Good morning, this is Fort Worth Local Pulse for Saturday, November 8th, 2025.

We start today with big developments in local education. The Texas Education Agency has officially taken the first steps in its state takeover of Fort Worth ISD. Education Commissioner Mike Morath appointed Christopher Ruszkowski as conservator, which means Ruszkowski will now oversee district operations as the state prepares to replace the elected school board with a state-appointed group. Superintendent Karen Molinar expressed her intention to stay on for the sake of stability, while the trustees say they strongly disagree with losing local representation and may appeal. More than 200 people turned out at Polytechnic High this week to discuss the changes, with parents and teachers voicing concerns about how this will affect our 67,500 students. The agency promises open meetings and community input as new managers are selected, but for now, families are left with questions about what real change will look like in our classrooms.

The weather for Fort Worth this Saturday is shaping up cool and sunny, with highs around 66. It’s a picture-perfect autumn day—just right for all the weekend events happening across town.

Speaking of which, if you’re feeling energetic, the John Wayne Grit Series 5K is taking over the Stockyards this morning. Runners and walkers will take off through the historic brick streets for a good cause, supporting cancer research and patient care through the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. Live western entertainment, cowboy-themed fun, and a free beer at the finish make this a classic Cowtown event.

Tonight, if you’re in the mood for excitement, Dickies Arena is hosting a major boxing card. Local favorite Vergil Ortiz Jr., who’s undefeated and one of the sport’s hardest punchers, is defending his world title against Erickson Lubin. The prelims start at 4:30, and the main event draws fans from across the state, so expect traffic near Dickies and bring your voice to cheer.

City Hall made headlines this week as the Fort Worth City Council unanimously blocked a proposed rate hike from Oncor Electric Delivery. That means our average monthly bills, which hover around 156 dollars, won’t be going up—welcome relief as utility costs keep swinging. The council’s move shows a commitment to shielding residents from excessive charges.

On the business front, Texas Motor Speedway kicked off two major construction projects aimed at making the fan experience better. Crews are repaving 3.5 miles of roadways, especially around the Fan Zone and tram routes, with new traffic signals and ADA ramps coming to the intersection of Highway 114 and Championship Parkway. While the repaving wraps up early in the new year, lane closures may affect traffic today near the venue.

Fort Worth’s job market is steady as we enter November, with seasonal retail openings popping up all along Hulen Mall and Sundance Square. For those seeking work, big employers like Texas Health Resources and Lockheed Martin continue to post hundreds of listings.

In real estate, the local market remains active, though price growth is slowing. Most homes are selling within four weeks, and we’re seeing plenty of new listings in neighborhoods like Wedgwood and Tanglewood. For first-time buyers, mortgage rates are hovering near seven percent, but competition for affordable homes remains strong.

Sports fans can celebrate another win this week as the Paschal High School Panthers football team pulled off a narrow victory over Arlington Heights, setting up a run for the playoffs. Congratulations to the team and their dedicated coaches.

Turning to the day’s crime report, the Fort Worth Police are working with state rangers after an Anderson County man, Jared Cook, was indicted for stealing cattle worth close to one hundred fifty thousand dollars. He surrendered to authorities and awaits...