County in Texas
POPULARITY
In episode 243, Coffey talks with Dan Dalton about using personality profiles to improve hiring, onboarding, team dynamics, and organizational effectiveness. They discuss the evolution of personality assessments from paper-based tools to data-driven platforms; appropriate and inappropriate uses of DISC and Predictive Index in hiring decisions; leveraging behavioral data to ask better interview questions; customizing onboarding to match communication preferences and learning styles; aligning managers and employees through mutual self-awareness; using profiles to strengthen team composition and collaboration; applying personality insights to performance coaching conversations; reducing turnover by adapting leadership styles to employee needs; helping young people gain early self-awareness for career decisions; and identifying the “personality” of an organization through mission statements and customer feedback. 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/EP243 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: Since 1995 Dan Dalton has worked in various HR roles as Trainer, Recruiter, HR Generalist, Manager, Director and Employee Relations Consultant. Dan has worked in the Banking industry with JP Morgan Chase and Southwest Bank, the retail industry with Neiman Marcus and the health care industry with, Texas Health Resources, Voyager Hospice Care, McKesson Specialty Health, Texas Oncology, EVP Eye Care and in manufacturing with Oil States Industries. Most recently, Dan has founded P3:14 Consulting focusing on helping organizations and individuals strive to reach their potential. Dan has held a Human Resources professional certification since 2005 and presently holds a HRCI Senior HR Professional (SPHR) certification as well as a SHRM-SCP certification. Dan earned a BBA in Marketing with a minor in Economics from Southwestern University and an MS in HR Management from University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Dan has served with Fort Worth HR (local SHRM chapter) as board member and Past President and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Christian Women's Job Corp of Greater Arlington where he facilitates workshops on resume writing and interview preparation. Dan has been married to Brandi since 1987 and has a son, Calvin James (CJ), daughter-in-law Caiti and two grandchildren Cannon and Charlie. Dan also enjoys binge watching Netflix and Prime shows, ski vacations and any time spent in the mountains. He is an avid baseball fan and has played softball and golf most of his life. Dan and his family are active members at First Baptist Church of Arlington, where he is a member of the choir and contemporary praise team and a Sunday School teacher. Dan Dalton can be reached at https://p314consulting.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/dandaltonsphr 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 appropriate uses of personality assessments in hiring and performance management. Apply behavioral profile insights to improve onboarding and manager-employee communication. Evaluate team composition and organizational alignment using personality data.
This week we spoke with Chris Tackett from See It Name It Fight It to break down the data around primary voting in Tarrant County, how that compared to Texas, and past elections, and what that means for the future of our county & state in the coming November midterm election.Read "The March Signal" by Chris Tackett.Join the 817 Gather Discord, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
SHORT STORY 1: Election Results BreakdownParty leaders forecast energetic election season in Tarrant County heading out of primariesSHORT STORY 2: Karen Molinar replaced as FWISD SuperintendentAs Superintendent Karen Molinar exits takeover, Texas signals a hard reset for Fort Worth ISDFort Worth ISD Superintendent Karen Molinar ousted amid TEA takeoverFort Worth ISD community calls again for immigration policy to protect studentsSHORT STORY 3: Data CentersTax breaks considered for waterless data center in far west Fort WorthWINS: Give me an F: Fort Worth's 10-foot public art gateway project installed after 20-year waitRose-colored Latino-themed bus route announced for south Fort Worth / Visit Fort Worth celebrates convention center's flying saucer, outgoing leader‘Transformative' $1.7B Westside Village mixed-use project officially breaks groundLand around Farrington Field for sale as FWISD seeks $250M mixed-use projectLOSSES: Manny Ramirez: Lower the Temperature in Politics and Return to ResultsBanning Islam, deporting Muslims discussed at Fort Worth church after primary electionsACTIONS:March 9 - Fort Worth Report votes to unionize (Sign the letter)March 10 - Data center vote at Fort Worth City Council (Sign the letter)March 15 - 817 Gather at 10am (Join us)March 21 - FWAAMFEST (Get tickets)March 31 - Waterless Data Center voteJoin the 817 Gather Discord, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
In episode 242, Coffey talks with Lee Colan about rebuilding human connection in a technology-driven, hybrid workplace. They discuss the loneliness epidemic and its impact on employee wellbeing; differences between social isolation and emotional loneliness; remote work and the rise of frictionless digital experiences; Gallup and BetterUp data on workplace friendships and retention; the decline of socializing with coworkers outside work; practical rituals like high-low check-ins during meetings; the cultural effects of hybrid work and hot desking; personalization of workspaces to reinforce belonging; AI disruption of career paths and entry-level roles; the growing value of human-centered leadership skills; and a four-step model for building meaningful professional relationships. Lee Colan's next book “The Connection Key: How to Unlock Your Positive Impact and Enhanced Wellbeing” releases in September. 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/EP242 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: Lee J. Colan, Ph.D. is Lee is an organizational psychologist and CEO advisor. He possesses a rare combination of skills as a corporate executive, business consultant, thought leader, prolific author, artful facilitator, and engaging presenter. Lee applies an in-depth understanding of business, science, people, and organizations to help leaders and organizations grow. As a result, he quickly helps leaders bring order where there is chaos, clarity where there is ambiguity and growth where there is decline. Lee is a John C. Maxwell Leadership Award finalist and Thinkers50 nominee for Top Management Thinker globally. He has authored 16 popular leadership books that have been translated into 10 languages, including the bestselling Engaging the Hearts and Minds of All Your Employees, Stick with It: Mastering the Art of Adherence and Healthy Leadership. He has also created over 50 products that equip and encourage leaders at every level. Expertise CEO advisement, executive coaching, strategy planning and execution, employee engagement, keynote speaking, leadership training. Education Doctoral degree, Organizational Psychology, George Washington University Bachelor's degree, Psychology and Communications, Summa Cum Laude, Florida State University Background Lee brings 25 years of hands-on industry and consulting experience to his clients. He worked in various leadership roles with American Airlines, Sandoz (Novartis) and FoxMeyer (McKesson). He also held consulting positions with two premier firms: Booz, Allen & Hamilton and Mercer. His last corporate post was as Vice President for Physician Reliance Network (U.S. Oncology), one of the fastest growing NASDAQ companies at the time. Lee currently serves as an Independent Director and member of the Personnel Committee for Pacific Seafood Group, the largest vertically integrated seafood company in North America. He is a former director for Aztec Systems who was ultimately sold to a private equity firm. He also served on the Advisory Board for ASSET InterTech who was acquired in 2021 by Constellation Software. Lee Colan can be reached at https://thelgroup.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecolan https://www.facebook.com/TheLGroupInc https://www.instagram.com/leecolan https://www.youtube.com/user/LeeJColan 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 29 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth. Learning Objectives: Identify the business impact of workplace loneliness and disconnection. Apply a simple four-step model to strengthen team relationships. Embed connection-building rituals into meetings and daily leadership practices.
Adam Powell, President and CEO, United Way of Tarrant County talks about launching a new institute to help nonprofits better support struggling North Texas families.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SHORT STORY 1: Union busting at Fort Worth ReportFort Worth Reporter's Guild response to union bustingSHORT STORY 2: PACs funding Republican precinct chairsNewly formed Tarrant shadow PACs turbocharge hyperlocal GOP precinct chair racesSHORT STORY 3: Prairieland Defendant updatesAlvarado ICE facility ambush trial: Jurors view evidence, deputy body camera footageSurveillance video and cell phone evidence, day three of ICE Prairieland shooting trial continuesWINS: Arts ForwardLong-awaited Palo Pinto Mountains State Park opensPanther Island gets taxing district to pay for improvements, servicesConstruction for $63M Historic Southside urban village could start in summerNorth Texas Community Foundation Awards $250K to Historic North Side Main Street PilotFWISD votes no to school prayer periodBlack Women Lawyers Association honors Mary Ellen HicksMosier Valley Park transformation will commemorate one of Texas' first all-Black communitiesLOSSES: Oversight of Tarrant County purchasing questioned as lead role shiftsDigital checkouts at Fort Worth Public Library exceed those of physical materials for first timeACTIONS:Tarrant County seeks 200 more election clerks to staff March 3 primary pollsTXDOT Master Plan SurveyMarch 3 - Election day for PrimariesMarch 4 - 817 Gather at the TableMarch 10 - Data center vote at Fort Worth City CouncilMarch 15 - 817 Gather (Join us)March 21 - FWAAMFEST (Get tickets)Join the 817 Gather Discord, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
This week, you'll hear from Juan and Fatima, who people who've been organizing and thinking about the southern US border for a long time to speak about the escalations in border force violence and kidnappings by ICE and CBP around the US (including Minneapolis where Fatima resides), an explosion in proposed immigration detention (including near El Paso where Juan resides), the expansion of low intensity conflict and counter-insurgency in the southwest since the mixing in of language of the War on Crime, War on Drugs and the Global War on Terror and how autonomous mutual aid provides opportunities for scaling up community defense and prefiguring the world we want to see. Links https://www.immigrantsurvivors.org/statement-sw-key-sexual-abuse-case-dismissal https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/31/writing-from-manus-prison-a-scathing-critique-of-domination-and-oppression Fatima's essay: The Insurgent Southwest Grey Is The Color of Hope Book No Friends But The Mountain Book El Paso Groups Casa Carmelita Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Estrella del Paso Related Past Interviews Our recent interview with Donna Mae about resistance in Minneapolis Interview on Life During Wartime book Past interviews concerning immigration, including with people held on