817 Podcast - Fort Worth's Monday Morning Show

Today we're bringing you a special episode, introducing you to The Frontline PAC.

A new community-based political action committee centered on Tarrant County, the battleground of our democracy. Led by EJ Carrion, Alex Montalvo, Sabrina Ball, and Chris & Mendi Tackett.

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

SHORT STORY 1: Prairieland Defendants get unconstitutionally harsh sentence

• The Extreme Sentences Handed to Anti-ICE kProtesters Should Terrify Us All
• Shooter sentenced to 100 years in Prairieland ICE terrorism case; others get max
• Prairieland defendants' families promise appeal, warn of precedent after sentencing
• Prairieland shooter gets 100 years, others 30-70 for ICE detention center ‘antifa’ protest
• 30-Year Sentence for Transporting Zines Is a Five-Alarm Fire for Free Speech

SHORT STORY 2: FW City Council gives money to Aaron Dean’s legal team

• Fort Worth increases spending to defend officer convicted in fatal shooting
• Chris Nettles statement
• Mia Hall’s statement
• Jeanette Martinez getting in the comments
• Mindia Whittier’s take

SHORT STORY 3: Barriers for great candidates

• Anette Landeros’ post about obstacles in running for office

WINS: 

• Trinity Pride
• Texas Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi
• New Latino Leadership portest featured on LULAC's Instagram

LOSSES: 

• A year after fire, former Cooper tenants still want answers, solutions

ACTIONS:

• June 30 - FW’s Data Centers Open House
• June 30 - FWISD listening session at Dunbar
• June 30 - Alisa Simmons’ virtual telethon
• July 1 - 817 Gather at the Table - District 7
• July 8 - Zoning meeting for data center reg recommend 
• July 19 - 817 Gather & New Candidate Forum
• August 11 - Fort Worth’s data center policy vote
• August 25 - Black Mountain data center vote

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

We spoke with Chanea Bond, the current English department chair at Southwest High School, and Ale Checka, former FWISD teacher, about what life has been like for teachers since the state takeover by the TEA of FWISD. We talked about how policies and toxic leadership is causing so many teachers to quit, and what it would take to fix schools.

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: We spoke with Ambika Sharma of the 817 Gather about her research on Mayor Mattie Parker's ties to the data center industry, including her lobbyist husband, tax abatements given to data centers, and potential violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act.

• Husband of Fort Worth mayor listed as lobbyist for data center industry group
• Fort Worth mayor, husband deny conflict of interest over data center lobbying
• Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker’s Husband Under Fire for Financial Ties to Data Centers
• Fort Worth pushes vote for $10B data center site plan to Aug. 25. What to know
• Bass family, firefighters union among top donors to Fort Worth City Council
• Fort Worth is the lone major Texas city without a standing ethics commission board

SHORT STORY 1: 3 jail deaths in 4 days

•  Man dies after medical emergency in custody at Tarrant County Jail
• Second man dies in custody at Tarrant County Jail this week, officials say
• Tarrant County Jail sees 3 deaths in 4 days. Families demand answers, investigation

SHORT STORY 2: Shayma Alzubi sues for her job back

• Reassigned Muslim FWISD educator sues, wants principal job back / Principal reassigned over social media posts sues Fort Worth ISD
• Tarrant Democrats blast decision to close Newcomer Academy as blow to immigrants

SHORT STORY 3: LULAC Convention in Fort Worth

• Fort Worth welcomes national LULAC convention
• New Latino Leadership

WINS: 

• With Opal Lee absent, Grandmother of Juneteenth’s family leads rainy freedom walk
• Fort Worth opens next chapter in search for new downtown library / Fort Worth finds new site for downtown library; council to vote on land purchase
• Arlington, TX launches film commission to help productions
• What’s up with those new bollards blocking traffic in the Fort Worth Stockyards?
• Engage FW Community Academy
• Sunrise Tarrant Rise & Resist Donate to the mutual aid fund supporting families impacted by ICE
• Fort Worth and Arlington mayors elected to NCTCOG executive board
• Fort Worth’s Evans and Rosedale development gains momentum
• North Texas on track to reach 9 million people next year
• What makes this Fort Worth neighborhood unique? The answers will guide growth
• Revamped Panther Island development guidelines revealed
• Trinity Metro gets funding for TEXRail extension to hospital district
• Fort Worth, Arlington could earn billions in revenue from a high-speed rail route, study shows

LOSSES: 

• The rise of autonomous vehicles in North Texas
• ICE seen kidnapping people near Sundance Square
• R.I.P. Doyle Fine

