How the Grinch stole $30,000

A ‘Grinch’ character on display at a Walmart in Stuart, Florida, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (Photo by Joe Kovacs)

Topline: The Grinch did not successfully steal Christmas this season, but he did use up $30,493 in taxpayer money.

A viral Grinch-themed house in Dallas drew crowds so large that the city needed extra police personnel hours, vehicles and barricades to control the nightly crowd of visitors, WFAA-TV reported.

Key facts: The 9,000-square-foot mansion in the Preston Hollow neighborhood...