Latest news with #UniversityofDallas
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southland Appoints Tan Parker to Its Board of Directors
GRAPEVINE, Texas, May 22, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southland Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: SLND and SLND WS) ("Southland"), a leading provider of specialized infrastructure construction services, today announced the appointment of Tan Parker to its Board of Directors ("the Board") effective May 19, 2025. Mr. Parker brings a distinguished combination of public service and private sector experience to Southland. Mr. Parker combines almost two decades of legislative service with extensive private‑sector credentials. In the Texas Legislature, Senator Parker currently chairs the Senate Republican Caucus and previously served as Chair of the House Financial Services Committee. He has led legislative initiatives focused on AI, AI governance, cybersecurity, homeland security, and capital markets including leading the legislative efforts to develop the Texas Stock Exchange and support the new satellite NYSE and NASDAQ exchanges in Texas. Mr. Parker also has extensive executive experience across private equity and venture capital. He is the founder & president of Applied Business Strategies, co‑founded med‑tech ventures MagnaSci Biotechnology Funds and Septum Solutions, and chaired the Texas Industrial Development Corporation's infrastructure investment fund. Mr. Parker began his career with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, served as a Regional Vice President at Computer Sciences Corporation, and sits on the University of Dallas Board of Trustees. He holds a B.A. from the University of Dallas and an from the London School of Economics. Mr. Parker's appointment filled a vacant board seat. About Southland Southland is a leading provider of specialized infrastructure construction services. With roots dating back to 1900, Southland and its subsidiaries form one of the largest infrastructure construction companies in North America, with experience throughout the world. The company serves the bridges, tunneling, communications, transportation and facilities, marine, steel structures, water and wastewater treatment, and water pipeline end markets. Southland is headquartered in Grapevine, Texas. For more information, please visit Southland's website at View source version on Contacts Southland Contacts:Alex MurrayCorporate Development & Investor Relationsamurray@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
North Texas Catholics celebrate the news of a new pope
The Brief Students on the University of Dallas campus cheered as the first-ever American-born pope was selected on Thursday. Some were surprised. Many are excited and hopeful, praying for what the new leader of the Catholic Church will be. DALLAS - Dozens of students poured into the University of Dallas' student union on Thursday to witness history being made. They joined people from across the globe who celebrated, chanted, prayed, and shed tears of joy as the first American pope was announced. What we know Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was selected just before noon locally, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. The 69-year-old cardinal was born in Chicago and is a dual Peruvian citizen. He served in Peru as a bishop and archbishop for years. He was then summoned to Rome by Pope Francis in 2023 as head of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Local perspective Emotion, excitement, and expectation filled the atmosphere at the University of Dallas on Thursday. Students rushed to the student union as the word spread that white smoke was billowing from the smokestack above the Sistine Chapel. It was standing room only in the Catholic college's union as the next pope to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics was revealed. Many students and staff knelt in prayer while Pope Leo XIV pronounced his first blessing over the Catholic Church. They joined in with the singing outside the Vatican as the national anthem was played in honor of the first American-born pope in the church's 2,000-year history. What they're saying Dr. Susan Hanssen is a papacy historian at the University of Dallas. "I'm very surprised at how quick it was. And I'm very surprised at how quickly the cardinals gathered around not one of the top, not one of the frontrunners in the eyes of the media, but instead Cardinal Prevost," she said. Hanssen described Pope Leo as a low-key, reflective, and spiritual man. "I think that he's going to be a kind of low-key figure. You can already see him tearing up at the prospect of being pope. He's not one of these strong, charismatic, outgoing cardinals. He's been in the background. He's an Augustinian monk, and the spirituality of the Augustinians is very interior and reflective. And so he's very much of the missionary spirit. But I don't think we're going to see the kind of booming voice of John Paul the Second or the gregarious sense of humor of Pope Francis," she said. Several students shared their emotional thoughts with FOX 4. "This is a very historic moment and the fact that we are all here as a community to witness this moment and just feel the Holy Spirit in this room," said student Jessica Josefsberg. J.P. St. Pierre was excited as a fellow Peruvian-American. "And as a Peruvian, I mean, this is incredible. My mom, half of my family, is from Lima. Peru-born and raised. I mean, it's extremely emotional," he said. Others said they are praying for what the new leader of the Catholic Church will be. "A pope that smells like his sheep, a humble pope, and somebody to continue on the legacy of love and of universality just as Pope Francis did," said Gabrielle Nagle. "Just have a symbol of unity for us and a voice that we can all look to and listen to for guidance," added Max Muth. The Source FOX 4's Shaun Rabb gathered the information for this story while at a papal watch party on the University of Dallas campus.
Fox News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Claims Criticisms Of Judges Are An ‘Attack On Democracy'
Story #1: Quick Takes: Why playoff hockey is the best, Senator John Fetterman's disturbance on an airplane, the Justice Department opens an investigation on a Minnesota DA over racial discrimination, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson claims criticizing judges is an 'attack on democracy.' Story #2: How are the First 100 Days of the second Trump Administration going? Will breaks down the 'All In' Podcast's grades so far and shares his conversation with University of Dallas college students as he gathers the opinions of Gen Z. Story #3: As President Donald Trump looks to open the Alcatraz super-prison back up, Will and The Crew take a quiz with five things you likely didn't know about the infamous island. Tell Will what you thought about this podcast by emailing WillCainShow@ Subscribe to 'The Will Cain Show' on YouTube here: Watch The Will Cain Show! Follow Will on Twitter: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Mint
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Pope Francis succession drama: Can an American ever lead the church?
