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Investigative journalism in the public interest. That’s what we focus on in Dallas-Fort Worth and throughout Texas. Join the conversation. Help us expose the problems and provide solutions. March 2010
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Muslim activist group CAIR is unusually quiet about longtime board member's deportation Church arson suspect likes Nietzsche and bonfires East Texas church fires update: Know these guys? Q&A with ATF on East Texas church fires Who's torching East Texas churches? And why? Fort Hood fallout: Military suspends trainer with ties to terror suspects; criminal inquiry pending Problem Solver: Suits donated to charity Fort Hood update: murder charges, Obama order and a DMN story on the Hasan money trail Categories
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February 23, 2010
Recently, for example, it denounced the introduction of full-body scanners in airports as a violation of Islamic rules about modesty. Its Web site carries many press releases on a variety of civil rights issues. But CAIR has been quiet about the recent deportation order against Richardson resident Nabil Sadoun (left), a longtime member of the group's national and DFW chapter boards. When I asked national CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper for an interview, he responded with this e-mail: "Peace. Perhaps speak to his attorney. She is the best source of information on the case." Hooper did not respond when I followed up with written questions about CAIR's view of the deportation case and its relationship with Sadoun. Sadoun's attorney, Kimberly Kinser of Richardson, didn't respond to my phone call and e-mail. ![]() ![]() The entry "Muslim activist group CAIR is unusually quiet about longtime board member's deportation" is tagged: Abdurahman Alamoudi , Brighter Horizons Academy , CAIR , civil rights , Council on American-Islamic Relations , deportation , Hamas , Holy Land Foundation , Ibrahim Hooper , imam , Islamic Society of North Texas , Jordan , Kimberly Kinser , Mousa Abu Marzook , Muslims , Nabil Sadoun , Richardson , suicide bombings , Syria , terrorism , Tulsa , United Association for Studies and Research February 22, 2010
"Never give way to remorse, but immediately say to yourself: that would merely mean adding a second stupidity to the first. -- If you have done harm, see how you can do good. -- If you are punished for your actions, bear the punishment with the feeling that you ARE doing good -- by deterring others from falling prey to the same folly. Every evildoer who is punished may feel that he is a benefactor of humanity."
Bourque was arrested Sunday with Daniel George McAllister (lower right). The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives blames the two for a string of 10 recent church fires in East Texas. The two men used to attend a Baptist church in the East Texas town of Ben Wheeler that was not torched, says Dallas Morning News reporter Richard Abshire. ![]() ![]() The entry "Church arson suspect likes Nietzsche and bonfires " is tagged: arson , ATF , Ben Wheeler , church fires , Daniel McAllister , East Texas , Facebook , Friedrich Nietzsche , Jason Bourque , MySpace , Nietzsche , Richard Abshire , Tyler , Van High School February 15, 2010
Click on the link and see if you recognize them. Use the magnifying glass icon to blow up the images and check out the tattoos -- one (at right) appears to be an upside-down cross, and the other looks like flames. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Around-the-clock tip lines include: 1 (888) ATF-FIRE (888-283-3473); (903) 675-0061 and (903) 675-0062. Also, you can send me an e-mail or join the conversation by commenting below. If you're on Twitter, follow our blog at DMNInvestigates. You can also check us out on Facebook. ![]() ![]() The entry "East Texas church fires update: Know these guys?" is tagged: arson , ATF , church fires , East Texas , reward , sketches , upside-down cross February 10, 2010
The online speculation was enough to make me call Tom Crowley, spokesman for the Dallas office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Here's a quick summary of what we talked about: Q: Does any evidence point to Muslims, liberals or Satan? Q: Any sense of what's motivating the arsonist(s)? Q: What do you see as the possible motives? Q: What sort of other crime? Q: Where on church property were the fires set? Q: What types of churches have been targeted? Q: What accelerants, if any, have been used? Q: Any advice for churches and their neighbors?
