The Tarrant Appraisal District must do better by taxpayers. That’s the message candidates for the appraisal district’s board of directors had for voters ahead of the May 4 election. Candidates at a forum co-hosted by the Fort Worth Report and the League of Women Voters discussed ongoing problems with the district’s cybersecurity, educating taxpayers about the appraisal process, and ensuring accountability and transparency.  Historically, appraisal board members have been elected by taxing entities. But a November constitutional amendment created three new at-large positions, to be electe ..read more

After two months of anticipation among Keller ISD parents and staff, parts of an episode shot at Central High School were recently featured on an international TV show called “God, Jesus, Trump!”  A film crew hired by a Netherlands-based broadcasting channel called Evangelische Omroep — or EO for short — visited the school in February to film an interview for an episode titled “Texas – War on Woke” with Sandi Walker, a Keller ISD trustee who later resigned. Show host Tijs van den Brink said during the April 14 episode that the aftermath of the visit had “traumatized” Walker and that the ..read more

Fort Worth officials aim to increase next year’s general fund budget by 3.5%, allowing the city to spend about $1.049 billion over the course of fiscal year 2025. If the city stays on target, it will spend about $35 million more than in 2024.  Christianne Simmons, who leads the budget- and planning-focused FWLab, presented the estimates during an April 16 City Council work session. Nine departments kicked off the budgeting process this month using a method known as priority-based budgeting, which the city piloted last year.  The process takes priorities chosen by City Council member ..read more

Municipal elections are just around the corner, and dozens of candidates have lined up to run for seats across Tarrant County. To help voters make informed decisions at the ballot box, we asked candidates for Keller City Council, Haltom City Council and Haslet City Council to respond to a candidate questionnaire intended to touch on their priorities, if elected. The Report did not contact candidates running unopposed in their races.  Early voting begins April 22 and ends April 30. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is April 23, and the deadline to return a ballot by mail is May 4 ..read more

Municipal elections are just around the corner, and dozens of candidates have lined up to run for seats across Tarrant County. To help voters make informed decisions at the ballot box, we asked candidates for Colleyville City Council, Euless City Council, and Grapevine City Council to respond to a candidate questionnaire intended to touch on their priorities, if elected. The Report did not contact candidates running unopposed in their races.  Early voting begins April 22 and ends April 30. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is April 23, and the deadline to return a ballot by mail ..read more

Fort Worth voters will go to the polls in May to decide whether to impose a higher tax on visitors.  In January, City Council approved a resolution for putting the ballot measure in front of voters. The tax will primarily be used to fund the long-planned convention center expansion.  Voters supporting the measure will authorize the city of Fort Worth to increase the hotel occupancy tax rate to 17%. The extra money will mean that the city can put $9.5 million annually toward paying off the debt for the convention center’s expansion. It would also set the city up to pay for future tou ..read more

The hacking group Medusa has posted files it claims to have illegally obtained from the Tarrant Appraisal District network to the dark web, the appraisal district confirmed April 16.  In a statement to the Fort Worth Report, Chief Appraiser Joe Don Bobbitt said the agency limits the sensitive data it collects and is working closely with leading cybersecurity experts to review the affected data.  Less than 300 individuals have been identified as victims of the data breach. Those victims were notified via mail last week.  “We made it a priority to quickly identify those potential ..read more

Sarah Bell’s parents taught at Arlington ISD for more than 30 years.  Toward the end of their careers in the district, Bell was aware they felt disempowered by the pendulum swing of politics. Bell, a mother of four in the district, continues to have conversations with them about educators’ powers and parental rights, she said.  As an Arlington ISD voter, she has a clear idea of who she wants to elect when researching the school board candidates: Those who empower educators and professionals when making decisions about curriculum and resources.  “Any candidate profile that I rea ..read more

Mansfield ISD will have at least one new trustee following this year’s election.  Two spots are up for grabs. For the Place 1 seat, incumbent Michelle Newsom faces challenger Matthew Herzberg.  Jandel Crutchfield, associate professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, and Angel Hidalgo, professor at Tarrant County College, are both running for the Place 2 seat. Trustee Desiree Thomas initially filed for reelection but later announced on Facebook her withdrawal because of health issues related to her family.  The election is on May 4. Early voting begins April 22 and ends ..read more

On a sunny day in early April, Karen Reich walks Parkdale and Arlington cemeteries to snap pictures and collect information on the interred. Reich volunteers for Findagrave.com, which claims to house the largest gravesite collection. Despite growing up in town, she did not know about Arlington Cemetery. She was floored to see the familiar names like Ditto and Collins among the grave markers. “These are names of all of the movers and shakers. These are the major intersections, the major streets, the schools,” Reich said. The cemetery – one of the oldest in Arlington – is hard to different ..read more