Frisco ISD Closes Tax Building Over Conn. Shooting

Omar Villafranca, NBC 5 News

Parents going to pay their school tax in Frisco say they are confused about why the collection building is closed.

Frisco ISD Tax Building Closure...

Copy

Close

Link to this video

http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/local/Frisco-ISD-Tax-Building-Closure-Confuses-Parents/185129031

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

The Frisco school district tax building is closed for the winter break -- but not for reasons most parents are used to hearing.

A note taped to the building tells parents: "Due to the recent events in Connecticut, the FISD administration is requiring us to keep this building locked during the winter break."

In a statement sent late Friday night, Frisco Independent School District spokesman Jamie Driskill said the district decided to keep the building locked during the winter break when the building was not fully occupied because of "security concerns heightened by recent events."

The note on the building tells parents they can drop their payment in a drop box and apologized for the inconvenience.

Driskill said payments are collected daily. Payments are noted as being paid that day, and receipts are then mailed, he said.

The building's note caught Sunil Malik by surprise. The parent was coming to pay his taxes and get a receipt. He said he didn't understand why the building, which is near a middle school but not connected to the classrooms, was closed.

"It says it's a security concern, but the shootings were related to the kids, and it's not a school," he said.

Rejesh Chauhan, another parent, drove up to the building to pay his taxes. He read the sign and thought the note perhaps was a show of compassion for the recent tragedy in Connecticut. But he said he wasn't too pleased about having to drop his check into a drop box.

"If they put this note, I wish they would send a little sweet letter at home telling the exact reason, right?" he said.

Driskill said the district agreed that the note on the building was confusing, saying that a better solution would be determined in the future and communicated better.

The office will be open during its regular hours next week Wednesday through Friday and until noon on Monday, he said.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

20.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Presented By:

The likely cause for this is that your browser, feed reader, or email application is configured to not accept cookies, or your reader may launch an external browser to view links without sharing cookies.

• If you're using Internet Explorer, make sure your privacy setting is at medium or below.
  • Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
  • Click the Privacy tab
  • Adjust your privacy setting if necessary
     
• If you're using a reader that embeds Internet Explorer (examples: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Feed Demon), you'll also need to select Internet Explorer as your default web browser.
  • Open Internet Explorer
  • Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
  • Click the 'Programs' tab and check the box for Internet Explorer to check if it is the default browser and save your change
  • Close your browser, re-open it, and when prompted, select Internet Explorer as your default
  • You can then click on an ad in your newsletter and visit the site you wish to view

© 2012 Pheedo, Inc. All rights reserved.

20.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Classic Cars Torched at Forney Shop

Amanda Guerra, NBC 5 News

A vandal smashed the windows of several classic Mustangs at a Forney shop and then set them on fire on Christmas morning.

Vandal Sets Fire to Classic Mustangs

Copy

Close

Link to this video

http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/local/Vandal-Sets-Fire-to-Classic-Mustangs/185129151

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

Investigators are trying to find the person who torched several classic cars at a business in Forney on Christmas Day.

Gerald Gauthier, owner of the Mustang Shop, said a friend called on Christmas morning to tell him that several cars parked outside his lot were on fire.

"He said, 'Your business, it looks like a war zone,'" he said.

Gauthier arrived to find three classic Mustangs gutted and several more with smashed windows.

"The first thing he did is, he went to destroy glass on all the vehicles," he said.

The vandal was caught on surveillance cameras installed outside Gauthier's business.

In the video, the person can be seen walking up to the vehicles, smashing the windows and then lighting something on fire. Shortly afterward, several of the vehicles can be seen erupting into flames.

"They're gone; they're completely gone. The '69 is somewhat salvageable, but these two here, they're just plain gone," said Gauthier while pointing to two classic Mustangs that were scorched and gutted by flames.

Gauthier said it has taken years to build up his business. What happened will set him back thousands of dollars, he said.

"I think someone that does this wouldn't hesitate to do it again to someone else," he said.

Now he just wants the person caught before he strikes again.

"I think somebody doesn't have any Christmas spirit," he said. "I don't have any words for it. I couldn't really even explain it."

