Texas Syndicate trial brings extra security

Security is expected to be tight at the Federal courthouse in Downtown Dallas on Monday as members of a notorious prison gang stand trial. The three members of the Texas Syndicate will be tried on racketeering conspiracy charges. They, along with 9 other men who have already pleaded guilty, are alleged to have participated in at least a dozen murders in North Texas.

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Mesquite soldier killed in Iraq

Staff Sergeant Clay Craig of Mesquite was laid to rest at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery Friday. He is the 82nd Texan to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Burglary suspect stuck in chimney

After assessing the situation, Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel elected to disassemble the chimney — brick-by-brick — to free the man.

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Kindergartener to have half her brain removed

All over town, Aledo is turning pink. Ribbons are tied around trees and poles. Pink balloons rise around Stuard Elementary School where a pink carpet is laid out for Jessie Hall. It's her favorite color and this is her day. "All of you guys are angels,” said Cris Hall, Jessie’s father, “And we appreciate that." All the attention though made 6-year-old Jessie a little shy. She turned away from TV cameras.

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Firefighter suspected in arson case

As firefighters in Hill County followed the clues to track down a prolific arsonist, they came to a disturbing conclusion. "A certain firefighter was showing up to every fire," said Sheriff's Deputy Chip Hundley. That firefighter, Eric Thomas Campbell, has now been indicted for arson in one case, but investigators say he may be linked to more than 20 suspicious blazes in two counties.

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Women assaulted on Greenville Avenue
There was concern Friday among those who live near or visit the popular Greenville Avenue restaurant district after a two brazen robberies just after midnight.

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Victim speaks about donut shop robbery

Neighborliness has been redefined in a West Fort Worth neighborhood. Early this morning a robber invaded a local donut shop. Before he could get away a neighbor shot the intruder dead outside the Happy Donut Shop.

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North Texas residents concerned over tilting power poles
It's a common sight across North Texas that's causing anxiety. Utility poles are leaning. In some cases, they’re leaning right over busy roads and highways. Officials from one power company say just because the poles are leaning doesn't necessarily mean it's unsafe. Cindy Sooter says every time she leaves her house she sees the utility poles that look as though they're about to fall.

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Man surrenders after leading police on chase

A police standoff with a suicidal man shut down a stretch of Interstate 35E for several hours overnight before a peaceful conclusion at Parkland Hospital.

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DISD bond issue being voted on
Our Students, Our Future. By now you've seen the signs in neighborhoods all over town. But the big support may not be in the neighborhoods at all, a point made clear by Mayor Tom Leppert at a recent Vote Yes rally. "Businesses will make the decision to either stay, or leave, or come into Dallas because of the strength of the public school system," said Mayor Leppert. A pitch that, according to Vote Yes campaign reports, may be working. More than $500,000 has been raised to promote the DISD bond issue. But you'd never know it by looking at the wafer thin campaign reports, until you see where the money comes from.

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Police: Emilio's blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit

Bellaire, Texas police have asked that the Harris County District Attorney seek DWI and intoxicated assault charges against Tejano superstar Emilio Navaira.

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Industrial Blvd. changes will bring different businesses
Choosing a new name for Industrial Boulevard in Dallas that matches the park and development planned for the Trinity River is getting all the attention. But what will really open the area to big changes is a huge zoning case the city council is set to consider May 28th. Industrial Boulevard has been the perfect name for this street because it's been, so, well, Industrial. With the Trinity River project though, the city wants the change the zoning down here and the idea here to move downtown to the river.

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Roofing company gives woman new roof
Hatley Brothers Roofing donates a new roof every year to a mother in need. For some in the company it is personal. "My mother passed this year, April 4 and I know she would have. She's up there watching now. It means so much because we grew up from a giving family, and that's what it's about - giving back," said Ke'elronn Hatley, Hatley Brothers Roofing and Construction. After looking at several homes they decided Mrs. Ross' house on Garrison Street needed help the most.

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Half-built homes becoming eyesores
In one Collin County neighborhood the weeds are growing and residents are growing impatient. It’s been 3 months since Buescher Homes, the large builder, went bankrupt. The fallout: half-built homes and now code compliance issues. There are million dollar homes with just the frames, and one was recently hit by vandals at Craig Ranch.

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Tiny Crawford plays supporting role for Jenna Bush wedding
So close and yet so far: Tiny Crawford is sort of like a bridesmaid at arm's length from Jenna Bush's wedding Saturday. All of the action is at President Bush's 1,600-acre ranch seven miles outside this one-stoplight town. The more than 200 Bush family and friends invited to the nuptials might never even set foot downtown. "It's a private ceremony. It's an exciting time for the Bush family," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Friday.

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Police: Teens used skull as bong

Three teenagers are accused of digging up a corpse, removing the head and using the skull as a bong to smoke marijuana, Houston police said. Matthew Richard Gonzalez and Kevin Wade Jones, both 17, and their 16-year-old friend were arrested Wednesday and charged with abuse of a corpse.

