News You Ought to Know
to Popular Demand, The Perot Museum of Nature and Science Extends The Art of the Brick Traveling Exhibition Until Labor Day (September 2)
DALLAS (July 29, 2019) – Visitors will get a few extra weeks to check out what CNN has named one of the world’s must-see exhibitions. Due to popular demand, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is extending The Art of the Brick traveling exhibition – which features recreated and original artistic masterpieces made of millions of LEGO bricks – through Labor Day (Sept. 2). The critically acclaimed exhibition touts the largest and most elaborate display of works constructed using only LEGO bricks. Created by internationally renowned contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya, The Art of the Brick is designed to inspire ingenuity and creativity with original pieces and re-imagined versions of some of history’s most famous works of art, including Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Michelangelo’s David and Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Presented in English and Spanish, the exhibition requires a surcharge for members and non-members.
Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot Re: Hemp/Marijuana Policy
(Dallas, Texas) – For more than a decade, the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office has required a laboratory analysis prior to presenting a drug case to the grand jury for indictment. This policy protects innocent people from being wrongfully convicted. As your District Attorney, I have the responsibility to protect the rights of our citizens and ensure that people are not prosecuted for possessing substances that are legal. After the recent change in law (HB 1325) the most notable difference between the unlawful possession of marijuana and the lawful possession of hemp is the concentration of THC present in the substance. The concentration of THC is a statutory element of an offense that we must prove to establish a person’s guilt. Our office will not charge a person with a marijuana offense without a laboratory report stating that the substance has an illegal concentration of THC. HB 1325 was not confusing to the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. We thank Governor Greg Abbott for taking the time and effort to clarify what he obviously thought, and we agree, was a clearly written bill at the time he signed it into law. John Creuzot Dallas County Criminal District Attorney
Death penalty sought for man linked to 19 deaths
DALLAS (AP) — Prosecutors have served notice that they’ll seek the death penalty for a Dallas man linked to 19 deaths.
In court papers filed this week, Dallas County prosecutors say they’ll seek the ultimate penalty if jurors find Billy Chemirmir guilty of capital murder.
Chemirmir is a Kenyan citizen who has been living illegally in the United States. He has been in custody since March 2018 and is charged in the deathsof 12 women. Two victims were residents of The Tradition-Prestonwood, an independent living facility in Dallas. Separate lawsuits have been filed , alleging there were seven other victims at The Tradition.
Police have said Chemirmir posed as a maintenance worker or health care provider and stole jewelry and other valuables from his victims.
His attorney has said Chemirmir maintains he’s innocent.