![]() ![]() The entry "Q&A with ATF on East Texas church fires" is tagged: ATF , Baptist , Christian Scientist , church fires , devil , East Texas , Methodist , nondenominational , Protestant , Satan , Tom Crowley February 9, 2010
Authorities aren't saying yet whether the fires are part of the string of several arsons plaguing Tyler and surrounding areas. But don't be surprised if they're connected -- these last two blazes broke out within 45 minutes of each other, just a few miles apart. The first was reported about 8:45 p.m. at Dover Baptist Church (right). The second was reported about 9:20 p.m. at Clear Spring Missionary Baptist Church. Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it was activating a national response team after Russell Memorial United Methodist Church in Wills Point was torched. Tips? Send me an e-mail. ![]() ![]() The entry "Who's torching East Texas churches? And why? " is tagged: arson , ATF , Bureau of Alcohol , church fires , churches , Clear Spring Missionary Baptist Church , Dover Baptist Church , East Texas , Firearms and Explosives , Russell Memorial United Methodist Church , Tobacco , Tyler February 8, 2010
There was at least one more: Louay Safi (shown at right). A month after the worst military-base massacre in U.S. history, he taught Islam to officers who were deploying to Afghanistan. He'd been doing this work on bases around the country, as a military subcontractor, since 2005. That same year, federal prosecutors named Safi an unindicted co-conspirator in the terrorism-support trial of his old buddy Sami al-Arian. The reason: a wiretapped phone call in which the two men mocked a U.S. order banning dealings with foreign terrorist groups and agreed that Jews controlled the White House. Al-Arian has since been convicted. But he still faces criminal contempt charges for refusing to testify before a grand jury about the International Institute of Islamic Thought -- a northern Virginia think tank that counterterrorism agents raided in 2002, when Safi was its research director. Safi now faces a criminal inquiry by the military but has never been criminally charged. He denies wrongdoing. He also has described post-9/11 counterterrorism crackdowns as a "campaign against Islam." ![]() ![]() The entry "Fort Hood fallout: Military suspends trainer with ties to terror suspects; criminal inquiry pending" is tagged: 9/11 , Afghanistan , al-Qaeda , Anwar al-Aulaqi , Anwar al-Awlaki , campaign against Islam , Dar al-Hijrah , FBI , Fort Hood , hijackers , IIIT , International Institute of Islamic Thought , Islam , Islamic Society of North America , ISNA , Louay Safi , massacre , military subcontractor , mosque , Nidal Hasan , Nidal Malik Hasan , North American Islamic Trust , Sami al-Arian , terrorism , Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab , Underwear Bomber , war against Islam , Yemen December 1, 2009
The center offers clothing to the needy twice a month, a charitable mission that grew out of the Oak Lawn United Methodist Church's weekly dinner for the homeless. Each Sunday evening beginning at 5 p.m. the church offers a home-cooked meal for people living on the streets and in their vehicles. They don't forget about the pets of their homeless guests either. A program called "Baxter's Buddies" helps provide food for the furry or feathered set. To donate to or volunteer for any of the programs, contact gregg.smith@olumc.org. ![]() ![]() The entry "Problem Solver: Suits donated to charity" is tagged: charity; clothing , Oak Lawn Community Outreach center , Problem Solver November 12, 2009
* Formal charges were filed against Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan -- "13 specifications of premeditated murder, in violation of Article 118, Uniform Code of Military Justice," as the Army puts it. More on this below. * The White House released a copy of a memo that President Obama sent to the secretary of defense, the director of national intelligence and the head of the FBI. It reads: "On November 6, 2009, I directed that an immediate inventory be conducted of all intelligence in U.S. Government files that existed prior to November 6, 2009, relevant to the tragic shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, especially anything having to do with the alleged shooter, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, U.S. Army. In addition, I directed an immediate review be initiated to determine how any such intelligence was handled, shared, and acted upon within individual departments and agencies and what intelligence was shared with others... Preliminary results of this review shall be provided by November 30, 2009." * The Dallas Morning News' Dave Michaels reports that authorities have been looking into whether Hasan wired money to Pakistan, which is battling a massive Islamist insurgency and is widely believed to be Osama bin Laden's hiding place.
