The City Council presented a proclamation Tuesday evening proclaiming Oct. 12 as Tay Day in Fort Worth, honoring the life and legacy of Atatiana Jefferson on the second anniversary of her death.

Jefferson, 28, was fatally shot by a Fort Worth police officer on Oct. 12, 2019, while she played video games with her nephew. The criminal trial for that former officer is scheduled to begin next month.

The proclamation reads: “The City of Fort Worth stands in solidarity with its residents through their hardships and grief following the untimely death of Atatiana Jefferson and its impact on the community. It is important that the City of Fort Worth shows that we care about our residents, that we stand behind them through tragedies, and that we are willing to take the steps to provide support, especially with families that have lost loved ones in tragic ways. The support of the city is necessary to show families – especially those who have lost loved ones in tragedies – that they do not stand alone.”

The resolution also stated that a permanent STEM resource center for youth will be established in Fort Worth. Jefferson was pursuing a career in STEM – science, technology, engineering and math.

“Today marks two years since the tragic death of Atatiana Jefferson,” Mayor Mattie Parker said. “This is an incredibly meaningful day for our community to honor her memory and lasting legacy, celebrate the life she lived, and send our continued prayers and support to her family and friends.”

District 8 Councilmember Chris Nettles, who presented the proclamation Tuesday evening, said there will be additional efforts organized to honor Jefferson’s life.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a $50 million award to the University of North Texas Health Science Center (HSC) at Fort Worth to lead the coordinating center for the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity, or AIM-AHEAD, program.

HSC will lead the multi-institutional coordinating center, which brings together experts in community engagement, artificial intelligence/machine learning, health equity research, data science training and data infrastructure.

AIM-AHEAD was created to close the gaps in the artificial intelligence/machine learning field, which currently lacks diversity in its researchers and in data, including electronic health records. These gaps pose a risk of creating and continuing harmful biases in how artificial intelligence/machine learning is used, how algorithms are developed and trained, and how findings are interpreted. These gaps can lead to continued health disparities and inequities for underrepresented communities.

“This consortium will bring together research institutions, minority-serving institutions, private sector and community organizations in mutually beneficial, coordinated and trusted partnerships to enhance the participation and representation of researchers and communities currently underrepresented in the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning,” said Dr. Jamboor Vishwanatha, regents professor and vice president who will lead the AIM-AHEAD Coordinating Center. “Through this consortium we will harness the benefits of this technology to address health disparities in our communities.”

The initial phase of the project runs through Sept. 16, 2023. The contract amount for two years is $100 million, with future funding based on federal budget allocation.

Creating opportunities for all in Fort Worth

Fort Worth is continually working to create opportunities for all community members. The city is eager to be part of a national team working to build health equity.

“The City of Fort Worth is honored to partner with HSC and NIH on this important work as we continue to break down barriers that create health disparities,” said Mayor Mattie Parker. “This is meaningful work that supports our mission of creating opportunity for all in Fort Worth regardless of ZIP code. We look forward to this opportunity to help drive meaningful change and create solutions around health inequities and disparities in our neighborhoods.”

AIM-AHEAD strives to eliminate harmful biases that exist in algorithms, training and the interpretation of data while engaging diverse scientists, including those from underrepresented groups.

Rodeo tickets to the 2022 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo go on sale to the public at 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 13.

Dickies Arena, the nation’s premier venue for rodeo, became the new home to the Stock Show’s rodeo performances in 2020, and fans are excited for its return in 2022. Ticket buyers will be able to select their seats and purchase their tickets online, by phone or in person at the Dickies Arena box office.

“We’re excited to make the rodeo ticket buying experience easy and convenient,” said Stock Show President and General Manager Bradford S. Barnes. “Stock Show rodeo is a Fort Worth tradition, and we’re working hard to take the fan experience in Dickies Arena to new heights and make sure it stays a tradition for everyone regardless if they've lived here their entire life or just moved to our great city.”

