WNV Victim Asks If Delays Added to Epidemic

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A North Texas doctor recovering from West Nile virus wonders if he and some other victims who got the neuroinvasive form of the disease would have been spared if the Dallas County health department had pushed for aerial spraying sooner.

More than two months after Mike Clark got West Nile virus, he's still in rehab, trying to recover from the damage it did to his body and his memory.

"I just progressively worsened -- couldn't eat, couldn't drink," he said. "I got nauseated and finally had lost 26 pounds. It was, it was definitely scary. I mean, I didn't know if I was going to get better or worse."

If Clark wasn't recovering from West Nile virus, he might be treating patients with West Nile virus. He's a doctor, but he hasn't been able to work since August.

"There are a lot of people who wouldn't be in the hospital, who wouldn't be in the situation I'm in, had things been done faster," Clark said.

As the NBC 5 Investigates team first reported Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it recommended that the Dallas County health department "strongly consider" aerial spraying in late July. The CDC said it gave the Dallas County health department that advice in a conference call on July 25. Dr. Janet McAllister with the CDC led that call.

"In the situation that was described, aerial spraying is, is the most effective way to treat large areas, which is what Dallas County was needing and experiencing widespread cases," she said.

But if the CDC advised aerial spraying in that call, Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Zach Thompson apparently never passed that information along to County Judge Clay Jenkins, the top official who could authorize aerial spraying.

In a statement, Jenkins told NBC 5 Investigates: "My first communication from anyone regarding the possibility of aerial spraying for the 2012 WNV outbreak was August 6, 2012."

CDC Says It Advised Aerial Spraying in July

According to an NBC 5 investigation, federal health officials say they suggested aerial spraying in Dallas County in July, but the county health director says that is "incorrect information."

Dallas Revisits West Nile Virus Attack Plan

An NBC 5 investigation has found that Dallas County did not do some of the key things in the months leading up to the West Nile virus epidemic that experts recommend to identify and then slow the spread of the virus.

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Aug. 6 is 12 days after the date the CDC says it told the health department to strongly consider aerial spraying.

Thompson disputes what CDC told NBC 5 Investigates.

"I've set the record straight that the recommendation you're talking about is a recommendation that the CDC looks at overall planning," he said. "First you do surveillance, you do enhanced spraying, and then you, you, go to aerial spraying."

Thompson won't tell NBC 5 Investigates what he believes the CDC told him on that conference call, but he insists he followed CDC and county plans.

"The information you're pointing out is incorrect," he said. "There is a plan, and we followed that plan, so your information and your story that you put in place is incorrect, so have a good day."

In the end, Jenkins said he based his decision to aerial spray largely on advice he got directly from the CDC.

"The CDC told me Friday when I made the decision to request the planes that the time that we wait can be counted in additional West Nile cases and human life," Jenkins said at an Aug. 16 press conference.

But is it possible that Jenkins might have gotten some of that advice sooner if the county health director told him what the CDC says it told Thompson in the July 25 conference call?

Clark said he thinks any information gained from the CDC should have been shared with the decision makers.

"I mean, I think you should take into account what people who are supposedly experts on this are saying, and CDC is pretty expert on stuff," he said.

NBC 5 Investigates has repeatedly asked health director Thompson to sit down to talk in detail about how his department responded to the West Nile virus epidemic, but he has declined our requests.

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Funeral Home Holds Service for Big Tex

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From his creation as a giant Santa Claus to his fiery 60th anniversary finale, we look at the history of the State Fair of Texas icon, Big Tex.

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"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

The phrase takes on a different meaning when you think of Big Tex, which was destroyed by fire Friday.

"When I saw it on TV, I was just, 'Oh, he just went up in flames,'" said Loretta Pope, holding back fake tears.

A few days after the giant statue at the State Fair of Texas burned, dozens of fans came to memorial for the big guy.

Some were still in denial.

"I couldn't believe when they told me Tex was burning. I'm saying, 'What do you mean he's burning? He's a 100 feet in the air. Who's burning him?'" said Ernie Johnson, who belted out a gospel song at the memorial to remember Big Tex.

The owners of the Golden Gate Funeral Home put together the event, complete with popcorn, cotton candy and fair games for the kids.

While everyone in the crowd laughed and joked during the service, there were some people that did feel sad.

One woman said Big Tex reminded her of the times she would go to the fair as a kid with her parents. Another woman said she always knew where to go if she got lost at the fair: meet at Big Tex.

Pope, a native of Ohio, said she remembers seeing the statue when she moved to Dallas and was struck by how big he was. Pope said when she saw Big Tex, she knew the fair was better than any state fair she went to in Ohio.

"The Ohio State Fair is cows, chickens, dogs and things. You know what the Ohio State Fair looks like," she joked.

Guests at the memorial said they can't wait for Big Tex to rise again next year. But they said they hope he looks a little different.

"Maybe update his clothes a little bit?" Pope said. "He don't need no earring in his ear, neither. He just needs to look like Big Tex."

Johnson said he'd like Big Tex to look like the folks that he lives around near Fair Park -- "a little darker," he laughed.

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Howdy, Folks! Join in on the big fun at the State Fair of Texas by taking a look at our special section full of fried food, special events, deals and discounts, and much more. Click here for more.

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Obama vs. Romney: Zingers, But No Knockout

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Clash on "Horses and Bayonets"

President Obama responded to criticism on military spending from Mitt Romney during Monday night's debate with a zinger that quickly reverberated through the Twitterverse and beyond. After Mitt Romney cited the size of the military in 1917 to illustrate the shrinking size of the military under Obama, the president responded that the U.S does have fewer ships than we did in the early 1900's and "we also have fewer horses and bayonets," a comment that soon went viral.

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President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney wrangled Monday night over America's place in the world, particularly the Middle East, with Obama mocking Romney's foreign policy ideas and Romney accusing the president of weakening the country's influence abroad.

The debate did not match the intensity or aggression of their Oct. 16 meeting, but the arguments were no less sharp. Their exchanges this time were a bit more nuanced, with no stunning or decisive blows.

Obama's weapon of choice was sarcasm, which he used to paint Romney as out of touch and anachronistic.

The most biting remark came in response to Romney's argument for increased military spending, in which he pointed out that the Navy was "smaller now than at any time since 1917" and that the Air Force "is older and smaller than at any time since it was founded in 1947."

Obama responded: "Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military's changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers, where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines."

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Obama used a similar approach when Romney condemned the president's handling of the Arab Spring uprisings.

"What's been happening over the last couple of years is, as we've watched this tumult in the Middle East, this rising tide of chaos occur, you see al-Qaida rushing in, you see other jihadist groups rushing in. And they're throughout many nations in the Middle East," Romney said.

Obama's rejoinder: "Governor Romney, I'm glad that you recognize that Al Qaida is a threat, because a few months ago when you were asked what's the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, you said Russia, not al-Qaida. You said Russia...they're now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War's been over for 20 years.

"But Governor, when it comes to our foreign policy, you seem to want to import the foreign policies of the 1980s, just like the social policies of the 1950s and the economic policies of the 1920s."

Romney suggested that Obama had taken his Russia comment - in a March interview on CNN - out of context. He said that while Russia remained a "geopolitical foe," Iran was America's "greatest national security threat." Then he accused the president of handling Russian President Vladimir Putin with kid gloves.

Monday's debate marked a downshift in tone from the candidates' last matchup, a town-hall-style meeting in which Romney and Obama walked the stage, often meeting face-to-face, lacerating and interrupting each other.

The most notable change came from Romney, who slipped into a more passive, relatively agreeable posture - he even agreed with Obama on several things, including his handling of uprisings in Libya and his refusal to use military strikes in Syria.

When Romney did pounce, it was often to reiterate a central theme of his campaign: that Obama has not asserted America's goals strongly enough abroad, allowing the country's enemies and rivals, from Iran to China, to take advantage.