![]() ![]() The entry "Fort Hood update: murder charges, Obama order and a DMN story on the Hasan money trail" is tagged: Army , Barack Obama , FBI , Fort Hood , insurgency , Islamist , massacre , murder , national intelligence , Nidal Hasan , Nidal Malik Hasan , Osama bin Laden , Pakistan , secretary of defense , slaughter , Uniform Code of Military Justice September 11, 2009
1. A Dallas County court put child psychiatrist William Olmsted (right) on probation for child molestation. But he can still work as a doctor. That's because the Texas Medical Board recently decided not to take his license away, as Dallas Morning News reporter Diane Jennings shows today. The board decided it was enough to limit his practice to treatment of men, in a group setting. Olmsted must also get a psychiatric evaluation, attend "professional boundaries" courses and pay a fine. All of which recalls my colleague Doug Swanson's 2002 investigation showing that the board was reluctant to punish doctors who sexually assaulted or otherwise harmed patients. And it recalls Doug's 2007 follow-up on a Texas legislator who was in business with a doctor and called a special hearing to see whether the board was too aggressive in its discipline. 2. Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert says real police officers will begin checking out car-burglary complaints in person instead of letting civilian call takers handle the task by phone. And there will be a sweeping review of all 2009 reports that Dallas police labeled untrustworthy. The changes come in direct response to News reporters Steve Thompson and Tanya Eiserer's recent findings that cops weren't counting all crimes. 3. Today's update on the Dallas Episcopal Diocese's stockbroker-priest scandal: A second clergyman has left his pulpit -- and he's talking about suing parishioners who accuse him of investment-related misconduct. Do you have a tip about doctor discipline? The Texas Medical Board? Other professional disciplinary issues? Send me an e-mail and let me know. Or join the conversation by commenting below. If you're on Twitter, follow our blog at DMNInvestigates. You can also check us out on Facebook. ![]() ![]() The entry "Hot Links: Dallas molester keeps medical license" is tagged: Bishop James Stanton , Brooks Egerton , car burglary , child abuse , child psychiatriast , crime statistics , Dallas Episcopal Diocese , Dallas mayor , Dallas police , Diane Jennings , discipline , First Canterbury Securities , leave of absence , molestation , parishioners , Paul Lambert , probation , Raymond Jennison , reforms , Steve Thompson , stockbroker-priest scandal , suffragan bishop , Tanya Eiserer , Texas Medical Board , Tom Leppert , William Olmsted , William Warnky September 10, 2009
1. Remember Lori Bailey (top right)? She used to be in the paper all the time as Dallas FBI office spokeswoman. Now she's gone -- and on probation for DWI after a wrong-way crash on the Dallas North Tollway.
3. Someone's going to have a doozy of a time explaining how this happened: An Eagle Mountain Elementary School third-grader slipped out of school on a bathroom break, found an unlocked employee's van with the keys inside and went on a five-mile joyride. Do you have a tip about something wacky? Send me an e-mail and let me know. Or join the conversation by commenting below. If you're on Twitter, follow our blog at DMNInvestigates. You can also check us out on Facebook. ![]() ![]() The entry "Hot Links: FBI's local face nailed for DWI crash" is tagged: animal cruelty , animal sacrifice , Dallas North Tollway , DWI , Eagle Mountain Elementary School , Euless , FBI , freedom of religion , goat , Jose Merced , joyride , Lori Bailey , priest , probation , public health , Santeria , spokeswoman , wrong-way crash September 8, 2009
Meanwhile, Dallas Episcopal leaders are cautioning clergy not to talk to me about discipline scandals -- whether Warnky and fellow broker/priest Raymond Jennison's financial dealings with parishioners or another priest's three-year suspension for harassment. Episcopal bosses also have hired one of the Dallas area's top crisis-management consultants, the LeMaster Group. A decade ago, group president Lisa LeMaster (right) talked to me often -- she helped the Dallas Catholic Diocese manage the aftermath of child sex-abuse scandals. I covered that mess for years. More recent clients include the National Football League and local sports magnate Tom Hicks. But LeMaster's Web site also notes: "You probably don't know who many of our clients are -- and that's the way we like it. In fact, when we do our job, your audience usually won't even know we were involved. From CEOs, executives and politicians to athletes, coaches and teams, we've helped many prominent public figures express themselves impeccably and deal with tough situations." LeMaster told me today that she's Episcopalian herself. Asked for comment on the gag order, she sent this via e-mail: "These issues involve some sensitive personnel matters that should only be discussed at the diocesan level. That's what's fair and right for everyone involved."
