Petition Calls on Obama to Allow Texas to Secede

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Several petitions on the White House's website are calling for various states to secede from the Union -- including one for Texas with more than 57,000 signatures.

The petition asking President Barack Obama's administration to peacefully allow Texas to withdraw from the United States, and says the federal government is ruining the economy and abusing the rights of Americans.

The petition says Texas could serve its citizens better on its own and says it is "practically feasible for Texas" to withdraw.

The petition says it was created by a Micah H. of Arlington on Nov. 9. More than 57,000 people listing locations across the country had signed the petition as of late Monday night, far more signatures than any of the similar petitions for other states.

White House staff will review the petition and issue an official response because of the number of signatures. The White House responds to submitted petitions that reach 25,000 signatures in 30 days.

Legally, Texas cannot secede from the United States.

As the Texas State Library and Archives Commission states on its website: "In fact, Texas received no special terms in its admission to the Union. Once Texas had agreed to join the Union, she never had the legal option of leaving, either before or after the Civil War."

While many believe that an annexation treaty gave Texas the right to secede from the United States, Texas actually was admitted into the Union by a joint resolution of Congress, not by treaty. And no such provision is included in that joint resolution or in the 1845 Constitution of the State of Texas.

The U.S. Supreme Court has even answered the question of whether states can decide on their own to secede.

In Texas vs. White, the court ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not allow states to decide to secede from the nation. That same ruling also said that Texas had "entered into an indissoluble relation" with the United States when it became a state and remained a state even when it joined the Confederate States of America.

Gov. Rick Perry in 2009 made comments implying that Texas could secede, but later said that he was not advocating secession.

Perry spokeswoman Catherine Frazier issued a statement Monday about the petition on the White House website that says the governor "believes in the greatness of our Union and nothing should be done to change it."

The statement said that Perry also shares the frustrations that many have with the federal government.

"Now more than ever, our country needs strong leadership from states like Texas that are making tough decisions to live within their means, keep taxes low and provide opportunities to job creators so their citizens can provide for their families and prosper," the statement said. "We cannot allow Washington's tax-and-spend, one-size-fits-all mindset to jeopardize our children's future, undermine our personal liberties and drive our nation down a dangerous path to greater dependence of government."

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Nor'Easter Not Expected to Hit as Hard

Storm Team 4 tracks the nor'easter set to hit the tri-state on Wednesday.

Storm Team 4 Tracks Nor'Easter

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Another Cold Night on Staten Island

A non-profit organization called Fuel Relief Fund delivered free gas to residents on Staten Island Sunday. News 4's Chris Glorioso reports.

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Forecasters say the looming coastal storm that threatened ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts in New York and New Jersey after the devastation of Sandy is no longer expected to be as powerful as initially feared.

Computer models shifted east with the path of the nor'easter, predicting the storm would miss a good part of far northwest New Jersey, the Catskills and the Poconos and carry far less forceful wind gusts than first forecast.

Meteorologists say coastal flooding is still possible with the system at times of high tide, but wind gusts will level off in the 50 mph range, not the 60 mph to 70 mph range, and waves are not expected to tower as high over already eroded beaches and waterfront properties pummeled by Sandy.

Forecasters say waves up to 10 feet high could still cause minor to moderate flooding along the coast, where dunes decimated by Sandy have left the already water-logged shore more vulnerable.

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Still, with high winds and more rain on already-saturated grounds, New Jersey Gov. Chris warned residents who have recently had power restored that they might lose it again.

"We're going to take a step back," he said.

Meanwhile, temperatures have dropped in the region. Temperatures on Tuesday night are expected to dip into the 20s in suburban areas. Forecasters expect temperatures to linger in the 30s Wednesday.

Several inches of wet snow may accumulate in central and northern New Jersey, New York City and the lower Hudson Valley late Wednesday afternoon into the evening, making for a potentially sloppy evening commute.

The snowy mix is expected to change to rain Thursday night as temperatures rise into the mid-30s. The weather begins to improve by Friday, with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-50s. The situation looks even better by the weekend, with forecasters predicting mild, sunny weather with a high of 55 degrees for Saturday and even warmer temperatures for Sunday.

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Arlington Residents Look to Reclaim Neighborhoods

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City leaders and residents fed up with worn-down areas of North Arlington are hoping to reclaim their neighborhoods.

Residents said areas just north of Interstate 30, Cowboys Stadium and Rangers Ballpark in Arlington breed crime.

"We want to reverse the deterioration and basically reclaim them," Councilman Charlie Parker said.

Parker said that reclaiming the troubled spots, mostly older apartment complexes, require a face-lift.

