Good morning, this is Fort Worth Local Pulse for Thursday, October 30. We’re waking up to cooler temperatures and a fierce north wind sweeping through town as the latest cold front settles in. Winds gusting up to 45 miles per hour are making it feel like the first real taste of fall. These dry, blustery conditions mean a very high wildfire danger across Fort Worth and surrounding areas, so we need to stay alert and avoid any outdoor burning. Tonight, bundle up—temperatures are expected to dip into the low 40s, with outlying areas seeing mid to upper 30s. Tomorrow warms back up to the low 60s and 70s, but for today, let’s keep those jackets handy and watch for blowing debris on the roads.

Turning to city hall, nominations open tomorrow for Fort Worth’s annual Neighborhood Awards. The city is encouraging every neighborhood, from Morningside to Tanglewood, to put forward their stories and leaders who make our communities shine. Details and the submission portal are available on the city’s website.

A story with big implications for the future of our city—Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership hosted its annual meeting yesterday. Local business leaders and city officials highlighted strong job growth and an uptick in new business openings. We’re seeing the unemployment rate hold steady at just under four percent, with thousands of new positions expected across logistics, tech, and health care.

Real estate is buzzing with the city reviewing a major agreement with Hines, a leading developer eyeing nearly 1,500 acres out by Parker County for a community that could bring new homes, retail, and green spaces just west of Fort Worth. This continues a trend of expanding the city’s footprint and creates plenty of jobs in construction and service industries.

Innovation in transportation is on the rise too. Aurora Innovation has just launched its second autonomous trucking route, this one connecting Fort Worth to El Paso. The company says these high-tech trucks, still with a human operator in the cab for now, have already logged over 100,000 miles and more routes are planned. That’s another example of Fort Worth positioning itself as a logistics and tech leader.

Looking ahead to the ballot, Texans—including us here in Fort Worth—are set to vote Tuesday on 17 state constitutional amendments that will shape everything from property taxes to judgeships. And in our own state Senate race, turnout is expected to be strong, with early voting numbers already high.

For school news, Paschal High’s marching band just took home top honors at the regional competition, and the Arlington Heights Yellow Jackets pulled out a big win over North Side last night.

In crime and public safety news, authorities responded to a robbery attempt on East Lancaster Avenue near Riverside Drive late last night. Officers made a quick arrest, and no injuries were reported. Fort Worth police urge neighbors to stay vigilant, especially with the earlier sunset.

If you’re looking for something to do, the city’s celebrating the role our municipal courts play in justice and safety with an open house at City Hall starting November 3. The event comes as part of Municipal Court Week and is open to all. This weekend, Magnolia Avenue will be alive with local music, food trucks, and crafts for the Southside Fall Festival.

Today, we also want to spotlight a feel-good story out of Westcliff Elementary, where parents and volunteers joined forces to install a brand-new playground, just in time for the cooler weather. Kids were out early this morning testing the new slides and swings, and seeing their smiles is what community is all about.

Thanks for spending part of your morning with us. Don’t forget to subscribe to stay in the local loop. This has been Fort Worth Local Pulse. We’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This has been a Quiet Please production. For...