By Talia RichmanStaff writer to include a statement from Fort Worth ISD leaders.Fort Worth schools are at risk of a state takeover Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath warned district leaders on Monday One of the district’s campuses earned a failing rating for the fifth consecutive year according to recently released 2023 A-F academic accountability grades But complicating matters is that the state rating comes two years delayed because of lawsuits — and Fort Worth officials already closed that campus Morath wrote to Superintendent Karen Molinar and trustee president Roxanne Martinez that the closure “has no bearing on” the actions he may take The Education LabReceive our in-depth coverage of education issues and stories that affect North Texans GoogleFacebookBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy State law requires the commissioner to either appoint a board of managers to govern a district or order the closure of a consistently failing campus “It is unfortunate to be placed in such a position as it represents an underlying fact that many students have been so significantly harmed that the American dream may be out of their reach,” Morath wrote “While the actions required of me by the statute are serious they are absolutely necessary for the students of Fort Worth ISD.” Fort Worth Independent School District leaders told the Fort Worth Report in April they believe the district isn’t at risk of a state takeover district officials said they will be appealing the rating strategic action to implement a restructured literacy and math curriculum framework that includes targeted training high quality instructional materials and systemwide implementation,” the statement read The conflict centers around the Leadership Academy at Forest Oak sixth grade campus Morath told Fort Worth school leaders they must take immediate and aggressive action “I will be evaluating the operations and leadership of Fort Worth ISD more closely in the coming months and if forced to make a decision under (state education law,) will do so after ratings become final,” he wrote The 2023 A-F academic accountability ratings were delayed for the past two years because of a lawsuit Texas Education Agency officials recently won the ability to publish the 2023 scores About 30% of its 138 schools earned F ratings in 2023 it’s the results of just one school — the now-closed Leadership Academy at Forest Oak sixth grade — that could lead to serious consequences for all the district’s roughly 70,000 students Molinar became the permanent FWISD superintendent in March after serving as interim since October 2024 She was previously a deputy superintendent in the district She’s pledged a stronger focus on literacy, acknowledging the district has much to improve on. “We are committed to equipping teachers with the resources they need and ensuring students receive consistent, high-impact instruction that accelerates learning and academic growth,” district officials said in Monday’s statement. Fort Worth, along with many other districts, saw declines in its 2023 academic accountability scores. Local school officials had predicted this and it was part of the reason they sued over changes to the A-F rating system. Morath said the system’s refresh was part of a planned five-year cycle, which was needed to ensure that schools continuously improved outcomes for students. Texas’ A-F system grades every public campus across the state, through a system largely based on standardized test scores. The ratings have a major effect on how communities view local schools, influencing where people buy homes and enroll their children. In rare cases, failing campus grades have triggered dramatic state consequences, such as the takeover of Houston ISD. In 2023, Morath installed his own choice of superintendent in Houston — former Dallas ISD superintendent Mike Miles — and replaced the school board overseeing the state’s largest district. The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas. she attended Richardson High School and graduated from the University of Maryland She previously covered schools and City Hall for The Baltimore Sun Arlington represented the first El Tiempo outside Houston for the family Patina was originally founded in Los Angeles and manages restaurants in museums These drinks at Provender Hall light up.Provender Hall Provender Hall Bar & Grill the restaurant in The Stockyards from chef Marcus Paslay's From Scratch Hospitality has two new non-alcoholic beverages that light up: Stockyards Sparkler with sparkling cherry lemonade and Neon Lemonade with elctric blue raspberry lemonade Designed with a light-up ice cube keepsake they're fun for the kids and also make a good mocktail complete with western decor and classic southern fare There’s a new Nashville chicken restaurant now open in Mansfield: Called 2 Neighbors Southern Chicken it opened in March in the Broad Street Shopping Center at 2751 E where it's serving an authentic version from a family with first-hand knowledge Owner Carlonda Marshall is a native of Nashville who's getting some backup from her mother "We grew up on Nashville fried chicken that would be our Friday night meal," Marshall says Mansfield is a second location: Marshall opened the first 2 Neighbors in 2017 in Cedar Hill, before relocating to the Grow DeSoto Market Place in 2020, where it’s still open today. (They also briefly opened a burgers and shakes concept next door in the marketplace The new Mansfield location has fast-casual service Fans can buy hats and T-shirts with the restaurant's design The menu at Mansfield is similar to DeSoto location but with a bigger focus on Southern fried chicken Customers can get plain fried chicken or the spicier Nashville-style