Podcasts about tarrant county

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Texas U.S. Reps Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett toured the ICE immigration detention facility at Dilley yesterday, and are now demanding the release of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/ice-texas-democrats-release-liam-conejo-ramos-dilley-facility...A St. Edward's University social work professor says that Trump and Texas are inflicting permanent harm upon children and families with their current incarceration practices: https://www.statesman.com/opinion/columns/your-voice/article/opinion-texas-values-children-reject-family-21320114.phpThe CD 18 runoff in Houston sees one more day of early voting today and represents the end of an 18-month gap in long-term representation for those citizens: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/29/houston-18th-congressional-district-special-election-runoff-edwards-menefee/...While the runoff in Texas Senate District 9 in Tarrant County represents a dire warning for Republicans who have dominated the Fort Worth suburbs for decades: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/us/politics/taylor-rehmet-leigh-wambsganss-texas-election.htmlEarly voting in the March primary starts in mere weeks, on February 17 - the time to research your ballot is right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Voter registration updates for the March primary from the Austin Chronicle HERE and from KUT Austin HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KPFT-FM in Houston⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and to our Spanish expansion ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Nonprofit Spotlight Series, hosted by Charity Charge, Grayson Harris sits down with Carol Klocek, CEO of the Center for Transforming Lives, to explore what it really takes to disrupt generational poverty and build long term economic stability for single mothers and their children.Founded in 1907 and rebranded in 2015, the Center for Transforming Lives has evolved into a comprehensive, two generational organization serving families across the Fort Worth and Tarrant County region. Carol shares how the organization pairs housing stability, early childhood education, clinical counseling, and economic mobility services to address the root causes of poverty rather than its symptoms.Key themes from the conversationA two generational approach to breaking poverty Carol explains why working with mothers and children at the same time is critical for lasting impact and how trauma informed care shapes every program they offer.Affordability and housing instability With single mothers earning a median income of $33,000 per year and spending more than half of their income on rent, Carol outlines why rising housing, childcare, and food costs create a pipeline to homelessness and how early intervention changes outcomes.Prevention over crisis response The episode dives deep into why preventing homelessness is far more effective and less costly than responding after families are displaced. Carol shares real data showing how keeping families housed reduces long term costs related to healthcare, education, and social services.Building efficient public nonprofit partnerships Carol details how the Center for Transforming Lives partners with healthcare providers, local government, and community organizations to deliver services more efficiently. From mobile health clinics to rent and utility assistance programs, these collaborations lower costs while expanding access.The power of a nonprofit hub model The organization's new campus serves as a community anchor, offering healthcare access, drop in childcare, coworking space, and meeting facilities that foster collaboration among nonprofits, small businesses, and workforce partners.Listening directly to the people served Carol shares why monthly “Coffee with Carol” sessions have become one of her most valuable leadership practices and how participant feedback drives program design and trust.Looking ahead to workforce development Looking toward 2026, Carol discusses plans to pilot vocational training partnerships paired with free childcare to help parents transition into high wage, in demand jobs in fields like healthcare, welding, and electrical work. ---------------------------About Charity ChargeCharity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Donald Trump, Greg Abbott, Ted Cruz and other MAGA leaders are backtracking on their commitment to the ICE occupation of Minneapolis - but not all are discovering their latent humanity: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/26/minneapolis-shooting-federal-agents-texas-republicans-respond-mccaul-investigation/...The deliberate mirroring of 1930's Nazi imagery in ICE recruitment and the style of Gregory Bovino is noteworthy as a strategy of assembling a corps of "ideologically hardened" troopers: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/america-ice-fascism-bovino-b2907803.html...An El Paso judge will hear the petition of the family of a Cuban immigrant who died recently in the Camp East Montana ICE detention facility to keep witnesses to his death from being deported: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/26/cuban-migrant-death-texas-ice-federal-court-geraldo-lunas-campos/88370555007/...Texas U.S. Reps Jasmine Crockett and Joaquin Castro are set to inspect the South Texas Family Residential Center at Dilley amidst reports of immigrant uprisings and deplorable conditions: https://www.tpr.org/border-immigration/2026-01-26/castro-calls-for-ice-to-be-dismantled-noem-impeached?_amp=trueEarly voting in the CD-18 special election runoff has been extended to Wednesday and Thursday to make up for weather closures earlier this week: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/harris-county-early-voting-district-18-special-election/285-d3191f89-9215-4dd8-b6bb-8eb5a98dc47c...A similar extension is possible in Tarrant County, but the local Democratic Party there is not pressing for an early voting extension out of distrust of the Republican-dominated Tarrant County Commissioner's Court to fairly count all ballots: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article314462119.htmlEarly voting in the March primary starts in mere weeks, on February 17 - the time to research your ballot is right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KPFT-FM in Houston⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and to our Spanish expansion ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

An important note: this discussion involves the March primary, NOT the ongoing special election runoffs in Houston's CD 18 and Tarrant County's State Senate District 9 - it is specific to the March primary's Election Day on Tuesday March 3, and specific to voters in Dallas and Williamson Counties.The county Republican Parties of Williamson and Dallas Counties have chosen to eliminate countywide voting sites on Election Day of the primary, Tuesday March 3 - which means that voters in those counties, who have become accustomed to voting with convenience through the final day, may be surprised to learn that they must vote at specific locations geared to their addresses on that last day of voting - a move guaranteed to result in the disenfranchisement of voters who find themselves in the wrong location, and out of time, as the 2026 primary election ends. To talk about how (and why) this has happened, we welcome Dallas Democratic Party Chair Kardal Coleman, and Williamson County Democratic Party Chair Kim Gilby.Everything you need to know to be sure your registration is in order and that you're ready to roll in this crucial mid-term election year can be found at https://govotetexas.org/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Something New!  For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP236  In episode 236, the second part of a two-part conversation, Coffey continues his discussion with Jacob Morgan about building future-ready organizations by balancing empathy, performance, and technology in the modern workplace.  They discuss misalignment between employee expectations and career outcomes; long work hours versus work-life balance tradeoffs; honesty in company culture and career paths; the eight laws for future-ready organizations; decoding the human signal in leadership; empathetic excellence as a talent framework; learning as the new job security; flexibility in career design; people-first leadership principles; the role of leaders in shaping employee experience; using AI and technology to amplify humanity; risks of over-indexing on empathy; managing performance during personal hardship; AI augmentation versus job replacement; and why organizational redesign must precede true AI transformation.  Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.   If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.   About our Guest:  Jacob Morgan is an international best-selling author, professionally trained futurist, and keynote speaker. He also runs "Future of Work Leaders," an exclusive network of the world's top CHROs shaping the future of work and employee experience. His passion and mission is to create future-ready leaders, employees, and organizations. Jacob's work has been endorsed by the CEOs of Mastercard, Best Buy, Unilever, The Ritz Carlton, Nestle, Cisco, Audi, and many others. He has a popular podcast called Future-Ready Leadership With Jacob Morgan and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, two kids, and two Yorkie rescue dogs.  Jacob Morgan can be reached at   https://thefutureorganization.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmorgan8/  https://x.com/jacobm https://www.youtube.com/@JacobMorgan https://www.instagram.com/jacobmorgan8/ https://www.facebook.com/JacobMorgan8/ https://greatleadership.substack.com/   About Mike Coffey:  Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.  Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.  Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.  Learning Objectives: Understand how misaligned expectations between employees and organizations undermine performance and engagement Evaluate talent using the empathetic excellence framework of competence, merit, and empathy Apply practical leadership approaches to balance empathy with accountability Explain the eight laws that define a future-ready organization Assess how AI and technology can augment human capability rather than replace it  

Freezing temperatures and ice are in the forecast for much of Texas. We'll go over what you need to know to feel prepared.An investigation into jail deaths in Tarrant County finds a common denominator: A lieutenant who looked on.Drone delivery could soon be coming to your front porch. We'll cover the companies embracing the technology […] The post What to know as arctic front heads to Texas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

