RIP Eddie

Longtime Texas Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson dies at 88

Eddie Bernice Johnson

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Longtime U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, a Democrat from Texas who served the 30th Congressional District for 30 years, died on December 31. She was 88.

Her son D. Kirk Johnson posted the news on Facebook, stating "I am heartbroken to share the news that my mother, Eddie Bernice Johnson, has passed away. She was a remarkable and loving mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother, as well as a trailblazer and public servant. While we mourn the loss of an extraordinary woman, we celebrate her life and legacy. She will be deeply missed. Funeral services are pending."

The Congresswoman's death drew statements from local and national political leaders including President Joe Biden, who praised her "immense courage" and called her "an icon and mentor to generations of public servants, through whom her legacy of resilience and purpose will endure."

DART Board of Directors Chair Gary A. Slagel called her "an invaluable advocate for and partner to DART since her time as a Texas State Representative in 1972," while DART president & CEO Nadine S. Lee said that "DART was extremely fortunate to have her as our champion in the U.S. House of Representatives during most of the agency’s history."

Johnson assisted in helping DART win several funding grant agreements for the Red Line, Blue Line, and Green Line as they created and expanded the light rail system, as well as a $60 million grant that went towards the Platform Extensions Project, allowing DART to increase passenger loads on their busiest and oldest light rail lines.

Prior to Congress, she served in the Texas legislature. She retired in January 2023, and was succeeded by State Rep. Jasmine Crockett.

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E-Cigarette News

Dallas City Council places restrictions on vaping in public

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Man vaping

Vaping will now be banned exactly like smoking, thanks to a new ordinance from the Dallas City Council.

At their December 11 meeting, the council passed an ordinance to ban vaping in all the same areas where smoking is not allowed. It'll go into effect on December 11, 2025 — giving everyone a year to get into compliance.

Proposed by City of Dallas Environmental Commission (EVC) and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability (OEQS), the ordinance amends the definition of “smoking” in the Dallas City Code to include the use of vaping devices.

The ordinance does not ban vaping — it only bans where you can vape: no vaping in all indoor and enclosed spaces; within 15 feet of building entrances; and on park property. The ordinance also bans marijuana smoking in those same places.

In addition, the amendment requires restaurants, hotels, fitness centers and other businesses to update their signage to clearly state that both smoking and electronic smoking devices are prohibited.

The ordinance already earned widespread support from health organizations such as the Dallas County Health and Human Services, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association. These organizations, along with the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Surgeon General, have all raised concerns about the health risks of direct and second-hand exposure to vaping aerosols, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and older adults.

Dallas is not the first city to impose such a ban: San Antonio enacted a similar ban in October. Theirs goes into effect on January 1, 2025.

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