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Gas prices maintain momentum
Retail gasoline prices continued to climb to new record heights in Texas this week, according to a weekly survey released today.

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Free software mimics Microsoft Office

While some people get a computer to play games, most folks use their machine for useful but mundane things like writing letters, preparing presentations and creating budgets. But if your budget doesn't accomodate an all-purpose suite of office software, you now have another option for a very useful (and free) alternative.

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Texas officials criticized for cozy relationships

Are Texas Railroad Commissioners too cozy with the oil and gas industry operators they are supposed to be regulating? It's a question being raised in the wake of a News 8 investigation into deadly natural gas fittings — fittings that some say regulators should have forced gas companies to remove years ago. Meanwhile, families across the state are still dealing with the legacy of inaction.

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Pilots agree, 767 missing a panel safe to fly

The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating a panel peeling off the belly of an American Airlines jet flying from Dallas/Fort Worth to Paris.

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Elderly man missing in Grand Prairie

An 81-year-old man reported missing since Wednesday night has still not been located, Grand Prairie police said this afternoon.

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Organized retail theft rings work stores

They stock up, but they don’t check out. Grocery store surveillance video shows a team of shoplifters at work. Retailers say organized packs of shoplifters are sweeping shelves clean, then reselling stolen goods on eBay or at flea markets. "We have not seen regular shoplifting rise over the last several weeks or months because of inflation," said Kroger spokesman Gary Huddleston. "What we have seen increase is organized retail crime."

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Student falsely accuses teacher of assault

There was no warning, no chance to react. Raymond Saunders was just blindsided when he was told he had to leave the school immediately. He was not even allowed to stop by his class and take work home.

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No gas needed: Kennedale man turns car electric

When David Murray turns his ignition there is almost no sound. There is nothing wrong with his 1993 Eagle Talon with more than 192,000 miles. It's an electric car he converted himself.

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Dallas police bust drug operation run by children
Dallas police raided a home Wednesday night. They found heroin, marijuana, guns and a rifle. Police say the people running this operation are children. "As a society this ought to be very disturbing to all of us," said Deputy Chief Julian Bernal, Dallas Police Department. Police say an undercover officer bought heroin off a 14 year old boy at the house.... who was using an 8 year old relative as a look out.

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Dallas teen hit by SUV after exiting bus

A teenager on her way to school was struck by a vehicle after exiting a DART bus Thursday morning. The 14-year-old girl was unconscious at the scene and was rushed to Children's Medical Center Dallas, where she was reported in serious but stable condition at noon. Witnesses said the girl was clipped by the rear-view mirror of a passing sport utility vehicle.

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City attempting to bring apartments up to code
A brief glance at some of the 33 buildings at Southland Terrace shows many code violations remain. There were 13 felony offenses at the complex last year, according to police. Adell Anderson who's home backs up to the apartments feels the effect. "Oh, it's drug activity. It's theft. It's everything over there. They boarded them up, but that hasn't stopped them," said Anderson. In 2004 the city sought a court order to force the owner of Southland Terrace to bring all 228 apartments up to code. But the owner sold off parts of the complex and attorneys changed several times causing delays in the case.

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Arlington church behind on payments
The website touts it as a real church, for people, experiencing real life. But the Metroquest Church of Arlington is now facing a real problem. "We outline, very clearly what their responsibilities are, especially their financial responsibilities," said Veronica Sopher, AISD spokesperson.

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Local emergency managers work on severe weather plans
It can be destructive, deadly, and unpredictable. North Texas weather has a reputation of getting violent in the Spring. With recent siren confusion over when to sound them, and when to silence them, local Emergency Managers hashed it out. Last month in Plano, Emergency officials chose not to activate sirens, even though there was a tornado warning issued and winds reached 100 miles per hour.

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Rising gas prices cause difficulties for school districts
Sanger ISD administrators figured rising gasoline costs into their budget, but no one imagined the price at the pump would rise so high. "It's pretty much doubled," said Rick Clements, Sanger deputy superintendent. To cut sots, the district merged a few bus routes and cancelled a big field trip to Fair Park. "It's one of those things where you can't control it. You're going to have to live with it and you're going to have to adjust to it," said Clements.

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Mexico's top cop gunned down outside home

Mexico's acting federal police chief was shot dead Thursday outside his home — a brazen attack that comes as drug traffickers increasingly lash back at a nationwide crackdown on organized crime. Edgar Millan Gomez was shot 10 times after he opened the door to his Mexico City apartment complex, where at least one gunman was waiting for him before dawn, the Public Safety Department said.

