817 Podcast - Fort Worth's Monday Morning Show

Ann and EJ sit down with Daryl Davis II, a candidate for City Council District 6, this week for the big story. We also discuss how anti-DEI is impacting TCU and TCC. We give you updates on redistricting talks at the county level as Tim O'Hare's voter fraud law firm gets approved for tens of thousands of our tax dollars. SHORT STORY #1: Anti-DEI impacts TCU and TCC: - TCU cuts Diversity & Inclusion office amid funding cut threats, higher-ed politicization [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article303928231.html] - Tarrant GOP attacks TCU [https://x.com/BoFrenchTX/status/1908503731689447713] - Texas DEI ban leads to NAACP event abruptly moving from Tarrant County College [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/10/texas-dei-ban-leads-to-naacp-event-abruptly-moving-from-tarrant-county-college/] SHORT STORY #2: Updates on Redistricting - Tarrant County Republicans’ plan to redraw commissioners’ precincts worries Democrats [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/10/texas-dei-ban-leads-to-naacp-event-abruptly-moving-from-tarrant-county-college/] - Tarrant County takes steps to redraw commissioners’ precincts [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article303346671.html] SHORT STORY #3: State vs. Local Control - Legislation could overturn downtown Fort Worth district’s authority [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/06/state-vs-local-control-legislation-could-overturn-downtown-fort-worth-districts-authority/] BIG STORY: Interview with Daryl Davis II City Council Candidate for District 6 [https://www.votedaryldavis.com/] WINS AND LOSSES Ann: 👍 5th Graders Advocating for Vaccines [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-measles-outbreak-spurs-north-texas-fifth-graders-to-champion-vaccination-awareness/vi-AA1CLSlN?ocid=socialshare&pc=ASTS&cvid=0bf014e2d8ea4aec9f900df9d5ae12bd&ei=54#details] 👎 DART in State Legislation EJ: 👍 Peaceful Protest on the 19th [https://www.facebook.com/events/1363903484947924/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D&ref_source=newsfeed&ref_mechanism=feed_attachment&_rdr] 👎 Crazies in Council Races [https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/fort-worth-city-council-candidate-event-disrupted-scuffle-candidates/3815149/]

Ann and EJ present three short stories and an interview with Cowtown Democrats President Geoffrey Hyder, who will host the new Texas Democrat Party Chair, Kendall Scudder, on April 15th [https://www.instagram.com/p/DH6O3JHhjrf/]! Enjoy the episode, and we apologize for the audio, as we had to move into an outdated studio. We will be better in the future! SHORT STORY #1: Measles Exposure in Tarrant County - RFK Jr. Heads to Texas Kid's Funeral Who Dies from Measles [https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/second-measles-death-texas-child-kennedy-rcna199882] - Tarrant health officials issue warning about possible measles exposure in Grapevine  [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/04/tarrant-health-officials-issue-warning-about-possible-measles-exposure-in-grapevine/] - Tarrant County Public Health lays off staff amid nationwide federal funding cuts [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/02/tarrant-county-lays-off-63-public-health-staff-due-to-federal-cuts-that-number-could-grow/] SHORT STORY #2: Fort Worth Way Obsessed with Literacy Feels Sketchy - This new Fort Worth advocacy group wants every elected leader focused on literacy [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/04/this-new-fort-worth-advocacy-group-wants-every-elected-leader-focused-on-literacy/] - Fort Worth ISD shifts $22.7M to support renewed literacy focus. Here’s how [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/25/these-new-teachers-to-lead-fort-worth-isds-student-first-strategy-if-trustees-approve/] SHORT STORY #3: Fort Worth Council Candidates Financing Reports Are In: What do we see? - Fort Worth City Council candidates raise $1M ahead of May 3 election [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/04/fort-worth-city-council-candidates-raise-1m-ahead-of-may-3-election/] BIG STORY: Interview with Geoffrey Hyder [https://cowtowndemocrats.org/] WINS AND LOSSES Ann: 👍 Community Design April Schedule [https://www.instagram.com/p/DICHMFLxgiY/?igsh=MW1lcHdkNGI5bGUwcw%3D%3D] 👎 Going to State Legislature to fight for crumbs EJ: 👍 Bills that support freedom of religon [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/05/euless-lawmaker-seeks-to-expand-recognition-of-islamic-holidays-rites-in-texas/] 👎 HB44 [https://www.instagram.com/p/DIFVZP5S4L2/?img_index=1]

Democrats have been making gains across the country in special elections, but what does that mean for Tarrant County, where our GOP Judge is looking to rezone the county in his favor and the Tarrant Democratic Party can barely afford rent? Ann and EJ analyze the city, county, and state situation and believe hope exists. Be a part of the hope and attend a Gather [https://forms.gle/nEKFxpLVKLLTKzQ59]. Join our Discord [https://discord.gg/x5tQpmnBFU]. SHORT STORY 1: Legacy Downtown Wells Fargo Bank Moves to Clearfork [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/fort-worth/article302930494.html] SHORT STORY 2: Parents sue Trinity Valley School, allege sexual abuse cover-up involving at least 16 girls [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/27/parents-sue-trinity-valley-school-allege-sexual-abuse-cover-up-involving-at-least-16-girls/] - Keller ISD [https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/keller-isd-could-be-split-into-two-districts-amid-community-protest-21736350] - Mercy Culture Prepatory [https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/texas-school-vaccination-rates-measles-outbreak-mercy-culture-church-prep-school-landon-schott/287-26756b75-973d-422c-a01a-4b480d3cdf02] - FWISD apologizes to students [https://www.keranews.org/education/2025-03-27/fort-worth-isd-apologizes-to-north-side-cheerleaders-following-fall-racist-incident] SHORT STORY 3: URGENT: The Texas 'Exceptions' Bill is a Trojan Horse [https://jessica.substack.com/p/urgent-the-texas-exceptions-bill?r=157w7&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true] - The "Life of the Mother" Trojan Horse [https://christackett.substack.com/p/the-life-of-the-mother-trojan-horse?r=157w7&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true] BIG STORY: Where Do Fort Worth Democrats Go From Here? - Democrats are winning special elections like it's 2018 [https://gelliottmorris.substack.com/p/democrats-are-winning-special-elections?source=queue] - FWR panels [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/17/heres-where-you-can-hear-from-fort-worth-city-council-candidates-before-may-3-election/] are inequitable for rising young candidates - Who is getting endorsed or supported by Texas True Project and Patriot Mobile? [https://www.instagram.com/p/DHwS5MNMY4D/] - Tarranty County Judge Trying to Use Redistricting to takeout Dem Commissioners [https://www.instagram.com/p/DH1tkYNx-40/] - Kendall Scudder Elected Chair of Texas Democratic Party [https://www.texasdemocrats.org/media/kendall-scudder-elected-chair-of-texas-democratic-party] - Texas Democrats select Kendall Scudder as state party chair [https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/29/texas-democrats-party-chair/] - Democrats no longer benefit from voter turnout [https://news.gallup.com/poll/548459/independent-party-tied-high-democratic-new-low.aspx] WINS AND LOSSES Ann 👍 Art Fort Worth [https://fortworth.culturalyst.com/explore] 👎 DART Funding [https://www.instagram.com/p/DHmvPaZuBZe/] EJ 👍 Arlington [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/28/black-on-the-block-turns-arlington-into-a-black-owned-bazaar/] 👎 Cary Moon is making a fake difference [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/27/heritage-hoa-demands-removal-of-keller-isd-trustees-over-alleged-open-meetings-violations/]

