🌱 Dallas COVID Tests In Demand + Social Services Database

Good morning, neighbors! Nicole Fallon-Peek here with a brand-new edition of the Dallas Daily.

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First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and mild. High: 76 Low: 58.

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Here are the top stories in Dallas today:

1. COVID-19 tests are in demand around Dallas just as health experts recommend getting tested regularly and celebrating New Year's safely at home. The omicron variant spreads as much as three times faster than the previous Delta variant. Finding a test is proving difficult in North Texas as people form long lines at private sites to get checked. (The Dallas Morning News)
2. The city of Dallas has rolled out a new database connecting panhandlers to social services. The database is part of a six-month initiative approved by the Dallas City Council. The pilot program includes updated signage, public education, and outreach when it comes to panhandling cases.(KERA News)
3. Restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are facing another round of temporary closures related to COVID-19 cases and exposures on staff due to the surge of the omicron variant. Restaurants like Amor Y Queso in Deep Ellum, Easy Slider in Grapevine, Bonnell's Fine Texas Cuisine in Fort Worth, Pizza Verde in Fort Worth, and Uchi Dallas have temporarily closed their doors in response to the omicron outbreak. (NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

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Today in Dallas:

• Holiday Cookies and Cocoa At L.O. Bud Irby Lake Worth Senior Center (11:00 AM)
• Noon Year's Eve Party At Haltom City Library (11:30 AM)

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From my notebook:

• The Dallas Zoo reminds locals that they can help save gorillas by recycling cell phones and other small electronics. (Instagram)
• Children's Health's team member, Adrienne, is a Social Worker in the Pediatric ICU (PICU) and has been with Children's Health for six years. She plays an integral role in helping families adjust to hospitalization, keeping them up to date on the plan of care, and facilitating meetings with care teams. (Instagram)
• Data shows that Dallas ISD retained teachers at a higher rate than the state and Region 10 districts and had the lowest turnover rate among DFW market peers. (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.