Advertise on podcast: 817 Podcast - Fort Worth's Monday Morning Show

BIG STORY: The Power of Tarrant County Voters What Tarrant County's 30-Day Reports Tell Us by See It Name It Fight ItTarrant judge race: West Texas billionaires vs. New York and California donors / (Chris Tackett’s response)Tarrant candidates make plea for cash after mystery poll shows Dems aheadInside Downballot Dems' Effort to Flip Texas' Key County BattlegroundThe right  can't stop Texas from changing. Tarrant County shows what happens when it tries. SHORT STORY 1: Fort Worth Report Candidate Forums  Should TAD revert to annual property appraisals? Candidates discuss ahead of Nov. 3 electionTarrant County candidates make their case as Nov. 3 election nearsTexas House candidates talk taxes, education and data centers ahead of Tarrant County midterms SHORT STORY 2: FWISD Students Speak Up  Fort Worth ISD students petition against scripted lessons / Fort Worth ISD board president responds to student petition over scripted lessons SHORT STORY 3: Juneteenth Museum Groundbreaking The beginning: Demolition of Southside center clears way for National Juneteenth Museum / Opal Lee celebrates 100th birthday with Juneteenth MuseumFort Worth Southside Community Center gets new home in same neighborhood WINS:  817 Podcast named Editor’s Choice for Best Podcast by Fort Worth Weekly (3 years in a row)Goldee's BBQ wins a Michelin star 2 Tarrant jailers arrested, charged with assault and official oppression (the first inkling of accountability we’ve seen from Tarrant County Jail)  LOSSES:  ArtsGoggle will pause in 2027 following the Fort Worth festival’s run this monthMayor’s Committee on Persons with Disabilities makes quorum (Sad it makes headlines when such an important committee finally gets to meet).The deaths of two rising stars leaves North Texas theater community reelingOne year later, Arlington man remains in ICE custody over social media posts ACTIONS:  October 13 - Day of Activism (Commissioner’s Court, FWISD, City Council)October 14 - Gather at the Table (District 10)October 17 - No Kings October 18 - 817 Gather at 3pm October 19 - EARLY VOTING BEGINS!Join the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: We spoke with Kevin Burge, the Democratic candidate to represent Texas District 24 in US Congress, who will unseat Republican Beth Van Duyne. https://www.burgeforcongress.com/ Join the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

Sign Up to Speak on Day of Activism: https://forms.gle/Ljzq51FHZV7n5ZqAA SHORT STORY 1: City Council drama  “You know nothing about courage” - Mattie Parker SHORT STORY 2: FWISD Guardrails Managers draft FWISD goals, superintendent limits. Here’s what they propose / Fort Worth ISD board creates goals, superintendent limits after hearing feedback SHORT STORY 3: Day of Activism Commissioners Court Agendas and VideosFWISD Board MeetingsHow to Appear or Speak Before City Council WINS:  Renewable energy plant will convert landfill emissions, support Fort Worth’s trash demandsUndaunted by permit denial, Southlake Pride festival schedules block partyWeekend Worthy: Explore Fort Worth’s dynamic live theater & Ajax LOSSES:  World Cup brought nearly 30% more sales tax to Arlington, though most money was spent around stadiumCity of Fort Worth looking to sell downtown buildings to Kent family groupFort Worth approves incentives for possible $192.7M manufacturing plant$430M data center planned for this North Texas tech hub, as Abbott halts permits ACTIONS:  October 5 - last day to register to voteOctober 5, 7, & 8 - Fort Worth Report candidate forumsOctober 10 - Stop Data Centers Art Show at Weston GardensOctober 13 - Day of Activism (Commissioner’s Court, FWISD, City Council)October 14 - Gather at the Table (District 10)October 17 - No KingsOctober 18 - 817 Gather at 3pmOctober 19 - EARLY VOTING BEGINS!Join the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: We spoke with Danny Minton, the Democratic candidate to represent Texas District 6 in US Congress, who will unseat Republican Jake Ellzey. dannyfortexas.com Join the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

