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The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is on the short list of "five serious contenders" to play host to the Republican National Convention in August, Texas GOP Chairman James Dickey told Austonia on Tuesday.
Historically blue Austin didn't make the cut. But politics aren't part of it.
"It's 100% the facilities and the lack of available hotel room space," Dickey said.
While Dickey wasn't specific about which city in the Metroplex, which includes both Dallas and Fort Worth and several communities in between, was being looked at, what may ultimately rule out Dallas its a decided lack of interest on the part of Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.
The convention was scheduled for Charlotte, N.C. but leaders there blanched at the idea of gathering an expected 19,000 visitors during a pandemic—particularly as President Donald Trump has been adamant that the convention not be curtailed.
Trump announced last week that the convention was looking for a new home.
Scheduled for Aug. 24-27, the National Republican Convention gathers 5,000 delegates and alternates from all 50 states for a weeklong meeting and party pep rally. The number of attendees swells dramatically with guests, staff, journalists, logistical teams, speakers, political groups, planners protesters.
Delegates nail down platforms, hear from inspirational speakers, host celebrity events and prayer breakfasts and parties, and—most importantly—officially nominate the party's candidate for the November election.
The Democratic National Convention is set for the week before, Aug. 17-20, at a Milwaukee convention center but may be held virtually.
In addition to logistics, Dickey said, the city has to want the convention to come.
"Local politics, per se, doesn't play into it," Dickey said. "What is considered for the national convention is the strong desire of the local community to be involved in making it happen. That is required. Because the national convention is a major event and takes major local involvement."
But Dallas may be ruled out sooner rather than later, if that's the case.
Jenkins, a Democrat, said over the weekend that county health officials "strongly recommend against" bringing the convention to Dallas, according to a report by the Dallas Morning News, citing COVID-19 concerns. He also tweeted in late May that it would not be a good idea, given the pandemic concerns.
"I made my peace early on to follow the lead of doctors and so I would respect that," Jenkins told journalists during the online state Democratic convention, according to the report. "And that would be my position on that."
Dickey said on Tuesday that Texas showed it could turn on a dime when it rescheduled its state convention—which is bigger, in terms of delegates, than the national event—from March to July with very little notice after the pandemic caused nationwide shutdowns.
"It was miraculous," he said.
So it should come as no surprise, he said, that the North Texas metroplex be on the short list given that it was also a serious contender for the 2016 convention, when Trump accepted the party nomination in Cleveland.
"The facilities in the Metroplex are top notch and, as I've said repeatedly, if anyone can pull off doing a national convention of this size and scope, in this short of a period of time," he said, "Texas can certainly do it."
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Popular
APD is searching for suspect Stephen Broderick.
Austin police lifted the shelter in place order after searching the area around 9600 block of Great Hills Trail near the Arboretum for a 41-year-old man named Stephen Broderick, who they believe is responsible for shooting and ultimately killing three people in Northwest Austin
As of 5 p.m., the suspect is still at large and considered to be armed and dangerous, though police do not believe he is actively targeting anyone else. During a press briefing at 4:45 on Sunday, APD Interim police Chief Joseph Chacon said they are switching the search from the immediate area to a fugitive search as they have exhausted all the leads they currently have.
Chacon confirmed during the briefing that Broderick was a former Travis County Sheriff's Office deputy. Chacon said they will remain on the scene for "several hours" and there were 75 FBI agents on the scene as of the briefing.
APD @Chief_Chacon provides updated media briefing in relation to Great Hills Trail incident. - PIO8 https://t.co/47siNWhARI
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) April 18, 2021
Police believe the victims, who have been identified as two Hispanic women and one Black man, knew their assailant. Chacon said a child was involved but is now safely in police custody. Broderick was described as 5 foot, 7 inches with a medium build and was last seen wearing a gray hoodie, sunglasses and a baseball cap.
