The illegal immigrant accused of shooting Jesse Benavides to death in Oak Cliff Oct. 22 reportedly is a Drug Enforcement Administration snitch. Avi Selk reported that Santana Gaona had been feeding the the feds information about major drug cartels for years. That’s why the FBI intervened in September and had him released from jail, where he was being held on immigration violations after being picked up on a rape charge. Police say Gaona followed his estranged wife to a birthday party in Oak Cliff, where he shot Benavides, who was trying to intervene. Ganoa now is in jail on the murder charge.

The Davis Garden TIF District Board of Directors approved granting $40,000 for a plaza in the Tyler/Davis District. We’ve heard some moaning about Andrew Howard’s quote in Unfair Park: “We have the potential to have another Bishop Arts District here.” That sounds great to some people, and unsavory to those who have a different vision for the district of art studios and boutiques.

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Smoke chef Tim Byres is opening a place called Chicken Scratch in the old Jack’s Backyard space. It’s going to serve rotisserie and pan-fried chicken, or anyway, cast-iron fried chicken, which we think refers to a pan. A bar called The Foundry will be next door.

City of Ate profiled CocoAndré Chocolatier.

The Dallas Voice has a profile of fit Oak Cliff couple Val Haskell and Jenni Stolarski. I met them at a fitness boot camp!