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Shortage of neurosurgeons in Fort Worth
Lillie Biggins sends the same email out about 3 times a week. No neuro trauma coverage today, please use triage protocols. It's means anyone with a traumatic brain or spinal injury is driven straight past Harris Methodist Hospital, to John Peter Smith, the overcrowded public hospital down the street.

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Ton of pot found in 'empty' trailer
Customs officers in El Paso drilled into the floor of what appeared to be an empty truck trailer and discovered nearly one ton of marijuana. Authorities on Thursday announced the seizure involves pot with a street value topping $1.9 million.

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Bush back in Texas for daughter's wedding

President Bush stuck out his right elbow Thursday, jokingly demonstrating how he'll escort his daughter down the aisle at her wedding this weekend. He made the gesture at Andrews Air Force Base before boarding Air Force One for the flight to Texas, where Jenna Bush will be married Saturday before about 200 guests at the family's 1,600 acre, secluded ranch.

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Plano paying for water it doesn't use

Would you want to pay for water you didn't use? The city of Plano is doing just that. In fact, it spent millions of dollars to buy billions of unused gallons. That means water bills for customers like Helen Gunn could be higher than expected this summer.

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AA plane crosses Atlantic after panel blows off

Flight attendants said it sounded like an explosion, but the visual was even more frightening. An American Airlines plane lost a large panel while on a recent flight from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Paris, France. "There was a loud shaking noise from the belly of the plane," said one flight attendant in an e-mail message.

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Father killed while on the job
The investigation continues into a truck driver killed on the job this week. To date the driver responsible has not been charged. The victim's family talked with Channel 8. They say he was killed while trying to help his family recover from another crisis. November of last year was the scariest in the family's life, April Gittings gave birth prematurely.

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Fire destroys Plano apartment clubhouse

Firefighters were called to the 1500 block of Preston Road around 5:40 a.m. as flames 10 feet tall shot up from the apartment's clubhouse building.

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Giant sinkhole is growing near Houston

Regulators continued monitoring a massive sinkhole which has swallowed up oil field equipment, poles and some vehicles since surfacing just outside the southeast Texas community of Daisetta. There were no reports of injuries or of any homes being damaged early Thursday.

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Country superstar Eddy Arnold dead at 89

Eddy Arnold, whose mellow baritone on songs like "Make the World Go Away" made him one of the most successful country singers in history, died Thursday morning, days short of his 90th birthday. Arnold died at a care facility near Nashville, said Don Cusic, a professor at Belmont University and author of the biography "Eddy Arnold: I'll Hold You in My Heart."

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Thousands of Texas nurses have arrest records

Few times in history has nursing become such a lucrative career. Salaries spiked because of a shortage in the industry. But News 8 found that among the hardworking, dedicated nurses, one in every 20 has a criminal record.

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USO mom gets big welcome on return from Iraq

Returning soldiers always receive welcome home greetings as they exit their planes at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Linda Robinson was always among them. But on Wednesday, she was on the receiving end.

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Boy Scout trip uncertain after trailer theft

A troop of Richardson Boy Scouts may miss an upcoming campout after they fell victim to theft. Troop 728's trailer was broken into on the campus of St. Paul the Apostle School in Richardson.

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Carrollton mayor's colorful past called into question

Officials say the mayor of the Dallas suburb of Carrollton has long told stories of her colorful background. Among Mayor Becky Miller's tales are claims of an engagement to Eagles drummer Don Henley and stints as a backup singer for Linda Ronstadt and Jackson Browne.

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New technology sounds off on copper thieves

As North Texans start firing up their air conditioners this spring, more and more have found their cool breeze has been taken away by copper thieves.

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Arlington moving to ban plastic bags

Arlington is moving ahead with plans to ban plastic grocery bags. City leaders say they are fed up with those bags trashing the city and the budget. San Francisco has already enacted a similar ban on lightweight plastic bags. The ban will not affect heavier plastic bags, just the lightweight ones that get used once and then end up in a landfill or maybe even worse, end up clogging up a storm sewer, littering a park, or clogging up a stream bed.

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Sharpton arrested during NYC police shooting protest

The Rev. Al Sharpton was arrested at the Brooklyn Bridge on Wednesday as he and hundreds of demonstrators blocked traffic to protest the acquittal of three detectives in the 50-bullet shooting of an unarmed black man on his wedding day.

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Humane Society releases video of mistreated livestock

The Humane Society of the United States released video footage Wednesday of sick and injured livestock the group says were mistreated at auction sites and stockyards where cattle are sold for slaughter.

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Children found alone in 'deplorable' home

A two-year-old girl and five-year-old boy were in state custody this week after officers found them in a boarded up home surrounded by molded trash heaps, broken glass and a toilet filled with feces, according to Dallas police. The conditions in the home were “deplorable,” said police Senior Cpl. Kevin Janse.

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The joys of iMac
Twenty-eight years after it was introduced with great fanfare, I'm finally using a Macintosh computer on a daily basis.

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