Franchise Opportunities in Dallas, TX

A few hours after there was officially record-breaking heat in North Texas, storms are developing in parts of North Texas late Sunday night.

DFW Airport reached a high of 97 Sunday afternoon, breaking the old record for the date, and a full 14 degrees above normal. The first two weeks of May have been the second hottest ever for DFW, trailing only the drought year of 1955. Unfortunately, this early summer heat that we've been experiencing looks to get even more intense. Record highs will be well within reach much of the upcoming week.

Be sure to take those heat precautions this next week. It may be a good idea to scale back some outdoor activities so as not to overexert yourself in the heat. Be sure to stay hydrated too. Also, keep your pets cool and watered.

A very weak cold front will drift through North Texas overnight. It has triggered severe thunderstorms, but the worst has been north and northeast of DFW. Those storms will diminish as they drift south overnight. But behind the front, temperatures won't drop more than a couple of degrees on Monday. Then it is back to record heat for the rest of the work week.

HOW HOT WILL IT GET?

Highs will be in the mid to upper 90s all the way through next Friday. Given those expected temperatures, it's possible DFW will tie or set records over the next seven days.

Even if records are not broken each day, temperatures are going to remain well above the normal high of 83.

Be sure to take those heat precautions. It may be a good idea to scale back some outdoor activities so as not to overexert yourself in the heat. Be sure to stay hydrated too. Also, keep your pets cool and watered.

There are signs of a bit of a cool down along with increased rain chances next weekend.

CALLS TO CONSERVE

The near-record heat combined with six power plants dropping off the grid Friday prompted ERCOT, Texas' power grid operator, to put out a call for all Texans to conserve energy over the next few days.

In a statement, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas said, "unseasonably hot weather" was driving record demand across Texas" and that they need everyone to conserve power between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday after six facilities unexpectedly tripped offline Friday afternoon.

See the latest forecast here.

CONTINUING WEATHER COVERAGE

Stay up to date with the latest weather forecast from NBC 5's team of Weather Experts by clicking here or by watching the video below.

Based on its geographic size, Rockwall County is the smallest county in Texas, at just 149 square miles. But don’t let its size fool you when it comes to wealth. Rockwall County also is the richest county in the state.

Data analysis website Stacker compiled a list of the wealthiest counties in Texas based on median household income, and Rockwall County came out on top at $100,920. It was the only county in Texas to break the $100,000 mark.

Among all U.S. counties, Rockwall County ranked 3,131st for the highest median household income, according to Stacker.

The continuing influx of people into Rockwall County is helping drive up the median household income.

Rockwall County was home to more than 116,000 residents in 2021. From 2020 to 2021 alone, the county’s population grew 7.94 percent, making it the state’s third-fastest-growing county during that period. Some of the population boom stems from East and West coast transplants fleeing higher-priced locales.

Additionally, residents of Rockwall County are highly educated, which contributes to their earning power. As of 2020, 93 percent of the county’s residents 16 and over had graduated from high school, and nearly 43 percent of residents 25 and over had earned at least a bachelor’s degree. Both of those figures are well above the statewide numbers.

There’s also the livability factor. Rockwall, the biggest city in Rockwall County, ranked fourth on Money magazine’s 2020 list of the best places to live in the U.S. — which almost certainly adds to the county’s allure for high-income households.

“Rockwall is only 25 miles outside [the] Dallas city limits. For us, it’s a good balance of small-town life, great schools, and reasonable access to a world-class city when we need a little more hustle and bustle,” Dallas Moms blogger Gabrielle Cullen wrote in 2017.

To come up with its list, Stacker used U.S. Census Bureau data from 2019 showing the five-year estimate for median household income in each of Texas’ 254 counties. Aside from Rockwall County, nine other counties in Dallas-Fort Worth made Stacker’s list of the 50 richest counties in Texas. The other counties, followed by their median household income, are:

By comparison, the median household income for all of the U.S. was $68,703.

Among the state’s four major metro areas, DFW dominated in terms of the number of rich counties in Texas’ top 50. It’s worth noting, though, that DFW has more counties (11) than any other metro in Texas.

Here’s how the state’s three other major metros fared in the Stacker rankings for highest median household income by county.

Austin

Houston

San Antonio

DALLAS — If it was up to Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, the Dallas area would have two teams in the National Football League.

But, does Dallas-Fort Worth need another NFL team? Aren't the Cowboys enough to keep the football hunger sated?

In response to an NFL on CBS tweet asking about which city deserves a pro football expansion team, Mayor Johnson made his pitch that Dallas would be the best (and obvious) choice.

"We are about to pass the Chicago metro and become the #3 metro in the US, which would make us the largest US metro WITHOUT 2 teams," Johnson said in a tweet. "Football is king here. Dallas needs an expansion team and we would be able to sustain 2 @NFL teams better than LA or NY."

The Cowboys are, of course, known as "America's Team" and are the undisputed kings of D-FW sports. They also have a legendary history that no one can deny. So, is there even enough room in Dallas, let alone interest for another NFL team?