Prices range from $8.50 for nuggets to $14 for catfish & fries The only thing they're not doing at Mansfield is sandwiches a twist on the classic Kentucky butter cake a moist pound cake with a butter and sugar syrup and a vanilla glazed crust The center where they're located has a healthy mix of shops and restaurants. They took over a space that was previously occupied by another chicken place called Chick'n Cone now closed; but Marshall is upbeat about the area "Just looking in the Mansfield area and seeing all the growth there we decided it’s kind of booming over there,” she says "We're so busy in Mansfield right now we're getting a lot of walk-in traffic." these playful siblings have found a new life in the Texas Wild capturing hearts with their contrasting personalities and curious antics The one-year-old American black bear cubs — rescued after being orphaned in Montana — are the newest residents at the Fort Worth Zoo where they’ve quickly made themselves at home in the Texas Wild the siblings are already drawing attention for their contrasting coats and curious personalities: Cinnamon with her sunlit rust coloring and fearless energy and Raisin with the classic black bear look and a more laid-back approach to his surroundings Wildlife & Parks after losing their mother because of the cubs’ young age and growing comfort around humans returning them to the wild wouldn’t be safe The Fort Worth Zoo — already home to black bears since 2001 and backed by the kind of resources and staff experience that make this kind of long-term care possible — stepped in to provide a permanent home Their new territory is the Pineywoods & Swamps habitat which walks visitors through a series of Lone Star landscapes — from desert to forest and everything in between Cinnamon and Raisin wasted no time testing out their new surroundings: climbing logs and generally behaving like two toddlers on a sugar high American black bears (Ursus americanus) don’t always come in black Their coats can range from blond to silver the Fort Worth Zoo points out that even cubs in the same litter can be different colors — a detail on full display with this sibling duo What they do tend to have in common is a brown muzzle and an uncanny ability to adapt today’s black bears are omnivores who’ll eat just about anything: berries and occasionally the leftovers from a poorly secured picnic cooler capable of hitting 30 miles per hour and scaling trees like it’s nothing they’re mostly crepuscular — active at dawn and dusk — but bears living closer to people sometimes flip their schedules in search of easier meals Though Cinnamon and Raisin won’t be returning to the forests of Montana they’ve found a version of wild that works Surrounded by the careful balance of conservation and care they’re getting the second chance most orphaned cubs never do And judging by the videos on the Fort Worth Zoo’s Instagram feed — where the pair can be seen wrestling in water and inspecting every inch of their new home — they’re making the most of it “Providing a home for animals that are no longer able to live in their natural habitat is another way the Zoo remains committed to the care and conservation of all species,” the Zoo posted Sign-up for Fort Worth Magazine's newsletters to stay up to date with what is happening around town The Texas education commissioner is now officially weighing his options for Fort Worth ISD after a now-closed school triggered the state’s school intervention law In a May 5 letter to Superintendent Karen Molinar and board President Roxanne Martinez Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said the district’s accountability ratings triggered a state law that requires him to intervene Fort Worth ISD spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request to comment The issue: The Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade failed to meet state standards for five straight years — a threshold that mandates either a campus closure or the appointment of a board of managers to govern the entire district Although the failing campus no longer exists its closure does not absolve the district from consequences “Since the campus earned its fifth consecutive unacceptable academic rating in that year the school’s subsequent closure has no bearing on the compulsory action the statute requires the commissioner to take,” he wrote in the letter District leaders closed the sixth grade campus — formerly known as Glencrest Sixth Grade — following the 2022-23 school year It was absorbed into Forest Oak Middle School as part of a consolidation plan TEA approved The school is now marked “obsolete” in the state’s directory Still, the delayed release of 2023 academic accountability ratings due to a lawsuit showed the campus earned an F that year Because the campus had also failed to meet standards in 2022 The 2020 and 2021 ratings were not issued due to the COVID-19 pandemic and state policy changes those “Not Rated” years do not break the chain of failure District officials previously told the Fort Worth Report they believe Fort Worth ISD is not at risk of a takeover They said the Forest Oak Sixth Grade closure and campus consolidation already addressed the issue — and that academic performance has improved “We are proud of the growth that we have seen in Forest Oak Middle School since the expansion and consolidation to one 6-8 grade campus,” Molinar wrote in an April 24 community letter Morath emphasized that his hands are tied by law “Commissioner action under this section of the (Texas Education Code) is compulsory,” he wrote “The commissioner does not have discretion whether to act under this provision.” Morath will not make a final decision until after the ratings are finalized later this summer Fort Worth ISD