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

20.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Unions Move Ahead On AA-US Airways Merger

advertisement

AA Merger Talks May Be at Critical Point

Pilots from both American Airlines and US Airways are taking part in four-party discussions with both companies.

APA On Standby for Merger

Leaders of the Allied Pilots Association are on standby, hoping they might be able to reach an agreement that could lead to a merger between American Airlines and US Airways.

More Photos and Videos

Leaders of the pilots union at Fort Worth based American Airlines have now approved a framework for a labor agreement if the airline merges with US Airways.

On the morning of Saturday, December 29, the Allied Pilots Association Board of Directors voted 11 to 5 to approve what's called a "memo of understanding."

The memo outlines temporary wages and work conditions if the two airlines merge. It also addresses seniority and other issues. Now American gets to look at it along with the pilots and the management at US Airways.

Unless all four parties agree to it, the Allied Pilots Association says a merger appears unlikely before American emerges from bankruptcy.  The pilots union cannot talk about specifics but said it wanted to have something done before AMR's Board of Directors meets a week from Wednesday.

Merger talks continue between the two airlines, and American Airlines is expected to emerge from bankruptcy in just months.

Click on this sentence for the statement from APA Communications Director Gregg Overman.

On Saturday, American Airlines released this statement:

"American Airlines remains actively engaged in discussions with US Airways, APA and USAPA to develop a framework for the terms of employment for pilots in the event of a merger.  The APA's proposal for this framework, approved this morning by its Board of Directors, is now subject to review and approval by American, US Airways and USAPA, which represents the US Airways pilots.  If agreed upon, a memorandum of understanding will assist our stakeholders, including the AMR Board, in making an informed decision as to whether a merger should be pursued.  This step comes as a result of American, in collaboration with the creditors committee, inviting the unions to take part in these discussions to better evaluate the costs of operational and pilot seniority integration.  We remain committed in our efforts to secure the best outcome for our financial stakeholders, our people and our customers."  Mike Trevino, AMR spokesman

The board of directors of American's parent company, AMR Corp., has scheduled a meeting Jan. 9 and could vote on a merger then, NBC 5 has learned.

People involved in the process stressed that many difficult details still must be ironed out before a merger vote can take place.

Company officials did not want to be quoted by name because of the sensitivity of the ongoing discussions.

The judge in charge of American's bankruptcy and the influential committee of creditors also would have to sign off on a deal.

American's three major unions -- representing pilots, flight attendants, and ground workers -- have already signed new labor agreements with the bankrupt airline. The talks now under way essentially involve new contracts with a merged company.

Combining workforces is full of potential pitfalls for each company. US Airways has not successfully combined labor groups since it merged with America West seven years ago. A merger with American could allow it to solve its current labor issues all at once -- or merely add to their complexity.

A merger would likely mean thousands of American employees would be pushed lower on the seniority list, but the value of a new deal could be a huge incentive. American pilots, for example, could add $100 million per year to their overall compensation, union insiders say.

It's unclear who would lead a combined airline. But analysts say a merger would likely push out American's top executive, Tom Horton, who has led the airline since it declared bankruptcy last November.

US Airways' executives have said if they win control, they would use American's brand name and keep its headquarters in Fort Worth.

20.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fort Worth Gun Show Draws Big Crowds

Sara Story, NBC 5 News

Gun enthusiasts lined up at gun shows across the country and in North Texas.

Attendance and cost up at North Texas...

Copy

Close

Link to this video

http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news//Attendance-and-cost-up-at-North-Texas-gun-shows/185186542

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

Fort Worth Gun Show Draws Big Crowds

NBC 5's Sara Story reports on one of the first gun shows in North Texas after the Tragedy in Sandy Hook. Fears over gun control regulation prompted many gun collectors to show up.

More Photos and Videos

Gun enthusiasts were met with long lines at the Will Rogers Memorial Center for The Original Fort Worth Gun Show.
  
"The attendance has just been over the top," The Original Fort Worth Gun Show owner Tim Finucane said.

Finucane said the gun show has been in his family for decades, but Saturday's crowd was a first. He said this crowd was driven by the uncertainty of gun laws in the wake of the school shooting in Sandy Hook, Connecticut that killed 20 children.
 
