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Capitol News Illinois •

High school student helps draft bill to require opioid overdose medications in Illinois libraries

ELGIN – High school students generally don’t participate in drafting legislation. Jordan Henry is an exception.
A senior at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, the Elgin native is working with her local state representative on a bill that would require public libraries to keep on hand medications that can reverse an opioid overdose. The legislation would also require libraries to always have at least one staff member working who is trained on responding to an overdose situation.Henry, 18, sai...
Capitol News Illinois •

Illinois lawmakers revive push to create prescription drug affordability board

SPRINGFIELD — With prescription drug costs soaring, Illinois lawmakers announced legislation this week reviving efforts to create a prescription drug affordability board with the goal of capping the growing cost of medication.
Legislators and medical policy advocates revealed the proposal at a press conference Wednesday at the capitol in Springfield. The measure, House Bill 1443 is backed by Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, and Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Palatine.“This bill creates a board, it meaningfu...
Capitol News Illinois •

Potential immigration raids spark fear, protests on Inauguration Day

CHICAGO – Immigrant communities around Illinois braced Tuesday for threatened mass deportations. But the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago, facing subzero temperatures, saw little foot traffic and no anticipated raids as of Tuesday afternoon on the second day of the Trump Administration.
Trump has vowed to carry out the “largest mass deportation in history.” He wasted no time on Inauguration Day before signing multiple immigration-related executive orders, including ones reinstating the “Re...
Capitol News Illinois •

Illinois Supreme Court hears arguments on a challenge to Illinois' concealed carry law

SPRINGFIELD — Amid multiple recent challenges to state gun control laws, the Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday concerning the constitutionality of concealed carry licenses and open carry bans.
Under Illinois’ aggravated unlawful use of a weapon statute, individuals are not allowed to carry a firearm in public unless the person has a valid Concealed Carry License. Tyshon Thompson, the defendant, was convicted of violating the statute in March 2022 after having been involved in a h...
Fort Worth Report •

Entrepreneurial support group finds success in Tarrant County. ‘It’s not a Shark Tank’

A small conference room above a Roots Coffeehouse in Fort Worth’s Near Southside sits quiet most days. Wednesday mornings are a different story. The room fills up, every chair is taken by a local entrepreneur and some attendees even stand. No matter where they are in the room, all listen attentively as people passionately present their business ideas.These Fort Worthians are attendees of the local chapter of 1 Million Cups, a national organization meant to foster dialogue and support to others i...
Fort Worth Report •

Fact brief: Is Texas eliminating temporary paper license plates in 2025?

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law in June 2023 that eliminates paper license plates starting July 1, 2025.

The law, introduced into the Texas Legislature as House Bill 718, substitutes paper license plates with temporary metal license plates. 

State Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, introduced the bill because of an increase in the number of counterfeit paper license plates. 

Law enforcement officials estimated that more than 1.2 million fraudulent paper license plates were created in Texas in 2...
Fort Worth Report •

What is Fort Worth’s identity? City embraces unexpected variety of nicknames

Fort Worth isn’t short on nicknames and taglines. Where the West Begins. Cowboys and Culture. Cowtown. Panther City. Funkytown. A city’s monikers arise from its history and its people, and the 12th largest city in the nation’s rich history — as with other large cities — led to all those nicknames.What seems to make Fort Worth stand out is the retention of its sobriquets.“There are cities like Chicago, the Windy City; San Antonio, the Alamo City; New York, the Big Apple,” said Ken Schaefer, presi...
Fort Worth Report •

Fact brief: Can Fort Worth police choose not to arrest someone for possessing marijuana?

Fort Worth police officers have the option to issue citations in lieu of arrest for 4 ounces or less of marijuana possession.

The Fort Worth Police Department Code of Ethics outlines certain Class A and B misdemeanors, including possession of marijuana, as eligible for the cite-and-release program. Individuals must attend a court date listed on the citation, where normal processing, including fingerprinting and posting bond, will occur.

