Real news?!

Seems we weren't the only ones disappointed, though not surprised, at how Kay Granger voted on the NPR.

Letter to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says it all.  Right, left, we will all pay for this vote.

Disappointing vote

The March 17 vote in the House to strip funding for NPR was not about reducing deficits and debt or creating jobs. It was strictly about pursuing a right-wing extremist political agenda. Shame on Rep. Kay Granger for pandering to the extremist elements in her own party by voting against public broadcasting.

-- Ed Holloman, Fort Worth

On to something...

A Letter to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram makes our point. 

WHO is looking out for the citizens and their rights?  Your "leaders"?  The "news"?  Guess again.  It's THE PEOPLE. 

Remember that come May.

Gas drilling

The city of Fort Worth has issued permits for gas drilling without confirming legal ownership of property owners. By doing this, it allows gas companies to submit waivers with applications for drilling permits that are signed by anyone who is listed with the Tarrant Appraisal District. Finding a person's name on TAD is not the same as locating the legal property owner.

In an effort to drill on the Westridge site in West Fort Worth, a site that is 100 percent surrounded by residences, Chesapeake submitted waivers that were not legal.

Of the eight waivers required for protected uses, five were not valid at the time the application was filed on Feb. 10.

The current gas drilling ordinance is poorly written and is vague in many areas. If not for concerned residents, the city would have granted this permit. Given the ratio described above in this one application, one can only imagine how many drilling permits have been granted in Fort Worth that should not have been.

The council wants to wait until after City Council elections to amend the gas drilling ordinance. I wonder why?

-- Sheila M. Purdy, Fort Worth

Fracing "news"

The FW Weekly tells you about last week's tanker spill (we showed you the picture from a citizen) and about the radioactive dumping around these parts.

Notice what the Weekly says at the start of their article:

Unnoticed by most local news media, on March 9 a tanker carrying toxic wastewater from a gas field overturned just north of the intersection of I-30 and University Drive—between Trinity Park and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

Sounds along the same lines as what we mentioned this morning with the Paradise Center Scandal.

Ask your local media WHY they aren't telling you what's up.  YOU have a right to know.

Paradise Center Scandal

Durango does it again.  While the "news" doesn't make mention the plight of the Paradise Center, THE PEOPLE do.  And WHO to?  Durango, that's who.

Check out the new blog he started that will help you to follow this developing story that some news producer (in with MHMR?) doesn't think you need to see.

Hats off to Durango for again giving THE PEOPLE a voice.

Carry on, sir!

No "news"

Check in with Durango to find out WHY the Fort Worth Star-Telegram didn't report much on the Earthquake and Tsnumai in Japan or the MHMR Paradise Center scandal.

Then, think about all the other "news" you are missing in Tarrant County.  And ask WHY?

What's the difference in NY and TX?

Newspapers.  Read the drilling article that addresses concerns with water supply in the New York Times.

And then read about the DISH, TX lawsuit against the industry on TXSharon.

While Josh Fox didn't win the Oscar, we are sure he appreciates all the free press Gasland was given.  Netflix says it's a LONG WAIT to see Gasland.  Here's hoping Gasland 2 brings home the Oscar next year!

Is there a reporter in the house?

Aside from Durango?

We saw one short, hard to understand blip on the local news recently, other than that nothing about the Paradise Center, which provides services for mentally ill patients, being shut down in a questionable manner.

WHY is that?

UPDATE - JOIN THEM TODAY, SEE DURANGO'S POST ABOVE FOR DETAILS.

Fort Worth makes the list...

But not the news?
Fort Worth was ranked #6 on the list of cities going to run out of water.  It was reported on Yahoo, days ago but we seem to find no mention of it in the local "media".  WHY?  ASK. 

Is it because businesses look at water supply before choosing to locate to an area?  Does the local media think business owners don't read national news?

Don't miss it, YOU can't afford to.  Neither can your family or friends.  Spread the word.  After all, it's YOUR water.

