Volunteers play role in governor race, North Texas' newest champion, nonprofit adds baby boutique: Your weekend roundup

'I am not a killer,' capital murder defendant says ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Morning roundup]( [NEWS]( | [BUSINESS]( | [SPORTS]( | [HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS]( | [ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT]( | [FOOD]( |[STATE OF THE CITY]( | [THINGS TO DO]( | [OPINION]( | [GAMES AND PUZZLES]( 03/06/2022 By Ashley Slayton and Todd Davis Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines of the weekend so far. 🌦️ Weather: We get a little bit of everything in the next 24 hours. Mostly cloudy skies and a storm system give us a 60% chance of rain today with high winds, followed by an 80% chance of precipitation tonight and temperatures that drop into the 40s. 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here.]( Defendant Billy Chemirmir lowered his mask as a state's witness was asked to identify him during his murder trial at the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas on Nov. 17, 2021. Chemirmir, 48, faces life in prison without parole if convicted of capital murder in the smothering death of Lu Thi Harris, 81, and stealing her jewelry. He is accused of killing at least 18 women in Dallas and Collin counties.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) CRIME [‘I am not a killer’: In new interview, Billy Chemirmir says he will be acquitted in 18 murders]( Billy Chemirmir is convinced he will never see the inside of a Texas prison. For the first time, the former senior living caregiver accused of killing at least two dozen elderly women in North Texas is speaking out from his Dallas County jail cell. He says he is innocent, and that will be acquitted on 18 counts of capital murder. After a mistrial in November, Chemirmir, 49, will again face trial starting April 18 for the death of Lu Thi Harris, 81. "I’m 100% sure I will not go to prison," Chemirmir said in a lengthy[interview with The Dallas Morning News]( this week. "I want you to write this down, because we’re going to talk about it again. I will not go to prison, Charlie."  Also: Read more about Billy Chemirmir’s [November mistrial]( here.   And: Read our [two-part crime series]( chronicling the case, Guardians.  [Test your knowledge of this week’s top headlines and you’ll be entered for the chance to win $100.]( [Question 1 of 5]( [Iconic Chicago restaurant Portillo’s has picked which city to host its first Texas location?]( - [Richardson]( - [The Colony]( - [Plano]( - [Grapevine]( [Start the quiz by choosing your answer.]( ADVERTISEMENT POLITICS [Beto O’Rourke preparing an early deployment in race against Greg Abbott, fueled by 56,000 volunteers]( Gov. Greg Abbott may have a fundraising advantage in a race that the incumbent’s strategist says will see both candidates spend more than $100 million, but Beto O’Rourke says he’s got a not-so-secret weapon – a volunteer army of 56,000. And the Democrat is preparing to make an early deployment. This week, O’Rourke said he’s activating his volunteers months earlier than he did in his U.S. Senate race four years ago. Though Abbott’s chief strategist scoffs that O’Rourke’s troops are mostly from out of state and that the governor’s campaign has 100,000 volunteers, [the former El Paso congressman clearly sees them as helping level the playing field](.  Also: [A Collin County official]( denies a bribery accusation from a candidate for constable   Editorial: Russia doesn’t represent [the future for Exxon](.  (Elias Valverde II / Staff Photographer) PHOTO OF THE WEEKEND [DeSoto dynasty claims back-to-back 6A state championships with win over South Grand Prairie]( DeSoto worked four years to build a dynasty with what is now one of the best senior classes in UIL state history. But Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, all that mattered was one last game together, a chance for [the nation’s No. 2-ranked team to cement a rich legacy and to win back-to-back]( state championships. Also, boys teams from McKinney, Kimball, Madison, Faith Family and Duncanville earned spots in next week's state tournament, and area private school state champions were crowned. Find all of our playoff basketball coverage [here](. ADVERTISEMENT AROUND THE SITE - Sports: WNBA All-Star [Brittney Griner]( was arrested last month at a Moscow airport after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges. - Arts review: [Dallas Opera’s ‘Flight’]( soars brilliantly aloft, but it also plumbs emotional depths. - Crime: Two men and a woman were injured, one of them critically, when [gunmen opened fire]( from a vehicle in South Dallas early Saturday. FINALLY... [South Dallas nonprofit opens baby boutique, allowing mothers to ‘shop with dignity’]( Thana Hickman-Simmons said that the mothers she works with deserve to shop with dignity. Her South Dallas-based organization, Viola’s House, helps mothers with young children by providing resources, education and housing. [Its newest addition is the Baby Benefit Boutique]( which allows mothers of children under 3 to shop for free through a voucher-based program. Mothers can take parenting and pregnancy classes taught by Viola’s House to receive the vouchers. ADVERTISEMENT  👋 That's all for this morning! For up-to-the-minute news and analysis, check out [DallasNews.com](. Share the love! If you like this newsletter, please forward this email to a friend and [check out our other newsletters here](. Do you have feedback? Send your thoughts, questions, praise and corrections to [the newsroom.]( [Free Newsletters]( | [Account Login]( | [Help Center]( | [Terms of Service]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( The Dallas Morning News, 1954 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75201, United States © Copyright 2021