Author: dirtk

A Far West Dallas resident was diagnosed with the county’s first case of West Nile virus this year, health officials say. The patient, who lives in the 75248 ZIP code, was diagnosed with West Nile neuroinvasive disease, the more debilitating form of the mosquito-borne illness. Dallas County Health and Human Services called it the first human case of the infection this year, though it’s awaiting confirmation from Texas Department of State Health Services. “Our mosquito…

Staff Photographer In May, The Dallas Morning News Charities launched a first-time campaign to raise funds to feed hungry North Texas children during summer break. The goal was $30,000. At about $1 per meal, that’s roughly 30,000 meals. Donors more than tripled that measure, though, as the inaugural summer feeding campaign raised about $105,000 from 445 donors — enough for approximately 105,000 meals. The drive, which began May 15 and ended June 27, benefits six…

It’s bad enough that Dallas County’s public hospital has become a lifeboat for so many uninsured people across North Texas. We don’t need our richer neighbors up north in Collin County mocking or maligning us for doing the right thing — especially when we’re required to do so by law. We need them to chip in. Here’s the long and short of it: Without Parkland Memorial Hospital’s excellent trauma and emergency-room care, we’d have a…