The Indian Panorama

Tag: Dallas

  • Swastika Spray painted on Dallas Rabbi’s car- a hate crime

    Swastika Spray painted on Dallas Rabbi’s car- a hate crime

    DALLAS (TIP): An Orthodox Jewish Dallas rabbi was the victim of vandals who defaced his vehicle by spray painting it with the very emblem of hatred — a swastika. The incident happened in the early evening hours of Wednesday, March 11, according to   a Breitbart Texas report.

    “I feel completely violated. As a Jew, the swastika is the most offensive symbol that there is. They didn’t just attack me; they attacked every Jew in the City of Dallas. I am very grateful, however, that the members of Congregation Toras Chaim are banding together to ensure that there is no disruption in our activities,” the synagogue’s Rabbi Yaakov Rich told Breitbart Texas. Congregation Toras Chaim is a small Orthodox Jewish community that serves 20 families in North Dallas where they meet in a home for private worship.

    Last month, Breitbart Texas reported that a Collin County district judge dismissed a lawsuit by the neighborhood home owner’s association that attempted to stop the rabbi’s congregation from worshiping inside the residence.

    On Monday, March 2, the City of Dallas turned around and filed a lawsuit against the Congregation Toras Chaim, demanding that they get a certificate of occupancy for the home and make improvements that comply with building, fire, safety and parking codes or face fines of $1,000 per violation per day. The residential property in question sits in the City of Dallas in a portion of the neighboring Collin County.

    The act of vandalism came the week after the City of Dallas filed that lawsuit. The timing is a little suspicious, although the rabbi only speculated that he thought the hate-crime may have been perpetrated by a juvenile, one who did not fully understand the heinous connotation behind the swastika historically associated with Adolf Hitler, Nazi Germany and the Holocaust.

    Texas is not one of the five states that mandate Holocaust education. Those states are California, New York, New Jersey, Florida and Illinois. However, states that teaches the Holocaust as part of a larger study on genocide in the high school grades.

    The incident was disconcerting to the rabbi regardless of whether or not the swastika was spray painted onto his car by a juvenile. Rich feared the possibility of a copy cat crime. “We have to be vigilant about what’s going on,” he told Breitbart Texas.

    This is not the first time the congregation has dealt with anti-Semitism. Liberty Institute Senior Counsel Justin Butterfield, who has represented Congregation Toras Chaim in its legal battles to remain at its residential location, previously told CBS DFW that the religious signpost on the door frame of the Jewish house of worship was ripped off.

    “They’ve also had people drive in front of the home screaming obscenities at them,” said Butterfield.

    “Acts of violence against religious beliefs are being perpetrated around the world. But these acts should never be tolerated in America, which was founded on the principle of religious liberty for all,” said Butterfield who affirmed Liberty Institute’s commitment to stand by Rabbi Rich, his family, and Congregation Toras Chaim until their religious freedom rights are secured and justice is done.

    Breitbart Texas reached out to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in Dallas, which serves North Texas and Oklahoma, and attempted to speak to its Regional Director Roberta Clark, who did not return our calls before press time.

    The ADL, which was founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry. Although they applauded the condemnation of students in the Oklahoma University in this week’s SAE fraternity racism scandal and recently, they commended the City of Plano for its Equal Rights ordinance, there was no mention of the anti-Semitic hate-crime against the rabbi on their news web page at the time of this report.

    For now, the hate-crime appears to have rallied the community and their neighbors together. Rich told Breitbart Texas that residents of many religious faiths and backgrounds have reached out to the congregation since the incident.

    He said that someone “very graciously donated a security system” to the synagogue.

    The incident has also brought the congregation closer. Rich said that because of concern for his safety congregant’s husbands are walking him home after services.

    The rabbi believes that, in the end, this may have the opposite effect of what the individual who defaced his vehicle with a swastika may have intended.

    He told Breitbart Texas that on the day after his car was spray painted, Thursday, March 12, he was walking to the synagogue and was stopped by a neighborhood man who was driving down the street. The man rolled down his window and asked, “Do you know the rabbi that worships at that house by Mumford and Meandering Way?” Rich looked at the man and said, “I am that person.”

     

    The rabbi said that the driver’s eyes welled up with tears and then, he began to cry as he told the rabbi, “After everything that your people have gone through and all that you have suffered, this should never have happened and I want you to know from the bottom of my heart I am apologizing on behalf of everybody. This is not indicative of the people of this neighborhood and I am so sorry this happened to you.”

    The rabbi was quite touched by the stranger’s heart felt words. He told Breitbart Texas, “This was really special and amazing.”

    He added about uplifting moments like, “I feel like it has motivated people not to want to give up.”

     

  • 2 University of Oklahoma students expelled over racist video

    2 University of Oklahoma students expelled over racist video

    NORMAN, OKLAHOMA (TIP): The University of Oklahoma’s president expelled two students on March 11 after he said they were identified as leaders of a racist chant captured on video during a fraternity event.

    University president David Boren said in a statement the two students were dismissed for creating a “hostile learning environment for others.” Their names were not released.

    The video posted online shows several people on a bus participating in a chant that included a racial slur, referenced lynching and indicated black students would never be admitted to the university’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. A fraternity is an organization of male college students in the US.

    Boren acted swiftly after the video surfaced on late Sunday, severing ties with the fraternity and ordering its house shuttered Monday and announcing the expulsions on Tuesday.

    “I hope that students involved in this incident will learn from this experience and realize that it is wrong to use words to hurt, threaten, and exclude other people,” he said.

    Boren said the university is working to identify other students involved in the chant, who may also face disciplinary action.

    The video was taken on a bus going to an event at a country club. The person who recorded it has cooperated with the investigation, Boren said Tuesday ahead of a Board of Regents meeting.

    On Tuesday, one fraternity member seen on the video and the parents of another issued statements apologizing.

    In a statement emailed by his father, Parker Rice said the incident “likely was fueled by alcohol,” but “that’s not an excuse.” He said he was “deeply sorry” for the performance, calling it “wrong and reckless,” `’a horrible mistake” and “a devastating lesson” for which he is “seeking guidance.”

    He said he withdrew from the university Monday and that threatening calls to his family prompted them to leave their North Dallas home.

    The parents of Levi Pettit posted a statement online saying they were shocked by their son’s actions, that he “made a horrible mistake, and will live with the consequences forever.”

    Also on Tuesday, Beauton Gilbow, the fraternity’s “house mom,” issued a statement that addressed a second online video from 2013 that had surfaced, showing her repeating a racial slur against blacks as music plays in the background.Gilbow said she was singing along to a song. She said she was “heartbroken” by the portrayal that she was racist but understood how the video must appear in the context of the week’s events.A “house mom” is a housing director who might oversee staff and finances at a sorority or fraternity house.

    Windows at the fraternity were boarded up and moving vans were parked outside Tuesday. Members have until midnight to remove their belongings. The Greek letters have already been removed from the side of the sprawling, sand-colored brick house on a street lined with fraternity and sorority houses just west of the center of campus.

    Markeshia Lyon, one of about 1,400 black students who attend the university’s Norman location, said the mostly segregated Greek culture on campus is partly to blame for creating an environment where racism can thrive.

    “That’s something that’s passed down, and that’s something that needs to change,” Lyon said.

    She also said the video has sparked intense interest in addressing racial tensions on campus.The university, located in the southern Oklahoma City suburb of Norman, has about 27,000 students, about 5 percent of whom are black.On Monday, a top high school football recruit withdrew his commitment to attend the university after seeing the video.

    National leaders of Sigma Alpha Epsilon said an investigation confirmed members took part in the chant and announced they would close the local chapter. The national group said it was “embarrassed” by the
    “unacceptable and racist” behavior.

