Topic: North Texas

As Texas prepares for its 90th legislative session, North Texas faces critical policy decisions that could shape the region's future. Hosts TJ Gilmore and Andrea Coker are joined by North Texas Commission President and CEO Chris Wallace and the commission's team to discuss key legislative priorities, including data center development, property tax reform, education, workforce development, and local government authority. Discover how regional collaboration and advocacy are helping ensure North Texas has a strong voice in Austin. 

North Texas faces a critical healthcare challenge: providing affordable and timely care to a rapidly growing and diverse population. In this episode, hosts TJ Gilmore and Andrea Coker dive deep with Claire York from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, exploring innovative solutions like telemedicine, workforce development, and public-private partnerships to make healthcare in North Texas more accessible, preventive, and community-focused. 

North Texas finds itself at a crossroads, juggling political fundraising, shifting demographics, and the complex challenges of rapid regional growth. TJ Gilmore and Andrea Coker explore how political races, transportation funding, and data center debates reflect broader changes shaping the region’s future. Join us to learn about the evolving landscape of North Texas as the community prepares for what’s next. 

North Texas is buzzing with nonstop runoff elections, fierce political showdowns, and the excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup matches hosted in the region. TJ Gilmore and Andrea Coker break down the surprising results from key races like John Cornyn vs. Ken Paxton, unpack the evolving political landscape ahead, and explore how international events like FIFA spotlight North Texas as a prime hub for global business and growth. 

North Texas residents navigate complex local governance layers as TJ Gilmore and Andrea Coker unpack the roles and recent tensions between the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and the Regional Transportation Council (RTC). With insights into their distinct responsibilities, board structures, and ongoing legal disputes, this episode sheds light on how regional planning impacts transportation funding and development across the area. 

North Texas faces a critical challenge in supporting working families through accessible, affordable child care, a key factor in economic development and workforce retention. In this episode, TJ Gilmore and Andrea Coker welcome Kara Waddell, President and CEO of Child Care Associates, who shares insights on the current state of child care in North Texas, its impact on families, and how business and government partnerships can help bridge the growing gap.

Randall Bryant, newly elected chair of DART, takes listeners through the challenging months following his appointment, during which multiple cities voted to withdraw from the transit system. He shares insights into the delicate negotiations across governance, funding, and service improvements aimed at uniting 13 diverse cities under a sustainable transit future. Bryant also highlights DART’s historic achievements and the ongoing work to adapt transit solutions to the evolving needs of North Texas communities.

This episode dives into the high-stakes Texas primary elections, spotlighting unprecedented competition and campaign dynamics on both the Democratic and Republican sides. Hosts TJ Gilmore and Andrea Coker unpack key races, fundraising battles, and the shifting political landscape, then pivot to explore North Texas's critical regional logistics infrastructure and its vital role in economic growth and daily life.

Texas primaries are heating up with record candidate lineups and big money battles shaping the political landscape—yet local housing challenges are just as critical. Hosts TJ Gilmore and Andrea Coker break down the latest election dynamics alongside new legislation impacting North Texas housing, from multifamily zoning shifts to affordable housing strategies. Tune in to understand how these intertwined issues will affect your community and the road ahead.

North Texas is growing fast—adding a new resident every three and a half minutes—and the region’s economic momentum depends on a skilled, job-ready workforce. In this episode of Topic: North Texas, hosts TJ Gilmore and Andrea Coker talk with Joe Arnold, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Government Relations at Texas State Technical College (TSTC), about how TSTC is preparing Texans for high-demand technical careers. In the second half of the episode, the conversation shifts to a timely breakdown of recent federal primary filings and the races that could shape North Texas’s representation and influence in Washington and Austin.