"We're very sorry that obviously that this has happened and we continue to try and locate this individual, we are transitioning from a search in this area to a fugitive search and those efforts will continue until this person is located," Chacon said. "I don't want anyone to think that we're packing up and going home. We're going to continue to look for this individual because he continues to pose a threat to this community."
At a 2:30 p.m. press briefing, Chacon said APD responded to a "shoot, stab, hot shot" call on Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway at 11:46 a.m. to find the three victims with gunshot wounds. APD was joined by the Austin Fire Department. ATCEMS, the local chapter of the FBI, the U.S. Marshals, Department of Public Safety, and the Round Rock Police Department for support.
Though Austin Travis-County EMS originally reported it as an active shooter situation, police now believe the incident was an isolated domestic event.
"This is still an ongoing and active investigation and we do not have this individual in custody yet," Chacon said during the first press briefing. "We would ask if you have your neighbors, phone numbers, call or text them check on them and make sure that they're okay. We are concerned that he might possibly take a hostage and be himself sheltered somewhere waiting for us to leave."
At this time the Great Hills Trail scene is still active. We are still asking residents to shelter in place and report suspicious activity. While a suspect is still at large it appears this is a domestic situation that is isolated and there is no risk to the general public. -PIO8
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) April 18, 2021
Three helicopters and SWAT teams were sent to the area, as well as 18 ATCEMS response assets. According to Austin Police, the incident occurred at an apartment complex near Great Hills Trail and Rain Creek Parkway.
#texasshooting #masshooting Arboretum shooting Austin. pic.twitter.com/SkIsgDoYHt
— Jamie Hammonds (@jamie_hammonds5) April 18, 2021
APD announced at 1:02 p.m. that Loop 360 will be shut down in both directions from Spicewood Springs to 183 due to the incident. The roads will remain closed until law enforcement is able to wrap up the crime scene and units demobilize.
TRAFFIC UPDATE: Loop 360 will be shut down in both directions from Spicewoods Springs to 183 due to ongoing incident. - PIO8
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) April 18, 2021
This is a developing story.
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Formula 1 is returning to Florida for the first time since 1959, announcing that the brand-new Miami Grand Prix will join the calendar in 2022 and Austin will no longer be the only F1 race in the U.S.
Held at the Hard Rock Stadium complex in Miami Gardens, this will be the first race in the Sunshine State in 62 years. With a new track setup, F1 will loop the stadium, home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
Excited for @F1 @f1miami @HardRockStadium - a Global Entertainment Destination. This event will bring opportunities for so many and will be world-class. Thank you to @gregmaffei #chasecarey #stefanodomenicali @MayorRHarris @Ogilbert @CommishDiaz @MayorDaniella pic.twitter.com/n6dDDD1cPX
— Tom Garfinkel (@TomGarfinkel) April 18, 2021
The new 3.36 mile circuit has 19 corners, three straights and potential for three DRS zones, with expected top speeds of 198 mph.
Now with two races in the U.S., F1 President Stefano Domenicali said they will avoid having back-to-back events by keeping the Miami Grand Prix separate from the U.S. Grand Prix, which is held at Austin's Circuit of the Americas.
The date of the race has yet to be confirmed, though Domenicali said he expects the first race in a 10-year deal to take place in the second quarter of 2022. Austin's race will take place on Oct. 24 this year.
"The USA is a key growth market for us, and we are greatly encouraged by our growing reach in the U.S. which will be further supported by this exciting second race," Domenicali said.
Miami will mark the 11th race location in the U.S. since the Championship began in 1950: Circuit of The Americas in Austin; Dallas, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Sebring, Florida; Riverside, California; Watkins Glen, New York; Long Beach, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Detroit, Michigan and Phoenix, Arizona. COTA was first opened in 2012.
Domenicali said F1 will be working with the FIA and the Hard Rock Stadium to leave a lasting impact on the community: discounted tickets for residents, a program to support local businesses and a STEM education program through F1 in schools.
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