Romney argued that the president's economic sanctions against Iran, aimed at preventing a nuclear weapon, have been ineffective because the Iranians don't respect America's international authority.

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"I think they saw weakness where they had expected to find American strength," Romney said. "And I say that because from the very beginning, the president in his campaign four years ago, said he would meet with all the world's worst actors in his first year, he'd sit down with (Venezuelan President Hugo) Chavez and (North Korean dictator) Kim Jong-il, with (former Cuban leader Fidel) Castro and President (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad of Iran. And I think they looked and thought, well, that's an unusual honor to receive from the President of the United States."

Romney continued: "And then the president began what I have called an apology tour, of going to various nations in the Middle East and criticizing America. I think they looked at that and saw weakness."

Obama accused Romney of making all that up.

"Nothing Governor Romney just said is true, starting with this notion of me apologizing. This has been probably the biggest whopper that's been told during the course of this campaign. And every fact checker and every reporter who's looked at it, Governor, has said this is not true."

Obama went on to defend his record of economic sanctions against Iran, which he described as "the toughest, most crippling sanctions ever."

Then he turned to Romney, a wealthy former venture capitalist, and charged him with "investing in a Chinese state oil company that was doing business with the Iranian oil sector."

The debate was held at Lynn University in Boca Raton Fla. with Bob Schieffer, host of CBS's "Face the Nation," moderating. Because Romney and Obama remained seated at a desk with Schieffer, there was less opportunity for dramatic confrontations.

Romney used such confrontations to his advantage in the first debate, on Oct. 3, when Obama seemed passive and disengaged. That debate that marked a turning point in the campaign. Since then, Obama's lead in the polls has slipped and the race has narrowed to a virtual tie.

In the second debate, the contentious Oct. 16 town hall meeting, Obama was much more aggressive, but Romney mostly kept pace.

Monday's debate was their last appearance on stage together during the campaign, and a final chance to score lasting points in front of tens of millions of viewers.

The pressure was heaviest on Obama, not only to make up for the gains he'd lost, but also to take full advantage of a subject - foreign policy - that naturally favors a sitting president.

Led by Schieffer's pointed questions, Romney and Obama sparred on the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya; how many troops to leave in Iraq; how to handle the civil war in Syria; how much to spend on the military; and the country's tumultuous negotiations with Iran, along with the implications on Israel.

The more subdued Romney preferred to make broad-stroke swipes at the president rather than disagree with finer policy points.

"Unfortunately, in nowhere in the world is America's influence greater today than it was four years ago," Romney said at one point.

Obama answered that criticism with examples of his experience trying to use the right balance of diplomacy and force.

"The central question at this point is going to be: who is going to be credible to all parties involved?" Obama said. "And they can look at my track record, whether it's Iran sanctions, whether it's dealing with counter-terrorism, whether it's supporting democracy, whether it's supporting women's rights, whether it's supporting religious minorities. And they can say that the President of the United States and the United States of America has stood on the right side of history."

The debate was supposed to focus exclusively on foreign affairs, but neither Romney nor Obama could resist wading back into domestic issues to reprise attacks first leveled in their first two meetings. The digressions included disagreements about education policy, the economy, job growth, and energy production.

Schieffer repeatedly had to pull them back to the questions he'd asked. In the debates' final minutes, Romney proclaimed his love for teachers, to which Schieffer finally said, "I think we all love teachers," and made them move on to their closing statements.

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Undergarment Thief Becomes Violent: DPD

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Dallas police are warning women about a man who has been breaking into homes near White Rock Lake. Police say he's targeted three homes so far, but Thursday the burglary turned violent.

The woman's family said her dogs woke her up barking at around 8 a.m., and when she saw a strange man standing over her, he punched her in the face. The woman's family tells NBC 5 the man got into the house through a window. Police said she was not sexually assaulted.

Police said all of the burglaries have happened close to each other in their Central Patrol Division. All of the cases happened in daylight hours, the man's descriptions are similar, and he took undergarments in two of the burglaries.

