ARENA HEARINGS HEAT UP IN DALLAS

     A hearing in Lewisville, TX, to decide whether or not there
should be a half-cent sales tax increase to fund a sports arena
drew a "standing-room only" crowd Tuesday night.  The vote, which
will take place on January 21, calls for a raise in sales tax from
7.25% to 7.75% to fund a $40M bond issue for a sports arena.  The
arena will be built only if the city of Dallas fails to negotiate
a deal to keep the Mavericks (Kim North, DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
1/11).   On Wednesday, "several members" of the Dallas City
Council said "they were angry with the Stars for helping fund" the
Lewisville campaign.  A memo was sent to City Attorney Sam Lindsay
asking what legal action could be taken against the Stars if they
"opt not to play at Reunion Arena."  Stars President Jim Lites:
"We're just trying to protect our own interests"  (Sylvia
Martinez, DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/12).