The National Weather Service said the Ross Fire is now the second-largest wildfire in North Texas. 

How big is the Ross Fire and where is it burning?

The Ross Fire has burned at least 90,400 acres in Palo Pinto and Jack counties, with the fire burning near U.S. 180 and FM 919.

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the fire was 91% contained as of Monday, Sept. 14; 157 structures have been destroyed, 140 structures are damaged, and 453 structures have been saved.  

Residents in Jack County along County Road 2210 toward Highway 281 were instructed to evacuate on Tuesday, Aug. 25; however, those mandatory evacuations were lifted a day later as conditions improved. Jack County Emergency Management warns returning residents to stay vigilant as the fire is still burning in neighboring Palo Pinto County.

The fire began near Ross in Palo Pinto County just before 1:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, and was initially estimated at 25 acres, according to the Palo Pinto County Emergency Service District. It rapidly expanded to thousands of acres.

The  Longhorn Council of Scouting America said many buildings at Worth Ranch in Palo Pinto were among the structures that suffered catastrophic damage, but no scouts, campers, or guests were at the property when the fire moved into the area, and the camp ranger, Pat Adams, was safely evacuated.

What areas are under evacuation orders because of the Ross Fire?

As of Monday, Aug. 31, all school districts in the area have resumed normal operations.

The wildfire and evacuations affected schools in the area. Jacksboro ISD delayed the start of school by two hours on Tuesday, Aug. 25, but normal operations resumed the next day. 

Perrin CISD canceled classes for Tuesday, Aug. 25, and delayed the start of school to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Jack County Emergency Management instructed Bryson ISD and Graford ISD to cancel classes that same Wednesday. 

A Molson Coors spokesperson said the company had temporarily paused some canning lines at the Fort Worth facility out of an abundance of caution over the smoky skies.

"But beer lovers will see absolutely no impact," the spokesperson said.

The Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Strike Team, along with the Texas A&M Forest Service, is supporting firefighting efforts with dozers and aircraft.

What roads are closed because of the Ross Fire?

U.S. Highway 180 has reopened after being closed to all traffic between South FM 4 and FM 919 because of the wildfire on Tuesday. 

A Temporary Flight Restriction is also in place over the fire area. 

Where can livestock be taken during the Ross Fire?

The Graham Livestock Commission said that it was offering space for livestock displaced by the wildfire at the Old Mineral Wells Sale Barn at 2805 North Oak Ave.

The holding station is available to people who need a temporary place for livestock until other arrangements can be made.

The Humane Society of North Texas said it is helping the Mineral Wells Animal Shelter clear out its current shelter population to make room for pets displaced by the Ross Fire. Twelve dogs and 26 cats were expected to arrive at the shelter in Fort Worth on Wednesday.

Why is the wildfire risk high in North Texas?

Dry vegetation, a lack of measurable rainfall and gusty winds are creating elevated wildfire conditions across parts of North Texas.

The National Weather Service is monitoring several wildfires west of Interstate 35, with the Ross Fire among the largest.

After more than a month without measurable rainfall, fine surface fuels have become critically to extremely dry, making vegetation easier to ignite and allowing fires to spread quickly.

Residents are urged to avoid outdoor activities that could produce sparks or flames. 

According to the Valley View Police Department, at about 10 a.m., officers responded to assist in a police pursuit of a vehicle traveling northbound on I-35 from Denton County. 

Officials said the suspect was wanted in connection with a murder investigation out of Plano. 

Initially, DPS troopers located the suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect allegedly opened fire on the troopers and fled the scene, Valley PD confirmed.

The chase continued northbound into Valley View, where the suspect vehicle crashed. 

Law enforcement from several agencies surrounded the vehicle, which then caught fire.

Police said the suspect, who hasn't been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene, but it's unclear if the suspect was injured in the shooting or the vehicle fire.

CBS News Texas Chopper 11 showed several law enforcement agencies at the scene over the charred suspect vehicle and an extinguished grass fire. Crews closed the northbound lanes of I-35 just north of Sanger. 

The investigation is ongoing. CBS News Texas is working to gather more details and will update. 

According to the Fort Worth Police Department, at about 7 p.m. Sunday, officers were called to a major accident near the 1500 block of Heritage Trace. When officers arrived, they found a car had collided with a fence.

The family who lived in the home told CBS News Texas that their three children were playing in the pool when the crash happened, and the car almost hit their 2-year-old child.

The family's surveillance video captured the moment, showing their 2-year-old walking away just seconds before debris flew in the toddler's direction. The parents called it an "act of God" that their child wasn't struck. They rushed to gather their children, and all three were okay. Then, the father went to check on the driver.

FWPD said there were two people inside the vehicle that crashed, the driver and one passenger. The passenger was transported to the hospital in an unknown condition.

Police said the driver, who hasn't been identified,  "was cited" for reckless driving. 

This is a developing story, and we'll update as more information becomes available. 

Bo French shared a photo on X, showing a group of students cheering on the University of Texas at Austin during Saturday's game against Ohio State. The photo French shared showed a group of students at the game who were not white.

The CBS Confirmed team verified that the photo used in French's tweet came from a video shared by the Texas Longhorns, the university's athletics program's account.

CBS News Texas has reached out to French for further comment.

Negative reaction to French's post from political opponents was swift. Jon Rosenthal, who is French's Democratic opponent, said French "spent Sunday morning sorting our student section by skin color."

Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic candidate in Texas' gubernatorial race, declared French as "unfit to serve".

Republicans react to Bo French's post

Several Republicans also took issue with French's post. Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who lost his primary bid to current state Attorney General Ken Paxton, questioned, "Are other Republican elected officials going to condemn the intolerance and racism, or look the other way while it becomes normalized."

State Rep. Jared Patterson of Frisco also rebuked French's sentiments with a longer post.

"There is absolutely nothing Christian or conservative about looking at a crowd of young Texans at a college football game, seeing the color of their skin, and declaring that they are a 'problem'," Patterson said, in part. "We can have serious debates about our nation's immigration laws. I have strong views about immigration policy, and Americans have every right to demand changes to federal law. But opposing an immigration policy does not give anyone license to demean people because of their race or ethnicity."

Another notable conservative voice who decried French's post was Dustin Burrows, Speaker of the Texas House. He called for French to delete it.

There was support for French's sentiments as well. Savannah Hernandez, a contributor for Turning Point USA, said French is "1000% correct".

Support also came from Jake Lloyd Colglazier, identified in his X profile as the president of the Fort Worth Young Republicans. Colglazier said French's post was "perfectly reasonable" and slammed the immigration system.

What are Bo French's views on immigration?

French has revealed more about his views on immigration in recent social media posts. On Sept. 8, French reposted a graphic video that appears to show a beheading in Nigeria. The caption on the video claims that a group of Muslim extremists kidnapped and beheaded a Christian man for refusing to convert to Islam.

In other posts, French has called for mass deportations and major overhauls to immigration policy. In one post, shared on Sept. 2, French called for the deportation of left-wing streamer Hasan Piker.

How have others in Texas responded?

As of publication, neither the University of Texas at Austin nor the University of Texas System has offered a response to French's remarks about the student crowd at the game. The Texas GOP has also not yet offered comment.

Gov. Greg Abbott responded to a request for comment from CBS News, saying, "That is not my message. A selective picture of Longhorn fans celebrating our biggest home victory-ever-actually shows a way that Texans unite. We all support our college football teams. The way we win the state is the same way we win football games. We unite under the brand of Texas. That doesn't mean that Texas cannot also lead in having the toughest immigration laws of any state in America and freezing H1B visas at our universities."

Paxton offered the following statement, taking aim at his Democratic opponent James Talarico:

"I condemn racism in all its forms, including James Talarico saying white men are America's top terror threat and that he prays to overcome his own 'whiteness,' whatever that means. Only one person in this race has a history of dividing Texans by race, and it's James Talarico. I will continue to focus on uniting our State and bringing together the broadest possible coalition to fight for Texas, our values, and our families." 

CBS News Texas will update this story as further responses are shared.

The Colleyville Police Department said they responded to a home along the 5300 block of Bluebonnet Drive around 4:15 p.m. that day for a death investigation. Officers said they arrived to find a man and a woman inside, both of whom were unresponsive. The department said paramedics with the Colleyville Fire Department arrived and declared both people dead.

Colleyville Police said officers worked with the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office and determined the woman apparently suffered fatal gunshot wounds, while the man appeared to have a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound. A handgun was recovered near the man as well, police said.

Both the man and the woman will be identified by the medical examiner's office after formal identification and notification of next of kin.

Colleyville Police said the incident appears to be isolated with no ongoing threat to the public, and offered condolences to the families affected.

Grapevine Police and North Richland Hills Crime Scene Investigations were credited by Colleyville Police for assisting with the case.

Actual temperatures likely reach the triple digits areawide this afternoon, putting us just two degrees below our previous record of 102°.  

We will stay in the triple digits through at least Wednesday. There is an increased risk of fire danger this afternoon as winds may gust up to 25 mph at times.

Looking ahead to the rest of the week, we'll barely drop into the 90s by Thursday, but the 90s look to stick around into this weekend. By early next week, signs suggest a cold front may move through, bringing a chance of thunderstorms by Monday and cooler temperatures by Tuesday.

The Garland Police Department said it happened around 7:45 a.m. along the 400 block of Bay Shore Drive. Officers said they arrived to find three people outside of a residence suffering from different wounds. While one person was taken to the hospital in critical condition, the other two were declared dead at the scene.

The department said they later learned two vehicles had left the scene before police arrived. Officers said they quickly located the vehicles and detained the occupants as part of the investigation.

On Monday, CBS News Texas learned the third person had also died. Later in the day, Garland Police identified all three men as 38-year-old Eduardo Mora, 64-year-old Jose Borregos, and 64-year-old David Esudero Rodriguez. 

The department said Rodriguez and Borregos reportedly arrived at Mora's residence, and a disturbance unfolded. Detectives believe Mora was stabbed during the incident, while Rodriguez and Borregos were shot. The department noted a gun was recovered from the scene.

The department said Mora was the victim who was transported to the hospital before he died. 

Originally, Garland Police said three people had gunshot wounds, but the update on Monday clarified the details to reflect what detectives now believe happened.

Garland Police said the incident appears to be isolated.

Anyone with more information is urged to call the department at 972-485-4840.

North Texas will stay mostly dry this weekend into the coming week. A ridge of high pressure will continue to bring on the heat and dry weather throughout the week. This will increase fire danger, since winds will be a bit gusty.

