SportsDay Insider: Can the Cowboys afford to pay George Pickens? Plus, Rangers, CFP talk

The Texas Education Agency will remove Lake Worth ISD’s elected school board and superintendent, and appoint a board of managers to govern the district, Education Commissioner Mike Morath said on Thursday. In other news, a month has passed since Charles Hosch, a Southern Methodist University law professor and Dallas attorney, went missing. Family and friends continue the search in a remote hiking area in Georgia; the third phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup opened Thursday, and the prices immediately sparked outrage among local fans. One Fort Worth resident who’s attended the past three world cups in Brazil, Russia, and Qatar said, “what FIFA is doing is inconceivable,” and was stunned by the soaring costs in this latest sales window; and the Original Roy Hutchins Barbeque will open a second restaurant in the area near the home fields for the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers and the Interstate 30 frontage road. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dallas real estate CEO Robert “Bob” Lovell was ordered this week to pay $5.7 million in damages and fees after a judge determined he repeatedly forced a former employee to perform sex acts and then retaliated against her when she refused. In other news, some Texans are finding out from their doctor's offices that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas insurance plan would no longer be considered in-network; the Texas Rangers are not interested in trading Corey Seager. The Red Sox, Yankees, and Braves have all expressed interest though; and for years, officials at the highest level of Dallas city government knew crime was a problem at Roseland, a public housing complex in Old East Dallas. In twenty eighteen, the city entered into a special agreement with Dallas Housing Authority to keep crime in check. That arrangement was different from what was at the time a new, aggressive plan to protect the public at high-crime private properties. Police reports show that since the agreement was signed, at least seven people have been killed at Roseland, including a nine-year-old girl. Twenty others were wounded by gunfire. A Dallas Morning News investigation shows that over the following seven years, the agreement was never fully followed, and the violent crime at Roseland persisted. The News found numerous ways in which D-H-A and the city fell short in addressing crime and protecting residents, including failures to follow their own agreement. See the full investigation dallasnews.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SportsDay Insiders Kevin Sherrington, Evan Grant and Calvin Watkins discuss [00:12] the Cowboys’ loss to the Lions and what it means for their playoff hopes, even after the Eagles’ loss to the Chargers. They also argue over whether the Cowboys should pay George Pickens after his body language last week considering his track record in Pittsburgh. [22:12] Evan calls in from the MLB winter meetings to analyze the Rangers’ outfield situation, particularly in center, where he makes the case that Wyatt Langford should start. [41:08] And Evan and Kevin dive into the CFP, Notre Dame’s gripe and the chances for Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Arlington City Council voted 5-4 Tuesday night to suspend protections for its LGBTQ residents that are enshrined in the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance. The speakers in support of reinstatement emphasized that Arlington residents are stronger together and the city will only be a community if everyone is accepted. In other news, as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton gears up for his race to unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn next year, his move leaves a large field of candidates vying for the position of the state’s top attorney. Four Republicans and three Democrats will face off in the March 3 primary to whittle down the field to one nominee for the November contest; Lt. Gov Dan Patrick wants to lower the age requirement for senior property tax exemptions from 65 to 55, a tax plan that could shave hundreds off of tax bills for more than a million homeowners; and for years, officials at the highest level of Dallas city government knew crime was a problem at Roseland, a public housing complex in Old East Dallas. In twenty eighteen, the city entered into a special agreement with Dallas Housing Authority to keep crime in check. That arrangement was different from what was at the time a new, aggressive plan to protect the public at high-crime private properties. Police reports show that since the agreement was signed, at least seven people have been killed at Roseland, including a nine-year-old girl. Twenty others were wounded by gunfire. A Dallas Morning News investigation shows that over the following seven years, the agreement was never fully followed, and the violent crime at Roseland persisted. The News found numerous ways in which D-H-A and the city fell short in addressing crime and protecting residents, including failures to follow their own agreement. See the full investigation at dallasnews.