has the right to appeal the preliminary rating for the now-closed campus The commissioner also signaled a broader review of district leadership may be coming “It is critical that district leadership take aggressive action to improve the academic lives of students in Fort Worth ISD “I will be evaluating the operations and leadership of Fort Worth ISD more closely in the coming months.” Fort Worth ISD received a D overall in the preliminary ratings — the lowest among the 12 districts serving the city 77 campuses across the district received either a D or a F and eight have failed to meet standards since at least 2018 Only 32% of third graders were reading on grade level and just 31% were meeting math benchmarks — figures the commissioner called representative of broader struggles across the district they are absolutely necessary for the students of Fort Worth ISD,” Morath wrote TEA said it reserves the right to use any other interventions or sanctions under state law in the meantime Morath will be forced to decide between ordering further campus closures — or replacing the school board Jacob Sanchez is a senior education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org or @_jacob_sanchez.  Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org or @matthewsgroi1.  At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here Classic rock band Vinyl Stripes will perform in Roanoke as part of the city's Oak Street concert series ®PAPERCITY ©2025 urban publishers, inc. all rights reserved terms & condition // privacy policy // sitemap Inventive plates like PB&J wings and duck-fat-seared burgers anchor the dining at Wishbone & Flynt Maiden offers a plant-based tasting experience with wines from women-owned vineyards and a Sunday high tea service Nonna Tata serves handmade Northern Italian comfort food in a BYOB setting.(Courtesy) Delicate dumplings and curated wine pairings meet at Teddy Wong's Coastal classics like lobster rolls and seared redfish are served in the historic LaCava Building that now houses Walloon's Restaurant A pay-what-you-can model brings chef-prepared meals and community warmth to the Near Southside at Taste Community Restaurant Southern-inspired dishes are served in a restored 1920s gas station on Magnolia Avenue (Courtesy) Mexico City-style cooking and rooftop mezcal cocktails set the tone at Tinie's Elevated American staples like chicken fried steak and shrimp & grits shine at Cat City Grill we look at the 10 Best Restaurants in Fort Worth’s Near Southside that keep locals and tourists coming back for more Ellerbe Fine Foods helped pioneer farm-to-table dining in Fort Worth Led by James Beard Award semi-finalist Molly McCook the restaurant — a restored 1920s gas station — is known for its elegant seasonal menus sourced from local farmers and purveyors The dishes reflect Southern roots with a modern ingredient-driven approach that changes with the harvest Ellerbe also offers an extensive wine program featuring curated selections and unique services like in-home tastings and cellar consultations Taste Community Restaurant is a mission-driven eatery that operates on a pay-what-you-can model that removes financial barriers to healthy the restaurant offers seasonal menus featuring dishes like elote fritters and Vietnamese pork steam buns — all crafted from fresh the nonprofit restaurant provides culinary job training and volunteer opportunities for locals At Teddy Wong’s, elevated Chinese cuisine paired with choice wines is the draw From delicate soup dumplings to fiery hot oil wontons each dish is matched with vino selections designed to bring out complex flavors heads both the kitchen and the adjacent to-go dumpling space with over 80 boutique selections carefully curated to ensure even the most discerning wine lover won’t leave without a memorable moment Walloon’s brings upscale coastal dining to the heart of Magnolia Avenue. Led by Fort Worth’s own Chef Marcus Paslay (Clay Pigeon and Piattello) and housed in the renovated LaCava Building the restaurant offers a refined menu featuring Gulf-inspired dishes like seared redfish The large horseshoe bar is the perfect place to perch while you sip on a superlative cocktail and wait for your lunch or main course This Mexico City-styled restaurant brings mezcal soul and serious style to South Main ingredient-driven dishes like duck carnitas enchiladas and sweet potato tetelas in a space that blends exposed brick The upstairs Escondite bar boasts one of the best rooftop patios with a clear view of downtown This tiny BYOB trattoria on Magnolia Avenue has been serving Northern Italian comfort food since 2006 with just a handful of tables and zero pretense Dishes like the Lasagne alla Bolognese — layered with homemade pasta and parmesan — and the carbonara pasta with pancetta and pecorino are the kind of meals that linger in your memory This South Main cocktail lounge and restaurant offers a passport to international flavors and an atmosphere that feels worlds away the team pours from a vast selection of premium spirits crafting cocktails that pull inspiration from every corner of the globe Brunch regulars know to order the chilaquiles verde — crispy tortilla chips tossed in house-made salsa verde and topped with cream cheese and two eggs This fine-dining vegan restaurant is the vision of Chef Amy McNutt plant-based extension of her Spiral Diner legacy The intimate space blends sculptural steel curves with velvet booths and midcentury touches Wines are sourced from women-owned vineyards and chosen for the stories behind them Maiden hosts a high tea service featuring vegan finger sandwiches This Fort Worth restaurant offers a menu of reimagined comfort foods crafted with seasonal ingredients Signature dishes include the