The mayor thinks so.

The answer is Dallas. Why? We are about to pass the Chicago metro and become the #3 metro in the US, which would make us the largest US metro WITHOUT 2 teams. Football is king here. Dallas needs an expansion team and we would be able to sustain 2 @NFL teams better than LA or NY. https://t.co/ikG0oeZq4T

— Mayor Eric Johnson (@Johnson4Dallas) May 5, 2022

The City of Dallas won’t be allowing any more teams who don’t actually have any of their assets located within our city limits use our name, so if the NFL wants the Frisco Chargers or Frisco Jaguars to be their next expansion team, that’s their call.

— Mayor Eric Johnson (@Johnson4Dallas) May 6, 2022

Does he have a point?

While it may be hard (or even impossible) for some fans to just switch up fandoms, having options isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Then there's the fact that plenty of football fans in the D-FW area just straight up do not like the Cowboys, or have completely lost all faith in the organization. Whether it's just fans hating on the popular team or not agreeing with decisions being made or just being tired of losing, there are various reasons why NFL fans around here could maybe want something new and shiny.

Are there enough fans to sustain a Cowboys competitor in the same market, though? That remains to be seen.

Also to be determined: Where the second team would play. In the two-team cities Johnson cited, both the Chargers and Rams play at the new SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and New York teams the Jets and Giants share MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

While sharing AT&T Stadium could be an option, Mayor Johnson has another idea: "We need an AFC team that plays in Southern Dallas," Johnson also tweeted.

And luckily, there's already a possible home base -- the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park. The historic stadium has hosted it all, including serving as the Dallas Cowboys' home stadium from 1960 to 1971.

It's pretty fun to imagine what the scene would be like with an NFL team playing home games in October while the annual State Fair of Texas is buzzing right next door.

While a second NFL team in D-FW is merely a dream at this point, the Dallas mayor is definitely interested in starting the conversation.

Or, better yet, is the NFL?

He raised the horses. He even wore the big silly hat.

After all the inroads T-Pain believed he'd made in the Lone Star State, the "Rappa Ternt Sanga" is not feeling the love from a particular Texas metro area when it comes to ticket sales. Over the weekend, the artist posted a video calling out Dallas as the most egregiously undersold stop currently on his 2022 "Road to Wiscansin Tour."

Superimposed over a spreadsheet showing ticket sales for each city on the tour, T-Pain marveled at how few people so far plan to attend his Dallas show, which he says ranked dead-last among all stops in the percentage of tickets sold.

"On the tour we do a weekly tour update kind of thing, you know, and we send out this little spreadsheet of the percentages of tickets we've sold in each city," T-Pain says. "I got to tell you, man, there's only one question: 'What the f---, Dallas?'"

The graphic behind T-Pain shows total ticket sales for Dallas at 26 percent. The next lowest city on the chart is Buffalo, New York, sitting at a paltry but far less anemic 40 percent.

"Dallas, what are you doing? You don't f--- with me?" T-Pain continues, dropping his voice to imitate his supposedly supportive Texas fan base. "Oh, 'Hey Pain, you know we f--- with you heavy in Texas.' Really? What the s---, Dallas?"

At this point the Tallahassee, Florida native turns his gaze inward: Did he not wear enough boots for the people of Dallas? Was his 10-gallon hat missing ounces? How many horses must one man nurture to earn DFW loyalty?

"What did I do? Let me know!" T-Pain asks. "I wore cowboy hats many times! I used to raise horses! I feel like I'm part of the city! I've worn a cowboy hat or two...regular cowboys and Dallas Cowboys!"

T-Pain's Dallas show is scheduled for May 18 at The Factory in Deep Ellum, Dallas. It's time for the city to step up for Teddy Pain, who, as an honorary sometimes-cowboy in his own mind, may be the most Dallas artist.

For the latest and best from Chron, sign up for our daily newsletter here.

A Texas family said they faced a fight for their child’s life after their daughter's health plan provider denied coverage of a medication known as the most expensive drug in the world.

The family said doctors told them the one-time infusion that costs millions of dollars was their daughter’s best hope.

Read on to learn more about their story and how an "army" of strangers stepped in.

'YOU GO DAY-BY-DAY'

At 4-months old, every move Aniya Porter makes is a miracle to her parents.

“You go day-by-day. Is my daughter going to stop breathing? Is she going to stop attempting to stand up? Is she going to stop putting her head up?” Will Porter said.

Aniya was born with a rare genetic disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

SMA progressively kills motor neurons, the nerve cells in the brain stem and spinal cord that control essential functions like talking, walking, swallowing and breathing.

“We live every day wondering and hoping that nothing else happens to her, that she doesn't lose any more of her motor neurons,” said Hailey Weihs, Aniya’s mother.

There is treatment.

In 2019, the FDA approved a drug called Zolgensma which carries a price tag of $2.1 million. The one-time gene therapy, given through an IV, is designed to replace the function of a missing or non-working SMN1 gene in a patient to stop the progression of SMA – preserving motor neurons before they’re gone.

