BIG STORY: Adwoa Asante, lawyer of Raunaq Alam, and Lydia Faith of Free Palestine Tarrant speak about the freedom of speech case right in Tarrant County and the far right leaders funded by Christian Zionists seeking to make an example of Raunag Alam.

@i_raunic

@freepalestine.tarrant

bit.ly/raunaqdefensefund

SHORT STORY 1: Reactions to Political Violence

• Conservative leaders urge action during Fort Worth march honoring Charlie Kirk
• Fort Worth, Arlington mayors sign declaration against political violence

SHORT STORY 2: People Power vs The People in Power

• Tarrant County commissioners pass tax rates after Democrats broke quorum last week
• Speakers denounce City Council discourse, call for unity in wake of Charlie Kirk death
• Judge to decide on efforts to stop Tarrant County electoral map after hours of testimony
• Goldman asks for input while protesters call for town hall

SHORT STORY 3: Dallas-Fort Worth is a leading data center market with a significant scale issue

WINS:

817 Podcast named Fort Worth Weekly’s Critic’s Choice for Best Podcast.

LOSSES:

$500M in federal funding delays could affect North Texas transit projects

Sculpting a legacy: West Fort Worth art gallery bids farewell after nearly 30 years

West Fort Worth theater’s cancellation of ‘Frankenstein’ production prompts questions

ACTIONS:

Tuesday, September 30 at 10am, City Council will vote to cut public comment meetings down to just 10 meetings for all of 2026.

Deadline to register to vote for the November election is October 6th.

BIG STORY: An Interview with Alisa Simmons, Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 2.

Tarrant County’s Democratic commissioners skip meeting to prevent vote on lower tax rate

SHORT STORY 1: Charlie Kirk rally in downtown Fort Worth brings in far right extremist sponsors throughout the Metroplex.

SHORT STORY 2: Here’s how much Fort Worth’s fire department, new EMS will cost the city

SHORT STORY 3: North Texas nonprofits lost $127M in six months, mostly from federal sources, survey finds

WINS:

Leaders deny concrete batch plant at Fort Worth’s southside grain silos

City council budget passes, with no decrease in funding towards the arts.

Artes de la Rosa got a proclamation for 25 years of serving the arts (and a 15 year lease on the building).

LOSSES:

Most Fort Worth-area school districts see enrollment decline as charters, suburbs gain

FWISD plans teacher shake-up for 7 struggling schools, new reading lessons with Bible stories

Fort Worth’s growth, data centers drive soaring power demand

ACTIONS:

Watch Tarrant County Commissioner's Court

Special Commissioners Meeting
Monday, 09/22 • 10 AM Tarrant County Administration Building
100 E. Weatherford St.
Fort Worth, TX 76102

SIGN THE LETTER SHOWING YOU STAND WITH SIMMONS AND MILES

Sign up to speak at Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday, September 23rd in New City Hall, and share your comments at this link: y.gy/fwpublic

Big Story: Mayor Mattie Parker writes a letter drawing anger over a city councilmember's social media post quoting Charlie Kirk, and lowers the flags to half-mast at Trump's order.

Fort Worth council members decry political violence clash over now deleted Charlie Kirk post

Short Story 1: Fort Worth's biggest budget item is police

Fort Worth's Crime Control and Prevention budget rising 2.6% more than $138.9 million

Short Story 2: Tarrant County sheriff refuses to give briefings requested by Commissioner Simmons on jail deaths

Short Story 3: Pro-Palestinian activist gets 180 days in jail for North Texas church graffiti

@freepalestine.tarrant post

Wins:

Wesley & his wife are having a baby!

State of the Arts was a success.

JPS Health Network opens new psychiatric emergency center in Fort Worth

Trinity Metro builds focus on transit-oriented development

Fort Worth poised to spend $79 million on parks & green space preservation in 2026

Losses:

How much do Fort Worth council members spend on travel? City officials aren't sure

Actions:

September 16th - City of Fort Worth city council votes on 2026 budget

September 17th - Community Design Fort Worth's transit mixer at Acre Distilling at 4:30pm

September 20th - Trinity Metro's bus stop cleanup day at 7:30am

September 20th - Grassroots Organizers Summit at Dock's Bookshop at 3pm

September 21st - 817 Gather at Blanc Cowork & Studio at 10am

Join the 817 Gather Discord