read part of Sidow Mohamed's note. He said he was a five-year-old kid who did nothing to deserve what happened to him.

Fort Worth police said they were called to the Weber Garden Apartments at about 10:25 p.m. Tuesday when Osman was reported missing. He'd left his mother's sight about three hours earlier.

Officers began a door-to-door search for the child near the area where he was last seen, but he was nowhere to be found.  Police searched through the night and into the next morning using police dogs and helicopters.

At about 1 p.m. Wednesday, the body of a young, black boy was found by a citizen behind a vacant house not far from where Osman went missing.

Farah Osman, Sida Osman's father, returned to the crime scene late Thursday. He says he's frustrated with the police account of what happened.

He says late Tuesday night, while his son was still believed to be missing, he checked the backyard of the vacant home and saw nothing. "There was nothing in there," Osman said. He believes the child was killed elsewhere and his body was placed in the vacant yard early Wednesday morning.

Police and witnesses said there was obvious signs of trauma to the boy's body.

Family members, who moved to the U.S. several decades ago to escape violence in Somalia, were quick to confirm the missing boy's death to NBC 5 while calling for justice and peace in their neighborhood.

"We didn't expect this," says Muhammad Elmi, the boys' uncle. "We expected to see him alive, you know, coming back to the house smiling; happy."

As the investigation unfolded, those in the community tried to figure out who could have harmed the little boy.

"I mean the person that did this, man I don't know,  it's just a heartless person that just has something against a little kid," said Hamadi Hussein, 19, a friend of Osman's father.

NBC 5's Chris Van Horne and Ben Russell contributed to this report.

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The Heat is On

Grant Johnston, NBC 5 Meteorologist

A cold front is coming to lower temperatures after the hottest day of the year.

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The second day in a row of triple digit heat will keep temperatures climbing to a possible high of 103 degrees, NBC 5 Meteorologist Grant Johnston said.

Johnston forecasts a fast warm-up with the hottest temperatures hitting around 4 p.m.

The situation means more chances for burst water pipes. Four water mains have burst this week as temperatures and dry conditions plague the aging North Texas water structure.

"The heat of the summer this time of year pulls moisture out of the soils causes them to shift, the brittle pipes can't move with the soils so they break," Devon Tiner, President of the Fort Worth Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers, told NBC 5.

But relief is in sight -- a cold front will push through the area starting this weekend, lowering temperatures into the high 80s or low 90s through July 4.

Additionally, a slight chance of rain on multiple days in the coming week could help North Texans feel a little cooler.

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Fatal Crash Closes Intersection Near PGBT

Keaton Fox, NBC 5

One person is dead after a crash on Preston Road, along the on-ramp to the President George Bush Turnpike.

Fatal Crash Closes Intersection Near PGBT

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One person is dead after a crash on Preston Road, along the on-ramp to the President George Bush Turnpike.

The crash happened around 4 a.m.

Department of Public Safety officials say a Nissan Altima was heading west on the service road to the turnpike when an Infinity hit the car from behind. The Altima caught on fire. The driver died on the scene.

The driver of the Infinity fled the scene, DPS officials said.

They were eventually found and were taken to the hospital for their injuries. 

Preston Road was closed in both directions at the turnpike while troopers investigate.

Troopers reopened the road around 8:50 a.m. The ramp to the turnpike is still closed due to guardrail damage.

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Four Arrested After Roanoke Narcotics Raid

Jeff Smith, NBC 5

Four people are in jail after SWAT officers led an early-morning raid on a house in Roanoke.

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Four people are in jail after SWAT officers led an early-morning raid on a house in Roanoke.

Roanoke police were executing a narcotics search warrant at a home on Linda Street and used flash-bang grenades during the raid.

"It sounded like a bomb, really," said neighbor David Blakeley. "It was just like, boom!"

Roanoke police say they found large quantities of marijuana. Officers said they are looking for other drugs inside the house.

Neighbors said the same house was targeted by police earlier this year, with the SWAT team again leading an early-morning raid.

Blakeley said strangers come in and out the house at all hours of the night.

"I've lived on this street pretty much all my life, and I've never seen as much activity on this street as I have in this last year," he said. "It's a small street, there shouldn't be that many cars."