    Boren said members of the fraternity were “not totally forthcoming.” It’s unclear who recorded the video, when it was recorded and who initially posted it online. Boren suggested it was likely taken by another student who didn’t agree with what was being chanted.

  • DFW South Asian Film Festival |Feb 27 to Mar 1 | Dallas

    DFW South Asian Film Festival |Feb 27 to Mar 1 | Dallas

    DFW South Asian Film Festival(Dallas, TX – Feb. 18, 2015) Fourteen films, exploring the unique circumstances and complex stories of South Asians living in America, India, Nepal, Australia and Singapore, make their Texas, U.S. and world premieres at the FIRST-EVERDallas/Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival (DFW SAFF) from Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1, 2015, at the Angelika Film Center in Plano.

    Produced by JINGO Media, a Dallas and NYC-based PR and events management boutique firm, Etihad Airways & Jet Airways, now offering non-stop flights from DFW to Abu Dhabi, Cambria Hotels & Suites, a brand new hotel property at the Shops at Legacy, and Crow Collection of Asian Art, unveiling its brand new collection of South Asian art, DFW SAFF will bring together directors, actors, producers, community organizations, corporate brands and South Asian cinephiles, over a three-day period. Here are the films that have been consciously-curated for the festival:
     

    Community sponsors & partners of DFW SAFF include: The Container Store, Patrick O’Hara Salon, VelvetCase.com, Living Dreams Foundation, Parish Episcopal School, Milaap, Shraman South Asian Museum and Learning Center Foundation, Forever Rakhi, Indie Meme, Arya Dance Company and New Friends New Life.
     
    Our media partners include: Selig Polyscope Company, Radio Azad, Saavn.com, Radio Hot Pepper, Radio Adda and Desiplaza TV.
     
    “We are so proud and humbled that 30 different community organizations and brands are coming together to support our first-time festival,” said DFW SAFF Festival Director and Principal/CEO of JINGO Media, Jitin Hingorani. “We are certain that North Texas audiences will embrace this festival by giving all our international guests a warm Texas welcome and, hopefully, a few standing ovations.” In addition to film screenings, the festival boasts an opening night red carpet, post-screening Q&As with filmmakers in attendance, after parties and plenty of networking opportunities. For more information and to purchase ticket, please visit www.dfwsaff.com

    Media Contact: Dev Shapiro, Selig Polyscope Company @ 972.965.0899 or Dev@SeligPolyscope.com
     

  • FIRST-EVER DALLAS/FORT WORTH SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL

    FIRST-EVER DALLAS/FORT WORTH SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL

    DFW South Asian Film Festival(Dallas, TX – Feb. 18, 2015) Fourteen films, exploring the unique circumstances and complex stories of South Asians living in America, India, Nepal, Australia and Singapore, make their Texas, U.S. and world premieres at the FIRST-EVERDallas/Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival (DFW SAFF) from Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1, 2015, at the Angelika Film Center in Plano.

    Produced by JINGO Media, a Dallas and NYC-based PR and events management boutique firm, Etihad Airways & Jet Airways, now offering non-stop flights from DFW to Abu Dhabi, Cambria Hotels & Suites, a brand new hotel property at the Shops at Legacy, and Crow Collection of Asian Art, unveiling its brand new collection of South Asian art, DFW SAFF will bring together directors, actors, producers, community organizations, corporate brands and South Asian cinephiles, over a three-day period. Here are the films that have been consciously-curated for the festival:
     

    Community sponsors & partners of DFW SAFF include: The Container Store, Patrick O’Hara Salon, VelvetCase.com, Living Dreams Foundation, Parish Episcopal School, Milaap, Shraman South Asian Museum and Learning Center Foundation, Forever Rakhi, Indie Meme, Arya Dance Company and New Friends New Life.
     
    Our media partners include: Selig Polyscope Company, Radio Azad, Saavn.com, Radio Hot Pepper, Radio Adda and Desiplaza TV.
     
    “We are so proud and humbled that 30 different community organizations and brands are coming together to support our first-time festival,” said DFW SAFF Festival Director and Principal/CEO of JINGO Media, Jitin Hingorani. “We are certain that North Texas audiences will embrace this festival by giving all our international guests a warm Texas welcome and, hopefully, a few standing ovations.” In addition to film screenings, the festival boasts an opening night red carpet, post-screening Q&As with filmmakers in attendance, after parties and plenty of networking opportunities. For more information and to purchase ticket, please visit www.dfwsaff.com

    Media Contact: Dev Shapiro, Selig Polyscope Company @ 972.965.0899 or Dev@SeligPolyscope.com
     

  • Texas executes ‘Texas 7’ prison escapee for officer’s death

    Texas executes ‘Texas 7’ prison escapee for officer’s death

    HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS (TIP): A three-time convicted robber who helped engineer the biggest prison break in Texas history was executed February 4 evening for killing a suburban Dallas police officer while the notorious gang was on the run.

     

    Donald Newbury, 52, became the third member of the group known as the “Texas 7” executed for the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Aubrey Hawkins, a police officer who interrupted the fugitives’ robbery of a sporting goods store on Christmas Eve in 2000.

     

    The slaying occurred 11 days after the convicts escaped. The gang was captured a month later in Colorado.

     

    Asked to make a final statement, he mumbled: “I would. That each new indignity defeats only the body. Pampering the spirit with obscure merit. I love you all. That’s it.” 

     

    As the lethal dose of pentobarbital took effect, he closed his eyes, then took a deep breath and began snoring. After about a dozen snores, each a bit quieter, he stopped all movement.

     

    He was pronounced dead 11 minutes later, at 6:25pm.

     

    About two dozen police officers stood at attention outside the Huntsville prison. Several supporters of the slain officer were on motorcycles outside, and as Newbury was taking his final breaths, the roar of revving engines could be heard inside the death chamber.

     

    The punishment was carried out after Newbury lost a last-day appeal to the US Supreme Court. His attorneys had argued previous lawyers were deficient and courts did not provide adequate money for a defense expert to illustrate how Newbury’s abusive childhood influenced his violent behavior.

     

    Evidence showed the gang led by George Rivas, who had been sentenced to 17 life prison terms, overpowered workers on December 2000, at the Connally Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, south of San Antonio. They broke into a prison armory, stole weapons and drove off in a prison truck.

     

    Two days later, Rivas and Newbury held up a store, taking electronics including police radio scanners.

     

    “Rivas was the leader and would do the talking and Newbury was one of the guys standing with the gun and threatening everybody,” said Toby Shook, the former Dallas County assistant district attorney who prosecuted both. “Rivas was using him as his muscle.” 

     

    Eleven days after the breakout, Hawkins drove to the sporting goods store to check out a report of suspicious activity. He was shot 11 times, his bullet-ridden body pulled from his squad car and then run over with a stolen SUV. The fugitives fled with $70,000, 44 firearms and ammunition, plus jewelry and wallets from store employees who were closing up for the evening.

     

    The gang was apprehended a month later. One of them, Larry Harper, killed himself rather than surrender. When arrested, Newbury had 12 loaded firearms in the Colorado Springs Holiday Inn room he shared with fellow fugitive Joseph Garcia.

  • Ernie Banks nicknamed ‘Mr. Cub’ & and “Mr. Sunshine” dies at 83

    Ernie Banks nicknamed ‘Mr. Cub’ & and “Mr. Sunshine” dies at 83

    Ernie Banks nicknamed  ‘Mr. Cub’ & and “Mr. Sunshine” dies at 83

    Ernie Banks nicknamed  ‘Mr. Cub’ & and “Mr. Sunshine died of a heart attack at a Chicago hospital on January 23, 2015, seven days before his 84th birthday.