Possessing 2 ounces or less of marijuana is punishable up...
Fort Worth Report •

Feds accuse former Fort Worth crypto company of defrauding clients of $5.6 million

The federal government filed a lawsuit against a former Fort Worth-based cryptocurrency mining company for allegedly defrauding clients of more than $5.6 million.In April, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit against Geosyn Mining and its co-founders Caleb Joseph Ward and Jeremy George McNutt. The lawsuit alleges that Ward and McNutt entered into agreements with around 64 investors, promising to purchase, maintain and operate mining machines. Geosyn would then distribute t...
Fort Worth Report •

PETA alleged animal abuse at Fort Worth mall aquarium. City staff found no issues

Nothing was amiss at SeaQuest Fort Worth during visits by city animal control staff after PETA alleged abuse and neglect, according to a city official.People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals published an investigation Aug. 12 alongside a letter to Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney Phil Sorrells asking for law enforcement to investigate SeaQuest Fort Worth, an aquarium located inside Ridgmar Mall. The nonprofit national animal rights organization claimed several animals died because S...
Fort Worth Report •

Mansfield protection agency wants to set the standard for the industry

Arlington native Frank Roberson wants to keep people safe.The security industry veteran started his company, Black Rhino Group, in 2014 to provide private investigations and executive protection. Black Rhino meets two sets of client needs: companies and individuals that require professional security services — such as trained bodyguards — and individuals seeking training in how to protect themselves.Roberson and his wife, Christy Roberson, run the company. She books security for weddings and spe...
Fort Worth Report •

Habitat for Humanity seeks to build tiny homes for seniors in southwest Fort Worth

Trinity Habitat for Humanity is looking to tackle affordable housing by creating a senior living community of tiny houses in southwest Fort Worth’s Wedgwood Square neighborhood.The nonprofit organization plans to build 39 small dwellings on 3.5 acres at 5250 Wonder Drive and 5240 Wooten Drive. The project will have 31 one-bedroom, 465-square-foot houses and eight two-bedroom, 835-square-foot houses. Trinity Habitat for Humanity plans to sell the homes exclusively to people 62 and older who meet...
Fort Worth Report •

UTA eliminates overnight library hours, citing low use. Many students aren’t happy

Overnight library hours at UTA’s main library are being eliminated, prompting students to raise concerns about the change. University of Texas at Arlington officials announced the reduction of hours at the school’s main Central Library Aug. 5. A day after, UTA student Justin Pacheco started a petition, “Keep UTA library open 24/7,” and by Aug. 8 more than 1,000 people signed. As of Aug. 16, the petition has collected more than 1,500 signatures.“Nobody expected it,” Pacheco said, talking about th...
Fort Worth Report •

A calling, not a job: Tarleton Fort Worth dean sets sights on expanding university’s impact

Rachael Capua often tells the story of how she got her first job in higher education.While attending Texas Christian University, she walked into the dean of transfers office with a couple of ideas to improve the transfer student experience. She left the office with a job helping her peers. “Sometimes I feel higher education found me versus me finding higher education,” Capua, dean of Tarleton State University Fort Worth and vice president of external operations for the university system, said.A...
Fort Worth Report •

Crowley ISD gets initial OK for plans to build new middle school in Panther Heights

A new middle school is in the works for Crowley ISD.The school district recently pushed for the rezoning of four tracts it has owned since November 2007. The property at 10300, 10320, 10350 and 10370 West Cleburne Road in the Panther Heights neighborhood was unzoned until Fort Worth zoning commissioners approved changing the property to a community facilities designation at their Aug. 14 meeting.Community facilities districts allow for the building of schools, colleges, recreation facilities and...
Fort Worth Report •

Trio of small businesses market themselves, Fort Worth with national grant

Acre Distilling Co. doesn’t get a lot of pedestrian traffic on the southern side of downtown.“We’re kind of on the dark side of the moon,” owner Tony Formby said.Formby has relied on his small boutique distillery’s connections with Fort Worth’s entrepreneurial community to generate success. Previous collaborations include monthly taste pairings with Fort Worth businesses FunkyTown Donuts and Drafts and Dusty Biscuit Beignets, working with the Fort Worth Convention Center, and renting the storefr...
Fort Worth Report •

