Prayer time in Texas public schools under debate ... and more news

The Texas House gave initial approval to a bill Thursday that would ban citizens of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from owning properties in Texas, moving the state one step closer to creating barriers for property ownership to people from countries deemed hostile. On a largely partisan vote of 85-60, the House approved the bill, making it the latest Republican-led policy once considered too extreme for the House now on a direct path to becoming law as the chamber shifts further to the right. In other news, North Texas’ Catholic community reacted with surprise and excitement to Thursday’s news that Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church; separate bills making their way through the Texas Legislature have banks and consumer advocates on edge, posing challenges to the state’s financial infrastructure and its pro-business bent. At issue are two sets of bills regulating credit card processing fees, which collectively set a record of nearly $188 billion last year, according to Nielsen Report data; and the Academy of Country Music Awards — colloquially dubbed country’s “party of the year” — assembled many of the genre’s biggest stars in Frisco Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What should you know about the new Gas Monkey Icehouse in North Texas? Well, other than details about the menu, owner Richard Rawlings is expected to film episodes for his YouTube show at the new spot. Plus, get details on an upcoming mezcal and tequila expo and a new restaurant going into Denton Square. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Texas school trustees would have to vote on requiring prayer time at campuses under a bill debated Wednesday. Public schools would have to provide a daily period for prayer and reading of religious texts outside of instruction time. In other news, a new leader is coming to the University of Texas at Dallas — Prabhas Moghe, of Rutgers University. Moghe, whose background is in chemical and bioengineering, is currently the executive vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Rutgers; Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said officials are not in a hurry to adjust interest rates, adding tariffs could lead to higher inflation and unemployment. Powell said Wednesday, “If the large increases in tariffs that have been announced are sustained, they’re likely to generate a rise in inflation, a slowdown in economic growth and an increase in unemployment.”; and actor Sam Elliott was spotted last week on the patio of Joe T. Garcia’s, an iconic Mexican restaurant in Fort Worth known for its celebrity sightings. The legendary restaurant shared a photo of the 80-year-old actor on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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