News Website Up 90% In Traffic

We hear a lot of complaints about the News website. (Ok, we make a lot of complaints about the News website.) But from March of last year to March of this year, its traffic has almost doubled, according to Nielsen.

Oprah’s Man Gets Everybody Motivated

Stedman Graham, the writer and motivational speaker who may be better known for his “spiritual union” with media mogul Oprah Winfrey, got folks all fired up today at the 2008 Family Gateway Luncheon at the Hilton Anatole. The emcee was Belo8 chief meteorologist Pete Delkus, and attendees included the likes of the Dallas Cowboys’ Gene Jones and Laurie (Mrs. Wade) Phillips, who must have drawn the short straw and wound up sitting next to me. Jump to see how many ways I embarrassed myself with her.

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EDS Byron Nelson To Remain “EDS Byron Nelson”

Earlier this week EDS CEO Ron Rittenmeyer voiced his disgruntlement about the low-wattage of PGA stars who play in the EDS Byron Nelson these days. He said the tourney needed a turnaround for him to feel confident about EDS’ continued sponsorship. I guess Tour commissioner Tim Finchem did some convincing: EDS extended its contract through 2014.

Harlan Crow Wins A Round

He may not be able to stop the convention hotel, as he hopes, but at least his people may have saved the city some money today.

Watts Warns Of ‘Culture Of Arrogance’ Around McCain

Former Oklahoma congressman J.C. Watts, who’s now a businessman and political commentator, had some words of warning in Fort Worth Wednesday morning for John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. Jump for the details.

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Good Question: Where Is The ACLU?

As the Zion debacle continues, a Knoxville commentator asks why a group is being held for crimes that may have been committed by individuals, if any crimes have been committed at all.

Bad News Coming From Belo

Robert Decherd sent this letter to shareholders on Monday, saying the new newspaper company will miss first-quarter expectations set by the company as late as January 31. However, he goes on to note a number of positive actions that are starting, he says, to bear fruit.

Leading Off

1. Avery Johnson wore his Spurs championship ring to the game last night to inspire his team to greatness. “New Orleans spent the final few minutes Tuesday of a 127-103 win clowning the Mavs and attempting dunks usually reserved for practice.” Go, Stars!

2. The Morning News runs an editorial this morning supporting the May 10 Dallas ISD bond. This is going to be a tough one, kids. I know at least one recently retired longtime Dallas teacher who has a son employed by a magazine and who has a “vote no” sign in her yard. She has lost faith in the district’s leadership. Her son? He’ll vote yes. So we’ll see. One thing we do know for sure: Trustee Edwin Flores’ theory that the DMN has been working to “cast doubt on the 2008 Bond program to sell more newspapers” holds a little less water this morning.

3. Senior Cpl. Jerry Poston is a 17-year Dallas police veteran. Last summer, in the line of duty, Poston took a shotgun blast to the face and another to the thigh. He lost an eye and still has pellets lodged in his face. But Poston returned to work just five months after the shooting. Right now, he’s working as a detective, but he’s anxious to get back on patrol. Why? “It’s just what I do,” he said.