Latest news with #DX
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Recuse Or Represent? Kitner's Ties Test Voter Trust In Dallas City Council D11 Runoff
As the Dallas City Council District 11 runoff election peaks, voters are scrutinizing the candidates' backgrounds and potential conflicts of interest. Bill Roth, a commercial realtor, positions himself as a dedicated advocate for taxpayers for Texans, while his opponent, Jeff Kitner, faces a bigger set of questions regarding his dual roles and affiliations around the DFW area, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Many of those conflicts of interest are now raising local eyebrows. Kitner serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, a prominent lobbying organization representing a collection of 'business' interests, including developers and corporate contractors. If elected, Kitner has indicated plans to continue part-time employment with the Chamber, according to previous reports, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest if he wins the election. Dallas City Code Chapter 12A mandates that officials disclose and recuse themselves from matters where conflicts exist, potentially limiting Kitner's participation in key council decisions affecting District 11 – The very district he wants to represent. Some critics could argue that Kitner's ongoing ties to the Chamber could compromise his ability to impartially represent citizens in his area, especially when council votes intersect with Chamber members' interests. Steve Nordseth, treasurer of the Save Pepper Square Neighborhood Association, previously told DX, 'It's like applying for a job to be a referee while staying on as a coach of one of the competing teams.' In contrast, Roth emphasizes his commitment to serving District 11 without outside connections that might block his council responsibilities or cause any recusals. He is also currently campaigning for transparent governance and prioritizing the needs of local residents over external business interests. Practically every important decision, from zoning and development to infrastructure projects and city contracts, affects the interests of Chamber members in Kitner's district. And each time Kitner would have to recuse himself from those discussions, District 11's voice would be absent, as Nordseth previously pointed out to DX. The runoff election is scheduled for June 7. As voters prepare to cast their ballots, the debate over potential conflicts of interest remains a pivotal issue in the race. 'Serving as a Dallas City Councilmember can sometimes blur the lines between full-time and all the time,' said current councilmember Cara Mendelsohn in April. Blur the lines, indeed. As of the time of publication, Kitner's team has not responded to multiple requests for comment on his campaign or any conflict of interests connected to serving District 11.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
McKinney 'Pride' Uses Kiddie Corner For Drag Queen Catwalk
Outrage has popped up across Texas after a recent 'Pride' event in McKinney featured over-sexualized drag performances aimed at children who were sitting in the front row. The 'Pride' themed event, billed as a family-friendly celebration, quickly devolved into a disturbing spectacle of adult 'entertainment' that left many questioning the motivations behind these so-called 'inclusive' celebrations. Photos and videos circulating online show drag performers in revealing outfits, one in a high-cut neon orange piece of lingerie, dancing and interacting with young children, raising serious concerns about the appropriateness of such displays at public events. The Texas Family Project posted a highlighted video of the event, with drag performers literally dancing in the faces of extremely young children in attendance with their parents. Adjacent to this shocking scene were multiple booths selling rainbow flags and other merch pedaled to the crowds looking to buy plastic wares emblazoned with pro-LGBTQ+ sayings or images. One person commented to the posted online video, saying, 'Society is cooked.' Another added, 'The word family has no place in this.' As The Dallas Express has previously highlighted, many Texans continue to argue that drag shows, often marked by adult themes and provocative dancing, have no place at publicly advertised family events – especially when children are present. Texas Family Project, a leading advocacy group to protect children across The Lone Star State, called on local officials to put an end to drag shows that target minors. With 'Pride Month' underway, many fear these events will become more frequent, exposing more children to grotesquely adult or sexual ideologies – ideologies that seem far from what a child should ever be thinking about. Those with left-wing ideologies continue to host these child-friendly drag shows almost as a provocation to any American with conservative values, let alone the basic apolitical value of protecting children. A series of grossly provocative efforts to expose children to not only LGBTQ+ events but simply events that are trying to blur the line between adult entertainment and family-friendly atmospheres, as previously covered by DX. The McKinney Area Democratic Club and the Collin County Democratic Party were featured tiered for the event. Many wonder when the imposed gender and sexual agendas are going to stop being imposed on innocent young kids – regardless of their parent's political views.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fiction On The Bench? Dallas Judge Jernigan Is Turning Pages
A Texas bankruptcy courtroom may have become the setting for one of the most controversial legal dramas in the Lone Star State's history. A drama is so rich that it might even be considered a good enough plot for a fiction novel, so much so that a presiding judge may have allegedly written a fiction book based on what was going down in her courtroom. Chief Bankruptcy Judge Stacey Jernigan, who presided over the recent billion-dollar dismantling of Dallas-based Highland Capital Management, per is now under fire for writing a collection of fiction books that critics say mirror the real-life case she oversaw as a judge. Highland Capital's founder, James Dondero, accused Jernigan of bias, abuse of authority, and rubber-stamping massive legal fees, all while releasing novels that suspiciously resembled the proceedings she oversaw. The Fifth Circuit recently rejected Dondero's attempt to force Jernigan's recusal but noted a 'strong argument could be made' that she should have stepped aside. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Fifth Circuit ruled that Judge Jernigan did not need to recuse herself from the case despite the extremely transparent similarities between her novels and the proceedings she oversaw as a judge. Jernigan's books feature fictional hedge fund characters whose exploits echo the drama surrounding Highland's recent viral cases. Some critics claim that these books reveal insider knowledge and hostility toward the financial world she directly oversaw as a judge. In a previous report by the ABA Journal, a legal team highlighted similarities between the fictional characters and real-life individuals involved in the case that Jernigan was so keen to write and profit from. Meanwhile, the real-life bankruptcy cases have drawn many scrutinous eyes, not just from the readers about the outcomes but also from those critical of Jernigan. Legal fees reportedly topped $250 million during the Highland Capital Management bankruptcy proceedings, with one law firm partner earning nearly $30 million annually, according to Above the Law. Meanwhile, per Scribd, no bonuses were paid to rank-and-file employees. Despite the court's refusal to intervene, legal observers say the Fifth Circuit's language could fuel ethics complaints or even congressional probes. As The Dallas Express investigates, one thing is clear: the bankruptcy under Jernigan may be more than a financial meltdown; it might be a cautionary tale about judicial accountability and someone seeking creative clout over their duty. Stay tuned for another DX deep dive into the $250 million legal fees, alleged Russian ties, and what really happened inside Jernigan's courtroom (or novel pitches). As of the time of publication, Jernigan's team has not responded to multiple attempts to reach out for a compliment from DX about the encroaching book plots she wrote following the cases she oversaw.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Safe In The City? South Dallas Residents Voice Concern
South Dallas residents are voicing concerns about an attempted break-in that occurred Thursday night as the city continues to battle safety issues. A South Dallas resident posted a video on Thursday night on the Ring Neighbors application to highlight a man who allegedly attempted to break into their home. The resident posted the video to demonstrate the dangers to their neighbors. In the video, a man wearing black clothing and a blue hat is seen walking around the area before approaching the camera. He seemingly fiddles with tools before attempting to unlock the front door. 'Wow what is going on with people everyday someone is thinking they can take, rob, just try to get into peoples home camera or no camera they just don't care anymore,' responded another resident in the comments under the video. Another resident urged the original poster to call the police, to which the original poster responded that authorities had been informed about the incident. This incident took place near Methodist Hospital in South Dallas, and there is no indication about whether police have been pursuing the man who allegedly attempted to break into the home. This attempted burglary highlights ongoing safety issues throughout Dallas, prompting officials to implement a new public safety initiative called 'Safe in the City,' as previously reported by The Dallas Express. This initiative attempts to improve the safety conditions of Downtown Dallas through increased police deployments, enforcement of anti-camping laws, and coordination with homelessness response agencies. Initiatives aimed at improving public safety are critical for Dallas and many other cities across the Lone Star State, which was recently ranked among the most dangerous states for nightlife. A study about nightlife dangers revealed that Texas ranked as the 10th most dangerous state in the country, receiving an overall risk score of 60.19 out of 100, as reported by DX.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Anita Vaughan Reflects On Will Ospreay's Pedigree on ‘Triple H' Going Viral
Once upon a time in the Multiverse Rumble, Will Ospreay nailed Triple H Anita Vaughan with the Pedigree. Luckily, Vaughan has lived to tell the tale with WrestleZone. On February 7, Pro-Wrestling EVE hosted its Multiverse Rumble event from London, England, with over a dozen competitors in the rumble match. For this particular bout, competitors dressed up as and paid homage to figures in both wrestling and pop culture. In Vaughan's case, she parodied WWE Hall of Famer Paul 'Triple H' Levesque, fake beard and all. This decision later came back to haunt Vaughan, however, as EVE producer and AEW star Will Ospreay flipped the bird and laid her out with a Pedigree, Triple H's iconic finishing move. Advertisement Clips of this scene have since gone viral across social media, revealing that Ospreay suffered instant karma by being eliminated by Rayne Leverkusen, dressed as Shane McMahon, right after. 'That spot was a lot of fun,' Vaughan told WrestleZone. 'The Multiverse Rumble is just that, it's just meant to be fun. Will obviously helps producing the shows and he plays such a big part. It's unbelievable to have someone like Will Ospreay backstage and helping out and everything he does with Eve as well, how he platforms it, how he supports it. Of course, he gets to be a part of the product as well in sometimes the most fun ways I've ever been involved in wrestling.' Vaughan Explains Pedigree Backstory How did this spot come together? According to Vaughan, who now reigns as the EVE International Champion, they planted the seeds for it a while ago. Advertisement 'Before [my tag partner] Debbie Keitel went to Japan, I remember we had [an idea of] like 'Oh maybe we can do DX or something.' She could be Shawn Michaels. I could be Triple H. I was like 'That would be really sick.' Then I just couldn't get it out of my head that I could be Triple H. I've done jokes and stuff with people backstage where like I'm Triple H. We'll do like the water take and stuff. It almost was a private joke coming into real life in the ring. Then you just add the layer of Will Ospreay hitting Triple H a pedigree. It was really sick. 'I've never hit so many Triple H moves in my life in that time,' Vaughan added. 'I found out I can do a decent spine buster, so now it's part of my moveset. I hit many a pedigree and I took my first ever pedigree from Will Ospreay, so that's a part of history now. ' Watch our full interview with Anita Vaughan below: The post Anita Vaughan Reflects On Will Ospreay's Pedigree on 'Triple H' Going Viral appeared first on Wrestlezone.