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NFL sportscaster for FOX Sports and former Dallas Cowboys fullback joins the show to talk about his sports journey, from growing up playing soccer and football in western New York to earning a spot at Syracuse University and ultimately being drafted by the Cowboys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred is ending his Senate campaign and will instead run for Congress in Dallas County’s revamped District 33. Allred’s decision comes as U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas filed to join the Democratic Senate contest that also includes state Rep. James Talarico of Austin. Dallas minister Frederick Haynes III, leader of Friendship-West Baptist Church, on Monday filed his candidacy for Dallas’ 30th Congressional District. Haynes’ candidacy comes as the district’s current representative, Jasmine Crockett, filed paperwork to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by John Cornyn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Five years ago, the body of 28-year-old Christopher Whiteley was found near a wooded creek bed in Hood County, about 55 miles outside of Fort Worth. Deputies theorized a cougar had killed him. Texas wildlife experts said that was impossible. So what really happened? From its earliest moments, an investigation by The Dallas Morning News found the examination into Whiteley’s death was riddled with false assumptions and errors that forensics and wildlife experts say left too many unanswered questions.Now, the fourth season of The Unforgotten podcast from Free Range Productions in association with The Dallas Morning News revisits Whiteley’s story in a six-part series entitled “Kill Site.” The series is hosted by Free Range’s Wes Ferguson, a former Texas Monthly editor based near Austin. The podcast draws from a 2021 investigation by former News staff reporter Charles Scudder, who is a contributor on the show. We’re dropping a new episode each Monday here in your Dallas Morning News podcast feed. This is episode 1: “Just do it” — Christopher Whiteley makes a desperate phone call then vanishes into the woods, igniting one of Texas' strangest and most controversial true-crime cases.This series contains mature subject matter and strong language, listener discretion is advised. Read The News’ 2021 report on Whiteley’s case, complete with maps, timelines and visuals: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/investigations/2021/09/23/authorities-say-a-hood-county-man-was-killed-by-a-cougar-texas-wildlife-experts-say-its-impossible/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thomas Hicks, who parlayed early mastery of leveraged buyouts to create one of the world’s first modern professional sports empires, died Saturday in Dallas surrounded by family. He was 79. In other news, Donald Trump is angry that Rep. Henry Cuellar is running again as a Democrat rather than switch parties after the president pardoned the Texas congressman and his wife in a federal bribery and conspiracy case;  the Dallas-based O’Donnell Foundation is committing $60 million to Southern Methodist University to help the school advance its vision of becoming a national leader in energy studies amid the industry’s boom in North Texas. The donation is the second-largest gift in the university’s history after a $100 million commitment from the Moody Foundation in 2019 created the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies; and five years ago, the body of 28-year-old Christopher Whiteley was found near a wooded creek bed in Hood County, about 55 miles outside of Fort Worth.  Now, the fourth season of ‘The Unforgotten’ podcast from Free Range Productions in association with The Dallas Morning News revisits Whiteley’s story in a six-part series entitled “Kill Site.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Winter Meetings approaching, John and Evan prepare to break down the Rangers' needs heading to Orlando. There are a lot. But wait, what's this about John and turnips? Yeah, he's a big turnip guy, it turns out. Evan takes a moment to wistfully look back at the contributions of the quartet of Marcus Semien, Adolis García, Jonah Heim and Josh Sborz to the World Championship team. Then Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins joins the guys to talk about his time with the Rangers and owning Reggie Jackson. Fergie is also going to be a coach at the Rangers' upcoming Fantasy Camp and he tells stories of previous camps. Finally, John and Evan reminisce about the good old days, when they'd break into annual screaming matches at the winter meetings. Where has tradition gone in baseball? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two North Texas women are representing the region on a new T.V. show, "Next Level Baker," from Gordon Ramsay. There's also plenty more food news to catch up on: a new location for Kirin Court, a Wagyu omakase restaurant opening in Design District, and more Tex-Mex hitting Lower Greenville. Later in the show, The Dallas Morning News food team gets into the dishes they loved so much at Thanksgiving, they're making them again for the holidays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices