817 Podcast - Fort Worth's Monday Morning Show

Ann and EJ record the last episode of the month as we enter into Thanksgiving break. Before the recording, they had an in-person experience with listeners and friends called 817 Gather. In this episode, they talk about Elon Musk, Dr. Phil, and Mercy Culture.

SHORT STORY #1: Commute Times Increase in FW: The Solution? NOT ROADS

- Theft ring suspects accused of stealing nearly $300K in fuel at North Texas gas stations
- Nationwide criminal ring stole nearly $5 million worth of cars from DFW Airport, police say

SHORT STORY #2: Fort Worth has some of the highest property taxes in America

SHORT STORY #3: Mercy Culture heads to Council in December

BIG STORY: Conservative Media Loves Tarrant and Why Tarrant Isn't Turning Blue
- Musk steers X disputes to conservative Texas courts in service terms update
- PBR terminates contract with Dr. Phil’s Fort Worth media company after missed payments
- Why Tarrant Isn't Turning Blue
- Texas Democratic Party chair steps down after dismal election performance

WINS AND LOSSES

Ann:
👍 - 817 Gather
👎 - Voter Fraud Claims
EJ:
👍 - Leon Bridge's Day
👎 - Jake Paul Fight

Ann and EJ share their thoughts about the election results. They discuss what stood out, where they are concerned, and what we can do from here.

ELECTION REFERENCES
1. An Election Wrap-Up (Texas Focused) - Chris Tackett
2. County Results
3. The educated professional class is out of touch with America
4. Wisconsin young voters with to Trump by double digits
5. State of Apathy

WIN AND LOSSES

Ann
👎 Ozone levels
👍 Street Car

EJ
👎 T&P Tavern to Close
👍 Leon Bridges Tour in Fort Worth

The election is tomorrow. Ann and EJ analyze early voting data while also discussing important topics such as transportation and housing.

SHORT STORY #1: Election Day in Tarrant County: What to know, what to watch for and when we’ll get results

- Early voting up, mail ballots down compared to 2020 in Tarrant County voting

SHORT STORY #2:  The State of Fort Worth's Public Transit

- Lack of accountability plagues fatal Fort Worth 2021 pileup

SHORT STORY #3: How 11 Texas cities made housing unaffordable — and what's being done to fix it

- Rent expenses take up more than half of total income for 23% of Dallas households

- Fort Worth staff request $2.7B to fund roads, parks and more in 2026 bond program

- Mayor Mattie Parker's State of the City Address

BIG STORY: EARLY ELECTION RESULTS AND SENTIMENT FOR ELECTION DAY
- Texas Early Vote is DONE (Chris Tackett)
- Early Voting In Texas Hits 8.8 Million: The Battle For Election Day Begins
- Iowa Poll
- Kamala Harris 1B Surge

WINS AND LOSSES:

Ann:
👍 Fort Worth Report Community Journalism
👎 Colleagues condemn Tarrant County GOP leader for repeated use of slurs

EJ:
👍 817 Gather
👎 Trophy Club Patrioty City Propaganda

Ann and EJ introduce 817 Gather, a new opportunity for listeners to come together to create capacity and community so that we can create a more inclusive city. If you want to attend the pilot meeting, RSVP here. The show has a full docket as Tim O'Hare gets highlighted by the national news site Pro Publica, and the county jail cannot stop exposing its lack of accountability and egregious culture.

SHORT STORY #1: Arts Goggle: How can you make the best day every day in Fort Worth?

SHORT STORY #2: Early Voting has started. Here are the locations and times

- Early voting information

- State laws impact voter turnout

SHORT STORY #3: Fort Worth poised to be major hub for national rail travel. Will the pieces fall into place?

BIG STORY: Tim O'Hare Starts His Journey as a National Villain. Bill Waybourn Tries to Cover Toxic Culture in Tarrant County Jail

• https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article294079754.html
• https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article294026669.html
• https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article294173919.html
• https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/doj-reports-on-conditions-inside-tarrant-county-jail/3674460/
• https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/11/texas-tarrant-county-tim-ohare-far-right/

WIN AND LOSSES:

Ann:
👍 Star-Telegram and Dallas Morning News Endorse Colin Allred
👎 Dart Funding

EJ:
👍 Oakhurst Neighborhood
👎 Elon Musk

Ann and EJ record early in the week due to some travel. They share updates about Mercy Culture, FWISD's Supt Payments, and Anthony Johnson's Lawsuit. The big story is Colin Allred's and Ted Cruz's visits to Tarrant County, and national progressives are campaigning in Texas.