SHORT STORY 1: The Flood of Money for Republicans Elon Musk could spend $200M boosting GOP as Texas’ Ken Paxton battles fundraising gap SHORT STORY 2: Crystal Mason’s case dismissed ‘Decade-long battle’ ends for North Texas woman after illegal voting case dismissedBarry Schlater's post about Phil Sorrel's wife knocking on Crystal Mason's doorRelated: Tarrant County racing to process 74,000 backlogged voter registration formsRelated: DPS voter registration applications weren’t sent to counties SHORT STORY 3: Pushback Against Tim O’Hare Petition seeking Tarrant County judge’s removal from office dismissed by Texas judgeTarrant decorum policy challenged in new lawsuit against the county, O’Hare WINS:  Leon Bridges drops a new album, Happiness AnytimeNew TEXRail station groundbreaking set after agreements approvedFort Worth submits $13.5M grant request for housing, homelessness programsWork to start soon on Fort Worth’s Panther Island bypass channel LOSSES:  Another man dies in Tarrant County Jail custody / 37-year-old Tarrant County Jail inmate dies Tuesday at JPS Hospital / 'We need to be heard': Family of most recent person to die in Tarrant Jail custody wants answersTrinity Metro decreases spending in $204.5M budget, cuts some programsFort Worth police, UTA partner on AI-driven de-escalation trainingGarbage truck driver killed in Fort Worth crash identified; U.S. 287 reopens Democrat drops out of Texas House election for north Tarrant seat, citing eligibilityFort Worth glass art studio SiNaCa nears agreement to relocate to Arlington ACTIONS:  Arlington to host town halls on pressing city issuesOctober 5 - last day to register to voteOctober 5, 7, & 8 - Fort Worth Report candidate forumsOctober 10 - Stop Data Centers Art Show at Weston GardensOctober 14 - Gather at the Table (District 10)October 18 - 817 GatherOctober 19 - EARLY VOTING BEGINS!Join the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: We spoke with Ebony Turner, the Democratic candidate for Texas House District 96. She's a community organizer with Black Mansfield Moms, who is going to fight for public education, healthcare, and criminal justice reform. ebforhd96.com Join the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

SHORT STORY 1: Bo French’s Racism UT students denounce social media attack by Republican Bo FrenchBo French stands firm, and is fundraising on his UT post condemned as racistA Bo French reader: What Star-Telegram coverage reveals about his recordWhy won’t Fort Worth, Tarrant leaders speak up against Bo French? | OpinionTop Texas Republicans knew Bo French’s history of racist comments. They supported him anywayOne group has stayed mostly mum on Bo French’s racist post — Texas’ oil and gas industryRelated: Tarrant County judge to conservatives: ‘We are sounding the alarm’ against switch to blueRelated: “Uncharted territory”: Two months from Election Day, Democrats in Texas are truly competitiveRelated: Fort Worth activist arrested for cursing at Tarrant County Commissioners meeting gets case delayedRelated: Ex-state Rep. Burnam files lawsuit against Judge Tim O’Hare, Tarrant County SHORT STORY 2: Data Center Corruption Fort Worth Data Center & Infrastructure CommissionKent’s public commentEpps selling their house to a data center developer SHORT STORY 3: Local Budget Wins & Losses Fort Worth reconciles public safety increases, lower tax bill with $1.1B general budgetTarrant County’s $834M budget includes lower tax rate for fourth consecutive yearTarrant commissioners approve $1.8B JPS budget for 2027Tarrant County College trustees approve property tax increase 5-1 after spending debate WINS:  Healing through creativity: Fort Worth’s Arts Fifth Avenue celebrates 25 years in FairmountArlington library’s adult neurodiverse programs to expand with new grantLightning in a bottle: Fort Worth nonprofit leads inaugural social entrepreneurship cohort‘The heart of Fort Worth’: La Línea Rosa buses connect community with culture‘There is so much potential’: Residents offer ideas for transit-oriented developments near rail stations / ‘Why not make it a destination?’ TEXRail users advocate for transit-oriented developments, trail connectionsNorth Texas council eyes comprehensive list of transportation projects for 2027 priorities More pools in Fort Worth? Here’s what the city’s new aquatics master plan proposesFort Worth African American Roots Music Festival - March 19 -21, 2027 LOSSES:  Weeks after, Ross Fire 100% contained. Impacts on wildlife minimal but risk on water remainsSouthlake refuses to issue permit for Pride Kel-So event, shocking organizers ACTIONS:  Tarrant County Public Health is seeking your input. Here’s when and whereOctober 5 - last day to register to voteOctober 5, 7, & 8 - Fort Worth Report candidate forumsOctober 7 - Michelle Obama is speaking in Fort WorthOctober 10 - Stop Data Centers Art Show at Weston GardensOctober 14 - Gather at the Table (District 10)Join the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

We spoke with Dione Sims, the granddaughter of Opal Lee, about her run for Congress in Texas' 25th Congressional District. https://dionesimsforcongress.com/ Join the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

