Five stories that have North Texas talking: Guinness World Records recognized the 30-year-old Siamese as the world鈥檚 oldest feline; Fort Worth superintendent won鈥檛 resign over bathroom policy; what鈥檚 next for the class of 鈥�17?; and more.
A Siamese cat from Mansfield, Texas has indubitably lived his nine lives to the fullest, celebrating his 30th birthday on March 26. That accomplishment earned Scooter the Guinness World Record on Tuesday, surpassing the previous title-holder, 26-year-old Corduroy of Sisters, Oregon.
Although Scooter keeps busy traveling (He has visited 45 states.), , he maintains a life of simple pleasures: staying active, getting blow-dried after a bath and snacking on chicken every other day. Although he鈥檚 had his struggles 鈥� losing his mother at four weeks of age and undergoing medical treatment since breaking his leg in 2014 鈥� he鈥檚 10-15 years beyond the .
Scooter鈥檚 longevity has become part of a Texas feline legacy 鈥攖he was Creme Puff, 38, of Austin, who died in 2005. . [Guinness World Records, The Associated Press]
- Fort Worth superintendent says he will not resign per Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick鈥檚 request over district鈥檚 bathroom policy. Kent Scribner directed the employees of Fort Worth Independent School District to "acknowledge the gender identity that each student consistently and uniformly asserts," permitting them to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. : 鈥淧atrick's call for Scribner's resignation comes during an increasingly tense battle over rights of transgender people across the country. North Carolina and the U.S. Department of Justice sparred over the state's House Bill 2, which would prohibit people from using public restrooms that do not align with their biological sex. Patrick and other conservative leaders have pledged to pursue a similar law during next year's legislative session in Texas.鈥� . [The Texas Tribune]
- Junior year is pivotal 鈥� it鈥檚 when high school students start deciding what comes after graduation. For Joel Luera, the decision came early. He currently takes college courses at Eastfield College as a part of W.W. Samuell Early College High School in Dallas. Luera鈥檚 always been a standout student 鈥� something 四虎影院鈥檚 Stella Ch谩vez has known since 2013 when she started reporting on his journey from eighth grade to senior year as a part of the ongoing project, Class of 鈥�17. But this year hasn鈥檛 been easy for Luera. Learn why in the new series, 鈥�?鈥� [四虎影院]
- In 2015, 102 people 鈥� the most ever 鈥� were killed in traffic accidents on Austin streets. There are several factors contributing to these crashes, like speed, distraction and impaired driving, but the city鈥檚 not sure why last year鈥檚 surge in fatalities happened. KUT鈥檚 project 鈥溾�� will report on what the city is doing to address the main contributing factors and make Austin safer. thus far, including stories about traveling on foot, combating homelessness and establishing a Vision Zero plan. [KUT]
- Watch a Loveland firemen save 10 ducklings trapped in a storm drain. It was a slow day for The Loveland Fire Rescue Authority, but one mother was having the most harrowing experience of her life, so the team took the call. captured by Loveland resident Don Oft of the Mother鈥檚 Day rescue. [WFAA]
