{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "title": "Watchtower Consulting & Investigations", "home_page_url": "https://watchtowerci.com", "description": "Independent investigative journalism covering small-town Texas local governments.", "author": { "name": "Watchtower Consulting & Investigations", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com" }, "items": [ { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/statement-from-italy-councilmember-billy-long", "content_html": "Italy Councilmember Billy Long issued a public statement on water infrastructure, road conditions, and public safety, calling for real fixes instead of temporary patches.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/statement-from-italy-councilmember-billy-long", "title": "Statement From Italy Councilmember Billy Long", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-04-statement-from-italy-councilmember-billy-long.png", "date_modified": "2026-04-10T14:33:26.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Italy, Texas", "Politics" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/what-the-records-show-officer-ochoa-and-the-city-of-tool", "content_html": "Official Tool PD records reveal a motorcycle strike with a patrol vehicle, body camera violations, and disciplinary records that raise questions about officer accountability.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/what-the-records-show-officer-ochoa-and-the-city-of-tool", "title": "What the Records Show: Officer Ochoa and the City of Tool", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-04-what-the-records-show-officer-ochoa-and-the-city-of-tool.png", "date_modified": "2026-04-09T00:00:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Tool, Texas", "Police", "Accountability" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/former-officer-sues-seven-points-mayor-and-police-chief", "content_html": "Former Seven Points police officer Justin Shaffer has filed a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit against the city, Mayor Keith Betts, and Anthony Katsoulas. Both individual defendants have been served.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/former-officer-sues-seven-points-mayor-and-police-chief", "title": "Former Officer Sues Seven Points, Mayor Betts, and Chief Katsoulas", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-04-former-officer-sues-seven-points-mayor-and-police-chief.png", "date_modified": "2026-04-08T00:00:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Seven Points, Texas", "Police", "Lawsuit", "City Council" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/italys-cleanup-day-locked-families-inside-upchurch-fields-the-city-says-no-comment", "content_html": "On March 14, the City of Italy held a cleanup day at Upchurch Fields, locked the gate with families still inside, trapped a disabled woman on a mobility scooter, and closed the park for spring break weekend. The Mayor was not there. The City Administrator said no comment. The former mayor read my text and never replied.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/italys-cleanup-day-locked-families-inside-upchurch-fields-the-city-says-no-comment", "title": "Italy's Cleanup Day Locked Families Inside Upchurch Fields. The City Says \"No Comment.\"", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-04-italys-cleanup-day-locked-families-inside-upchurch-fields-the-city-says-no-comment.png", "date_modified": "2026-04-07T05:49:04.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Italy, Texas", "Accountability", "Public Parks" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/italys-public-works-building-cover-up", "content_html": "On March 9, 2026, Italy's city administrator read a prepared timeline to the council claiming former City Administrator Shawn Holden and 15-year EDC President Charles Hyles had no involvement in a failed Public Works Building project. The documents in the city's own files tell a different story. I have the recordings, the emails, and the resignation letter.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/italys-public-works-building-cover-up", "title": "Italy Said Shawn Holden and Charles Hyles Had 'Nothing to Do' with the Public Works Building. The City's Own Records Say Otherwise.", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-04-italys-public-works-building-cover-up.png", "date_modified": "2026-04-05T19:37:57.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Italy, Texas", "Public Works", "Accountability" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/exploring-all-sides-a-conversation-with-jerry-bannister", "content_html": "A 45-minute phone call with Trinidad P&Z and EDC member Jerry Bannister, who offered his perspective on the city's divide, the Bannister family's history, and why Trinidad needs to focus on city business.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/exploring-all-sides-a-conversation-with-jerry-bannister", "title": "Exploring All Sides: A Conversation With Jerry Bannister", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-04-exploring-all-sides-a-conversation-with-jerry-bannister.png", "date_modified": "2026-04-05T14:00:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Trinidad, Texas", "Interview" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/tceq-says-italy-had-approval-the-council-never-knew", "content_html": "TCEQ closed a complaint about Italy's unauthorized water treatment installation, claiming the city had approval since January. But the city council voted against BiCARBUS three times and was never told.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/04/tceq-says-italy-had-approval-the-council-never-knew", "title": "TCEQ Says Italy Had Approval. The Council Never Knew.", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-04-tceq-says-italy-had-approval-the-council-never-knew.png", "date_modified": "2026-04-02T22:47:41.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Italy, Texas", "Water", "Public Safety", "TCEQ" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/kerens-isd-school-board-a-model-of-transparency", "content_html": "We attended our first Kerens ISD Board of Trustees meeting and found a school board that other TOMA-regulated bodies in Kerens could learn from.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/kerens-isd-school-board-a-model-of-transparency", "title": "Kerens ISD School Board: A Model of Transparency in Small-Town Texas", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-03-kerens-isd-school-board-a-model-of-transparency.png", "date_modified": "2026-03-31T00:00:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Kerens, Texas", "School Board" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/enough-is-enough-paul-sessions-of-seven-points", "content_html": "A city council candidate posted a biased video clip after Seven Points' most productive meeting in months. Updated 3/29: The deleted post claim has been retracted after new information came to light. All other criticism stands.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/enough-is-enough-paul-sessions-of-seven-points", "title": "Enough Is Enough, Paul Sessions of Seven Points", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-03-enough-is-enough-paul-sessions-of-seven-points.png", "date_modified": "2026-03-29T04:59:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Seven Points, Texas", "City Council", "Opinion", "Politics" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/italys-council-said-no-to-a-water-treatment-system-it-got-installed-anyway", "content_html": "A chemical water treatment system was installed on Italy's public water supply without council approval or TCEQ authorization. The council had voted to defer the matter twice. TCEQ has accepted a formal complaint.