Making news...

What does Adrian Murray say about the "news" interview concerning Pastor Stephen Broden? 

An ode to Brad Watson

Don’t take the mike away from me
Don’t you leave while I make history
If you don’t believe then I’ll be blue
‘Cause making news ain’t hard to do

Remember when we told the truth
Reporting facts now seems uncouth
Sorry friends, those days are through
‘Cause making news ain’t hard to do

They say that making news ain't hard to do
Now I know, I know that it's true
Just cut and paste and slice and dice
Yes becomes no and bad becomes nice

I beg of you, don’t turn that dial
I’ve quaffed my hair, come watch me smile
As I twist the facts and false becomes true
‘Cause making news ain’t hard to do

Speaking of Reverend's

Did you hear what the media has done to Pastor Broden?  Things like this are WHY Star Telegraph came to be.  It doesn't matter what side you are on, left or right -this was wrong.

YOU are invited!  Unless you work for WFAA, we don't think you're on the list.  Well, you are on one, just not this one.

STAND WITH STEPHEN BRODEN THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2010


Bienvenidos Restaurant and Cantina
920 North Interstate 35 east
Lancaster, TX
5:00 pm

Friends and supporters of Pastor Stephen Broden are invited to attend a special rally in his support this Saturday at 5:00 pm in Lancaster.

Pastor Stephen Broden has endured an unprecedented and unsubstantiated assault from the mainstream media this past week. Using clever and sophisticated splice and dice techniques, WFAA and "newsman" Brad Watson concocted a video which purported to show Pastor Broden advocating the violent overthrow of the government. The Dallas Morning News played its own role by dropping the story on a Friday morning with a misleading and hysterical headline, letting it fester over the weekend so reliable allies in the left wing like Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper could whip up a media frenzy without Pastor Broden being able to respond.

Those of us who have come to know, respect and love Pastor Broden smelled a rat. There was no way a man of peace and God's word would ever advocate such a thing. With the release of the unedited interview yesterday we found we were right. WFAA edited Pastor Broden's negative responses to violence and left on the cutting room floor his admonitions that change and reform had to come through the ballot box.

Many of you have walked neighborhoods and knocked on doors for Pastor Broden. You have been inspired by his soaring speeches on protecting liberty. You have been reminded of the greatness of our founding principles and the necessity of returning to them. Don't let the left wing smear machine deny Texans the opportunity to be represented in Washington by this great man. The citizens of House District 30 deserve better than the corrupt Eddie Bernice Johnson.

We've called on you many times before and you have always answered. We're asking one more time. In this crucial closing weekend please come to Lancaster and stand with Stephen Broden.

Trinity River Banks

The Trinity River Vision Authority, a political subdivision or semi-governmental group (WHAT is it again?) of the Trinity River Vision keeps inviting YOU down to float in the Trinity River or Tube the Trinity for their Happy Hour float.  They have said the Tarrant Regional Water District, you know, that group that gave themselves a raise last week, has done a good job of keeping the Trinity clear and free from pollutants.  Then why is the Trinity in the top third of the list for contaminated water ways?

Local news media has told a few of Lone Star's friends that the Trinity River Vision and the floating isn't really news. 

When people are being put at risk,  just as they are with the Trinity River Vision, WE think that's news.  What do YOU think?

Watch the best video we've seen on the Trinity River.  You tell us WHO's Vision is blurry?
WHO got the video?  Durango, of course.

Stay tuned.

Just so you know...

Several newspapers keep printing statements such as "hydraulic fracing has been taking place for 60 years"...

There are a few things wrong with this statement:

1) HORIZONTAL fracing has NOT been taking place for 60 years.
2) Chemicals being used now, were not always used.  (Why else would a loophole be needed?!)
3) You journalists know this. 

Now, do something about it.

NO News

THE PEOPLE are catching on.  