ACTIONS:

Become a volunteer deputy registrar

• June 22 - Nydia Cárdenas campaign event 
• June 23 - Fort Worth Cirty Council public comment 
• June 23 - FWISD Board of Managers public comment 
• June 27 - Trinity Pride
• June 22 - 30 - FWISD Listening Sessions
• June 28 - 817 Gather
• June 30 - FW’s Data Centers Open House
• July 1 - 817 Gather at the Table
• August 11 - Fort Worth’s data center policy vote
• August 25 - Black Mountain data center vote

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: We spoke with Zahra Anderson-Himmelspach, a young organizer who is helping lead a student driven movement for a better future through her work with Sunrise Tarrant Schools.

• Rise & Resist: A Night of Student Protest Art on Thursday, June 18th at 6:30pm in Southside Preservation Hall
• Donate to the mutual aid fund supporting families impacted by ICE

SHORT STORY 1: Data Center Updates

• In serene Fort Worth garden, residents rally against data center development
• Fort Worth to weigh local data center regulations as residents call for moratorium
• Texas Republicans press for local control over spread of AI data centers on first day of convention
• The Texas Power Grid, AI, and the Race for Data Centers | Rep. John McQueeney
• Fort Worth could ban cryptocurrency mining. Data centers might be here to stay

SHORT STORY 2: FWISD Updates

• Fort Worth school district investigating teacher for social media posts
• Fort Worth school board meeting interrupted by protester yelling about Sharia law
• FWISD parents, educators protest Muslim principal’s reassignment at board meeting
• Fort Worth ISD hit hard by principal turnover following TEA takeover of district
• Fort Worth ISD students see biggest gains in Algebra I, Biology, test scores show

SHORT STORY 3: County Commissioner’s Court

• Resolution honoring LGBTQ health center in Arlington rejected by Tarrant commissioners / Tarrant commissioners call proposed honor for LGBTQ+ Health a ‘political stunt’

WINS: 

• SparkFest / Latina poets leave fear behind to share stories of empowerment in Fort Worth
• National Juneteenth Museum to break ground in coming months after yearslong delays
• Hip Pocket opens its 50th season
• Arlington elects Jason Shelton as next District 8 council member with more than 60% in runoff
• Fort Worth building slated for downtown library now proposed for community arts space / A new library. An arts incubator. Game plan changes in downtown Fort Worth

LOSSES: 

• Fort Worth settles whistleblower lawsuit for $1.1 million / Fort Worth council approves $1.1M deal in police captain’s retaliation lawsuit
• Fort Worth police crime-fighting drone program takes off in partnership with Flock Safety
• Tarrant sheriff, district attorney mum on election integrity task force, cite short notice / Republican Election Judge tampers with Election equipment and assaults Democratic Election Judge.
• Karmelo Anthony Judge Calls Him 'Nice Young Man' But Stands By Jury's 35-Year Sentence

ACTIONS:

• June 11 - 20 Freedom Vibes 
• June 20 - TCDP Pride Event
• June 27 - Trinity Pride
• Until July 5 - Black Journalism exhibit
• June 28 - 817 Gather
• July 1 - 817 Gather at the Table

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: We spoke with Sue Weston, the owner of the historic Weston Gardens & Nursery, which is being surrounded by the $10 billion data center planned by Black Mountain. We also spoke with Caleb Roberts from Downwinders at Risk and the Fort Worth Environmental Coalition of Communities to talk about the negative impacts that data centers have on the environment, our resources, and our city.

SHORT STORY 1: Primary runoff election results

• What The Tarrant County Primary Runoffs Tell Us
• Democratic primary runoffs: Jared Williams wins nomination for Tarrant commissioners race
• Former Tarrant GOP chairman Bo French wins primary runoff for state office
• Racism. Patriarchy. Christian Nationalism. Power.