Today, we sit down with the president and a lead organizer of the César Chávez & Dolores Huerta Committee of Tarrant County [https://www.instagram.com/ccdhc_tc/], Maricela Jimenez and Maria Morales, to discuss the upcoming March for Justice [https://actionnetwork.org/events/2025-cesar-chavez-and-dolores-huerta-march-parade/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabzvUuJpsdcoCc11EULqkk43RBrAcRQFcRpI5skAX4tAa0zQe_IDoFiVwc_aem_5zYpd6TWDE_fAaeEcs5bQw]. If you want to join us, we will gather at 9:30 am at the JFK Memorial on March 29th. If you cannot make the walk, they also have a link to donate [https://givebutter.com/tzXyPm]. SHORT STORY #1: Fort Worth-based Texas refugee office receives $47M in paused funds after legal battle [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/17/fort-worth-based-texas-refugee-office-receives-47m-in-paused-funds-after-legal-battle/] - The government is actually spending more money [https://x.com/SpencerHakimian/status/1899557273493536834?t=_JZ7-SentYzkZJPJKhN_WQ&s=19] - US government spending has not slowed under Trump so far, data shows [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-government-spending-has-not-slowed-under-trump-so-far-data-shows-2025-02-26/] SHORT STORY #2: Texas might make it easier to build smaller homes. Tarrant leaders are speaking out [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article302304384.html] SHORT STORY #3: What to know about attending a protest in Texas? [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article301673079.html] BIG STORY: Interview with César Chávez & Dolores Huerta Committee of Tarrant County [https://www.instagram.com/ccdhc_tc/] Leader WINS AND LOSSES: Ann: 👎 Funky Town Fridge Nees Our Support [https://www.funkytownfridge.org/] 👍 Arts Forward Summit this Saturday [https://www.artsfortworth.org/summit] EJ: 👎 Another Death Under Waybourn's Leadership [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article302359909.html] 👍 Council Panels Across Fort Worth are Coming Up! [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/17/heres-where-you-can-hear-from-fort-worth-city-council-candidates-before-may-3-election/] COMMUNITY: Join the next 817 Gather [https://forms.gle/xGoHS5U4iQTsS2wt9] on April 13th Join our Discord Server [https://discord.gg/AXyChFcv]

Ann and EJ are guest-less this pod, which is the first in weeks! Ann attends a Mayoral panel where the last four mayors of Fort Worth talk about the past, present, and future of Fort Worth. [https://leadershipfortworth.org/leadershipoutlook-from-the-mayors-desk]This leads to the question: Is Fort Worth better today than pre-pandemic or post Betsy Price? SHORT STORY #1: Keller ISD Remains One District - Keller ISD abandons plan to split district into two, citing financial barriers [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/14/keller-isd-abandons-plan-to-split-district-into-two-citing-financial-barriers/] - ‘It’s not over’: Opponents of squashed Keller ISD split rejoice, but demand transparency [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article302104759.html] - Effort to divide Keller schools was sneaky to the end. How do we prevent a repeat? | Opinion [https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/editorials/article302102529.html] SHORT STORY #2: The Modern vs. Gateway Endorsed Politicians - District attorney gets case alleging child pornography in Fort Worth museum exhibit [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/14/district-attorney-gets-case-alleging-child-pornography-in-fort-worth-museum-exhibit/] - Former Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris indicted on 5 charges of indecency with child [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article301955499.html] SHORT STORY #3: Federal Funding Impact on Fort Worth and Local Non-Profits - As cuts continue, one study looks at how much each state relies on the federal government [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article301944644.html] - Catholic Charities Fort Worth expects to get $47M in paused refugee funds after suing feds [https://www.keranews.org/news/2025-03-15/catholic-charities-fort-worth-expects-to-get-47m-in-paused-refugee-funds-after-suing-feds] - ‘It’s disappointing’: North Texas food banks lose $2 million in federal funding cuts [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article302020794.html] BIG STORY: Is Fort Worth Better Today? TBD - Dallas-Fort Worth no longer leads nation in population gain. Here’s where we rank [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/article301928999.html] - DFW is growing leaps and bounds. But the biggest changes aren’t around Fort Worth [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article302017984.html] - Mayoral Panel [https://leadershipfortworth.org/leadershipoutlook-from-the-mayors-desk] WINS AND LOSSES Ann: 👎 US drivers log 3.28 trillion miles in 2024, setting new record [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-drivers-log-328-trillion-miles-2024-setting-new-record-2025-03-05/?_bhlid=9a1f52a0ad11c60bed9b2991ef3a616fa630b522] 👍 Transit Mixer [https://www.instagram.com/p/DHLq-ozxwvF/] EJ: 👎 50 Rottweilers and other dogs rescued in Watauga animal cruelty case [https://www.fox4news.com/news/50-rottweilers-other-dogs-rescued-watauga-animal-cruelty-case] 👍 Fort Worth eighth grader leads campaign to educate immigrant families [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/10/fort-worth-eighth-grader-leads-campaign-to-educate-immigrant-families/] Community Updates - Join Discord [https://discord.gg/dVGD4Ska]  - Attend Gathers (April 20th) [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNYCA5cHSWkBJcOXLmwZyJ-Uqlihf8cAlBtiBoFFSijM2pTQ/viewform?usp=sf_link]