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The world of Western sports is in Fort Worth for the crown jewel of bull riding.

The 2025 PBR World Finals begins Thursday, and some of the top contenders call North Texas home.

As a professional bull rider, John Crimber has been hailed as a generational talent.

He went pro the day after he turned 18 years old.

“I remember when 12 o’clock hit Aug. 11. I bought my card and entered my first PBR that weekend," recalled Crimber.

It wasn't that long ago.

The 19-year-old Decatur native came out of the gates strong. He finished second in the world in the 2023-2024 season, his rookie year.

“It dang sure lit a fire in me for sure after last year,” said Crimber.

He became the world's best earlier this year before an injury. Now ranked #3, his focus is finishing the season strong.

But the road to number one runs through Fort Worth.

“I think we're just going to go round for round, bull for bull, and just let everything play out how it’s supposed to,” said Crimber.

The PBR World Finals begins at the Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyard, where 45 of the world’s best bull riders will try to land a coveted spot in the finals next weekend at AT&T Stadium.

The competition culminates with the naming of a new 2025 PBR Finals Winner and world champion who walks away with a million dollars and the coveted gold buckle.

“It is life-changing for a bull rider,” said Jack Holmberg, VP of competition. “Anybody in the field this year could walk away with this thing.”

Brady Fielder, 25, is ranked #2 in the world. He calls Henrietta, Texas, home but is looking to become the second Australian world champion in PBR history.

“It would be truly an amazing blessing to be able to win,” said Fielder.

If Crimber is crowned champion, he’d be the first Texas native to win the title since 2016.

The competition starts tomorrow and runs through May 18.

The Texas Education Agency has notified the Fort Worth Independent School District that state intervention is mandatory due to persistent academic failures at a now-closed school, raising the possibility of a state takeover or further campus closures.

In a letter dated May 5, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath informed Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Karen Molinar and school board President Roxanne Martinez that the Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade, which closed after the 2023-24 school year, failed to meet state academic standards for five consecutive years. This triggers a state law requiring Morath to act, with options including appointing a board of managers to replace the district’s elected school board and superintendent or ordering additional campus closures.

“Since the campus earned its fifth consecutive unacceptable academic rating in that year, the school’s subsequent closure has no bearing on, and does not abrogate, the compulsory action the statute requires the commissioner to take,” Morath wrote, emphasizing that the closure of Forest Oak Sixth Grade does not exempt the district from consequences.

Morath noted that the 2020 and 2021 academic years, which were not rated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and state policy changes, do not interrupt the streak of failing scores under state law

“Commissioner action under this section of the (Texas Education Code) is compulsory,” he wrote. “The commissioner does not have discretion whether to act under this provision.

Fort Worth ISD officials have maintained that the district is not at risk of a takeover, arguing that the closure and consolidation of Forest Oak Sixth Grade into Forest Oak Middle School addressed the issue

“We are proud of the growth that we have seen in Forest Oak Middle School since the expansion and consolidation to one 6-8 grade campus,” Molinar wrote in a letter to the community on April 24

The district’s overall 2023 accountability rating was a D, placing it among the lowest-performing of the 12 school districts serving Fort Worth, according to preliminary Texas Education Agency data released April 24. District officials reported a self-calculated C rating for 2024, but the state’s 2025 ratings, expected in August, will provide further insight

Morath underscored the urgency of intervention, stating, “While the actions required of me by the statute are serious, they are absolutely necessary for the students of Fort Worth ISD.

The agency reserves the right to impose additional sanctions or interventions pending the district’s appeal of the school’s 2023 rating, which could determine whether Morath opts for a takeover or further closures

Fort Worth ISD did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the TEA’s letter. The district, which serves approximately 70,000 students across 140 campuses, faces additional challenges, including declining enrollment and a projected budget deficit, prompting discussions of closing up to 25 schools

The potential state takeover has drawn attention amid broader scrutiny of Fort Worth ISD’s academic performance. The district’s 2023 ratings, delayed by legal challenges over the state’s accountability system, highlighted ongoing struggles, with fewer than 2 in 10 fourth graders reading proficiently, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

If the district’s appeal fails, Morath’s decision could reshape Fort Worth ISD’s leadership and operations, mirroring state interventions in districts like Houston ISD, where academic underperformance led to a state-appointed board.

Nakia Douglas, the executive director of Dallas Education Collective, a non-profit focused on improving public education in Dallas, commented on the unfolding situation in the FWISD.

“This moment should prompt all of us — educators, families, community leaders and elected officials — to take a hard look at how we’re serving students. Accountability isn’t just a state mandate; it’s a moral responsibility,” Douglas told The Dallas Express. “When so many students are struggling with foundational skills like reading and math, it’s clear that incremental change isn’t enough. We need a system-wide commitment to urgent, student-centered solutions.”

“We recognize the pressure that district leaders are under, and we believe that with the right support, transformation is possible,” he added. “This is a chance to build stronger partnerships across North Texas to share what’s working — and to be honest about what’s not.”

Billy Bob’s Texas advertised that Jelly Roll was bringing friends to his May 6 concert and he didn’t disappoint.

The “Need a Favor” singer brought out Post Malone, Lainey Wilson, Koe Wetzel, Ashley Cooke and Jessie Murph throughout the Fort Worth show. The concert benefited the Academy of Country Music’s Lifting Lives organization, which is “dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.”

Most of Jelly Roll’s guests are in town for the Frisco-held Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 8. Wetzel is the only artist among the group not nominated at the award show.

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After Thursday’s award show, Malone and Jelly Roll will stick around the Metroplex for Malone’s show at AT&T Stadium on Friday, May 9.

