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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · 14h

Headlines in the last month portray the city of Dallas in chaos. We've had killings outside an ICE facility, a nightclub, a shopping center, a beheading at a motel. A story that isn’t being told: Dallas is on pace for one of its lowest murder tallies in a decade.

I dug into the data in my latest.

The Perception and Truth Behind Violence in Dallas

Despite numerous high-profile murders and violent crimes, the city is on pace for its largest decrease in homicides since well before the pandemic.

labreportdallas.com

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · 13d

What does the government shutdown fight have to do with Dallas hospitals? For @labreportdallas.bsky.social, I break down how planned health care cuts could hit the county’s safety net—with $130M already on the line.

“There’s going to be some rough seas.”

Deep Medicaid Cuts Come for Parkland

The steepest reduction in the program’s history has the leaders of the county's safety net system preparing for the unknown. Here is where things stand.

labreportdallas.com

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Reposted by Kelli Smith

Sharon Grigsby @sharongrigsby.bsky.social · 14d

With the fight over healthcare shutting down the federal government today, The Lab Report's @kellixsmith.bsky.social looks beyond the political bickering and digs into the real-life implications across North Texas, especially within Parkland Health. labreportdallas.com/p/deep-medic...

Deep Medicaid Cuts Come for Parkland

The steepest reduction in the program’s history has the leaders of the county's safety net system preparing for the unknown. Here is where things stand.

labreportdallas.com

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Sep 10

A woman had a theory: could small teams deployed after a drug overdose or poisoning save lives?

Three years since the fentanyl crisis struck North TX, deaths are declining.

My latest spotlights a 33-year-old at the center of the fight.

The 33-Year-Old Architect of the Region’s Fentanyl Response

Becky Devine had a theory: could outreach teams, deployed days after a drug overdose or poisoning, save lives? Three years later, deaths are declining.

labreportdallas.com

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Reposted by Kelli Smith

Sharon Grigsby @sharongrigsby.bsky.social · Sep 4

ICYMI: While the dominant public safety conversation in Dallas was about adding more cops, violent crime fell 48% across 150 sites in just six months. Police officers had very little to do with it. From @labreportdallas.bsky.social's @kellixsmith.bsky.social
labreportdallas.com/p/dallas-bli...

In Dallas, Reducing Violent Crime Goes Beyond Policing

They aren’t cops. But this specialized team of city employees is showing how improving neighborhoods and addressing blight can reduce violence.

labreportdallas.com

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Aug 27

For my latest story, I feature Dallas' City Action Strike Team — a trio that targets urban decay with an ambitious goal in mind: Could improving these spaces help reduce violence?

So far, we've found, the results are promising. More here:

In Dallas, Reducing Violent Crime Goes Beyond Policing

They aren’t cops. But this specialized team of city employees is showing how improving neighborhoods and addressing blight can reduce violence.

labreportdallas.com

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Reposted by Kelli Smith

Matt Goodman @goodmoine.bsky.social · Aug 20

Dobie Pre-K will soon be a hub for services in Esperanza. To understand the significance of local government finally paying attention here, @kellixsmith.bsky.social spent weeks with residents to learn about resilience and community in this pocket of North Dallas. labreportdallas.com/p/esperanza-...

In North Dallas, a New Future in a Shuttered School

County officials are finally paying close attention to the Esperanza neighborhood in Far North Dallas, beginning with a new vision for Dobie Pre-K.

labreportdallas.com

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Aug 20

In my first story for The Lab Report Dallas, I spent weeks in Esperanza, a neighborhood once called "mayhem" where a third of households live on less than $25,000 a year. After a school shuttered, officials stepped in — and residents turn to resilience.

In North Dallas, a New Future in a Shuttered School

County officials are finally paying close attention to the Esperanza neighborhood in Far North Dallas, beginning with a new vision for Dobie Pre-K.

labreportdallas.com

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Reposted by Kelli Smith

Matt Goodman @goodmoine.bsky.social · Jul 18

The full website goes live in the fall. We’ve hired @kellixsmith.bsky.social, one of Dallas' best reporters, as a staff writer. Email newsletters go out every Wednesday. We want to help Dallas understand what’s working, what’s not, and why. Join us! (Also it’s free.) labreportdallas.com/subscribe

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Reposted by Kelli Smith

Matt Goodman @goodmoine.bsky.social · Jul 18

🧵 Fourish months ago, @sharongrigsby.bsky.social and I holed up in essentially a glass-doored closet and talked at each other until we could see the shape of a new publication. The Lab Report has a ways to go—website (the design rips), social accounts (yikes)—but we’re now running stories.

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jul 16

So excited to share this journalism, which goes deep on important topics impacting North Texas families. My first stories publish in the coming weeks. 🙂

You can sign up (for free!) to see us in your inbox every week:

The Lab Report Dallas

Helping the city understand itself.

labreportdallas.com

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jul 16

Matt dove into Dallas' deflection center, an initiative championed by District Attorney John Creuzot to connect nonviolent criminal trespass offenders with services. It's meant to break the cycle keeping those people jailed.

