A major national hemp industry group is urging Texas law enforcement to back off on seizing CBD products in the wake of two recent police raids in North Texas.

Duncanville police said their investigation is about more than just CBD, adding that they also found what they believe to be marijuana at the stores in Duncanville and Lancaster.

The owner of the stores denies that claim, saying they sold only hemp-based CBD products with little or no THC, the component in marijuana that produces a high.

The US Hemp Roundtable said it has no problem with the seizing of true marijuana, but doesn't believe police should be confiscating hemp-derived CBD because state law is unclear on whether it is legal.

"As long as it's hemp derived, as long as these products have less than 0.3 percent THC... they should not be treated as drugs," said Jonathan Miller, with the Hemp Roundtable group.

"There should not be raids here, should not be seizures and people who benefit from these products should be able to buy them," Miller said.

The Texas Legislature is expected to consider a proposed law that would legalize hemp-made CBD.

And in another development, the Texas state health commissioner has signed an order removing hemp from the schedule of controlled substances in the state.

That came after the federal government recently legalized industrial hemp.

But in a confusing twist, the state health department told NBC 5 Investigates it still considers CBD oil to be a prescription-only drug.

However, the agency added that, until it gets further guidance from the Legislature, it is taking a slower approach in taking such action as seizing CBD from dietary products or food.

Dallas officials Wednesday said the city has revoked an operating permit for Blue Star Recycling, the firm that has a mountain of asphalt shingles piled beside neighbors' homes.

The announcement came as a new organization of activists called "Southern Sector Rising" launched a coordinated attack on the shingle mountain and other Southern Dallas environmental concerns.

Blue Star neighbor Marsha Jackson has lived in a house right beside the location for 23 years. She got emotional at the group’s City Hall press conference Wednesday.

"Nobody know what we're going through," she said. "You can see it. You can imagine it. But until you're there and find out? You stay out there an hour or two and see what you're going to be experiencing."

Jackson said she started complaining to the City of Dallas about Blue Star Recycling's expanding shingle pile on South Central Expressway around February 2018 with little response. After media reports about the growing problem, The City of Dallas filed a lawsuit to stop the operation in December, but the company said it was doing nothing illegal. Jackson said the shingle pile has continued growing.

Wednesday, her current Dallas City Council Member Tennell Atkins, said the occupancy permit for the largest portion of the Blue Star site was revoked by the city this week.

Atkins and former Councilman Erik Wilson crowded beside Jackson as she spoke about the problem in front of TV cameras. Wilson is running against Atkins in the May City Council election.

"I want you to fight for every last one of us down there. This breaks my heart," she told them. "I volunteered and complained to both of them. And so that's what I'm so upset about."

Atkins and Wilson both said they have actively fought for neighbors against environmental problems in the far Southern Dallas District, but many members of the new organization "Southern Sector Rising" blame the city for providing too little protection.

A sign at the front of the group's press conference said "End Racist Zoning in Dallas."

Member Yolanda Bluehorse praised the new activist effort.

"It's the first of many voices and many fights that this City of Dallas needs, to start standing up and take responsibility and accountability for the things that they do," Bluehorse said.

Activist Jim Schermbeck said air monitoring samples his group "Downwinders at Risk" took at Jackson's property showed heavy dust from grinding up shingles at the recycling company.

"I've been doing this a long time, this is one of the most horrible situations I've ever seen," Schermbeck said.

In the past, Blue Star CEO Chris Ganter has said the company followed all state and local requirements and there were no environmental problems with the site.

A manager at the location Wednesday said no permits had been revoked and the company was open for business.

Ganter did not return messages Wednesday.

Jackson said she will not be satisfied until the mountain is gone.

"I appreciate everybody, but it's got to be done. It need to be moved," she said.

Hundreds turned out for the first-ever Weather Connection event at Texas Live!

The weather on the first day of spring was perfect for the information-packed and fun-filled afternoon with NBC 5 Weather Experts and Telemundo 39 La Autoridad en el Tiempo.

NBC 5 Chief Meteorologist Rick Mitchell and Telemundo Chief Meteorologist Néstor Flecha teamed up to present storm safety information on the main stage.

Fans also got a chance to meet other members of the NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 weather teams, as well as take an up-close look at weather forecasting technology and the Texas Storm Fleet. Texas Lightning Truck and Texas Thunder Truck were positioned inside, while Texas StormRanger was outside.

NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 swag was also handed out including fridge magnets reminding everyone what to do in the event of a severe storms.

NewsRadio 1080AM KRLD’s Dan Brounoff was also on hand to hand out swag, meet fans and talk about spring weather safety.

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science offered hands-on weather experiments and fun activities and demonstrations.

Spring in North Texas can present serious weather threats. Weather Connection was an opportunity to educate residents whether they are new to North Texas or long-time residents. Stay tuned for future Weather Connection events!