For Sunday, expect another sunny, hot, and breezy day. The high is expected to reach 101 degrees, and if it does, then this will be the 49th triple-digit day so far this year. The normal amount of 100-degree days is 20 per year.

A heat advisory is in effect until 8 p.m. Sunday night due to a heat index, known as the feels-like value, reaching up to 106 degrees. Additional heat advisories are possible through next week.

Looking ahead to next weekend, a cold front is expected to swing through the area. As of now, forecast models are inconsistent on the timing of the front and about how much rain or how cool it will get. 

Just know there is a glimmer of hope for some much-needed precipitation and a cool down in the near future.

Mesquite Police said it happened on Wednesday, Sept. 9, around 3:17 a.m. According to the department, 36-year-old Jose Aguilar Renteria was driving an Alfa Romeo sedan in the northbound lanes of I-635 near North Gross Road when he hit the trailer of an 18-wheeler driven by 30-year-old Ulises Mendez Hernandez, who is from the city of Nuevo Laredo in Mexico.

The department said Renteria was declared dead at the scene. Police noted that Hernandez was driving the 18-wheeler slowly.

Further, Mesquite Police said Hernandez was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. However, a spokesperson for the department said Hernandez's alleged intoxication may not have been a contributing factor to the crash occurring.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Police said the shooting happened around 12:55 a.m. in the 5900 block of Highland Village Drive. 

According to officers, unknown suspects fired several rounds.

Authorities said Zariea Brown, 25, died at the hospital and that the motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.

Further details were not immediately available.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. B. Billings at 214-671-3083 or brewster.billings@dallaspolice.gov.

Three of the four teams competing in the Battle of the High School State Champions are from the Dallas area. DeSoto High School took on Duncanville High School in the first game, while South Oak Cliff High School is battling North Shore High School.

The Parrish Classic isn't just about football. It's also about community. The inaugural event features four expos designed to provide resources for game attendees.

"We have a college expo with over 15 colleges. We have a career and financial empowerment expo with several different banks and different companies all across North Texas. We have a health and wellness expo. We have Stem Expo and then we have a civic education for voters registration," Parrish Classic event manager Rodney Baker said.

"We're pumping money into schools and underserved communities and to traditional HBCU schools. We're trying to help stimulate the economy and help businesses, underserved communities that support black and brown people," Parrish Charitable Foundation founder Roland Parrish said.

The Parrish Charitable Foundation is involved in the community year-round.

The man, who has not been identified, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. His condition was not immediately known, according to the Saginaw Police Department.

Officers were dispatched around 11:26 a.m. to the 300 block of Asbury Drive for a welfare check on a man reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis and attempting to hurt himself.

When officers arrived, they found the man inside the residence with what appeared to be a rifle, police said. Officers gave him verbal commands in an effort to de-escalate the situation, but police said he advanced toward them with the rifle. One officer fired a handgun, striking him.

Saginaw Fire Department and Fort Worth Fire Department EMS personnel treated the man before he was taken to the hospital.

The Texas Rangers were notified and responded to conduct an independent investigation. Police said the Rangers will present their findings to the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office.

Saginaw police are conducting a separate administrative investigation examining department policies and procedures.

Police said the investigation was in its early stages and that no additional information would be released at this time.

CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.

North Texas will stay mostly dry this weekend, with only a 10% chance of storms east of I-35 today.

A heat advisory is in effect until 8 p.m. tonight due to a heat index, known as the feels-like value, reaching up to 107 degrees.

A ridge of high pressure will continue to bring on the heat and dry weather throughout the next week. This will increase fire danger, since winds will be a bit gusty.

Looking ahead to next weekend, a cold front is expected to swing through the area. As of now, forecast models are inconsistent on the timing of the front and about how much rain or how cool it will get. As of now, just know there is a glimmer of hope for some much-needed precipitation and a cool down in the near future.

While protesters and supporters rallied outside American Airlines Center, Dallas police said the convention itself went smoothly from a security standpoint.

"I think every officer walked away with pride that we were the first to say that we worked this midterm convention and we did it, you know, very well," said Allison Hudson, assistant director of the Dallas Police Department's Office of Media Relations.

Dallas police worked with the U.S. Secret Service on security for the event. Hudson said Dallas Police Chief Comeaux also met privately with Trump, the city manager and fire chief to discuss security.

"And when you have the president of the United States that calls and says, I want a meeting with the chief and the city manager, the fire chief, you go," Hudson said. "And so it was a meeting to help security."

Police said two people were arrested during the convention.

Asked what the department would do differently, Hudson said the event demonstrated Dallas was prepared to handle large-scale events.

"I think if we had to take away anything from this event, it shows that Dallas is ready to host whatever comes our way," Hudson said.

But for some businesses near the convention, the security footprint came with a high cost.

Even after the convention ended, security gates remained in place around parts of the American Airlines Center, limiting access to some businesses.

Kendall Williams, chef and owner of Bluebonnet and Thyme, said her restaurant had to close for two days because customers could not easily reach the business.

"We had to shut down for the past two days because we had no business," Williams said. "Nobody could get to us. We have high fences, and nobody can get in unless they are a resident."

Williams said the restaurant had only five customers during the entire week.

She said the disruption was particularly frustrating because the restaurant is a small business still trying to establish itself.

"And so that really made me feel like the people that ran the convention, the people that were at the convention the whole night, just did not care that they were impeding on a small business," Williams said.