There has been intense statewide focus on Tarrant County for weeks lately, and for good reason - the promising performance of Democrat Taylor Rehmet in the special election to fill the SD-9 State Senate seat, held for three decades by Republicans, has become a beacon of hope that this bellwether region of Texas is ripe to flip blue. Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons has been in the middle of the fight against the MAGA ravaging of the Fort Worth area for years, and is currently running to oust her arch-nemesis Tim O'Hare from the post of County Judge. As we mark MLK Day amidst an alarming rise of federalized street crackdowns by ICE, Commissioner Simmons weighs in on Dr. King's message and how we should interpret and implement it at this crucial, pivotal moment.Learn more about Alisa Simmons and her campaign at https://votealisasimmons.com/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

SHORT STORY 1: Public Comment & City Council DramaFort Worth residents get more chances to speak during council meetings Fort Worth City Council member arrested, faces DWI chargesSHORT STORY 2: Tarrant County doubles down on ICE & Christian NationalismTarrant County to beef up ICE partnershipTen Commandments monumentTarrant County commissioners approve funding for legal counsel in jail death, redistricting lawsuitsSHORT STORY 3: Pete Hegseth & the War MachineHegseth visits F-35 plant in Fort WorthWINS: Tarrant Democrats seek to remove GOP candidates from ballotFort Worth Report staff is unionizing!Majority of Fort Worth council wants more money for affordable housingLandmark designation sought for historic TXU plant at Panther IslandPedestrian safety improvements planned for Fort Worth intersectionsNew leadership for Near Southside as president exits for Trinity MetroProtest for answers about SamariaLOSSES: Tarrant County GOP promises to explore hand-counting ballots in future elections, but not this year's $80M cooling equipment plant considered as more data centers built in Fort WorthNorth Texas will have a ‘Charlie Kirk Parkway' to honor Turning Point USA founderUT Arlington to offer buyouts to employees amid federal funding cutsFort Worth missed our chance to move elections to November. (Wesley has details).ACTIONS:January 21 - Early Voting for Taylor RehmetJanuary 31 - Election Day for TX SD 9February 2 - Filing opens for Fort Worth City Council District 10February 17 - Early Voting begins for PrimariesFebruary 20 - 817 Live recording at Tarrant County Democratic Party fundraiserMarch 3 - Election day for PrimariesJoin the 817 Gather Discord, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

Our weekly meeting of the minds sees the PT debut of Tarrant County political strategist Gabe Rivas, who is currently running for the Precinct 2 seat on the Tarrant County Commissioner's Court - a post he's assisted the beloved Alisa Simmons with for some time. Loads to discuss as always, so strap in people.Learn more about Gabe and his campaign at https://www.gaberivasfortarrant.com/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Something New!  For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP235 In episode 235, the first part of a two-part conversation, Coffey talks with Jacob Morgan about building a future-ready organization by redesigning employee experience as a leadership system rather than a collection of perks. They discuss the role of futurists and foresight frameworks in business strategy; decoding human signals to anticipate workforce change; why employee experience must balance empathy, competence, and merit; failures of perk-driven engagement models; employee agency and co-creation of the workplace experience; structural work design versus superficial engagement tactics; leadership accountability in shaping culture; using technology and AI to amplify human capability rather than replace it; aligning expectations between employees and organizations in a post-pandemic workforce. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Jacob Morgan is an international best-selling author, professionally trained futurist, and keynote speaker. He also runs "Future of Work Leaders," an exclusive network of the world's top CHROs shaping the future of work and employee experience. His passion and mission is to create future-ready leaders, employees, and organizations. Jacob's work has been endorsed by the CEOs of Mastercard, Best Buy, Unilever, The Ritz Carlton, Nestle, Cisco, Audi, and many others. He has a popular podcast called Future-Ready Leadership With Jacob Morgan and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, two kids, and two Yorkie rescue dogs. Jacob Morgan can be reached at  https://thefutureorganization.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmorgan8/  https://x.com/jacobm https://www.youtube.com/@JacobMorgan https://www.instagram.com/jacobmorgan8/ https://www.facebook.com/JacobMorgan8/ https://greatleadership.substack.com/  About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.  Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.  Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.  Learning Objectives: Understand how foresight tools and human signals help leaders prepare for future workforce shifts Evaluate employee experience using the framework of empathetic excellence instead of perks or engagement scores Apply the eight laws of employee experience to build resilient, future-ready organizations  

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The Texas House Democratic Committee reports a record $2.2 million fundraising windfall in 2025, fueled largely by the summer Democratic House quorum break: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/15/texas-house-democratic-caucus-2-2-million-fundraising/New Emerson College polling shows a nine point lead for Austin State Rep. James Talarico over Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic race for Senate, while incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton remain in a low-scoring virtual tie: https://emersoncollegepolling.com/texas-2026-poll/...Congresswoman Crockett put on a masterclass in destroying conspiracy theories yesterday, taking on January 6th types: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyHS28RsmQU...While Rep. Talarico appeared this week on the New York Times' Ezra Klein Show: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-james-talarico.htmlThe special election runoff for the Texas Senate in Tarrant County's Senate District 9 is increasingly seen as a bellwether for the following primary and general midterm elections: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/01/14/a-bellwether-election-tarrants-texas-senate-runoff-draws-national-attention/Local resistance in Hutchins, Texas is rising in relation to a massive planned "human warehouse" being developed there by Donald Trump's ICE. Initial report: https://baptistnews.com/article/trump-preparing-to-warehouse-immigrants-like-cargo/...And an update: https://baptistnews.com/article/update-on-proposed-human-warehouse-in-texas/Early voting in the March primary starts in mere weeks, on February 17 - the time to research your ballot is right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KPFT-FM in Houston⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and to our Spanish expansion ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

With the eyes of Texas progressives across the state focused on the March primary and the November midterm general election in November, voters in parts of Fort Worth and Houston may have missed hugely important runoff votes coming up in just days. Both Texas Senate District 9, encompassing the northern portion of Tarrant County, and Congressional District 18 in Houston have runoff elections on January 31st - from our posting date, just 19 days away.Union leader Taylor Rehmet took the popular vote and bested second-placer and current runoff opponent, Republican Leigh Wambsganss, by over 10 points back in the fall - and at the end of this month, he has a chance to flip a vital State Senate seat blue - Taylor joins us for an update on his campaign.Learn more about Taylor Rehmet and his run for the Texas Senate at https://www.taylorfortx.com/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

BIG STORY: An interview with Shahd Arnaout of the Tarabishi Family.Father cared for disabled son for years, until ICE took him away‘Bring Maher home': Family of Arlington man detained by ICE makes plea to TrumpGoFundMe for Wael TarabishiSHORT STORY 1: ICE ProtestFort Worth protest against ICE decries fatal shooting of Minneapolis womanSHORT STORY 2: Public CommentFort Worth council considers restoring more chances for public to speakSHORT STORY 3: Tarrant GOP challenging Dem signaturesTarrant County GOP chair challenges 7 Democratic candidates, removes Republican House candidate | Fort Worth ReportWINS: 817 Gather at the TableCould This State Senate Runoff Be a Tipping Point for Tarrant County?Texas teachers' union sues state over disciplinary actions tied to Charlie Kirk postsFort Worth eyes library, community center spaces for local art exhibitionsAfrican American museum seeks $40K from Fort Worth to complete construction plansProminent Fort Worth art museum named Texas' top free attractionDaytripping on TEXRail: Grapevine, North Richland Hills popular with ridersA bus route extension from Stop Six to Cultural District is comingArlington council hears new recommendations on plan to reimagine downtownA dumpling dream: Big restaurant, gathering spot begins constructionFort Worth event planner hosts gatherings to uplift artists, weave communities togetherA decade strong, The Welman Project moves toward more support for North Texas teachersWest Fort Worth nonprofit fills emergency food gaps, continues distribution into 2026LOSSES: Texas child care programs could see funding delay during national crackdownArlington's Handitran service could see changes in the way users pay for ridesCourt dismisses pastor's lawsuit alleging Tarrant County judge violated free speech rightsDeveloper behind $10B Fort Worth data center requests more landACTIONS:January 13 - Tarrant County Commissioner's Court at 10amJanuary 13 - Fort Worth city council public comment vote at 6pm (Sign up to speak)January 18 - 817 Gather at 10amJanuary 21 - Early Voting for Taylor RehmetJanuary 31 - Election Day for TX SD 9February 17 - Democratic Primary for midterms(P.S. There were so many articles this week that we hit the character limit and weren't able to link them all. Sorry.)Join the 817 Gather Discord, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