About Rick and Néstor

NBC 5 Chief Meteorologist Rick Mitchell can be seen weekdays on NBC 5 at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. He has had close encounters with severe weather for the majority of his career. While serving as chief meteorologist at KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City, Mitchell experienced a tornado touch down on the station grounds while covering severe weather on-air on June 13, 1998. To learn more about Rick Mitchell, go to GetRick.tv. Facebook: @RickMitchellWX Instagram: @rickmitchellwx Twitter: @RickMitchellWX.

Joining Mitchell is Telemundo 39 Chief Meteorologist Néstor Flecha, who can be seen weekdays at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m, serving the Spanish-speaking audience of North Texas. Flecha has worked on the implementation of new radars, meteorological models and augmented reality for Telemundo 39 and NBC 5. Contact Néstor Flecha on his Facebook page @nestorflechatv, Instagram @nestorflecha and Twitter @nestorflecha.

Fort Worth city leaders have been dealing with major issues in the far west Fort Worth community known as the Las Vegas Trail for years.

To this point, there have been efforts to get the area on the right track. Councilman Brian Byrd said the solution unveiled Wednesday afternoon is the key to real change. Fort Worth City Council unanimously approved the purchase of the Westside YMCA on Calmont Avenue for $250,000. The building will be used as the area’s new community center.

Councilman Byrd said hopefully this will be the answer many people living in the neighborhood have been asking for. There were two specific things they have asked for.

"The first, 'can you make it safer?' And the second was, 'can you provide a community center where our kids can go when they are not in school anymore'," said Councilman Byrd.

Councilman Byrd, with the help of an assembled committee, has been working for months to find a way to meet the needs of the under served community that calls the Las Vegas Trail home.

There are thousands of families in more than 30 apartment complexes and many of them house school-aged children. The new community center will provide a place for kids to go before and after school, during the summer and spring break. It's also conveniently located in walking distance of two schools in the area.

A welcome change for Barbara Rice and her grandchildren.

"I feel like anything to keep them occupied and keep their minds on something positive, I think is a positive for a community," said Rice. "I just think it would be wonderful for the neighborhood. Anything for the children, I feel like is a plus."

The community center won't just be a place to keep kids engaged mentally, but also one for nourishment.

"One of the things that we found is that food is a big deal," said Councilman Byrd. "There are a lot of people not getting enough food. There were kids showing up to play football and they were hungry. So food distribution has been a big deal."

Councilman Byrd made it abundantly clear that this community center would not be possible without public and private partnerships.

A Royce City man was sentenced to life in prison without parole for continuous sexual abuse of a child last month.

On February 28, Ivan Merida, 35, was sentenced by a Collin County Jury for sexually abusing a child for more than a year.

“Collin County children are forever safe from this predator because this brave child found the courage to tell a family member,” said Greg Willis, District Attorney for Collin County.

Once the victim turned 11 years old, she began to harm herself due to the sexual abuse. A family member noticed and asked her about it. She then disclosed the details of that abuse to them.

An investigation was initiated and Merida was found guilty. He is being held in the Collin County Jail with no chance for parole.  

The Texas House on Wednesday gave initial approval for naming the part of the North Central Expressway that runs through Richardson after officer David Sherrard, who last year became the police department's first casualty in the line of duty in its 64-year history.

"It’s my hope that this memorial, this honor, will bring a sense of joy and pride to Officer Sherrard’s family and to his fellow officers all across the state of Texas who continue to serve the state fully and courageously every day," said Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, who carried the bill in the House.

The bill would designate the section of U.S. Highway 75 that runs through Richardson from the George Bush Turnpike in the north to Interstate 635 in the south as the Officer David Sherrard Memorial Highway. The bill would not require state money for the markers placed at each end, which would be funded by private donations.

To read the full story from our media partners at The Dallas Morning News, click here.

The Denton Fire Department has shut down a large portion of Fort Worth Drive in Denton as crews try to cap a large natural gas leak.

Fort Worth Drive is currently closed from Interstate 35-E south to Country Club Road.

Investigators are asking drivers to seek a different route as crews work to fix the leak.

Right now there is no estimate on how long the road may be closed.

The Dallas County Health Department recently changed the name of its STD Clinic to a Sexual Health Clinic in an effort to make people feel more comfortable when getting tested.

In the male dominated world of computer coding, a female student at University of North Texas is showing them how it's done.

Senior, Anna McKee, was the first woman to win IBM's Master the Mainframe coding competition last year. She did it again this year. "I was kind of shocked," said McKee. "How am I the first, because I've had such great role models."

McKee is a business major who didn't start computer coding until college, at her mother's suggestion.

"I think it's frowned upon for women to enter this industry," said McKee. "It's a milestone for me because it's like, wow, I can be the change in this industry!"

