Latest news with #MattieParker
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
New bus line launches in Downtown Fort Worth, replacing Molly the Trolley
A new bus line is launching in Fort Worth, helping visitors and residents alike get around Cowtown. The Blue Line is replacing Molly the Trolley, which will officially end its services on June 7, according to Trinity Metro. The Blue Line will begin its service the following day, June 8. "Much like the Orange Line, Trinity Metro's Blue Line will provide a necessary connection for residents and tourists to some of Fort Worth's iconic destinations," said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. "The color-coded lines are very appealing for riders and the overall look raises the bar for an outstanding transit experience." The Blue Line will connect downtown shops, dining and hotels and have stops near the Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth Water Gardens and Sundance Square. The free service will be available daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with stops every seven minutes. "Offering rides every 7 minutes is very convenient and a great incentive for riders to hop on board," said Bob Jameson, president and CEO of Visit Fort Worth. "The complimentary bus route supports a growing convention business in our downtown and is one more example of the welcome extended to our visitors."
Axios
23-05-2025
- General
- Axios
Plano and Dallas have the best Texas city parks
Plano has the best city park system in Texas, per a new ranking. Dallas, meanwhile, has jumped up in the annual ranking. Why it matters: Public parks offer greenery, shade and fresh air on hot days and a free gathering space for community groups. Driving the news: None of the biggest Texas cities landed in the Top 10 in the 2025 ParkScore index, an annual ranking from the Trust for Public Land, a pro-park nonprofit. The report ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities' park systems relative to one another based on five categories: acreage, access, amenities, investment and equity. Zoom in: Plano landed in the Top 25 at 17, followed by Dallas (34), Frisco (37), Arlington (46), Garland (67) and Fort Worth (72). Irving was bottom ranked at 99. State of greenery: Dallas was ranked 53 in 2022, with 73% of residents within a 10-minute walk of a park. Now 81% of residents are within a 10-minute walk to green space. City leaders have prioritized adding park space, but Dallas still lags the national median for percentage of land used for parks and recreation. Zoom out: Mayor Mattie Parker launched the Good Natured Greenspace Initiative two years ago to ensure Fort Worth preserves park space as the city rapidly grows. Fort Worth loses about 50 acres of open land every week to new development, the Trust report says. To offset that, the city has increased its parks funding from $73 million to $111 million in the past four years. By the numbers: In Fort Worth, 69% of residents live within a 10-minute walk to a park. And just 6% of the land is used for parks and recreation. 81% of Plano residents live within 10 minutes of a park. The city scores well for its park amenities, including having 19.2 playgrounds per 10,000 children and two bathrooms per 10,000 people. 63% of Irving residents live walking distance to a park, and 5% of the city's land is dedicated to parks. Yes, but: Parks are not evenly distributed among low-income and high-income neighborhoods.
CBS News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker discusses possible TEA takeover of Fort Worth ISD
Two weeks ago, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker won re-election to her third term with more than two out of every three votes. Eye on Politics reporter Jack Fink asked her about the troubles facing Fort Worth ISD in a conversation with the mayor. Fort Worth ISD academic performance The Texas Education Agency notified Fort Worth ISD recently that it may take over district operations or close the Leadership Academy at Forest campus. The 6th grade school received its fifth consecutive "unacceptable" academic rating for the 2022–2023 school year. Under Texas Education Code § 39A.111, five consecutive failing ratings trigger mandatory state intervention. The commissioner must either appoint a board of managers to oversee the district or order the closure of the campus. In a letter to the district earlier this month, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath cited broader academic struggles across the district. Based on 2023 preliminary ratings, Fort Worth ISD received an overall grade of D, with 77 campuses rated D or F. The district has 147 schools. Eight campuses have failed to meet minimum academic standards since at least 2018, though the letter did not name them. Mayor Parker discusses her concerns for the district When asked how concerned she was regarding the district's performance, Mayor Parker responded, "Well, I'm concerned, and here's why. This will be a very critical time period for that ISD over the next several months." "At the end of the day, the decision is Commissioner Morath's, and my allegiance is to the students and for the ISD, they deserve to have an A-rated campus across every single campus in the city of Fort Worth. We deserve to have one of the best school districts, not in just the state of Texas, but across the country. So, if Commissioner Morath decides that the only answer is to take over the district, I'll do whatever it takes to rally the support needed in this community to make that district successful. If his decision is actually to leave the ministration of the board in place, I'll do the exact same thing as I've said before." When asked if Mayor Parker wanted the TEA Commissioner to take over, she stated she thinks a takeover would be "disruptive". "But I want to be careful my words, because I do understand why someone in his position would feel the need to make that decision. I don't want anybody that's listening to this interview to mistake that. I also agree it's unacceptable. But I've also heard those same words and transparency from Doctor Karen Molinar, who has not been in the full-time leadership capacity of superintendent for that long, allowing her to lead the district forward." Managing a growing Fort Worth population Mayor Parker also spoke to Jack about the city of Fort Worth's surging population. "We're focused on the things that matter most to voters across the city of Fort Worth," said Parker. "It's about quality of life for every single resident across all 350 miles in the city of Fort Worth. It's public safety, it's infrastructure, it's parks, it's our library system. And really, being smart about what it looks like to be the fastest growing large city in the country and be prepared for future growth but also take care of the residents across our city today." Reports show that Fort Worth has already surpassed Austin as the fourth largest city in the state. When asked about balancing the quality of life with a surge in growth, Mayor Parker says understanding residents' current needs and experiences is important in preparing for the future. "Being incredibly fair and focused across distributing the need across the entire city and all our council districts, all ten council districts across the city of Fort Worth, and then also takes coordination between state and federal partners."