The names of the four arrested people have not been released. Roanoke police said they'll release more information once the investigation is complete.

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Security Guard Injured in Dance Floor Shooting

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As many as 500 people ran from the Fiesta Event Center late Thursday night after gunfire erupted at a private party being held inside the center.

According to police, shots were fired on the dance floor just before midnight Thursday, leading to hundreds trying to flee the center.

"Everyone was just dancing. Next thing you know, they started shooting," said patron Dezz Ludgood.

Dallas police said the crowds trampled over each other to escape the violence, leaving behind shoes and other personal items as they fled the center.

"Everybody ran to the door.  I fell, that's how I got my pants dirty.  People crawling over me," Ludgood said.

According to a letter posted by the El Rio Disco/Club Rio management, the incident occurred during a private party that had hired their own security staff and police.

Off-duty officers called for back-up as the private party turned into a dangerous free-for-all. After the initial shooting, police said more shots were fired in the parking lot of the event center.

Ludgood said tension had been mounting and that a lot of people were saying they were going to start shooting.  So they were going to shut it down.

Remarkably, the most serious injury was to a security guard who was shot in the backside. Police said that guard is expected to recover.

Fiesta Event Center, at 704 South Walton Walker Boulevard, is in the same building as El Rio Disco/Club Disco, where 19-year-old Jose Peralta was shot and killed early Tuesday morning. The Fiesta Event Center and El Rio Disco also share a parking lot, but are not the same business.

Dallas police reports show that since last June police have investigated at least 34 crimes at the address 704 S. Walton Walker Boulevard.

Neighbors said the violence has been plaguing the plaza and more needs to be done to protect everyone's safety. 

"There's been some shootings here. Drug busts over here frequently," said neighbor Kenneth Russell. "They patrol during the day, not at night.  They need security at night."

Club-goers report being robbed, beaten, their cars burglarized and one woman was kidnapped at gunpoint.

Police said they are continuing to search for the gunman, who slipped away in the chaos.

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Davis: Perry's Single Mom Dig "Without Dignity"

NBC 5

Texas State Senator Wendy Davis talks about Gov. Perry's comments, the famed pink sneakers, and her political future.

Davis Talks Perry, Pink Shoes,...

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Perry and Davis Clash in Texas Abortion Debate

Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday admonished the star of a Democratic filibuster that helped kill new Texas abortion restrictions, saying state Sen. Wendy Davis' rise from a tough upbringing to Harvard Law graduate should have taught her the value of each human life.

Gov. Perry Focuses on Abortion

Governor Rick Perry has invoked the name of Democratic filibuster star Wendy Davis as a rallying cry for tougher abortion limits in Texas while addressing the opening session of the 2013 National Right to Life Convention in Grapevine.

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Texas State Sen. Wendy Davis fired back Thursday afternoon at Gov. Rick Perry, after he took aim at her past a single teen mom and her marathon 11-hour filibuster to block new abortion restrictions.

"Rick Perry's statement is without dignity and tarnishes the high office he holds. They are small words that reflect a dark and negative point of view. Our governor should reflect our Texas values.  Sadly, Gov. Perry fails that test," Davis said in a statement released to the media.

Gov. Perry, in a speech at the National Right to Life Convention in Dallas, had taken aim at the woman behind the "mob tactic" that blocked the passage of Senate Bill 5's new abortion restrictions.

"What we witnessed Tuesday was nothing more than the hijacking of the democratic process," Perry said, before aiming squarely at Davis.

"Who are we to say that children born into the worst of circumstances can't grow to live successful lives?" Perry asked the crowd.

"In fact, even the woman who filibustered in the Senate the other day was born into difficult circumstances as the daughter of a single woman. She was a teenage mother herself. She managed to eventually graduate from Harvard Law School and serve in the Texas Senate. It's just unfortunate that she hasn't learned from her own example that every life must be given the chance to realize its full potential and that every life matters."

(Watch Perry's statement on Davis in the video to the right, or see his entire speech in the video at the top of the page. Those on mobile devices will need to access the full site to see all video.)

When questioned by a reporter, Perry continued to question Davis' history as the daughter of a single mother.

"I'm proud that she has been able to take advantage of her intellect and her hard work, but she didn't come from particularly good circumstances. What if her mom had said, 'I just can't do this?'" Perry responded. "At that point in time, it becomes very personal."