Manus Island Articles Of Note https://www.immigrantsurvivors.org/statement-sw-key-sexual-abuse-case-dismissal https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/20/shutdown-stalemate-deepens-as-white-house-dems-dig-in-on-dhs-funding-00789614 https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/courts-have-ruled-4400-times-that-ice-jailed-people-illegally-it-hasnt-stopped-2026-02-14/ https://theintercept.com/2026/02/17/warehouses-immigration-detention-camp-prisons-immigrants/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/02/13/ice-detention-center-expansion/ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/31/writing-from-manus-prison-a-scathing-critique-of-domination-and-oppression Announcements Peppy Moved to Halfway House We are happy to announce that Peppy has entered a halfway house where he will finish out his remaining incarceration. You can learn more about writing to him and what he likes to talk about at his support website. His crew is still fundraising for a post-release fund there as well found at FreePeppyAndKrystal.NoBlogs.Org Casey Goonan Moved Palestine solidarist Casey Goonan has been transferred from Mendota in California to what is likely to be their home for the foreseeable future, FCI Allenwood – Medium. You can learn more about getting into contact, updates on their case and how to support their commissary at FreeCaseyNow.NoBlogs.Org Hrdindu Roychowdhrury Moved Alleged Janes Revenge prisoner and Grand Jury Resister Hrdindu Roychowdhrury has been moved to FCI Thomson in Illinois. He just had a birthday and could use some sweet words. More on the move and how to write him at ABCF.Net Prairieland Case Updates The Prairieland Case was declared a mistrial and has been restructured in an audacious move by the Trump appointed judge Pitman. Restrictions applied to the case will could greatly limit the ability of the 9 defendants to make their cases where decades of their lives behind bars are at stake. You can learn more, including detailed notes from each day of trial, by visiting PrairielandDefendants.Com, find the defendants new updated Tarrant County mailing addresses and followcalls for support by finding their social media. . … . .. Featured Track: TFSR by The Willows Whisper
In episode 241, Coffey talks with Neil Katz news and media items from the past month, including who HR is “for”, managing AI agents, and mental-health-related gaps in employment. They discuss HR's responsibility to conduct impartial workplace investigations based on evidence; the misconception that HR exists primarily as employee advocates; aligning HR strategy with revenue, margin, and organizational mission; the decline of transactional HR through automation and outsourcing; fractional HR leadership for small and midsize businesses; managing autonomous AI agents within organizational structures; developing AI operational literacy and new leadership competencies; redefining KPIs in an AI-enabled workplace; and best practices for addressing employment gaps during hiring. 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/EP241 Media mentioned in this podcast: If HR Isn't There to Help You, Who Is HR For? — Dallas Employment Lawyer Blog — February 9, 2026 To Thrive in the AI Era, Companies Need Agent Managers How do explain a gap year taken for mental health. : r/jobsearchhacks 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: Neil Katz is the founder and CEO of Exceptional HR Solutions, a leading provider of fractional HR leadership for small and mid-sized businesses across the U.S. With over 25 years of experience at the intersection of people and business strategy, Neil leads a national team of 20+ seasoned HR partners dedicated to helping companies scale, evolve, and thrive. His firm delivers end-to-end HR solutions—from talent acquisition and organizational development to compliance, culture, and leadership alignment. Under Neil's leadership, Exceptional HR Solutions has become a go-to resource for growth-focused companies in industries ranging from retail and healthcare to manufacturing, technology, and professional services. He is widely recognized for building agile, scalable HR infrastructures that empower leadership, strengthen teams, and deliver measurable business impact. While his primary focus is on growing Exceptional HR Solutions, Neil also serves selectively as an executive advisor, helping founders, CEOs, and leadership teams navigate strategic and organizational change. He holds an MBA from Amberton University, a BA in Business Administration from Texas Lutheran University, and advanced training in executive coaching from the University of Texas at Dallas. He is SHRM-certified and respected for his strategic insight and people-first leadership style. Neil is a frequent guest on industry podcasts and a sought-after speaker at conferences and webinars, where he shares practical insights on fractional leadership, scalable HR strategies, and the evolving role of human resources in high-growth environments. Outside of his professional work, Neil serves on the board of Hope International, a Dallas-based adoption agency, and previously served on the board of directors at Halo Senior Care, a for-profit business focused on elder care. He has also served with nonprofit organizations such as Gift of Adoption, reflecting his deep commitment to service and community. Neil Katz can be reached at https://exceptionalhrsolutions.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/exceptional-hr-solutions https://www.facebook.com/exceptionalhrS https://www.instagram.com/exceptional_hr_solutions_ https://twitter.com/exceptional_hrs https://www.youtube.com/@ExceptionalHRSolutions 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 HR can balance legal compliance with business performance and employee trust. Identify emerging le...