The duo gave the “World’s Largest Honky Tonk” crowd a taste of what to expect when they performed “Losers” from Malone’s country album “F-1 Trillion.” See it below.

This week’s Billy Bob’s Texas show was Jelly Roll’s third outing at the Stockyards venue.

The 40-year-old’s first show was in support of first responders in May 2023. His second concert was in support of fallen military members and first responders in May 2024.

Not long after last year’s show, Jelly Roll was spotted with Malone at Koe Wetzel’s Riot Room in Fort Worth.

Four Plano restaurants were temporarily closed by health inspectors for violations including moldy food, roaches and other unsanitary conditions, according to city records.

There were 125 restaurant inspections between April 13 and April 26, according to the city’s restaurant inspection data compiled by the Star-Telegram.

Plano’s inspection data is on a 100-point system. A score of 100 is a perfect score and 70 is considered to be extremely poor.

Each restaurant or other location that serves food receives between one and four routine inspections per year.

Four restaurants were closed for imminent health hazards during this inspection cycle, according to the city’s inspection reports.

Town Desis at 6832 Coit Road Ste 200 was closed after being cited for over 40 violations. The health inspectors found various hazards including contaminated food, unsafe temperatures, cross-contamination, lack of hand washing, broken equipment, and operating without proper oversight. The restaurant received a failing score of 53.

Lahori Kabab at 6832 Coit Road Ste 225, was closed during this inspection cycle and was also cited for over 40 violations. Health inspectors observed under-cooked chicken, cross-contamination, lack of hand washing, dirty equipment, and a roach infestation. The restaurant received a failing score of 62 for operating without proper food safety oversight.

Kumar’s South Indian at 3948 Legacy Drive Ste 112 received a score of 64 and was shut down for “gross unsanitary conditions,” including dirty equipment, improper cooling and food storage, broken plumbing and dish-washing systems, pest issues, and operating without a valid food permit or proper food-grade equipment. The restaurant failed a follow-up inspection and was ordered to remain closed until the violations listed have been corrected and a written approval is obtained from the city’s health department.

Jaffa Mediterranean Cuisine at 3200 Alma Drive was closed due to various health violations including unsafe food temperatures, moldy and contaminated food, over 30 live roaches, illegal pesticide use, cross-contamination, and operating without a certified food manager on site. The restaurant received a score of 66.

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Two restaurants, El Fenix at 810 N. Central Expressway Ste 100 and Express India at 3393 N. Central Expressway Ste 100, were temporarily closed due to lack of hot water in both establishments.

Both restaurants have re-opened after the hot water issue was corrected.

There were 20 follow-up inspections during this cycle.

Here are the inspection scores and violations for restaurants within the city limits of Plano for April 13th - April 26th, 2025. A score of 100 is a perfect score and 70 is considered to be extremely poor. Each establishment receives between one and four routine inspections per year. To search the restaurant inspections, type in a keyword or restaurant name. You can also sort by score.

A Flourish table

Steve Wilson swilson@star-telegram.com

Some data analysis in this chart was conducted using AI. For more information on how the Star-Telegram and McClatchy newsrooms are using AI, go here.

While humans may flock to Fort Worth Botanic Garden during daylight hours, it turns out our nocturnal neighbors have made it their favorite hangout spot too! Recent acoustic monitoring has revealed that FWBG is the hottest bat destination in Tarrant and Parker Counties, hosting a five-star resort experience for these beneficial winged wonders.

Bat-anical Garden Takes the Crown

A collaborative study conducted by the Cross Timbers Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists, the North American Bat Monitoring Program, and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (BRIT) discovered that five different bat species call the Garden home after dark—substantially more than other surveyed locations including the Nature Center & Wildlife Refuge, Tandy Hills Natural Area, and Mineral Wells State Park, which typically hosted just one or two species.

Meet the Night Shift

Using specialized acoustic eavesdropping equipment that captures the high-frequency gossip bats exchange while hunting, researchers confirmed these nocturnal residents:

Two additional VIP guests were spotted but need formal introductions:

Of special concern is our petite friend the Tricolored bat, who’s having a tough time with white-nose syndrome and is being considered for the U.S. endangered species list—essentially the bat equivalent of needing critical care.

These Bats Mean Business

Don’t let their cute faces fool you—bats are ecological powerhouses with impressive résumés. By night, they’re pest control specialists consuming thousands of insects each, saving farmers billions and sparing us extra mosquito bites during summer barbecues.

But wait, there’s more! These flying mammals are also master pollinators working the night shift. While bees clock out at sunset, bats clock in to pollinate over 500 plant species worldwide. Agave (hello, tequila lovers!), bananas, mangoes, and various cacti all send thank-you notes to bats for their pollination services. Here in Texas, plants like the century plant and organ pipe cactus have evolved into night owls themselves, producing bat-friendly features like after-hours blooming, intoxicating fragrances, and reinforced landing pads for their furry pollinators.

As if that weren’t enough, bats are also champion seed spreaders. A single colony’s guano works like nature’s fertilizer and seed delivery service, dispersing millions of seeds annually. Talk about multitasking!

Tough Times for Team Bat

“Despite their superhero status in the ecosystem, bats are facing some serious villains in habitat loss and disease,” noted Ashley Bales, Herbarium Collections Manager for BRIT who participated in the study. “Finding such a diverse bat community at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden proves that urban green spaces aren’t just fun places to visit—they’re lifelines for wildlife.”

Be a Bat Buddy

Want to roll out the welcome mat for these beneficial neighbors? FWBG suggests these bat-friendly home improvements:

For more information about the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and the Botanic Research Institute of Texas, visit www.fwbg.org.