    Tributes for Banks were widespread throughout Chicago & Dallas. Banks born in Dallas on January 31, 1931 was an professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB) and played his entire MLB career with the Chicago Cubs. He was a National League All-Star for 11 seasons, playing in 14 All-Star Games. Banks entered Baseball sports through Negro league baseball in 1950, played for the Kansas City Monarchs. He also served in the US military for two years and before returning  to the Monarchs before beginning his major league career in September 1953.

    Banks actively took part in the Chicago community during and after his tenure with the Cubs. He also founded a charitable organization, became the first black Ford Motor Company dealer in the United States.

    He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contribution to sports in 2013.

     President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, called Banks “an incredible ambassador for baseball, and for the city of Chicago.”

    Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement: “Ernie Banks was more than a baseball player. He was one of Chicago’s greatest ambassadors. He loved this city as much as he loved — and lived for — the game of baseball.”

  • Dallas hospitals among nation’s most expensive

    Dallas hospitals among nation’s most expensive

    On Wednesday, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported Dallas has some of the most expensive hospitals in the country. GOA reported some hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area  charging above-average for heart artery stents, total hip replacements and appendectomies.

    GAO found that more than 90 percent of the difference in spending across the country for the above three surgeries was due to hospital charges and the difference in charges vary by upto three times in the case of total hip replacements.

    Government Accountability Office (GAO) is  an independent arm of the federal government

  • Oil crash may kill the Texas housing boom

    Oil crash may kill the Texas housing boom

    DALLAS, TX (TIP): The days of$100 oil are gone — maybe forever –and that means oil companies are cutting jobs — thousands of them.

     

    That’s scary for a Texan real estate industry that had been cruising along in recent years thanks in part to the state’s booming energy business. Credit Suisse believes home construction could tumble 20% in Texas this year.

     

    “Employment growth is one of the most important drivers for housing, with job and income growth driving both local demand and increased population from relocations,” Credit Suisse analyst Michael Dahl wrote in a research report this week.

  • Inquiry planned in Dallas tower fire that killed 3 workers

    Inquiry planned in Dallas tower fire that killed 3 workers

    DALLAS (TIP): One of the three men who died last week in a construction fire in downtown Dallas had worked as a welder for only three months and had no training in the field, his family says.

    Concerns about whether lax standards contributed to the fire have prompted two of the workers’ families to launch an independent inquiry into the fatal fire in an underground tank at Thanksgiving Tower, their attorney said Thursday, December 18.

    “It’s been a very difficult time for these families to lose their husbands and fathers in this holiday season,” said lawyer Domingo Garcia, who is representing the relatives of Nicacio Carrillo-Martinez and Oscar Esparza-Romo.

    The family of the third man, Luis Carrillo-Solorzano, hasn’t decided whether to pursue legal action, Garcia said.

    Best Mechanical Inc. had subcontracted the three Texas HVAC employees to clean several water tanks at the 50-story tower. They died of smoke inhalation after they were trapped by fire in one of the 35-foot-deep tanks, which was part of the building’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

    Questions of liability have arisen since officials said the men and Best Mechanical lacked permits for welding, cutting and hot work. Best Mechanical has said safety equipment and evacuation procedures were in place at the work site.

    Dallas Fire-Rescue and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the fire. But Garcia said his firm also has hired a former OSHA investigator.

    He said an inspection is scheduled next week that will lay the foundation for a private inquiry, which will include interviews with witnesses.

    A family spokesman said Esparza-Romo, who worked for Texas HVAC for about two years, had 10 years of welding experience but had not been formally trained.

    Carrillo-Martinez, 60, moved to North Texas three months ago. He had recently been introduced to welding when his nephew, Luis Carrillo-Solorzano, helped him get a job at Texas HVAC.

    At a news conference Thursday, the workers’ relatives expressed their grief and discussed their decision to seek legal representation.

    “We’re here because we want justice. As you can see, it’s caused a lot of pain and suffering to my family,” said Jose Velasquez, a spokesman for Esparza-Romo’s family. “More than anything, we want to prevent this stuff from happening to other families.”

  • Texas is in danger of a recession

    Texas is in danger of a recession

    DALLAS (TIP): The shale oil boom has been a blessing to Texas, making the state an economic standout during the past few years of ho-hum U.S. growth. But oil’s dramatic plunge below $55 a barrel is scaring the shale industry. Since some wells are unprofitable at lower prices, shale companies will be forced to dial back capital spending and cut jobs.

    While cheap gas is likely to be a net positive for the U.S., Texas is poised to take a hit because of the pivotal role that oil plays in the state’s economy.

    “We think Texas will, at least, have a rough 2015 ahead, and is at risk of slipping into a regional recession,” Michael Feroli, JPMorgan Chase chief U.S. economist, predicted Thursday, December 18.

    Texas has become a dominant oil producer, boosting its share of U.S. crude production from 25% to more than 40% over the past five years.
    That heavy exposure to crude should go from a big positive to a big negative. Crude oil traded above $100 in June. Now the price is about half that at $54.

    1986 all over again? The current situation has echoes of 1986, when oil prices collapsed and caused a painful recession in Texas but the rest of the country kept humming along.

    “The labor market response was severe and swift,” said Feroli, pointing to a two-percentage point jump in the state’s unemployment rate from January to March of 1986 alone.

    Of course, it’s not entirely the same. As Feroli concedes, natural gas prices aren’t collapsing now like they did in 1986, exacerbating the industry’s problems.Also, the oil industry has undergone dramatic technological changes that have make extraction profitable at lower and lower prices.Real-estate, banking fallout: Still, JPMorgan believes Texas will bear the brunt of the pain caused by the oil meltdown, along with North Dakota, America’s second-largest crude producer. “There are some reasons to think that it may not be as bad this time around, but there are even better reasons not to be complacent about the risk of a regional recession in Texas,” Feroli wrote.

    The fallout of a recession in Texas could throw cold water on the state’s hot real estate market and cause pain for regional banks.

    Home prices shrank 14% from their peak during the 1986 recession and hundreds of banks were forced to shut down, JPMorgan said.

  • Dallas land development would fill an empty corner of downtown

    Dallas land development would fill an empty corner of downtown

    DALLAS (TIP): A development that’s planned for a sleepy corner of downtown Dallas could be getting some traction soon. The 12-acre Spire project that’s in the works for the northeast edge of downtown will contain an office tower, hotel, retail and apartment high-rise.

    The project, which has been in the planning stages for more than a year, would occupy one of the largest undeveloped properties in the central business district. “We’ve been intentionally patient and have been working on our plans,” said Jon Ruff, president of property owner and developer Spire Realty Group. “We recognize they are not making any more land downtown.

    “Everybody in the real estate business knows about this project, but the public generally doesn’t,” Ruff said. With the Arts District as a next-door neighbor and development activity spreading east down Ross Avenue, Spire Realty’s vacant lots across the street are looking more appealing for new construction.

    “What was once sort of a forgotten corner of the city is no more,” Ruff said. Spire started buying up the land a decade ago and hired WDG Architecture to plan a high-rise mixed-use project for the property.

    “We are in a position to be able to work on multiple projects at one time,” Ruff said. “We know we are going to have a high-rise office, a high-rise multifamily building and a boutique hotel. “We are teeing them all up so that when the timing is right we can execute them.”

    The first phase will probably be a 21-story, 375,000-square-foot office building Spire Realty plans to build on San Jacinto Street behind the Plaza of the Americas complex. Ruff said construction drawings and designs are complete for the tower.

    Out pitching

    The developer is talking to potential tenants.”We’re out pitching companies,” said Spire’s Campbell Henry. “With our location at the Arts District, we need to find the right tenant to be in the project.”