![]() ![]() The entry "Stockbroker/clergyman resigns from priesthood" is tagged: Bishop James Stanton , bishop suffragan , clergy sex abuse , Dallas Catholic Diocese , Dallas Episcopal Diocese , discipline , gag order , harassment , Hicks Sports Group , Keith Roberson , LeMaster Group , Lisa LeMaster , National Football League , Paul Lambert , Raymond Jennison , scandal , stockbroker priest , Tom Hicks , William Warnky
1. Why does Texas lead the nation in repeat teen pregnancy? Bob Garrett of The Dallas Morning News' Austin bureau looked at several factors in Monday's paper. Among them: Only Utah and the Lone Star State require state-funded clinics to get parents' consent before giving their teens birth control. And Utah at least tells young people on a state Web site to go to Planned Parenthood if they don't want to involve their parents. 2. Have you ever thought about what you'd do if you were pregnant and knew the baby was doomed? Over the past two Sundays, my colleagues Lee Hancock and Sonya Hebert traced one family's journey in words, photos and video. If thus stuff doesn't haunt you, have someone check your pulse. Do you have a tip about matters of life and death? Send me an e-mail and let me know. Or join the conversation by commenting below. If you're on Twitter, follow our blog at DMNInvestigates. You can also check us out on Facebook. ![]() ![]() The entry "Hot Links: Texas leads in repeat teen pregnancy " is tagged: abortion , birth control , birth defect , Deidrea Laux , genetic abnormality , Lee Hancock , parental consent , Planned Parenthood , pregnancy , repeat teen pregnancy , Robert Garrett , Sonya Hebert , state-funded clinics , T.K. Laux , teen pregnancy , Thomas Laux , trisomy 13 September 4, 2009
Effective immediately, priests are "barred from soliciting, providing or selling secular products or services to parishioners," a diocesan press release says. It quotes Stanton thusly: "This new policy is designed to eliminate any conflicts of interest, and we hope these changes will raise the level of confidence in our clergy and that of the people under their care." Diocesan leaders previously told me that priests had long been prohibited from financial involvement with parishioners. But it turns out that the policy was pretty vague -- it read, according to the press release: "The relationship of members of the clergy with fellow clergy and with members of the laity must be of the highest moral and professional character." Stanton recently suspended Warnky from the ministry after financial regulators barred him from selling securities. The regulators acted because Warnky failed to pay a former parishioner, D.R. Marshall, $50,000 for stock fraud.
Another former member of Warnky's parish (Good Samaritan, near White Rock Lake) told diocesan officials this week that Jennison mistreated her when she complained to him, in late 2007, about Warnky. ![]() ![]() The entry "Tougher rules ordered for Dallas Episcopal clergy; another stockbroker-priest may be suspended" is tagged: Bishop James Stanton , clergy , D.R. Marshall , Dallas Episcopal Diocese , First Canterbury Securities , Garland , Good Samaritan Episcopal Church , Jeanette Prasifka , misconduct , Paul Lambert , priest , Raymond Jennison , St. David's Episcopal Church , stock fraud , stockbroker , William Warnky August 28, 2009
I learned today that two months ago, Stanton quietly stripped the Rev. Keith Roberson (below right) of his collar for three years for "conduct unbecoming a member Here's a partial translation that I coaxed out of Stanton's top aide, Bishop Suffragan Paul Lambert: The conduct was directed at women at the Terrell church where Roberson worked, Good Shepherd. "It was more harassment than anything," and "it was nothing physical." Roberson declined to comment today. He runs an optical repair business in Fort Worth called J.R. Optical, whose Web site says: "I am an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church and I uphold the values and character traits associated with a life of personal commitment and service to the Lord. I live by the Scripture verse 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.' I am honest, open, professional, congenial, and stand by my word." Lambert acknowledged that Roberson previously left another parish -- he wouldn't say which one -- amid controversy. "It was a bad match," he said. "It was not sexual harassment." Years ago, Roberson also worked briefly as a fill-in priest at Good Samaritan, where Warnky was the priest in charge until this week. It hasn't been decided yet how long Warnky will be out of ministry. ![]() ![]() The entry "Another Dallas Episcopal priest suspended" is tagged: Bishop James Stanton , Bishop Suffragan , Dallas , Episcopal Diocese , Good Samaritan Episcopal Church , Good Shepherd Episcopal Church , Keith Roberson , Paul Lambert , suspended , William Warnky August 26, 2009