Perry has called a second special legislative session beginning July 1 to work on bills covering abortions, transportation, and juvenile setencing.

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Dallas Zoo Gorilla Gets Last Laugh

YouTube via lazeelong

B'Wenzi the gorilla was being playful when he spoked kids who had been taunting him according to the Dallas Zoo.

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A gorilla at the Dallas Zoo got the last laugh scaring some kids who were taunting him.

The 21 second video posted under the user name lazeelong shows the gorilla named B'Wenzi sitting by the glass as children yell and make gorilla gestures at him.

After about 15 seconds B'Wenzi gives the kids a scare by putting his face and hands up on the glass.

The original video posted April 25 has more than 400,000 views, and has been copied and replayed all over the internet.

The Dallas Zoo addressed the video in a statement posted on the zoo's official Facebook page:

A video getting heavy views on social media shows one of the Dallas Zoo's male gorillas, B'Wenzi, reacting to a group of jeering children by throwing his hands up against the exhibit glass.

It's important to note that B'Wenzi's actions aren't aggressive; they're actually playful. Much like people, gorillas will mirror actions they see, and they enjoy a good prank now and then.

The Dallas Zoo's Jake L. Hamon Gorilla Conservation Research Center habitat is very large and the animals have ample opportunity to avoid the observation windows. Yet several of our gorillas will leave their grassy expanse to go to the windows, turn away and wait for guests to move closer. Then they'll spin around and slap their hands on the glass. When the guests laugh and scream, the gorillas calmly stroll away. Our regular guests see this behavior often and recognize it as entertaining for the gorillas.

"This is normal, well-adjusted behavior for a teenager," said Dr. Lynn Kramer, vice president of animal operations for the Dallas Zoo. "They do this for one reason, and that's to get a reaction." (B'Wenzi is 11 years old.)

The Dallas Zoo's world-class animal staff is committed to the welfare of our charges and monitors their physical and emotional health at all times.

Our staff and volunteers also monitor guest interactions with animals. However, as the largest zoo in Texas with more than 2,000 animals and nearly 1 million guest visits per year, we can't be with each one at all times. We constantly try to educate guests that the best way to enjoy the Dallas Zoo is by showing respect for the animals and not heckling, banging on the glass or feeding them human food. We hope this video helps us teach the proper way to approach animals at any zoological park.

Thank you for your support of the Dallas Zoo!

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Two Officer-Involved Shootings Wednesday Night

Kendra Lyn, NBC 5

Dallas police officers shot a man that was wielding a knife after a shoplifting call.

Officers Shoot Knife-Wielding Man

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Man Shot by Police in Dallas

A man was shot by a Dallas police officer outside a check cashing store in the 1900 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard Wednesday night.

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Police officers were involved in two separate shooting incidents in Dallas that left two men injured.

Just before 9 p.m. Wednesday witnesses said they saw Dallas police officers shoot a man near a check cashing business on Martin Luther King Boulevard near U.S. Highway 175.

Dallas police said officers were called to help with a shoplifting call in the 1900 block of MLK and  when they arrived they found the security guard who made the call and a man with a knife. Police say officers used a stun gun on the man when he didn't follow officers' orders to drop the weapon, but the stun gun had no effect.

The man ran away and police say when officers caught up with him at a business in the 2300 block of MLK he ran toward officers with the knife still in hand. That's when police say officers shot the man.

Police said the man was transported to Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas for treatment. Police did not update his condition, but the Dallas County Medical Examiner's office said the man had not died. No officers were injured.

Earlier in the night, a man was shot as Denton tactical and narcotic teams conducted an investigation in the 3600 block of Frankford Road in a far northwest portion of Dallas that sits in Denton County.

It happened sometime after 7 p.m. Denton police say the man they were investigating shot at officers and at least one officer returned fire.

The man was shot and taken to Medical City Plano with non-life-threatening injuries. None of the officers were injured.

NBC 5's Julie Fine contributed to this report.

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Family Says Missing Boy is Dead

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Family Searches for Answers in Boy's Death

Fort Worth police are searching for clues in the death of a boy whose body was found Thursday, while 5-year-old Sida Osman's family searches for answers.