SHORT STORY #1: Mercy Culture Mobilizes Congregation: Will It Matter?
- Mercy Culture accuses Fort Worth of discrimination over plans for human trafficking shelter
- Watch Full Message

SHORT STORY #2: Fort Worth ISD to pay Angélica Ramsey $500K+ as part of superintendent resignation
- These are the best public schools in Texas, Niche says. Is your child’s on the list?

SHORT STORY #3: 15 Tarrant County jailers now named in Anthony Johnson Jr. wrongful death lawsuit
- Another family hunts for answers after loved one's death in Tarrant County Jail 

BIG STORY:  Ted Cruz and Colin Allred Host Dueling Events in Tarrant County
- Allred, Cruz fling barbs from opposite ends of Tarrant County a month before election day
- Prominent Texas Republican endorses Democrats Kamala Harris and Colin Allred
- Texas Take Podcast

WINS AND LOSSES:
 Ann shares some events and opportunities

This week we hit an array of topics. Do not forget today is the last day to register to vote! Enjoy!

SHORTY STORY #1: AI Data Centers Expand in DFW

SHORT STORY #2: Mercy Culture Attacks the Mayor

SHORT STORY #3: You likely won’t find love in Fort Worth. A new study on dating explains why

BIG STORY: JPS Loses Tax Revenue: What is at Risk?

- Will tax cut affect JPS construction plans? Leaders at odds over county’s surprise move

WINS AND LOSSES

EJ
👍 Big Bend Trip
👎 Tarrant County Jail
Ann
👍 Community Choice Summits
👎 Going Car-Less for a Week in Fort Worth

Short Story #1: Fort Worth ISD school board accepts voluntary resignation of Superintendent Angélica Ramsey

- Read the complete statement of Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Angélica Ramsey after her resignation.

Short Story #2: Fort Worth’s new LGBTQ advisory committee sparks backlash, support from City Council

Short Story #3: Should we be worried about Gentrification in Northside and Evans/Rosedale?

- How can Fort Worth reduce gentrification around Panther Island? Take action now, experts say

- Breaking bread: New Southside urban village developer meets Fort Worth community

BIG STORY: Fort Worth Wants No Rules

• Land Owners Want Out of City’s ETJ
• Abbott wants Business to Walk Free from Accountability
• Homeowners want their value to go up but their property taxes to go down
• FW welcomes racist and hateful topics in community spaces

Wins and Losses:

W: Lost N Sound

W: Welman Project Wins National Grant

L: Extremism at Dickies Arena

L: Trees Dying in the City

This is our second conversation with Alexander Montalvo, the CEO of the Catalyst Project and co-founder of Tarrant 4 Change. Alex is a community organizer who works with grassroots organizations to make change and give power back to the most marginalized people in our county. His work gives him a great perspective and how we can influence the political landscape. In our first conversation with Alex and Lydia nearly a year ago, Republican consultants were seen sitting with Nazi sympathizer Nick Fuentes. Today, we are facing issues such as voter suppression on college campuses, attacks on DEI, and infighting between Christian nationalist Republicans and Corporate Republicans. Have we taken steps forward to fight against Tarrant's obsession with extremism or is there a storm coming this November? You decide after this sitdown between Alex, Ann, and EJ. Please consider donating to Tarrant 4 Change. They do amazing work!

The second conversation of this series is with Ale Checka, a former district teacher of the year and FWISD student herself. She has taught in the district for seventeen years and loves students and books. You truly get to hear from one of the city's best teachers, who we have the fortune to sit down with for an intimate conversation. We appreciate Ms. Checka's forwardness and articulation of the challenge around over-testing, poor curriculum, and lack of plan. The school board called a special meeting for Sept. 17 to discuss the current superintendent's contract.

We break this week's episode into two crucial conversations. The first one is with Janell and Chanell Johnson to hear their experience as they mourn the loss of their brother and fight for justice. We do zero short stories and wins and losses in this episode out of respect for the conversation that holds so much weight by itself.