McKee topped herself this year, being chosen as one of three global winners in the competition. Again, she was the only woman among the three.

"I feel like we should be able to incorporate tech when children are younger and have that stigma of being in a male dominated industry vanish,"' Mckee said.

McKee said she hopes to be a role model to the next generation. "I hope that little girls can look up to my story and say that they can do this too."

McKee will graduate from UNT this year. She said she's had interest from tech companies, but is also considering grad school.

Police departments all over the country are struggling to recruit officers that represent the communities they serve. Often that means recruiting to reflect the racial and ethnic makeup of a community, but there’s also a need for more women in policing.

The Plano Police Department is planning a recruiting event aimed specifically at women, encouraging more female candidates to apply.

"Nationwide, I think the average for females in police departments is 13 percent. Plano is just a little bit higher, we've got 16 percent and we would just love to increase it," said Plano Crime Prevention Officer Hayley Dick.

The eight year police veteran worked patrol most of her career before transitioning to the Crime Prevention Unit. She spent four years on patrol during the night-shift in Dallas and the last four in Plano.

Officer Dick said her methods of de-escalation work.

"Men show up and you think: brute strength, they're going to muscle their way in. I show up and I want to talk my way in," explained Officer Dick.

At least one study shows female officers use less force and log fewer complaints. The same study points out that is in spite of female officers being subjected to as much force as male officers.

"Statistically, it’s reported that women are less likely to be involved in use of force incidents which is very important," said Plano Police Officer David Tilley.

He adds that any concerns about a female officer's physical strength in a confrontation are mitigated by good training.

"It's your technique and your training that will get you through a violent situation or a fight and come out on top - as opposed to your actual overall size and strength," Officer Tilley explained.

Two years ago, Plano changed its physical fitness test that police candidates must pass.

Officer Dick said there was a bench press requirement and vertical jump that often disqualified women because of their height and size.

The new test is an agility test meant to level the playing field for female candidates competing for a position on the force. Women still have to demonstrate they can drag a 165 pound dummy at least 30 feet, said Officer Dick.

Officer Dick passed the old test and she said she often encourages female applicants to try out.

"Look at me: I am five feet tall, 105 pounds soaking wet. Add my gear and I'm maybe 125 pounds. I can do this job," said Officer Dick.

The department is recruiting for multiple positions including crime scene investigation, detention, records, public safety and dispatch.

Officer Dick said she hopes to continue closing the gender gap in what has been a male-dominated field.

"I remember being there and going to the job fairs and not knowing and being so unsure," said Officer Dick.

"I didn't have a female standing there telling you, you can do it. If I can do it, you can do it."

Plano's Women in Law Enforcement Career Event is Saturday, April 6 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Plano Police Department at 909 14th Street.

You must register to attend by calling 972-941-2440 or emailing the Crime Prevention Unit office at dholdys@plano.gov by March 29 at 5:00 p.m.

Former President George W. Bush has reason to smile from ear to ear. The 43rd president scored his first-ever hole-in-one Wednesday during a round of golf at Dallas' Trinity Forest Golf Club.

Bush, 72, was enjoying a round of golf on the links-style course with friends, Bush Center CEO Ken Hersh, and board members Mike Meece and Bill Hickey, when he grabbed his 8-iron and teed-up a shot on the par 3, 12th hole.

After nailing the ace the president posted a photo on Instagram, along with the joke that his next golf goal was to live to 100 so he could shoot his age.

A love of golf runs in the family. Bush's father, the late former President George H.W. Bush, is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Bush's grandfather Prescott Walker Bush was a eight-time club champion at Cape Arundel Golf Club in Kennebunkport, Maine and his great grandfather George Herbert Walker was president of the USGA in 1920. The Walker Cup, a biannual tournament between amateur stars from the U.S. and United Kingdom is still played today, the 2019 match will be held in September.

The Trinity Forest Golf Club, which is home to the Bush Center's Warrior Open, the PGA's AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament and is home to the SMU Golf Team.

Officers with Dallas Animal Control captured a wallaby on a leisurely jaunt in the east Dallas neighborhood of Lakewood Wednesday morning.

Tim and Casey Teirnan were out for a walk when they spotted what they first thought was a loose dog near the 5900 block of Vickery Boulevard.

"We thought it was a dog and then it hopped and it was unmistakable that it was not a dog and I said 'Oh my god, that's a kangaroo'!" Tim Tiernan recalled.

It turned out to be a wallaby.

The wallaby, a native of Australia and New Guinea, belongs in the same family as a kangaroo but is much smaller by comparison.

Dallas Animal Control officers were called and they were able to corner and catch the animal with a net.

"It's just another day in the life of Lakewood," Casey Teirnan said.

The animal, later identifed as Muggsy, was taken to Dallas Animal Services and reunited with his owner. 