    Spire Realty also owns downtown’s Bryan Tower, which is 80 percent leased and about to get some ground-floor upgrades.Ruff said the developers hope to attract a major company that wants to move downtown to take advantage of the growth in the Arts District and Uptown.

    “Now that we are starting to see companies move here from outside of downtown, we view that as a real possibility for our project,” Ruff said. “We think we will be in a real good position.” Downtown officials agree that the property has potential as a corporate office location. “At this point in the market and the progress made downtown, the location and size of the Spire assemblage is an enormous advantage for tenants looking downtown,” said John Crawford, CEO of the economic development group Downtown Dallas Inc.

    First phase

    Ruff said the developers are also considering an apartment project or hotel for the first phase. “We could have sold that land -all 12 acres if we chose – to apartment builders,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of interest from hotel groups. “We have three or four groups we are talking with about a 200-room full-service hotel.”

    Closer at hand, Spire Realty plans to start making street-side upgrades and landscaping to give its property more appeal. “We have dedicated land to the city so they can widen Routh Street, and that’s finally happening,” Ruff said. “We hope that next year we will be able to start to improve that site and make it look more like a development.”

    Construction of the new Hall Arts office tower on Ross Avenue and redevelopments planned at several 1980s office projects in the neighborhood are pouring millions of dollars in new investment into the area. Thousands of new office workers are moving to nearby buildings. “The area is going to continue to get better, and the Arts District has improved with age,” Ruff said. “The activity and traffic has become heavier.”

  • Texas Capital Bank Ranks 11th in Dallas Morning News Top 100 Places to Work

    Texas Capital Bank Ranks 11th in Dallas Morning News Top 100 Places to Work

    DALLAS (TIP): Texas Capital Bank has announced that it ranked eleventh in the large company category on The Dallas Morning News’ 2014 Top 100 Places to Work in Dallas-Fort Worth list. The bank was also recognized in 2013.

    The Dallas Morning News Top 100 surveyed employees from 315 companies and as in past years, the ranking was based on scores across a combination of seven areas, which included connection and direction of company, pay and benefits, confidence in leadership and work-life balance.

    “Texas Capital Bank is one of the most successful banks in the country because the best people in the industry have chosen to help us build this company and I am humbled that they think we are one of the best places to work,” said CEO Keith Cargill.

    ABOUT TEXAS CAPITAL BANK

    Texas Capital Bank is a commercial bank that delivers highly personalized financial services to businesses and entrepreneurs. We are headquartered in Texas working with clients throughout the state and across the country. Texas Capital Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (TCBI) and is recognized as a Forbes Best Banks in America and the Dallas Morning News’ Top 100 Places To Work company. To find out why we’re the Best Business Bank in Texas(R), please visit
    www.texascapitalbank.com.

  • Americans Together organizes Thanksgiving Celebrations and Awards Night

    Americans Together organizes Thanksgiving Celebrations and Awards Night

    Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson graces the occasion

    Report/photos by Zia Khan/ 214-207-7922 DALLAS (TIP): Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas presided over the proceedings of the 16th annual thanksgiving celebrations and awards night organized by Americans Together on Saturday, November 22, 2014. It was a bridge building event between communities. We ought to be thankful to Native Americans, who did not put the electric fence around Americas to keep the illegal aliens like Columbus and other Europeans from entering America without a visa.


    2
    Mike Ghouse, President of Americans Together and the chief architect of the Thanksgiving celebrations underscored the importance of sharing, caring and thanksgiving.


    Today, we are a nation of immigrants, other than the natives; almost all of us are immigrants from one to several generations. The event was organized by America Together Foundation, World Muslim Congress. And the Foundation for Pluralism, all committed to building a cohesive America where no American has to live in tension, discomfort, apprehension or fear of the other. The purpose of celebrating this event was to thank God for guiding us to learn to respect the otherness of others, and accept the God given uniqueness of each one of us. And more importantly it is to familiarize the new immigrants with the festivities.


    3
    The honorees with Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and Mike Ghouse


    You’ll be surprised to find that many of them have not even seen the thanksgiving meal and its fixings. It was not a part of their study for citizenship and apparently no one has done this as a public event. “Congresswoman Johnson represents the aspiration of fellow Americans; justice and liberty for every American in his or her pursuit of happiness, and she fights for that relentlessly – Is that the kind of congressperson we want?, well here she is.” Mike Ghouse welcomed her amidst a thunderous applause.


    4
    A view of the gathering


    To paraphrase Congresswoman Johnson, “we have made sacrifices to respect the human rights, civil liberties and freedom for our new generations and now they have those rights. On the map of the world, ours is still the best country. The immigrant community has always played an important role in the development of US.” It was a delight to watch the Congresswoman carve the symbolic turkey, and sharing what thanksgiving means to her; to count your blessings.

    For many a immigrants it is an introduction to the American way of life and who else can do a better job than the Congresswoman? Through her efforts and against all impediments, she has realized her American dream. Chef Ali of Spicy Cuisine in Irving prepared delicious vegetarian and non-veg meals with a fixing of thanksgiving delicacies. Congresswoman Johnson presented the awards to four community leaders and delivered a beautiful keynote address on gratitude,while highlighting the need for events like this to bring people together regardless of their political, religious, racial or and social affiliation to build a safe, secure and a cohesive America.

    Mike Ghouse, president of the foundation shared the real life stories that exemplify thanksgiving; stories about Appaiah and the hospitality in Saudi Arabia. How each one of us can restore the spiritual balance within and live a productive, meaningful and a purposeful life. The Appaiah story was published in Huffington Post Link , and the Saudi story, all pictures, and notes will be at www.ThanksgivingCelebrations.org The attendees were represented by people of different faiths, races, political orientations and other uniqueness’s. They cheered on when Mike Ghouse, chair of the event asked.

    Whether you are Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Gay, Lesbian, Black, White, Native, Immigrant, Republican or Democrat, how many of you like to see your Congress person represent you with equal care and consideration? How many of you would like to see your congress person treat you with dignity and respect regardless of who you are? Well here she is, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.” She delivered a beautiful key note speech about Gratitude. The following individuals were recognized for their outstanding contributions to building bridges in the communities we live – the title conferred upon all of them was “Pluralist” – meaning someone who respects the otherness of others. Every society has heroes – that is men and women who have gone beyond their normal self to serve the communities at large, and it is our responsibility as a society to acknowledge, cherish and honor them.

    Here is a brief introduction of the recipients; detail profiles will be available at www.thanksgivingcelebrations.org. Raja Zahid A. Khanzada –

    a Journalist for his “Commitment to truth in Journalism.” He reports for the top news media conglomerates in Pakistan and has been a catalyst in a process of “forgiveness” of the robbers – where they surrendered their guns in return for acceptance in the society to live and breathe a normal life, and be the contributors of the nation. It is sort of what President Obama is doing with the undocumented aliens, a noble thing to do. Raja is a relentless pursuer of education with three Master’s degrees and a degree in Homeopathic medical sciences and holds certification from American Alternative Medicine Practitioner Board in practice of alternative medicine. He amazed everyone when he asked his mother to receive the plaque.

    Amina Rab –

    a community activist and leader for “Building Bridges.” Amina is deeply committed to building bridges between the Muslim community and other communities. It is not her job, but a passion to build bridges. She is the President of the Council on American Islamic Relations- DFW chapter and is the first woman to serve on the North Texas Islamic Council, and is a founding Board member of Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation. She is a Scientist in the healthcare industry for 20 years. Amina is an entrepreneur with a home based business, a mother, a grandmother and a community Activist with a passion to promote peace and justice in the world.