PB&J Wings with Thai peanut sauce and blackberry coulis featuring a custom patty seared in duck fat The adjacent Amber Room provides a unique setting for cocktails and small bites for before of after the main dining experience This Magnolia Avenue staple delivers elevated Americana classics in a setting that’s equal parts casual and polished Known for its award-winning chicken fried steak and house-made meatloaf and brunch classics like shrimp & grits and eggs Benedict and a private dining room for up to 30 guests Saturday’s events were the latest in a series of nationwide days of action that started in February by a group that describes itself as “a decentralized rapid response to the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration.” President Donald Trump and his administration have implemented executive orders and actions on numerous issues — from immigration to cutting government — that protesters say are dismantling democratic institutions threatening civil liberties and pushing the country toward a constitutional crisis Political PointsGet the latest politics news from North Texas and beyond supporters of the president’s policy decisions view his actions on immigration and cutting government as fulfilling promises he made on the campaign trail The group’s name stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one day. Most recently, its “Hands Off!” rallies — which organizers said took place in more than 1,200 locations — drew massive crowds on April 5 protesters gathered at Dealey Plaza in downtown besides some passersby waving Trump flags from their cars the earliest protest in the D-FW area started around 11 a.m Organizers say about 700 people lined the busy intersection of U.S Their chants were accompanied by people honking their horns as they drove past chair of the Collin County Democratic Party said there has been an increase in people wanting to be more politically active The party also recently created a protest committee to help coordinate and organize demonstrations in the area “The increase is just because of the continued devolving of the checks and balances at the federal level,” Sutka said is one such person looking to be more politically engaged She said Saturday was her first time participating in a protest saying she wanted to express her “disgust” over what she described as a lack of due process in the federal government ‘The best thing you can do is make your voice heard,’ and that’s what I’m trying to do,” Guynes said the upheaval in science and health care was the reason that drew Dr “But it’s frustrating and difficult to have the people in charge not be science-based medicine-based or not know what they’re doing.” They then marched through the city’s downtown streets at about 1 p.m a 27-year-old Frisco resident who said immigration policies and reproductive rights were top of mind when she decided to attend the protest “It’s crazy to think that because of the color of your skin no matter how smart you are or how good of a job you do here how many taxes you’ve paid or whether you were born here you’re still subject to being detained by ICE,” Quiroz said adding her family is originally from Guanajuato “I’m always afraid of one of us being detained for no reason.” Quiroz was also among several attendees to note the lack of people of color in Saturday’s crowd explaining that many immigrant families are feeling the need to “stay under the radar in order to stay together.” “We come from small towns where we are the minority all the time and so we’re always afraid of who’s on our side and who’s against us,” she said “To be able to see so many people of a different color come out and support us means so much to us and to our community.” around 400 people of all ages gathered at City Hall A small group of attendees then took turns sharing their reasons for protesting from protecting the Constitution to setting an example for future generations some drivers honked in support of the protest while occupants from a couple of cars shouted “Make America Great Again” and waved Trump flags She holds a master's degree in immunology from the University of Oxford and another master's in journalism from Boston University By Jamie LandersBreaking News Reporter was convicted of capital murder and sentenced by a Tarrant County jury to life without parole for the Dec slayings of 46-year-old Veronica Del Jones 65-year-old Virginia Lewis and 55-year-old Clayton Turrentine According to a Thursday news release from the Tarrant County district attorney’s office Turrentine had purchased a red Dodge from Cousins and put it on his lot at Bill’s Auto Sales off Benbrook Highway in Fort Worth only to learn there was a lien on the car and it was repossessed so Turrentine returned the purchase price of the car to the buyer Breaking NewsGet the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond Turrentine and Cousins had an altercation over the deal less than a week before the killings, according to an arrest-warrant affidavit 14 and was found dead at the dealership by officers who had been called for a welfare check who was also arrested on a capital murder charge in connection with the murders he helped Cousins by tying up Turrentine and Jones and driving them to an abandoned bait shop in Palo Pinto County Cousins took Turrentine and Jones into the building one by one and shot them in the back of the head Cousins and Vandermeer then left the bodies and returned to Fort Worth Prosecutors told jurors that Cousins had a life rife with crime and that he would not change in the future “This case is about the execution of three people,” Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Lloyd Whelchel told the jury in court The news release said Vandermeer plans to accept