The problem: Cops aren't bringing them there.

If Not Jail, Then Where?

The district attorney believes too many people are being taken to jail who need help more than punishment. Doing something about it is a different story.

labreportdallas.com

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jul 16

Sharon spent 6 months with North Texas nonprofits navigating uncertainty amid federal cuts, layoffs, and delayed reimbursements.

The effect is already being felt in the form of 33 million fewer meals, reduced stipends, fewer kids at summer camp, and more:

The Safety Net Has Ripped

The Lab Report's first story is an inside look at how nonprofit service providers in North Texas have weathered half a year of 'unprecedented' funding cuts.

labreportdallas.com

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jul 16

🧵Our first stories are out at The Lab Report Dallas!

Leading up to our website launch, we're publishing a new piece every Wednesday to offer a look at the solutions-based journalism you can expect from us.

Our first two by @sharongrigsby.bsky.social and @goodmoine.bsky.social are must-reads. 👇

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jun 17

For my last @dallasnews.com story, I sat down with new Chief Daniel Comeaux and community and police leaders to ask how the ex-DEA leader can succeed amid a torrent of challenges here.

“Dallas is gonna have to deal with me because I’m not going anywhere.”

Dallas police face a torrent of challenges. How can new Chief Daniel Comeaux succeed?

Dallas' new police chief gave himself 90 days to learn before making changes. Still, since his start April 23, he’s had to contend with wide-ranging issues.

www.dallasnews.com

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jun 13

The public safety beat led me to neighborhoods, city meetings and courtrooms across North Texas. It taught me so much about building trust and handling sensitive topics. It’s a beat with a plethora of stories.

Now, the position is open! I'm happy to answer questions possible applicants might have.

Monster Solutions JS Job Details

dallasnewscorporation.mua.hrdepartment.com

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jun 13

Today is my last day at @dallasnews.com and it's still hard to believe it snuck up. Words can't express my gratitude for DMN's chance on me when I was a breaking news fellow.

I'm leaving after ~4 years covering Dallas PD, which has been an incredible opportunity to work on important stories.

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Reposted by Kelli Smith

Brandon Friedman @brandonfriedman.bsky.social · Jun 11

Not a great situation tonight at Dallas city hall. The city attorney's interruption was a surprise to all board members who had questions prepared for the police chief. We are not done with this.

Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jun 10

Board member Brandon Friedman (@brandonfriedman.bsky.social) is trying to ask the chief for his views on immigration, but is interrupted by a city attorney who says they can’t ask anything him about immigration or specific policies because the agenda only said it’d be a “general introduction.”

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jun 11

New: Dallas police oversight members arrived at their meeting tonight expecting to speak with the city’s top cop about a topic on many minds: immigration.

There was one catch: They weren’t allowed.

City attorneys bar Dallas police chief from speaking about immigration

The directive came minutes after Dallas police Chief Daniel Comeaux introduced himself to the Community Police Oversight Board.

www.dallasnews.com

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jun 10

There are more people in the audience today than the usual monthly oversight meetings. Board member Ozzie Smith thanks those who came out to hear the Chief’s views and is outlining the six pages of questions they’d hoped to ask.

“This is not the meeting that we had anticipated as a board.”

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jun 10

Board member Brandon Friedman (@brandonfriedman.bsky.social) is trying to ask the chief for his views on immigration, but is interrupted by a city attorney who says they can’t ask anything him about immigration or specific policies because the agenda only said it’d be a “general introduction.”

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jun 10

Chief Daniel Comeaux opens his remarks at Dallas’ Community Police Oversight Board by addressing yesterday’s protests. He said he’s sad officers had rocks and bottles thrown at them, but he’s proud of their strength and only one person was arrested.

Watch: dallastx.new.swagit.com/views/113/dc...

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Kelli Smith @kellixsmith.bsky.social · Jun 10

Tonight’s Dallas protests appear to be the most tense DPD/protester interactions since 2020 George Floyd demonstrations. DPD trained a specialized group after those to better handle mass protests.

They also come one day before Chief Comeaux is set to address Dallas’ police oversight board.

Dallas rally to show solidarity with LA protesters turns tense as crowd takes to street

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge plays host Monday for those who aim to “stand in solidarity” with L.A. following immigration enforcement operations, protests.

www.dallasnews.com

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Reposted by Kelli Smith

Matt Goodman @goodmoine.bsky.social · Jun 2

We are very pro things-that-are-good-for-Dallas: labreportdallas.com

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Reposted by Kelli Smith

Matt Goodman @goodmoine.bsky.social · Jun 2

We're building something new over here, and I'm so excited to have Kelli with us. If you care about compelling local journalism that isn't boring, we're launching this for Dallas later this summer. Sign up here: labreportdallas.com

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