The city also faced a multimillion-dollar security bill for the convention.

Hudson said Dallas is still waiting for reimbursement for security costs and pointed to the recent FIFA World Cup as an example of how long the process can take.

"We're still waiting on those reimbursements from FIFA as well," Hudson said. "So we're going through that process."

For Dallas police, the convention tested the city's ability to handle a major political event. For some businesses surrounding the convention site, the effects may last longer than the event itself.

The no-show came a day before Sept. 11, a date that carries special significance for first responders.

Dallas police and fire unions are pushing for better pay and benefits as their current contracts approach expiration.

"We take our time to come in to negotiate in good faith, and the city just no-shows," Dallas Fire Fighters Association President Chris Peterson said. "And that's frustrating."

Representatives from six public safety organizations say they showed up expecting Tolbert to be there.

Dallas Police Association President Sean Pease said they were initially told she was simply running late.

"Fifteen minutes out, everything's running a little bit late, half hour out, and then sorry, just not going to make it," Pease said.

Tolbert said her absence was unavoidable and never intended as a sign of disrespect.

She said she joined Dallas police Chief Daniel Comeaux and Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Justin Ball for a meet-and-greet with the president during the Republican National Convention.

"This was an important opportunity to advocate for Dallas," Tolbert said in a statement.

Dallas police and firefighters' pay at center of negotiations

The missed meeting comes as money already is fueling tensions at the bargaining table.

Dallas says public safety employees received roughly an 8% increase over previous budget years. Starting pay is $81,232 for Dallas police officers and $75,397 for firefighters.

Union leaders say they want compensation that keeps pace with the cost of living and with competing departments.

They also oppose changes to health benefits, including a preferred provider organization, or PPO, plan. The unions contend that losing that option could make recruiting and retaining first responders even more difficult.

"We're losing them to other surrounding communities right now because their schedule's better, their pay is better, their benefits are better," Peterson said.

"I want a contract right now," he added.

Dallas public safety contracts face looming deadline

Union leaders say the clock may now be as much of a problem as the money.

"We, as police and fire, are trying to decide, are we at an impasse with the city?" Pease said. "Where are we?"

The current contracts expire at the end of September. Union leaders say the agreements would then enter a six-month evergreen period if no new deal is reached.

Pease said there may no longer be enough time to negotiate a contract and hold a union vote before the agreements expire.

"There's not enough time for us to even vote on a contract before our contract expires," he said.

Tolbert emphasized that the city manager is not a required member of Dallas' official meet-and-confer negotiating team. She said representatives from the city attorney's office, budget office, human resources department, and police and fire leadership have her authority to negotiate.

She also said the city's team remains prepared to return to the bargaining table "promptly and in good faith."

For police and fire unions, however, the missed meeting has become another flashpoint in negotiations already running short on time.

City manager's complete statement

Here is Tolbert's full statement:

"I am in receipt of the recent letter sent by the Dallas Police Association, Dallas Firefighter Association and the National Latino Law Enforcement Organization regarding my absence from a scheduled meeting on Thursday, September 10th. I recognize and take seriously the concerns raised through these association leaders. My unavoidable absence at the scheduled time was not in any way intended to convey disrespect.

"Although, I fully understand the frustration this caused among these association leaders, to be clear, I along with Police Chief Daniel Comeaux, and Fire Chief Justin Ball represented the city in our official capacity for a meet and greet with the President of the United States during the RNC Convention. This was an important opportunity to advocate for Dallas. As you know, high level meetings can arise unexpectedly when world leaders are in Dallas. I deeply appreciate the steadfast dedication and selfless service of our city's police officers and firefighters, and I remain unwavering in my commitment to treat them with the utmost respect and seriousness.

"I have, throughout my tenure as City Manager, remained accessible and dedicated to achieving a fair and equitable agreement through the meet and confer process. We recognize that open dialogue and mutual participation are vital, and we fully agree that productive negotiations require the presence and engagement of both parties. However, as City Manager, I am not a required member of the city's meet and confer negotiation team. To that end, all meet and confer meetings include the Chief of Public Safety, City Attorney's Office, Budget Office, Human Resources, and Command staff of both Police and Fire which make up the city's required meet and confer negotiation team.

"Based on the feedback I received from the city's official meet and confer negotiation team, they remain ready to return to the negotiating table promptly and in good faith, ensuring that all parties are afforded a meaningful opportunity to present and discuss their positions. Our guiding principle is to reach an agreement that honors the invaluable contributions of our public safety personnel while balancing the broader interests and responsibilities of the Dallas community.

"I will continue to meet with leadership of all associations, as appropriate, and as my schedule permits, but this should never take the place of critical meetings with Police and Fire Department executive leadership and the city's official meet and confer negotiation team who have my full support and authority to represent me in these matters."

The morning began with the tolling of bells to mark the moments when the attacks unfolded.

A Mass of Remembrance followed, led by Bishop Edward Burns, who was working in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops when a plane struck the Pentagon.

An evening prayer was held on Tuesday night.

Some of those in attendance weren't alive when the attacks occurred and have learned about them only in school. Still, they say it's important to reflect.

"I think it's just important to keep that memory alive of all those families, keep them in our prayers 25 years later because it still feels like it was yesterday to those families that have lost their loved ones, and for me it's important to still keep all those people in my prayers," Mayra Huerta said.

