{"id":135171,"date":"2026-01-23T15:29:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T15:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/135171\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T15:29:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T15:29:22","slug":"dbu-evacuated-amid-threats-ahead-of-speech-by-scott-turner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/135171\/","title":{"rendered":"DBU evacuated amid threats ahead of speech by Scott Turner"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Michael Gryboski<\/a>, Editor Thursday, January 22, 2026\"Twitter\"<\/a>Quick SummaryAI SummaryDallas Baptist University evacuated amid unspecified threats ahead of a speech by Scott Turner.Classes were canceled Thursday morning as a precautionary measure.University officials are monitoring the situation and working with law enforcement.<\/p>\n

An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor.<\/p>\n

See Summary<\/p>\n

\"SecretarySecretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner testifies during a House Financial Services Committee hearing on “Oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Administration,” on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, Jan. 21, 2026. | SAUL LOEB\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Updated at 3:20 p.m. ET, Jan. 22, 2026: Dallas Baptist University posted an update<\/a> explaining that “the Dallas Police Department and the FBI worked alongside our DBU Police Department to investigate the matter, and we can now issue an all-clear.” According to university authorities, classes will resume as normal on Friday, Jan. 23.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Original report:<\/p>\n

Dallas Baptist University canceled classes Thursday amid concerns about an unspecified threat to campus ahead of a planned speech by President Donald Trump’s Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Texas-based Southern Baptist Convention-affiliated university announced<\/a> Thursday morning that it was canceling classes due to \u201can abundance of caution.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff remain our highest priority,\u201d stated DBU. \u201cAdditional updates will be shared as appropriate as the situation continues to be monitored.\u201d<\/p>\n

The university’s statement shared on DBU’s social media<\/a> accounts at 10:18 a.m. Central time noted that university officials were “made aware of several unverified threats involving the campus.”<\/p>\n

pic.twitter.com\/gzGt9wnqGR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dallas Baptist University (@DBUPatriots) January 22, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

“While there is no confirmed indication of immediate danger, University leadership is proactively assessing the situation and working closely with law enforcement officials to ensure the safety of our community,” stated university officials.<\/p>\n

The cancellation of classes came in advance of a scheduled speech by HUD Secretary Turner. It is unclear if the threats are related to his visit.<\/p>\n

Turner, an associate pastor at the multi-campus Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, was scheduled to speak alongside Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson that morning.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe campus of Dallas Baptist University. | YouTube\/WFAA<\/p>\n

The Trump official was going to focus on how faith-based groups can help \u201cvulnerable Americans achieve economic prosperity\u201d by supporting \u201cOpportunity Zones,\u201d according to The Dallas Morning News.<\/a><\/p>\n

According to HUD\u2019s website,<\/a> an opportunity zone is an \u201ceconomically distressed\u201d community that qualifies for \u201cnew investments\u201d that \u201cmay be eligible for preferential tax treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are 8,764 Opportunity Zones in the United States, many of which have experienced a lack of investment for decades,\u201d explained HUD. \u201cThe Opportunity Zones initiative is not a top-down government program from Washington but an incentive to spur private and public investment in America\u2019s underserved communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

DBU, which has approximately 4,100 students enrolled, traces its origins to Decatur Baptist College, founded in 1898 as the state’s first junior college.<\/p>\n

In 1965, the academic institution relocated to southwest Dallas, and DBU celebrated<\/a> the 60th anniversary of that move in a series of events last November.<\/p>\n

This is a developing story.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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