Texas Inmates Will Get Computer Tablets In Transition To Freedom

Good morning, Dallas! It's Saturday, Sept. 18.

Your Headlines: Soon, Inmates at Texas prisons will have limited access to the internet and email as they're provided free tablets to help them transition back into society.

After spending 2020 in lockdown, Big Tex is back at his 55-ft. perch to welcome visitors from around the world when the State Fair of Texas opens next week. The only difference? This year, he's masked.

And finally, see how "Girls in Aviation Day" seeks to close the gender gap between flyboys and ladies. (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

Are you a local business owner or marketer in Dallas? Our premium local sponsorships will keep you at the top of inboxes around town every morning. Contact us here for the lowdown.

First, today's weather: Humid throughout the day. High: 94 Low: 73.

Here are the top stories in Dallas today:

1. In Dallas-Fort Worth, the median home price is dropping for first time this year while the number of sales also sinks. (Dallas Business Journal)
2. An upcoming summit is looking for "a holistic approach" to end hunger locally and elsewhere. (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)
3. What's local? DART is changing up its bus routes — and we have more local news. (CultureMap Dallas)
4. Operation Pegasus has resulted in dozens of arrests and more than 100 guns seized in Dallas.(FOX 4 Dallas)
5. Does your child have social anxiety? Here's how one Dallas ISD school is focusing on students' emotional needs. (WFAA.com)

Today in Dallas:

• TMEA Region 30 Jazz Auditions - Saginaw High School (All Day).
• Band - HEB Drumline Contest @ Pennington Field (2 p.m.).
• DHJ Cross Country Paschal Invitational Athletic Performance Ranch Fort Worth (7:30 a.m.).
• Wildcat Band Corp. Fundraiser: KHS Wildcat Band Garage Sale, KHS PAC (7 a.m.).
• Choir All State Round 1 Auditions @ LD Bell HS (8 a.m.).

Dallas Patch Notebook

• Dallas Mavericks: "Don’t love your boss? We can’t relate. #NationalHugYourBossDay" (Instagram)
• Children's Health: "Born 15 days apart, Carlos and Harrison received heart transplants within two months of each other, and since then, the unique life experience created a lasting bond. The families met last spring in a break room at our Dallas campus." (Instagram)
• UT Dallas: "| Through Sept. 27, students who choose to voluntarily participate in our Vaccine Incentive Program will receive $125 direct deposited to their personal account." (Instagram)
• runDallas: "The BMW Dallas Marathon began in 1971 when Tal Morrison placed a $25 advertisement in Runner’s World asking runners from all over the country to come to Dallas to participate in a 26.2 mile race. 82 runners arrived at Dallas White Rock Lake." (Instagram)
• North Texas Food Bank: "A challenge as large as hunger requires the whole community get involved in finding the solution, and NTFB Peanut Butter Drive is a great way to do this." (Instagram)

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Events:

• Lakewood Shopping Center Block Party (September 18)
• ZingerZ Clean Comedy Show (Family-Friendly) (September 18)
• YTA Insights—A Journey Into the World of Classical Music, Ep. 3 (September 19)
• Save the Date - Hollydays Market of Plano! (September 24)
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Job listings:

• Remote Marketing Assistant Needed - One Time Easy Job (Details)
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Lost & found:

• Lost Male Neutered Brindle Boxer. Reward if found $1000.00 (Details)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update. If you're liking these newsletters, consider bringing some more friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Kevin Phinney

About me: Kevin Phinney has lived and worked as a writer and editor in Austin, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seattle and New York City. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and was raised in El Paso. Phinney attended college in Austin. He has done television work as a reporter and commentator, and is a former host of a weekday drive-time radio show called "Kevin & Kevin in the Morning" on KGSR-FM (now known as Austin City Limits Radio). He is also the author of "Souled American, " a book tracking race relations in America through music. It was published by BILLBOARD Books, and is often used in college classrooms across the country.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Dallas Daily? You can email me at kevin.phinney@patch.com.