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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-08-12 Euless Articles Euless PD launches drone program, following trend with other North Texas departments Euless launches a drone program this July, joining a growing number of law enforcement agencies taking to the skies. Credit: WFAA Author: Ben Sawyers Published: 10:00 PM CDT July 2, 2025 Updated: 10:00 PM CDT July 2, 2025 EULESS, Texas — Euless is following a growing trend among law enforcement agencies in North Texas: drones. The city launched a new drone program aimed at improving emergency response and public safety through real-time aerial support. Beginning July 2, 2025, the Euless Police Department will deploy drones to assist with high-priority emergency calls. The drones, equipped with live video capabilities, are designed to arrive at emergency scenes faster than ground units and provide critical situational awareness for both police and fire personnel. “This technology gives our officers a clearer picture of the situation before they even arrive,” said Sgt. Robert Provost of the Euless Police Department. “It will improve both public and officer safety, in addition to improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.” Drones will be dispatched from secured launch sites in response to incidents such as suspicious activity, disturbances, fires and traffic accidents. Tra ined pilots will control the flights and monitor the video feed in real time. City officials emphasized that the program is being implemented with transparency and privacy in mind. Drones will not be used for general surveillance and will only be deployed in response to specific emergencies or public safety needs. All operations will also follow strict FAA regulations and local privacy laws. “We are committed to using this technology responsibly,” said Senior Corporal Tim Banigan. “This program represents the City of Euless’ commitment to innovation and public trust.” Euless is not the first North Texas city to embrace drones. This year alone, both Arlington and Prosper launched drone programs, highlighting a burgeoning trend for local police departments. Plano murder suspect fatally shot by police during Euless traffic stop, authorities say By Erin Jones Updated on: July 10, 2025 / 10:31 PM CDT / CBS Texas A suspect wanted in connection with the murder of a woman found dead in a luxury Plano apartment was fatally shot by police during a traffic stop Thursday at an apartment complex in Euless, authorities said. After being alerted that the homicide suspect's vehicle had entered the city, a Euless patrol officer located the vehicle and initiated a stop around noon at an apartment complex in the 1200 block of Fuller Wiser Road. Officers say suspect posed threat Plainclothes Plano police officers arrived to assist. When the suspect did not comply with officers' commands and posed what police described as an "immediate threat," gunfire was exchanged, striking the suspect, according to a news release from Euless police. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers or civilians were injured. Victim found in Plano apartment The woman was discovered dead inside an apartment in the Legacy West development in Plano around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday. Officers responded to the 6000 block of Water Street and found the woman's body on the floor. No one else was inside the residence, police said. Resident recalls shock and sorrow Christo Jones, a resident of the complex, said he was stunned by the heavy police presence. "I was like, man, I've never seen that many police cruisers in this area," Jones told CBS News Texas. "I started asking some of the residents, and they said it's a potential homicide — and so, you know, that raises some questions." Jones said he often saw the victim's family around the complex. "You wouldn't think that would happen in this area," he said. "It's tragic. You never want to see something like that happen, regardless of the location. You have to feel for the families." Investigation remains active The case remains under investigation by both Euless and Plano police departments. No additional details were released as of Thursday afternoon. Police have not said what kind of threat the suspect posed or whether he had or used a weapon. "The Euless Police Department is investigating that information," said Officer Jerry Minton of the Plano Police Department. "Like any officer-involved shooting, that information is normally kept very close to the vest and not broadcast early on in the investigation." Authorities have declined to name the suspect or the victim. CBS News Texas will provide additional details when they become available. Oncor plans electricity rate increase. Here’s how much it could cost you By Fousia Abdullahi Updated July 15, 2025 11:39 AM North Texans may soon see an increase in their electricity bill that’s not related to how low they are keeping their air conditioning this summer. Oncor, the state’s largest electric transmission and distribution company, filled an intent to increase rates in all municipalities with the Public Utility Commission of Texas on June 26. This move would increase its revenue to $834 million. June 26. Residential customers’ bill would go up approximately $7 for those using 1,000 kilowatt - hours of electricity per month. Average use in Texas is 1,146, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The proposed increases would result in a 13% increase for cities and a 12.3% increase for streetlights. In the filing, Oncor said that while its deadline to file a rate increase was not until 2027, it needs to adjust its rates much sooner to keep up with the state’s growth. What are North and Central Texas cities plan to address the increase? A committee of 170 cities served by Oncor is considering a resolution to suspend the effective date of July 31, to allow it at least 90 days to study the request and to hire legal and consulting services to negotiate on behalf of all the cities in the committee. The city of Euless and others have