BIG STORY: We spoke with Alberto Govea from LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) & Stephanie Drenka from Texas Civil Rights Project about the legal battle against the racist gerrymandered maps that Republicans on Tarrant County Commissioners Court passed this year in an attempt to diminish black & brown voices.

SHORT STORY 1: Tarrant County GOP’s plan to destroy elections

Tarrant County Democratic Party chair Allison Campolo's response

Mercy Culture creates online candidate classes for Christian Nationalists running for office

SHORT STORY 2: Mattie Parker’s PR campaign to uphold the establishment

Mayor talks FWISD takeover, taxes and maintaining Fort Worth’s ‘vibe’ during TribFest

SHORT STORY 3: An update on the Fort Worth Community Arts Center

WINS: 

The Welman Project gets a new location!

The Librarians screening at The Modern 

Filing open for 2026 primary elections. Here are the Tarrant County candidates (so far)

Dallas moves municipal elections to November of odd numbered years

TxDOT: Car-dominant Texas needs more public transit

The Dock Bookshop event & Afrocommuniversity's new susu

LOSSES: 

Tarrant GOP Chairman Bo French stepping down, running for Texas Railroad Commissioner

Teachers question future as Texas takeover of FWISD advances

TCU bumps its tuition, again, making it more costly than some Ivy League schools

ACTIONS:

• December 2nd - Fort Worth City Council Public Comment
• November 18th - Speak at Arlington City Council to defend LGBTQ+ rights & demand the return of Maher Tarabishi from ICE 
• November 18th - People’s Commissioner’s Court

BIG STORY: An interview with Taylor Rehmet, TX SD9 Candidate.

In a surprise upset, Taylor Rehmet, the machinist & union leader who ran as a Democrat in the special election for TX Senate District 9, came out top of the ticket with 48% of the vote, beating out 2 Republican candidates. Now he'll be in a runoff election with Leigh Wambsganss, the Patriot Mobile backed candidate who led book bans in Southlake.

Democrats see promise for 2026 in Texas Senate near upset

SHORT STORY 1: Blue Wave across the country & high local turnout

Tarrant County sees higher than normal voter turnout, despite polling place reductions

SHORT STORY 2: ICE in DFW

Father cared for disabled son for years, until ICE took him away

GoFundMe for Wael Tarabishi

SHORT STORY 3: State appoints FWISD conservator

Texas appoints FWISD conservator to oversee transition to state control

What Fort Worth ISD’s new conservator can — and can’t — do during state takeover

WINS: 

Nydia Cardenas is running for Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 4!

First Gather at the Table! Join the Gather Community on Discord

Tiffany Burks is running for Tarrant County DA!

Evans and Rosedale redevelopment

Billions for Texas water projects approved / Overwatered lawns in Fort Worth

25 immigrants naturalized as American citizens during Fort Worth ceremony

Abraham Alexander honored at Lone Star Film Festival Gala

Liquor stores, smoke shops on every corner? Not anymore, Fort Worth leaders say

Bo French resigns from as Tarrant County Republican Party as chair

LOSSES: 

Irving, Plano, Farmers Branch, & Highland Park to hold elections on leaving DART

You’re not imagining it. Traffic is getting worse in North Texas.

ACTIONS:

November 16th - 817 Gather at 3pm

December 2nd - Last day for public comment of the year at Fort Worth City Hall

Volunteer for Taylor Rehmet’s campaign at taylorfortx.com

BIG STORY: An interview with Gina Hinojosa

She's a candidate for Texas Governor, who was in town for a town hall about resisting the state takeover of FWISD, demonstrating how & why it's so important that we fight back against the corruption of Greg Abbott and an authoritian government.

SHORT STORY 1: Money in Senate District 9

•  Nearly $3M pours into Tarrant County’s race for Texas Senate

SHORT STORY 2: Impact of SNAP cuts in Tarrant County

•  SNAP pause could be ‘cataclysmic’ for Tarrant families, nonprofit leaders worry

SHORT STORY 3: Tarrant County leads in juvenile prison sentences

•  Tarrant County sending the most kids to state youth prisons
• Context: Tarrant County cuts ties with youth justice program over perceived political stances

WINS:
New recycling center brings technology aimed at minimizing strain on Fort Worth’s landfill

Company to operate wine bar, restaurant and wedding venue at T&P Station

Southwest Fort Worth park’s wildlife rebounding after pond restoration

Nate Schatzline not running for reelection / Alan Blaylock running for Nate’s seat

LOSSES:
Tarrant County expects traffic deaths this year to exceed 230

Fort Worth filmmakers have new grants, resources through Texas program

TCU to end stand-alone departments focused on women and gender, race and ethnic studies

ACTIONS:
VOTE! November 4th is election day for SD9 and the Texas Constitutional Amendments. Voting locations are open from 7am - 7pm. You can vote at any polling location. 

