817 Podcast - Fort Worth's Monday Morning Show

Legendary professor and local political expert Jim Riddlesperger joins Ann and EJ on the 817 podcast. You may see Jim on TV or quoted in the paper. His 40+ year career at TCU allowed him to see the evolution of Fort Worth and provide a rich perspective on what we have accomplished and what is ahead of us as local residents. Enjoy! SHORT STORY #1: Tarrant County DA appeals ruling that overturned Crystal Mason’s illegal voting conviction SHORT STORY #2: Tarrant County will receive part of a $250M federal grant to expand solar energy SHORT STORY #3: Two more deaths at Tarrant County Jail - Tarrant Co sheriff responds to ongoing concerns over most recent jail death, 60+ inmate deaths since 2017 - Tarrant County inmate found dead in jail cell Thursday morning. Cause not yet known - Man who died in Tarrant jail sought help for schizophrenic episode before arrest, family says BIG STORY: Interview with Jim Riddlesperger WINS AND LOSSES: Ann 👍 Autobahn not building in ClearFork 👎 Losing taxes because they are building in Benbrook EJ 👍 FW top TX cities as best places to start a business 👎 Dallas Wings move to Downtown Dallas from Arlington

Anna and EJ sit down with Commissioner Alisa Simmons to discuss county politics and why residents should spend more time voting and cross checking county government. The agenda is below: Short Story #1: Should West 7th property owners pay a tax for safety? How Fort Worth’s plan would work - Which Fort Worth entertainment district has the most crime? Here’s what we found out. - The ‘wildcard’ in keeping West 7th safe: Guns and booze. Will Fort Worth’s plan work? Short Story #2: Fort Worth ISD could close these seven middle schools. Here’s why and what to know. Short Story #3: Rally gathers in downtown Fort Worth to bring awareness to unsolved cold cases Big Story: Interview with County Commissioner Alisa Simmons Wins and Losses: Ann: 👎 T&P Station Parking Lots 👍 Southwest Rail Conference EJ: 👎 DFW Venture Capital 👍 Ann and EJ being awesome cohost :)

EJ and Ann sit down with Roderick Miles, who is running for County Commissioner Precinct 1. The election is May 28th. He is going head to head with Kathleen Hicks for the coveted seat Democrats have held for decades. We start the show with the same format: we dive into short stories impacting Fort Worth and end with Wins and Losses. SHORT STORY #1: County Commissioners Regular Weekly Shenanigans at this Point - https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article287559875.html - https://www.instagram.com/p/C5pIqgrrrMw/ SHORT STORY #2: Events downtown you need to be aware of - https://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/fort-worth/article287526845.html - https://fortworthreport.org/2024/04/11/fort-worth-mayor-state-leaders-push-for-better-early-education-policies/ SHORT STORY #3: What development do you want to see in Fort Worth? City seeks your voice - https://fortworthreport.org/2024/04/10/what-development-do-you-want-to-see-in-fort-worth-city-seeks-your-voice/ BIG STORY: Interview with Roderick Miles Wins and Losses Ann: 👍 Tubman Gallery 👎 Funky Picnic Closes EJ: 👍 Immigration (Bloomberg Article) 👎 Cowtown Culture

Ann and EJ are joined by a legend of Fort Worth media, Bud Kennedy. Bud is a Fort Worth Star-Telegram opinion columnist. In a 52-year Texas newspaper career, he has covered two Super Bowls, a presidential inauguration, seven Republican and Democratic national conventions, and 18 Texas Legislature sessions. SHORT STORY #1: Homeless and Eviction Data tell two different stories - Tarrant County homeless population sees first dip in numbers since 2021 - Eviction filings in Fort Worth soar in the last 3 years. What can the city do about it? - Homelessness down 12% in Fort Worth's Tarrant County - Fort Worth considers $100 million bond to increase supply of affordable housing - Developers propose $150M redevelopment on 9 acres in Fort Worth’s Near Southside SHORT STORY #2: Tarrant County approves use of pre-numbered ballots. - Do they prevent voter fraud? SHORT STORY #3: Tarrant Courts Proposed Reorganization - Some fear Tarrant criminal courts could see ‘chilling effect’ under the proposed reorganization - Tarrant commissioners hit the brakes on plan to overhaul criminal courts BIG STORY: Interview with Bud Kennedy Wins and Losses: Ann: 👍 Panther Island Transportation 👎 UT DEI EJ: 👍 TX First EV Fleet in FW 👎 Morgan Ice Cream Strawberry Tragic

Ann and EJ had the privilege of sitting down with former Star-Telegram reporter Kaley Johnson to discuss what it takes to report the news in a city the size of Fort Worth. We addressed the lifestyle of journalists, the business, and where we can go from here.

Ann and EJ sit down with Lee Henderson, a Fort Worth native and political analyst running for the Tarrant Appraisal District Board of Directors Place 3. We know that is a mouthful, but in this episode, we explain why you should care. Henderson's election is on May 4th. SHORT STORY #1: Fort Worth police chief says his department won’t focus on immigration enforcement SHORT STORY #2: Tarrant Commissioner Pushes for Countywide Environmental Change with Help of Committee SHORT STORY #3: Transporation News 1) Have your say in Fort Worth's transit study 2) Bus Route to Alliance 3) Eliminating Dash Routes BIG STORY: Interview with Lee Henderson WINS AND LOSSES Ann 👍 Librarians 👎 TAD web hack EJ 👍 Fort Worth African American Roots Festival 👎 Recruiting Detention Officers

This week, we have Kathleen Hicks, former city councilwoman and now County Commissioner Precinct 1 candidate. She is going head to head with Roderick Miles for the coveted seat Democrats have held for decades. We start the show with the same format, diving into short stories impacting Fort Worth. SHORT STORY #1: Dallas-Fort Worth leads all metro areas in population growth SHORT STORY #2: Frisco, McKinney and Plano have some of the largest gender pay gaps in the country SHORT STORY #3: Years after COVID, teachers still leaving profession BIG STORY: Interview with Kathleen Hicks Wins and Losses: Ann: 👎 Ken Paxton suing Meowolf 👍 FW Zoo sets all-time record attendance EJ: 👎 Kid Rock and PBR 👍 Transportation and seeing people visit FW

Ann and EJ are back after a one-week hiatus from the show. The big story is the primary election results. Should we be concerned about Texas Democrats' poor turnout? INTRO BANTER: Eclipseboro? SHORT STORY #1: Fort Worth to address income discrimination in housing with amended city ordinance SHORT STORY #2: Dallas officials are proving to be a hard sell on extending high-speed rail to Fort Worth SHORT STORY #3: Game plan for Texas’ $20B surplus BIG STORY: Texas Primary Election Results and Trends - Republican voter turnout far outpaces Democrat turnout in 2024 primaries - Fort Worth-area primary races heading to runoffs in May - Tarrant commissioner Precinct 1 race headed to a runoff - Primary election reveals Tarrant County Republican shift - Tarrant GOP email shows party’s aversion to joint primary - Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker endorses Nikki Haley for president at Stockyards rally Wins and Losses Ann: 👍 Comprehensive Plan and Panther Island Updates 👎 Voter Turnout (Mark your calendar for May 4th) EJ: 👍 Students getting civically engaged at City Hall (INSTAGRAM) 👎 People complaining about the economy

Ann and EJ curate a robust show starting with three short stories and one big story. Below is the agenda: Short Story #1 Why you should consider voting in the GOP primary Short Story #2 The highs and lows of Tarrant County leadership - Tarrant County commissioners deny Trinity Metro funding to provide free rides to polls - Tarrant votes to bring back inmates from private prison - Tarrant OKs sale of forfeited guns by sheriff’s office - Tarrant Health director addressed accusations in a letter before his resignation Short Story #3 FWISD cut 100+ positions. Will schools be next? - Job cuts - Supt says schools won't be considered for closure until after the study - Economist attendance article BIG STORY: Planning Challenges and Opportunities around the County - City Shopping - EMS options - Basswood Elementary - Next-Gen Transit - Air Pollution Wins and Losses: EJ: 👍 BNSF donates $2M to Juneteenth Museum 👎 Other large DFW companies not following BNSF Ann: 👍 Event at Arling Height High School at 6PM on Wednesday February 28th 👎 Dallas City Manager Resigns

We have a lot to cover and unpack. Be prepared for a lot of rants from EJ! We start local, but the big story is about what is happening at the state level that keeps Texas in the news. We honestly assess political decision-making and why Abbott is obsessed with immigration. Do not forget to vote in your primary starting March 5th 👇🏿 https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/elections.html Watch the Tarrant County primary candidate debates live. SHORT STORY #1 Tarrant to look at terminating contract after state finds private jail out of compliance SHORT STORY #2 Tarrant public health director resigns after a decade-long stint in the position SHORT STORY #3 Tarrant Transportation Summit BIG STORY: A brief overview of the drama and shenanigans among our Texas Politicians We cover a smorgasbord of topics - Texas GOP leaders reverse course, ban antisemites from party - Texas Democrats and Republicans split on border proposal — not necessarily on party lines - FBI foils 2022 plot by militiamen to “start a war” at the Texas-Mexico border - Border security overpowers school vouchers -Texas conservatives test how far they can extend abortion and gender-transition restrictions beyond state lines Supporting Documents to EJ's Rants: - How to detoxify the politics of migration - Biden is doing great, which is why they are obsessed with immigration WINS AND LOSSES Ann: 👍 Indoor Farm 👎 DFFW EJ: 👍 Dickies 👎 Dallas Stadium