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fort Worth council considers state tax break to build movie studio in Alliance
Plans to build Hollywood-style production studio in far north Fort Worth could get a boost from the Fort Worth City Council. The council's nomination is part of a multistep process to get approval from the Texas Film Commission to waive state and local sales taxes related to the construction of the 224,000 square foot building. The city has been working to attract more film and television productions like 'Landman' and '1883.' Mayor Mattie Parker has lobbied the state Legislature to increase Texas' film incentive program. The state Senate approved a bill that would increase the incentive pool from $200 million to $500 million, but the bill awaits action by the House. The studio, at 2601 Spirit Drive, is expected to house two large sound stages, cost roughly $6.5 million, and create 82 jobs, according to an economic impact analysis provided by property owner Hillwood. Once completed, the studio could be used to shoot movies, televisions shows, score music or serve as office space for production companies Construction is expected to start this month and wrap up in November, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation The construction and operation of the sound stages are expected to generate $14.2 million in economic impact for Dallas-Fort Worth, and generate $4.6 million in wages, according to Hillwood's analysis. Fort Worth could be forgoing as much as $60,999 sales taxes over the two year period. The city expects the project to generate roughly $182,000 after the tax pause is lifted. The council is scheduled to vote on the nomination at its 10 a.m. meeting on May 20 at City Hall, 100 Fort Worth Trail.
Business Wire
14-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Texas Lawmakers Unite to Recognize May 14 as Moral Injury Awareness Day Statewide
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a united front, both the Texas House and Senate presented official Resolutions proclaiming May 14, 2025, as Moral Injury Awareness Day in Texas, marking the state's commitment to raising awareness of the psychological and emotional toll faced by military members, veterans, first responders and frontline professionals. 'Recognizing Moral Injury Awareness Day in Texas is a crucial step toward honoring the unseen sacrifices of our military members, veterans, and first responders,' said Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth. Share "Many veterans and first responders carry burdens that are invisible, but no less real," said Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-Fort Worth. "We're called to bear each other's burdens. I'm confident that Texans will gladly and gratefully fulfill that responsibility to the men and women who put everything on the line for the safety of our communities each day. We must ensure our hometown heroes are never left to face these challenges alone." Moral injury, a condition distinct from post-traumatic stress disorder, occurs when individuals engage in, witness, or fail to prevent actions that violate their deeply held moral beliefs, causing feelings of guilt, shame and loss of trust. 'Recognizing Moral Injury Awareness Day in Texas is a crucial step toward honoring the unseen sacrifices of our military members, veterans, and first responders,' said Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth. 'By supporting programs like R3, we are not only addressing the silent wounds carried by those who serve but also building stronger, healthier communities across our state. I'm proud to stand with my colleagues in bringing attention to this important issue and supporting the mental health of our frontline heroes.' 'I'm grateful for the recognition of R3's tireless work addressing moral injury in Fort Worth through mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual support,' said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. 'This Moral Injury Awareness Day, I urge the state of Texas to continue to prioritize mental health and wellness for our men and women in uniform who selflessly serve our communities every day.' This statewide proclamation aligns with initiatives in cities like Fort Worth, where Mayor Mattie Parker and Fort Worth City Council presented the American Warrior Association (AWA) with a city proclamation last summer recognizing Moral Injury Awareness Day in Fort Worth. The proclamation supports the city's ongoing partnership with the AWA and the recent launch of R3 – Respond, Restore, Resolve, a pioneering initiative addressing moral injury among first responders. Initially launched in Fort Worth, R3 provides first responders with practical tools and resources to address moral injury, improve resilience, and promote healing. The program also aims to reduce absenteeism and increase morale across departments, ultimately improving community safety and relationships. 'We are so grateful for the support of our statewide elected officials in our work toward securing accessible mental health resources for our first responders and veteran communities,' said Anna Heil, executive director of the R3. 'Providing accessible, non-clinical mental health support for our first responders and veterans is more important now than ever and working with a body of elected officials who are willing to act swiftly underscores the need and priority of the work we're doing.' To date, R3 has implemented programming with the city of Fort Worth Fire and Police Departments, city of Dallas Fire and Police Departments and DFW International Airport. R3 offers benefits that extend across all fronts. First responders gain access to crucial tools and resources enabling them to address moral injury, ultimately fostering resilience and well-being. For departments and agencies, the program promotes a healthier workforce, leading to reduced absenteeism and improved overall performance and morale. Together, these efforts will directly benefit the community by enhancing officers' mental strength to de-escalate situations; ultimately strengthening relationships between first responders and the communities they serve. About R3/AWA Rooted in Texas, R3 is designed for scalability with the AWA at the helm to ultimately guide its expansion across the nation. The first of its kind, this program serves as a model for addressing first responder wellness, ensuring communities everywhere can benefit from its innovative approach. The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The AWA is dedicated to honoring our Nation's military, veterans, first responders, and their families in mind, body, and soul. For more information on Moral Injury Awareness Day or the R3 initiative, visit:
