Proud of our girl

CultureMap Dallas managing editor Claire St. Amant receives Philbin Award forexcellence in legal reporting

CultureMap Dallas managing editor has had a pretty big day. Today we published her exclusive four-part interview with Parkland whistleblower Dr. Larry Gentilello — a story that hasn’t been told before now. Claire spent five months researching and writing this story. Gentilello had to wait five years to share it.

In related news, our ace investigative reporter was honored today with a Philbin Award for her coverage of the ESD sex scandal, which she wrote about for Preston Hollow People and its blog. The story also ran on the cover of D Magazine in October 2011.

Claire found out about the news on, ironically, the blog where she reported the story.

The Philbin Awards honor excellence in legal reporting that contributes to the public’s understanding of the legal system. The Philbin Awards are given in the following categories: metropolitan or statewide newspaper: feature story; metropolitan or statewide newspaper: spot news; metropolitan or statewide newspaper: series; suburban newspaper: news or feature articles; magazine article(s); television and radio; and electronic media.

Claire won in the category of electronic media. According to a statement from the Dallas Bar Association, “She prepared a unique, real-time blog that kept readers up-to-date on the controversial Episcopal School of Dallas trial.” Claire was the first reporter on the scene for that trial, which eventually was covered by other outlets, including the Dallas Morning News.

When selecting the winners, judges considered educational value, accuracy, resourcefulness and “the journalist’s initiative in pursuing the story and the story’s contribution to public debate.” Fellow Philbin Award recipients are Ginger Allen, Lisa Blegen, Jack Douglas, Mike Lozano and Daniel Penz from KTVT/CBS 11, who took home the grand prize for “Deaths at Dawson Jail,” an in-depth report on the medical standards of care at the Dallas jail.

Michael J. Mooney of D Magazine won in the magazine category for “Could You Forgive the Man Who Shot You in the Face,” an article about a Dallas man who went on a revenge killing spree days after 9/11 and one of the survivors who, surprisingly, went on to lobby on behalf of the man’s execution.

The Dallas Bar has been presenting the Philbin Awards annually since 1983. Winners in each category receive a $750 award, which begs the question: Where is Claire taking us to celebrate?

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Sky's the limit

Futuristic air taxis are taking test flights over Dallas-Fort Worth

Photo courtesy of TXDot

Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport served as the launchpad for a statewide air taxi pilot program.

By 2029, Dallas-Fort Worth skies could be buzzing with air taxis, much like they are with drones today.

Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport served as the launchpad for a statewide pilot program that could result in air taxis, self-piloted planes, and vertical take-off-and-landing aircraft permanently buzzing across the skies of Texas.

To kick off the "Project Nexus" pilot program in Texas, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, and Texas Department of Transportation officials attended an event Thursday, September 10 at Fort Worth Alliance. It was the first demonstration in Texas of next-generation aircraft under the pilot program.

Texas is the sixth state to participate in the program.

Air taxi service on the radar for Dallas
The federal government has teamed up with aviation companies BETA Technologies and Joby Aviation as well as the Texas Department of Transportation to develop regional air taxi service in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and eventually Houston.

Roger Venables, Fort Worth’s aviation director, told CultureMap in January that he foresees regular air taxi service becoming a reality in the next five years.

On Saturday, September 12, a Joby-made electric air taxi will take a roundtrip flight between Fort Worth Alliance and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport to test flight operations.

Joby says Saturday’s mission will be part of a five-day test involving Fort Worth Alliance and DFW Airport flights, and flights over the Fort Worth Stockyards, Toyota Motor North America’s Plano headquarters, and other sites.

A new facility at Fort Worth Alliance will be Joby’s long-term home for regional flight operations.

Building a 'framework' for electric aircraft
TxDOT said Project Nexus is aimed at creating “a scalable system” to connect urban areas, rural communities, and neighboring states as air mobility technology advances.

In a TxDOT release, Marc Williams, the agency’s executive director, said the pilot program will “build a framework for how electric aircraft could one day connect people, goods, and communities across the state.”

Three-phase project will test flight capabilities
Initial flights in the third-year pilot program won’t carry passengers, according to TxDOT. Instead, the flights will gather data, validate air travel routes, and help improve the safety of air mobility technology.

The first phase of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Project Nexus will feature piloted aircraft such as helicopters and fixed-wing planes. CultureMap previously reported Plano-based VertiPorts by Atlantic, which develops takeoff and landing sites for airplane-helicopter hybrids, would be part of Project Nexus.

The second phase will involve testing airborne medical and cargo logistics. This includes transporting critical medical supplies or donor organs between rural and urban hospitals in the Austin and San Antonio areas.

In the third and final phase, passengers will fly aboard air taxis across the Texas Triangle. Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio anchor the triangle.

“In Texas, we don’t wait for the future to arrive, we build it,” Cruz said in the TxDOT release. “The Lone Star State is pushing the boundaries by testing the next generation of aircraft through Project Nexus.”

“These technologies will connect communities, expand access to jobs and services, and strengthen supply chains,” the senator added. “What starts in Texas will help shape the future of aviation throughout the entire country.”

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