Stanton said he was unaware of what I discovered late yesterday: A Dallas judge put the Rev. William Warnky (below right) on 10 years of probation in 2006 for contempt of court after he failed to pay about $50,000 in child support to his second wife. Warnky should have disclosed this to Dallas Episcopal Diocese leaders, the bishop said. "Mercy," he added. "That is a very serious This spring, the Texas attorney general's office sought to jail Warnky because of continuing child-support failures. The judge let him stay on probation. Warnky has been making payments since, the AG's office said. The priest declined to comment today. He led services Sunday at his church, Good Samaritan, which is a few blocks south of White Rock Lake. Stanton said his suspension from ministry took effect Monday. ![]() ![]() The entry "Dallas priest suspended over stock-fraud case" is tagged: Bishop James Stanton , bishop suffragan , child support , contempt of court , Episcopal Diocese , Financial Industry Regulatory Authority , FINRA , First Canterbury Securities , Good Samaritan Episcopal Church , jail , Paul Lambert , priest , probation , securities fraud , stockbroker , suspension , Texas attorney general , William Warnky August 24, 2009
1. The Richardson school district is back in session today. And David Simmons (pictured at right) is being paid $300,000 not to be superintendent any more, as Dallas Morning News reporter Jeff Weiss explains. Why? School board members suggest that the payoff is the most efficient way to get rid of Simmons, who quit Aug. 3. And why did they want him out, given that the district has a balanced budget and four straight years of "recognized" status? They aren't giving much of an explanation. 2. Securities regulators told William Warnky last week not to work as a stockbroker because he defrauded a former client and disregarded an order to repay him $50,000. What will become of Warnky's other career as a priest? We're waiting to hear from Dallas Episcopal Bishop James Stanton or his No. 2, Bishop Suffragan Paul Lambert. Do you have a tip about RISD? David Simmons? The Episcopal Diocese of Dallas? William Warnky? Send me an e-mail and let me know. Or join the conversation by commenting below. If you're on Twitter, follow our blog at DMNInvestigates. You can also check us out on Facebook. ![]() ![]() The entry "Hot Links: RISD boss gone but still getting paid" is tagged: Bishop James Stanton , David Simmons , Episcopal Diocese , First Canterbury Securities , Good Samaritan Episcopal Church , Jeffrey Weiss , Paul Lambert , payoff , Richardson Independent School District , Richardson schools , RISD , stockbroker , superintendent , William Warnky June 8, 2009
First, they have disclosed the name used by a man who received the funds: William "Bill" Ryan. They describe him as white, in his 60s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds, with wavy, graying hair. He is "very personable and animated," and has "a distinguishable New York accent." The officials say he is a "con man" who posed as a parishioner and probably is using a fake name. They say they have no photo of him -- but maybe somebody reading this does? Ryan and three others the diocese won't name received a series of Western Union payments in New York "over three and a half months," diocese spokeswoman Annette Gonzales Taylor said. She said the FBI has dropped its inquiry into the matter without coming to any conclusions about what happened. The FBI would not confirm or deny that. ![]() ![]() The entry "Can you help find Irving church's lost money?" is tagged: Annette Gonzales Taylor , Anthony "Tony" Densmore , Brooks Egerton , Church of the Incarnation , Dallas Catholic Diocese , FBI , Irving , missing funds , New York , scam , University of Dallas , Western Union , William "Bill" Ryan May 28, 2009
2. Another man walked free after he was cleared by DNA-based evidence in Dallas County, Jennifer Emily tells us. Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Perry signed legislation to increase compensation to those wrongly convicted. 3. Texas has had some characters of televangelists. Robert Tilton was perhaps the biggest. His speaking in tongues and pitching for donations were always striking. His empire collapsed like several of his contemporaries, but he's still toiling in Florida, Scott Parks reports.
![]() ![]() The entry "Investigates Hot Links: Thursday, May 28, 2009" is tagged: Dallas County commissioners , DNA , evidence , exoneration , FBI , Jim Foster , John Wiley Price , Robert Tilton , televangelist , wrongly convicted May 13, 2009
1. Looking for broader perspective on the case of the North Texas soldier accused of killing five fellow troops in Iraq? Check out this award-winning investigation by the Hartford Courant. 2. Federal law bars nonprofit groups from engaging in partisan politics. But it apparently allows a foundation funded by some of Gov. Rick Perry's wealthiest backers to court pastors at election time, according to Dallas Morning News writer Wayne Slater. Here's a tax filing by the Niemoller Foundation, which dubbed its wooing campaign the Texas Restoration Project. Did I miss a good story? Or do you have a tip? Send me an e-mail and let me know. ![]() ![]() The entry "Investigates Hot Links: Wednesday, May 13, 2009" is tagged: Hartford Courant , Iraq , IRS , mental health , Niemoller Foundation , nonprofit , Rick Perry , Sherman , soldiers , tax law , Texas Restoration Project , Wayne Slater April 13, 2009
Matthew Bagert (right), got married and worked as a traveling installer for hotel energy management systems while awaiting trial, Dallas Morning News federal-beat reporter Jason Trahan reports. The grand jury investigation, conducted under former Dallas County DA Bill Hill, went nowhere. It looked for evidence that diocese officials had covered up child molestation in the last few years. Reporting by The News previously documented a long-hidden history of abuse in the Dallas Diocese and around the world. ![]() ![]() The entry "Ex-Dallas Diocese priest guilty in child-porn case" has no entry tags. |