an offer from the state of 45 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea She is a graduate of The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix where she studied journalism and political science Jamie previously reported for The Arizona Republic and Arizona PBS Brewed will open a new location in Terminal E at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in early 2026 Brisket U will host its last class at Rahr & Sons this week Pop star Benson Boone will perform at Dickies Arena on September 20 Rising pop star Benson Boone will capitalize on his breakout year in 2024 with the upcoming American Heart arena tour which will include a stop at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on Saturday Fresh off his debut performance on Saturday Night Live Boone will embark on a huge 30-city North American tour Boone will also perform in Houston on September 18 and Austin on September 19 The tour will be in support of his sophomore album That album is a quick turnaround from his 2024 debut album which went platinum and rose to as high as No Boone garnered a big number of award nominations and wins in 2024 and 2025, including a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammy Awards, at which he showed off his now-signature flip while singing his hit song Ticket sales for the tour will start with an Amex Presale for American Express Card Members on Wednesday A special fan presale takes place on Thursday, May 8 from 2-10pm on Ticketmaster.com with unlock code: BEAUTIFUL Benson Boone 2025 American Heart North American Tour Dates KY @ Bourbon & Beyond Music FestivalSept 1. Fort Worth Public Market drafts celeb chef for new restaurant and bar The historic Fort Worth Public Market has drafted a celebrity chef to add an exciting new food & beverage operation: Wilks Development is partnering with Fort Worth Top Chef Jenna Kinard and Kansas City restaurateur Christian Moscoso 2. Historic Hogan Building in Fort Worth to welcome a Mexican restaurant There's a new restaurant set to open in downtown Fort Worth it's a Mexican place set to open in the basement of the historic Hogan Building at 901 Houston St 4. Spend Cinco de Mayo 2025 at these Fort Worth restaurants and bars an annual holiday that commemorates a battle won by Mexico in 1863 But its arrival at the peak of spring means that it also makes for a great excuse to drink and grab tacos 5. Crazy tasting tops 7 best food & drink events in Fort Worth this week The organization’s new 60,000-square-foot Riverside facility will serve 900 more clients annually with childcare and economic mobility programs to break the cycle of poverty The Center for Transforming Lives has opened a new 60,000-square-foot campus in southeast Fort Worth to expand its services for women and children experiencing poverty and homelessness on May 2nd at the intersection of East Berry Street and South Riverside Drive the trauma-informed facility sits on 14 acres in an urban park and is accessible by public transit and an economic mobility hub with a commercial kitchen The center estimates it will serve 900 additional clients annually increasing its total impact to more than 3,000 women and children annually participants in its mobility program see a $1,000 monthly income increase and more than $500 in annual savings The new campus replaces the organization's longtime downtown headquarters and is intentionally located in the 76119 ZIP code where the median household income is $39,129 With amenities that promote healing and access to support services the facility is designed to address systemic barriers single mothers and families often face the center helped move 205 families from shelters and off the streets  “Every detail here reflects our mission to partner with single mothers and their children so they can thrive,” said board president Scott Lydick Mayor Mattie Parker called the center “a model for the rest of the country.” CEO Carol Klocek added regarding the women the Center aids Stephen Montoya is the Digital Editor for Fort Worth Magazine "where can I go on a Monday to get a good laugh?" Look no further because we have the spot for you "where can I go on a Monday to get a good laugh?" Look no further because we have the spot for you The Big Laugh Open Mic is a perfect setting for anyone who is looking to laugh and have a good time So grab your grandma or your side piece and head on down to the hottest new spot in Fort Worth the Big Laugh Comedy Club and the Big Laugh Bistro for a night you will never forget Results of the local elections are headlined by the re-elections of Mattie Parker as Mayor of Fort Worth for her third term along with nine incumbents on the Fort Worth City Council with one runoff For all Tarrant County election results got to: https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/TX/Tarrant/123541/web.345435/#/summary  The Fort Worth Public Library Golden Triangle Branch was an election day voting spot for races in Tarrant County Fort Worth Public Market has tapped a top chef for three exciting concepts By Alex NguyenBreaking News Reporter high temperatures could reach the mid-70s Saturday while low temperatures are expected to be in the low 50s It also expects similar weather for the region Sunday The agency also says 1 to 4 inches of rain are possible through Thursday with most of the D-FW area expecting rainfall totals on the lower side D-FW Weather WiseFrom snow to 100-degree heat TUESDAY: Partly to mostly cloudy with a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms WEDNESDAY: Partly cloudy with a 30% chance of showers Her work has also appeared in The Texas Tribune and Bloomberg News She speaks Vietnamese and conversational Spanish and is always on the lookout for delicious street food.