The Cheat Sheet is The Murder Sheet's segment breaking down weekly news and updates in some of the murder cases we cover. In this episode, we'll talk about cases from New Hampshire, California, and Texas.Fox 4 News's report on the sentencing of sex trafficker Emily Hutchins: https://www.fox4news.com/news/tarrant-county-human-trafficking-emily-hutchinsHoodline 's report on the sentencing of sex trafficker Emily Hutchins: https://hoodline.com/2025/12/arlington-woman-gets-30-years-for-sex-trafficking-girls/KXAN's report on the trial of Christopher Taylor in the death of Dr. Mauris DeSilva: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3eagb2w8kwThe appellate court's decision over the conviction of Christopher Taylor in the death of Dr. Mauris DeSilva: https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/seventh-court-of-appeals/2025/07-25-00010-cr.htmlKXAN's report on the trial of Christopher Taylor in the death of Dr. Mauris DeSilva: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3eagb2w8kwKXAN's report on Dr. Mauris DeSilva's father's civil lawsuit: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/father-sues-city-of-austin-apd-officers-after-son-killed-during-2019-mental-health-call/Austin-American Statesman's report on Christopher Taylor's appeal in the case of Dr. Mauris DeSilva's death: https://www.statesman.com/news/courts/article/austin-police-taylor-appeal-8-things-21270154.phpKVUE's interview with one of Christopher Taylor's attorneys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QokB0ZsY0Mc&list=PLG7WvHdg9adbLLTjwuIlNXMwuGy-wAN8v&index=2We also accessed reporting from the El Paso Times, Corpus Christi Caller Times, San Angelo Standard Times, and Houston Chronicle through Newspapers.com Pay It 2's fund regarding Pamela Smart's appeal: https://www.payit2.com/f/supportpamelasmartABC News's coverage of Pamela Smart's appeal: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/pamela-smart-seeks-overturn-conviction-teenager-murder-husband-128959585USA Today's report on the latest news in the murders of Michele and Rob Reiner and the case against Nick Reiner: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/01/07/nick-reiner-murder-charges-rob-michele-reiner-lawyer-withdraws/88069146007/Fox News's report on the latest news in the murders of Michele and Rob Reiner and the case against Nick Reiner: https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/nick-reiner-loses-attorney-alan-jackson-parents-murder-caseFind discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Something New!  For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP234  In episode 234, Coffey talks with Lana Eyzips about building data-informed, strategic HR functions. They discuss why HR is often excluded from strategic planning; shifting HR from reactive firefighter to proactive advisor; building credibility through relationships rather than titles; translating people data into business and revenue impact; onboarding priorities for new HR leaders; compliance as a driver of culture and ethics; balancing HR's role with leaders and employees; using data to influence executive decisions; the Light Bulb Method for strategic HR problem-solving; DEI framed through business outcomes; psychological safety and trust in organizations; and the future of HR with AI governance and automation. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Lana Eyzips, M.A., PHR is a senior HR leader and business psychology consultant with over 17 years of HR experience helping organizations turn people challenges into strategic growth. She's the creator of The Lightbulb Method™, a practical framework that connects people, data, and culture to drive results leaders can actually see.  With a master's in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and deep experience across industries, from healthcare and credit unions to manufacturing and nonprofits, Lana brings a rare blend of compliance expertise, behavioral insight, and cross-cultural perspective. Her work focuses on helping leaders build credibility, navigate change, and create cultures rooted in trust, accountability, and clarity. Lana Eyzips can be reached at  https://lanaeyzips.carrd.co/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/eyzipslana/  About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make better decisions about the people they involve in their business.  Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Mike was recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been named the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.  Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas SHRM, the state HR association, where he serves Texas' 30 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County, where he is chair of the Workforce Readiness Committee; the Texas Association of Business, Texas' state chamber; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200). Mike and his very patient wife of 29 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth, where he teaches yoga several times each week.  Learning Objectives: Explain why credibility is the foundation for HR's strategic influence Apply practical methods for building trust with executives and frontline leaders Use data, culture awareness, and psychology to frame people issues as business risks and opportunities 

Original Air Date: 6/15/23 Amber Rene Hagerman was born on November 25, 1986. In 1996 she was in the third grade and attended Berry Elementary School in Arlington, Texas. She loved the Disney princess Pocahontas, playing with Barbie dolls and teddy bears, and riding her bike. Amber was extremely close to her family, she adored her mother Donna and her younger brother Ricky. Hers is a story that led an entire society to rethink safety and create legislation that has saved hundreds of children's lives. Anyone with information about the murder of Amber Hagerman can call the Arlington police at 817-575-8823 or Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at 817-469-TIPS (8477) Resources: https://themurderdiariespodcast.com/episodes/murdered-amber-hagerman Music Used: Walking with the Dead by Maia Wynne Link: ⁠https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Maiah_Wynne/Live_at_KBOO_for_A_Popcalypse_11012017⁠ License: ⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/⁠ Our Links: Link Hub: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://msha.ke/themurderdiaries⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/themurderdiariespod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Edited by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.landispodcastediting.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Something New!  For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP#233 In episode 233, Coffey talks with Amy Jacobs about evaluating and investigating unique complaints. They discuss evaluating the credibility of anonymous complaints; deciding when to investigate versus monitor; retaining records of all complaints for institutional memory; handling requests for confidentiality and anonymity; responding to complaints from former employees; assessing credibility when performance issues exist; navigating complaints raised through attorneys or union representatives; managing interviews with legal counsel or representatives present; deciding between in-person and virtual investigations; selecting interview locations to preserve confidentiality; recording versus not recording interviews; controlling interview pace and scope; identifying unrelated but critical issues uncovered during investigations; communicating investigation outcomes to complainants and employees; preventing retaliation claims; and managing gossip and trust in the workplace after investigations. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Amy Jacobs, an employment lawyer, joined Employment Practices Solutions in 1997 and is a currently a senior consultant and shareholder. For 30 years, Amy and the other consultants at EPS have partnered with all sorts of organizations to build respectful and inclusive work environments. In addition to impartial complaint investigations, EPS provides a range of services including highly customized training programs - live, virtual-live, and on-demand; expert testimony in human resources and employment law; and a wide array of HR consulting services. Their client base includes Fortune 100 companies, small businesses, government entities, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Mostly importantly, EPS is dedicated to providing high-quality solutions that meet the unique needs of each organization. Amy Jacobs can be reached at https://www epspros.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/epspros About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.  Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.  Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 30 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 29 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.  Learning Objectives:  Evaluate anonymous and informal employee complaints for credibility and risk. Apply best practices for conducting fair, defensible workplace investigations. Manage post-investigation communication to reduce retaliation and rebuild trust. 

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: What do the recent census estimates show about Texas' major cities and counties? One result is a flip-flop on the which is the fourth largest city in Texas – but don't worry, it will flip back as Austin keeps raising taxes while Tarrant County keeps lowering property taxes.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey for December.Elon Musk's X backs Texan's free speech fight in case of tranny photographed in the Texas Capitol women's restroom.Murder warrant issued for man wanted in shooting death of Eddy Betancourt, prominent Rio Grande Valley businessman.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

Something New!  For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP232 In episode 232, Coffey talks with Margarita Ramos about the importance and future of the employee relations function following the $11.5 million SHRM discrimination verdict. They discuss the SHRM jury verdict and its implications for HR credibility; the role of employee relations at the intersection of compliance and employee experience; proactive versus reactive approaches to workplace conflict; multiple complaint channels and manager escalation obligations; why dismissing concerns as "not illegal" undermines trust; investigation failures highlighted in the SHRM case; investigator neutrality, training, and experience requirements; when and why to use outside investigators or counsel; leadership accountability and the role of the CHRO in employee relations; the three-legged stool of employee relations, HR business partners, and employment counsel; building ER infrastructure with case management systems and data analytics; handling high-performing but high-risk leaders; transparency in employee relations processes; reducing gossip through consistent and fair investigations; and the future of employee relations including responsible use of AI in investigations. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Margarita Ramos is a highly respected Global Employee Relations executive and employment attorney with more than two decades of experience across technology, SaaS, and financial services. She is trusted by CHROs, HR Business Partners, and C-suite leaders to build scalable ER infrastructures, stabilize organizations through change, and elevate the employee experience through disciplined governance and operational excellence. With a foundation rooted in JD-trained employment law—including roles as In-House Employment Counsel at Merrill Lynch and Principal Corporate Counsel at Microsoft—Margarita developed deep legal expertise in compliance, risk mitigation, and workplace investigations.  She later translated this expertise into senior ER and HR Compliance leadership roles at VMware, Splunk, RBC, and Bank of America, where she supported complex global workforces navigating rapid growth, cultural transformation, and organizational change. Throughout her career, Margarita has been brought in to create structure where ambiguity exists. She has built and led global ER Centers of Excellence, developed investigations and performance-management frameworks, and implemented modern case-management systems such as Workday, HR Acuity, and AI-enabled governance tools. Her approach blends empathy with operational rigor, ensuring ER functions are both employee-centric and aligned with business strategy. A skilled investigator and ER strategist, Margarita advises senior leaders on workplace investigations, conflict resolution, performance management, DEI&B, and global employment compliance. She is known for her ability to translate data, case trends, and cultural signals into actionable insights—leveraging ER metrics, KPIs, and reporting to influence leadership decisions, drive fairness, and strengthen organizational culture. Her data-driven approach enables leaders to make well-informed, consistent decisions that reinforce trust and accountability across the enterprise.  Margarita has also led M&A HR integration efforts at VMware and Splunk, overseeing cultural alignment, workforce assessments, and change-management strategies during periods of significant transformation. Her leadership in these environments reflects her commitment to creating workplaces where clarity, belonging, and operational excellence coexist. Beyond her corporate work, Margarita is deeply committed to developing future talent. She has mentored first-generation college students and contributed to organizations such as Girls Who Code, Year Up, and Hobart & William Smith Colleges. At Microsoft, she provided pro bono support for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). Outside of work, she enjoys ballroom dancing and cooking. Margarita is passionate about shaping modern, strategic, tech-forward ER functions that support organizational values, reduce risk, build leadership capability, and create an environment where employees can do their best work with trust, fairness, and accountability. Margarita Ramos can be reached athttps://www.linkedin.com/in/margarita-ramos/ About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teach...

For this week's Big Story, check out our previous episode where we interviewed Bradford William Davis. Ann is out this week for the holidays, so it's just EJ & Wesley.SHORT STORY 1: Marc Veasey backs outCongressman Marc Veasey drops out of Tarrant County judge raceSHORT STORY 2: Voter suppression in Tarrant CountyThousands of Tarrant County voter applications saw delays ahead of Nov. 4 electionPastor alleges Tarrant County judge violated First Amendment by removing him from meetingSHORT STORY 3: All 3 FW Chambers in favor of state takeoverFort Worth Chamber of Commerce urging community to support recent TEA takeoversWINS: Suicide among youths dropped dramatically in Tarrant County. Other cities have noticedNew, environmentally friendly buses part of Trinity Metro's $12M upgradeThese Tarrant cities to clean up litter, increase recycling thanks to thousands in state fundsLOSSES: ‘He never actually stopped': Former Fort Worth councilman remembered for lifetime of helping othersFort Worth emerges as hub for driverless vehiclesMore details emerge about $10 billion Fort Worth data center  ACTIONS:January 6th - First Public Comment for FW City CouncilJanuary 18th - First 817 Gather of the yearJanuary 21st - Early Voting for TX SD 9 Runoff Election Happy holidays & have a great new year!Join the 817 Gather Discord, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

Something New!  For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here http://goodmorninghr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Good-Morning-HR-Episode-231-Discussion-Starter.pdf  In episode 231, Coffey talks with Diondra Filicetti about the real economics of employee engagement and how leaders can drive performance by shaping environment, alignment, and activation on their teams.  They discuss why engagement is an economic lever rather than a feel-good metric; how misaligned leadership expectations undermine performance; the impact of poorly prepared managers on engagement; practical ways to evaluate team capacity before adding headcount; the critical role of culture, trust, and behavior norms in workplace performance; strategies for designing the right environment, role alignment, and activation for teams; the Pygmalion Effect and how leaders' beliefs shape outcomes; diagnosing attitude issues versus structural problems; and using engagement needs as a framework for one-to-ones and organizational improvement.  You can find Diondra's book “Engagement Economics: Increasing Performance & Profitability by Engaging Your People” here https://a.co/d/9mTuXIs  Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.   If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.   About our Guest:  Diondra Filicetti is a Learning and Development professional, best-selling author, and two-time TEDx speaker. As the founder of Driven By Co., she helps organizations enhance performance through engaging workshops, leadership programs, and communication training. Her book Engagement Economics explores how employee engagement drives profitability and success. With expertise in adult learning and instructional design, Diondra has empowered professionals to lead with purpose, connect effectively, and inspire growth.  Diondra Filicetti can be reached at https://www.drivenbyco.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/diondrafilicetti  https://www.facebook.com/DrivenByCo  http://instagram.com/drivenbyco  https://www.youtube.com/@drivenbyco Her book “Engagement Economics: Increasing Performance & Profitability by Engaging Your People”  https://a.co/d/9mTuXIs  About Mike Coffey:  Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.  Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.  Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.  Learning Objectives: Understand and explains the economic impact of employee engagement. Identify gaps in environment, alignment, and activation that reduce team performance. Apply practical leadership behaviors that build trust, clarify purpose, and elevate team capacity. 

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey will not run for Tarrant County judge in 2026. Veasey will instead serve out the remainder of his congressional term, which ends in January 2027. Veasey said the decision to withdraw from the race was tough. In other news, Dallas Area Rapid Transit announced it will be operating on a modified service schedule and offering free rides for the upcoming Christmas and New Year's holidays. DART, in partnership with Coors Light, will give away 10,500 free rides on New Year's Eve. Riders will just need to use the code COORSNYE25 on GoPass in order to receive the deal; a 13,000-square-foot mansion on Hunters Glen Road, ranked recently as the most expensive home in Texas, has been sold for $30.5 million; nd Sabar Barbecue, a trailer in Fort Worth that served smoked meat with Pakistani technique, will close after business Saturday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

BIG STORY: Our interview with Tiffany Burks went so long that we made this a 2-part episode, so stay tuned for the full interview with Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney candidate, Tiffany Burks.SHORT STORY 1: Who filed to run in 2026.Filing deadline drama sets up primary elections. Here are the Tarrant County candidatesRep. Jasmine Crockett enters Democratic primary for U.S. SenateDemocrat Colin Allred drops out of Senate race, announces run for 33rd Congressional DistrictFort Worth's Marc Veasey running for Tarrant County judge instead of CongressSHORT STORY 2: Arlington City Council votes against gay rights.Arlington votes to end LGBTQ protections in anti-discrimination ordinanceMedia blitz opposes removal of LGBTQ protections in ArlingtonSHORT STORY 3: Tim O'Hare attacks free speech & democracyHere's what got a pastor tossed from Tarrant County Commissioners CourtTarrant County commissioner upset over number of polling places for TX Senate runoffWINS: First phase of Fort Worth Convention Center's $701M revamp completedOver 90 acres of open space, parkland OK'd by Fort Worth officialsNew Arlington parks director looks to prioritize natural areas, open space accessibilityLOSSES: Gov. Greg Abbott launches plan to open Turning Point USA chapters in all Texas high schools / ‘Completely new leadership' coming for Lake Worth ISD as Texas takes controlWhat fewer vaccinated students could mean for Tarrant County as exemptions riseACTIONS:December 16 - People's Commissioners Court at Blanc Coworking & Studio at 6pm.December 17 - Support Fort Worth Art meeting at The Pool at 6pm.January 6 - First Fort Worth City Council Public Comment of the year.

BIG STORY: We talk with Tiffany Burks about how the District Attorney's office has changed over the years, what power it holds, what problems it has created, and how Tiffany plans to solve them.

