A new partnership wants to turn North Texas homes into ‘virtual power plants’ ... and more news

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and Tim Cowlishaw discuss [8:20] the Stars’ Game 7 win over Colorado and what it means going into the second round against the Jets. Tim reminds us that momentum is hit-and-miss in hockey, especially if your goalie is only occasionally great, as is the case with Jake Oettinger. [26:10] Evan explains what Chris Young wants from Bret Boone, the Rangers’ new co-hitting coach. [41:30] Kevin says no franchise in the NBA has given up on better point guards than the Mavs, who traded Jason Kidd before his prime, let Steve Nash and Jalen Brunson walk, then traded Luka Doncic in his prime. That’s at least three Hall of Famers. [56:30] The guys also discuss the Kentucky Derby and a contract extension for the Big 12’s Brett Yormark.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Tuesday, Abundance Energy, sonnen and Energywell announced a collaboration meant to bring the behind-the-meter, battery-enabled technology to the Lone Star State. A virtual power plant is a network of decentralized energy sources working together to generate, store and manage electricity. In other news, a political action committee accused of breaking election laws raised six figures for a Prosper Independent School District trustee election — but its secretive spending failed to unseat the two incumbents it aimed to replace; Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center announced on Tuesday that they have secured a nine-figure financial donation as they work toward constructing a $5 billion pediatric campus in Dallas that will span nearly 5 million square feet; and Micah Parsons wants a new contract with the Dallas Cowboys. A first-round draft pick in 2021, the premier edge rusher has become a household name as one of the most feared defenders in the NFL. Parsons, a four-time Pro Bowler who has twice been named to the All-Pro team, has 52.5 sacks in four seasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A storm system will bring widespread showers and thunderstorms to the area today. Some storms could produce damaging winds and large hail. A Flood Watch is in effect for North Texas, including Dallas and Fort Worth until 1 a.m. Wednesday with the possibility of 1 to 3 inches of rainfall. In other news, Dallas City Council and school board elections attracted few eligible voters, a decades long trend that has voting advocates trying to figure out how to make local contests more appealing. According to the county’s elections department, Dallas County municipal elections attracted only 8.4% of 1.4 million registered voters; a second teenager has been arrested in connection with the March slaying of a 14-year-old boy in east Oak Cliff. 17-year old Juan Saucedo was arrested Sunday and booked into the Dallas County jail on a capital murder charge in the death of Adam Gutierrez; falling crude prices will eventually translate into lower prices at the gas pump for consumers, but that doesn’t mean it’s all good news ― especially for Texas-based oil producers; and Paige Bueckers might be getting ready for her rookie season with the Dallas Wings, but she is still on the receiving end of awards for her collegiate career. Bueckers was named the winner of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards’ Honda Sport Award for basketball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Texas families will be able to access public money to pay for private school through a new school choice program. Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday signed into law an education savings account program with near-universal eligibility — positioning the state to potentially have the largest school choice program in the nation soon. In other news, University of Texas System Chancellor James B. Milliken is leaving to be the next president of the University of California; Next up, change is coming to the southern sector and the western half of the city as newly elected Dallas City Council members Maxie Johnson and Laura Cadena bring years of experience in the public arena; and the retail industry is navigating another year that’s been fraught with closures and other cuts — and it’s not getting any easier. In the past several months, big and small names in the retail market have announced shops were closing up around the country with many of those plans hitting North Texas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hundreds of protesters gathered in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Thursday to protest the Trump administration as part of May Day Strong, a series of volunteer-led nationwide demonstrations. As many as 1,000 protests were scheduled for May 1, a date historically known as May Day or International Workers’ Day. In other news, Dallas police Chief Daniel Comeaux fired two civilian employees Thursday who were accused of separate offenses. Billy Flores and Evelyn Keith, both 911 call analysts, were fired for “engaging in adverse conduct.” Also, American Airlines will invest $4 billion into DFW International Airport’s forthcoming Terminal F, doubling the size of the project and creating a “crown jewel” in the world’s third busiest airport. And  there will be a game seven in the first round Stanley Cup playoff series between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche. The Stars had a 4-3 advantage at the start of the third period but the Avalanche scored four  consecutive goals in the final 20 minutes to win game 6 7-4. The series returns to American Airlines Center for Game 7 tomorrow night.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chef Andre Natera of the Chefs PSA podcast makes a special guest appearance on Eat Drink D-FW and discusses why food is feeling all the same right now, how restaurants can stand out in a Instagram-driven world and what makes great chefs, well, great. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the final installment of Season 2 of Beyond Talking Points, host Abby McCloskey speaks with Rick Perry, former Governor of Texas and U.S. Energy Secretary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and David Moore convene on David’s last podcast as he enters semi-retirement. [8:15] Before hitting the door, David tells us what the Cowboys were thinking before their early-round picks, in particular, and how they went for value over need. [27:20] Evan gives us the low, low-down on the Rangers’ offense, including the awful chase numbers across the board and whether firing the hitting coaches or adding a bat is the answer. [48:30] Kevin points out the importance of the Stars’ breakout Game 5 win and what Jake Oettinger’s play portends going forward. And it’s Nelson Week at Craig Ranch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Texas Senate approved a bill Wednesday that takes aim at the State Fair of Texas’ gun ban. The policy was put in place last year after a gunman shot three fairgoers in 2023. Tthe bill’s author, state Sen. Bob Hall, R-Rockwall, said the move denied “citizens their right to self-defense.” The legislation, headed to the Texas House of Representatives, would prevent contractors from banning guns in government-owned public spaces, unless state law says otherwise. In other news, detainees at the Bluebonnet immigrant detention center in the small city of Anson, about 200 miles west of Dallas sent the outside world a message this week: S-O-S; in a surprising alliance, the Texas oil and gas lobby has joined forces with renewable energy developers to sink a proposal that would require all existing solar and wind generators to guarantee they can provide power when needed; nd the Dallas Stars are one win away from advancing out of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and ending the Colorado Avalanche’s season. The Stars won Game 5 in a convincing fashion to take a 3 games to 2 lead in the series that returns to Denver for Game 6 tonight. NHL teams that hold a 3-2 series lead win the series 79% of the time. In the last 30 years in Dallas, they’ve had even better results, winning 94.1% of the time with a 16-1 series record after holding the 3-2 advantage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A bill that would clarify when Texas physicians can legally perform an abortion to save a mother’s life unanimously passed the state Senate on Tuesday. Senate Bill 31, also known as the Life of the Mother Act, would allow doctors to intervene and provide abortion care to pregnant women who are experiencing medical emergencies. In other news, Texas health officials reported 17 new measles cases on Tuesday, bringing the total confirmed cases since late January to 663. The state’s public health department estimates that fewer than 10 of the confirmed cases — about 1% — are “actively infectious.”; one Monday last fall, only about half of Cleburne students showed up to class. The reason for such low attendance? Families were fearful after threats of violence against Cleburne ISD campuses had zoomed across Snapchat in the days before. Similar scares have become common, a trend that’s strained police resources, led to the arrests of young children and interrupted students’ focus in the classroom; and H-E-B is ready to open its first namesake store in North Texas. The company will officially launch on May 14 in Melissa at 6 a.m. The San Antonio grocer’s new store is at 1230 Central Expressway, near the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and State Highway 121. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices