Episodes

  • Prairieland Defendants, Aaron Dean Money, & New Candidates

    Prairieland Defendants, Aaron Dean Money, & New Candidates
    Jun 29 2026

    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.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • The Worst & Best Scenarios of the FWISD Takeover

    The Worst & Best Scenarios of the FWISD Takeover
    Jun 29 2026

    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.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Mayor Mattie Parker's Ties to the Data Center Industry

    Mayor Mattie Parker's Ties to the Data Center Industry
    Jun 22 2026
    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 groupFort Worth mayor, husband deny conflict of interest over data center lobbyingFort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker’s Husband Under Fire for Financial Ties to Data CentersFort Worth pushes vote for $10B data center site plan to Aug. 25. What to knowBass family, firefighters union among top donors to Fort Worth City CouncilFort Worth is the lone major Texas city without a standing ethics commission boardSHORT STORY 1: 3 jail deaths in 4 days Man dies after medical emergency in custody at Tarrant County JailSecond man dies in custody at Tarrant County Jail this week, officials sayTarrant County Jail sees 3 deaths in 4 days. Families demand answers, investigationSHORT STORY 2: Shayma Alzubi sues for her job backReassigned Muslim FWISD educator sues, wants principal job back / Principal reassigned over social media posts sues Fort Worth ISDTarrant Democrats blast decision to close Newcomer Academy as blow to immigrantsSHORT STORY 3: LULAC Convention in Fort WorthFort Worth welcomes national LULAC conventionNew Latino LeadershipWINS: With Opal Lee absent, Grandmother of Juneteenth’s family leads rainy freedom walkFort Worth opens next chapter in search for new downtown library / Fort Worth finds new site for downtown library; council to vote on land purchaseArlington, TX launches film commission to help productionsWhat’s up with those new bollards blocking traffic in the Fort Worth Stockyards?Engage FW Community AcademySunrise Tarrant Rise & Resist Donate to the mutual aid fund supporting families impacted by ICEFort Worth and Arlington mayors elected to NCTCOG executive boardFort Worth’s Evans and Rosedale development gains momentumNorth Texas on track to reach 9 million people next yearWhat makes this Fort Worth neighborhood unique? The answers will guide growthRevamped Panther Island development guidelines revealedTrinity Metro gets funding for TEXRail extension to hospital districtFort Worth, Arlington could earn billions in revenue from a high-speed rail route, study showsLOSSES: The rise of autonomous vehicles in North TexasICE seen kidnapping people near Sundance SquareR.I.P. Doyle FineACTIONS:Become a volunteer deputy registrarJune 22 - Nydia Cárdenas campaign event June 23 - Fort Worth Cirty Council public comment June 23 - FWISD Board of Managers public comment June 27 - Trinity PrideJune 22 - 30 - FWISD Listening SessionsJune 28 - 817 GatherJune 30 - FW’s Data Centers Open HouseJuly 1 - 817 Gather at the TableAugust 11 - Fort Worth’s data center policy voteAugust 25 - Black Mountain data center voteJoin the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • Rise & Resist: The Power of Student Led Movements with Sunrise Tarrant Schools

    Rise & Resist: The Power of Student Led Movements with Sunrise Tarrant Schools
    Jun 15 2026
    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 HallDonate to the mutual aid fund supporting families impacted by ICESHORT STORY 1: Data Center UpdatesIn serene Fort Worth garden, residents rally against data center developmentFort Worth to weigh local data center regulations as residents call for moratoriumTexas Republicans press for local control over spread of AI data centers on first day of conventionThe Texas Power Grid, AI, and the Race for Data Centers | Rep. John McQueeneyFort Worth could ban cryptocurrency mining. Data centers might be here to staySHORT STORY 2: FWISD UpdatesFort Worth school district investigating teacher for social media postsFort Worth school board meeting interrupted by protester yelling about Sharia lawFWISD parents, educators protest Muslim principal’s reassignment at board meetingFort Worth ISD hit hard by principal turnover following TEA takeover of districtFort Worth ISD students see biggest gains in Algebra I, Biology, test scores showSHORT STORY 3: County Commissioner’s CourtResolution 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 WorthNational Juneteenth Museum to break ground in coming months after yearslong delaysHip Pocket opens its 50th seasonArlington elects Jason Shelton as next District 8 council member with more than 60% in runoffFort Worth building slated for downtown library now proposed for community arts space / A new library. An arts incubator. Game plan changes in downtown Fort WorthLOSSES: Fort Worth settles whistleblower lawsuit for $1.1 million / Fort Worth council approves $1.1M deal in police captain’s retaliation lawsuitFort Worth police crime-fighting drone program takes off in partnership with Flock SafetyTarrant 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 SentenceACTIONS:June 11 - 20 Freedom Vibes June 20 - TCDP Pride EventJune 27 - Trinity PrideUntil July 5 - Black Journalism exhibitJune 28 - 817 GatherJuly 1 - 817 Gather at the TableJoin the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
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    1 hr and 38 mins
  • The Crisis of Data Centers in Fort Worth Communities