BIG STORY: Nydia Cardenas, candidate for Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 4.SHORT STORY 1: Early Voting turnout Tarrant County's 2026 Primary: Democrats Are Showing UpSHORT STORY 2: Resistance to ICE in North TexasNo ICE Detention Center in Hutchins, TXUNT art students protest exhibit's removal with a funeral for freedom of speechMan brandishes guns at Boswell High School students during ICE protestPrairielandDefendants.comArlington man in ICE custody will return to Jordan after son's deathSHORT STORY 3: Transit ProgressDART's compromise gives money back to cities to avoid withdrawal electionsIrving to consider calling off DART withdrawal election as transit agency weighs key changesRegional council votes to fund public transit as part of plan to save DART‘Expand it, not abandon it'WINS: Progressive Texas organizers hail shock win as far-right Republicans left reelingTaylor Rehmet sworn into Texas Senate District 97 Tarrant County districts reject daily prayer period in public schools under Texas lawFWISD students see gainsPanther Island bypass project moves forward after Trinity River dams, flood storage delaysLOSSES: Hand-counted audit of Senate runoff election draws scrutiny ahead of Tarrant County primariesTarrant judge needs to learn that hearing public dissent is part of jobACTIONS:Now - Early Voting for Primaries (Polling locations & hours)February 28 - Arts Forward summit (Get tickets)March 3 - Election day for PrimariesMarch 4 - 817 Gather at the TableMarch 10 - Data center vote at Fort Worth City CouncilMarch 15 - 817 GatherMarch 21 - FWAAMFEST (Get tickets)Join the 817 Gather Discord, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
For our very first live episode, we recorded at the VIP party for Tarrant County Democratic Party's annual fundraiser, Beyond Darkness.We spoke with Texas State Representatives Salman Bhojani & Ramon Romero Jr about harnessing the power of diverse communities to build a progressive future.Join the 817 Gather Discord, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
Chris managed not to get kicked out of the Senate Gallery at the Texas State Capitol long enough to see Taylor Rehmet become the first Democrat sworn in to represent Tarrant County's 9th Senate district since shoulder pads were hot. Early voting has shown Democratic voters in Texas fired up to hit the polls - but it's still gonna be an uphill battle. Lots more to talk about, and we do, on this week's weekly weekend roundup.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
In episode 240, Coffey talks with Yoram Solomon about motivating disengaged employees by building trust, increasing autonomy, and aligning intrinsic motivation with meaningful work. They discuss quiet quitting and job hugging trends in uncertain economic times; intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation using the car engine analogy; why pay and bonuses fail as long-term engagement strategies; the critical link between trust, autonomy, and employee engagement; why trustworthiness matters more than intelligence or effort; how micromanagement destroys creativity and productivity; designing roles that fit personality and tolerance for repetitive work; diagnosing turnover caused by boring or monotonous jobs; involving employees in organizational change initiatives; rebuilding lost trust through accountability and ownership; and why leadership should be treated as a profession rather than a promotion. 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/EP240 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: Dr. Yoram Solomon is one of the world's leading experts on trust. He's the author of The Book of Trust and The Trust Premium, host of The Trust Show podcast, and creator of the Trust Habits® process. A 3-time TEDx speaker and founder of the Innovation Culture Institute®, Dr. Solomon has worked with organizations like AT&T, Dannon, Northrop Grumman, and HR.com. His research-backed, no-BS approach challenges conventional wisdom on leadership, culture, and motivation—and replaces it with brutally honest, practical strategies that actually work. With a PhD in organization and management, and a background that spans tech, military, law, and education, he brings a rare combination of academic depth and real-world experience. Whether he's on stage, on TV, or in the boardroom, his message is simple: trust isn't fluffy—it's measurable, learnable, and the most powerful driver of performance. Dr. Yoram Solomon can be reached at: https://www.yoramsolomon.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoramsolomon https://www.instagram.com/yoramsolomon https://www.facebook.com/TheBookofTrust https://x.com/yoramsolomon https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrustShow 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: Differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in workplace performance. Identify how trust and autonomy directly impact employee engagement and retention. Apply practical strategies to rebuild trust and increase motivation during organizational change.