When Matt Aulsbrook moved to Fort Worth, he was riding the bus to DWI classes and sleeping on a blow-up mattress. No license. No law degree. No safety net. Today, his firm is one of the most active trial teams in Tarrant County, with an eight-figure practice built on profit discipline, not vanity metrics. In this episode, Matt breaks down how he bootstrapped growth, survived the lean years, and uses a simple KPI stack to keep his PI shop healthy in a brutal market. You'll learn: The real ROI timelines behind digital, radio, and TV (and how to know if your spend is actually working) The simple KPI mix that reveals whether your firm is healthy, overstaffed, or running too thin What high-performing intake teams focus on to consistently convert wanted leads Ways firms are using AI and mass-tort diversification to stay resilient in unpredictable markets If you like what you hear, hit subscribe. We do this every week. Get Social! Personal Injury Mastermind (PIM) powered by Rankings.io is on Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Something New!  For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP230  In episode 230, Coffey talks with Linda Swindling about how HR professionals can build negotiation skills, increase approachability, and advocate more effectively inside their organizations.  They discuss why people fear negotiation and how media influences our mindset; the role of everyday micro-negotiations in building confidence; how to uncover true needs through strategic questioning; using the A-S-K framework to navigate difficult conversations; ways HR can speak up when discussions go off-track; understanding personality and negotiation styles; overcoming internal narratives that limit assertiveness; developing boundaries and protecting emotional energy; and helping leaders adopt negotiation as a core communication skill.  You can find Linda's assessments and tools including the “What's My DEAL Style?”, “How Well Do You Ask?” assessments and “Negotiate Like a CEO” E-Book here https://www.lindaswindling.com/assessments  Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.   If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.   About our Guest:  Linda Swindling, CSP, CPAE, is a globally recognized expert in negotiation, high-stakes communication, and leadership influence. Ranked among the Top 15 Negotiators in the World by Global Gurus for six consecutive years, she equips leaders and professionals to negotiate what matters—from closing major deals to dealing with workplace drama with confidence and clarity.  A Certified Speaking Professional and inductee into the National Speakers Association's Speaker Hall of Fame (CPAE), Linda is also a Professor of Practice in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution at the University of Texas at Dallas.  Her negotiation expertise was refined in the courtroom and the boardroom as a practicing corporate attorney and later, a strategic advisor to CEOs. During her 10 years practicing law, Linda became a partner and a mediator, successfully negotiated several million-dollar deals, and resolved cases that “couldn't be settled.”  For more than 25 years, she has delivered innovative, research-based programs which result in better conversations, proactive dispute resolution, and high-performance leaders and teams. You won't hear anecdotal or intangible theories based on books she read. Instead, you get strategies that produce breakthrough outcomes and lasting results.  Linda's clients include Fortune 100 companies, government agencies, and associations seeking to boost performance, build resilient cultures, and champion change. The creator of the popular Passport to Success book series, she is the author/co-author of more than 20 books including Ask Outrageously, Stop Complainers and Energy Drainers, and The Manager's High-Performance Handbook.  Whether she's speaking from the stage or coaching executives behind the scenes, Linda empowers professionals to use their voices effectively, resolve conflict respectfully, and negotiate durable outcomes that benefit all parties.  Linda Swindling can be reached at: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyOnLindaSwindling https://x.com/LindaSwindling https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindaswindling/ https://www.youtube.com/@LindaSwindling  About Mike Coffey:  Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.  Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.  Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.  Learning Objectives: Identify the psychological barriers that make negotiation feel uncomfortable for most professionals. Apply the A-S-K framework to improve preparation, questioning, and next-step planning. Strengthen leadership communication by encouraging employees and executives to clearly express what they really want.  

BIG STORY: Last Public Comment of the YearRemoval of attendees, Christmas tree lighting plans punctuate Fort Worth council meetingSHORT STORY 1: Star-Telegram fires their most outspoken columnistBradford Davis talks about his firing on LinkedIn.Mayor Mattie Parker should listen to her own words as she faces her criticsDon't be so quick to judge intent behind a casket left at mayor's houseFather cared for disabled son for years, until ICE took him awaySHORT STORY 2: The potential to reshape city councilCity Council pay raises, term limits among potential amendments to Fort Worth charterSHORT STORY 3: A look at who's running in 2026.Filing open for 2026 primary elections. Here are the Tarrant County candidates so far.WINS: Civilian-led police unit aims to build public trust, ensure Fort Worth's accountabilityNearly 300 seek spot on FWISD's state-appointed board following takeover / How many applicants for Fort Worth ISD's state-appointed board live in district?Trinity Metro to lease up to 40 buses daily for FIFA World CupLOSSES: Supreme Court orders Texas to use 2025 map amid legal battleBoth lawsuits accusing Tarrant County of racial gerrymandering have been dropped or dismissedSingle-family homes focus of Fort Worth's potential $5M affordable housing bondACTIONS:December 11 - Community Design Fort Worth's Transit Crawl starting at Central Station at 4:30pm.December 14 - 817 Gather's Festivus Potluck.December 17 - Support Fort Worth Art meeting at The Pool at 6pm.

On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Bill Waybourn is the Sheriff of Tarrant County, Texas. He currently teaches college and police instructor classes ranging from criminal justice and criminal procedure to firearms safety and self-defense.

Questions about the Trump administration’s military operations in the Caribbean against Venezuela are growing. We’ll delve into the details.We’re also following the special election in Houston’s 18th Congressional District amid uncertainty over which congressional map Texas will use.Fort Worth and Tarrant County cut back on some public meetings, leading to an outcry.Is Texas becoming a […] The post Is Texas being used as an oil waste dumping ground? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Texas Republicans to lose another incumbent in Congress to retirement but this one has a twist of a twin thrown in. Plus other political and campaign news such as RINO state Rep. VanDeaver deciding a re-election bid to the House isn't something he wants to go through.Democrats throw in the towel on their legal challenge to Tarrant County's redistricting. Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare continues to impress as a true pro-taxpayer conservative leader.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Corpus Christi man gains notoriety (or infamy) for handing out cheap Harbor Freight machetes to vagrants and bums. Gotta have something to clear out new bum camps with under those stream bridges!Another bad asylum call: Afghan national allegedly threatened to bomb Fort Worth. Afghan accused of killing national guard soldier in DC was known, and reported, by many to “spiraling into mania” but was given asylum anyway.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates. www.PrattonTexas.com

Plus a fast-moving federal investigation is underway after authorities arrested Mohammad Dawood Alokozay in Tarrant County, expect to see a few people at the office distracted by their Christmas shopping today, with Christmas just 24 days away we are heading into the final stretch of the Salvation Army Angel Tree program across North Texas, and more!

Something New! For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP228In episode 228, Coffey talks with Kelly Bubolz about the evolving drivers of workplace burnout and practical ways employers can build healthy, high-capacity teams.They discuss how rapid technological change is straining employee capacity; the shift from pandemic-era mental-health burnout to operational overload; the role of role clarity and workflow optimization in preventing exhaustion; the behavioral warning signs of advancing burnout; the hidden cost of dysfunctional meetings; the impact of remote work structure on cognitive load and productivity; proactive workforce metrics HR should track; cultural myths that drain energy and reinforce burnout; improving cross-functional collaboration and workflow design; and how organizations can align operations around true value creation.Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.About our Guest:Burnout survivor turned business strategist, Kelly Bubolz knows what it takes to go from running on fumes to being intentional with energy that people want to follow. With 20+ years in HR leadership, she's transformed her own high stress physical collapse into a powerhouse mission. Guiding the recharge through redesigning the ways of work, cutting through chaos and into sustainable energy.Kelly Bubolz can be reached at: https://www.kbtrainingconnections.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-bubolz-73b65011 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579197120672 https://www.instagram.com/kellybubolzAbout Mike Coffey:Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.Learning Objectives:1. Identify the behavioral and operational indicators of burnout before they reach crisis levels.2. Evaluate how role clarity, workflow design, and meeting structure affect employee capacity.3. Apply proactive metrics and cultural practices that reduce energy drain and strengthen productivity.

