Up To Speed

Texas temptation, Tastemaker anticipation and more stories that got Dallas talking

CultureMap Dallas gets national love, a local actress croons alongside a wicked popular Broadway diva, luxe wheels link two Texas cities, and one tasty competition are among the stories that have gotten your attention of late.

In this edition of "Up To Speed" sponsored by Cadillac, host Nicole Hickl dives into what you CultureMap junkies have been talking about to death. Which is fitting, given that one of these trending tales follows a North Texas femme fatale who may have gotten away with murder.

Nasty sex, bondage and bizarre twists — gee, who wants to read about that? Apparently 48 Hours, which worked with CultureMap on the recent episode dubbed "Temptation in Texas."

Watch the video above and race through the news, or gives these a click for more in-depth coverage:

CBS 48 Hours works with CultureMap Dallas on show about Michele Williams murder case by Jennifer Chininis
Dallas actress sings onstage with Broadway's Idina Menzel and nails it by Lindsey Wilson
Luxury motor coach rolls out plan to shuttle executives from Dallas to Austin by Claire St. Amant
Best neighborhood restaurants in Dallas bring comfort to Tastemaker Awards by Teresa Gubbins

Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Downtown Dallas

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

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