"Those are 30- and 40-year-old apartments and, consequently, they are deteriorating pretty rapidly, and so we want to make sure that the individuals that are living in these apartments are good neighbors," he said.

"That'll be a good thing to do," said Andrew Strickland, who lives in one of the older apartment developments. "It would give the area a nice look and bring some life back to the neighborhood."

Marci Ybarra agreed.

"[North Arlington] is nice. It has good potential but, right now, it's not that great," she said.

Ybarra, who has lived in another of the North Arlington apartment complex for two years with her husband and young son, said that while she likes the area, she is often concerned about safety.

"It's me being a mom, being a first-time mom," she said. "I don't want to put my son in jeopardy for anything."

Crime has followed the deterioration of some of the neighborhoods. Parker said Arlington police have recently stepped up patrols, with an emphasis on the troubled apartments.

But it's not just up to police. Parker said property owners should reinvest in their developments.

"In the event that there are those individuals who feel as though these are cash cows and they don't want to reinvest in their properties, then I think they'll find out our code enforcement officers are going to be knocking on their door," he said.

Strickland said that what begins with a face-lift could be just the beginning.

"It might mean jobs or something," he said. "There's no telling what it might turn out to be. It might bring a better value of people around; no telling."

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Woman Challenges FW Dog Ordinance

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Owner Says Seized Dogs Not Aggressive

A North Fort Worth woman whose dogs were seized by the city says they are not dangerous and that her neighbors are targeting her because she is Muslim. Her neighbors say the dogs are aggressive and have gotten out several times.

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A Fort Worth woman is challenging a city law in an unusual and emotionally charged court case that pits the city's right to seize dangerous dogs against an animal owner's right to appeal.

Rana Soluri's two pit bulls, Lilo and Stitch, were seized last month after a neighbor complained they had escaped their yard and threatened her.

A municipal judge ordered the dogs seized and euthanized -- after Soluri refused to comply with a list of restrictions.

Soluri claims she and her neighbor have had a long feud, in part over Soluri's Muslim religion.

Soluri filed suit in Tarrant County District Court, claiming the city's ordinance allows dog owners to appeal an order to seize animals -- but there is no appeals court to hear such cases.

The city acted after the neighbor signed a sworn statement saying the dogs were menacing.

"It could be anybody's dog," Soluri said. "Somebody could file an affidavit who didn't like you any way, shape or form. Guess what? They come take your dog and euthanize it."

Fort Worth officials say they would return the dogs if Soluri agreed to a list of restrictions, such as keeping them inside and using a leash and a muzzle in public. Soluri denies the dogs are vicious.

City attorneys acknowledge that dog owners have nowhere to appeal seizures but defend the law and the municipal judge's decision.

"We defend the process, but we'd like to see resolution to this -- and a good resolution," Assistant City Attorney Gerald Pruitt said.

Pruitt said while the city ordinance gives dog owners the right to appeal the city's decision, the Texas Legislature never established an appeals court to hear such cases.

Soluri said she's now caught in the middle.

If she agrees to the restrictions, she can get her dogs back. But then she would give up any right to challenge the process, because the case would be considered closed.

"What they're trying to say is, 'Drop your case, don't go after your constitutional rights; you might be able to save your dogs,'" she said. "Guess what? We're holding your dogs. [It's] your choice."

The hearing before Judge Melody Wilkinson is set to resume Tuesday morning.

The city will carry out the municipal judge's order to euthanize the dogs but not as long as the hearing in Tarrant County continues.

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I-35E NB Lanes Reopen After Crash

NBC 5 News

A fiery crash closed the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 at Woodall Rodgers Tuesday morning.

Fiery Crash Shuts Down I-35...

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A fiery crash closed the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 Tuesday morning.

Dallas firefighters responded to I-35 at Woodall Rodgers at about 4:45 a.m. where there was a three-car crash with one car fully engulfed in flames.

Early in the investigation it appears the car that burned rear-ended another car causing it to spin into the wall. The car that caught fire came to rest in the middle of the interstate. Sometime during the crash a minivan also became involved in the accident.

No one was seriously injured. 

Lanes reopened at about 6 a.m.

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Deputies Investigate Apparent Murder-Suicide

Ellen Goldberg, NBC 5 News

A man and woman were found dead inside a home in Providence Village in an apparent murder-suicide, Denton County deputies say.

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Sheriff's deputies are investigating an apparent murder-suicide in Denton County.

A man and woman were found dead inside a home on Lakeview Drive in Providence Village on Monday.

A relative called police Monday when the woman did not show up for an appointment.