    Anne Marie Weiss –

    a community leader for “Bringing the DFW communities together.” Anne Marie single handedly started the DFW international in early nineties – she had the vision for making the Dallas/ Fort worth an international Metroplex, even before it was declared as such. Today, DFW International has become an exemplary institution in America. There is nothing like it. Where can you find connections to every cultural, religious, social and ethnic group in one place? None in America! She has put Dallas Fort Worth on the world Map. If you see the demographic statistics of nationalities and ethnicities in Dallas, it was her effort. It is her selfless devotion to the belief that DFW should genuinely reflect its diversity.

    Sante Santhanam Chary –

    is a national figure in “Connecting the World Leaders.” Sante is one of the very few Americans, perhaps the only immigrant who has met, shook hands and shared a message with 7 American Presidents and 8 Indian Presidents/Prime Ministers. Sante is continuously forging political and business ties between the United States and India and in September this year, he got the US Senate to pass a resolution creating “2014 U.S.-India Partnership Day” to honor Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US. He has set a new world record by collecting over 55 contemporary signatures in solidarity on a USPS issued First Day Envelope with Mahatma Gandhi’s stamp on it. Sante is a healthcare entrepreneur with a focus on physician staffing services to small towns in the US. He is a graduate of The Harvard Business School and the Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

  • Nationwide protests follow Grand Jury verdict in Michael Brown killing case

    Nationwide protests follow Grand Jury verdict in Michael Brown killing case

    I.S. Saluja

    NEW YORK (TIP): New York has been among the large number of cities across the United States of America to witness loud protests following the Grand Jury verdict to not indict police officer Darren Wilson who had shot and killed the 18 year old Michael Brown in Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis County, Missouri on August 9, 2014. Since November 24 when the Grand Jury verdict was announced by Prosecutor McCulloch in a 20-minute press conference in Ferguson at least 400 protesters have been arrested across the US, as they rallied against the grand jury decision on the shooting of Mike Brown in Ferguson, and police violence in general.


    18

    Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of New York City for the second night on Tuesday 25th November, 2014, chanting loudly and blocking traffic on some of Manhattan’s busiest streets to express outrage over the decision not to indict a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo., in the death of an unarmed black man. The protesters marched on Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive, through Times Square and across the Manhattan Bridge, disrupting traffic along those routes and at the Lincoln Tunnel, and Union Square. The protesters, a diverse and relatively young crowd, held signs saying, “Hands up, don’t shoot,” and “Black Lives Matter.” Around 9 p.m. they began to enter the roadway on the Manhattan Bridge, chanting, “Whose bridge? Our bridge,” and then crossed into Brooklyn.

    Some 200 activists were detained in Los Angeles. At 7:30 pm local time on Wednesday, November 26. Police told the demonstrators to leave within four minutes. Those who stayed were taken to police stations, with a possible bail of $500. If the bail isn’t paid, the detainees are to stay in prison until at least December 1. “We won’t stand aside. The LAPD’s temper is known to the whole world. There’s no need to think of the film plots! We should protect ourselves, our patience has run out, we’ll be seeking the re-examination of the Wilson case,” a protester called Angelo told a news agency.


    19


    In Oakland, California, hundreds of protesters marched through the city, spraying walls, billboards and bus stops with graffiti and smashing storefront windows. It all led to clashes with police in a public plaza adjacent to City Hall. San Diego saw a peaceful march, with around 300 people chanting “Ferguson, we’ve got your back!” In Dallas, Texas, three members of a group called ‘Come and Take It’ marched alongside demonstrators, saying they were prepared to step in and protect private property if things turned ugly.


    20


    Things have also been largely peaceful in Ferguson, Missouri. Amid the snowy weather, several dozen protesters remained near the police station. On Monday, protests turned violent, with looting, gunfire, and clashes leading to over 60 arrests. Forty-five more people were detained on Tuesday. Over 2,000 National Guard forces were sent to step up security in Ferguson over the past few days. The protests kicked off after Darren Wilson, a white police officer who shot dead unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown back in August, was not indicted by a grand jury on Monday.

    The governor of Missouri has reportedly rejected calls for a new grand jury to reexamine the case. In a statement on Wednesday, November 26 Wilson said that he had a “clean conscience” over the killing. Brown’s family said that they were “crushed” by the grand jury’s decision, and that their son was “crucified” by the prosecutors, but called on the rallies to remain peaceful.

  • Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson to grace the Thanksgiving Celebrations & Awards Nite in Dallas

    Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson to grace the Thanksgiving Celebrations & Awards Nite in Dallas

    DALLAS (TIP): Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson is the guest of honor and key note speaker at the 16th Annual Thanksgiving Celebrations & Awards Nite on Saturday, November 22, 2014. During the evening’s celebrations, Congresswoman Johnson will recognize District 30 constituents for their outstanding service to the community followed by the delivery of her keynote address on gratitude. “The purpose of celebrating this event is to thank God for helping us learn to accept, respect and appreciate each other’s uniqueness and thank America for being the beacon of hope to the world” said Mike Ghouse, founder and chairperson of the event.

    Give thanks for the blessed life we all enjoy in these United States of America, wish and pray the same for those who are less fortunate than us.

    Celebrate the diversity of God’s creation and enjoying the cultural heritage of each ethnic group.

    Appreciate and recognize outstanding volunteers in each community.

    Gather together as Immigrant Americans with naturally born Americans in celebrating this wonderful holiday.

    For many of the immigrants it is an introduction to the American way of life.

    Please join us for an interfaith dinner among multicultural attendees, gathered together under the belief that the more we learn about one another, the less misunderstandings are there to be had. If we can learn to respect others and accept the God given uniqueness of all, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. Master Chef Ali will prepare a special thanksgiving plate that your taste buds will cherish.

    Accepted Donations are $20/person or $50/person. You can reserve your place to attend via Eventbrite: Thanksgiving Celebrations & Awards Dinner

    Saturday, Nov 22, 2014

    Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

    Food: Separate Vegetarian food | Halal | Turkey

    Place: Spicy Cuisine, Restaurant

    Address: 1800 Valley View Ln, Irving, TX 75061

    Poetry session in Urdu and Hindi on Gratitude 9:30 – 12:00

    www.AmericaTogetherFoundation.com

    www.ThanksgivingCelebrations.org

    www.FoundationforPluralism.com The event will benefit the America Together Foundation, a 501 (3) (c) nonprofit charity committed to building a cohesive America where no American has to live in apprehension or fear of the other.

    Mike Ghouse
    (214) 325-1916
    MikeGhouse@aol.com

  • North Texas teachers, children killed on road trip

    North Texas teachers, children killed on road trip

    DALLAS (TIP): Two North Texas teachers and several of their children were killed overnight while driving through Louisiana for a Disney vacation. Trudi and Michael Hardman died in the single-vehicle crash on Interstate 20 just west of Calhoun, La. Trudi was a kindergarten teacher at Wills Point Primary School, and Michael taught second grade at JFK Elementary in Terrell. The couple’s 4-year-old daughter, Casey, Michael’s 7-year-old son, Andrew, and Trudi’s 15-year-old, Dakota, were also killed.

    Trudi’s son, Hunter, and Michael’s son, Adam, survived and have been released from the hospital. Louisiana State Police said that the horrific crash happened around midnight. The16-year-old driving the family, Aaron Hardman, likely fell asleep at the wheel and left the road. He overcorrected and the family’s Chevy Tahoe began rolling, police said. Aaron remains hospitalized in intensive care in Shreveport. Police said six of the eight people in the SUV were not wearing a seatbelt and were ejected. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to all of the people affected by this tragic crash,” said Colonel Mike Edmonson with Louisiana State Police. “Crashes like this one don’t just affect the people involved.