" I think it's important to remember the stories of those who experienced that day," Diocese of Dallas Synod Executive Director Lacy de la Garza said.

"In fact, one of the things that I personally have felt collecting over these past few weeks leading up to this anniversary is that I begin to understand how important it was for me to listen to my grandparents' stories of the wars that they lived through that I would have never known about."

Churchgoers say it's a connection to the past they don't want to lose.

Durk, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, had faced multiple felony counts, including charges of murder, stalking and conspiracy.

Five other people associated with Lil Durk's Chicago-based rap collective, "Only the Family" or "OTF," were also accused in the case.

A jury found Durk not guilty of all charges on Friday. Two co-defendants who were tried alongside Durk, Deandre "OTF Dede" Wilson and David "Browneyez" Lindsey, were convicted of stalking and stalking conspiracy charges, but acquitted of murder for hire.

Federal prosecutors accused Durk of a plot to kill Atlanta rapper Quando Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman.

Rondo was the intended target of a 2022 shooting in which gunfire missed him but killed his cousin, 24-year-old Saviay'a Robinson, near the Beverly Center in L.A.

Investigators believe the plot against Quando Rondo was retaliation for the earlier murder of Chicago OTF rapper King Von, who was killed during an early morning exchange of gunfire outside the Monaco Hookah Lounge in Atlanta, authorities said. 

Authorities say Durk made it known that he would "pay a bounty" to anyone who killed Rondo.

Keith "Flacka" Jones, who was among those charged in the case, pleaded guilty to Robinson's murder and testified against Durk, Wilson and Lindsey at trial. Kavon "OTF Vonnie" Grant also pleaded guilty in the case and testified against Banks, Wilson and Lindsey.

Durk won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for his single "All My Life" featuring J. Cole. He has also been nominated for a Grammy three other times.

If convicted, Durk could have faced a life sentence.

While he's been cleared of the murder-for-hire charges, Durk will remain in custody for a separate federal racketeering trial later this year.

"While we are disappointed with the jury's decision regarding Durk Banks, a.k.a. 'Lil Durk,' we look forward to presenting our evidence at his second trial, scheduled for October 5, when he will face racketeering murder and firearms charges," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement.

"It was the darkest day in America... the darkest day in New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C.," said Evangelina "Vangie" Perez of Grand Prairie.

Even the memories remained painful.

"My family was in New York City, and to find out where they were and friends and church people that I know (that) worked in the towers, or close by," she said. "It was frantic."

At the time, Perez lived across the river in New Jersey. Like many Americans, she vividly recalled the chaos, uncertainty and fear that followed the attacks.

"It was this uncertainty," Perez said. "What is going to happen next? Are we in a state of war?"

As Lower Manhattan disappeared beneath a cloud of dust and debris, Perez emerged from her basement searching for hope. She found it in the flame of a candle.

"It was so spontaneous!" Perez said, recalling the silent symbols of unity that appeared throughout her neighborhood.

"Home after home... we started putting candles outside, and you could see up and down the street, there were candles. Either by the driveway or by the fence... There were candles throughout the street. And I felt that that somehow we were joining in that silent prayer, that silent vigil, and that silent moment."

In the wake of tragedy, Perez said the nation came together in a way she had not seen since.

"Everybody was putting American flags outside," Perez said, her eyes filling with tears. "It was a moment that it didn't matter what color you were, what socioeconomic strata you were from. It didn't matter who you worshipped. All that mattered is that we were together as Americans."

For Perez, an annual 9/11 silent sunset vigil became a tradition she carried from New Jersey to Florida and, for the past two decades, to North Texas.

She invited others to grab a candle and join her in remembering a time when Americans mourned together.

"Putting a candle out there, it's your way of remembering what happened and those who died, of honoring the heroes, the first responders," Perez said. "It's a way of being together once again."

Now they're starting from scratch and asking for the community's help restocking everything they lost.

Kevin Toth, who helps others at the Presbyterian Night Shelter, understands the challenges of homelessness.

"It was when the Covid pandemic hit. I was managing restaurants at the time, and when that hit, it went down. There were some other circumstances that I found myself here and picked myself up from there," Toth said.

Toth got his life back together, in part, through items he got at the shelter.

Now, the charred remains of donations to help some of Fort Worth's most vulnerable people get on their feet is all that remains outside the burnt walls of the shelter's storage building. CEO Toby Owen learned about it around 5 a.m. Sunday.

"It was completely engulfed at that particular point. I was saddened by it, and I was frustrated by it," Owen said.

The building housed donations of clothing, diapers, and household items to help more than 700 people staying at the non-profit's shelters.

"The winter items are the issue that I'm most concerned about because, in Texas, today is summer, and tomorrow will be winter," Owen said.

The value of everything in the building is estimated at almost $100,000. Leaders are asking the community for help replacing everything.

"The best thing to do is to go to our website, which is journeyhome.org, and on journeyhome.org, we have a way where you could give either financially or a list of items that you could purchase," Owen said.

The shelter also has an Amazon wish list of needed items.

"So many of our people, when they come here, they have literally nothing except what they're able to carry in a backpack or suitcase," Owen said.

"I went through it to be able to say, yes, there is another side," Toth said. "You just have to do your due diligence. If you have the determination to make it out of here and be a productive member of society, you can absolutely do it here."

The cause of the fire is under investigation, as the non-profit who's used to helping others is asking for some help of its own.

