A huge change could be coming to the way the federal government regulates marijuana. NBC News reports the Biden Administration is proposing to reclassify the drug from its current Schedule I controlled substance designation alongside LSD and heroin, down to Schedule III. The move would place marijuana in the same legal category as drugs like Tylenol with codeine and anabolic steroids. Marijuana has been federally regulated as a Schedule I drug since the passage of the Controlled Substances Act in 1971. Changing the drug’s classification to Schedule III would allow the government to study the p ..read more

Students at the University of North Texas walked out of class Tuesday to take part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration. The protest was one of many happening at colleges and universities across the country where students asked the institutions to disclose their assets and divest from any ties to Israel or weapons manufacturers. In Denton, a few hundred students walked out of class and met on the lawn outside the University Library. The local chapter of the Palestine Solidarity Committee planned the event. “We stand here in solidarity with students at Columbia, students at Yale, students at UT D ..read more

DallasNews.com/Food writer Sarah Blaskovich dishes about a noteworthy milestone for Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse in Dallas, the collapse of Chicago-based Foxtrot and Tim Hortons’ plans to expand. NICK & SAM’S STEAKHOUSE CELEBRATES 25 YEARS Nick & Sam’s opened on Maple Avenue in Dallas in 1999, and it was one of those places that quickly became known for being a celebrity hangout. The owners credit Dirk Nowitzki as its first celebrity regular, but over the years, it’s been a celebrity hot spot. Nick & Sam’s celebrated its 25th anniversary with an invitation-only birthday party on Sun ..read more

The city of Denton is having some fun riding the coattails of Taylor Swift on Friday. With a ton of buildup and anticipation, the superstar singer-songwriter dropped her latest album overnight, The Tortured Poets Department. She then shocked fans by releasing another 15 tracks and proclaimed the album was a double album anthology. City leaders in Denton quickly got in on the fun, sharing well-crafted photos of what they call The Denton Poets Department. The city’s posts included a series of photos shot in a similar style as Swift’s marketing photos for the new album. In the days leading up to ..read more

Over the weekend in Denton, the North Texas Fair and Rodeo hosted a groundbreaking event—a gay rodeo show that drew crowds from all over the state. The Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA) held its 41st Texas Tradition Rodeo. For many spectators, the show was not only a thrilling display of horsemanship and rodeo skills but also an important step towards greater inclusivity and acceptance in the traditionally conservative world of rodeo. NBC 5’s photojournalist Kennedy DeRaedt spoke with cowboys, cowgirls, and rodeo enthusiasts who have been involved with the show for years. Wade Earp has been a ..read more

Looking for an event to take your family to this Easter weekend? We’ve compiled a list of a few free events happening around Dallas-Fort Worth this weekend DALLAS EASTER EVENTS Dallas Parks and Recreation Eggs’travaganzas FREE Saturday, March 30 Times vary by location Recreation centers across Dallas Eggs’travaganzas are being hosted at various recreation centers across Dallas. Featuring Easter egg hunts, arts and crafts, and more all put on by Dallas Parks & Recreation. Check the Dallas Parks & Rec calendar for details. Very Oak Cliff Easter FREE Saturday, March 30 12 p.m. – 4 pm. Cen ..read more

For the first time in seven years, customers of Denton Municipal Electric will see higher rates in their electric bills. On Tuesday, the Denton City Council authorized a mid-year rate increase for DME clients that will take effect on April 1. The increase will lead to an estimated average increase of $24 on residential bills. Businesses will take a larger hit, with small businesses seeing an average increase of $26 per month and medium businesses seeing an average increase of $330 per month. Larger businesses could see increases up to $8,000 per month. Residential Customers: Estimated to incr ..read more

A Denton County mother fighting to get her two-year-old son back from Texas Child Protective Services since before Christmas appeared once again in court Wednesday morning. Several hours later, Joslyn Sanders left the courtroom without her son, separated for 75 days. “It’s disheartening,” said Sanders after the hearing. The case has garnered national attention over parental rights in medical emergencies and whether objecting to advice from doctors amounts to potentially lethal medical neglect.  On Dec. 21, 2023, CPS removed Josiah Sanders from his home after his mother left a pediatric ho ..read more

Denton Police Chief Doug Shoemaker resigned Tuesday after being appointed a little more than a year ago, the city confirms. “Early Tuesday, Doug Shoemaker resigned from his position as Chief of Police. He is using personal leave until his last day of employment on March 2, 2024,” the city said in a statement. “We appreciate his service the past 16 months and wish him all the best during this transition.” Shoemaker is no longer listed as the Chief of Police on Denton Police’s staff directory, and Deputy Chief Bryan Cose is listed as the Interim Chief of Police. The Denton Record-Chronicle repor ..read more

The search is on for the gunman who killed a 16-year-old in Denton. Ely Mendez was a student at Denton High School. “He was not the sweetest, but he had the biggest heart, the biggest heart in the family,” said Ely’s brother Jharrison Mendez, 20. Jharrison Mendez says he last saw Ely on Saturday and never imagined it would be his last. “He came up to me and he asked me for my car keys and I asked him where he was going and he said he was first going to go hang out with this girl,” explained Mendez. Then, Ely said he was going to meet friends, according to his brother. But the night ended in tr ..read more