"The talk of restricting gun ownership, restricting ammo, restricting accessories, people are concerned," Finucane said. "They think they need to get out and buy it before the government takes it away."

President Obama has formed a team that will look at gun control laws and possibly recommend new regulations.

As the demand for guns increased, so has the prices.

"Last year, I paid $345 for my .40 caliber hand gun. Now. I paid $557," gun owner James Smith said.

There were no protests visible to NBC DFW crews on Saturday.  However, a small crowd held a protest outside The Dulles Center in Virginia where "The Nations Gun Show" took place.

The Fort Worth gun show closed Saturday night but will re-open Sunday morning at 10. The owners expect a full house.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

20.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Helium Shortage Could Affect Your NYE Party

Mark Schnyder, NBC 5 News

Supply is down, demand is up and cost is way up.

Helium Shortage Could Affect Your...

Copy

Close

Link to this video

http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/local/Helium-Shortage-Could-Affect-Your-NYE-Party/185176012

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

Business was popping inside Party Warehouse on Camp Bowie Road in Fort Worth Saturday morning.  But party balloons aren't all that's being inflated there.

"We've had to raise prices," said owner Steve Steffgen.

Steffgen says his helium costs are up 300%.  He is charging his customers more on a dozen helium balloons.  From $6.99 to now $9.99.

Steffgen fills his customers in about the helium shortage which he said is a supply and demand issue.  Most of the demand comes from the medical industry.  An entrepreneur with three party stores is not on the priority list for helium.

"We've had to raise prices on helium tanks that we rent and we've even had to stop renting for a while," Steffgen said.

The shortage has forced Party Warehouse to become more creative, coming up with arrangements that use less helium or none at all.  Steffgen showed us "balloon columns" on display in his story.  They're decorative and festive and the balloons are filled with air, no helium.

Steffgen said people planning on picking up helium balloon arrangements for New Year's Eve not to do it too early in the day.  His and other stores are filling some balloons with 20% to 40% air to save helium, which means the balloons will deflate a few hours sooner.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

20.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Where To Ring In 2013 in DFW

advertisement

If your plans for New Year's Eve involve the couch, noisemakers from the dollar store, and a bottle of sparkling apple cider, consider this handy list of where to get silly in the Metroplex.

From gigantic gatherings at Victory Park to fancy dinners at restaurants, you're bound to find something to do in Dallas-Fort Worth to ring in 2013.

Dates of all events are on December 31 unless otherwise noted.

Dallas | Fort Worth 

Dallas Events

Big D NYE
American Airlines Center
2500 Victory Avenue
Dallas, TX
Time: 7 p.m.
Price: Free
Quite possibly one of the most popular New Years Eve celebrations around the Southwest, Big D NYE is very much like our version of New Years Time Square.  The crowds will be large and the entertainment will be nothing less than stellar with food tents, fireworks, and multiple stages for live music from bands Forever the Sickest Kids, LEOGUN, Pentatonix, DJ Ro Parrish and Breaking Southwest. All the anticipation will build to a huge, Stream Energy Fireworks Spectacular at midnight. What's better is that the whole event is free to the public of all ages.
Website

Maxim Masquerade New Year's Eve Ball 2013 at Zouk
Club Zouk
703 McKinney Ave.
Dallas, TX 75202
214-295-4644
Time: 10 p.m. - 3 a.m.
Price: $40 - $6000
If "be more glamorous" is on your list of New Year's resolutions, then grab your mask  this is the party for you. Photographer will greet you on the red carpet, once inside the 25,000 square feet of celebration will feature two dance floors, four bars, 12 bartenders, Maxim models, a flipbook photo booth to capture your memories of the night. A champagne toast and balloon drop will mark the beginning of 2013.
Website

NYE at the Granada Theater
The Granada Theater
3524 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75206
Time: 8 p.m.
Prices: $16-70
What are you doing for New Year's Eve? Spending it at the historic Granada Theater with Somebody's Darling, the Quaker City Night Hawks and of course Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights. VIPs will get a complimentary champagne toast and goodie bag, plus plush seats in the Granada's balcony. Snag your tickets below.
Website