    They affect family members, friends, troopers, first responders and the community at large. In an instance this family vacation turned into an unspeakable tragedy. I cannot stress enough the importance of wearing a seatbelt anytime you are in a vehicle.” The family was reportedly on their way to Walt Disney World in Orlando. “These kids and parents were active in the school and in the Wills Point Baseball Association. This was a wonderful family and was loved by all the kids that these wonderful teachers touched,” The Van Zandt Co Fire Marshal’s Office posted on Facebook.

    Terrell ISD’s superintendent described Michael Hardman as a dedicated teacher. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family members, colleagues, students and friends.We must lift each other up during this difficult time,” said Superintendent Michael French. Wills Point ISD said the impact of the tragedy is far reaching and affects each campus in the district. “Words cannot express the sadness in our hearts today,” said Superintendent Suzanne Blasengame. At least 250 people, including neighbors, friends and colleagues paid tribute to the Hardman family at a candlelight vigil Thursday, November 20 night at the Wills Point baseball fields. The family spent much of their free team on the fields because Michael coached youth league baseball.

  • North Texas transportation planners shift away from toll projects

    North Texas transportation planners shift away from toll projects

    DALLAS (TIP): The Regional Transportation Council on Thursday, November 13, excluded a controversial rural toll road from its long-range plan and dropped efforts to involve the state Transportation Department in financing the divisive Trinity Parkway toll project. Those votes highlight a shift away from the planning entity’s years-long practice of using tolls to finance road construction as state lawmakers repeatedly failed to solve transportation funding shortfalls. The moves also come amid mounting public opposition to toll roads in North Texas, where virtually every major highway project under construction includes tolling.

    The region will soon be home to the nation’s largest network of managed toll lanes, which are being added to existing highways to help add capacity and finance renovations or expansions. “It’s been by force of nature, really, from Austin,” said RTC vice chairman Mark Riley, who also is Parker County judge. “We’ve been given a task but no funds.” Texas voters last week agreed by a nearly 4- 1 ratio to give TxDOT about $1.7 billion a year in additional funding, with the caveat that the new money could not be used on toll projects.

    That still leaves TxDOT with an estimated $3.3 billion shortfall that the agency says it needs to maintain existing roads and build more to keep up with expected population growth. RTC member Jungus Jordan called the election results a mandate. “If the Legislature didn’t get a message out of that, I don’t know what it will take,” he said. Lawmakers have already begun filing bills aimed at further shoring up TxDOT’s funding gap during the legislative session that begins in January. House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, said he expects transportation funding to be a top issue in the upcoming session.

    Northeast Gateway

    The North Central Texas Council of Government’s transportation department, which executes the RTC’s policies, originally recommended putting the divisive Northeast Gateway toll road into a long-range transportation plan. NCTCOG staffers rescinded that recommendation amid massive opposition to the project and criticism over how the agency managed public information about it. The road was planned to run from Garland to Greenville. Residents criticized NCTCOG for basing its support for the road on traffic estimates that far outpaced population growth projections. The project remains an “area of study” in the plan, but the chairman of the private company developing it said he’s not likely to move forward. Texas Turnpike Corp.

    chairman John Crew said he’s already spent $5 million developing the project. He said he has other deals to try to move forward with. “Until you can get the leadership to say we really do need this, it’s not worth using my capital to fight the politics,” he said in an interview last month. The portion of the project that remains a subject to be studied does not include a potential leg that could have run from Garland into Dallas. That phase of the project was identified as a potential extension in an oversight agreement between Texas Turnpike and TxDOT. A Texas Turnpike spokeswoman said that extension was added to the agreement at the behest of NCTCOG officials. NCTCOG spokeswoman Amanda Wilson said the extension would have replaced State Highway 78 through Garland and would not have been tolled. “So, the [agreement] shows it as an extension of the toll road, but if this project would have moved forward, the concept would have been a nontolled arterial to facilitate moving traffic off the toll road in the direction of LBJ,” she said.

    Too cozy?

    Northeast opponents also accused NCTCOG officials of working too closely with the private company and sometimes on its behalf. Many of those complaints centered on emails between NCTCOG senior program manager Tom Shelton and Texas Turnpike executives. NCTCOG transportation director Michael Morris announced Thursday that Shelton is leaving the agency to take a job in the private sector. Morris defended the agency’s traffic estimates and dealings with Texas Turnpike during the Northeast Gateway development. He said Shelton’s departure was unrelated to the project. “Tom did exactly what I asked him to do,” Morris said.RTC members and NCTCOG staffers praised Shelton’s work for the agency and applauded his tenure.

    Trinity Parkway

    NCTCOG staffers had also recommended lobbying state lawmakers to give TxDOT the authority to find a private developer to help finance the Trinity Parkway tollway. They backed away from that proposal after Texas Transportation Commission member Victor Vandergriff said he didn’t want the agency involved in the controversial project. Dallas and North Texas Tollway Authority have an agreement to build that road, which would mostly run inside the Trinity River’s levees.

    But more than $1 billion in funding needed for the $1.5 billion project has yet to be identified. Traffic estimates used to justify that road have also been criticized. But many Trinity opponents also say that the project will further subsidize suburban sprawl to the detriment of Dallas’ downtown core. And they say it is incompatible with planned lakes, parks and recreational areas the city plans to put along the road and the Trinity River. Nonprofit Trinity Commons Foundation is raising money for a design summit aimed at alleviating those concerns. The group wants to have urban planners make tweaks and additions to plans so the road has more landscaping and inviting features.

    Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, a toll road supporter, said Thursday that he will present ideas about better designing the road at a breakfast next week. “This project is critical to the future of our city, and how the design is finalized is one of the most important things we can do,” he said. “I believe this project should be studied and reviewed by recognized experts using the best urban design principles that exist as we move to our next phase.”

  • Texas sets a new wind power record in November

    Texas sets a new wind power record in November

    DALLAS (TIP): Wind power set a new record in Texas in November with 10,301 megawatts of power generated, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Wind turbines set the record at 10:39 a.m. Nov. 2, providing 33.4 percent of the power within ERCOT, which covers 85 percent of Texas. The state of Texas currently has 11,500 MW of installed wind power so the grid used nearly 90 percent of the power available when it set the record. The previous record was 10,296 MW set on March 26. Wind power produced 23.9 million MWh so far in 2014, or 9 percent of the power in the state. Texas has by far the most wind power of any state and produces more wind power than many countries. Still, wind power has faced criticism from politicians in Austin who say it relies too much on subsidies and should stand on its own. Supporters say all types of energy, including coal, oil and natural gas, receive their share of incentives and tax breaks. One Dallas company has a unique take on building community wind farms in West Texas and the Panhandle

  • Texas Leads Best States For Future Job Growth

    Texas Leads Best States For Future Job Growth

    DALLAS (TIP): Rick Perry ascended from Lieutenant Governor to Governor of Texas in December 2000 when thengovernor George Bush resigned after being elected the 43rd President of the United States. Perry will retire in January with the tenth longest gubernatorial tenure in U.S. history. Perry made job creation one of his principle mantras, and he has overseen remarkable employment gains under his watch with 2.1 million jobs added during his tenure.

    The total represents 30% of the jobs added in the U.S. since 2000 and more than twice as many as any other state. The so-called “Texas miracle” does not show any signs of slowing either with 413,000 jobs added over the last 12 months. Texas is expected to have the nation’s fastest annual job growth rate at 2.7% over the next five years, according to data from Moody’s Analytics. Texas has low taxes and light regulation, but Perry’s record also has benefited from the headwinds at his back regarding energy. Oil prices hovered around $30 a barrel between 1986 and 2002 before a stunning climb that peaked at $145 in 2008. Prices plummeted during the Great Recession and over the past month, but oil is still trading around $80 a barrel. The higher prices have propelled massive investments in Texas both financially and in regards to human capital. “Texas has done well primarily because it is an energy center.