A spokesperson for Dalllas Animal Services says Muggsy's owner is visitng Dallas from Oklahoma. The animal was in a backyard nearby when he escaped though a hole in the fence. 

Muggsy was reuinted with his owner who wasn't identified. 

In a comment on Facebook, DAS says Muggsy "spends most of his time on a ranch in the country where he has space to explore."

It is legal to own a wallaby in Dallas as long as you have a proper permit.

Under-used high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes of US Highway 75 will soon become general purpose lanes, most of the time, under a new "breakthrough" agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, according to a news release from the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

"A plan to improve reliability along a stretch of US 75 between the Sam Rayburn Tollway and Interstate Highway 635 will be moving forward," NCTCOG said.

The lanes won't be general-purpose 100 percent of the time, however.

"Because the HOV lanes were built with funding through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, current federal law dictates that they cannot become pure general-purpose lanes," NCTCOG said. "Federal law requires that they must retain an HOV component with the ability for HOV users to move at reasonable speeds."

So, 6 percent of the time a small toll will be required for single-occupant vehicles traveling southbound during weekday mornings and for single-occupant vehicles traveling northbound during selected hours in the evening.

Vehicles with two or more occupants will be able to use the new lanes without being charged the small toll.

"The lanes will remain open as non-tolled general-purpose lanes for the rest of the day and weekends, operating around the clock," NCTCOG said.

"Given the current alternative of leaving the HOV lanes under-used and ineffective, the solution to move forward as required by FHWA seems to be the best and only option to legally provide material congestion relief to the users of US 75, north of IH 635," said Duncan Webb, Collin County Commissioner and member of NCTCOG's Regional Transportation Council.

Initially, the new lanes will operate from Bethany Drive in Allen to IH 635. A planned interchange at Ridgeview Drive and US 75 will allow the lanes to extend north to the Sam Rayburn Tollway once the interchange is complete, in 2025.

The $28 million interchange is expected to receive environmental clearance by June, with construction slated to begin in September 2022.

“The goal of this project is to increase the capacity of US 75 in order to make the fast-growing corridor more efficient for commuters, residents and businesses in the area,” said Allen Mayor Steve Terrell. “Collin County continues to experience substantial growth, and it is important that we address transportation needs along this corridor while doing so in a way that is fair to motorists. Lanes that remain toll-free most of the time was a fair and equitable way to improve reliability.”

It'll be up to TxDOT to transition the HOV lanes to general use. That is expected to happen sometime this year.

Third graders at Janet Brockett Elementary School in the Mansfield Independent School District learned all about financial literacy when the school held a Entrepreneur Day. Students created their own businesses and sold their products to the entire school.

It's a sure sign of spring in Texas, Bluebonnets have started to spring up alongside highways in North Texas.

Experts say the rain we've had across the Lone Star State will mean a lush, spectacular wildflower season.

NBC 5 photojournalist Charles Johnson shot the video you see above along Highway 360 near Amon Carter Boulevard.

Bluebonnets have been in abundance in Big Bend National Park.

If you haven't heard, the Ellis County town of Ennis is the "Official Bluebonnet City" and home to the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival each year. The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival will be held April 12-14 this year and the bluebonnet trails will be open April 1-30. The Visit Ennis website says the bluebonnets are starting to show, but it's too soon to see significant blooms associated with the iconic photos in the area.

For public sightings, visit the Wild About Texas Wildflowers website. Additionally, more info can be found on the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's website.

Share your bluebonnet sightings in the comments section below, and send your bluebonnet photos AND VIDEOS (taken without trampling) to iSee@nbcdfw.com or upload them (click here), you might see your picture on TV!

Remember there are no laws against shooting photographs in the bluebonnets, nor is it illegal to pick a few, but TxDOT discourages picture-taking that damages the wildflowers. If too many wildflowers are trampled, they will die and not go to seed, and since many of these flowers are annuals, this means they have to go to seed to come back the next year. That's also why picking the flowers is discouraged.

The Dallas County Health and Human Services Department says a 14th person has died after contracting the flu the 2018-2019 season.

DCHHS said the person was 71 years old and a resident of the city of Dallas. Due to medical confidentiality, additional information on the patient will not be released.

The death is the fourth this month; the 11th, 12th and 13th flu-related deaths were patients who were 79 and 84, from Dallas, and 86, from DeSoto, respectively.

"If you still haven't gotten your flu shot it still is not too late", said DCHHS Director/Health Authority, Dr. Philip Huang.

Flu vaccines for children are available at six immunization clinics. DCHHS is extending free flu vaccinations to adults and seniors while supplies last.

They are available Monday through Friday at the Main DCHHS Building, 2377 N. Stemmons Fwy, First Floor, Dallas, TX 75207. They are also available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Eastfield College Pleasant Grove Campus, 802 S. Buckner Blvd, Dallas, TX 75217.