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth issued a severe thunderstorm warning for southwestern Tarrant County in North Central Texas until 6:45 p.m. That has since been canceled.

ORIGINAL STORY

As the workweek closes Friday, expect a mix of clouds, sunshine and temperatures in the upper 90s. There is a slim 20% chance of an isolated shower or rumble.

While some areas received measurable rainfall on Thursday, DFW did not, so the dry streak continues. So now, the metroplex has gone 57 days without measurable rainfall, ranking DFW 5th for the most days ever without receiving any rain.

North Texas will stay mainly dry this weekend, with only a slim 10% chance of rain east of I-35 on Saturday and no chance of rain on Sunday.

It will still feel as hot as 105-107° at times this weekend, but as of Friday morning, there are no heat advisories in place, though this may change.

Looking ahead to next week, North Texas will continue to be near records each day through Thursday, and after that, it looks like the summer heat will finally break. Temperatures will return closer to normal by Friday.

The crash happened just after 2:15 p.m. just before the toll bridge at Parker Road.

The North Texas Tollway Authority says traffic is being diverted off the tollway at Parker, with drivers able to re-enter at Park Boulevard.

Plano police say no one was injured.

It's unclear how long it will take to clear the scene and reopen the southbound lanes.

CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.

The lawsuit asks the federal district court in Washington, D.C., to declare unlawful any plans to have armed agents at polling places and to prohibit federal officers from carrying weapons near voting locations or other sites where votes are collected. 

"The specter of armed officers at polling places threatens the freedom of this upcoming election," the lawsuit read. "It places voters in fear that they will be confronted by armed federal law enforcement if they choose to cast a ballot."

The lawsuit specifically named the Department of Homeland Security and ICE as defendants, as well as their respective leaders, Markwayne Mullin and David Venturella. It was filed by the liberal-leaning legal group Democracy Forward, on behalf of the League of United Latin American Citizens, Common Cause, UnidosUS and the city of Denver.

The suit cited a provision of federal law that makes it a crime for officials to oversee or order the deployment of "any troops or armed men" to "any place where a general or special election is held," unless such a deployment is needed to repel "armed enemies of the United States."

Although some MAGA personalities, like Steve Bannon, have called on ICE to "surround the polls," Trump administration officials have denied concrete plans for such deployments, while at the same time not categorically ruling out the presence of agents at polling sites under some circumstances.

During a news conference in New York City earlier this month, DHS Secretary Mullin said that "ICE isn't there to patrol the polling places."  

But Mullin said ICE could be at polling places if there's "a threat" to such sites or if agents are serving a warrant for someone they've "been actively tracking down."

"If we're serving a warrant, we will be where we need to be," Mullin said when pressed again on the issue.

ICE's deportation branch is mainly in charge of locating, arresting, detaining and deporting people who entered the U.S. illegally or otherwise violated federal immigration law. Its Homeland Security Investigations branch has historically focused on dismantling criminal activity with an international nexus, but has increasingly been assigned to help with immigration enforcement and investigations into alleged voter fraud. 

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said the military has no plans to dispatch troops or National Guard soldiers to polling places. 

Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul Lopez, who administers the city's elections, said this week his department is still prepared for "potential ICE agents at polls," CBS News Colorado reported.

"If if they want to try, go for it, but you're going to need bail money," he said.

There are snakes and frogs, turtles and fish, even a chameleon.

But the newest additions are lurking about, waiting to make their big debut.

"This is an Indian gharial, which is a type of crocodillian. This one is a little sassy today. This is one of hatchlings from 2026," said Vicky Poole, the associate curator of ectotherms at the Fort Worth Zoo.

It is one of eight new baby gharials born and bred right in Cowtown, and it is kind of a big deal.

"This is a critically endangered species; there's actually less than 1,000 adults in the wild," said Poole. "It's record-breaking because this is the fourth year in a row for us; it's record-breaking because it's eight surviving hatchlings  this year, which is our largest yet."

The eight hatchlings more than double the zoo's group of baby gharials, each with its own signature snout.

"Their snout will grow out faster than what looks like the rest of their body, and I call that their awkward teenage years, and then they kind of grow into that snout, where their body starts catching up," said Poole.

Trust me, they grow into their snouts.

"They will grow up to 15, 16 feet as an adult male. As they get bigger we stay away from their faces," said Poole.

Good advice for any aspiring naturalists out there.

The hatchlings are being kept out of public view as they continue to grow, but visitors can now see full-grown and juvenile gharials on display at the Fort Worth Zoo.

The Ross Fire has been burning in North Texas for more than two weeks, and is still just 76% contained. Nearly 100,000 acres in Palo Pinto and Jack Counties have burned, and new fires spark up daily. The fires have been fueled by dry vegetation, caused by a lack of precipitation.

That's why a rain storm that popped up in Palo Pinto County on Thursday was such a relief to residents. 

Mollie Flanery, who lives on 147 acres in Graford, was among those who were grateful. She posted a video of herself dancing in the downpour, arms stretched, full of emotion and looking to the sky.

The video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook.

Flanery said that a new fire had sparked close to her house just minutes before the raindrops began. "What a God," she said.

While areas west of I-35 got a good soaking rain, areas to the east of I-35 were much more spotty, with no rain at DFW, where records are kept. We'll go another week without any widespread rain chances. 

Isolated showers and storm chances will be possible throughout the day on Friday, but coverage will be very localized.