Crossroads at House of Blues
House of Blues
2200 N. Lamar St.
Dallas, TX 75202
214-978–4800
Time: 8 p.m.
Prices: $53 per person | $97 per couple
If fireworks and large crowds aren't your thing, the House of Blues has you covered. Four-course dinner packages were still available as of Friday. Electric Circus will play live on the Voodoo Stage at 10:30 p.m. Beware, the Victory Park festivities for Big D NYE is right around the corner, so plan accordingly.
Website

Family New Year's Party
Sci-Tech Discovery Center
8004 N. Dallas Pkwy
Frisco, TX 75034
972-546-3050
Time: 3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Price: $10 per person for members | $15 for non-members
Sci-Tech is hosting a Family New Year's Eve Celebration. Put on your party attire and ring in the new year at this family friendly event. There will be games, snacks and a show featuring Molecule Man. At 5:00 pm, the group will count down to a neutron ball drop and toast the new year with sparkling cider. Space is limited, so reserve you spot by emailing tamera.hurdle@scitechdiscovery.org.
Website

Lights All Night NYE Dance Festival
Fair Park
3809 Grand Avenue
Dallas, TX 75210
Price: $99-$190
Time: December 29 - December 31
A New Year's Eve party so massive, it can't be contained in one night. For three days, see Tiesto and Avicii (Saturday), Bassnectar and Calvin Harris (Sunday) and Axwell and Ghostland Obeservatory (Monday) -- and many others --- headline this multi-stage festival that features some of the biggest names in electronic music.
Website

Sambuca Uptown New Year's Eve Party
Sambuca Uptown
2120 McKinney Ave.
Dallas, TX 75201
214-744-0820
Time: 7 p.m or 9 p.m.
Price: $49 - $100
Dance your way into 2013 with music from Blue Finger Disco and enjoy a four-course menu inside or on one of the restaurants enclosed heated and covered patios.
Website

New Year's Eve Bash & Casino
Omni Downtown Dallas
555 S. Lamar St.
Dallas, TX
Time: 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Price: $99 - $3,000
Why not ring in 2013 while attending an event that benefits the American Heart Association? The star-studded event features a silent auction, live music performances, award-winning DJs, a dinner buffet by Chef Jason and a Las Vegas-style casino lounge.
Website

For other ideas in the Dallas area click here.
 

Fort Worth Events

Fort Worth NYE Bash 2013
The Bottom
3468 Blue Bonnet Circle
Fort Worth, TX 76109
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Price: $55
What better way to spend New Year's Even than in Cowtown with Austin country-rock band Waterloo Revival which performs from 10 p.m. to midnight. There will be drinks and small bites through the night and a DJ will ring in 2013 with music from midnight until 2 a.m., and you can dig into some breakfast tacos at 1 a.m.
Website

Sundance NYE 2013 at Club 515
Club 515 (previously Aqua Lounge/Tru/Avalon)
515 Houston St.
Fort Worth, TX 77379
469-684-2393
Time: 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Price: $20 - $75
Labeled "the official Fort Worth NYE celebration" on its poster, the celebration at Club 515 featured a paparazzi red carpet entrance, four DJs playing hip hop, electro and Top 40 music. The party boasts $10,000 in door prizes, $10,000 in party favors, a midnight champagne toast and a $10,000 cash balloon drop.
Website

Billy Bob's Texas
2520 Rodeo Plaza
Fort Worth, TX 76164
817-624-7117
Time: 10 p.m.
Price: $20 - $30
The World's Largest Honky Tonk is ringing in the New Year with JB & The Moonshine Band taking the stage at 10 p.m. followed by the headliner Casey Donahew Band.
Website

New Year's Eve: A Night in Vienna
Bass Performance Hall
555 Commerce Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-665-6000
In an elegant celebration of New Year's Eve the Fort Worth Symphony welcomes back John Giordano, the FWSO's music director from 1972 to 2000. He leads a night of Strauss waltzes and other Viennese classics as well as soprano arias featuring a Fort Worth favorite Ava Pine.
Website

Four Day Weekend's New Year's Eve Dinner Package Show
Four Day Weekend
312 Houston Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-226-4DAY
Time: Dinner at 8 p.m. and show at 10 p.m.
Cost: $100
Four Day Weekend, Fort Worth's longest running show, is hosting its 16th Annual New Year's Eve Dinner Package Show.  The package includes admission to the show, a cocktail-style dinner catered by Reata, a future ticket to a Four Day Weekend performance, a champagne toast, party favors and dancing to a DJ after the show.
Website

Several Sundance Square restaurants are celebrating New Year's Eve, click here for info

20.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

No-Refusal Weekend Spurs Liquor Sales

Randy McIlwain, NBC 5 News

Liquor store managers say sales have been up as more and more North Texans opt to ring in 2013 at home.

