NEWS YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Registration Now Open for June 8 Carrollton Police Entrance Exam

Carrollton, Texas – Do you have what it takes? The City of Carrollton Police Department has opened registration for the next Civil Service exam, the first step in the time-honored process of becoming a public safety officer.

The exam will be administered at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 8 at Newman Smith High School (2335 N. Josey Lane).

Carrollton Police Chief Derick Miller said the department is seeking exceptional officers who put others first, have a proven leadership record, and have the ability to adapt to the constantly evolving demands associated with serving a growing and diverse community.

“Very few people earn the right to wear our badge,” Miller said. “The Carrollton Police Department has rigorous hiring, training, and performance standards which ensure that we hire only the very best. We want officers who are dedicated to carrying out CPD’s mission to proactively protect our community while treating everyone we encounter with professionalism, dignity, and respect.”

The department provides extensive, paid training, state-of-the-art equipment designed to protect and serve the community, generous compensation (starting salary is $62,336.76), and numerous resources for its officers.

Those taking the exam will need to bring their driver license, completed notarized waiver of liability emailed with registration confirmation, and their DD Form 214, if applicable. Applicants will run the physical agility course later in the hiring process.

For more information about the department and officer qualifications, or to register for the exam, visit cityofcarrollton.com/police.

Dallas Water Utilities crews respond to Sanitary Sewer Overflows
(Released May 9, 2019)

Dallas – The Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) Department is currently monitoring and performing cleanup activities at several sanitary sewer overflow locations throughout the City as a result of heavy rainfall that occurred on May 8, 2019.

The East Bank drainage basin experienced overflows that exceeded 100,000 gallons. DWU is complying with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulatory requirements related to sanitary sewer overflows.  DWU customers should not be concerned when using water, as at no time was the City’s water system affected by these sewer overflows.

Although there is no danger to the water supply, the public is reminded to avoid contact with waste material, soil, or water in any of the affected areas. If the public comes into contact with waste material, soil, or water potentially affected by the spills, they should bathe and wash clothes thoroughly. Persons using private drinking water supply wells located within 1/2-mile of the spill site or within the potentially affected area should use only water that has been distilled or boiled at a rolling boil for at least one minute for all personal uses including drinking, cooking, bathing, and tooth brushing. Individuals with private water wells should have their well water tested and disinfected, if necessary, prior to discontinuing distillation or boiling. Persons who purchase water from a public water supply may contact their water supply distributor to determine if the water is safe for personal use.

Crown Castle Partners with Dallas Parks and Friends of Oak Cliff Parks to Revitalize Kiest Park

Dallas, Texas – Crown Castle, the nation’s largest provider of shared communications infrastructure, hosted a day of service on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, as part of its Connected by Good community service initiative. On a single day, over 1,880 employees helped revitalize 22 parks in 21 cities, for a total of 9,500 volunteer hours spent enhancing the communities where employees live and work.

In Dallas, 35 local Crown Castle employees rolled up their sleeves at Kiest Memorial Gardens and Nature Preserve to remove weeds, plant, and trim and remove brush.

“Our employees are enthusiastic about community service, and every year they look forward to our volunteer day dedicated to cleaning up parks across the country. We are excited to announce that Connected by Good has expanded, and throughout the year, we now work with schools and libraries to provide access to education and technology in underserved communities. Additionally, we support first responder organizations to help improve public safety in our communities,” said Jay Brown, president and CEO of Crown Castle.

Removed weeds, planted, and trimmed and removed brush at Kiest Memorial Gardens and Nature Preserve (project completed May 9 due to inclement weather)

AARP Applauds Texas House Approval of Prescription Drug Price Transparency Bill – AARP Texas Director Urges Senate Passage of HB 2536

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas House of Representatives has taken a major step to address the skyrocketing cost of prescription drug prices that are making it harder for Texans to afford the medicines they need.

The House approved House Bill 2536 by Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress) on a unanimous, bipartisan vote Friday, sending the measure to the Texas Senate for its consideration. Earlier in the week, the bill was substantially revised under an amendment by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) that makes it one of the strongest drug price transparency measures in the nation.

House Bill 2536, as amended, requires certain drug-cost information to be provided – and then shared with the public on a state website – from drug manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers (also known PBMs) and health benefit plans. Specifically, drug manufacturers would inform the Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner if the wholesale price of certain medicines increase more than 10 percent in any given year or more than 40 percent over five years. Within 60 days of reporting the information, the HHSC would post the data to a public website.

AARP Texas Director Bob Jackson said the updated bill would give consumers much-needed insights, such as how much of a drug’s cost is owed to spending on advertising and marketing, and how much goes into research and development.

“The Texas House of Representatives deserves a round of applause for passing House Bill 2536, which will provide older Texans and other consumers the information they need to plan for and to understand drug price increases,” said Jackson. “Drug price information allows consumers to combat the high cost of the medicines they need. I strongly urge the Texas Senate to support this bill and for Governor Abbott to sign it into law.”

Empire’ to get 1 more season on Fox amid schedule shake-up

By LYNN ELBER

NEW YORK (AP) — “Empire” will return for its final season this fall on Fox — with Jussie Smollett a question mark — and should count itself lucky.

Fox, the lowest-rated network among the big four broadcasters, is hitting the reset button for the 2019-20 season by canceling eight shows and adding 10 new ones.

“Empire” companion drama “Star” is among the goners as the network makes room for an eclectic mix of wrestling, three new animated comedies and a “9-1-1” spinoff starring Rob Lowe.

“We are turning the final season of ‘Empire’ into a large television event,” Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier told a teleconference Monday. “One of the great benefits of announcing a final season is that you actually allow the fans to lean in and have the ending they deserve.”

Collier dodged questions about Smollett’s future with the show. The actor was accused of staging an attack last January in which he said two masked men beat him, hurled racist and homophobic slurs at him, doused him with a chemical substance and put a rope around his neck. Criminal charges were dropped but the uproar has yet to subside, making Smollett a continued publicity liability for Fox.

When pressed, Collier said there is an option to include him in the series “but at this point we have no plans for that.”

A spokesman for Smollett didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.