BIG STORY: Mayor Mattie Parker's Damage Control PR TourMayor's Chair Not for the Thin-Skinned by Fort Worth MagazineTarrant residents get fewer chances to speak at local government meetings. What does that mean? SHORT STORY 1: Texas Congressional Redistricting ChaosTexas redistricting ruling upends candidates' plans for 2026Court order on Texas redistricting forces election officials, county parties to scramble — againSupreme Court temporarily restores Texas' new congressional mapFiling deadline is December 8th, and candidates don't even know what district they live in!SHORT STORY 2: Transportation & Safety StoriesFree parking in downtown Fort Worth garages will be in your rearview mirror next yearHighway collision injures Buddhist monks from Fort Worth on 2,300-mile Walk for PeaceBedford plans to remove student artwork from crosswalks to comply with Abbott's roadway directiveSHORT STORY 3: FWISD appeals State TakeoverTrustees fighting FWISD takeover, cite need for deeper reviewWINS: Ten Commandments displays in FWISD, Tarrant-area districts must be removed, judge ordersBrandi Waller-Pace's concert at Keith HouseNatalia Margarita's art show at The PoolLOSSES: Attorney at center of Keller ISD split tapped to lead Tarrant County GOP as chairHigh demand forces Tarrant County rental assistance program to close applications after 4 hoursNorth Texas Maternal Health Accelerator launches at TCU with $25MNorth Texas leaders talk oil, gas, growing nuclear industry at conferenceGoogle investing $40B into Texas for AI, new data centersACTIONS:November 25 - Future of the Community Arts Center meeting at Amphibian Stage at 6pmDecember 2 - Public Comments at Fort Worth City HallKeep an eye out for Nydia Cardenas' campaign launch

Something New! For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it hereIn episode 227, Coffey talks with Christy Close about how organizations can expand their talent pool by hiring and supporting neurodiverse employees.They discuss the growing number of neurodivergent individuals entering the job market; the importance of revising job descriptions and interviews to reduce bias and increase accessibility; how leaders can make reasonable accommodations to help neurodiverse employees thrive; why flexibility, clear communication, and awareness benefit all employees, not just those with atypical information processing; and the mindset shift required to recognize neurodiversity as a competitive advantage rather than a challenge.Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for three-quarters of a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.About our Guest:Christy Close owns and operates HR Solid Foundation, as a Business & Human Resource consultant. Christy is also a facilitator of Human Resources classes for UT- Austin, UT- Arlington, Univ of Houston, and tech facilities to include working with those exiting the military and entering the workforce.She is sought out as to facilitate the HR Certification Prep test class- as of May this year, her pass rate is at a 97% pass rate for first timers.Her claim to fame is her involvement with the EEOC having completed over 1244 cases with only 5 going to court, and 1 loss.She received her Masters in International HR Mgmt with an emphasis in Global Org, a Paralegal degree, as well as HR certifications.She is the author of Employee Relations 101, a book for new managers.After 8 years in the military, and 30+ years in the HR & Employee Relations arena, she has found her passion working with employers and employees finding a great balance and a very conducive work environment.Her clients range from military, aviation, hospitality, manufacturing, and retail ranging from Houston, TX to Tulsa, OK to Seattle, Atlanta, and Miami.Her motto hasn't changed since day 1: How may I serve you?She is currently co-authoring a book for hiring nuerodivergents, which is expected to be released in spring 2026.As the CEO of HR Solid Foundation, she believes many of today's employment discrepancies could be avoided with proper training or structural strategic alignment within the organization's goals.Christy Close can be reached athttps://www.hrsolidfoundation.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/christygcloseer101/https://www.facebook.com/HRSolidFoundationhttps://www.instagram.com/hrsf.info/?next=%2FAbout Mike Coffey:Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.Learning Objectives:1. Recognize the value neurodiverse employees bring to innovation, creativity, and organizational performance.2. Identify hiring and interviewing practices that unintentionally exclude neurodiverse candidates.3. Implement inclusive workplace strategies that promote equity, engagement, and retention for all employees.

Something New! For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it hereIn episode 227, Coffey talks with Christy Close about how organizations can expand their talent pool by hiring and supporting neurodiverse employees.They discuss the growing number of neurodivergent individuals entering the job market; the importance of revising job descriptions and interviews to reduce bias and increase accessibility; how leaders can make reasonable accommodations to help neurodiverse employees thrive; why flexibility, clear communication, and awareness benefit all employees, not just those with atypical information processing; and the mindset shift required to recognize neurodiversity as a competitive advantage rather than a challenge.Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for three-quarters of a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.About our Guest:Christy Close owns and operates HR Solid Foundation, as a Business & Human Resource consultant. Christy is also a facilitator of Human Resources classes for UT- Austin, UT- Arlington, Univ of Houston, and tech facilities to include working with those exiting the military and entering the workforce.She is sought out as to facilitate the HR Certification Prep test class- as of May this year, her pass rate is at a 97% pass rate for first timers.Her claim to fame is her involvement with the EEOC having completed over 1244 cases with only 5 going to court, and 1 loss.She received her Masters in International HR Mgmt with an emphasis in Global Org, a Paralegal degree, as well as HR certifications.She is the author of Employee Relations 101, a book for new managers.After 8 years in the military, and 30+ years in the HR & Employee Relations arena, she has found her passion working with employers and employees finding a great balance and a very conducive work environment.Her clients range from military, aviation, hospitality, manufacturing, and retail ranging from Houston, TX to Tulsa, OK to Seattle, Atlanta, and Miami.Her motto hasn't changed since day 1: How may I serve you?She is currently co-authoring a book for hiring nuerodivergents, which is expected to be released in spring 2026.As the CEO of HR Solid Foundation, she believes many of today's employment discrepancies could be avoided with proper training or structural strategic alignment within the organization's goals.Christy Close can be reached athttps://www.hrsolidfoundation.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/christygcloseer101/https://www.facebook.com/HRSolidFoundationhttps://www.instagram.com/hrsf.info/?next=%2FAbout Mike Coffey:Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.Learning Objectives:1. Recognize the value neurodiverse employees bring to innovation, creativity, and organizational performance.2. Identify hiring and interviewing practices that unintentionally exclude neurodiverse candidates.3. Implement inclusive workplace strategies that promote equity, engagement, and retention for all employees.

BIG STORY: We spoke with Alberto Govea from LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) & Stephanie Drenka from Texas Civil Rights Project about the legal battle against the racist gerrymandered maps that Republicans on Tarrant County Commissioners Court passed this year in an attempt to diminish black & brown voices. SHORT STORY 1: Tarrant County GOP's plan to destroy electionsTarrant County Democratic Party chair Allison Campolo's responseMercy Culture creates online candidate classes for Christian Nationalists running for officeSHORT STORY 2: Mattie Parker's PR campaign to uphold the establishmentMayor talks FWISD takeover, taxes and maintaining Fort Worth's ‘vibe' during TribFestSHORT STORY 3: An update on the Fort Worth Community Arts CenterWINS: The Welman Project gets a new location!The Librarians screening at The Modern Filing open for 2026 primary elections. Here are the Tarrant County candidates (so far)Dallas moves municipal elections to November of odd numbered yearsTxDOT: Car-dominant Texas needs more public transitThe Dock Bookshop event & Afrocommuniversity's new susuLOSSES: Tarrant GOP Chairman Bo French stepping down, running for Texas Railroad CommissionerTeachers question future as Texas takeover of FWISD advancesTCU bumps its tuition, again, making it more costly than some Ivy League schoolsACTIONS:December 2nd - Fort Worth City Council Public CommentNovember 18th - Speak at Arlington City Council to defend LGBTQ+ rights & demand the return of Maher Tarabishi from ICE November 18th - People's Commissioner's Court

Something New!  For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP226  In episode 226, Coffey talks with Pam Boyd and Bernie Beck about creating drama-free workplaces and eliminating wasted emotional energy from organizations.  They discuss how workplace drama differs from ordinary conflict; the cost of toxic employees and fear-based leadership; strategies for accountability and courageous conversations; the “C-R-E-A-T-E-D” framework to create cultures that thrive; using emotional intelligence and personal development plans to improve team culture; how to replace confrontation anxiety with consistent coaching; and how leaders can operationalize emotional intelligence to build healthier, more productive organizations.  Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.   If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.   About our Guest:  Pam has presented in seven countries and all fifty states and has written six books and three screenplays. She studied theater and pre-med at the University of Oklahoma and has a BBA from Northwood University.  Bernie Beck has thirty years of experience in business leadership and more than four thousand consulting, executive coaching and training hours. He earned his BBA at Gonzaga University, Coaching credentials from UTD School of Management, and is a PCC from the ICF.   Pam and Bernie can be reached at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-boyd-8b193b1/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/berniebeck/ Pam and Bernie's book, The Drama-Free Business: From Inception to Succession: https://a.co/d/hrF6nDZ  Pam's firm, Dramatic Conclusions: www.dramaticconclusions.com  About Mike Coffey:  Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.  Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.  Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.  Learning Objectives: Identify sources of workplace drama and distinguish them from normal conflict. Apply the C-R-E-A-T-E-D framework to strengthen organizational culture. Practice the BEERS or PEERS coaching model to address performance and behavior issues effectively. Build systems for feedback, recognition, and development that reinforce accountability. Operationalize emotional intelligence through regular coaching, trust-building, and leader self-awareness. 