Ann and EJ are joined by Tarrant County Democratic Chair Chrystal Gayden. She gives updates on the future of the party and how we can come together to support talented options in our local elections. As usual, we start with three short stories and end with wins and losses. Make sure to follow the Tarrant County Democratic Party and support where you can! 🚨🚨 FOLLOW TARRANT DEMOCRATIC PARTY 🚨🚨 Short Story #1: Debrief on TCU Panel about the Challenges to Democracy Short Story #2: Fort Worth Magzine 'Don't Cali My Cowtown' story - EJ's data he references Short Story #3: The Future of Fort Worth's Philanthropy BIG STORY: Interview with Crystal Gayden Wins and Losses: Ann: 👎 Flying Taxis 👍 Keith Lee Highlights Tastes Project EJ: 👎 Fort Worth's Entertainment District 👍 FWISD's new student ran grocery store

We have our first interview of the new year! Robert Sturns from the city's economic development team joins us for the third time. We also share some concerning updates from the Sandman Hotel investigation and FWISD's new grading system. Enjoy! SHORT STORY #1: Exclusive interview with Sandman Hotel workers shows concerns SHORT STORY # 2: Fort Worth is the only big Texas city not to publicize its police vehicle pursuit policy SHORT STORY #3: No more letter grades? Here's what Fort Worth ISD parents will see on report cards BIG STORY: Interview with Robert Sturns Wins and Losses: Ann: 👎 Greyhound is closing its Dallas terminal 👎 DFW home inspector concerned about fast new construction 👍 Vida Cafe EJ: 👎 Texas Affordability: New Harvard Study Shows Most Texans are Paying Too Much for Rent 👎 Texas Leads in Affordable Health Care Acts Sign-Ups

Welcome back to your favorite Fort Worth podcast. We are ready to make 2024 a special year of content and connection, and we appreciate all of you who join us weekly. Below is the order of the show: 👇🏿 SHORT STORY #1: Explosion at Fort Worth Sandman Hotel - Musume employees told management of gas odor before Sandman hotel explosion: $177M Lawsuit SHORT STORY #2: Will Arlington get the FIFA World Cup - Fort Worth area looks to score transit win ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup SHORT STORY #3: Register to Vote - Check you registration areas here -> https://gisit.tarrantcounty.com/TCVL/ BIG STORY: Tarrant County’s Sheriff Waybourn fields questions about jail deaths during heated forum WATCH TOWN HALL LIVE 🚨 WINS AND LOSSES: Ann: 👍 New Chief Transformation Officer 👎 How Long Before We Can Ride a Bullet Train to Fort Worth? EJ: 👍 Mayor Parker Voices Concerns of Extremism Partisan Politics - Matt Berry's Podcast Interview 👎 Commercial Real Estate - The Office Market Had It Hard in 2023. Next Year Looks Worse (WSJ) - The New Geography of American's Growth (Apricitas Economics)

What is going on beautiful people this is the LAST EPISODE for the year! Go checkout some old interviews as you can even here Ann’s episode when she was running for mayor :) This episode is for the nerdy OG’s of the pod where we go line by line naming and introducing candidates who filed to run this upcoming election cycle. We focus on the democratic side of the ticket fyi. Short Story #1: Ken Paxton Threatens Medical Professionals Over Approved Abortion Short Story #2: TechStars: Why the epicenter of public health innovation is happening right here in funky town Short Story #3: Moves on Transportation both Locally and Nationally BIG STORY: Who filed to run for office in 2024? Wins and Losses: Ann W: Two additional neighborhoods added to the improvement fund L: Iconic venues/bars close down EJ W: Kanye West Uses River by Leon Bridges on Latest Album L: Locked Martin needs to do more for defense innovation

EJ sits down with Alex and Lydia, the two founding leaders of Tarrant 4 Change (https://linktr.ee/tarrant4change). You may be familiar with their work due to their social media presence or involvement across multiple initiatives around the community. EJ gets to sit down with these two forward thinkers to discuss everything in Tarrant County and why we must wake up and get involved. Join their Organizing Fund now! Have you enjoyed this episode? Check out our episode about vouchers and environmental racism in Texas.