“We cannot predict the intensity, severity or duration of the flu season from year to year,” said Dr. Christopher Perkins, Dallas County health authority/medical director. “The best way to protect yourself and others is to get your seasonal flu shot.”

The flu vaccine provided by DCHHS is an all-in-one shot that protects against multiple flu strains including the H1N1 virus.

DCHHS clinic hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and appointments are not required. For more information, call 214-819-2162.

Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall says the department is looking into the creation of a new 100-person public safety "task force" that would focus on violent crime.

The unit would largely include resources from outside the Dallas Police Department and be a way to make up for staffing challenges, according to Hall.

"We have 762 people who are eligible for retirement," Hall told reporters at an off camera, on-the-record meeting Wednesday. "We have to continue to say how are we going to police this city if we are losing people."

Hall said recruiting continues to be a struggle and a task force is one way the department could free up its resources to better focus on areas like patrol.

But Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata said he's heard ideas like this before and is skeptical a task force is a part of the department's staffing solution.

"We have had all these shiny new toys that are presented throughout our time at the department, are they effective, are they are effective for a short period of time but it is usually for a short period of time," Mata said.

Hall told reporters a department staffing survey is currently being conducted and she remains committed to hiring officers to make up for the department's shortfall.

The Alliance of American Football, which has a team in San Antonio but not North Texas, is moving its championship game from Las Vegas to Frisco.

The new eight-team spring league, which plays its seventh set of games this weekend, said Wednesday that the April 27 title match will switch to The Ford Center at The Star, which is owned by Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys.

"I am a big fan of The Alliance," Jones said. "They are the first high-quality alternative football league to come along in a long time. The championship being live in prime time on CBS and the league's success in drawing good crowds in Texas means this will be a great event for the fans of the Dallas/Fort Worth area."

Originally, the title game was set for Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, an aging college facility. But when Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, joined the Alliance last month as chairman, he helped arrange for the championship game's move to Texas during a meeting with Jones at the NFL combine.

Fans who purchased tickets to the game in Las Vegas will receive full refunds.

Pro Football Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian and TV-film producer Charlie Ebersol are co-founders of the Alliance, whose games have been televised by CBS, CBS Sports Network, Turner Sports and NFL Network.

"To have the championship in the Dallas Cowboys' facility immediately following the NFL draft was an opportunity we could not pass up," Ebersol said, noting that the Alliance's San Antonio franchise has been one of its most popular. "The reception we have received in Texas has been tremendous, in many ways exceeding our expectations, and holding the biggest game of our inaugural season there will be an incredible experience for players, fans and the league. When this idea came up, we spoke with our Vegas partners ... to explain why we thought the move was ultimately in the best interest of the league, and they were understanding. Las Vegas and Sam Boyd have been phenomenal partners and we look forward to bringing many more future events to the city."

One of the AAF's long-term goals would include an affiliation with the NFL. Having Jones, one of the NFL's most powerful owners, in its corner can't hurt the Alliance.

Jones plans to attend the title game after finishing his work as general manager of the Cowboys as the three-day draft ends earlier that Saturday.

"Yes I do. Just as soon as we reach an agreement with our last undrafted free agent," he said. "Don't want to miss out on a Tony Romo.

"I watch the games. I'm a fan. I have been very impressed with the Alliance. The quality of football has exceeded our expectations, and the reception among the fans and the television viewers has been encouraging. There are few football minds I respect as much as Bill Polian, and he has delivered.

"I don't know what the future holds with respect to a potential relationship between the Alliance and the NFL, but they have certainly done a great job of laying the groundwork for players, coaches, officials, executives, and technology to get developed. I always say, what is good for the game of football is good for all of us. It floats all boats."

House lawmakers in Texas have voted to protect the right of kids to run lemonade stands without fear of being shut down by police.

Fort Worth Republican Rep. Matt Krause's bill (HB234) passed 144-2 on Wednesday.

It still needs to move through the Senate before heading to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk.

The measure comes after Texas police shut down a lemonade stand run by two girls in 2015. The new Texas law would legalize temporary lemonade stands or other stands selling nonalcoholic beverages operated by minors on private property or public parks.

A similar bill was filed in Minnesota after a Minneapolis 13-year-old nearly had his hot dog stand shut down.

Lemonade stands are currently illegal in Texas because homemade drinks are banned due to health concerns.

The southbound lanes of Interstate 35E in Lewisville have reopened after all lanes were closed Wednesday morning due to a crash involving multiple vehicles.

The crash was reported just after 9 a.m. between the Lake Lewisville Bridge and Garden Ridge Boulevard.

The Hickory Creek Police Department said two people were hospitalized after the crash. Investigators said one person was in critical condition and a second was "stable." What caused the crash is still under investigation.