Investigators found both bodies in the master bedroom. Police said the man shot his girlfriend and then himself.

Police had not released the names of the individuals as of late Monday night.

It was the second time in as many days that Denton County sheriff's deputies were called to the home. Deputies went to the home Saturday for a domestic dispute between the couple.

Neighbors said the woman was trying to move out over the weekend but her boyfriend was trying to stop her.

The woman has a 10-year-old son who is in the custody of relatives.

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Lost Pet Services: Helpful or Waste of Money?

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Losing a pet can be gut-wrenching, but is it worth it to hire a search service?

Garland resident Kathy McCulloch hired New York-based Pet Amber Alert when her escape artist dog, Kalli, got loose from her backyard last month and ran away.

McCulloch and her grandchildren canvassed the neighborhood looking for Kalli, a Catahoula leopard mix with crystal blue eyes, black spots and a playful spirit.

Pet Amber Alert notifies residents and local animal-related businesses via phone, social media and fax that a pet is missing.

McCulloch enlisted the company's help for about $150. She paid for 500 calls to be made to residents in her area and for 50 faxes to be sent to local pet-related businesses.

"I thought, you know, how can you go wrong?" she said. "It's worth every dime you spend if it'll get your pet back."

But McCulloch grew suspicious when she started asking neighbors if they had gotten a call, and some told her they had not.

"I did not get a call, and I'm right across the street," Patty Arnold said.

Veterinary Referral Center of East Dallas, a 24-hour-per-day, seven-day-per-week emergency animal clinic that keeps a log of all lost pets, said it didn't get a fax from Pet Amber Alert.

"If we're right down the street, I would think they would contact us," Dr. Travis Dennett said. "But we do not have any record of their attempting to contact us or provide any information regarding that pet that was lost."

The NBC 5 Investigates Consumer Unit did some digging and called Pet Amber Alert's 27-year-old owner Mark Jakubczak.

The company is not his primary job but is set up to help grief-stricken pet owners, he said.

"This is the way our service works," he said. "We send out all the calls and faxes and then, if you read our disclaimer that the lawyer drafted up, it explains that, you know, some places might ... just throw the poster in the trash or some neighbors might not, you know, even want to pick up the call or participate."

Jakubczak provided NBC 5 Investigates with a list of all the calls and faxes that went out. The Consumer Unit called 50 of the numbers. Half did not pick up. A quarter were not working numbers. Of the quarter the Consumer Unit actually reached, two said they remembered getting a call. Of the faxes, five of the animal clinics closest to McCulloch's home to a fax from Pet Amber Alert, but other pet-related businesses close by, such as the 24-hour vet clinic, were not on the list.

Pet Amber Alert also sent NBC 5 Investigates a list of satisfied customers, including Keller resident Jayne Davis, whose six-pound Russian Blue cat named Priia escaped in May.

In Davis' case, a watchful neighbor who got a call from Pet Amber Alert called Davis to tell her that she had spotted the cat four days after she ran away from home.

"This lady said, 'I think your cat went into the culvert under your driveway,'" Davis said.

The reunion was an emotional one, with Davis bursting into tears. She credits Pet Amber Alert with her happy ending.

On its website's frequently asked question section, Pet Amber Alert said its average success rate using phones, faxes and social media is 77 percent.

But according to a recent American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals national study, the overall recovery rate is higher. Eighty-five percent of lost dogs and cats are recovered, according to the study.

"The majority of cat owners, the way that they found their pet was that their cat returned home on its own," said Dr. Emily Weiss, ASPCA vice president of shelter research and development. "Those who owned dogs, the way that they were most likely to recover their pet was by searching the neighborhood."

Weiss said that having an identification microchip implanted in a cat or dog and making sure they wear tags are two of the best ways to find a lost pet.

And the most crucial time to begin the search is within the first hours, she said. The longer pets are missing, the more the chances of finding them diminish. Dennett added that securing a pets' environment is also key.

McCulloch is still searching for her Kalli, optimistic that one day she will be reunited with her furry friend.

"She's part of my family," McCulloch said. "I just want to get her back."

She adopted the dog sight unseen last year. Once they met, it was love at first sight.

"She's a beautiful dog," McCulloch said. "Kalli is probably one of the sweetest dogs that I've ever had. She's very friendly. She's very likeable. She loves kids. She slept right beside me every night."

Typically when Kalli escaped her yard, she would head straight down the street to neighbor Arnold's house. But that day, Arnold was working late.

"I'm sure she came, but I wasn't there to let her in," she said.

For now, Kalli's bed sits empty outside McCulloch's home in hopes that the scent will lure her home.

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