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The first two days of early voting have seen a near-doubling of the 2022 pace of Democratic primary voter turnout in Texas - but, with only a 20% jump, Republicans still lead in total ballots cast: https://votehub.com/early-vote-tracker-tx-primary-26?state=tx-sen-26-demKeeping it real and local appears to have been the secret sauce for "normie" Tarrant County candidate Taylor Rehmet, providing a potential winning strategy statewide for Democrats: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/opinion/texas-election-rehmet-politics.htmlDemocratic enthusiasm shouldn't be taken as an endorsement by established Democratic leadership - voters are partly fired up out of disappointment in their resistance to Trump 2.0: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-the-texas-primaries-could-reveal-about-the-midtermsRepublicans in Gillespie County have given up on hand-counting early primary votes, though they still insist they'll hand-count on Election Day: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/18/gillespie-county-republicans-scale-back-hand-count-amid-staffing-shortage/...Dallas County GOP Chair Allen West, after months of efforts to make voting party-specific and thus more difficult, ended up voting himself at a joint polling location in Garland: https://www.keranews.org/news/2026-02-18/a-dallas-county-republican-leader-wanted-voting-locations-separated-by-party-but-when-he-voted...Important reminder that if you live in either Dallas or Williamson County, if you wait until Election Day (March 3) to vote, you will have to do so at your specific precinct location: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-hour-252-dallas-and-williamson-county-primary/id1552998795?i=1000746930358The suicide-by-fire of a staffer of Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales, as has been theorized for months, appears to have been connected to an affair she had with the married lawmaker: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/us/politics/texas-gonzales-suicide-affair.html...There are four Democrats running for the nomination in CD 23, and Progress Texas associate Reagan Stone conducted a panel with them recently: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-live-pod-the-democrats-running-for-cd-23/id1552998795?i=1000749334936Early voting in the March primary is underway! Research your ballot here: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.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.
We spoke with grassroots organizer, Alexander Montalvo, the co-founder of Tarrant 4 Change and The Catalyst Project LLC. He shared with us why this moment in Fort Worth & Tarrant County is so crucial as a key moment of change that requires bold, upapologetic progressive leaders to meet the moment. He also spoke about how one of the best ways that we can bring about the change we need is to uplift diverse voices, and local support grassroot organizers who are doing this work every day.Join the 817 Gather Discord, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
SHORT STORY 1: ICE in North TexasNew rules limit public speaking, discussion topics at Tarrant County Commissioners CourtFree speech concerns raised as Tarrant County judge removes meeting attendeesTexas “Antifa Cell” Terror Trial Takes On Tough Questions About Guns at Protests Against ICEThey Say They're Protesters. The DOJ Says They're TerroristsICE Just Bought a Massive Warehouse in HutchinsSHORT STORY 2: Charter AmendmentsFort Worth voters asked to give city manager more autonomy, increase council's pay in May electionSHORT STORY 3: Data Centers$10B data center hits wall after Fort Worth leaders cite resources, land usage concernsTexas county rejects a moratorium on data center development amid AI boomWINS: Walk for Peace Buddhist monks arrive in Fort Worth for homecoming celebrationTarrant Area Food Bank building a $3.5M Community Resource CenterJury awards over $600K to former Tarrant sheriff's deputy in retaliation caseLOSSES: Gyna Bivens & Carol Ivey passed awayNorth Texas needs signature music festival to become major hub (Brandi's Take)ACTIONS:February 17 - Early Voting begins for Primaries (Polling locations & hours)February 20 - 817 Live recording at Tarrant County Democratic Party fundraisingNow - March 1 - Bull in a China Shop at Amphibian Stage (Buy tickets)March 3 - Election day for PrimariesMarch 10 - Data center vote at Fort Worth City CouncilMarch 21 - FWAAMFEST (Buy tickets)Join the 817 Gather Discord, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
In episode 239, Coffey talks with Carrie Fabris about why organizations seem to revisit the same issues repeatedly and how leaders can solve them for good through better communication, alignment, and accountability. They discuss ineffective workplace communication and recurring problems; intuitive leadership versus inclusive decision-making; defining root causes instead of treating symptoms; creating buy-in through clarity, trust, and shared language; productive conflict and psychological safety on teams; accountability, execution, and avoiding chaos in organizations; leadership energy, burnout prevention, and sustainable performance. 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/EP239 Carrie's book “ALL IN: A Working Mom's Unapologetic Quest for a Juicy Life” can be found here https://www.carriefabris.com/bookstore 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: Carrie Fabris is the founder and CEO of CareerFrame, a leadership development and executive coaching firm that helps high-performing leaders become energized, aligned, and execution-focused. Known for her fast trust and bold clarity, Carrie works with VPs and executive teams navigating growth, succession, and culture shifts. She brings 20+ years of corporate experience with companies like Google, Travelocity, and Sabre—and for the past 10 years, coaches and advises leaders using her signature FRAMEit Method™, which blends CliftonStrengths®, EQ-i®, Situational Leadership and real-world leadership systems that emphasize a whole-human leadership approach to bring balance for busy people leaders. Carrie is especially passionate about helping leaders have hard conversations, build trust fast, communicate effectively and create accountability that actually energizes. She graduated from UT Austin and resides in Dallas, TX. Carrie Fabris can be reached at https://www.careerframe.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfabris-reframe-coaching-training https://www.carriefabris.com/bookstore https://www.instagram.com/cdfabris https://www.facebook.com/chiefreframer https://x.com/yourcareerframe hello@carriefabris.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 why unresolved communication leads to recurring organizational problems. Apply practical leadership behaviors that create alignment, buy-in, and accountability. Use frameworks and assessments to improve problem solving, execution, and team trust.
You are here by formally invited to attend! Join us Friday, March 6, 2026 at Defender Outdoors Clay Sports Ranch for the 10th Annual Pull for Kids Clay Shoot, benefiting CASA of Tarrant County. Shoot. Sponsor. Support. Change a child's future—one pull at a time.
Plus Mark Cuban could be back in the Mavs owners suite, the search for NBC Today host Savannah Guthrie's mother is going nationwide, a man is going to prison for life after being convicted of two murders in Tarrant County, and more!
BIG STORY: Candidates for Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 2Jared WilliamsAmanda ArizolaGabe RivasSHORT STORY 1: County Commissioner's Court ChangesNew rules would limit Tarrant County jail discussion, resident input at public meetingsSHORT STORY 2: Fort Worth Charter AmendmentsDoubling council salaries, expanding city manager's authority could be on Fort Worth's May ballot✅City council salaries would be $50,000, the mayor's would be $60,000.❌City manager would have the ability to create, consolidate, & abolish departments without a council vote.❌City manager could fire department heads & council appointees without a written statement or public hearing.❌Council could approve the budget at the same required public meeting, meaning that there would be no time at all for things to change based on public input.❌Remove the requirement for public utilities to report to council.SHORT STORY 3: FWISD Under Attack from the StateFort Worth ISD loses appeal of state takeover, prompting a trustee's resignationStudent walkouts prompt warning from Texas leaders — raising First Amendment concernsWINS: Buddhist monks on Walk for Peace journey to DC return to Fort Worth on Valentine's DayLOSSES: The County Commissioner's Court & Fort Worth City Council meetings on February 10th.ACTIONS:Black History Month - Support black businesses & politicians."I'm Done Humming and Swaying" from Power by DesignFebruary 10 - County Commissioner's Court at 10amFebruary 10 - Fort Worth City Council at 6pmNow - March 2 - filing is open for Fort Worth city council District 10 candidatesFebruary 15 - 817 Gather (Join)February 17 - Early Voting begins for PrimariesFebruary 20 - 817 Live recording at Tarrant County Democratic Party fundraising (Get your tickets)March 3 - Election day for PrimariesJoin the 817 Gather Discord, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
Latino voters just delivered one of the biggest political shocks of the 2026 cycle — a 50+ point swing in Latino precincts in a deep-red Texas Senate district. The message is clear: Latinos are no longer loyal to either party, and they're demanding results.Mike and Chuck dig into what's really driving Latino voters in 2026: an aspirational, working-class agenda centered on housing, health care, and hope. They unpack why immigration enforcement, economic pain, and cultural backlash are reshaping the electorate, why Republicans are panicking, and why Democrats can't afford to blow this second chance.The guys also preview Bad Bunny's upcoming Superbowl performance, its significant cultural reference, and the opposing alternative halftime show being pushed by MAGA Trumpers. Send us pictures of your Superbowl Halftime experience!-Recorded February 4, 2026.-Referenced in the episode:Votehub - 2026 Texas Senate District 9 Special Election Interactive Map: https://votehub.com/2026_txsd9_specialABC 7 | WJLA - 'Snowcrete' piles persist as DC leaders push cleanup efforts forward: https://wjla.com/news/local/snowcrete-piles-dc-leaders-push-cleanup-efforts-forward-winter-snow-storm-icicy-roads-streets-public-schools-open-mayor-bowser-residents-safety-community-removal-shovel-fines-senior-housing-sidewalks-streets-dmvThe Guardian - Donald Trump announces plans for Indycar race through Washington DC streets: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/30/trump-indycar-grand-prix-washington-dcThe New York Times - Bad Bunny's All-American, All-Spanish, All-Eyes-on-Him Super Bowl: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/arts/music/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show.htmlKTLA5 - Kid Rock lyrics about underage girls draw questions ahead of ‘faith and family'-based TPUSA show: https://ktla.com/entertainment/kid-rock-lyrics-about-underage-girls-draw-questions-ahead-of-faith-and-family-based-tpusa-showCheck out the rest of the references and recent news on the latino vote on our website: https://latinos.vote/-Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast! Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast Find us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcast Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!