The roadway fully reopened shortly before 3 p.m.

Check back and refresh this page for the latest update. As this story is developing, elements may change.

A bill strengthening Texas open records laws after a border city refused to say how much it paid pop star Enrique Iglesisas for a concert has cleared a key hurdle in the Legislature.

The Texas House on Wednesday gave tentative approval to requiring more disclosure over entertainment events that use public funds. The bill follows backlash over the city of McAllen withholding financial details about Iglesias' performance at a 2015 Christmas parade.

The city had argued that revealing how much Iglesias was paid would negatively impact negotiations with other performers. The Texas attorney general's office backed the city, citing public record exceptions long opposed by open government advocates in Texas.

The bill still needs Senate approval. It is among several measures aimed at expanding open records laws in the state.

Under the classic entrance of one of football's most historic sites, the NHL gave a glimpse at what a hockey game in the Cotton Bowl will look like. At a press conference in front of the stadium's main entrance, the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators were officially announced as the two teams set to face off on January 1st, 2020, in the NHL's twelfth outdoor Winter Classic.

"You are not going to believe what this iconic venue is going to look like," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. "Dallas and Nashville are quintessential examples of the hockey boom."

"I've never played outdoor hockey, it was always street hockey for me (growing up)," said Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn. "You never thought we'd play an outdoor hockey game in Texas. I'm definitely looking forward to this."

Logistically, playing a hockey game in a stadium the size of the Cotton Bowl creates a unique set of challenges. For example, organizers are expecting the spectators will approach 80,000, four times the size of a maximum capacity crowd in the Stars home of the American Airlines Center.

"It's a lot bigger than an NHL rink, so we'll have to adjust," said Dallas Stars goalie Ben Bishop. "But you watch (the Winter Classic), dream about it, and think it's the coolest thing in the world. You see college football games in this stadium and see how many people are there. Now we get the same opportunity. It's a dream-come-true, a great opportunity for all of us and it should be a lot of fun."

The weather and potential warm temperatures in North Texas on New Year's Day could be a factor as well, though the NHL's commissioner believes the league is prepared.

"We've played an outdoor game in Los Angeles," said Bettman. "Our icemakers are incredible at what they do. If we didn't think we could have a great, successful event here, we wouldn't have announced what we have."

Confident in success in outdoor hockey in Dallas, and confident the Winter Classic in the Cotton Bowl will grow the game in North Texas in the years ahead.

The first edition of the classic was held in 2008 at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium -- home of the NFL's Bills -- between the Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Dallas is the ninth team to host the annual classic, joining the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals. The 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will set the record for the southern-most location for any signature NHL outdoor contest.

Only NFL, MLB and college football stadiums have hosted the event, limiting potential venues in Dallas-Fort Worth to places like Globe Life Park, AT&T Stadium and the Cotton Bowl.

Tickets for the event will go on sale April 23. For more information about the game and to enter for a chance to win tickets, click here.

Duncanville police say they removed hundreds of pounds of CBD products from two stores, along with more than 30 pounds of what they described as marijuana, in what the stores’ owners described as a big misunderstanding.

They say the goods seized are, instead, derived from hemp, another member of the cannabis family that can look and smell like marijuana, but does not produce a high.

The Friday afternoon police raids, at the GM Tobacco stores in Duncanville and Lancaster, left employees stunned.

"I noticed two officers come in. One really aggressively ordered me basically away from my register," said one clerk in Lancaster.

Amy Wazwaz, who owns the stores with her husband, said police seized more than $50,000 worth of CBD products.

"They took everything that was remotely related to CBD," Wazwaz said, adding that she would have allowed the police to test anything in her stores, if they’d simply asked.

Police have made no arrests, but noted in a statement that the investigation is still ongoing and evidence is being processed.

Experts say CBD from hemp contains no THC, or just trace amounts of THC, the substance that produces a high in marijuana.

"This isn't a drug dealer. These aren't drug dealers. This isn't a drug house," said the owners' attorney, Daniel Sullivan, standing next to his client at the store in Duncanville.

But in a statement to NBC 5 Investigates, Duncanville police said they "seized over 30 pounds of marijuana," along with "hundreds of pounds of CBD oil in various forms, weapons and other evidence pertinent to the case."

Prior to the raids, police conducted undercover buys at the stores, and subsequent lab tests showed that some of the products were "identified as marijuana," a search warrant affidavit said.

The affidavit, however, did not list the percentage of THC found in those products.

Wazwaz told NBC 5 Investigates that anything that looked like marijuana was, instead, CBD hemp flower – buds from the hemp plant that look like marijuana, but contain little or no THC.

A police inventory list that was left with the shop owners said the goods seized included bags of what was described as "apparent marijuana products labeled (as) hemp flower."

"If you come into the shop looking to get high, you are going to leave disappointed," said Sullivan, the owners' attorney.