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said in a video statement on Monday, raising urgent questions about the Vatican's leadership and the future of the Catholic Church. The pontiff had been suffering from a prolonged respiratory crisis and had recently survived a serious bout of double pneumonia. 'Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,' Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican's TV channel. 'At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.'" The process of selecting a new pope, known as the conclave, typically begins between 15 and 20 days following the death of a pope. The last papal vacancy occurred in 2013, when Pope Benedict XVI, aged 85, became the first pope in 600 years to resign from the position. It took two weeks for Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, to be elected as the new pope, later known as Pope Francis. By Vatican standards, a two-week wait for a new pope isn't considered long. John Thavis, a papal expert and author of The Vatican Diaries was quoted by NYP that this is not unusual. However, the next transition is likely to be quicker. Thavis explained that the cardinals know the world is watching, and a prolonged conclave lasting over a week would invite unwanted speculation and possibly lose global interest. The last thing cardinals want is for network anchors to pack up their bags without seeing 'white smoke' (which signals the election of a new pope) within a week. The 2024 film Conclave, an Academy Award-nominated movie, dramatizes the papal election process, showing power-hungry cardinals scheming and conspiring, even amidst a bomb threat on the Vatican. However, experts dismiss the movie as exaggerated. Susan Hanssen, a professor of history at the University of Dallas, described the film as 'drenched with banal leftist jargon' and 'essentially a form of propaganda.' While the movie is far from reality, it does capture the general timeline of events. Thavis explained that the process involves two stages: an initial period of discussions among cardinals, followed by the conclave itself, where voting takes place in the Sistine Chapel. The voting is private, with no public access. The process of voting in the Sistine Chapel requires a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope. While it's possible for a conclave to end in a deadlock, Thavis noted that in modern times, voting rarely lasts more than a few days. The last lengthy conclave, in 1740, lasted six months, and the longest on record, in 1268, dragged on for 34 months. Though cardinals might discuss potential candidates, overt campaigning is considered poor form. Thavis stressed that 'no cardinal would campaign for himself,' as that would be considered disastrous. In fact, any form of 'wheeling and dealing' — like promising favours in exchange for votes — is not only frowned upon but could even lead to excommunication. While the idea of being pope may seem like the ultimate goal, most cardinals are hesitant to seek the job. John L. Allen Jr., a Vatican expert, pointed out that many cardinals see the papacy as more of a burden than an honour, likening it to a life sentence. After all, unlike being the President of the United States, the papacy involves serving until one is physically unable to continue. In contrast, the life of a retired cardinal is far more comfortable, with privileges like 'the best seats at all the restaurants and theatres' without the daily grind. The question of whether an American cardinal might be in the running remains a point of debate. Though the United States has the second-largest number of cardinal electors (behind Italy), no American-born pope has ever been elected. The possibility of an American pope is considered a long shot, especially since American cardinals are often seen as 'culture warriors'. Thavis explained that this division within the U.S. Catholic hierarchy, combined with subtle criticisms of Pope Francis, makes other cardinals wary of electing an American. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, is a possible candidate, but John L. Allen Jr. considers him more of a long shot. While Dolan is seen as charismatic and globally capable, his 'too American' persona could be a drawback. For an American cardinal to be considered, he would need to have significant international experience, be fluent in multiple languages, and show humility, avoiding any stereotypes of American arrogance. Currently, the frontrunners for the papacy are primarily Italian cardinals. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, is seen as a safe choice due to his deep knowledge of Vatican affairs and close ties to Pope Francis. However, Thavis pointed out that his lack of direct pastoral experience could count against him. Other names in the running include Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, President of the Italian Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Mario Grech from Malta, and Cardinal Konrad Krajewski from Poland. Each of these candidates brings different strengths to the table, but Parolin is still considered the most likely to succeed Pope Francis. First Published: 21 Apr 2025, 02:36 PM IST
CBS News
24-02-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Catholics in North Texas unite in prayer for Pope Francis amid health crisis, reflect on his legacy
In Texas, many Catholics are praying for the pope's health and reflecting on his legacy. "Everyone is accompanying him in prayers. Definitely, the students on campus here have a strong connection to Rome," said Susan Hanssen, a history professor at the University of Dallas, a Catholic college. As Pope Francis remains hospitalized, critically ill from pneumonia and kidney issues, students and faculty at the University of Dallas are sending their prayers of healing. "We have noon Mass on campus, we have a 5 o'clock Mass on campus. It's packed with students who are praying for the pope," Hanssen said. The pope's condition has Hanssen reflecting on his legacy. She thinks the first pope from "the New World" will be remembered for his faith. "There have been many controversies, but I think at the heart of Pope Francis' papacy is really his Marian devotion," Hanssen said. For Christopher Malloy, who leads the university's theology department, it's Pope Francis' nontraditional stances he'll remember most. "He has been very concerned for the poor and for areas that maybe you don't traditionally expect the church to be worried about. Pollution, employment," Malloy said. And Malloy says that's led to confusion among Catholics. "I would say 15 years ago people were pretty clear on what the church believed about x, y, or z and now people are not clear," he said. The pope's health remains day to day, and there won't be a conclave election for a new pope while Francis is alive, but Hanssen says everyone will be paying close attention. "I think Catholics across the world, including Catholics in Dallas, will be following the conclave very closely," she said.