In episode 238, Coffey talks with Joseph Fuller about how skills-based hiring is reshaping recruiting, workforce development, and talent strategy in the age of AI. They discuss defining skills-based hiring beyond degree proxies; redesigning recruiting and applicant tracking systems; training hiring managers to reduce bias and risk aversion; using AI, simulations, and assessments to evaluate real skills; improving onboarding for nontraditional hires; addressing automation's impact on entry-level roles; balancing degrees, credentials, and experiential learning; and elevating social and learning skills as core capabilities in the future workforce. 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/EP238 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: Joseph Fuller is Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School and one of the nation's leading authorities on the future of work. He co-leads the Managing the Future of Work Project at Harvard Business School. He creates research of direct relevance to decision makers in business and government, including the impact of technology and demographic changes on the workforce, the rise of the gig economy, global talent flows, and the emergence of the care economy. The Managing the Future of Work podcast that he co-hosts has been downloaded over 2 million times. He also co-leads the Harvard Project on the Workforce, a collaboration between the Harvard schools of business, government and education. It focuses on issues related to lower skilled workers, including career pathways and the causes of income polarization and occupational segregation. Prior to joining the faculty, he was a founder, first employee and long-time CEO of the global strategy consulting firm Monitor Group, now Monitor-Deloitte. Joe is a widely published author. His work has appeared in the Harvard Business Review, the Sloan Management Review, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, the Washington Post and the New York Times. Joe is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College and of Harvard Business School. He is a director of Aera Technology, Hakluyt and Company and Helios Consulting, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Western Governors University and a Senior Visiting Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Joseph Fuller can be reached at https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=123284 Additional Resources: Charter Workplace Summit 2025: AI and entry-level workers The Future of Work Series: The Effects of AI on Talent Management and Workforce Development - Video | OpenAI Forum MINDWORKS Season 4 Transcripts – Aptima Season 4 transcript under the title “AI and the Future of Work” 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 what differentiates skills-based hiring from traditional credential-based recruiting Identify practical changes employers must make to hiring processes, interviews, and ATS systems Evaluate when college degrees add value and when alternative signals of capability are more effective
After the famous "little fella" manhunt from Monday, we were surprised to find out that another guy was on the loose, at the expect same spot on Tuesday! Back to back Tarrant County manhunt coverage, brought to you by the Ben & Skin show.
Plus administrators at Flower Mound High School have notified families about a possible student anti-ICE walkout planned for today, a Dallas police officer was shot last night during a disturbance call, a Tarrant County inmate is back behind bars after a brazen and half-naked escape, and more!
Episode Description "Can you trust the numbers, or are they just another tool for a clever storyteller?"
