Five stories that have North Texas talking: A big weekend for a Dallas-themed movie; Greg Abbott's personal connection to the Texas gay marriage case; Allen ISD is closing its palatial stadium due to cracks; and more.
How will 鈥淒allas Buyers Club鈥� do at the Oscars on Sunday? The film has earned , including a nomination for best film. Matthew McConaughey is up for a nomination for actor in a leading role, while Jared Leto is in the running for actor in a supporting role. The film also earned nominations for film editing, original screenplay and makeup and hairstyling. The film portrays a Dallas electrician and hustler, Ron Woodroof, an HIV positive man in the 1980s who helps AIDS patients get the medication they need. 鈥淒allas Buyers Club鈥� was a big winner at the Golden Globes. McConaughey plays Woodroof, who decides to fight the death sentence the disease promised to those who contracted it in the 1980s. McConaughey dropped about 40 pounds for the role. The public radio show 鈥� the show interviewed William Waybourn was the president of the Dallas Gay Alliance in the 1980s. Woodroof was a volunteer there, and also received services through the center's clinic. Waybourn discussed Woodroof and the movie. NPR recently reported on the process of making the movie Last fall,
- What does Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott have in common with Mark Phariss, one of the plaintiffs who sued the state to challenge its gay marriage ban? They knew each other. And now the attorney general and Phariss, an attorney who lives in Plano with his long-time partner, are on opposite sides of Phariss told 四虎影院 that during law school at Vanderbilt, he discussed politics over dinner with Abbott and his wife. Phariss is a Democrat, Abbott a Republican. "Cecilia and I were, indeed, friends with Mark Phariss. We remember Mark from our law school days and his early days as a lawyer in San Antonio. 鈥� There are good, well-meaning people on both sides of this issue. This shows that Americans can in fact debate substantial issues without being disagreeable."
- One in three North Texans can鈥檛 weather a financial storm that lasts 90 days. The problem's known as asset poverty, A job loss, health emergency, even legal trouble is enough to plunge a third of our friends and neighbors into financial distress. is following four North Texas families on the financial edge. On Thursday night, 四虎影院 hosted a that explored asset poverty. We livestreamed the event -- The discussion will air as a special on 四虎影院-13 in March.
- The Allen school district is after extensive cracks were found in the building's concrete. School officials said Thursday that Eagle Stadium in Collin County would stay and possibly into the upcoming school year. Eagle Stadium opened two years ago amid heavy fanfare and national attention for its price tag and splashy facilities. It seats 18,000 and features a 38-foot wide high-definition video screen.
- Kathleen Sebelius, the Health and Human Services Secretary, is visiting Dallas once again Friday to announce local efforts underway to enroll people to get healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act. There will be DJs and food trucks. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Leta Andrews, the 76-year-old coach of the Lady Pirate basketball team at Granbury High School, is retiring at the end of the school year. Her career spans 51 years. Andrews scored 1,416 victories. She took 14 teams to the state tournament. Andrews became the winningest high school basketball coach ever on Dec. 7, 2010, Granbury ISD says. WFAA recently profiled her. 鈥淎s I look back at my career, I鈥檝e been very blessed that I had the opportunity to teach girls here in Granbury to love basketball the way I loved basketball in Granbury,鈥�
