Fort Worth Daily Brief: FWISD leadership change, EMS staffing concerns, and a stormy weekend outlook

Top headlines

State takeover moves FWISD toward a new superintendent

State education officials say the Texas Education Commissioner will appoint a new superintendent to lead Fort Worth ISD, replacing Superintendent Karen Molinar. The commissioner also plans to name a board of managers in the coming weeks as the state takeover moves forward. District leaders told families Molinar will remain in place until the new superintendent is announced.

EMS staffing gaps prompt a shift-schedule pilot

Fort Worth’s interim fire chief warned council members that the ambulance side of the fire department is running below its staffing target and losing personnel faster than normal. City leaders were told the department will test a temporary three-month 24-hours-on, 48-hours-off schedule beginning Saturday to improve retention and reduce mandatory overtime, while the city works to hire and train more medics.

Police pursuit ends in fatal crash tied to kidnapping case

Police said a driver suspected in an aggravated kidnapping investigation died after fleeing officers and crashing near the Pharr Street exit off I-35. Investigators said the driver was the only person in the vehicle, and the medical examiner will release an identification.

Also on the radar

• Firefighters battled a two-story house fire after witnesses reported a lightning strike on Leeds Drive; no injuries were reported.
• Forecasters are tracking another round of storms Friday, with a flash-flood threat possible Saturday. If you have weekend plans, keep an eye on watches and warnings and avoid driving through high water.
• In local politics, a runoff is expected in the Democratic contest for Tarrant County Commissioners Court Precinct 2, a seat that helps set the county budget and oversees key services and infrastructure.

What this means locally

For families and staff, the FWISD leadership change is likely to move quickly, with major decisions shifting to state-appointed leadership. For emergency response, the staffing discussion is a reminder to call 911 early in medical emergencies and to have a backup plan for severe weather days, when call volume and travel delays can rise at the same time.

Sources

• https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2026/03/04/tea-commissioner-will-appoint-new-superintendent-for-fort-worth-isd/
• https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/ahead-of-major-policy-change-fort-worth-short-dozens-of-ems-workers-fire-chief-says/
• https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2026/03/03/fort-worth-driver-suspected-in-kidnapping-case-dies-in-crash-after-fleeing-police/
• https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/lightning-house-fire-fort-worth-march-4-2026/
• https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/dallas-fort-worth-weather-forecast-today-march-5-2026/
• https://www.keranews.org/elections-2026/2026-03-04/arizola-williams-poised-for-runoff-in-democratic-bid-to-face-gops-tinderholt-in-precinct-2-race