Dallas could be next for drone-first 911 response ... and more news

Officials say the drones can reach volatile calls faster than patrol cars, stream live video and reduce risks for officers and civilians by showing what officers are walking into — or whether they need to go at all. Dallas’ police chief has said the city may take part in a “drone first responder” program, as it looks for ways to cut emergency response times. That promise of speed using drones is what worries civil liberties and privacy advocates, who say the technology could normalize routine aerial surveillance. In other news, as President Donald Trump’s administration has pushed forward with his mass deportation campaign, one of the consequences has been policy changes that affect individuals who have pending applications for victim-based immigration benefits; DFW Airport told The News last week that it expects nearly 5 million passengers to pass through between Dec. 18 and Jan. 6, officials said. That’s more than a 3% increase in traffic compared to last year, the airport said. Love Field expects more than 500,000 travelers between Dec. 18 and New Year’s Eve, a slight decrease from last year when the airport saw more than 560,000 travelers; and the Powerball jackpot has soared to $1.7 billion with the next drawing set for this evening. If someone wins Wednesday, it would be the fourth-largest prize in the game’s history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices