Dallas

Local food banks are struggling with the strain of backed-up supply chains, inflated grocery prices and increasing gas prices. 

Inflation is at a 30-year high, and the cost of the major grocery store food groups has risen more than 5% in the past year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Why it matters: Demand for assistance at the North Texas Food Bank is expected to spike during the next two months. 

Details: During an average year, the food bank serves 97 million meals. Last fiscal year, the food bank served 125 million meals. 

North Texas Food Bank spent about $30 million purchasing food in the fiscal year that ended in June, up from the $6 million it typically spends. 

What they’re saying: "Everything we are purchasing right now, you better believe we are seeing the impact of the supply chain issues and the gas costs," food bank CEO Trisha Cunningham told Axios. 

Meanwhile, the pandemic didn’t just affect need. Volunteer numbers have also dropped. 

Only about 9,300 people volunteered at the food bank last fiscal year. An average of 40,000 people usually volunteer each year. 

Of note: About 800,000 people are food insecure in the 13 counties the North Texas Food Bank serves. That translates to one in six people and one in five children. 

"That’s really unacceptable," Cunningham said. 

What’s next: The food bank and UNT Dallas will be distributing food Saturday. 

The mobile food bank is open from 9am-noon. People can get in line at 7am at 7300 University Hills Blvd., in Dallas. 

How to help: Volunteer opportunities can be found at ntfb.org. 

Food banks struggle with supply chain delays, inflated grocery costs

Demand for assistance at the North Texas Food Bank is expected to spike during the next two months.

Illustration of an senior citizen holding a small bag of groceries 

Local food banks are struggling with the strain of backed-up supply chains, inflated grocery prices and increasing gas prices. <ul><li>Inflation is at a <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="30-year high" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/consumer-price-index-october-inflation-60151fa5-0191-4b8b-9c8a-5fc43e1a47ba.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiospm&amp;stream=top" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/consumer-price-index-october-inflation-60151fa5-0191-4b8b-9c8a-5fc43e1a47ba.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiospm&amp;stream=top" target="_self">30-year high</a>, and the cost of the major grocery store food groups has risen more than 5% in the past year, according to the <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm" target="_blank">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>.</li></ul>

News

The capital murder trial for accused serial killer Billy Chemirmir is scheduled to begin today in Dallas. 

Chemirmir, 48, is accused of smothering and robbing 18 elderly women in Dallas and Collin counties. 

Why it matters: The slayings of elderly women in high-end independent living communities, including The Tradition-Prestonwood, continued unnoticed for nearly two years until Chemirmir was arrested in March 2018. The causes of death were initially labeled as natural. 

Relatives of the women filed lawsuits against the living facilities and lobbied for legislation that increased oversight and security at senior communities, but most of those bills failed.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed Marilyn's Law, which requires medical examiners to alert next of kin when a cause of death is changed on a death certificate. 

The bill was named for Marilyn Bixler, whose death has been linked to Chemirmir though he hasn't been charged in her death. 

Details: Chemirmir will be tried in one of the deaths — that of Lu Thi Harris — and faces an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole if convicted. 

Dallas County prosecutors no longer intend to seek the death penalty for Chemirmir and instead plan to try him twice. If he's convicted, prosecutors plan to ask the judge to stack the sentences.

Timeline: Chemirmir was arrested in March 2018 after Harris' death, but he is accused in slayings dating back to May 2016. 

Accused serial killer Billy Chemirmir goes on trial

The slayings of elderly women in high-end independent living communities continued unnoticed for nearly two years until Chemirmir was caught in March 2018.

The independent living community where several suspicious deaths took place. Photo: Brandon Donner Photography for Axios

The capital murder trial for accused serial killer Billy Chemirmir is scheduled to begin today in Dallas. <ul><li>Chemirmir, 48, is accused of smothering and robbing 18 elderly women in Dallas and Collin counties. </li></ul>Why it matters: The slayings of elderly women in high-end independent living communities, including The Tradition-Prestonwood, continued unnoticed for nearly two years until Chemirmir was arrested in March 2018. The causes of death were initially labeled as natural.

The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area’s unemployment rate in October dropped slightly from September, according to data released by the Texas Workforce Commission. 

Why it matters: Unemployment in North Texas remains below the national and statewide averages. 

The D-FW unemployment rate has dropped 2% since last year, from 6.2% to 4.2%. 

The state added 56,600 total nonagricultural jobs over the month.

The big picture: Statewide and local unemployment rates appear to be rebounding from peak levels during the pandemic but both are still above pre-pandemic rates. 

What they’re saying: "Our labor market numbers continue to signal that Texas has jobs for those looking to take the next step in their career," TWC Chairperson Bryan Daniel said in a statement. 