SHORT STORY 1: Republicans are scared Empty seats, socialism and Trump dominate the Republican midterm conventionHow the Dallas GOP convention speakers addressed their Christian baseUS appeals court rejects Trump mail-in ballot restrictions as Supreme Court considers ruleTarrant County mentioned in Talarico’s interview with Jimmy KimmelRelated: Tim O’Hare hosts Gov. Abbott as group of protestors condemn voter suppression SHORT STORY 2: FWISD  FWISD put cameras in classrooms at struggling schools. Why?‘That’s on us’: FWISD managers apologize for speech therapist shortage following cutsFWISD changes course, says donors, district split $188,000 Dickies convocation costOpenAI partners with FWISD on ChatGPT for teachers. Questions remainFort Worth ISD’s uneven enrollment prompts shuffling of teachers to balance class sizes / Fort Worth ISD will reassign staff to address imbalance at schools across districtFort Worth school district removes parent from community listening sessionFort Worth ISD faces staffing shakeups, curriculum questions. Here’s what to knowFort Worth ISD partners with OpenAI to provide teachers with expanded ChatGPT‘Us vs. them’: Parents confront FWISD superintendent, leaders over growing trust gapStudents, parents voice concerns over AI use in Fort Worth ISD schoolsWearable panic buttons coming to staff in Fort Worth school districtTax rate remains level as FWISD expects bigger shortfall amid frozen appraisalsHow to get involved: FORT (Families Organizing Resisting Takeover)FWISD 4 All hotline (817) 814 - 1920817 GatherSHORT STORY 3: The state of local media McClatchy laid off 30% of its unionized workers; here’s how local coverage will sufferTarrant leaders’ election cut saves dollars. Does it cost GOP votes? | OpinionTo our readers: A message about AI, journalism and the Fort Worth Report’s mission WINS:  TAD voted to do reappraisals in 2027. (They also voted for a freeze in 2028, but if we get the slate of TAD candidates elected, they can undo that).Community market celebrates 4 years of sustaining, supporting east Fort WorthFort Worth breaks ground on $1.76M Smiley Park in southeast’s Ash Crescent areaFood truck yard with seven dining options opens off East Berry StreetHistoric Bedford school building to become community arts space, events venueOpal Lee event was a success LOSSES:  ICE is terrorizing Tarrant Countybit.ly/donatemutualistaFort Worth girl’s death highlights guns as leading killer of Tarrant kidsFort Worth drivers had hundreds of accidents at these top spots. Here’s whereCOVID case prevalence very high in Texas‘The Excel of the 21st century’: Why Tarrant County universities are turning to AI degreesOnce teeming with birdlife, this Fort Worth migration stop has dried up ACTIONS:  Lights out: How Fort Worth residents can help protect migrating birds this fallNorth Texas homeless shelter issues urgent plea after fire destroys storage facilitySeptember 15 - La Linea Rosa grand openingSeptember 16 - CDFW’s Transit MixerSeptember 15 - October 15 - Latin American cultures show off pride at these Tarrant County heritage month eventsSeptember 15 - Tarrant County & Fort Worth City Council Budget VoteSeptember 19 - Fall Gallery NightSeptember 20 - 817 Gather at 3pmOctober 5 - last day to register to voteOctober 7 - Michelle Obama is speaking in Fort WorthJoin the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

We sat down with Eric Crile, an appointed board member for the Tarrant Appraisal District to learn the nuances of how it works, and understand how the property tax freeze has been so devastating to the way that taxing entities are funded. This might be our wonkiest episode yet, so prepare yourself! Join the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

We spoke with the three best candidates for the Tarrant Appraisal District Board, Phyllis Durbin Grissom for Place 1, Ambika Sharma for Place 2, and John Adams for Place 3. We learned about how damaging the freeze on property valuations has been for taxing entities and taxpayers, the inequities that taxpayers face, how we got into this mess, and what these candidates can do about it. All three will appear on the ballot county-wide in November at the bottom of the ballot, so be sure to vote all the way up & down your ballot. Join the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