Letter to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Look for the facts

I am so grateful to be living in a country where I can think what I want to think and believe whatever I choose to believe about the issues.

As do most concerned citizens, I get information about what is going on in the country and world from the usual sources: television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Web and so on.

However, I have become suspicious that those sources of news and information are often not giving me facts.

Are they intentionally omitting information they do not want me to know? Is the information they provide skewed in a manner that supports their own point of view, rather than giving me known facts about an issue and allowing me to use my own judgment in forming my own opinions?

Freedom of the press is a wonderful concept, originating with the Founders. However, in this 21st century, all of us should view the so-called news with skepticism, pending verification from other sources.

Each of us interested and concerned about what is going on in the country and around the world should be careful that we are not merely cherry-picking the "news" and so-called facts that tend to support our own preconceived opinions.

-- Bob Bartles, Fort Worth

Picking on the Papers

First of all, while they didn't win, we'd like to congratulate Adrian Murray and John Basham for running a strong campaign for the Tarrant Regional Water District and educating more citizens on what is taking place behind closed doors with our money and water.   Nice try gentlemen, taking on the Fort Worth Way (and money) isn't easy, well played.

We do wonder why one of the local papers that has done countless articles on water, money, greed and corruption in Tarrant County, sat silent on the sidelines.  Makes you wonder WHO kept them quiet? And WHY they would choose not to educate folks?  Inside job, maybe?  Or just the dividing lines of politics.  WHO doesn't realize water is non-partisan?

We have a question about the article in the other daily paper concerning the Water District race - the incumbents claim the challangers "misled" voters. How's that? Seems they requested information and then shared it with voters. Sounds like a reporters job to us.  Maybe that should be their next move.

That same paper reported on the rough and tumble world of Haltom City politics, seems like a race was won (recount not yet decided) by 3 votes, yes you read that right. On page 2 of the paper it said one candidate won, on page 3, it said the other did.  So, which is it?

And where is Richard Connor when you need him?

Updates

Again, so many issues, so little time. Here's a run down of things we haven't got covered yet, that others do.

What's TXSharon up to? Getting air tests done in your cities. Ones you can count on.

What's the latest on Carter Avenue? We need your help! Write an email, make a call, or send a letter to Judge Sprinkle. NOW! Durango has the contact info.

Seems there is some disagreement over the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Mike Lee's coverage of the Carter Avenue Rally and court hearing. Mr. Lee was criticized by some for not mentioning the rally, the folks present in support, Steve's holding his own against the industry lawyers...you get the picture. Rumor has it, he did write about those things and they were edited out.

Those on the other side (why so many sides? We are all after the same thing!) say to leave Mike alone, as he is the ONLY S-T reporter covering any of the gas issues. While we understand and can greatly appreciate that, we think the point they were making is, if you only cover half the story, does that make you part of the problem? The news should be just that...news. Covering all of both sides. There are some that still believe that is the purpose of a newspaper. So our question is WHO is the editor for last week's article? Send us the info!! Durango has update.

They did it again...

Instead of being fair and balanced, like people expect the news to be, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram daily newspaper has done it again concerning the Carter Avenue court hearing and rally.

We'll go with Durango on this one.

This is a perfect example of the reason this blog was created, people are tired of attending events and then seeing the "news" wondering if the reporters were actually at the same event.

You have notes from the rally and hearing yesterday? Let us hear them.

Sell yourself

A few days ago there was an article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram newspaper claiming that Fort Worth and the region rank top 10 globally for business development.

We love Fort Worth (that's why we live here) and we agree businesses are good for the area economy, however we couldn't help notice a few oddities with the article.

First, the study was done by the Dallas Regional Chamber.

Second, the article was written by the Executive Vice President for Economic Development with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.

Huh?

We would have let the mention of our advanced transportation infrastructure, including our interstate freeways, slide, had we not sat on one for an hour trying to go 10 miles earlier this week. Advanced is not the word that came to mind.