Fans will have a variety of choices for their rodeo experience at the 2022 Stock Show. Specialty rodeos include the Best of the West Ranch Rodeo, Best of Mexico Celebración, Cowboys of Color Rodeo, Bulls Night Out Xtreme Bull Riding and the Texas Champions Challenge. The FWSSR PRORODEO Tournament will feature the sport’s most elite professional cowboys and cowgirls battling in eight exciting events for more than $1 million.

Purchasing Stock Show rodeo tickets is now easier than ever. The public will be able to purchase online, by calling 817-877-2420 or visiting the Dickies Arena box office at 1911 Montgomery St. in Fort Worth. While the Dickies Arena box office will be open on Monday for the launch of Stock Show rodeo ticket sales, its normal schedule is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Published on September 10, 2021

After going virtual last year, Texans will celebrate the 38th annual National Night Out in-person

The Fort Worth Police Department invites all residents to participate in the celebration. Residents are asked to turn on their outside lights and spend the evening outdoors with their neighbors, public safety officers and other city personnel.

Neighborhood groups and others planning events are encouraged to register with the FWPD. 

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide. Texas celebrates the event on the first Tuesday in October. Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and more.

To learn more, contact the crime prevention specialist for your police division.

Downtown Fort Worth’s high-rise buildings and the City of Fort Worth’s future city hall have joined the mission to help save the lives of birds as they begin their fall migration through Texas.

The skyline will look a little different as lights will be dimmed 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly through Nov. 30.

Commercial participants include Frost Bank, Sundance Square, Bank of America Tower, Wells Fargo Tower, 777 Main and First on 7th.

As part of a nationwide initiative called Lights Out, a program of the National Audubon Society, the goal is to protect billions of birds as they migrate across the United States — one of the largest migrations on the planet and one that occurs primarily at night. Lights from buildings, especially in urban areas, attract and disorient migrating birds, confusing and exhausting them and making them vulnerable to collisions with buildings.

According to research at the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology and Lights Out Texas, the state is globally important for birds. Approximately one of every three birds migrating through the U.S. flies through Texas.

Of Texas’ 615 documented species of birds, about half will migrate. Through the course of the season, millions of birds will pass through the Lone Star State on their way to warmer southern climates.

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, the fall bird migration includes the wood stork, multiple species of hummingbirds, swallows, at least a dozen species of warblers and various hawk species, to mention a few.

You do not have to live downtown to take part – everyone in the city can reduce light pollution at night for a few hours to support this effort. Turning off lights dramatically reduces hazards and disorientation by light, allowing birds to safely proceed with their migratory journeys.

An Awe-Inspiring, Multimedia Theatrical Event

DAVINCI & MICHELANGELO:

THE TITANS EXPERIENCE

Revel in an unforgettable journey through the Renaissance and rediscover the most exceptional artistic period in history

The Texas Premiere Limited engagement

Nov 4-7, 2021

Dorthea Leonhardt Lecture Hall

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

3220 Botanic Garden Blvd

(Sept 2, 2021 – Fort Worth, Texas) – After over 500 years, the two greatest minds and artists of the Renaissance will make their Texas stage debut at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden in DaVinci & Michelangelo: The Titans Experience. Created and performed by Mark Rodgers, this multimedia production exploring the artists’ works and lives will take place at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (in the Dorthea Leonhardt Lecture Hall) November 4–7. Tickets are $45.00 and go on-sale Tuesday, September 14. Tickets are available online at https://ticketsage.info/fwbg-titans. Fort Worth Botanic Garden Members receive a discount and will be invited to purchase in advance of the public on-sale. Memberships can be purchased from https://fwbg.org/membership.

First conceived as exhibitions of creations from the mind of Leonardo DaVinci and the masterworks of Michelangelo, DaVinci & Michelangelo: The Titans Experience is a one-of-a-kind, multimedia production that brings the works of these two Renaissance men into a brand-new, contemporary light. In the DaVinci & Michelangelo: The Titans Experience, audiences take an awe-inspiring journey through the Italian Renaissance, led by creator Mark Rodgers, experiencing the world and its possibilities through the eyes of these two monumental geniuses.