Short Story #1: TCU increases tuition past $60K - College Tuition Is Falling For The First Time In Decades Short Story #2: The largest city in the US without mass public transit? - High-speed rail: Should Dallas to Fort Worth be Texas’ first route? Short Story #3: These Fort Worth ISD schools could be among the first considered for closures BIG STORY: Fort Worth leads Texas in population gain as Dallas-Fort Worth’s total tops 8 million - More than two-thirds of Texas’ 30.3 million residents live in the four largest metro areas - Fort Worth is the 4th most 'house rich' city in America - Housing shortfall unknown in Dallas Audit - Tarrant’s evicted children and the state’s hidden homeless crisis - Texas reports high pollution from gas-powered lawn equipment. Where does Tarrant rank? - Fort Worth’s water risks contamination from proposed private landfill, residents say - “Help families be more successful:” $2.5M grant assists Tarrant County Homeless Coalition - Fort Worth has a new environmental department. What do residents want from it? Wins and Losses: EJ: 👎 Abbott backs Trump 👍 Fort Worth wanted more contracts with minority-, women-owned businesses. How has it done? Ann: 👎 Small Business Saturday Activity 👍 The power of small businesses and why we should support them

Ann and EJ cover various topics that interweave into a comprehensive episode about vouchers, systemic racism, and demography. Enjoy the episode! Short Story #1: House strikes vouchers from Texas education bill. How Tarrant County lawmakers voted Short Story #2: Residents want Fort Worth council to recognize ‘environmental racism’ in neighborhoods - How to stay in the loop with city announcements Short Stort #3: Blockchain conference brings candidates and senators to Fort Worth - Global Entrepreneurship Week BIG STORY: What It Means to Be a Texan Is Changing in Surprising Ways Wins and Losses: Ann 👍 Longtime election judges offer skeptics a front-row look at election security 👎 Federal budget cuts could derail Amtrak’s big plan for Fort Worth passenger rail EJ 👍 Cook Children’s, JPS break ground on Las Vegas Trail health center 👎 Tarrant County Public Health ends free flu shots. Here’s what happened

Welcome back to the 817 podcast, where Ann and EJ dissect the current renting and housing data in the city. The big story is the future of urban core living and how cities like Fort Worth have to compete the with the Friscos of the world. Enjoy! Short Story #1: Update on who is running for Kay Granger's seat - No Mattie. - No Manny. - No Nathan. Short Story #2: Texas has 13 new constitutional amendments. Here’s what it means for Tarrant County Short Story #3: New Texas law puts Tarrant County Republican primary in ‘jeopardy,’ GOP leader says BIG STORY: Rent increases begin to slow as new apartments hit market - New apartments across DFW start to trend down - Owning a Home Has Gotten Pricey, Fast. A Market Adjustment Is Coming - Frisco Wins and Losses: 👎 Fort Worth scraps plan for new downtown library location, starts looking elsewhere👎 Tarrant Democratic Party 👎 Hundreds of dogs and cats are killed every month in Fort Worth 👍 Northside Community Conversations 👍 Leon Bridges and Mavs Collab

Ann and EJ record on Friday, and lucky for all of us, the news on Kay Granger not seeking reelection creates some interesting contenders who will compete for this influential seat. We will follow this conversation throughout the year and we will love to hear your perspectives at Instagram. DM us now! Short Story #1: Fort Worth considers $3.5 million settlement with the family of Atatiana Jefferson Short Story #2: Black students in Fort Worth ISD still struggle to read at grade level Short Story #3: There’s a new $140 million Gateway Park plan. With $8 million to spend now, what comes first? BIG STORY: Fort Worth Rep. Kay Granger’s replacement? Here are some names that have been floated - Longtime Fort Worth Republican Kay Granger will not seek reelection to U.S. House - As Granger steps aside, these Tarrant County Republicans consider a run -Goldman jumps into race to replace Granger, Byrd eyes state legislator run Wins and Losses: Ann's Win: Fort Worth officials cheer city’s first tree preservation plan at Arbor Day celebration Ann's Loss: No public transportation to limit traffic for the parade EJ's Win: Rangers World Series EJ's Loss: People complaining about the economy Read more at: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article281037673.html#storylink=cpy Read more at: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article281037673.html#storylink=cpy

Today, EJ and Ann are joined by Twyla Masterson, who is the Director of Programs at Leadership ISD. The organization equips community leaders and school board trustees with the skills and resources to advocate for equitable education. Education is a big topic in the city so this episode, Twyla shares the big picture and how we can get involved. Below are the show notes and stories we cover in this episode. Enjoy! Short Story #1: The creators of Alliance buy a block downtown. What does it mean? Short Story #2: The state is backwards on immigration. TX House pass 3 Bills - WSJ article: Indians Are Entering the U.S. Illegally in Record Numbers - DACA students in Fort Worth - Economist Article: Texas Demography Short Story #3: Fort Worth-area school leaders support temporary blocking of A-F ratings - KERA - Mike Morath, Texas Education Agency temporarily blocked from revising school rating system Big Story: Conversation with Twyla Masterson Leadership ISD Wins and Losses: Ann's Loss: The passing of Joan Kline EJ's Loss: The history of wealth creation and elimination of native and black wealth Ann's Win: 1) Cruise shuts down operation 2) Water Wheel EJ's Win: UAW Strike