November 4th - Last public comment of the year at Fort Worth City Council

November 6th - Love Is The Loudest Protest

November 8th 10 - 2pm - 2025 State of the Historic Northside

This is an audio-only show run by EJ in his home office. Ann and Wesley are out of town, but we felt a show was needed given what happened to FWISD.

GET ACTIVE: EXPLORE OUR LINKTREE

STORY 1: FWISD State Takeover

- Star-Telegram ‘Keep Austin out of our schools.’ Opponents of state takeover of FWISD speak out

- Live stream of press conference

- Texas Education Agency takes over Fort Worth ISD, replacing its elected school board

- Is Dan Patrick trying to make Texas a 'conservative Hollywood'?

STORY 2: Fort Worth Way endorsing the book-ban lady

- How a far-right, Christian cellphone company ‘took over’ four Texas school boards

- Fort Worth Fire Fighters endorse Leah Wambsganss

- Leah's endorsements

ACTIONS

- Vote! Find your early voting location.

- Final public comment meeting is on November 4th at 6 PM in City Hall

- Sign up to attend the November 16th Gather at 3 PM

BIG STORY: Mayor Mattie Parker’s Wild Week.

• Fort Worth mayor asked church to pack City Council meeting, state lawmaker says
• Fort Worth residents rally behind activist accused in casket incident with mayor
• Police report casts doubt on Fort Worth Mayor’s claims about casket incident
• Mayor Mattie Parker should listen to her own words as she faces her critics

SHORT STORY 1: Arlington council delays decision on amending LGBTQ anti-discrimination ordinance

SHORT STORY 2: White Settlement Road name change up for Fort Worth council vote

SHORT STORY 3: Fort Worth’s Growth

• How rapid growth, high-housing costs influence Fort Worth's future
• For businesses along Berry Street, less parking is a small price to pay as TCU grows
• $63M for Evans, Rosedale urban village to boost city revenue
• Fort Worth Report’s 1 Million & Counting (2025 Growth Summit)

WINS: 

No Kings Rally

The Birds at Amphibian Stage & Ride The Cyclone at Stage West

Fort Worth NAACP honors Broadway Baptist Church, Tarrant faith and justice coalition

State Representative Gina Hinojosa launches bid for Texas Governor

LOSSES: 

Investigation finds no criminal wrongdoing in hunger, thirst death in Tarrant County Jail

Tarrant County awards this nonprofit $2.3M contract to replace human services

ACTIONS:

City of Fort Worth finally announces Public Bond meetings

Constitutional Amendments Voter Guides (Star Telegram & Texas Tribune)

Early Voting starts Monday, October 20th.

NOTE: This episode was recorded Friday, October 17th, prior to the 817 Podcast MC'ing the No Kings Rally.

BIG STORY: 

This week we have a discussion on how to define the word "progressive", the worldview, the policies, what it takes to win an election as a bold unapologetic progressive, and how we can all play a part in improving the world around us.

SHORT STORY 1: BREAKING NEWS: Renye Telles names as Executive Director of Tarrant County Democratic Party

SHORT STORY 2: Traffic & Transit

• Fort Worth considers traffic calming changes to better align program to riskiest areas
•  ‘Behemoth of a project’ planned to ease Bonds Ranch Road congestion in far north Fort Worth
• Silver Lining: New rail line revs up North Texas transit, tourism ahead of World Cup

SHORT STORY 3: FWISD Spending & Curriculum

• What did FWISD spend money on in September? Reading lessons, construction and more
• Grapevine-Colleyville board president confirms school closures
• With too many kids missing school, district says it has plan

WINS: 

ArtsGoggle

Tay Day

Leon Bridges’ musical legacy enshrined on the south side in Panther City

New documentary shows how 8 civil rights icons shaped the history of Fort Worth — and U.S.

LOSSES: 

Tarrant County electoral map will stay in effect after judge denies request to block it

Could Arlington or Fort Worth lure the Dallas Stars west?

ACTIONS:

October 14 - Public Comment

October 18 - No Kings Rally

October 19 - 817 Gather

This week we're bringing you a special episode with organizers for Fort Worth's No Kings Rally on Saturday, October 18th at 11am in Burk Burnett Park downtown.