“DaVinci & Michelangelo has something that everyone can relate to,” says Rodgers. “The impact of everything they said and did can be found in our lives today.”

Through exploration of their inventions, machines, sketches, paintings, and sculptures, Rodgers connects the immortal work of DaVinci & Michelangelo to modern day geniuses, such as Les Paul, Van Cliburn, and Paul McCartney, and encourages audiences to discover their own “inner” DaVinci and Michelangelo.

Created by and starring Mark Rodgers, DaVinci & Michelangelo: The Titans Experience is directed by Bill Stine, with lighting design by Maarten Cornelis and projection design by Shari Debandt.

DaVinci & Michelangelo: The Titans Experience will play November 4-6 at 7:30pm and November 6-7 at 2pm. Tickets are $45, with discounts for students, and are available online at https://ticketsage.info/fwbgtitans.

For more information about Mark Rodgers and the production, please visit www.DiscoverDaVinci.com

Professional Bull Riders this week announced that bull riding’s most prestigious event, the PBR World Finals, will move to Fort Worth and Dickies Arena starting in 2022 as part of a comprehensive schedule restructure for its premier series.

The new PBR Unleash The Beast regular season will span from January to May, culminating with a seven-day championship festival, spanning two weekends of bull riding and fan activities, in Fort Worth.

The changes will go into effect immediately after the 2021 PBR World Finals which will conclude the current season in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena Nov. 3-7.

"This has been an incredible team effort with PBR, Gov. Greg Abbott, our Fort Worth Sports Commission and so many others,” Mayor Mattie Parker said. “Fort Worth is the gold standard for public-private partnerships and we are marshaling all our resources to roll out the red carpet for the PBR World Finals."

The population figure that will be used during the Fort Worth City Council redistricting process is now known: 918,915.

That number is the official census count as of April 1, 2020, although there already have been updated estimates made beyond that number.

Release of the official data is part of a years-long effort that will result in the City Council being reconfigured from nine to 11 members.

Fort Worth expanded from 741,206 people in the 2010 Census to 918,915 in the 2020 Census, a 24% increase. That percentage growth is the greatest among the top 20 largest U.S. cities. According to the official census figures, Fort Worth is the 13th largest city and the fastest growing large city.

Fort Worth’s population is increasingly diverse with respect to race and ethnicity:

White: 336,623 residents; 37% of the total.

Hispanic or Latino: 319,836; 35%.

Black: 176,556, 19%.

Asian: 46,991; 5%.

Other: 38,909, 4%.

The Other category includes anyone who selected two or more race or ethnicity choices; there are more than 140 different race and ethnicity combinations. While “Other” includes those selecting more than one race, it also includes every individual identifying as something other than white alone, Black alone, Asian alone or Hispanic/Latino. While the overall numbers in the “Other” category remain relatively small, it is the fastest-growing race and ethnicity category, according to census data.

Population counts in all city council districts grew at a significant rate over the last decade. District 9, which encompasses downtown and the central city areas south of downtown, grew by 4%, while District 7, which includes many of the rapidly expanding neighborhoods in far north Fort Worth, grew by 76%.

View a video presentation to see council-level data.

What happens next?

The latest census data is being updated in the software, and more training and collaboration sessions aimed at residents are being planned for late September through mid-November. Check online for meeting information.

In addition to the training sessions, redistricting information will be available online and at a series of town hall meetings planned by city councilmembers in the coming weeks.

During this period, residents may also register communities of interest for redistricting purposes.

Local entrepreneur Jonathan Morris has a show, Self Employed, that will travel the country talking to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

The next episode of that show will air Aug. 27. Fort Worth’s Red Productions involved in the show as well.

Calling all Insomniacs... Crockett Row is excited to announce the addition of Insomnia Cookies. Who doesn't love warm cookies delivered at your convenience?

Keep an eye an opening date announcement coming VERY soon. Warm cookies delivered crazy late is definitely worth the wait.