City News Roundup

Composting company wants to hear your excuses and more Dallas news

If you're not doing this, then here's your chance to explain why.

Photo courtesy of Turn Compost

This roundup of Dallas news is brimming with info including a new parade in downtown Dallas, a possible new train route from Dallas to Atlanta, and new crosswalks in South Dallas. Other tidbits include the resurgence of omicron, the resignations of not one but two school district superintendents, and some scholarship money for college hopefuls. Last but not least, a composting company wants your opinion. You matter!

Here's what's happening in Dallas this week:

South Oak Cliff football
The city of Dallas honored South Oak Cliff High School's Golden Bears football team, who won the school's first football state title in December, and earned Dallas ISD's first state championship in more than 60 years. The celebration took place at Dallas City Hall Plaza with remarks from ex-Dallas Cowboys Russell Maryland and Charles Haley, plus video appearances from Emmitt Smith, Roger Staubach, and Greg Ellis, plus Barbara McCoy, a 1979 Women's World Championship Basketball Team and South Oak Cliff alumni. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has declared January 22 "South Oak Cliff Day" and the city will host a parade in downtown Dallas.

Dallas to Atlanta train
There's a new transportation proposal that would make it easy to get from Dallas to Atlanta via Amtrak train. The proposal from Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and Kansas City Southern railways includes two new routes: New Orleans to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Meridian, Mississippi, to Dallas. Connecting these routes to the I-20 Corridor passenger rail route would connect Dallas to Atlanta, and thus the entire East Coast.

School superintendent resignations
Dallas ISD superintendent Michael Hinojosa is resigning. His last official day is December 31. He's held the position since 2015, but was previously in that role from 2005-2011. He's supposedly running for mayor of Dallas in 2023.

Fort Worth ISD superintendent Kent Scribner is also resigning. He plans to retire in 2022.

Omicron 1
Dallas County state courts have delayed civil jury trials until the end of January, and the state appellate court in Dallas has pushed back its return to in-person oral arguments once again in response to the current surge of COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant. The daily tally of cases has increased dramatically in the past few weeks; for example, on January 13 Dallas County Health and Human Services reported 5,833 new positive cases and 13 deaths.

Omicron 2
There are two new free COVID-19 drive thru testing locations in Dallas:

Owenwood Farm and Neighbor Space at 1451 John West Rd. Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 am-6 pm.
New Birth Baptist Church, 444 W. Ledbetter Dr., Dallas. Hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8 am-5 pm.

Residents are required to have an appointment and can sign up for testing at DOCSHealthTesting.com. There are no requirements for testing and results can be expected in 48 to 72 hours.

South Dallas crosswalks
Six intersections in South Dallas will soon sport red-and-white crosswalks featuring the phrase "All Black Lives Matter." The first has already been installed at 2800 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Other locations include Al Lipscomb Way & South Ervay Way; Al Lipscomb Way & South Harwood; Al Lipscomb Way & Malcolm X Blvd.; Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. & Colonial Avenue; and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. & Jackson Boulevard. There'll be an official unveiling on January 17 at 12:30 pm, hosted by Kirk Myers of Abounding Prosperity Inc., and Dallas City Council member Adam Bazaldua.

College scholarship contest
The "Don't Mess with Texas Scholarship Contest" is accepting applications for the 2022 school year. Any Texas high school senior currently attending public, private, or home school who is planning to attend an accredited Texas college or university in fall 2022 is eligible to apply. Judges will select winners based on the students' proven results in leading projects or events focused on educating communities about the importance of keeping our state clean and litter-free. Sponsored by Buc-ees and iHeart Media, the contest will award a total of $9,000 in scholarships in May 2022. Submit applications online at dontmesswithtexas.org by March 31 at 5 pm.

Fun little survey on why you hate composting so much
Turn Compost, a service company that picks up food scraps from restaurants, businesses, and residents, is seeking your opinion. The company is making a presentation at a national composting conference in Austin on food waste, and they need to offer some reasons why people won't compost. They've created a quick survey on Survey Monkey - only six questions, come on, it's easy - and are seeking feedback. Go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/5GDM9KB to anonymously share your anti-composting thoughts.

city-news-roundup politics

Pestilence News

New invasive pest in Texas is destroying grasses and pasture

TAMU

Mealyworm is small but damaging.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has issued an urgent alert to farmers to inspect their pastures for a newly detected and highly damaging pest: the pasture mealybug (Helicococcus summervillei).