On October 18, 2012, at approximately 8 a.m., a Latin male suspect, about 28 years old, short hair, medium build entered a residence through a small window. The suspect proceeded to enter another room where he encountered the female complainant and assaulted her. The suspect then fled the location with some of the complainant's under garments. The suspect was wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans.

On October 16, 2012, at approximately 4:30 p.m., reporting officers responded to an alarm call. The complainant reported that an unknown suspect entered the residence through a rear door and took jewelry and ladies under garments. Prior to the burglary offense, a witness observed a light skinned Latin male with short spiked hair at the complainant's front door. The Latin male was observed leaving the location in a mid 90's, black Infiniti, 4-door vehicle.

On September 13, 2012, at approximately 1:50 p.m., the complainant left her residence however returned approximately 10 minutes later and found that her garage door was open. The complainant entered the residence and while she was in the kitchen, she observed a suspect peeking around the corner, from the garage. As the complainant picked up the phone to call police, the suspect jumped the back fence and fled the location. The suspect was described as a Latin male suspect, 28-30 years old, 5'11", 190 pounds, clean shaven and was wearing black gloves, gray sweatshirt and blue jeans. No property was taken.

The Dallas Police stress "If you see something, say something" and call 9-1-1 to report any criminal or suspicious activity.

Police urge residents to keep their doors and windows locked at all times and get to know your neighbors so you know who belongs and who doesn't.

Neighbors in the area say that's not that easy. "We have a neighborhood Crime Watch, we have police officers going up and down the streets all the time, but it's difficult with all the construction going on and the new building that's going on you don't know who belongs here and who doesn't," said Ceciliee Wallace.

"It definitely scared me," says Ridgedale Avenue homeowner Courtney Bartee.  "Especially to be home here different hours during the day.  It definitely makes me more aware of my surroundings."

Police say if you are away, consider leaving a light, radio, or TV on a timer that goes on and off while you are away from home.Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call the Central Patrol Investigative Unit at 214-671-4414.

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Stratosphere Rider Recalls Being Stranded

Ray Villeda, NBC 5 News

She rode a State Fair of Texas ride as a dare and ended up being suspended 200 feet in the air for two hours.

Stratosphere Rider Recalls Being Stranded

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Paige Gomez goes to the State Fair of Texas every year, and has always hit up the "kiddie" rides.

This year, on the last Friday of the season, Gomez on a dare, hopped on the stratosphere.

She didn't get off the ride for two hours, not because she didn't want to but because she couldn't. Due to an electrical malfunction, the ride stopped about 200 feet in the air.

"When it stopped up there I thought that's how procedure was, and time passed, and time passed and we were still up there, I started freaking out," said Gomez

It didn't help that Gomez has a fear of heights, was alone and without her cell phone either.

"I was just scared it was going to drop, that was my concern, bc I've watched too many movies I guess," she said.

The Stratosphere has had problems in the past in other states, but for Fair organizers here in Texas, an issue this serious was a first.

"We had a much shorter ride, that did stall and they were able to bring them down, fire and rescue, that was probably 15-20 minutes from top to end that may have been 6-7 years ago," explained Sue Gooding with the fair.

Now, as that ride is inspected, organizers will decide if it comes back next year. Gomez will be back, she'll stay away from the rides though.

"I don't think I can trust it, I think I'll stick with fried foods."
 

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Crash Survivor Speaks Out

Andres Gutierrez, NBC 5 News

A teenager who survived a car crash in Grand Prairie that killed two classmates last year shares his memories and lessons learned.

Crash Survivor Speaks Out

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On Sunday, friends and classmates at the Mansfield ISD's Timberview High School hosted a memorial service.  They reflected on the lives of 15-year old Carlos Marquez and 17-year old Kimberly Pimental. 

"It's been a year, we can reflect some good thoughts," Elizabeth Cordero, a friend of Pimental said.

