Axios Dallas

May 05, 2023
Happy Friday! Fancy yourself worthy.
☀️ Today's weather: Back to the 90s, and a chance of midday rain.
🎵 Sounds like: "Start Me Up"
🥅 Situational awareness: The Stars beat the Seattle Kraken 4-2 last night, evening their second-round playoff series at one game apiece.
- Game 3 is Sunday night in Seattle.
Today's newsletter is 946 overdue words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Officials warn of power grid strain this summer
Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
The Texas power grid operator is predicting record demand this summer and warns that brownouts could be possible.
Driving the news: The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) released its summer seasonal assessment this week, projecting how much energy the power grid will have and need from June to September.
State of play: The state's population is growing rapidly and summer temperatures continue to rise, straining the power grid.
Flashback: Mass power outages during a February 2021 winter storm led to hundreds of deaths and property damage totaling nearly $200 billion, according to an after-action report.
- ERCOT officials asked Texans to conserve energy last summer, when the grid set 11 all-time peak-demand records.
By the numbers: ERCOT predicts peak demand will reach 82,739 megawatts this summer, above last year's high of nearly 80,000.
- One megawatt is enough electricity to power about 200 homes on a summer day.
- The grid operator projects having 97,000 megawatts of energy available during the highest demand.
Yes, but: Peak demand will exceed available power from coal, nuclear, or natural gas facilities, meaning the grid will have to rely on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.
- Texans face the highest risk of losing power around 9pm when the sun has set and wind decreases, per officials with ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission.
What they're saying: "There is no longer enough dispatchable generation to meet the demand of the ERCOT system. So, we will be relying on renewables to keep the lights on," PUC Chair Peter Lake said this week.
What's next: The National Weather Service predicts above-average summer heat this year.
- El Niño is expected to develop this summer, bringing hotter temperatures. Climate experts say this summer and next could set new records.
2. ⚽ The Lord of All Indoors
Indoor soccer was pretty big in the 1980s. Photo: Courtesy of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame class of 2023 features some of the most famous players in modern history, including Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, and Hope Solo.
Yes, but: This weekend’s induction ceremony in Frisco will also include a player with an incredible story that even many dedicated soccer fans don't know.
The big picture: Slaviša "Steve" Žungul was a star in his native Yugoslavia in the late 1970s before defecting to the United States. He hoped to play in the North American Soccer League, where Pelé was growing a U.S. fan base.
- But the Yugoslavian government lobbied FIFA to ban Žungul from playing in any FIFA-sanctioned league. So he joined the upstart Major Indoor Soccer League instead.
Context: Indoor soccer is a very different sport, replete with rapid substitutions, flashing lights, pop music, and hockey-style dasher boards.
What happened: In his first game with the New York Arrows, Žungul scored four goals. He quickly became the greatest indoor soccer player in the world, leading the Arrows to four consecutive championships.
- In a 1981 profile, Sports Illustrated dubbed Žungul the "Lord of All Indoors."
Meanwhile: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1983 that Žungul could finally play outdoor soccer in America. In his first season, with the Golden Bay Earthquakes, he was the league MVP.
- The NASL folded a year later.
- So Žungul returned to indoor.
By the numbers: In his 12 seasons of indoor soccer, Žungul scored 751 goals, almost 200 more than the second-leading goal scorer at the time.
- He was on eight championship teams and won the league MVP six times.
The latest: Žungul is the first player elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame based on indoor soccer accomplishments.
The intrigue: Dallas' own beloved indoor soccer star, Tatu, hasn't been included — yet.
These days: Žungul reportedly lives a quiet life in Southern California. He hasn't spoken to the media or made a public appearance in more than a decade.
3. Axios Dallas Weekender
Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
🎉 Have a fiesta. Cinco de Mayo, which commemorates Mexico's 1862 victory over France, has morphed into a celebration of Mexican culture.
- North Texas has events all weekend for anyone who wants to partake.
👑 Watch the throne. The British Emporium grocery store in Grapevine is hosting an outdoor watch party for King Charles III's coronation. They encourage bringing your own booze and lawn chair.
- The party starts at 4am Saturday. The coronation begins at 5am.
🏞️ Nurture our nature. Several local organizations are teaming up to celebrate Native Plants and Prairies Day with speakers, prairie tours, exhibits, and children's activities.
- 10am-3pm Saturday at the Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Lake.
👏 Get cultured. The AT&T Discovery District is hosting a showcase of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage, featuring food, performances, and music.
- Starts at 11am Saturday.
4. 🗞 Burnt ends: Bite-sized news bits
Freshly picked news, just for you. Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
🎒 Dallas billionaire Harlan Crow paid for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' grandnephew to attend a Georgia private boarding school for about a year. He also paid for a private boarding school in Virginia. (ProPublica)
⚖️ A 22-year-old was sentenced to 12 years in prison for causing a crash that killed a Grand Prairie police officer last year. (NBC5)
🖥️ Dallas continued to experience network issues from a ransomware attack that forced the city to close its courts for two days. (WFAA)
✅ The Senate confirmed a former Dallas prosecutor as the new U.S. attorney for East Texas. He will be the office's first Black leader. (DMN)
Your future begins here
💼 Check out who's hiring on our Job Board.
- Partner Integration Manager at Top Golf.
- Director of Payroll at Worldwide Express.
- Digital Marketing Manager at Dallas Zoo.
Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.
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5. ☕️ One cocktail to go: Double D's Bar
Creamy, dark, strong. Everything you want. Photo: Tasha "Buzzed" Tsiaperas/Axios
Step into the '70s and sip one of the most popular cocktails of the (20)20s.
- This Design District bar has a dive bar feel but with much, much better cocktails.
Vibe check: This joint has it all: wood paneling, velvety cushions, framed needlepoints, and a disco ball.
What to order: "Expresso" Martini — vodka, DD's coffee mix.
Where: Double D's Bar, 1404 N. Riverfront Blvd.
Cost: $13
Six-word review: As addictive as your morning joe.
📭 Know a drink we should try? Hit reply and tell us.
This newsletter was edited by Chloe Gonzales and copy edited by Patricia Guadalupe and Yasmeen Altaji.
Our picks:
📼 Mike is watching this old documentary about the Sidekicks-Stars seven-game championship series, featuring both Žungul and Tatu.
⚽️ Tasha is going this weekend to her first FC Dallas game.
🤩 Naheed is revisiting this 2021 story by The Athletic about the hidden treasures of the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame archives.
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