already passed the resolution, Keller will vote Tuesday. Why is Oncor asking for a rate increase? Recovering storm-related costs: Oncor said in a statement that it has experienced an average of 31 major storms every year the past three years. The rate increase would help recover the costs already spent and projected damage costs in the future. Adjusting for rising costs and inflation: It stated that current rates are based on 2021, noting that wage inflation rates reached 13% in 2024, and its insurance premiums have increased by 500% since 2021. Helping keep debt costs low: In the statement, Oncor said that it is executing on the largest investment plan in its history to support the rapid growth in Texas and to enhance the grid reliability and capacity. “These efforts require Oncor to attract, train and maintain the safety of a large and active workforce and obtain materials and equipment on a record scale,” said Debbie Dennis, senior vice president, chief customer officer and chief HR officer, in a statement. Dennis said that Oncor recognizes the potential impacts of a rate increase on its customers, and it would do its best to balance these impacts with the company’s ability to continue to meet the needs of a growing state. Molly Shortall, president of the Steering Committee of Cities Served by Oncor and Arlington city attorney, said that the next steps is to review the filing. She expects a hearing in three to four months. Shortall said ratepayers can intervene at the Public Utility Commission of Texas or submit protest statements, which will not be formally considered by the commission. This story was originally published July 14, 2025 at 5:00 PM. Tarrant County's bid to revoke tax exemptions for out-of-town housing groups denied Story by Rachel Royster The Tarrant Appraisal Review Board has denied requests from Tarrant County and five cities to revoke tax exemptions for housing complexes not operated in the county. Tarrant attorneys claimed the corporations do not provide affordable housing, as the exemptions were claimed for. Known as traveling housing finance corporations and often associated with a city or county, these groups own and operate property outside of their home jurisdiction. Each of the six housing finance corporations discussed at Tuesday's Appraisal Review Board hearing is considered "traveling." Each owns land in Tarrant County, some bought for $10 cash and "other good and valuable considerations" that aren't listed, but are based outside the county. Some are nearly 400 miles away in West Texas or as far away as the southe rnmost tip of Texas. The corporations claim tax exemptions for affordable housing, then lease out the land to private developers who operate apartment complexes. Each of the housing finance corporations were taken off of the tax poll by the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD). The county and cities challenging TAD's decision to grant 28 tax exemptions argue that the housing finance corporations do not provide affordable housing. Mark Kratovil, primary counsel for Tarrant County, asked that the Tarrant Appraisa l Review Board decide that those tax exemptions were improperly given by TAD and to "claw back" taxes owed to the taxing entities affected. Another attorney clarified that this means the corporations would owe taxing entities the full amount of taxes from the time the tax exemptions were granted. Tarrant County, which filed jointly with five cities, challenged six housing finance corporations' tax exemptions. The six groups are: Pleasanton Housing Finance Corporation, Pecos Housing Finance Corporation, the Cameron County Housing Finance Corporation, Edcouch Community Housing Finance Corporation, Garland Housing Finance Corporation. The cities who joined in the fight were Fort Worth, Mansfield, Grand Prairie, Euless and Haltom City. The Appraisal Review Board, made up of citizens who are trained by the Texas Comptroller, denied the requests 2-1. Euless additionally challenged one of the same housing finance corporations on its own. That hearing also resulted in a split-vote denial. Arlington, separate from the county, challenged two of the same corporations plus a public facility corporation. Arlington's requests were all denied, 3-0. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 21 into law on May 28, which went into effect immediately. The law closed a loophole in previous legislation which allowed housing finance corporations to be operated outside of their home jurisdiction. All of the tax exemptions being challenged Tuesday were approved prior to May 28. The decision not to revoke the exemptions means the Appraisal Review Board believes the exemptions are still valid because they were approved prior to House Bill 21 becoming law. The arguments surrounded House Bill 21 Tarrant County's attorneys argued that the housing finance corporations only own the apartment complexes in name only, because the property is leased and operated by private developers who then set the rent prices. Many of the apartments, Kratovil argued, do not provide low-to-moderate income housing. Kratovil said the county lost $1.8 million in taxes on these apartment complexes. The total taxable value of the 28 properties is $974 million in 2025. Where the county and city attorneys disagree with the Tarrant Appraisal District is that, though clarified by House Bill 21 this year, tax exemptions for housing finance corporations claiming tax exemptions outside of their own city or county was never legal. Jim Evans, the attorney for TAD, said the statute regarding traveling housing financial corporations, as it existed prior to House Bill 21 permitted such exemptions. Tiffany Bull, the attorney for Grand Prairie, said that while that may be the interpretation TAD holds, the Appraisal Review Board does not have to follow that interpretation since the legislature clearly outlined that traveling housing financial corporations are not legal. The Tarrant Appraisal Review Board agreed, 2-1, with Evans. The county attorneys said they could not yet say if they would appeal the decision.