🌱 New Dallas Task Force For Homelessness + Rapist Sentenced 50 Years

Hey, everybody. I'm back in your inbox this morning with the most important things happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine. High: 53 Low: 34.

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Here are the top three stories in Dallas today:

1. Yesterday, Feb. 16, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced the formation of a new task force addressing homelessness. The new volunteer, independent group of local homeless service advocates has until Jun. 15 to assess current policies, research other plans to address homelessness, and issue a report of recommendations to the mayor's office. (The Dallas Morning News)
2. A Dallas child rapist who repeatedly targeted a seven-year-old and admitted to sexual contact with four additional victims, including a one-year-old toddler and a special-needs child, was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison on Feb. 15. Luis Humberto Rodriguez, 30, was sentenced to 30 years for the production of child pornography and 20 years for transportation of child pornography, with the sentences to run consecutively. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
3. Securus Technologies and Honest Jobs are partnering to launch a new employment program for people with criminal records in Dallas. The program, launching in eight correctional facilities, will help people with a criminal record find secure good-paying jobs in the labor market through the new website. A Securus spokesperson said, "Americans with criminal records have long been excluded from the labor market, and Securus is working to provide thousands of these Americans with access to the Honest Jobs platform in an effort to reduce recidivism and alleviate national labor shortages." (CW33 Dallas)

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Today in Dallas:

• Cultural Awareness At Wyly Theatre (7:30 PM)
• Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida At The Majestic Theatre (7:30 PM)
• Colter Wall with special guest Vincent Neil Emerson At The Factory in Deep Ellum (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Bojangles fast food chain is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth! The North Carolina franchise announced it will open two shops in the area. (CW33 Dallas)
• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area home values are on the rise! The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area had 17 cities in the top 50 of the fastest-growing home prices in Texas listed by Stacker. (Dentonrc.com)
• Adrian Breedlove was sentenced to ten years in state prison for a car crash that killed Dallas police officer Jamie Givens. Breedlove pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter of a peace officer earlier this month as part of a plea deal. (FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.