For the first time since the crash, Isaiah Rodriguez, one of the passengers in the vehicle, is reflecting publicly about the crash that killed his two friends and had him fighting for his life. 

"I didn't get to go to the funerals so I guess you can say that this my chance to make up for that," Rodriguez said.

In the audience listening was Rodriguez's father, Leonel.

"He's a little bit more understanding about life, about how fragile it can be, how it can change in a split second," he said.

Part of Rodriguez's reflection was to look to the future. "Dream as if you were to live forever but live as if you were to die today," Isaiah Rodriguez said.

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Undergarment Thief Becomes Violent: DPD

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Dallas police are warning women about a man who has been breaking into homes near White Rock Lake. Police say he's targeted three homes so far, but Thursday the burglary turned violent.

The woman's family said her dogs woke her up barking at around 8 a.m., and when she saw a strange man standing over her, he punched her in the face. The woman's family tells NBC 5 the man got into the house through a window. Police said she was not sexually assaulted.

Police said all of the burglaries have happened close to each other in their Central Patrol Division. All of the cases happened in daylight hours, the man's descriptions are similar, and he took undergarments in two of the burglaries.

On October 18, 2012, at approximately 8 a.m., a Latin male suspect, about 28 years old, short hair, medium build entered a residence through a small window. The suspect proceeded to enter another room where he encountered the female complainant and assaulted her. The suspect then fled the location with some of the complainant's under garments. The suspect was wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans.

On October 16, 2012, at approximately 4:30 p.m., reporting officers responded to an alarm call. The complainant reported that an unknown suspect entered the residence through a rear door and took jewelry and ladies under garments. Prior to the burglary offense, a witness observed a light skinned Latin male with short spiked hair at the complainant's front door. The Latin male was observed leaving the location in a mid 90's, black Infiniti, 4-door vehicle.

On September 13, 2012, at approximately 1:50 p.m., the complainant left her residence however returned approximately 10 minutes later and found that her garage door was open. The complainant entered the residence and while she was in the kitchen, she observed a suspect peeking around the corner, from the garage. As the complainant picked up the phone to call police, the suspect jumped the back fence and fled the location. The suspect was described as a Latin male suspect, 28-30 years old, 5'11", 190 pounds, clean shaven and was wearing black gloves, gray sweatshirt and blue jeans. No property was taken.

The Dallas Police stress "If you see something, say something" and call 9-1-1 to report any criminal or suspicious activity.

Police urge residents to keep their doors and windows locked at all times and get to know your neighbors so you know who belongs and who doesn't.

Neighbors in the area say that's not that easy. "We have a neighborhood Crime Watch, we have police officers going up and down the streets all the time, but it's difficult with all the construction going on and the new building that's going on you don't know who belongs here and who doesn't," said Ceciliee Wallace.

"It definitely scared me," says Ridgedale Avenue homeowner Courtney Bartee.  "Especially to be home here different hours during the day.  It definitely makes me more aware of my surroundings."

Police say if you are away, consider leaving a light, radio, or TV on a timer that goes on and off while you are away from home.Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call the Central Patrol Investigative Unit at 214-671-4414.

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Despite Mishaps, State Fair Closing Strong

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RAW VIDEO: Riders Stranded at 165 Feet

This raw video shows riders of the Stratosphere at the State Fair of Texas. The ride lost power late Friday night.

Viewer Videos: Big Texas Burns

Big Tex the icon of the State Fair of Texas burned Friday morning and witnesses grabbed their phones to get video of it. (WARNING: Explicit Language)

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Despite two mishaps on Friday, crowds packed the State Fair of Texas during its last weekend.

As the sun set on the last Saturday of the fair, Fort Worth resident Daniel Whittington said it was difficult to navigate through the crowds.

"This is extreme. I have not seen it this busy ever. This is unbelievable. There's points to where you can't even walk, you're just standing still," he said.

But what isn't so crowded is the Stratosphere. The thrill ride malfunctioned Friday night, stranding 24 people 165 feet above ground. State Fair of Texas Chief of Operations Rusty Fitzgerald says crews have been investigating what happened.

