By Amanda Casanova

The Irving Independent School District voted on April 1 to table a proposal that would allow employees with concealed handgun licenses to store their guns in the school’s parking lots.

The unanimous move by the board means the proposal isdead until a board member brings it back to the district for consideration.

The proposal comes in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy, a shooting that has sparked debate with some, arguing that schools are easy targets because of gun restrictions and others who say students or others could break into the gun-carrying cars.

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By Amanda Casanova

IRVING –In another narrow vote, trustee Steven Jones, accused of interfering in day-to-day district operations, was censured at an April 1 Irving Independent school board meeting.

The board voted 4-3 for the censure. Board President Ronda Huffstetler and trustees Valerie Jones, Jerry Christian and Gwen Craig voted in favor and trustees Steven Jones, Larry Stipes and Gail Condor Wells voted against.

“I have done exactly what I said I would do during my campaign,” Steven said. “These attempts to assassinate my character with baseless allegations will not deter my determination in keeping a stronghold on administrative spending and increasing student achievement.”

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By Will Jukes

The Irving Police Department hosted its annual Police Banquet Thursday, March 28 at the Dallas Marriott in Las Colinas. The evening, which featured dinner, drinks and entertainment, celebrated the work and achievements of IPD officers and civilian employees. Awards were granted in categories including Officer of the Year, Rookie of the Year and “Brass Pig,” a prize recognizing the year's most Three-Stooges-esque encounter.

The event also sought to raise money for the department, featuring silent and live auctions. Prizes included jewelery, a set of custom glasses and decanter, and a dinner prepared by the IPD captains and Carol Susat from the Irving Family Advocacy Center.

Though the event is predominatly for the benefit of IPD employees, Susat hopes that the banquet can help promote connection and cooperation between the IPD and residents of the city of Irving.

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Three years after imploding more than 1 million square feet of building space downtown, First Baptist Church of Dallas, led pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress, completed the largest Protestant church building campaign in modern history, opening its new state-of-the-art $130 million campus on Easter Sunday.

The new facilities feature the newest technological advances for any church, providing a unique worship experience. A new 3,000-seat Worship Center, located next to the historic landmark 122-year-old sanctuary, includes a 150-foot-wide IMAX-quality video wall stretching more than two-thirds the width of the auditorium. It incorporates seven high-definition projectors blended together, making it one of the largest viewing screens in any church in the world. Additionally, wood bands along the walls surrounding the Worship Center contain LED strips that can be programmed to millions of different colors, creating dramatic ambient lighting to supplement and enhance any platform program.

“Our dream was to create a spiritual oasis in the middle of downtown Dallas,” said Jeffress. “We incorporated some of the newest technology available to offer an interactive worship opportunity unlike any other. In addition, though able to seat thousands of people, the Worship Center still provides an intimate church feeling, rather than a convention center experience.”

Source: First Baptist Dallas

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