DFW hits record 9 triple-digit days in September  

There's no heat advisory in place for Thursday, although we hit 100 ahead of the rain, marking the most triple-digit days during the month of September in DFW history, beating 2023, which had 8 days. Thursday marks 9 days for DFW.

Mansfield ISD informed parents this week that Linda Jobe Middle School Principal Elizabeth Hostin had resigned. Hostin had come out of retirement to return to education.

The resignation comes less than a month into the new school year.

In a statement to CBS News Texas, Mansfield ISD said the investigation began last week, "regarding allegations of concerning comments made by the principal at Linda Jobe Middle School. The investigation was underway when the principal independently submitted her resignation.

"We take these concerns seriously and acted promptly upon learning of the claims."

The district said Hostin previously worked at Boren Elementary School.

CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Mr. Trump says he doesn't think Congress would need to approve the payments, which he called "a great infusion" — money he says would have to be spent in the U.S., not other countries.

The president is in North Texas this week, delivering the keynote address Wednesday and closing remarks Thursday night at the first-ever Republican midterm convention being held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. 

During his speech Wednesday night, he stood by his decision to launch the war with Iran, endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Senate race, and surprised the crowd with the $5,000 dividend proposal. Mr. Trump is sure to face pushback if he attempts to send dividends without approval from Congress. It's not clear what legal authority the president has for such payments, which could cost upwards of a trillion dollars.

Ahead of his second night at the convention, Mr. Trump was slated to tour the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, where Fink secured a one-on-one interview in hopes of getting some answers on the president's comments. 

Here's how that conversation unfolded: 

Fink: Mr. Trump, last night you proposed "Trump Dividends," giving every American adult citizen $5,000, and I'm wondering if Congress would need to approve that? 

Trump: Well, we think not. I think they will do it if we needed it. But we think not. The country is doing so well, we've taken in trillions of dollars in tariffs and other things. We have now over $20 trillion worth of manufacturing plants and other investments being made in the United States, which is far greater than ever before. And we think it's something that'll be good. We do have one proviso, and that's that the money be spent... people spend their money in the United States. We don't want to have that money spent in other countries. We think it's something that's really good, popular and it's a great infusion. 

Fink: Your super PAC MAGA Inc. is spending $10 million on TV ads for Ken Paxton. How much more money are you willing to spend to help Paxton win, and what are your plans to return to Texas to campaign for him? 

Trump: I'll be back in Texas. I love Texas; I've won it three times. I have the honor of having the biggest vote in the history of Texas politically. I think all three times it got higher... So I like Texas, and I guess they like me. We've done wonders for the oil industry, as you know, we're doing really well and are very proud of Texas. Ken's a fantastic guy, probably the best attorney general that we've had in years in this country, the whole country. I jokingly said, "I don't like the way he dresses, I don't like the way sometimes he talks, but he's the greatest attorney general in the country." And he really is, fantastic actually. If it wasn't for him, we probably wouldn't have the wall, at least not to the extent that we have it. And so many other things. So, I've invested in ads and other things for him because the other side has a lot more money, and it'd be terrible having Talarico... other nicknames we call him, I won't use that name right now but I used it last night. Having him would be, really be an insult to Texas. 

Fink: In 2024, you won most of the Texas counties along the southern border. Republicans want to flip the South Texas congressional district, but the Democrats say they're feeling pretty good about their chances. And I'm wondering, what is your message to Hispanic voters? 

Trump: I think I won every county along the border, and they say that's the first time that happened since Reconstruction or the Civil War, another way of putting. And I just have a great feeling for Hispanics and they have a great feeling for me and it's been that way... If you look in Miami, you, at those numbers. If, look at Florida, those numbers. So, I think we're in very very strong shape in Texas. And again, we had a victory, we won by a lot. I won by a lot. And everybody that was on the ticket came along with me. So, it was good. Now, this time I'm not running, so it's a big difference when you're running and not running. I'm just asking the people, you people that are listening, pretend I'm running because we have to win. This is very, very important. ... We have the hottest country anywhere in the world and we can't let it go. 

Republicans are flying and driving in to fill up the American Airlines Center for something the party has never tried before: a national midterm convention designed to turn political enthusiasm into votes with control of Congress hanging in the balance.

The two-day gathering begins Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Dallas. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance headline a lineup of more than 100 speakers as Republicans will make their case to voters less than two months before Election Day. The RNC expects about 20,000 people, making it the party's largest convention in a decade.

While the spotlight will be national, some of the biggest stakes are right here in Texas.

Why Dallas, why now?

CBS News Texas' Eye on Politics reporter Jack Fink believes much of what may transpire could depend on what Mr. Trump says.

"President Trump is obviously still very popular with a majority of the Republicans," Fink said. "He can motivate Republicans like no other to get out and vote."

Republicans believe they will need that motivation, especially as the party enters the final stretch of the midterms, facing political headwinds nationally and competitive races at home. The RNC has said the convention is intended to highlight the Trump administration's record and rally voters behind Republican candidates as the GOP fights to maintain control of Congress.

Expect Republicans to lean heavily on tax cuts, immigration and border security, the economy and education. Democrats are offering a much different assessment of the administration's record, including its immigration enforcement policies, while affordability and the ongoing war with Iran add another layer to voters' concerns.

Republicans are coming to Dallas with a sales pitch — and a turnout operation.