SHORT STORY 1: Voter Suppression in Tarrant County Residents, families rally to protest Tarrant County Jail deaths days after woman dies in custodyTarrant County honors Charlie Kirk despite Democrats’ vehement oppositionTarrant County’s November elections will have 92 fewer places to cast ballots than 2022Republicans' midterm convention in Dallas is anything but conventional. Why is it happening? SHORT STORY 2: Flock in Texas Fort Worth police crime-fighting drone program takes off in partnership with Flock SafetyHow a $1 Texas insurance fee funded thousands of Flock camerasGov. Abbott blocks state agencies from spending money on Flock camerasFlock cameras key to Tarrant County crime reduction, sheriff says as scrutiny mounts / Tarrant County sheriff says Flock cameras are their most valuable assetAfter Abbott’s order limiting Flock cameras, DPS to continue using its vast surveillance network SHORT STORY 3: Corruption in Fort Worth City Council State sues Fort Worth City Councilman Chris Nettles, his nonprofit for $787,872 / Fort Worth council member owes Texas up to $1M, mismanaged food program: lawsuitMattie Parker: Woman in the Arena - Fort Worth Magazine WINS:  Fort Worth moves toward budget cut restorations, higher city tax rateBedford considers property tax rate increase for 2027Como Arts FestivalThis Tarrant County College campus offers childcare to students. Here’s why.Fort Worth’s ‘flying saucer’ set to depart, taking with it decades of memories LOSSES:  Tarrant commissioners move to lower JPS tax rate for fourth yearWoman dies at Tarrant County Jail — the 6th jail death this year / Woman recently gave birth before she died at Tarrant County jail, records showFederal judge dismisses Fort Worth ISD lawsuit filed by reassigned principalICE present in Fort Worth for ‘daily enforcement,’ agency confirms after video circulates ACTIONS: September 8 - FWISD Board of Managers meetingSeptember 9 & 10 Protests at  Republican Midterm ConventionSeptember 12 - TCDP Sneaker Soiree September 15 - Tarrant County Budget Vote & Fort Worth City Council Budget VoteSeptember 19 - Fall Gallery NightSeptember 20 - 817 Gather at 3pmOctober 5 - last day to register to voteJoin the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: We spoke with Katie O'Brien Duzan, the Democratic candidate for Texas House District 94, going agains the Republican Cheryl Bean. katiefor94.com Join the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

SHORT STORY 1: Republicans attack on Democracy More than 1.2 million Texas voter registrations are flagged. Here’s what voters should knowFollowing backlash, Tarrant County elections head proposes cutting 92 voting sites for NovemberMap comparing 2022 Voting Sites to 2026Tarrant County task force finds 2 election violations among 193 allegations from the publicFree speech lawsuits against Tarrant County judge awaiting decision from US appeals court / Tarrant County meeting arrests raise First Amendment concerns SHORT STORY 2:  Tarrant County the model for property tax relief across Texas, governor says / Gov. Abbott praises Tarrant for lowering property taxes, proposes new tax planThe Budget Tim Doesn’t Want You to Read - by Chris Tackett$33.9M Tarrant Appraisal District budget reflects lowest staff headcount since 1999Tarrant water district proposes rate bump, tax increase to address demand, aging pipesWhat you need to know before TCC trustees consider a property tax rate increaseColleyville City Council moves toward higher property tax rate to counter lower appraisalsFort Worth City Council deliberates proposed budget cuts, fate of Alliance pet adoption program SHORT STORY 3: Fort Worth City Council Fort Worth OKs $10B data center site plan with more green space, distance from homes / Tensions flare at Fort Worth City Council meeting over $10B data centerFort Worth police crime-fighting drone program takes off in partnership with Flock Safety WINS:  Here are the candidates for Tarrant Appraisal District board election in NovemberA greater good is coming to west Fort Worth — through coffee, thrifting and givingTexas Health to launch new maternal health program for continuity of careThis historic Fort Worth building will become affordable housingHeartland Flyer funded through ’27 as proposed state budget item targets future allocationsTrinity Metro kicks off transit-oriented development plans with first public meetingCouncil of governments executive director leaves job LOSSES:  Trinity Metro plans to cut spending in 2027 but will advance train improvementsEngageFW cancelled due to budget cuts. Possibly delayed until Spring.The Last Picture Show: Coyote Drive-In fading to blackChanges planned for Fort Worth street following troubled bike-friendly makeoverICE seen in Fort Worth ACTIONS: September 1 - Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court Meeting and RallySeptember 2 - Gather at the Table (District 9)September 2 - Arlington Chamber candidate forum with SD9 & HD94September 12 - TCDP Sneaker Soiree September 15 - Fort Worth City Council Budget VoteSeptember 20 - 817 Gather at 3pmOctober 5 - last day to register to voteJoin the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: We spoke with Nathan Smith, the Democratic candidate for Tarrant County District Clerk, who will unseat 30-year incumbent Republican Tom Wilder. nathan4tarrant.com Join the 817 Gather, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.