Episode Details

Ann and EJ are back in the podcast studio. The theme for today’s pod is -- Who Needs to be Heard in Fort Worth? We discussed the mayor’s emails that led to the removal of the Pride Badge for the annual summer reading challenge. We also look at the blocking of city banners for upcoming event organized by the Metroplex Atheists group and the weird staffing issues at Texas A&M questioning free speech in higher education. Enjoy!

SHORT STORY #1 Emails Reveal New Concerns about the Mayor’s Decision to Remove the Pride Reading Badge 

 https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/emails-reveal-new-details-of-fort-worth-mayors-decision-to-remove-pride-reading-challenge/287-43313321-9302-4d05-9f07-b2e0def6b051?fbclid=IwAR3XODNLTnpyMPmbnGmXkJG2cYT9eZ008DKwg196n_3JMO77foYPDq7F0WA_aem_Ab4-4l7IQDzYrGD1C1_mFuSN_MGPRhXnZJvxizRXPGla4fb_Oa2WDuGzm6Tukk9zBfI&mibextid=Zxz2cZ#lko2cbal4v77y3fc4ja

SHORT STORY #2 Metroplex Atheists Group Gets Banners Blocked for Downtown Event
(https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article277428558.html)

SHORT STORY #3 The State’s Influence on Texas A&M (https://www.keranews.org/politics/2023-07-27/a-texas-a-m-professor-was-suspended-for-allegedly-criticizing-lieutenant-governor)

SHORT STORY #4 New Death Star Law Prohibits Cities from Creating New Regulations (https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/editorials/article277505038.html)

WINS AND LOSSES

EJ
W: Junchuang North America (https://fortworthinc.com/news/chinese-company-junchuang-north-america-to-make-ev-parts-in-/)
L: Tarrant County (https://www.keranews.org/government/2023-07-28/tarrant-county-shifts-plans-for-building-regional-law-enforcement-training-center)

Ann
W: Comprehensive Plan and new Transportation RFP
L: The economics of journalism (https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article277672063.html)

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