Health authorities are closely watching an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a new strain of coronavirus known as COVID-19. Here are the answers to key questions about the outbreak: What is the virus? Scientists have identified the virus as a novel, or new, coronavirus. The name comes from the Latin word for crowns or halos, which coronaviruses resemble under …

Friday will be warmer and breezy with plenty of sunshine. Highs will be in the mid to upper 70s. Much of the weekend will be dry. However, a cold front moving across the area may trigger a few showers or storms late Saturday into Saturday night. A few storms may become strong to severe with hail and gusty winds. Sunday …

Three Dallas campuses will exchange their Confederate namesakes next fall for new names honoring a civil rights activist, a Texas-born sculptor and the Bishop Arts neighborhood. Trustees voted unanimously Thursday night to rename John Ireland Elementary, Sidney Lanier Expressive Arts Vanguard and John H. Reagan Elementary. All three men have ties to the Confederacy. The meeting lacked the usual controversy that …

A suspect is in custody three months after a fatal shooting in the Rylie area of southeastern Dallas. Floyd Lee Gatson III, 25, was arrested on a murder charge Wednesday in connection with the slaying of Anthony Williams. Officers were called the afternoon of Dec. 23 to a home in the 14300 block of Skyfrost Drive, where they found Williams, 27, …

A Coppell man who fraudulently obtained more than $17 million in Payroll Protection Program funds last year — which he used to buy multiple homes and an assortment of luxury vehicles — faces up to 30 years in prison after his conviction on federal charges this week. Dinesh Kumar Sah, 55, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of wire fraud …

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden downplayed the recent surge of migrants at the border, using his first formal news conference on Thursday to assail Republicans for “sick” and “un-American” efforts to undermine voting rights. “I make no apologies for ending programs that did not exist before Trump became president,” Biden said, portraying the policy of “ripping babies from mothers’ arms” …

AUSTIN –– The Texas House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety Thursday is taking up the George Floyd Act along with numerous police reform and firearm bills. The two hot-button issues, which have been front and center over the last year –– and especially the last week with the shootings in Boulder, Colorado, and Atlanta –– are expected to …

Cases of COVID-19 climbed to 27,167 in Irving, making it among the hardest-hit cities in Dallas County. In total, 192 Irving residents have died from this virus. Newly reported cases bring the county’s total 289,198, including 251,214 confirmed and 37,984 probable probable. The death toll is 3,434. Starting Wed., March 10, Dallas County residents and all other Texans will no …

ERCOT, the operator of the Texas electric grid, has been a problem child since the state’s electricity market was deregulated at the turn of the century. When it comes to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, incompetence, lack of accountability and oversight is nothing new. If you know your history, you shouldn’t be surprised about what happened in last month’s …

Dallas County reported 20 more COVID-19 deaths and 296 new coronavirus cases Thursday. The latest victims were mostly in their 60s or older but also included an Irving woman in her 30s who was found dead at her home. Seven were men and 13 were women, and all 20 had underlying high-risk health conditions. Nine of the victims were Dallas …