Hey folks, 

It’s the end of the world in Park Glen! OK, now that I’ve gotten my Hitchcock reference out of the way, let me tell you about the birds terrorizing a Fort Worth neighborhood. 

The federally protected egrets are descending on this neighborhood daily, leaving overwhelming amounts of waste in their wake. Residents are running out of their homes at dusk to swing noise makers around to deter them—not 100 birds, but more like 1,000. “It feels like we’re getting attacked every night,” one neighbor said.

The egrets are nesting in trees that are technically owned by the city, and while the city is aware and has trimmed the trees, residents say it’s not enough. As a new nesting season approaches, homeowners have their hands tied. Consequences for hurting the nearly endangered birds are hefty, about $15,000 to $25,000, and possibly even six months in jail.

What would you do?

If you see these birds in your neck of the woods, the deterrents you’ll find online are laughable, but your best bet: Banging pots and pans, sounding airhorns, spraying water, or beaming a laser near them—I wish I was kidding.

If you’ve had residential wildlife issues, let me know how you’ve handled it.

Fort Worth City Council recently approved a $9,000 budget for new public artworks. (Khara Woods/Unsplash)

By Sam Cohen

On March 31, the Fort Worth city council approved $189,141 in commission contracts to put toward the installation of two new public artworks—one will be developed outside the Eugene McCray Community Center and the other outside of Fire Station 37. Fort Worth Public Art is set to work alongside the local artists commissioned for the pieces to oversee their production. The money itself comes directly from voter-approved bond programs, of which roughly 2% is put toward public art.

Interested members of the Fort Worth community can stay up-to-date on the installations each month during advisory board meetings. You’re also encouraged to provide feedback while attending the meetings, which you can learn more about here. Arts Fort Worth’s public art program manager, Anne Allen, said, “All citizens are welcome at all of our commission meetings. It doesn’t matter if the projects are in your district or not. The great thing about coming to our meeting is residents see how the city’s bond funds are being spent on public art projects across the city.”

☢️ Fracking by a daycare: In 2025, the city of Arlington approved the drilling of 10 gas wells in an area with several schools and a mostly Black and Latino population, all for—well—the money. Now, residents are speaking out on the effects of fracking on them and their children.

🍿 Pop art for a cause: Painter Ashley Longmore is in Dallas for a monthlong residency, selling pop-art pieces depicting Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and other iconic faces, to raise money for Dallas arts school Booker T. Washington High. (CBS 33)

🚌 Seatbelt blow: Senate Bill 546 requires Texas school districts to provide seatbelts for every passenger on all school buses. Plano ISD could spend more than $16 million to comply. (Community Impact)

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Joi Louviere with reporting by Sam Cohen. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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