It'll be filled with speakers, organizations, and our fellow Fort Worthians dedicated to the fight against authoritarianism.

No Kings Fort Worth is hosted by Tarrant County AFL CIO, Fort Worth Area Indivisible, Indivisible TX 12 and Indivisible TX 24.

You can find more info at bit.ly/NK2FTW

BIG STORY: Patrice Jones, activist, community leader, and founder of Southside Community Garden joins us to talk about her history of activism, and what happened when Mayor Mattie Parker threatened her after defending public comment.

• Fort Worth reduces how often residents can bring concerns to council in public comments
• Activist accuses Fort Worth mayor of ‘threat.’ Parker says she was being family ‘protector’
• Councilmember Nettles statement

SHORT STORY 1: Public Comment

SHORT STORY 2: Density & Growth

• As Fort Worth grows, why is density such a hard sell?
• Trinity Metro approves $222M budget. Here’s how the money spends
• Billions in road projects aim to ease Fort Worth’s traffic congestion

SHORT STORY 3: Downtown Library

Article: Fort Worth’s new downtown library envisioned as a ‘lifelong learning center,’ planning officials say

WINS: 

Hamrambee Fest

Pride Kel-So

LOSSES: 

Texas AG Paxton to investigate TCU over Turning Point event school says was not booked

Teachers’ free speech rights tested as Texas investigates 351 complaints

Cook Children’s to build $42 million parking garage

ACTIONS:

October 8 - Talarico Rally

October 11 - ArtsGoggle

October 11 - Tay Day Parade

October 14 - Fort Worth City Council Public Comment

October 18 - No Kings Rally

BIG STORY: Adwoa Asante, lawyer of Raunaq Alam, and Lydia Faith of Free Palestine Tarrant speak about the freedom of speech case right in Tarrant County and the far right leaders funded by Christian Zionists seeking to make an example of Raunag Alam.

@i_raunic

@freepalestine.tarrant

bit.ly/raunaqdefensefund

SHORT STORY 1:  Reactions to  Political Violence

• Conservative leaders urge action during Fort Worth march honoring Charlie Kirk
• Fort Worth, Arlington mayors sign declaration against political violence

SHORT STORY 2: People Power vs The People in Power

• Tarrant County commissioners pass tax rates after Democrats broke quorum last week
• Speakers denounce City Council discourse, call for unity in wake of Charlie Kirk death
• Judge to decide on efforts to stop Tarrant County electoral map after hours of testimony
• Goldman asks for input while protesters call for town hall

SHORT STORY 3: Dallas-Fort Worth is a leading data center market with a significant scale issue

WINS: 

817 Podcast named Fort Worth Weekly’s Critic’s Choice for Best Podcast.

LOSSES: 

$500M in federal funding delays could affect North Texas transit projects

Sculpting a legacy: West Fort Worth art gallery bids farewell after nearly 30 years

West Fort Worth theater’s cancellation of ‘Frankenstein’ production prompts questions

ACTIONS:

Tuesday, September 30 at 10am, City Council will vote to cut public comment meetings down to just 10 meetings for all of 2026.

Deadline to register to vote for the November election is October 6th.

BIG STORY: An Interview with Alisa Simmons, Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 2.

Tarrant County’s Democratic commissioners skip meeting to prevent vote on lower tax rate

SHORT STORY 1: Charlie Kirk rally in downtown Fort Worth brings in far right extremist sponsors throughout the Metroplex.

SHORT STORY 2: Here’s how much Fort Worth’s fire department, new EMS will cost the city

SHORT STORY 3: North Texas nonprofits lost $127M in six months, mostly from federal sources, survey finds

WINS: 

Leaders deny concrete batch plant at Fort Worth’s southside grain silos

City council budget passes, with no decrease in funding towards the arts.

Artes de la Rosa got a proclamation for 25 years of serving the arts (and a 15 year lease on the building).

LOSSES:

Most Fort Worth-area school districts see enrollment decline as charters, suburbs gain

FWISD plans teacher shake-up for 7 struggling schools, new reading lessons with Bible stories

Fort Worth’s growth, data centers drive soaring power demand

ACTIONS:

Watch Tarrant County Commissioner's Court

Special Commissioners Meeting
Monday, 09/22 • 10 AM Tarrant County Administration Building
100 E. Weatherford St.
Fort Worth, TX 76102

SIGN THE LETTER SHOWING YOU STAND WITH SIMMONS AND MILES

Sign up to speak at Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday, September 23rd in New City Hall, and share your comments at this link: y.gy/fwpublic