Fort Worth sells land, plans $4.6M investment to support development on East Berry

Mixed-use development in east Fort Worth’s Stop Six neighborhood may be on the way at the intersection of East Berry Street and Stalcup Road.City officials started issuing initial funds for the project Aug. 6. The city is considering awarding a total of about $4.6 million to support development.The Local Development Corp., which is composed of City Council members, approved the sale and subsequent rebate of two tracts at 5401 E. Berry St. and 5425 E. Berry St. to a pair of developers for $886,55...
Fort Worth Report •

Fort Worth considers $1.2M incentive agreement to add 100 jobs at GE Aerospace center

A seven-year tax abatement for General Electric Aerospace’s Fort Worth location is in the works as the company plans to expand its facility.The abatement would be up to 60% of the company’s incremental real and business property, officials said during an Aug. 6 City Council work session. With City Council approval, GE On Wing — the maintenance arm of GE Aerospace — won’t have to pay the full taxes on the property’s future value increases.The estimated benefit for the company is $1.2 million, acc...
Fort Worth Report •

Fact brief: Is Vietnamese the third most spoken language in Tarrant County?

Vietnamese is the third most spoken language in Tarrant County, trailing English and Spanish.

According to the 2022 American Community Survey, Vietnamese is the second most spoken non-English language at home, with nearly 30,000 people speaking it at home. Spanish is the most common non-English language, with over 430,000 people speaking it at home. Other common languages include Arabic and French.

Census data shows Vietnamese has been the third most spoken language in the county since 2006. C...
Fort Worth Report •

Fact brief: Did the city of Fort Worth hire a diversity consultant?

The Fort Worth City Council approved an ordinance in May 2024 to hire Colette Holt & Associates, a consulting firm based in San Antonio that focuses on discrimination and employment policies. 

Council members increased funding of the Diversity and Inclusion Department by $150,000 to pay the contract. 

The firm will run an analysis on business and workplace demographics to inform city officials of population trends. 

The study will analyze businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans and se...
Fort Worth Report •

Second phase of east Fort Worth’s Hughes House to start construction in fall

Construction on the second phase of the Hughes House development will begin in November.Hughes House is a three-phase mixed-use development named after famed Dunbar High School basketball coach Robert Hughes, who died in June. Details of the second phase were registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation July 30 and announced the construction of housing units, a dog park, a pool and a multipurpose facility. The housing complex will be located between Avenue G and Pollard-Smith...
Fort Worth Report •

After years of complaints, illegal dump in east Fort Worth begins cleanup process

A cleanup of an illegal dump filled with metal, cardboard and tires in east Fort Worth is underway. The property at 8000 Randol Mill Road has been under investigation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the last two years. Over 7,000 cubic yards of waste — including nearly 1,300 tires — was on the property, according to the city of Fort Worth.The commission initially investigated complaints of illegal dumping on the property in May 2022. After the investigation, the commission r...
Fort Worth Report •

East Berry Street project focuses on pedestrian-friendly development

Pedestrian-friendly development is on the horizon for a 6-mile stretch of East Berry Street.The project encompasses East Berry Street from Interstate 35 West to Lake Arlington. The corridor is a culmination of work that started in fall 2022.Kelly Porter, assistant director for the city of Fort Worth’s Transportation and Public Works Department, said the plan will be presented to City Council in late 2024 to early 2025.A final draft of the corridor study is available online. A unique set of zonin...
Fort Worth Report •

Fort Worth began cryptocurrency mining over two years ago. What were the results?

Fort Worth is becoming a cryptocurrency destination.An influx of cryptocurrency businesses now call Cowtown home — and Fort Worth is embracing them. Experts and Fort Worth officials attribute that growth to the city’s decision to bring a bitcoin mining operation to City Hall in April 2022. “For Fort Worth, the municipal bitcoin mining, I think, created this tech-hub energy that the city needs to continue to build on,” said Brandon Chicotsky, an assistant marketing professor at Texas Christian Un...
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