A Dallas police officer who has been on paid leave for more than three years was demoted for force used during 2020 social justice protests, The Dallas Morning News learned Thursday. Sr. Cpl. Ryan Mabry was demoted to a civilian employee status by Chief Daniel Comeaux last week for his actions during downtown Dallas demonstrations after a Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd. In other news, thousands of Texas teachers will see pay raises in 2026 after a record-breaking, $8.5 billion school funding bill cleared a final legislative hurdle Thursday; a former Little Elm ISD custodian was arrested Wednesday and is facing charges of continuous sex abuse of a child, a first-degree felony; and it’s that time of the year where cosplayers, video game lovers and pop culture aficionados take over the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center for Fan Expo Dallas.

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SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington and Evan Grant discuss [00:30] the Stars’ 3-1 deficit in the Western Conference finals, leaving them on the brink of elimination again. Would Pete DeBoer pay the price for the first team to make three straight conference titles without advancing? Kevin and Evan discuss the possibilities and what DeBoer has to delay vacation. [20:48] The guys agree the Rangers are on the clock to be buyers or sellers but argue over what they’d do in the outfield if Alejandro Osuna continues to play like he has since being called up. [56:50] And the sooner the Wings move to Dallas, the better the chance the Paige Bueckers effect becomes an actual thing. 

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Need tips as grilling season sets in? We've got you covered with advice from a local chef. Think of it as grilling 101. The Dallas Morning News food team also discusses classic burger spots in Dallas-Fort Worth.

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Southwest Airlines is staying at Dallas Love Field through at least 2040. On Wednesday, the City Council cleared the way for a 12-year extension for the Dallas-based carrier, which ensures it will continue to dominate the airport. Southwest will continue to use 18 of the airport’s 20 gates, with the last two operated by Atlanta-based Delta. In other news, in a challenge to the planned expansion of the McKinney National Airport, a North Texas conservation group is asking a federal court to review the state’s recent finding that further airport development won’t significantly harm the environment; Dallas updated its bicycle plan this week for the first time in more than a decade, in a move celebrated by cycling advocates. The plan, unanimously adopted by the Dallas City Council Wednesday, is the first update since 2011. It offers a renewed look at where bike facilities could be installed in the city, updates design standards for facilities and recommends a set of priority projects; and Dallas Mavericks CEO Rick Welts is holding firm to the franchise’s vision of a new arena and entertainment district within Dallas. And it definitely won’t include the Dallas Stars.

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Evan and John break down a 1-5 road trip and what the addition of Alejandro Osuna might mean in both the short- and long-term. Jake Burger joins the guys to explain the role his minor league assignment played, if there is divine intervention involved in his turnaround and exactly how as a pro player he ended up playing in a college league during the pandemic. And finally, John cracks open the archives to tell a Billy Martin story, which usually involves fisticuffs, and the number of times the Rangers appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Because at one point, that was a big deal.

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A proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution that would have denied bail to alleged repeat offenders of certain violent crimes failed in the House. The amendment on Tuesday fell just three votes shy of the 100-vote super majority needed to pass proposed amendments to the constitution. In other news, Grapevine police and Texas Game Wardens have arrested a woman suspected of driving a jet ski involved in a fatal crash on Grapevine Lake over the weekend. Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez was identified as the suspect in the death of 18-year old Ava Moore; amid an outbreak of measles cases in Texas, Collin County officials on Tuesday warned the public of exposures at four different locations in McKinney last week. In a news release, Collin County Health Care Services said there was a measles exposure between May 19 and May 22 at the following locations: 

*24 Hour Fitness, 1601 N. Hardin Blvd.

*Moviehouse & Eatery, 8450 State Highway 121

*Cubana Grille, 4051 S. Custer Road, Ste. 1160

*Market Street, 6100 Eldorado Parkway 

They said the timing of the exposures vary, ranging from 3:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anyone who has been to these four locations during those times should monitor for symptoms through June 12; a nd the Dallas Stars’ backs are officially against the wall. The Stars dropped their third straight game in their Western Conference finals series against the Edmonton Oilers, falling 4-1 at Rogers Place Tuesday night. The Stars now trail 3-1 in the series. Game 5 will be in Dallas Thursday night and the Stars will need to win three straight to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

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Co-hosts Tom Leppert and Kyle Waldrep interview former Dallas police chief David Brown about crime, challenges in policing, and his darkest moments.

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Senate Bill 6’s so-called “kill switch” provision, which would give the Electric Reliability Council of Texas the power to shut off power to large consumers during power grid emergencies, has faced the most attention in a substantial legislative proposal designed to address issues facing the ERCOT power grid. The bill passed 117-24. In other news, Texas public schools are on the verge of garnering a record-breaking increase in state funding after the Senate approved a wide-ranging finance bill on Friday; the city of Dallas is hosting an Expedited Passport Day for residents who need to obtain or renew their passports. The event will take place on Thursday, May 29, in the Flag Room on the sixth floor of Dallas City Hall from 9 a.m. to noon. Residents must register in advance and choose a 15-minute time slot. It takes two to three weeks to get the passport through the expedited process. The cost for adults seeking their passports for the first time is $225. It’s $190 to renew and $195 for minors. These prices already include the $60 fee for expedited processing. Payments will only be accepted via credit or debit card or money order. Cash is not accepted. All passport applicants, including minors, must be present; and an effort that would force some of Texas’ most iconic foods and drinks — including Dr Pepper, Blue Bell Ice Cream and Buc-ee’s Famous Beaver Nuggets — to change recipes or label their products as “not recommended for human consumption” was decisively rejected by the Texas House on Sunday.

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A bill requiring classroom displays of the Ten Commandments in public schools passed the Texas House on Sunday. The 82-46 vote sends the proposal back to the Senate before it goes to Gov. Greg Abbott. In other news, Texas is on the verge of banning the use of nondisclosure agreements to silence sexual abuse survivors after a key House vote Sunday. The ban would prevent NDAs from being used to prevent a survivor of sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, human trafficking or child sexual abuse from disclosing their abuse to others; a woman turned herself into police Wednesday following a fatal wrong-way crash in South Dallas earlier this month, police said; and the Dallas Stars now find themselves in a 2-1 hole after a 6-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman each scored a pair of goals and Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner made 31 saves. It marked the first time the Stars dropped back-to-back playoff games since this matchup against Edmonton last year. Game four of the series will be Tuesday in Edmonton. 

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Plainclothes federal agents detained several people this week at the immigration court in downtown Dallas, continuing a pattern seen at courts across the country. In other news, across the food industry in Dallas-Fort Worth, business owners describe a sense of uncertainty and concern not felt since the pandemic. Some food businesses, both large and small, have been forced to deal with massive swings in the cost of Chinese imports, as tariffs see-sawed from 145% to 30%; a proposal allowing a period for praying and reading religious texts in Texas public schools cleared a key vote Thursday; and Tom Cruise surprised Dallas moviegoers Thursday at advance screenings of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. He appeared at the Cinemark on Webb Chapel Road and the AMC in NorthPark Center.

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