"There is nothing in the shop that would get you high," he said.

In Texas, the laws on CBD and hemp are murky, with the state still not authorizing the farming of hemp, even though federal law now allows it.

In addition, some district attorneys consider hemp-derived CBD as illegal, while others say they will not prosecute until the law becomes clearer on how to deal with the fast-growing CBD craze, which supporters say can treat a multitude of ailments.

A bill is currently pending in the state legislature that would legalize hemp and CBD.

But even as lawmakers and law enforcement debate the legalities of CBD, shops selling the product have already opened up throughout the state, selling to people looking to treat pain, anxiety and other ailments.

At the tobacco shop in Duncanville, Wazwaz said her business is paying the price for the confusion that surrounds the selling of hemp and CBD.

"They took all the money from the cash register, all the money from our safe," she said of the police.

But the Duncanville Police Department is offering no apologies, with Assistant Police Chief Mark LiVigni, noting in a statement: "Marijuana is illegal in the state of Texas."

A mother and her 9-year-old daughter were separated for 36 hours after the child fell into U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody because agents at the border didn’t believe she was who she claimed to be, a mother says.

Thelma Galaxia said her friend, Michelle Cardenas, was driving each of their two children from Tijuana, where they live, to their schools in San Ysidro Monday morning, as they do nearly every day.

Galexia's 9-year-old daughter, Julia Isabel Amparo Medina, attends fourth grade at Nicoloff Elementary School and her 14-year-old son, Oscar Amparo Medina, attends ninth grade at San Ysidro High School. Both are passport-holding U.S. citizens.

When they got in line at the border at 4 a.m. Monday, traffic was moving slow. Cardenas told the four children to walk across the border instead. She was going to call them an Uber so they could make it to school on time.

But Oscar and Julia Medina never made it across, according to their mother.

Galaxia says CBP officers accused her daughter of lying about her identity. Officers told the girl she didn’t look like the girl in her passport card picture.

Julia Medina told NBC 7 that CBP officers accused her of being someone else, her cousin Melanie. The children said officers also accused Oscar Medina of smuggling and other crimes which he said he didn’t understand.

“My daughter told her brother that the officer told her that if she admitted that she was her cousin, she would be released soon so she could see her mom,” Galaxia said.

“I was scared. I was sad because I didn't have my mom or my brother. I was completely by myself,” Julia Medina said. She said she woke up several times throughout the night, sad because she wasn’t with her family.

Galaxia said officers made Oscar Medina sign a document that said his little sister was his cousin.

“That is not true,” Galaxia said. “She is my daughter. He was told that he would be taken to jail and they were going to charge him for human trafficking and sex trafficking.”

Oscar told NBC 7 he felt terrible for signing the document. He said he just wanted to see his sister.

When CBP officers told Galaxia that Oscar and Julia Medina were detained, she got the Mexican consulate involved.

At about 6 p.m., while Galaxia interviewed with NBC 7 in Kearny Mesa, the consulate called her and told her Julia Medina would be released to her at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Galaxia and her family rushed to the border where they were reunited with Julie almost two days later. The family of three hugged, cried and embraced, but Galaxia said the emotional reunion should never have had to happen.

NBC 7 reached out to CBP, asking why officers detained a 9-year-old U.S. citizen and kept her from her mother for 36 hours. The agency said it would respond to questions when it had more details on the case.

The Mexican consulate told NBC 7 it will also provide more information as to how they were able to reunite the family.

Less than a week before a major hearing on breast implant safety, the FDA issued two warning letters to implant manufacturers, citing their failure to do proper safety studies.

The letters sent to Mentor and Sientra warned that certain implants could be pulled off the market if the companies didn’t fulfill the agency’s requirements, which ask that manufacturers continue safety studies even after the devices are approved.

"Post-approval requirements are critical to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the medical products we regulate and we'll continue to hold manufacturers accountable when they fail to fulfill these obligations," FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in a statement.

According to the letters, Mentor failed to enroll enough people in these studies. Sientra had poor follow-up rates.

Police are investigating after a man's body was found at a small shopping center in southwest Fort Worth.

It happened at about 11 a.m. Wednesday in the 4600 block of Benbrook Highway.

Officers said the man was shot to death. The victim's identity has not been released.

On Wednesday afternoon, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers took a man into custody on a prior outstanding warrant for his arrest. The man was arrested near Interstate 35W in Fort Worth. Officials believe he may be connected to the fatal shooting earlier in the day. If detectives determine he's involved, a warrant will be issued.

Further information has not be released at this time.

Check back and refresh this page for the latest update. As this story is developing, elements may change.

Spring is here and for animal shelters, that means plenty of kittens. The SPCA is holding "kitten showers" this weekend to prepare for the kitten season. Maura Davies from the SPCA of Texas is here to tell us more.