A Texas town hall explodes, MAGA loses its grip in Tarrant County, and new reporting reveals foreign money flooding Trump's crypto venture—signaling a national democratic reckoning.Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://politicsdoneright.com/newsletterPurchase our Books: As I See It: https://amzn.to/3XpvW5o How To Make AmericaUtopia: https://amzn.to/3VKVFnG It's Worth It: https://amzn.to/3VFByXP Lose Weight And BeFit Now: https://amzn.to/3xiQK3K Tribulations of anAfro-Latino Caribbean man: https://amzn.to/4c09rbE
Arnie Arnesen and PDR discuss Democrat Taylor Rehmet flipping one of the reddest counties in America, triggering a 30-point swing that signals MAGA's collapse and a national political realignment. Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://politicsdoneright.com/newsletterPurchase our Books: As I See It: https://amzn.to/3XpvW5o How To Make AmericaUtopia: https://amzn.to/3VKVFnG It's Worth It: https://amzn.to/3VFByXP Lose Weight And BeFit Now: https://amzn.to/3xiQK3K Tribulations of anAfro-Latino Caribbean man: https://amzn.to/4c09rbE
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:A resounding win by Democrat Taylor Rehmet over Republican Leigh Wambsganss in Tarrant County's SD 9 proves that hard work pays off, and that voters even in reliably Republican territory are souring on the disaster of Donald Trump: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/02/texas-senate-district-9-special-election-taylor-rehmet-upset-latino-suburban-backlash/Houston's runoff in CD 18 ends with Christian Menefee the next Texan to join the U.S. House of Representatives, with a rematch in mere weeks with Amanda Edwards - and Congressman Al Green - https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/02/texas-18th-congressional-district-menefee-edwards-green-primary-succession-age-houston/ProPublica reporting has revealed that South Texans Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez were the Border Patrol agents who shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis: https://www.propublica.org/article/alex-pretti-shooting-cbp-agents-identified-jesus-ochoa-raymundo-gutierrezThe 39th Annual Texas Democratic Women's 2026 Convention is coming up February 6-8 in Austin, and Progress Texas is excited to take part! Get signed up: https://tdw.org/convention/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=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.
BIG STORY: Taylor Remet wins TX SD9 SHORT STORY 1: James Talarico & Jasmine Crockett debateSHORT STORY 2: Wael Tarabishi died due to ICESon of Arlington man detained by ICE dies from rare disease / Disabled man, 30, dies alone after his solo caregiver dad is detained by ICESHORT STORY 3: Fort Worth Upcoming Bond ElectionFort Worth plans to devote $5M more to affordable housing after feedback from residents, council membersWINS: Students walk out across Tarrant County protesting ICEFort Worth's Opal Lee is now a BarbieTarrant County College offering first-ever bachelor's degree next fallPeople's Commissioners Court calls for policy to prevent ICE agents access to FWISD campusesTransit Wins in North TexasOne solution for North Texas traffic jams? Building near public transitTEXRail's December ridership sets new record with 25% jumpBus extension to Fort Worth's Cultural District starts Feb. 1Trinity Railway Express fare changes begin March 1Texas Transit Association names Trinity Metro the Transit Agency of the YearFriend of Public Transit of the Year award goes to… Ann Zadeh!LOSSES: Defense attorneys say lawyer's removal from Juvenile Board list is ‘deeply troubling'Islamic Games in Colleyville canceled for alleged ties to group Abbott calls terroristicFort Wort Report publisher & board decline to recognize Reporters Guild unionACTIONS:Donate to the Tarabishi family.February 2 - Filing opens for Fort Worth City Council District 10 (Filing ends March 2)February 4 - 817 Gather At The Table in District 2 (RSVP)February 10 - Fort Worth City Council vote to approve the bondFebruary 17 - Early Voting begins for Primary ElectionFebruary 20 - 817 Pod will be recording live at Tarrant County Democratic Party fundraiser (Get tickets)Join the 817 Gather Discord, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.
A Tarrant County man is back behind bars after a brazen escape, and its warming up north Texas!
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:As a weekend of protest dawns, reports emerge of a Texas DPS crackdown on a group of peaceful protestors outside the ICE detention facility at Dilley on Wednesday: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/eveything-we-saw-at-dilley-protest/A national shutdown of work, school and spending has been called by a coalition of activist groups: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/immigration/2026/01/30/ice-out-jan-30-anti-ice-protests-planned-across-us-today/88417918007/...Learn more and find events near you: https://nationalshutdown.org/...Potential prosecution related to the death - ruled official a homicide - of Cuban immigrant Geraldo Lunas Campos at the East Montana detention camp at Fort Bliss is uncertain, as it occurred on federally-controlled property: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/29/texas-el-paso-migrant-death-ice-custody-autopsy-prosecution/Election Day arrives tomorrow for both voters in Houston's CD 18: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/cd18-early-voting-reminder-21318224.php...And in Tarrant County's State Senate District 9: https://lonestarproject.net/2026/01/09/proud-to-serve-vs-paid-to-hate/The 39th Annual Texas Democratic Women's 2026 Convention is coming up February 6-8 in Austin, and Progress Texas is excited to take part! Get signed up: https://tdw.org/convention/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=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.
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...
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