SHORT STORY 2: Pushback to the Fort Worth Way

• Fort Worth Inc's Top 500 Most Influential People
• Deborah Peoples' response to Fort Worth Inc's Top 500

SHORT STORY 3: Muslim school admin under attack by Islamophobes

• Fort Worth principal reassigned over BLM, Sharia law social media posts
• Religious leaders, educators call for reinstatement of Muslim Fort Worth ISD principal

WINS: 

• Patrice Jones nominated as Vice Chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party!
• South Fort Worth residents celebrate return of library 4 years after closure
• Fort Worth is burning more land. More diverse plant life is the result
• Welman Project continues mission to supply educators, creatives at new headquarters
• Fort Worth African American Museum to officially open in June with joint exhibition
• Fort Worth receives international acclaim for film and TV production boom
• Esperanza prevails as FWISD renames César Chávez Elementary with Spanish word for hope

LOSSES: 

• Fort Worth furthers discussion on possible street maintenance fee
• Black Mountain buys land near Weatherford. What to know
• Former detainees report water price-gouging at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center

ACTIONS:

• June 2 - Fort Worth City Council work session about data centers
• June 3 - 817 Gather at the Table (District 6)
• June 5 - 14 SparkFest at Amphibian Stage
• June 6 - Weston Gardens Anti-Data Center Rally
• June 9 - Fort Worth City Council Vote on Black Mountain Data Center
• June 11 - 20 Freedom Vibes 
• June 27 - Trinity Pride
• June 28 - 817 Gather
• Stop the Data Center Next to Our Historic Gardens
• Stop Data Centers in Fort Worth Neighborhoods
• Fort Worth Data Center Moratorium

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: We interviewed Mohammed Abullah, the Imam at the oldest mosque in North Texas, about how Governor Greg Abbott threatened to cut $530,000 from Grand Prairie's budget if they did not cancel an Eid ul-Adha celebration that the mosque was planning at Epic Waters.

• Muslim celebration at Grand Prairie water park canceled after Gov. Abbott threatens to pull city funding
• Muslim Texans say Epic Eid cancellation signals growing Islamophobia
• Rage over Muslim water park day isn’t new. But Texas GOP needs bogeyman

SHORT STORY 1: The Fight Against Data Centers 

• Proposed Veale Ranch data center withdraws request for Fort Worth tax break
• Fort Worth tables $10B data center site plan vote hours before council meeting
• Black Mountain data center in southeast Fort Worth. Here’s what to know
• You’ll Never Guess Trade Unions’ Position on AI Data Centers
• North Texas county among first to attempt moratorium on data centers
• Canadian electronics company confirms $900M Fort Worth investment, gets 10-year tax break
• ‘Fighting Goliath’: How a rural North Texas community took on Big Data
• Data center battles erupt across Hood & Somervell counties. Here’s what to know
• 7 in 10 Americans oppose data centers being built in their communities

SHORT STORY 2: FWISD State Takeover Updates

• Ale Cheka at Texas House Education Committee
• Five Broward school principals resign to take jobs in Texas district

SHORT STORY 3: Tarrant County Commissioner's Court Corruption

• More than 200 Tarrant County voters misidentified as deceased, elections administrator says
• Tarrant County ends jail staffing contract early after argument between members
• Tarrant Commissioners decline to add to fund for rent and utilities assistance
• 200K Tarrant County homes potentially overtaxed. Deadline to protest is May 15

WINS: 

• 817 Gather in our new space!
• Community Design Fort Worth wins Sid Richardson Grant
• It’s official: Fort Worth is the 10th-largest city in US
• Nearly $10.8M allocated for new public art as Fort Worth voters approve bonds
• Builder plans 35-home development near popular Smithfield TexRail station

LOSSES: 

• ‘An extreme outlier’: Group accuses Tarrant County DA of seeking death penalty against minorities & Tarrant faith leaders denounce racial disparity in death penalty cases
• Iconic Fort Worth landmarks with uncertain futures top 2026 Most Endangered Places list

ACTIONS:

• May 18 - 22 Early voting for Primary runoff election
• May 19 - Ribbon Cutting for The Welman Project
• May 19 - FWISD Board of Managers Meeting
• May 19 - Grand Prairie City Council Meeting for Muslim Water Park Event
• May 26 - Primary runoff election day
• June 2 - Fort Worth City Council work session about data centers
• June 3 - 817 Gather at the Table (District 6)
• June 5 - 14 SparkFest at Amphibian Stage
• June 6 - Weston Gardens Anti-Data Center Rally
• June 9 - Fort Worth City Council Vote on Black Mountain Data Center

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: Bond & Charter Amendment results

• Fort Worth voters approve $845 million bond package for roads, parks and housing
• Fort Worth voters approve council salary raises, reject expansion of city manager’s authority
• Jamieson narrowly defeats Ortiz for District 10 north Fort Worth council seat

SHORT STORY 1: Elections beyond Fort Worth

• Ross clinches final term in Arlington mayor’s office, narrowly avoiding runoff
• Voters oust incumbents on Grapevine-Colleyville school board