Missing Boy's Body Found Wednesday

The family of 5-year-old Sida Osman are in mourning after they say his body was found near the apartment where he lived in Fort Worth.

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The search for a missing boy may be drawing to a close.

Fort Worth police say the body of a black boy has been found near where 5-year-old Sida Osman went missing Tuesday and that they are working with the Tarrant County medical examiner to determine the child's cause of death and identity. 

Police added that the case is an active investigation and that no further details would be released at this time.

Meanwhile, Sida Osman's family told NBC 5 reporters that the child found was Sida and that the Fort Worth police didn't take the boy's disappearance seriously.

Osman's mother said her son was last seen at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, playing outside of their apartment and that when she called him to come home, he ran off.

At least 30 police officers arrived and began looking for the boy. At one point, crime scene detectives combed through a white van parked near the family's apartment, but later left. Officers continued searching Wednesday by air, horseback and with dogs in an area near the family's residence at the Weber Garden Apartments on the 4800 block of Virgil Street.

Just after 1 p.m., officers cordoned off an area near Lois Street and Anglin Drive with crime scene tape. Police later said "the body of a young black male was located in the backyard of 4801 Lois," a vacant house.

A man, identified as Carl Williams, said he found the boy's body after a woman told him she'd heard the boy was behind the vacant house.

Williams went to check, and said he found a boy unresponsive and badly beaten.

"We ran out of the back yard, flag the police down and everybody came. They set up crime scene and everything," said Williams.

Osman's family, who moved to the United States two decades ago to escape violence in Somalia, rallied for peace and justice Wednesday afternoon after learning a boy's body had been found.

"We didn't expect this," says Muhammad Elmi, the boys' uncle. "We expected to see him alive, you know, coming back to the house smiling; happy."

Meanwhile questions in the community turn to who could have done such a thing.

"I mean the person that did this, man I don't know,  it's just a heartless person that just has something against a little kid," said Hamadi Hussein, 19, a friend of Osman's father.

"It's unacceptable," said Muktar Mohammed, who organized the demonstration in the streets. "Because this is very big crime; five year old boy murdered. This is, in any religion: Christianity, Muslim, Judaism, Hindus. You can't go with this. You can't do this."

NBC 5's Lindsay Wilcox, Ben Russell and Keaton Fox contributed to this report.

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Boy, 11, Missing in Fort Worth

Malcolm Holloway, 11, has been missing since Wednesday morning.

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Fort Worth police are searching for a missing 11-year-old boy.

The child, Malcolm Hakem Holloway, was last seen Wednesday at about 9:30 a.m. along the 2100 block of Handley Drive in East Fort Worth.

Holloway is black, about 4 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 70 pounds.  He has brown eyes and a lightning bolt design cut into the left side of his hair. He was last seen wearing a white and green shirt with writing on the front, green and white shorts and Air Jordan sneakers that are white, red and black in color.

At this time, an Amber Alert has not been issued for Holloway.

Anyone with information about Holloway's location should contact the Fort Worth Police Department at 817-335-4222.
 

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Gandolfini Eulogized Before Family and Friends

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Bristol Man Charged in Connection With Hernandez Case

Connecticut Department of Correction

Carlos Ortiz, of Bristol, Connecticut, has been charged as a fugitive from justice in connection with a murder case in Massachusetts. Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez, also of Bristol, was charged with murder.

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A 27-year-old man from Bristol, Conn., has been charged as a fugitive from justice in connection with the murder case that former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez was charged in yesterday.

Carlos Ortiz was charged in Connecticut as a fugitive from justice on Wednesday and appeared in Superior Court in Bristol, where he waived extradition to Massachusetts, according to the State's Attorney for the Judicial District of New Britain.

According to the state's attorney, Bristol police and the state's attorney's office have been assisting in the investigation into the homicide of Odin Lloyd, 27, of Dorchester, at the request of police in Massachusetts.

Hernandez was arrested yesterday and charged with Lloyd's murder. 

Prosecutors said Hernandez orchestrated an execution-style killing because Lloyd talked to the wrong people at a Rhode Island nightclub.

The state's attorney said they can have no further comment because the investigation is ongoing.
All documents related to the case have been sealed by order of the court.
 

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Obama's Africa Trip

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