Kelli Smith
@kellixsmith.bsky.social
Reporter covering safety, housing, healthcare and more for The Lab Report Dallas. Ex-public safety reporter @dallasnews.com. El Paso raised.
📩 Kelli@labreportdallas.com.
📩 Kelli@labreportdallas.com.
Reposted by Kelli Smith
And here is the link to that piece about the City Council briefing on the 287(g) program.
www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/...
www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/...
ICE Came to Dallas City Hall. It Did Not Go Well for ICE.
Mayor Eric Johnson’s insistence that the City Council discuss whether the police should be involved in a controversial federal immigration program may have had an unintended consequence: a fractious b...
www.dmagazine.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:14 PM
And here is the link to that piece about the City Council briefing on the 287(g) program.
www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/...
www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/...
Reposted by Kelli Smith
The full website goes live in the fall. We’ve hired @kellixsmith.bsky.social, one of Dallas' best reporters, as a staff writer. Email newsletters go out every Wednesday. We want to help Dallas understand what’s working, what’s not, and why. Join us! (Also it’s free.) labreportdallas.com/subscribe
July 18, 2025 at 6:16 PM
The full website goes live in the fall. We’ve hired @kellixsmith.bsky.social, one of Dallas' best reporters, as a staff writer. Email newsletters go out every Wednesday. We want to help Dallas understand what’s working, what’s not, and why. Join us! (Also it’s free.) labreportdallas.com/subscribe
So excited to share this journalism, which goes deep on important topics impacting North Texas families. My first stories publish in the coming weeks. 🙂
You can sign up (for free!) to see us in your inbox every week:
You can sign up (for free!) to see us in your inbox every week:
The Lab Report Dallas
Helping the city understand itself.
labreportdallas.com
July 16, 2025 at 10:34 PM
So excited to share this journalism, which goes deep on important topics impacting North Texas families. My first stories publish in the coming weeks. 🙂
You can sign up (for free!) to see us in your inbox every week:
You can sign up (for free!) to see us in your inbox every week:
Matt dove into Dallas' deflection center, an initiative championed by District Attorney John Creuzot to connect nonviolent criminal trespass offenders with services. It's meant to break the cycle keeping those people jailed.
The problem: Cops aren't bringing them there.
The problem: Cops aren't bringing them there.
If Not Jail, Then Where?
The district attorney believes too many people are being taken to jail who need help more than punishment. Doing something about it is a different story.
labreportdallas.com
July 16, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Matt dove into Dallas' deflection center, an initiative championed by District Attorney John Creuzot to connect nonviolent criminal trespass offenders with services. It's meant to break the cycle keeping those people jailed.
The problem: Cops aren't bringing them there.
The problem: Cops aren't bringing them there.
Sharon spent 6 months with North Texas nonprofits navigating uncertainty amid federal cuts, layoffs, and delayed reimbursements.
The effect is already being felt in the form of 33 million fewer meals, reduced stipends, fewer kids at summer camp, and more:
The effect is already being felt in the form of 33 million fewer meals, reduced stipends, fewer kids at summer camp, and more:
The Safety Net Has Ripped
The Lab Report's first story is an inside look at how nonprofit service providers in North Texas have weathered half a year of 'unprecedented' funding cuts.
labreportdallas.com
July 16, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Sharon spent 6 months with North Texas nonprofits navigating uncertainty amid federal cuts, layoffs, and delayed reimbursements.
The effect is already being felt in the form of 33 million fewer meals, reduced stipends, fewer kids at summer camp, and more:
The effect is already being felt in the form of 33 million fewer meals, reduced stipends, fewer kids at summer camp, and more:
The public safety beat led me to neighborhoods, city meetings and courtrooms across North Texas. It taught me so much about building trust and handling sensitive topics. It’s a beat with a plethora of stories.
Now, the position is open! I'm happy to answer questions possible applicants might have.
Now, the position is open! I'm happy to answer questions possible applicants might have.
Monster Solutions
JS Job Details
dallasnewscorporation.mua.hrdepartment.com
June 13, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The public safety beat led me to neighborhoods, city meetings and courtrooms across North Texas. It taught me so much about building trust and handling sensitive topics. It’s a beat with a plethora of stories.
Now, the position is open! I'm happy to answer questions possible applicants might have.
Now, the position is open! I'm happy to answer questions possible applicants might have.
There are more people in the audience today than the usual monthly oversight meetings. Board member Ozzie Smith thanks those who came out to hear the Chief’s views and is outlining the six pages of questions they’d hoped to ask.
“This is not the meeting that we had anticipated as a board.”
“This is not the meeting that we had anticipated as a board.”
June 10, 2025 at 11:05 PM
There are more people in the audience today than the usual monthly oversight meetings. Board member Ozzie Smith thanks those who came out to hear the Chief’s views and is outlining the six pages of questions they’d hoped to ask.
“This is not the meeting that we had anticipated as a board.”
“This is not the meeting that we had anticipated as a board.”
Board member Brandon Friedman (@brandonfriedman.bsky.social) is trying to ask the chief for his views on immigration, but is interrupted by a city attorney who says they can’t ask anything him about immigration or specific policies because the agenda only said it’d be a “general introduction.”
June 10, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Board member Brandon Friedman (@brandonfriedman.bsky.social) is trying to ask the chief for his views on immigration, but is interrupted by a city attorney who says they can’t ask anything him about immigration or specific policies because the agenda only said it’d be a “general introduction.”