Gov. Greg Abbott, who is running for re-election, tweeted from his personal account that job loss in Texas was lower than across the U.S. “This is because Texas did not lock down like so many other states,” Abbott tweeted. “Our job growth is roaring back.”

Yes, but: Black and Hispanic unemployment rates remain well above the rates of their white counterparts, according to an analysis by nonpartisan think tank, the Economic Policy Institute. 

During the third quarter of 2021, white Texans had a 4.1% unemployment rate compared to 9.2% for Black Texans and 7% for Hispanic Texans. 

Job numbers are up and unemployment is down in Texas

Statewide and local unemployment rates appear to be rebounding from peak levels during the pandemic but both are still above pre-pandemic rates.

Illustration of an upward trend line over a group of people, with others in the background grayed out

The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area’s unemployment rate in October dropped slightly from September, according to data released by the Texas Workforce Commission. Why it matters: Unemployment in North Texas remains below the national and statewide averages.

The new Omicron COVID-19 variant will "inevitably" be found in America, health officials say. Cases have already been reported in several countries in the days since it was identified. 

Why it matters: National health experts say it’s not time to worry, but it is time to get vaccinated if you’re not already, or get a booster shot. 

Boosters are now recommended for all adults.  

Details: The World Health Organization said Omicron "has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning."

What they’re saying: "There’s no reason to panic. But it is a great reason to go get boosted," Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Dana Bash on CNN’s "State of the Union."

So far, nearly 63% of the U.S. population over the age of 5 is fully vaccinated. In Texas, nearly 59% of people over 5 are fully vaccinated. 

18% of fully vaccinated Texans have received the booster.  

Here’s how to get vaccinated or get a booster shot: 

In Dallas County, health officials have on Sundays reopened the Fair Park vaccination site, which offers first, second and booster shots. Vaccines are also available at the county’s immunization clinics. 

Tarrant County has a vaccine finder and posts online about pop-up clinics. 

Denton County has an online vaccine registration portal.  

Collin County also has an online vaccine registration portal. 

Our thought bubble: The day after the booster feels much like the day after the second shot. If you felt kinda crummy then, you might feel that again for about 24 hours after getting boosted. 

How to get the COVID-19 booster in North Texas

National health experts say it’s not time to worry about Omicron, but it is time to get vaccinated or boosted.

Illustration of a syringe bent into the shape of a number three

The new Omicron COVID-19 variant will &quot;inevitably&quot; be found in America, health officials say. Cases have already been reported in several countries in the days since it was identified. Why it matters: National health experts say it’s not time to worry, but it is time to get vaccinated if you’re not already, or get a booster shot.

COVID

Texas is set to receive $35 billion for bridges, roads and public transit improvement from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill signed into law this week. 

Why it matters: Texas infrastructure "has suffered from a systemic lack of investment," according to a White House report. The state received a C- from the American Society of Civil Engineers. 

No Texas Republican voted in favor of the bill, which got 13 House GOP votes and 19 Senate Republican votes. 

Details: Most of the state’s money will go toward road and bridge construction and improvement. 

Commute times in Texas have increased by more than 11% since 2011, and each year drivers pay about $700 to driving on roads in need of repair. 

By the numbers: Texas’ allotment over the next five years, according to the White House report: 

$26.9 billion for highways and $537 million for bridges. 

More than 19,400 miles of Texas highways and 818 bridges are in poor condition. 

"Clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities," the report says. 

$408 million to expand Texas’ electric car charging network.  

Texas can also apply for $2.5 billion in grants for the effort.

More than 1 million Texans currently lack access.

$53 million to protect against wildfires. 

$42 million to defend against cyber attacks. 

Of note: One of the goals of the bill is to increase "climate resiliency.” 

Texas has seen 67 extreme weather events in the past decade, costing the state as much as $200 billion, the White House report says. 

Infrastructure bill to bring $35 billion to Texas

More than 19,400 miles of Texas highways and 818 bridges are in poor condition.

Illustration of the state of Texas behind scaffolding. 

Texas is set to receive $35 billion for bridges, roads and public transit improvement from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill signed into law this week. Why it matters: Texas infrastructure &quot;has suffered from a systemic lack of investment,&quot; according to a <a class="gtm-content-click" data-vars-link-text="White House report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/TEXAS_Infrastructure-Investment-and-Jobs-Act-State-Fact-Sheet.pdf" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/TEXAS_Infrastructure-Investment-and-Jobs-Act-State-Fact-Sheet.pdf" target="_blank">White House report</a>. The state received a C- from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Tasha Tsiaperas

Featured stories

How to get the COVID-19 booster in North Texas

Job numbers are up and unemployment is down in Texas

Food banks struggle with supply chain delays, inflated grocery costs

Infrastructure bill to bring $35 billion to Texas

Accused serial killer Billy Chemirmir goes on trial