Something New!For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP225 In episode 225, Coffey talks with Monica Lloyd about navigating organizational change with transparency, stability, and human-centered strategies.  They discuss how AI, workforce demographics, and economic uncertainty are reshaping leadership expectations; how transparency and vulnerability build trust during change; how leaders can create stability and clear communication systems in uncertain times; how organizational values and culture can anchor teams through disruption; the impact of AI on jobs and workforce planning; rethinking career paths and talent retention in the age of automation; training middle managers to communicate consistent messages; building engagement through recognition and behavioral insight; and how HR must evolve into the science of human behavior and change management.  Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.   If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for one hour of recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.   About our Guest:  Monica Lloyd is the founder of People Forward®, a consulting firm on a mission to create workplaces people love. A recognized thought leader and top-rated speaker, she's known for blending sharp business strategy with contagious energy that inspires leaders and teams to raise their game.   As an expert contributor to the Forbes HR Council, Monica brings both credibility and a fresh perspective to the national stage, challenging audiences to rethink how work should feel and how organizations can truly thrive. Her style is equal parts strategist, motivator, and innovator who never shies away from tough conversations, but always keeps people at the center.  Whether she's guiding executives through organizational transformation, sparking inspiration from the stage, or hosting her People Mavens podcast, Monica's work is rooted in one simple belief: the best business strategy is people strategy.  Monica Lloyd can be reached at https://www.peopleforward.us https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicalloyd/   About Mike Coffey:  Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.  Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.  Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.  Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.  Learning Objectives: Explain how transparency and vulnerability strengthen leadership credibility during times of change. Identify methods to create organizational stability and clear communication in uncertain conditions. Describe strategies for adapting workforce planning and career development in response to AI-driven transformation.  

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Almost a week into the month, November SNAP funding remains unpaid, leaving millions of Texans, including 1.7 million kids, in a state of food insecurity - for the first time since LBJ: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/05/texas-snap-food-stamp-families-hunger/...Even when November's payment arrives, Donald Trump's USDA says it will be half the usual amount: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/snap-benefit-release-november-21140402.phpWhile the record-long federal shutdown continues, the Texas comptroller's office has shut down a decades-long program to support historically underutilized, primarily minority-owned small businesses: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas-freeze-program-supporting-minority-owned-businesses/285-7a6f3dd5-41a8-423a-aead-cbbb4a28fe17Democrat Taylor Rehmet's close call with an outright victory in Tuesday's election in Tarrant County is seen as a positive harbinger for progressives moving into the midterm election season: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/05/texas-senate-special-election-democrats-tarrant-county/...Three progressive wins on the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD board are also seen as a loss of MAGA influence: https://www.houstonpress.com/news/progressives-pick-up-all-3-cy-fair-isd-trustee-seats/...Governor Abbott has apparently been sent into a panic by the Zohran Mamdani win in NYC - while he's still not set a date for the Texas runoff election: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/greg-abbott-zohran-mamdani-21141018.php...The massive win for Prop 50 in California will negate - if not surpass - any gains for Donald Trump that may come from our mid-decade redistricting: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/texas-news/california-redistricting-will-erase-gop-gains-from-texas-redrawing-its-political-maps/Pennsylvania billionaire Jeff Yass, who bankrolled Governor Abbott's final push for private school vouchers, has sunk $100 million into the new MAGA private college University of Austin: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/05/university-austin-jeff-yass-donation-free-tuition/We're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

BIG STORY: An interview with Gina HinojosaShe's a candidate for Texas Governor, who was in town for a town hall about resisting the state takeover of FWISD, demonstrating how & why it's so important that we fight back against the corruption of Greg Abbott and an authoritian government.SHORT STORY 1: Money in Senate District 9 Nearly $3M pours into Tarrant County's race for Texas SenateSHORT STORY 2: Impact of SNAP cuts in Tarrant County SNAP pause could be ‘cataclysmic' for Tarrant families, nonprofit leaders worrySHORT STORY 3: Tarrant County leads in juvenile prison sentences Tarrant County sending the most kids to state youth prisonsContext: Tarrant County cuts ties with youth justice program over perceived political stancesWINS: New recycling center brings technology aimed at minimizing strain on Fort Worth's landfillCompany to operate wine bar, restaurant and wedding venue at T&P StationSouthwest Fort Worth park's wildlife rebounding after pond restorationNate Schatzline not running for reelection / Alan Blaylock running for Nate's seatLOSSES: Tarrant County expects traffic deaths this year to exceed 230Fort Worth filmmakers have new grants, resources through Texas programTCU to end stand-alone departments focused on women and gender, race and ethnic studiesACTIONS:VOTE! November 4th is election day for SD9 and the Texas Constitutional Amendments. Voting locations are open from 7am - 7pm. You can vote at any polling location. November 4th - Last public comment of the year at Fort Worth City CouncilNovember 6th - Love Is The Loudest ProtestNovember 8th 10 - 2pm - 2025 State of the Historic Northside

Your Vote Matters! If you live in Tarrant County, your vote today could determine who represents you in the Texas Senate! Early voting ends today! Main election day: November 4th, 7AM-7PM Polling hours vary by location but generally run from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. most days, with some extended options. Find out which candidates on your ballot really stand for your biblical values in partnership with iVoterGuide by visiting IVoterGuide.Com!

In episode 224, Coffey talks with Dr. Leslie Thomas about how artificial intelligence and the speed of change are reshaping hiring and workforce development.They discuss the evolving role of AI in HR and how it is redefining job design and required skill sets; the transition from traditional degree-based hiring to skills-based approaches that emphasize measurable competencies; how psychometrics supports objective and equitable testing and certification; the rise of microcredentials and modular certification programs that align with changing organizational needs; the implications of reduced reliance on four-year degrees and the expansion of alternative pathways to employment; the balance between automation and human adaptability as job roles evolve; methods for assessing durable “power skills” such as communication, collaboration, and leadership; and the importance of ensuring transparency, privacy, and bias mitigation in AI-assisted assessment and hiring systems.Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for three quarters of recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.About our Guest:For more than 20 years, Dr. Leslie Thomas has been helping clients create assessment programs to effectively measure and evaluate professional competence.In her role at Kryterion, Dr. Thomas and her team work closely with clients to help translate their business goals into credentialing programs that provide real value to their stakeholders such as enhanced productivity, risk mitigation, or lower hiring costs.As a member of the Association of Test Publisher's Technology-based Assessment's AI subcommittee, she has contributed to multiple publications on the use of AI in the assessment including the responsible use of AI and human oversight.Before Kryterion, Leslie served as the Chief Psychometric Officer at Brainbench, ran a boutique consulting firm, and worked as a research scientist at ACT.Leslie Thomas can be reached at www.kryterion.com/ www.linkedin.com/in/leslieathomasAbout Mike Coffey:Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.Learning Objectives:1. Understand how AI is transforming employee selection, assessment, and job design.2. Identify strategies for implementing skills-based and credential-based hiring.3. Evaluate ways to maintain fairness, transparency, and adaptability in AI-driven HR processes.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Trump's choice to withhold SNAP food assistance payments resembles a forced starvation - in an armed conflict, that's a war crime, and in peacetime to force political outcomes, that's close to terrorism: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/texas-house-democrats-form-committee...Gubernatorial candidate and State Rep. Gina Hinojosa is calling on Governor Greg Abbott to tap into Texas' Rainy Day Fund to keep Texas kids fed: https://x.com/GinaHinojosaTX/status/1983604948429332867Republicans hope the threat of widespread hunger will motivate Democrats to cave on ACA tax credits - if those expire, Texas will experience an outsized impact of premium increases: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/30/texas-aca-obamacare-health-insurance-open-enrollment/...As many as one million of the four million Texans using ACA would likely just drop health insurance altogether: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/texas-health-insurance-aca-shutdown-21116950.phpNew UT/Texas Politics Project polling shows inflation and healthcare costs at the top of Texans' worries, while many point to bad elected leadership as the cause: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/texans-discouraged-about-economy-skeptical-of-leaders-new-polling-says/In a bad omen for outcomes in El Paso, a panel of judges has upheld the mid-decade gerrymander of Tarrant County's county commissioner map: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/appeals-court-upholds-texas-countys-gop-gerrymander/We're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our 2025 Texas Statewide Voting Guide, including a link at the bottom for a printable version you CAN take with you to the polls: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/2025-texas-statewide-ballot-guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This week, Kristen Pyrc, M.D. and Wini King are back on Raising Joy and welcoming special guest Alexandra Morales, Project and Partnership Coordinator for the Parent Pass app, to discuss a groundbreaking tool designed to lift the mental load of parenting.Alexandra explains how the free Parent Pass app started in 2021 as a solution to connect parents with the resources and community support they were struggling to find in Tarrant County.In this episode, you'll learn:·       How Parent Pass acts as a vetted, one-stop shop for finding everything from fun, low-cost kid-friendly events to reliable health and mental wellness resources.·       How the app uses new AI to customize event and resource information based on your children's ages, interests, and zip code, so you don't have to "scour" for information.·       The overwhelming request for mental health support from local parents, which Parent Pass addresses by linking to organizations like Lena Pope and offering access to trauma-informed yoga classes.·       The app's Parent Help Line and its life-saving connection to the Help Me Grow program, including a powerful story of how a nurse's postpartum education helped a new mom recognize a dangerous blood clot.Don't miss this inspiring conversation about how a community-driven app is using technology to combat parent isolation and provide critical support, all while continuing to grow and expand!Learn more about the Parent Pass App here: https://parentpass.app/

