All articles tagged with #tarrant county
Tarrant County voters filed an emergency lawsuit challenging the Republican-led commissioners court's decision to cut 92 polling sites for the November midterms. Plaintiffs argue the reductions disproportionately burden Black and Hispanic communities and violate state law. The court must rule before early voting begins on October 19.
Tarrant County commissioners voted 3-2 to approve a plan reducing Election Day polling sites by 92 from the 2022 count, downsizing to 224 Election Day sites and 47 early-voting sites. Supporters say the plan ensures voters can vote, while voting-rights advocates warn it could limit access, especially in Black and brown communities. The decision followed hours of public testimony and party-line voting; Election Day is Nov. 3 with early voting Oct. 19–30.
Texas Democrats condemned a plan by Tarrant County commissioners to slash 92 polling sites, dropping from 316 locations in 2022 to about 224 for 2026, warning the move could depress turnout and disproportionately affect minority communities. Republicans argue the changes improve efficiency, while voting-rights groups and several Democratic officials have urged rejection, noting the plan has sparked protests and drew a letter from the Legal Defense Fund, ACLU, and Campaign Legal Center warning of voter suppression.
In Texas' Tarrant County, residents packed hearings as GOP commissioners voted 3-2 to cut polling sites from 316 in 2022 to 224 for November, prompting hours of testimony and arrests; opponents say the plan would disenfranchise voters—especially communities of color and seniors—while supporters say it will streamline resources amid a crowded election calendar.
Facing a packed public meeting and sharp criticism over cutting Election Day locations in Tarrant County, Republicans tabled their plan to reduce polling sites from 316 to 176 and cut eight early-voting sites, promising to come back with a revised proposal after complaints about voter access and transparency. The episode underscores Tarrant County’s shift toward a Democratic-leaning battleground as local races and leadership debates unfold.
At a Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting about cutting voting sites for the November midterms, Lon Burnam was arrested and escorted out as deputies cleared the chamber amid protests; the plan would reduce day-of voting sites from 316 to 176 and early-voting sites from 50 to 42, drawing chants and criticism from attendees.
During a Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting about proposed reductions to Election Day and early voting sites for the November midterms, County Judge Tim O’Hare ordered attendees to leave after some audience members clapped; former state representative Lon Burnam was carried out in deputies’ custody and later arrested. The plan would shrink Election Day sites to 176 (about a 45% drop from 316 in 2022) and early-voting sites to 42 (from 50). Protesters chanted as deputies cleared the chamber; after a recess, speakers were allowed back in one at a time with warnings of further arrests for disruptions. This is a developing story.
Two North Texas counties, Tarrant and Denton, are monitoring travelers returning from Ebola-affected countries (DRC, Uganda, South Sudan) in coordination with the CDC and Texas health officials. Tarrant County Public Health contacts arrivals to educate them and sets a 21-day symptom-monitoring period after leaving the affected area; Denton County says travelers are self-monitoring. No symptoms have been reported, and quarantine/isolation are not used without known exposures. Officials have not disclosed how many people are monitored, and the WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency.
Democrat Taylor Rehmet leads Republican Leigh Wambsganss by about 6,200 votes in the early voting for the open Texas Senate District 9 seat in Tarrant County, with seven of 129 vote centers reporting. The runoff will determine the remainder of Sen. Hancock's term, and turnout is being driven by national attention and DNC support for Rehmet; voters faced long lines at several centers and more than 45,600 votes were cast early.
Texas voters in Senate District 9 face a Saturday runoff between Democrat Taylor Rehmet and Republican Leigh Wambsganss; the result could indicate Democrats’ momentum in a red-leaning state, aided by fundraising disadvantages against the GOP but with high-profile endorsements and a short-term seat that ends with a full-term rematch in November.
Two people died in a plane crash near Hicks Airfield in Tarrant County, Texas, after the plane hit vehicles and ignited a fire; the FAA is investigating, and the victims have not been identified.
Tarrant County in North Texas has reported the first pediatric flu death since the 2019-2020 flu season, with the child having underlying medical conditions. This comes amid a rise in flu, COVID, and RSV cases in the region, and a 16.2% increase in flu cases across the United States according to the CDC.
A Tarrant County inmate in Texas was charged with murder after allegedly punching a pregnant hospital staff member in the stomach, resulting in the death of her unborn baby. The inmate was receiving treatment at the hospital for potentially being suicidal. She was initially arrested for credit card abuse but was later charged with driving while intoxicated, possession of methamphetamine, knowingly operating a game room, and murder.
Heider Garcia, the head of elections in Tarrant County, Texas, has resigned after facing death threats from right-wing supporters of former President Donald Trump. Garcia oversaw elections in a county where Trump lost in 2020, and right-wing skepticism of the election results fueled threats against him, despite the county receiving acclaim for its handling of the voting. Garcia had previously testified about being harassed by Trump supporters and received death threats, including having his home address posted online. Other election officials across the nation have also quit under similar circumstances due to baseless claims of fraud and conspiracy theories.