Good morning. Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day.
Weather: A hard freeze in the morning, then sunny and cool. High: 52 degrees.
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3 Dallas cops indicted in death of unarmed man who had called 911 for help
Three Dallas police officers were indicted Thursday on criminal charges in connection with last year's death of an unarmed Rockwall man who called 911 for help.
Panicking and high on cocaine, Tony Timpa was dead within an hour of calling police to a seedy stretch of West Mockingbird Lane in August 2016. The responding officers mocked the 32-year-old as he died, with one officer's knee pinned in his back for more than 14 minutes, according to evidence revealed in a September investigation by The Dallas Morning News.
Indictments of police officers were once rare, but six cops — including a fired Mesquite officer who was also indicted this week — have been criminally charged this year.
Dallas police Sgt. Kevin Mansell, 48, and Officer Danny Vasquez, 32, were each indicted on one count of misdemeanor deadly conduct by a Dallas County grand jury in connection with Timpa's death. The third officer faces the same charge but was not identified because he has yet to surrender to authorities.
And: A Plano man faces multiple charges after police found pornographic videos and photos of boys.
Also: Why is it a crime to lie to the FBI?
New allegations spur Dan Patrick to assure Texans that Senate will deter sexual harassment
Spurred by sexual harassment and assault allegations against two Democratic senators, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has asked the head of a Senate panel that handles internal matters whether the chamber is doing all it should to shield lawmakers and Senate employees from lurid and "inappropriate behavior."
"These are serious allegations that have been denied by the senators," Patrick said late Thursday in a written statement.
The Republican lieutenant governor acted hours after the online publication The Daily Beast reported on multiple alleged instances of sexual misconduct by Sens. Borris Miles of Houston and Carlos Uresti of San Antonio, both Democrats.
Analysis: Sen. Al Franken's exit helps cast Democrats as the party of moral rectitude heading into 2018, writes Washington Bureau Chief Todd J. Gillman.
Politics: A former aide who accused Corpus Christi Rep. Blake Farenthold of sexual harassment has agreed to cooperate with a House Ethics investigation.
Commentary: For years, women in the arts kept tabs on the "snakes in the grass," writes special contributor Lauren Smart.
Not dead yet: Stores fight back with technology and events for the holidays
Legacy retailers are finally figuring out how to do some things right this holiday season after years of being hammered by e-commerce rivals.
Instead of just slashing prices — their usual lever to draw in customers — retailers are beginning to find creative ways use their stores as an advantage instead of an albatross.
Make no mistake, it’s been a rough year for brick-and-mortar retailers. With a record number of store closings, many industry analysts have called it a “retail apocalypse.”
But instead of acting dumbfounded by customers’ defecting to online sites, retailers have finally put in place technology that links their online stores with their physical stores. They’re also trying to make their stores more fun.
Retail: A Muslim woman who wears a headscarf for religious reasons says a Garland department store told her she couldn't work at the shop with her hijab on.
Economy: Texas has promised $3.9 million to Gartner Inc. to create 800 new jobs in Irving.
Photo of the morning
Karen Rosenkrans of Dallas ties a ribbon on a memorial in honor of her father, who served in the Army during World War II, at a Pearl Harbor remembrance at Thanks-Giving Square in downtown Dallas on Thursday.
Around the site
Dallas Cowboys: A failed crusade to block Roger Goodell's extension has left Jerry Jones with a black eye, writes staff writer David Moore.
Child Protective Services: Texas could be forced to recruit thousands of foster parents as the CPS crisis continues.
Pro and con: Two opinion contributors take opposite stances on Trump's Jerusalem decision, one calling it moral and one calling it selfish.
Watchdog: A mom-to-be was so angry at AT&T, she called to complain while having her baby.
Theater: A Dallas actor playing God told a rude audience member, "You're going to hell."
Finally,
The 5-year-old boy who survived the shooting at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs that killed three members of his family and 23 others, including an unborn child, will be spending the holidays in the hospital.
Ryland Ward's grandmother, Sandy Ward, is hoping people can help bring the little boy some cheer by sending him cards, KSAT-TV reported.
Ryland's mother, Joann Ward, and sisters Brooke Ward, 5, and Emily Garza, 7, were killed in the Nov. 5 shooting. The boy's uncle carried him out of the church after the shooting stopped. He was rushed to a hospital, where he has been since, recovering from multiple gunshots.
Cards can be mailed to Ryland Ward, P.O. Box 174, Sutherland Springs, Texas 78161.
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