In North Texas and across the country, malls are slowly dying, but a new shopping center in New York is banking on brand names well known in our area. Maria Halkias of The Dallas Morning News joins us to discuss.

Arlington police say they have made an arrest in a road rage shooting that left a father of young twins injured along Interstate 20 in October 2018.

The suspected shooter, identified by police as Andrew Cantu, surrendered at the Arlington City Jail Tuesday with his attorney present and was booked on two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

An arrest affidavit released Wednesday detailed how investigators were first tipped by a person who said Cantu, 29, was a former coworker who had quit his job in the days following the shooting. Police then used cellphone signals and license plates to track Cantu to the Houston area and Mexico, where Cantu had gone to visit family that same week, according to the affidavit.

The investigation continued until March 13, when detectives were contacted by an attorney who stated Cantu wanted to turn himself in.

Cantu remained in jail Wednesday, police said.

According to police, Kyle Johnson was driving with his wife and two young children along westbound I-20, just west of Texas 360, on Oct. 22, 2018 when he was sideswiped by another vehicle passing on the outside shoulder.

Johnson pulled over to exchange information with the other driver, but before he could open his door the other driver was already banging on his window and kicking his door, police said. When Johnson rolled down the window, he said he saw the man had a gun and turned his head as the man fired a single shot.

"Once I collected myself, I look up through the windshield, he's getting up and driving off in his car. My wife is screaming at the top of her lungs, and that's when I felt the blood running down my face and into my eyes. It was all over my hand. And then she just called 911 from there," Johnson told NBC 5 in October 2018.

Johnson was grazed in the head by the bullet — likely spared a more serious or deadly injury by quickly moving his head. His wife and young children, who were also in the car, were uninjured in the attack. Police, meanwhile, had little to go on — only a vague description of both the shooter and his vehicle, which may or may not have had damage from the minor crash.

The adoptive mother of seven young children who starred on YouTube channel "Fantastic Adventures" pepper-sprayed and beat them, deprived them of food and water and grabbed their genitals to get them to perform, authorities allege.

NBC News reported that Machelle Hackney was arrested Friday along with her two adult sons. She was arraigned Tuesday on child abuse, unlawful imprisonment and child molestation charges and held without bond.

It's not clear whether she or her sons have lawyers. According to police documents, Hackney denied abusing the children, whose ages weren't released by police, and said she only spanks and grounds them or has them stand in a corner as punishment.

The "Fantastic Adventures" channel has more than 242 million views and over 700,000 followers. It was demonetized once YouTube was made aware of the arrests.

Officials in Garland are monitoring the quality of water in Spring Creek after a sanitary sewer overflow Tuesday.

It happened at about 11:30 a.m. at a construction site near North Garland Avenue and Arapahoe Road. According to the City of Garland, construction crews struck a manhole, damaging an 18-inch wastewater collection pipe. The pipe is part of the city of Garland’s wastewater collection system.

City of Garland crews worked through the day and into the night to fix the break and contain the spill. At one point, about 20 gallons of untreated sewage flowed from the damaged pipeline every minute.

The overflow was stopped shortly after 9:30 Tuesday night, according to a Garland city spokeswoman, who said a large piece of concrete had become lodged inside the pipe. She said crews bypassed the broken pipe and will continue repairs Wednesday.

The leak occurred about 10 miles upstream from Lake Ray Hubbard Reservoir. Personnel there are also monitoring the situation.

City officials said anyone who comes into contact with waste material, soil or water potentially affected by the spill is urged to bathe and wash clothes thoroughly.

Garland also notified Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Three people crossing paths at a Dallas gas station made today's Tell Me Something Good. One was homeless, another just wanted to help and the third, a woman named Bella realized what she saw. The man, Simon, was helping the woman, who was homeless, get out of the cold. Simon and Bella ended up helping the woman stay at a motel for a couple of nights.

No winners emerged Saturday night after numbers for the Powerball jackpot were drawn, pushing the jackpot for Wednesday's drawing over the half-billion mark.

The $550 million prize is the eighth-largest Powerball jackpot in the game's history. 

The winner could choose to receive the $550 million prize in annuity payments over 29 years or take the lump sum of $335 million before taxes. 

The Powerball jackpot was last hit in New York in the Dec. 26 drawing. Since then, there have been 23 drawings in a row without a jackpot winner.

Powerball is played in 44 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, all of which collectively oversee the game. Drawings are held twice a week. Five white balls are drawn from a drum containing 69 balls and one red ball is selected from a drum with 26 balls. Players can choose their numbers or let a computer make a random choice.

The odds of winning are one in 292.2 million.

"Texas Chainsaw Carver" Rob Banda takes a log and a chainsaw to create beautiful pieces within minutes. He's donating several pieces to the city of Irving for citizens to enjoy.