"We're taking a look at it. Of course, we're doing our own investigation, seeing exactly what caused that error. We don't let anything run until we know what caused it and make sure it can't happen again," Fitzgerald said.

Visitors didn't seem too concerned about the incident. Thrill seekers filled the fast moving rides throughout the fairgrounds.

"I was a little nervous about it but you know, it's an amusement park. You have a risk every time you go on a ride," said Whittington.

Another mishap on Friday left the park without its larger-than-life mascot, Big Tex. Fair goers mourned the loss of the iconic cowboy, which burned down after an electrical malfunction.

"May he rest in peace. We love him, we love him. He the heart of Texas," said Waxahachie resident Damian Telfor.

Fair Park officials said Big Tex will definitely be back next year -- bigger, better, and hopefully fire-proof.

The last day of the 2012 State Fair of Texas is Sunday, Oct. 21.

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Howdy, Folks! Join in on the big fun at the State Fair of Texas by taking a look at our special section full of fried food, special events, deals and discounts, and much more. Click here for more.

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North Texans Walk For A Cure

Andres Guiterrez, NBC 5 News

North Texans took part in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's "Light the Night" walk.

North Texans Walk For A Cure

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Red, white and gold balloons illuminated the dark North Texas skies as part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's "Light the Night" walk in Plano.

Each balloon serves as a beacon of awareness.

"Individuals come and they walk either in remembrance of someone who they've lost to blood cancer or in honor of someone who is battling blood cancer," said Kacy Hensley, the director of Light the Night.

Among the hundreds of supporters who walked, there are the survivors like three-year old Cutler Fricke.

Fricke was six-months-old he was diagnosed with leukemia forcing him to spend the rest of his first year of life undergoing treatment.

"It's very difficult being a six month old; he can't talk or tell you when something is hurting," Melanie Fricke, his mother, said.

The Fricke family has participated in the Light the Night walk for the past three years.

Others were participating in memory of their loved ones.

Tom Yolke had been married to his wife, Sherry, for 48 years. She died last year following a nine-year battle with leukemia.  

"When you come out here, there are so many people that are in the same boat as you are -- that are also hurting that are also missing someone and they want to help too," Yoke said.

This year, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars and more than 2,000 people have signed up to walk.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will hold two more walks: Sunday, Oct. 21 in Fort Worth at the West 7th street development and an Oct. 28 walk at the Main Street Garden Park in Dallas. Both events begin at 7 p.m.

NBC 5 is a proud sponsor of the "Light the Night" walks.

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President Suggests Opponent Has “Romnesia”

Julie Carey

President Barack Obama started using a new attack on Republican candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney Friday, saying "Romnesia" was the reason for his changing positions. Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey found out how it played with local Democrats and Republicans.

President Talks "Romnesia"...

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There's a new buzzword in President Barack Obama's re-election campaign: "Romnesia."

Thousands of supporters who went to the second rally at George Mason University in just two weeks roared as the president introduced the new term, one he says describes Republican candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's shifting position on certain issues.

"He's changing up so much, backtracking, sidestepping," Obama said. "We've got to name this condition he's going through. I think it's called Romnesia."

Obama then used his new word in a series of sentences.

"If you say you are for equal pay for equal work but you keep refusing to say if you'll sign a bill that protects equal pay for equal work, you might have Romnesia," he said.

The President wrapped up his riff saying, "If you come down with a case of Romnesia, here's the good news: Obamacare covers pre-existing conditions.

"We've got a cure," he shouted. "We can make you well Virginia!"

But the Romney campaign had some choice words of its own, calling the president's speech a "comedy routine" intended to distract from the nation's economic woes.

"When you have no record to run on, you try to distract, divert and to attack the other side," said Del. Barbara Comstock, a Romney campaign co-chair. "And that's clearly what the campaign has done all summer and now through the fall you've seen that again. We're focused on talking directly to the American people."

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