Local stories this evening from the KERA Newsroom: SMU will have to make $35 million in budget cuts. Also, choosing a healthcare plan can be tricky. Jack Hooper of Take Command Health says to look beyond the co-pays and deductibles. And finally, a radio service for the visually impaired is ending local production.

After 45 years, a North Texas nonprofit called Reading & Radio Resource is ending local production this weekend. The subscription radio service has had hundreds of volunteers read newspapers, magazines and books for those without sight. Organizers say their patrons are turning to podcasting and other higher-tech solutions.

Fans of cutthroat competition, raucous crowds and full contact sports can find their dream event at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas this weekend. And it’s played on wheels.

The month after an election is generally thought to be a political ‘quiet time.’ This year, the past few weeks in North Texas has been pretty noisy. First, Fort Worth mayor Betsy Price announced her re-election bid on KERA, and this week, the mayor of Dallas said he’ll run again. Gromer Jeffers with The Dallas Morning News sat down to talk about local politics in this week’s Friday Conversation.

Local news from the KERA Newsroom: When the 84th Texas Legislature convenes in January, the hallways will be packed with new leaders - and their agendas are diverse. Doualy Xaykaothao has a preview from a lunch in Fort Worth. And Courtney Collins acquaints us with the women of Roller Derby World Cup, on this week at the Dallas Convention Center. 

Five stories that have North Texas talking: marchers take to the streets in Dallas to protest police killings; a jury convicts Eric Williams of capital murder in the killing of the Kaufman DA’s wife; a Dallas-area taxi driver has been named one of the FBI’s most-wanted fugitives; and more:

Local stories this evening from the KERA Newsroom: A former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace was convicted of capital murder today. Also, road closures are in store for parts of I-635 and the pre-kindergarten debate continues in an education summit in Fort Worth.

Building on previous suggestions, including the establishment of two specialized Ebola treatment centers, a task force on Thursday released its full report on how the state could better handle an outbreak of an infectious disease.

A North Texas jury has convicted a former public official of capital murder in a revenge plot against a local district attorney, his wife and a top assistant.

Leading a 17-state charge up a steep legal hill, Attorney General and soon-to-be-Gov.Greg Abbott on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Obama administration's moves to expand legal protections for undocumented immigrants.