City News Roundup

Giraffes and bees give this week's Dallas news an animal planet theme

Animals figured highly in Dallas news.

Photo courtesy of Dallas Zoo

Animal stories were a top topic in Dallas, from a tragedy at the Dallas Zoo to bees on rooftops. Traditional city news was quiet, but that'll be back on track once the Dallas City Council returns from its summer break. Here's what happened in Dallas this week:

Kipenzi RIP
Another animal died at the Dallas Zoo: Kipenzi, the baby giraffe who drew international attention after her live birth was broadcast on The Animal Planet in April. The giraffe ran into the perimeter wall of her enclosure and died on July 28 after breaking three vertebrae in her neck. The Dallas Zoo said the death was a "fluke," not a staff error. Both the USDA and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums will look into the giraffe's death. In 2014, a lion at the zoo escaped its enclosure and attacked a staffer who was sent to the hospital; the incident was attributed to a staffer's mistake.

Rooftop bees
An Austin group named American Honey Bee Protection Agency was in Dallas this week installing colonies of bees on two rooftops: one on the roof of the Omni Hotel in Dallas, and the other on the roof of Central Market. The group's founder, Walter Schumacher, told NBC that the plan was to place potted plants and a rooftop garden to provide food for the restaurants and a place for the bees. The group formed eight years ago and is expanding into Dallas; it has five bee removal crews in Austin, two in San Antonio, two in Houston and two in South Texas near the Rio Grande Valley.

Ellis County arrest
On July 23, the SPCA of Texas seized 68 cruelly treated dogs, three cats and one bird from a property in Ellis County. Approximately 20 dogs were also found deceased at the Waxahachie house where Gayle Justice ran a boarding business. The SPCA of Texas Rescue and Investigations team concurred that it was in the animal's best interest to remove the animals, and the Ellis County Sheriff's Office arrested Justice on a Class A Misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.

Spraying again
The city continues its controversial practice of mosquito spraying, this time closer to the city center, in the 75204, 75212, 75215 and the 75248 zip codes of Dallas. The areas delineated below are scheduled for spraying on Sunday August 2 and Monday August 3, between 9 pm and 5 am each night.

3400 block of Hugo: City Place West on the north, Cedar Springs Road on the west, Lucille Street on the east and Ann Williams Street on the south
2900 block of MLK: Robert Cullum Blvd on the north, Logan Street on the west, Dallas Street on the east and Atlanta Street on the south.
3400 Pondrom Street: S Malcolm X Blvd on the north, Park Row Avenue on the west, Oakland Cemetery on the east and Colonial Avenue on the south.
3700 block of Bickers: Canada Drive on the north, Pluto Street on the west, Westmorland Road on the east and Singleton Road on the south
6600 block of Duffield: Shell Flower Lane on the north, Preston Road on the west, Hillcrest Road on the east and Brentfield Drive on the south.

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Flood Response

New relief fund launches for 2026 Texas Hill Country flood victims

People look out at flood on July 16, 2026 in Center Point, Texas

Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The same foundation that collected more than $60 million for the 2025 floods has launched a new fund for 2026.

Texans looking to support Hill Country neighbors affected by floods over the past few days can turn to the same organization they did for the July 2025 floods: The Community Foundation of the Hill Country has launched a new Texas Hill Country Flood Relief Fund that is accepting donations now.

The foundation emphasizes that the two funds are distinct (last year's was called the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund), so donors should note that their contributions will specifically go toward Hill Country residents affected by the current floods. The money raised will offer emergency assistance and long-term recovery support.

According to the Associated Press, nearly 1 trillion gallons of water fell on the three hardest-hit Texas counties over three days — enough to fill 1.5 million Olympic-sized swimming pools or supply 11 million homes for a year. First responders rushed to save people trapped in high waters Friday, as more heavy rain widened the danger from floods that have killed at least two people and left hundreds more in need of rescue.

Earlier in the week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared a disaster in 59 counties including Travis to help emergency services respond quickly.

Although many regional businesses, churches, and other groups organized donations for the 2025 floods, the Community Foundation was the main entity holding and distributing funds. The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund totaled more than $60 million by the end of that July.

"Our hearts break that the Texas Hill Country is once again facing catastrophic flooding. Just one year after the devastating July 2025 floods, many of our neighbors are again in harm's way," said Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country CEO Austin Dickson. "People from across Texas and around the world came together to help Kerr County begin the long road to recovery. As first responders and local and state officials continue their response efforts, the Community Foundation's role is to help ensure communities have the philanthropic resources they need to recover in the weeks, months and years ahead."