Liquor Sales Up for Ringing in 2013

Copy

Close

Link to this video

http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/local/Liquor-Sales-Up-for-Ringing-in-2013/185110491

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

Liquor stores across North Texas may owe their local police departments a round of drinks or, at the very least, a thank you.

Alcohol sales normally skyrocket in the days before folks toast the New Year. But sales this year may spike even higher because so many police departments are conducting no-refusal weekends.

During no-refusal periods, special patrols are out on interstates and major streets. The task forces include judges that can immediately authorize the suspension of licenses and force blood testing on drivers who refuse sobriety testing.

Liquor store managers say fear of the patrols is part of what is driving sales.

Managers at Specs in Dallas said 50 percent of their customers are purchasing alcohol for parties they're planning to have at home. Many are professional people who want to toast in the New Year with a few drinks without the risk of an encounter with a no-refusal patrol, they said.

Liquor stores will not have any special hours but expect crowds through closing on Saturday. They also expect sales to pick up again Monday because of last-minute shoppers.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

20.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Frisco ISD Closes Tax Building Over Conn. Shooting

Omar Villafranca, NBC 5 News

Parents going to pay their school tax in Frisco say they are confused about why the collection building is closed.

Frisco ISD Tax Building Closure...

Copy

Close

Link to this video

http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/local/Frisco-ISD-Tax-Building-Closure-Confuses-Parents/185129031

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

The Frisco school district tax building is closed for the winter break -- but not for reasons most parents are used to hearing.

A note taped to the building tells parents: "Due to the recent events in Connecticut, the FISD administration is requiring us to keep this building locked during the winter break."

In a statement sent late Friday night, Frisco Independent School District spokesman Jamie Driskill said the district decided to keep the building locked during the winter break when the building was not fully occupied because of "security concerns heightened by recent events."

The note on the building tells parents they can drop their payment in a drop box and apologized for the inconvenience.

Driskill said payments are collected daily. Payments are noted as being paid that day, and receipts are then mailed, he said.

The building's note caught Sunil Malik by surprise. The parent was coming to pay his taxes and get a receipt. He said he didn't understand why the building, which is near a middle school but not connected to the classrooms, was closed.

"It says it's a security concern, but the shootings were related to the kids, and it's not a school," he said.

Rejesh Chauhan, another parent, drove up to the building to pay his taxes. He read the sign and thought the note perhaps was a show of compassion for the recent tragedy in Connecticut. But he said he wasn't too pleased about having to drop his check into a drop box.

"If they put this note, I wish they would send a little sweet letter at home telling the exact reason, right?" he said.

Driskill said the district agreed that the note on the building was confusing, saying that a better solution would be determined in the future and communicated better.

The office will be open during its regular hours next week Wednesday through Friday and until noon on Monday, he said.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

20.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Presented By:

The likely cause for this is that your browser, feed reader, or email application is configured to not accept cookies, or your reader may launch an external browser to view links without sharing cookies.

• If you're using Internet Explorer, make sure your privacy setting is at medium or below.
  • Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
  • Click the Privacy tab
  • Adjust your privacy setting if necessary
     
• If you're using a reader that embeds Internet Explorer (examples: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Feed Demon), you'll also need to select Internet Explorer as your default web browser.
  • Open Internet Explorer
  • Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
  • Click the 'Programs' tab and check the box for Internet Explorer to check if it is the default browser and save your change
  • Close your browser, re-open it, and when prompted, select Internet Explorer as your default
  • You can then click on an ad in your newsletter and visit the site you wish to view

© 2012 Pheedo, Inc. All rights reserved.

20.41 | 0 komentar | Read More