This is an audio-only show run by EJ in his home office. Ann and Wesley are out of town, but we felt a show was needed given what happened to FWISD.GET ACTIVE: EXPLORE OUR LINKTREESTORY 1: FWISD State Takeover- Star-Telegram ‘Keep Austin out of our schools.' Opponents of state takeover of FWISD speak out- Live stream of press conference- Texas Education Agency takes over Fort Worth ISD, replacing its elected school board- Is Dan Patrick trying to make Texas a 'conservative Hollywood'?STORY 2: Fort Worth Way endorsing the book-ban lady- How a far-right, Christian cellphone company ‘took over' four Texas school boards- Fort Worth Fire Fighters endorse Leah Wambsganss- Leah's endorsementsACTIONS- Vote! Find your early voting location.- Final public comment meeting is on November 4th at 6 PM in City Hall- Sign up to attend the November 16th Gather at 3 PM

Plus a 20 point beatdown for the Cowboys in Denver yesterday, Tarrant County is reporting a sharp increase in domestic "violence-related" homicides, the Fort Worth ISD could make some changes to the superintendent's contract this week, and more!

In episode 223, Coffey talks with Mike Lyons about why hiring for character and behavior often predicts success better than relying on experience or technical skills.They discuss how HR leaders can define and hire for the right character traits by first understanding business strategy (for example, Walmart vs. Nordstrom models); aligning hiring with authentic, observable core values; identifying the specific attitudes and behaviors that make top performers successful in each role; using structured behavioral interviews to identify values; conducting reference checks as investigative conversations rather than formalities; designing realistic job previews to reduce turnover; and maintaining objectivity by keeping character assessments job-related and bias-free.You can access Mike's free library of free downloads to elevate your healthcare clinic from merely OK to excellent here: https://www.seasoned-advice.com/signup-for-free-downloadsGood Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for three quarters of recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.About our Guest:Mike Lyons is the Chief Consultant for Seasoned Advice HR Services, which helps highly motivated healthcare clinics with HR support. He is a frequent presenter at healthcare conferences on the topics of leadership, culture, and employee engagement. He is a graduate of LSU and the University of Illinois and resides in Austin, TX with his wife and kids.Mike Lyons can be reached at https://www.seasoned-advice.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelyonshr https://www.instagram.com/seasonedadviceAbout Mike Coffey:Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.Learning Objectives:1. Recognize how strategic alignment clarifies which behavioral traits drive business results.2. Define authentic organizational and role-specific values based on top-performer analysis.3. Apply structured interviews, probing, and reference checks to assess character without bias.

Episode 4862: Saving Tarrant County; Stopping The Funding Of More Death In Ukraine

In episode 222, Coffey talks with consultant and author LeAnne Lagasse about effective leadership development initiatives and what she calls “congruent leadership.”  They discuss why most leadership training programs fail to deliver ROI; the importance of reverse engineering programs from specific organizational outcomes; the significant impact of frontline managers on employee engagement; the gap between knowledge transfer and skill execution; building programs with practice, peer learning, and self-reflection components; “soft skills” deficits across the workforce; “congruent leadership” as alignment of self-perception and team experience; and the 70-20-10 learning model's impact on development.  You can find LeAnne's new book “The Congruent Leader: Build Trust, Lead with Self-Awareness, and Close the Gap Between How You See Yourself and How Others Experience You” here https://a.co/d/ehUoYLx  Hardcover: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-congruent-leader-leanne-lagasse/1148446437?ean=9798999501912   Book website: https://www.thecongruentleaderbook.com   Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.   If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.   About our Guest:  LeAnne Lagasse is the author of “The Congruent Leader: Build Trust, Lead with Self-Awareness, and Close the Gap Between How You See Yourself and How Others Experience You.”   LeAnne is also an HR consultant and keynote speaker who helps leaders and organizations improve employee engagement and retention, as well as develop their people managers.   LeAnne is a SHRM-SCP, a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths© Coach, and also serves as adjunct faculty at Missouri State University, where she teaches professional communication courses to MBA students.   Before launching her consulting business, LeAnne was a faculty member and the Director of Public Speaking in the College of Media and Communication at Texas Tech University, where she served for 14 years. Alongside her husband, Ben, she is a proud mom to three children and two pet prairie dogs.  LeAnne's book, “The Congruent Leader: Build Trust, Lead with Self-Awareness, and Close the Gap Between How You See Yourself and How Others Experience You” is available at https://a.co/d/e2vm4d1.   LeAnne Lagasse can be reached at: https://www.leannelagasse.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannelagasse/  https://www.facebook.com/leannelagasseconsulting   About Mike Coffey:  Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.  Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.  Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.  Learning Objectives:   Design leadership development programs that span extended timeframes with multiple learning modalities including peer collaboration, low-stakes practice opportunities, and structured reinforcement rather than relying on one-day events or single webinars. Incorporate self-awareness and reflection exercises into leadership training to help managers identify their natural strengths, biases, and communication tendencies that create barriers to their own success. Implement the 70-20-10 learning model by prioritizing challenging practice exercises (70%), supportive coaching and mentoring relationships (20%), and formal content delivery (10%) to maximize leadership development ROI. 

9.5.2025 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Tarrant Jail Deaths Outrage, Black Jobless Rate Rises, Tabitha Brown Sparks Debate, RMU 7th Anniv.More than 70 people have died while in custody in the Tarrant County, Texas, Jail since 2017. These unanswered deaths are sparking outrage, and the Sheriff is refusing to appear before the commission to explain what's going on. His reason...Commissioner Alisa Simmons' "hostile" behavior. She's here to explain why she's going so hard demanding accountability and transparency.August's job report signals a significant slowdown in employment growth. Morgan Harper will discuss the uptick in the black unemployment rate. Tabitha Brown has ruffled some feathers by telling some want to be entrepreneurs they need to get a job. One of the Greensboro Four has died. We'll pay tribute to Major General Joseph McNeil.And we're still celebrating our 7th anniversary, sharing some of the best moments and conversations right here on Roland Martin Unfiltered.#BlackStarNetwork partner: Fanbasehttps://www.startengine.com/offering/fanbaseThis Reg A+ offering is made available through StartEngine Primary, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. You should read the Offering Circular (https://bit.ly/3VDPKjD) and Risks (https://bit.ly/3ZQzHl0) related to this offering before investing.Download the Black Star Network app at http://www.blackstarnetwork.com! We're on iOS, AppleTV, Android, AndroidTV, Roku, FireTV, XBox and SamsungTV.The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.