According to a release from the Department of Agriculture (TDA), this invasive species, never before reported in North America, has been confirmed in multiple Texas counties and is already causing significant damage to pasture acreage across the southeast portion of the state.

The pasture mealybug causes “pasture dieback,” leaving expanding patches of yellowing, weakened, and ultimately dead turf.

This pest was first detected in Australia in 1928; its first detection in the Western Hemisphere occurred in the Caribbean between 2019 and 2020.

The TDA is working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to coordinate a rapid response and protect Texas producers.

Mealybug history
Although the mealybug is just now being spotted, researchers suspect it may have been introduced before 2022.

Since mid-April 2025, southern Texas pasture and hay producers have been reporting problems in their fields. These fields show grass patches becoming brown or necrotic, or patches that are completely dead. Originally, it was presumed that symptoms were caused by another mealybug called the Rhodes grass mealybug, which has been reported in the U.S. since 1942. However, further investigations confirm that it's this new pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei).

It has devastated millions of acres of grazing land in Australia and has since spread globally. Its rapid reproduction, hidden soil-level feeding, and broad host range make it a significant threat to pasture health and livestock operations.

MealybugTAMU

Adult females are approximately 2-5 mm long, covered in a white, waxy coating. They are capable of producing nearly 100 offspring within 24 hours, resulting in several generations per season. While adult females can live for up to 100 days, most damage is inflicted by the youngest nymphs, which feed on plant sap and inject toxic saliva that causes grass to yellow, weaken, and die.

“This is a completely new pest to our continent, and Texas is once again on the front lines,” Commissioner Miller says. “If the pasture mealybug spreads across Texas grazing lands like it has in eastern Australia, it could cost Texas agriculture dearly in lost productivity and reduced livestock capacity. TDA is working hand-in-hand with federal and university partners to respond swiftly and protect our producers from this unprecedented threat.”

Houston has a problem
The estimated impact area currently covers 20 counties, primarily in the Houston area, including: Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria, Goliad, Dewitt, Lavaca, Fayette, Jackson, Matagorda, Brazoria, Galveston, Wharton, Colorado, Austin, Washington, Burleson, Brazos, and Robertson. AgriLife entomologists have submitted a formal Pest Incident Worksheet documenting significant damage to pastures and hayfields in Victoria County.

Research trials are underway to determine the best integrated pest management options. Currently, there is no known effective labeled insecticide for pasture mealybug.

Affected plants include: Bermudagrass, Bahia grass, Johnsongrass, hay grazer (sorghum–sudangrass), St. Augustine grass, various bluestem species, and other tropical or subtropical grasses. Damage can occur in leaves, stems, and roots.

Symptoms:

Yellowing and discoloration of leaves within a week of infestation
Purpling or reddening of foliage
Stunted growth and drought stress despite rainfall
Poorly developed root systems
Dieback starting at leaf tips and progressing downward
Premature aging, making plants more vulnerable to pathogens

How to spot it

Scout regularly for mealybugs on grass leaves, stems, soil surface, leaf litter, and under cow patties
Focus on unmanaged areas such as fence lines, ungrazed patches, and roadsides
Look for fluffy, white, waxy, or “fuzzy” insects on blades and stems
If plants appear unhealthy and insects match this description, investigate further

“Early identification is critical, and we need every producer’s eyes on the ground,” Commissioner Miller added. “We are working diligently with our federal and state partners to determine how to best combat this novel threat and stop it in its tracks.”

If you observe suspicious symptoms or insects matching the descriptions above, contact TDA at 1-800-TELL-TDA immediately.

nature

City News Roundup

Composting company wants to hear your excuses and more Dallas news

Mom-and-pop restaurant chain Biscuit Bar closes all Dallas locations

Longtime Dallas restaurant Sevy's Grill to close after nearly 30 years

Dallas Crystal Charity Ball 2025 takes elegant expedition to South of France

Pestilence News

New invasive pest in Texas is destroying grasses and pasture