Axios Dallas

July 15, 2022
Happy Friday! Check on your funniest friends.
☀️ Today's weather: Hot again. Highs at or near 100 all weekend.
🎵 Sounds like: "Heaven Help Me"
⚖️ Situational awareness: Texas state officials filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration challenging its recent guidance that health providers can perform abortions in emergency cases and be protected under federal law.
Today's newsletter is 972 helpful words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Texas swing districts less swingy


Texas is home to nine of the 17 former swing districts that are now more favorable for Republicans after redistricting, according to the new 2022 Cook Partisan Voter Index and analysis from Cook Political Report's Dave Wasserman.
Why it matters: Republicans had the power to draw maps in more states than Democrats, including in Texas, helping them solidify congressional seats they hold and potentially pick up more in November, reports Axios' Stef W. Kight.
Zoom in: North Texas has three of the swing districts that were redrawn to be more partisan, including Texas' 32nd Congressional District, held by Democrat Colin Allred.
- Texas' 3rd Congressional District in Plano and McKinney has moved nearly seven points more Republican.
- Of note: Rep. Van Taylor dropped out of the GOP runoff to retain that seat after his affair became public.
- And Texas' 6th Congressional District, which includes Midlothian and Waxahachie, is predicted to be 10 points more Republican.
By the numbers: Seven competitive seats, including three in Texas, were drawn to be more favorable for Democrats. All of them are now too Democratic-leaning to be considered swing districts, according to Cook's criteria.
- Wasserman points out that even those bluer seats were drawn mostly to allow for more solidly Republican seats nearby.
- Texas leans five points more Republican, according to this year's report.
Yes, but: Texas is far from the reddest state on the map. Wyoming, for example, is 25 points more Republican — the highest of any right-leaning states.
- Residents in neighboring Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma are also more likely to vote Republican than the Lone Star State.
The bottom line: After redistricting, the number of hyper-competitive U.S. House seats declined from 51 to 45 — Cook Political Report's lowest count ever.
2. ☎️ Texas prepares for launch of 988 mental health line
Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios
Americans will be able to reach crisis counselors at any time by dialing or texting three digits — 988 — starting tomorrow.
What's happening: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's new 988 hotline will forward callers to one of 200 call centers across the country. It will become the new three-digit number to call, text or chat instead of the existing number (1-800-273-8255) for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL).
What's new: As the NSPL's name suggests, its focus has long been on suicide prevention, but the revamped 988 system will expand to cover a broader range of mental health crises.
- The three-digit line will be easier to remember, making it more accessible for those in need of mental health support.
By the numbers: Texas answers the third highest number of NSPL calls in the country, with more than 152,000 calls routed to the state's five centers, a Texas Health and Human Services Commission spokesperson told Axios.
- The in-state answer rate — or the number of calls from Texans answered within Texas — rose from 23% in January 2017 to 56% last month, according to data from Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit that administers the national lifeline.
Zoom out: Some public health officials have expressed concerns that the national system won't have adequate funding or staffing.
- Nationally, one in six of the roughly 2 million calls made to the NSPL were abandoned, the New York Times reported.
- Texas is also facing a staffing shortage, with 127 full-time crisis counselors, the state health agency spokesperson told Axios.
- The health agency is still analyzing call volume and working on projections for future staffing needs, the spokesperson added.
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 — or starting tomorrow, you can text message or call 988.
3. 😎 Axios Dallas Weekender
Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
🎭 Get your act together. Shakespeare in the Park will perform "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Samuell-Grand Amphitheater in Dallas.
- 8:15 tonight through July 23. Tickets start at $20, and senior and military discounts are offered.
⛲️ Party until midnight at the Nasher. The event includes free sculpture center admission, performances and a screening of "Guardians of the Galaxy."
- 6 tonight, 2001 Flora St.
🏀 Watch some ball. The Dallas Wings host the Chicago Sky at UT Arlington's College Park Center.
- 7pm tomorrow. Tickets start at $25 online.
🍨 Snag a scoop. Sunday's National Ice Cream Day offers an excuse to hit up your local ice cream shop.
- Parlor's Ice Creams in Dallas is planning to celebrate with a new flavor mixed with house-baked cake.
- Whole Foods, Baskin-Robbins and Dairy Queen will also offer discounts on ice cream.
4. 🗞 Burnt ends: Bite-sized news bits
We're bullish about gathering news. Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
🕵️ A private investigator is trying to solve the 1977 slaying of a man who was stabbed 24 times and dumped along Interstate 35W, but the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office says it has no record of the victim. (Star-Telegram)
👮 A police officer seen checking his phone in the Uvalde school video is the husband of a teacher killed during the mass shooting. "Context matters," tweeted state Rep. Joe Moody. (NBC5)
🚨 A Fort Worth detective was arrested on a burglary charge after he says he was confronting teenagers who had stolen from him. (FOX4)
⚖️ Dallas County's juvenile justice system failed to keep a dangerous teenager off the street, contributing to the shooting death of a man in a Costco parking lot, according to the slain man's daughter. (DMN)
Fresh job openings around town
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5. 💚 One cocktail to go: Here
Close your eyes and imagine Paris. Photo: Tasha "Where's the Rum" Tsiaperas/Axios
Between a record store and a wig shop in a strip center lives one of the best bars in Dallas.
- Walk through a wood door with a simple "Here" sign and you enter a retro restaurant with cream-colored leather booths and a wood-paneled wall.
- It's great.
What to order: La Vie en Pistache — white rum, pistachio syrup, lime, Thai basil.
Where: The Lounge Here, 9028 Garland Road in Dallas.
Cost: $13
Pro tip: It's not just about the drinks here, so order the pimento cheese.
Six-word review: If macarons could turn into cocktails.
📭 Know a drink we should try? Hit reply and tell us.
Our picks:
🎥 Mike is planning to watch the 1998 classic "Rounders."
🎧 Tasha is listening to Lizzo today and all weekend.
🏈 Naheed is hoping she can do Dak's famous shuffle as well as these kids.
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