    The Crisis of Data Centers in Fort Worth Communities
    Jun 1 2026
    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 resultsWhat The Tarrant County Primary Runoffs Tell UsDemocratic primary runoffs: Jared Williams wins nomination for Tarrant commissioners raceFormer Tarrant GOP chairman Bo French wins primary runoff for state officeRacism. Patriarchy. Christian Nationalism. Power.SHORT STORY 2: Pushback to the Fort Worth WayFort Worth Inc's Top 500 Most Influential PeopleDeborah Peoples' response to Fort Worth Inc's Top 500SHORT STORY 3: Muslim school admin under attack by IslamophobesFort Worth principal reassigned over BLM, Sharia law social media postsReligious leaders, educators call for reinstatement of Muslim Fort Worth ISD principalWINS: Patrice Jones nominated as Vice Chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party!South Fort Worth residents celebrate return of library 4 years after closureFort Worth is burning more land. More diverse plant life is the resultWelman Project continues mission to supply educators, creatives at new headquartersFort Worth African American Museum to officially open in June with joint exhibitionFort Worth receives international acclaim for film and TV production boomEsperanza prevails as FWISD renames César Chávez Elementary with Spanish word for hopeLOSSES: Fort Worth furthers discussion on possible street maintenance feeBlack Mountain buys land near Weatherford. What to knowFormer detainees report water price-gouging at the Dilley Immigration Processing CenterACTIONS:June 2 - Fort Worth City Council work session about data centersJune 3 - 817 Gather at the Table (District 6)June 5 - 14 SparkFest at Amphibian StageJune 6 - Weston Gardens Anti-Data Center RallyJune 9 - Fort Worth City Council Vote on Black Mountain Data CenterJune 11 - 20 Freedom Vibes June 27 - Trinity PrideJune 28 - 817 GatherStop the Data Center Next to Our Historic GardensStop Data Centers in Fort Worth NeighborhoodsFort Worth Data Center MoratoriumJoin the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • Governor Abbott Goes After Muslims in North Texas

    Governor Abbott Goes After Muslims in North Texas
    May 18 2026
    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 fundingMuslim Texans say Epic Eid cancellation signals growing IslamophobiaRage over Muslim water park day isn’t new. But Texas GOP needs bogeymanSHORT STORY 1: The Fight Against Data Centers Proposed Veale Ranch data center withdraws request for Fort Worth tax breakFort Worth tables $10B data center site plan vote hours before council meetingBlack Mountain data center in southeast Fort Worth. Here’s what to knowYou’ll Never Guess Trade Unions’ Position on AI Data CentersNorth Texas county among first to attempt moratorium on data centersCanadian electronics company confirms $900M Fort Worth investment, gets 10-year tax break‘Fighting Goliath’: How a rural North Texas community took on Big DataData center battles erupt across Hood & Somervell counties. Here’s what to know7 in 10 Americans oppose data centers being built in their communitiesSHORT STORY 2: FWISD State Takeover UpdatesAle Cheka at Texas House Education CommitteeFive Broward school principals resign to take jobs in Texas districtSHORT STORY 3: Tarrant County Commissioner's Court CorruptionMore than 200 Tarrant County voters misidentified as deceased, elections administrator saysTarrant County ends jail staffing contract early after argument between membersTarrant Commissioners decline to add to fund for rent and utilities assistance200K Tarrant County homes potentially overtaxed. Deadline to protest is May 15WINS: 817 Gather in our new space!Community Design Fort Worth wins Sid Richardson GrantIt’s official: Fort Worth is the 10th-largest city in USNearly $10.8M allocated for new public art as Fort Worth voters approve bondsBuilder plans 35-home development near popular Smithfield TexRail stationLOSSES: ‘An extreme outlier’: Group accuses Tarrant County DA of seeking death penalty against minorities & Tarrant faith leaders denounce racial disparity in death penalty casesIconic Fort Worth landmarks with uncertain futures top 2026 Most Endangered Places listACTIONS:May 18 - 22 Early voting for Primary runoff electionMay 19 - Ribbon Cutting for The Welman ProjectMay 19 - FWISD Board of Managers MeetingMay 19 - Grand Prairie City Council Meeting for Muslim Water Park EventMay 26 - Primary runoff election dayJune 2 - Fort Worth City Council work session about data centersJune 3 - 817 Gather at the Table (District 6)June 5 - 14 SparkFest at Amphibian StageJune 6 - Weston Gardens Anti-Data Center RallyJune 9 - Fort Worth City Council Vote on Black Mountain Data CenterJoin the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • What Bond & Charter Results Mean for the Future of Fort Worth

    What Bond & Charter Results Mean for the Future of Fort Worth
    May 5 2026

    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.
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    58 mins
  • Save FWISD's International Newcomer Academy and the Fight for Public Education

    Save FWISD's International Newcomer Academy and the Fight for Public Education
    Apr 27 2026

    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.
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    1 hr and 10 mins