"This is meant to fire up the base and get them out and vote and get them excited," Fink said.

Trump likes the state, Republican leaders told CBS News Texas when Dallas was selected. Texas is also home to one of the country's most closely watched U.S. Senate races, where Trump's endorsed candidate, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton faces Democratic state Rep. James Talarico. 

The latest numbers explain some of the urgency.

VoteHub, which is working with the CBS News Data Desk, told CBS News Texas that its current polling average has Talarico ahead of Paxton by 2.4 percentage points. But its broader model considers the race a toss-up, in part because some undecided voters have previously supported Republican candidates.

That makes Texas more than a backdrop for this convention.

Trump, Vance, Gov. Greg Abbott, Paxton, and other Republican leaders will use Dallas to argue for keeping Texas — and Congress — in Republican hands.

What to expect at the RNC convention

Trump is scheduled to address the convention on both days, delivering the opening-night keynote Wednesday. Vance headlines Thursday evening, with Trump returning for closing remarks. 

Outside, expect a different kind of production.

Victory Park and the streets surrounding the American Airlines Center will be under heightened security. CBS News Texas has reported that tents, gates, and staging are already going up around the arena, with local, state, and federal law enforcement involved in security preparations. Road closures and checkpoints will affect the area during the convention. (CBS News⁠)

Inside, expect a rally.

Outside, expect a fortress.

And beyond the gates, expect both parties to be watching whether any of it moves voters.

Dallas has seen this stage before — but not like this

The midterm convention is a first for Republicans, but a Republican convention in Dallas is not.

Remember 1984?

Forty-two years ago, Republicans gathered here to renominate former President Ronald Reagan. The political landscape was different, the purpose was different, and the stakes were different. 

This time, there is no presidential nomination waiting at the end.

There is a November election.

And turnout could be enormous. VoteHub has told CBS News Texas it expects unusually heavy participation in Texas this midterm cycle. Democrats are motivated, Fink said, which puts pressure on Republicans to match that energy.

"Democrats are very motivated to get out and vote," Fink said. "And that's why the Republicans want their people to be motivated as well."

For two days in Dallas, Republicans will have the arena, the lights and some of the party's biggest names.

The question that won't be answered inside American Airlines Center is whether the energy follows voters home — and eventually, to the ballot box.

This week's full episode of Eye on Politics can be found below:

Simpson, 39, had helped a group of girls pace themselves during a milelong run in Raleigh, North Carolina, in June moments before she collapsed. She told CBS News she doesn't remember anything that happened that day. But Ivy and Joey Pointer will never forget it. 

Joey Pointer is the CEO of the company Fleet Feet, which hired Simpson as its chief running officer earlier this year. Ivy is a pediatric intensive care unit physician. The pair aren't just Simpson's co-workers and friends: They are also the parents of a child with a congenital heart disease, so they carry an automated external defibrillator. That meant when Simpson collapsed, they had all the tools necessary to rush to her side. 

"When I looked over from afar, I knew that something was very, very wrong," Ivy told CBS News. "So I told Joey to grab an AED and ran over and got there. ... I just remember thinking like, 'This can't happen right now. Like we have a lot happening soon and that this is not going to happen right now. You are going to fight. You're going to hold on. You have to wake up.' And I just kept saying her name and kind of screaming her name, honestly."

Simpson, a bronze medalist in the 1,500 meters at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, had spent the last year on a 50-state running tour with her husband Jason, joining local groups in scenic, far-flung places. If she had experienced a cardiac event without lifesaving resources nearby, her story might have had a different ending. 

"It means to me that there was a God present in all of this, my family doesn't have a history of heart conditions," Simpson said. "I don't know that a lot of the time in my life I'm around people that know how to intervene when there is a heart condition. And it's like I got plucked out of my home and put into this family."

Ivy and other bystanders performed CPR until first responders arrived and rushed Simpson to an area hospital. She suffered a second cardiac arrest and was then transferred to Duke University Medical Center. Her husband flew to be by her side as she spent days on life support. Waking up was unlike anything she had ever experienced, she said. 

"I've spent so much of my life and my career bringing people joy, and to wake up and see that the room was full of heaviness and sorrow — that was really hard," Simpson said. 

Simpson was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a rare congenital heart condition where the heart repairs damage with tissue that doesn't properly conduct electricity in the right ventricle. Running doesn't cause the condition, but it did eventually reveal it. 

"When my heart was pumping blood and was dilated, at some point in my life, it was very likely the electricity was going to turn off, and that's what happened," Simpson said. "[My cardiologist] said, 'You thought you trained your whole life for the Olympics, but you were really training your whole life for June 16.' I trained my whole life for that day — and I won." 

Simpson had a defibrillator and pacemaker implanted, and regularly sees her cardiologist, who she called her "favorite person in the world." But still, she'll never be able to run again. She's still not sure what comes next, but she said her husband and the Pointers have given her space and encouragement as she figures that out. 

Simpson said on Instagram she is recovering at home in Colorado and will continue to work at Fleet Feet. There's still "a lot to learn about what my recovery will look like over time," she wrote, but she's "not afraid of what comes next because I know I'm not alone." 

Simpson told CBS News she is focused on maintaining a positive mindset as she recovers. 

"To think that the way I showed up as a person and as a woman with my last mile was in community, taking young girls around the track, I'm really proud of that," Simpson said. "That's what I'm grateful for. That's what I want to remember."