“It doesn't give back what she has already lost. That's why it's so time-sensitive,” explained Weihs.

When Aniya’s doctor prescribed Zolgensma, Weihs and Porter said their daughter’s insurance, a Medicaid provider in Texas, denied coverage of the drug.

“She got the denial from her insurance and that was devastating for us,” said Weihs.

As they appealed, they said Aniya started to show signs she may lose control of her muscles.

“She started to stop having reflexes in her legs and then her tongue started twitching,” said Porter.

AN ‘ARMY’ OF STRANGERS STEPS IN

Racing against time, Weihs connected with other families of kids with SMA and a lawyer who agreed to represent Aniya for free.

Aniya’s attorney, Eamon Kelly, told NBC 5 Responds, “All the doctors agree that Aniya Porter should receive this treatment.”

Kelly, who is based in Chicago, said Aniya is the seventh child with SMA he’s represented in insurance coverage battles.

In Aniya’s case, he said the health plan provider said the treatment was not medically necessary because doctors believe Aniya has four copies of the SMN2 gene, also known as a “backup” gene, which can indicate a milder illness.

Kelly argued backup genes, along with other available therapies, would not be enough to keep Aniya from losing muscle function. However, he said cutting-edge gene therapy could help.

“We have a treatment that will take a little girl that is going to have a degenerative disease that threatens her life, that will put her in a wheelchair and as long as we get it to her before she's 2-years-old and before she loses her motor neurons, she'll walk, she'll dance, she'll live a full life. It’s like science fiction,” Kelly said.

The first child with SMA Kelly represented is Maisie Forrest, who received Zolgensma in 2019 when she was 20 months old.

Ciji Green, Maisie’s mom, said Maisie was on a ventilator 22 hours a day before getting the drug.

“We met with her pulmonologist and I just wept,” Green recalled. “I told him she's not going to make it to 2 and he didn't offer any words of hope because he knew Maisie was on the decline as well.”

Maisie is now 4-years-old.

“She touches my face and it's absolutely beautiful,” said Green.

Maisie is playing, talking and crawling.

“Something that I have now that I didn't have was hope, hope that I will get to see her continue to meet milestones that she was never supposed to meet,” Green added.

Maisie’s mom and a team of volunteers known as “Maisie’s Army” introduced Aniya’s parents to Eamon Kelly. Last month, Kelly represented Aniya at a Medicaid State Fair Hearing.

Aniya’s family requested the hearing from Texas Health and Human Services.

A week after the hearing and a few days after NBC 5 reached out to Aniya’s health plan provider, Superior HealthPlan, Superior told Aniya’s family Zolgensma would be covered for Aniya.

“We have fought for four months. Those have been the hardest four months of our lives,” said Weihs.

TREATMENT DELIVERED

On April 27, Aniya’s family made the trip from their home in Abilene to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth where Aniya received the drug.

“She's going to sit up on her own, she is going to walk one day, she's going to feed herself with a spoon, she's going to walk down and she's going to get her diploma,” Weihs said.

NBC 5 Responds reached out to Superior HealthPlan by phone and email. We didn’t hear back.

We asked Texas Health and Human Services about options for families denied coverage for Zolgensma.

It told us, in part, “Medicaid covers medically necessary services including medications, and those services are delivered through managed care organizations. If the prior authorization is denied, the provider or the member can appeal the decision and MCOs have flexibility to make medically necessary decisions. Members also have the right to access the State Fair Hearing process with or without an External Medical Review (EMR). The EMR is conducted by a third-party Independent Review Organization.”

It also shared, “Medicaid covers alternative therapies for spinal muscular atrophy treatment, including Spinraza (nusinersen) and Evrysdi (risdiplam). Also, some manufacturers offer patient assistance programs.”

A spokesperson for Novartis, which makes Zolgensma, told NBC 5, in part, “Zolgensma® (onasemnogene abeparvovec) is a transformative and highly innovative gene therapy for a devastating, progressive genetic disease. This one-time gene therapy is priced based on the value it provides to patients, caregivers and health systems.”

It also said, “Novartis is working in partnership with governments and health care systems worldwide to identify and define new sustainable access models.”

'WE JUST KNEW WE COULDN'T GIVE UP'

Aniya’s parents said she will still see a doctor and be monitored after getting the gene therapy treatment. They’re hopeful about her prognosis.

“We just knew we couldn’t give up,” Weihs said.

Weihs told NBC 5 Responds the family is now focused on helping other kids get access to a drug they believe is priceless.

“I don't care how expensive it is. It's a child's life. Every baby deserves a chance,” said Porter.

Novartis said more than 1,800 patients have been treated with Zolgensma worldwide.

Texas’ newborn screening program began screening for SMA last June. The state’s health and human services website reports SMA is among the leading genetic causes of death among infants and toddlers.

NBC 5 Responds is committed to researching your concerns and recovering your money. Our goal is to get you answers and, if possible, solutions and a resolution. Call us at 844-5RESPND (844-573-7763) or fill out our customer complaint form.