SHORT STORY 2: FWISD Disappointments

• Families fear gaps in student services as FWISD reduces staff for takeover revamp
• Fort Worth ISD votes to close International Newcomer Academy, despite pushback
• Fort Worth senator blasts state takeovers, tells residents to hold boards of managers accountable

SHORT STORY 3: Transit Updates

• Amtrak will discontinue Texas-Oklahoma route this summer / Could Fort Worth tourism benefit from Louisiana rail expansion if Heartland Flyer ends?
• New details emerge for $142M downtown Fort Worth I-35W construction project
• Regional Transportation Council joins lawsuit in hope to rehire fired director, protect staffing decisions
• Construction for TEXRail Medical District extension expected late 2026
• Highland Park likely to withdraw from DART; see Addison, University Park lean toward staying

WINS: 

Ann Zadeh wins Transit Friend of the Year!

817 Gather has a new location!

Midcentury built Wedgwood could become historic district

Fort Worth policy to enhance public experiences in green space, natural areas

Inside a gallery spotlighting experimental art in Fort Worth’s Near Southside

Fort Worth Report recognized as Newsroom of the Year

Dolly Parton’s free book program plans to expand in Tarrant, improve early literacy

LOSSES: 

Drivers damage Fort Worth public artworks in separate incidents, repairs down the road

Fort Worth Black News founder Jill Darden dies at 52

U.S. Supreme Court allows Texas' newest congressional map to stand

US appeals court allows Texas to enforce migrant arrest law

ACTIONS:

May 6 - 817 Gather at the Table (District 5)

May 9 - Speedbump Fort Worth

May 16 - Welman Project grand opening

May 17 - 817 Gather

May 18 - Early Voting begins for primary election runoff

May 19 - People’s Commission Court

May 26 - Primary election runoff

June 9 - Fort Worth city council vote on Black Mountain data center

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: FWISD's Potential INA Closure

International Newcomer Academy may close as part of FWISD takeover restructuring

We spoke with International Newcomer Academy teachers Susan Montoya & Whitney Peters about why this school is so important, and what we can do to save it.

SHORT STORY 1: Fort Worth City Council District 10 candidates

Infrastructure, politics influence election for north Fort Worth council seat

SHORT STORY 2: Sheriff Bill Waybourn & Mercy Culture

Curbing human trafficking depends on church involvement, Tarrant County sheriff says

SHORT STORY 3: Chris Cobler resigns from Fort Worth Report

Founding CEO resigns after 5 years of leading Fort Worth Report

WINS: 

817 Gather makes the Washington Post!

A Letter to Adelita's Future

JPS breaks ground on $1.5B hospital

Nativo Cafe & Bodega opens

LOSSES: 

Walk for Peace monks recognized by Tarrant commissioners amid O’Hare abstention

Man dies in Tarrant County Jail custody, marking first in-custody death of 2026

Lake Worth ISD also taken over by TEA

Bond Turnout 

ACTIONS:

April 28 - FWISD Meeting (Speak to save INA)

May 2 - Fort Worth Bond & Charter Election Day

May 6 - 817 Gather at the Table (District 5)

May 17 - 817 Gather

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

EJ's gone this week, so we're joined by Tara Maldanado Wilson to talk about all the propositions on the May 2nd Band & Charter Election in Fort Worth.

817 Gather's Voter Recommendations

What Fort Worth’s bond and charter amendments on the May 2 ballot actually mean

Here’s what’s on the May 2 ballot in Tarrant County

• Prop A - Fort Worth roads would get half a billion dollars in upgrades if bond package passes
• Prop B - Coalition seeks to steer $25M Gateway Park bond funds — if Fort Worth voters approve & Open space, parks could expand if Fort Worth voters approve $185M bond
• Prop C - 4 years after closing, south Fort Worth library could reopen in bond proposal
• Prop D - Affordable housing is on the ballot in Fort Worth’s $845M bond program, which goes to voters May 2
• Prop E - Fort Worth voters to consider $63.9M for fire stations, new emergency management center
• Prop F - Proposed $59.8M animal shelter included in Fort Worth bond election
• Prop G - Fort Worth voters take another swipe May 2 at whether to raise pay for the mayor and city council members
• Prop H & I - Fort Worth asks voters to remove city leadership’s right to public hearing before firing
• Prop J - Budget Hearings
• Prop K & L - Fort Worth seeks to streamline trash, public service requirements with May charter election
• Prop M - Fort Worth city manager would have more authority under charter amendment on May ballot
• Prop N - Special elections to fill vacancies
• Prop O - Fort Worth charter election asks to update language on documenting payment claims

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.