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Hotel suicide and Katy Trail II: 5 most popular stories this week

Editor's note: Another week has come and gone, and there's a lot we all probably missed. But we're looking out for you, kid. Here are the most popular stories from this past week:

1. 37-year-old man leaps to his death at Hyatt Regency Dallas hotel. Around 2 am on May 8, Missouri native Craig McKinnon Berry fell to his death at the downtown Dallas hotel, where he was reportedly attending a conference. The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a suicide.

2. Katy Trail Ice House spinoff to open in old Bandito's spot in Plano. Katy Trail Ice House and Outpost will open this month in the old Bandito's spot in West Plano. The new Ice House will do a suburban version of the popular Uptown beer garden and restaurant. Teresa Gubbins asks a pertinent question: Can you transport the Katy Trail vibe to a location that is nowhere near the Katy Trail?

3. Downtown Dallas gets new grocery store and more in old Urban Market. The persistent longing for a downtown Dallas grocery store is about to be satisfied again. A three-pronged concept — liquor store, grocery and cafe — is coming to the old Urban Market space in the Interurban Building on Jackson Street, with phase one set to open this month.

4. Former Houston Texan files suit against ex-fiancée for $785,000 engagement ring. Despite a recent $100 million contract with the Buffalo Bills, Mario Williams wants his money back from his former fiancée, Houstonian Erin Marzouki. He hopes to retrieve a $785,000 diamond engagement ring, plus another $338,000.

5. Dallas dentist Richard Malouf sues more WFAA reporters and Curbed.com. Dr. Richard Malouf has added a half dozen more defendants to his privacy lawsuit, stemming from media coverage of construction at his family's Strait Lane mansion. WFAA reporters Brett Shipp and Jason Trahan have been served, along with Jason's wife, Marina L. Trahan; attorney James "Rusty" Tucker; and Sarah Firshein, editor of Curbed.com.

Katy Trail Ice House hopes to re-create the magic up in Plano.

Katy Trail Ice House Facebook

Katy Trail Ice House hopes to re-create the magic up in Plano.

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Airport News

Southwest Airlines signs on for another 15 years at Dallas Love Field

Courtesy of Southwest Airlines

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Southwest Airlines has signed on with Dallas for 15 more years. According to a release, the Dallas City Council extended Southwest Airlines’ lease for 18 gates at Dallas Love Field (DAL) until September 2040.

It's a pro-active step: The current lease expires in September 2028, but the Department of Aviation proposed the early completion of a new and subsequent Use and Lease Agreement with the airline, in order to secure predictable costs and create financial and operational stability as the number of passengers flying through the airport increases.

Dallas Love Field is the busiest medium hub airport in the U.S., serving approximately 17 million passengers annually.

Finalizing the agreement at this stage provides a foundation for long-term planning and investment, helping to position Dallas Love Field to meet rising passenger demand, especially with annual boarding projected to reach 10 million by the end of 2026.

This agreement also sets Dallas Love Field up to begin relieving congestion and continue efficient operations.

In a statement, Southwest Airlines president and CEO Bob Jordan recalled the airline's beginnings.

“Our first flight took off from Love Field in 1971, and our purpose today is just as fulfilling as it was then—to connect people to what matters most in their lives with friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel," Jordan said. "The capital investments under this new agreement will help ensure our home at Love Field remains a premier airport with enhancements to the customer experience for years to come.”

Southwest also just implemented its new policy to begin charging a fee for checking bags, after years of touting its policy of allowing passengers to check bags for free. As of May 29, they'll charge $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for a second.

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