    You really can’t get around that,” says Edward Friedman, an economist who tracks Texas for Moody’s Analytics. “Every major energy and oil company has realized over the last 15 years that the only place to be is Houston.” Texas’ prosperity and pro-business environment have led companies outside of the energy sector to flock to the state in recent years. Toyota announced plans to move its North American headquarters from California to a new campus in Plano that will create 4,000 jobs. The Texas Enterprise Fund granted Toyota $40 million to sweeten the pot.

    San Francisco brokerage firm Charles Schwab is moving hundreds of jobs out of California with Austin and El Paso targeted for company expansion. Apple is undergoing an expansion that will roughly double its Austin workforce by hiring 3,600 new employees. Texas ranks first for both its current economic climate and growth prospects in our annual study on the Best States for Business. There are 118 of the largest companies in the U.S. based in Texas, including heavyweights like AT&T ,Exxon Mobil and Dell .

  • US NURSE WHO CAUGHT EBOLA: ‘I’M NOT CARELESS’

    US NURSE WHO CAUGHT EBOLA: ‘I’M NOT CARELESS’

    ATLANTA (TIP): The Dallas nurse who flew on a commercial jet before being diagnosed with Ebola says she wasn’t careless or reckless. In an interview Thursday on NBC’s “Today” show, Amber Vinson also said she didn’t get enough training to feel comfortable treating Ebola patients. She said the first time she donned special protective gear was when she was heading in to take care of an infected patient at her Dallas hospital. Vinson said she checked with health officials before flying Oct 10 from Dallas to Cleveland and returning three days later. The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has acknowledged that Vinson wasn’t stopped from flying, something the agency later said was a mistake on its part. Vinson has recovered from Ebola. She said Thursday she feels good, but still gets tired sometimes.

  • RIL to sell 49.9% stake in US joint venture

    RIL to sell 49.9% stake in US joint venture

    NEW DELHI: Reliance Industries is looking to sell its 49.9% stake in a US joint venture that owns a 460 miles pipeline network for transportation of shale oil and gas. RIL, as well as its partner Pioneer Natural Resources Co, are seeking a buyer for their stakes in Eagle Ford Midstream venture as they focus on shale oil production. “Pioneer Natural Resources today announced that the company is pursuing the divestment of its 50.1% share of the Eagle Ford Shale Midstream business. “Reliance Holding USA, Inc owns the remaining 49.9% of the EFS Midstream business and also plans to pursue the divestment of its share in a joint process with Pioneer,” the Dallas-based independent oil and gas producer said in a statement. RIL, through its subsidiary Reliance Holding USA Inc. had acquired 49.9% stake in EFS Midstream LLC in June 2010. Current investments in EFS Midstream LLC is $208 million.

  • University of Dallas Breaks Ground on New Home for the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business

    University of Dallas Breaks Ground on New Home for the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business

    SB Hall to be a state-of-the-art centerpiece of UD’s business school, ‘global meeting ground’ for students, faculty, staff

    IRVING, Texas (TIP): A benign Sun shone on the venue of groundbreaking celebration on Friday, Oct. 17, to officially mark the start of construction on SB Hall, the new state-of-the-art home of the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Businessin the University of Dallas. When completed in early 2016, the $12 million, 45,000-square-foot academic building will be the centerpiece of UD’s acclaimed Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business, which grants master of business administration (MBA), Master of Science, doctor of business administration and bachelor’s degrees.

    The college is accredited by AACSB International – a distinction earned by fewer than five percent of business schools worldwide – and was renamed in 2013 after Dallas-based global steel entrepreneurs Satish and Yasmin Gupta, whose gift will fund the building. The Guptas are graduates of the university’s MBA program. “We are thrilled to break ground on a wonderful new facility that will advance students to the cutting edge of technology and business,” said Satish Gupta.

    “The University of Dallas was like a new home for us when we first came to the United States from India, and we hope this new home for the college of business will play an equally important role in the lives of University of Dallas students, faculty and staff.” “It is a privilege for to us to be able to give back to the university and help empowertomorrow’s leaders,” said Yasmin Gupta. “We hope SB Hall and the college of business will become a global meeting ground for students of all cultures who will go forth into the world and have a positive impact on their communities.”

    She noted that 20 percent of the university’s business students are international, representing 40 different countries. The Guptas’ $12 million gift to build SB Hall is the single largest donation in the University of Dallas’ 58-year history. The new academic facility is designed by Perkins+Will, a national leader in higher education architecture, and is being constructed by The Beck Group, a thirdgeneration, family-owned Dallas firm. Additional funding is necessary for the purchase and installation of fixtures, furniture and computer hardware, as well as for the completion of landscaping and parking facilities.

    In total, the project will exceed $16 million, giving Dallas/Fort Worth another premier, elite higher education facility. Situated amid the rolling hills of the 222-acre University of Dallas campus in Irving, SB Hall will stand at one of the highest points in the area. When completed, the facility will support the university’s commitment to energy efficiency and green architecture. The building will incorporate classrooms on every floor, community gathering places and study lounges, and numerous meeting spaces for student groups. SB Hall will boast an abundance of natural light and interactive classrooms and is designed to evolve through the decades, allowing reconfiguration of spaces as the campus population and its needs change.

    “It’s going to be a jewel for the entire campus,” said Robert Scherer, dean of the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business. “We’re so thankful to Satish and Yasmin Gupta for helping us build a facility that will have a transformative effect – not only on the college of business but on the entire University of Dallas community.” The groundbreaking of SB Hall is the latest milestone in the half-century evolution of the University of Dallas’ business program. Since the university opened in 1956, offerings in business and economics have been an important component of the curriculum. In 1966, the Braniff Graduate School was established and began offering an MBA program.

    UD later launched the Graduate School of Management. Today, the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business enrolls 1,400 graduate and undergraduate students. “The groundbreaking of SB Hall marks an important new chapter in our university’s history,” said University of Dallas President Thomas W. Keefe. “I’d like to thank Satish and Yasmin Gupta for their extraordinary generosity and their steadfast commitment to the university and the entire community.” In 1981, while a business graduate student at the University of Dallas, Satish Gupta founded SB International, Inc., a privately held global steel company headquartered in Dallas.

    SB International is one of the largest suppliers of oil country tubular goods (OCTG) to the North American oil and gas industry. The company and its affiliates and subsidiaries manufacture, supply and distribute high-quality steel products, as well as invest in the global supply chain of natural resources for the energy sector. Yasmin Gupta is the company’s executive vice president. The Guptas serve Dallas/Fort Worth through various organizations related to cultural education and outreach, including the Gupta Agarwal Charitable Foundation, which Satish Gupta founded. They also support the Primary Care Clinic of North Texas and the Greater Dallas Arya Samaj Cancer Clinic, a system of non-profit health care facilities providing medical care to local uninsured adults. SB International, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is a privately held steel manufacturing and distribution company headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

    The company is primarily focused on the energy sector and is one of the largest suppliers of high-quality oil country tubular goods and line pipe to the oil and gas industry in North America, as well as an importer and exporter of specialized steel products. The company began as an exporter of metals and secondary steel, subsequently expanding into importing and exporting stainless steel products, becoming a global trader of prime products in the domestic and international markets. Today, SB International’s reach within the energy sector spans servicing the drilling industry to investing in the global supply chain of natural gas and other resources to emerging markets.

    For more information, visitwww.SBISteel.com. The University of Dallas is a leading Catholic university widely recognized for academic excellence by well-known publications, organizations and accrediting bodies. It offers distinctive individual undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in the liberal arts, business and ministry that are characterized by an exceptional, engaged faculty, a commitment to shaping principled, well-skilled leaders and academic rigor in the Catholic intellectual tradition. For more information, visit www.udallas.edu.

  • LET US SHARE THE FESTIVE SPIRIT

    LET US SHARE THE FESTIVE SPIRIT

    Prof I.S.Saluja

    India is a country of festivals and festivities. Our forefathers made sure that we have occasions to come together and celebrate. I do not think any other country in the world can match India’s number and variety of occasions to celebrate. Go to any part of India and you find a fair sprinkling of these occasions across the whole year.

    Deepavali is a festival that is celebrated in some form or the other in almost every part of the country. The nomenclature may differ but the festive spirit remains the same. The food made may be different but the excitement of making and sharing it remains the same. The two communities-the Hindus and the Sikhs both celebrate Deepavali with much gusto. However, they celebrate this occasion for different reasons.

    While the Hindus celebrate the occasion of Rama’s returning to Ayodhya, after a long period of exile of 14 years during which he experienced terrible struggle and ultimately vanquished evil, the Sikhs celebrate the return to Amritsar of their sixth Master, Guru Hargobind. It is said that Guru Hargobind insisted on Moghul ruler to free the 52 princes of small hill states in Himachal or else he would also stay put with them in the prison at Gwalior.

    The Moghul emperor who had great regard for the Guru agreed to free them. Thus, Guru Hargobind, too, vanquished evil and came home victorious. See the parallel moral of the two stories. A reader of The Indian Panorama, Hillol Ray, from Dallas, has composed a poem dedicated to Diwali, especially for the readers of The Indian Panorama. Here it is.

    DIWALI: THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

    At the turn of the Indian New Year, The special festival “Diwali” is here – So we are proud to celebrate with Americans today And are pleased to share! Our customs and traditions are century old, But they have built a profound name – Around the world, where our traditions are still found, Buried well behind the fame! “Diwali”, the festival of lights, illuminates The darkness of the New Year’s moon – And strengthens our close friendships and knowledge With a self-realization soon! So the “Diwali” day of Indians is a big celebration To respect the sacred time – And reminds our heritage in America,

    While echoed through the winds’ chime! This adopted land of ours has been built By the sweat and toil – Of many, many immigrants, past and present, On this blessed soil! Here we feel the values of freedom, Voice and assurance as well – That America is the “Place” Where our future is going to dwell! So, let’s rejuvenate our diversity today, Because we are too happy to tell – About the real joy of a big celebration That is now ringing the bell! And let us all hope, the pride of our “Diwali” festival, Although was born in the past – Will illuminate the stars on our Nation’s flag, To signify harmony, and surely it will last!! “Milestone” Thank you, Hillol, for the beautiful composition. I would like to congratulate all our readers on this festive occasion and wish the festive spirit is shared. It is by sharing joys that we multiply them.

    The two words sharing and caring are the magic mantras for happiness, steps ahead of joyousness. These festive occasions provide us an opportunity to show how caring we are. By sharing, we show our care. And in caring for others lies all true happiness. Let us celebrate Deepavali together in a shared manner and enjoy the festive mood that the occasion brings.

    Let festive spirit prevail. Happy Deepavali.

  • IS militants entered U.S. via Mexico

    IS militants entered U.S. via Mexico

    IS militants entered U.S. via Mexico, Claimed a spokesman for Rep Duncan Hunter

    DALLAS (TIP): U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter said Wednesday, October 8, he has information that more than 10 militants with ties to the terror group known as the Islamic State have been caught at the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, a claim that was immediately denied by U.S. security officials and Mexican officials.

    “A well-placed source informed Congressman Hunter that foreign nationals with known association to IS were apprehended along the Texas-Mexico border,” said Joe Kasper, a spokesman for Hunter, R-Alpine. “Beyond that, we confirmed that every day, border officials are apprehending foreign nationals from countries of security interest, including Syria. And it should concern every American, whether in Texas or beyond, that these individuals are getting that close to the border in the first place.”

    In an appearance on Fox News Channel Tuesday night, Hunter cited an anonymous source in the Border Patrol for his information.

    U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials said Wednesday there was no truth to the reports that terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State, which also goes by the names of ISIL and ISIS, have penetrated the United States via Mexico.

    “The suggestion that individuals who have ties to ISIL have been apprehended at the Southwest border is categorically false, and not supported by any credible intelligence or the facts on the ground,” said Marsha Catron, a DHS spokeswoman. “DHS continues to have no credible intelligence to suggest terrorist organizations are actively plotting to cross the southwest border.”

    Tom Vinger, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, also denied Hunter’s claim. “The department does not have any information to confirm that statement,” Vinger said.

    The Mexican embassy called Hunter’s suggestion “categorically false.”

    “We reaffirm that those declarations are neither based on real events, nor on credible evidence or intelligence. Mexican authorities have no indication whatsoever of the presence of groups or individuals of Islamic extremists in Mexico. Authorities from Mexico and the United States maintain permanent communication and continually exchange information, and there is nothing to even suggest what Congressman Duncan Hunter stated,” the embassy said in a statement emailed late Wednesday evening.

    “The Government of Mexico is constantly working to strengthen its security and justice institutions in order to provide peace and well-being to our citizens, and we take all measures within our reach to impede any terrorist activity in our territory in compliance with existing law and our international obligations.”

    Several weeks ago, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said he heard reports of people affiliated with a terror group attempting to enter Texas. However, Johnson added at the time, “I don’t know the accuracy of the reports or how much credence to give them.”

    Asked if DHS has since investigated and disproved those reports, Catron didn’t immediately respond.

    Also Wednesday, Judicial Watch, which identifies itself as a conservative, nonpartisan watchdog organization, published a claim on its website that four people with ties to terror were captured this week. “Sources tell Judicial Watch that four (people) have been apprehended in the last 36 hours by federal authorities and the Texas Department of Public Safety in McAllen and Pharr” in South Texas, the organization wrote on its website.

  • Thomas Eric Duncan: First Ebola death in U.S. – Anxiety in Dallas

    Thomas Eric Duncan: First Ebola death in U.S. – Anxiety in Dallas

    DALLAS (TIP): Thomas Eric Duncan left Liberia for the United States, by official accounts, a healthy man. Just over two weeks later, he passed away at a Dallas, Texas, hospital with Ebola.

    Duncan was admitted into isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on September 28 with common symptoms of Ebola: fever, vomiting and diarrhea. He later tested positive for the virus that has killed more than 3,400 people in West Africa.

    He was started on the experimental drug brincidofovir on October 4 — far too long after he arrived at the hospital, his family has said. On Tuesday, October 7, the hospital reported that Duncan was on a ventilator and his kidneys were failing. Duncan died on Wednesday, October 8 at 7:51 a.m.

    Ebola anxiety was ratcheted up in the afternoon, as Dallas TV stations broke into regular programming with live video of an ambulance headed to Presbyterian from a health clinic in Frisco.

    Inside was a Dallas County sheriff’s deputy who had been briefly inside the Vickery Meadow apartment where Duncan stayed before he was hospitalized. The deputy had come down with a stomachache. Local and national health officials said it was unlikely that this was a new Ebola case. “We can’t afford to make a mistake,” Frisco Fire Chief Mark Piland said, explaining the abundance of caution. About the time the ambulance carrying Deputy Michael Monnig arrived at Presbyterian, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention described Duncan as the “face we now associate with Ebola.” For American health care workers, Ebola “needs to be top-of-mind,” said Dr. Tom Frieden. Duncan’s death will have no effect on the system being used to track anyone he had contact with when he was sick enough to pass along the infection, said Zachary Thompson, Dallas County’s health department director. Ten people are considered at highest risk, with 38 others being monitored daily. None has shown any sign of illness, officials said.