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/italys-council-said-no-to-a-water-treatment-system-it-got-installed-anyway", "title": "Italy's Council Said No to a Water Treatment System. It Got Installed Anyway.", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-03-italys-council-said-no-to-a-water-treatment-system-it-got-installed-anyway.png", "date_modified": "2026-03-28T22:27:57.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Italy, Texas", "Water", "Public Safety", "TCEQ" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/seven-points-finally-passes-a-budget", "content_html": "After 170 days without an approved budget, the Seven Points City Council passed a balanced budget on March 24, 2026. But the meeting was anything but smooth.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/seven-points-finally-passes-a-budget", "title": "Seven Points Finally Passes a Budget After 170 Days of Crisis", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-03-seven-points-finally-passes-a-budget.png", "date_modified": "2026-03-28T01:38:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Seven Points, Texas", "Budget", "City Council" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/no-property-taxes-no-cameras-no-thanks", "content_html": "The S.M. Dunlap Library in Italy announced a candidate forum with no cameras allowed. The library pays zero property taxes. And the community already had a more transparent option on the table.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/no-property-taxes-no-cameras-no-thanks", "title": "No Property Taxes, No Cameras, No Thanks", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-03-no-property-taxes-no-cameras-no-thanks.png", "date_modified": "2026-03-27T06:21:19.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Opinion", "Italy, Texas", "Politics" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/jason-patrick-on-hubbards-future", "content_html": "Hubbard City Manager Jason Patrick discusses water and sewer infrastructure, the school bond election, data center jobs, Lake One questions, and the city's future in a phone interview.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/jason-patrick-on-hubbards-future", "title": "Jason Patrick on Hubbard's Future: Water Lines, Sewer, the School Bond, and Lake One Questions", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-03-jason-patrick-on-hubbards-future.png", "date_modified": "2026-03-26T17:00:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Hubbard, Texas", "Government", "Interview" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/the-community-fights-the-fire", "content_html": "The ESD board voted unanimously to terminate the old contract. But termination was not the ending anyone expected.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/the-community-fights-the-fire", "title": "The Community Fights the Fire", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-03-the-community-fights-the-fire.png", "date_modified": "2026-03-26T08:45:13.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Tool, Texas", "Emergency Services" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/the-numbers-on-the-wall", "content_html": "The ESD posted performance reports at the fire station for anyone to see. I reviewed them. The data tells a complicated story, but the facts make it easy to follow.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/the-numbers-on-the-wall", "title": "The Numbers on the Wall: What Tool's Fire Department Data Actually Shows", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-03-the-numbers-on-the-wall.png", "date_modified": "2026-03-24T14:00:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Tool, Texas", "Emergency Services" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/both-sides-of-the-fire", "content_html": "After days of interviews with people on every side of Tool's fire department fight, one thing is clear: this story is far more complex than it appears on the surface. Part 2 of a three-part investigation.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/both-sides-of-the-fire", "title": "Both Sides of the Fire", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-03-both-sides-of-the-fire.png", "date_modified": "2026-03-24T06:16:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Tool, Texas", "Emergency Services" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/tools-fire-department-is-fighting-for-its-life", "content_html": "A three-part investigation into the battle between Henderson County ESD No. 4 and the Tool Volunteer Fire Department, where the future of emergency services for roughly 2,000 residents hangs in the balance.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/03/tools-fire-department-is-fighting-for-its-life", "title": "Tool's Fire Department Is Fighting for Its Life", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-03-tools-fire-department-is-fighting-for-its-life.png", "date_modified": "2026-03-23T00:00:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Tool, Texas", "Emergency Services" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/italy-edc-discusses-demolition-bid-process", "content_html": "The Italy Economic Development Corporation met to discuss putting the demolition of 101 E. Main Street out for bids, but the project still needs final details before that can happen.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/italy-edc-discusses-demolition-bid-process", "title": "Italy EDC Discusses Bid Process for 101 E. Main Street Demolition", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-02-italy-edc-discusses-demolition-bid-process.png", "date_modified": "2026-02-23T00:00:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Italy, Texas", "Economic Development Corporation" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/hubbard-open-meetings-training-records", "content_html": "A Public Information Act request for Open Meetings Act training certificates revealed compliance gaps among Hubbard city officials.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/hubbard-open-meetings-training-records", "title": "I Asked Hubbard for Their Open Meetings Training Records", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-02-hubbard-open-meetings-training-records.png", "date_modified": "2026-02-21T00:00:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Hubbard, Texas", "Government" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/2026-candidate-questionnaire", "content_html": "Nine questions for every candidate running in the May 2026 city council elections. Here's the questionnaire, the format, and how to participate.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/2026-candidate-questionnaire", "title": "2026 Election Candidate Questionnaire", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-02-2026-candidate-questionnaire.png", "date_modified": "2026-02-20T00:00:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Elections", "Opinion", "Politics" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/i-sat-down-with-italys-top-chief-candidate", "content_html": "I had a half-hour conversation with Brandon Torres. He left me cautiously optimistic, but the mold problem at the police department isn't going away on its own.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/i-sat-down-with-italys-top-chief-candidate", "title": "I Sat Down with Italy's Top Chief Candidate", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-02-i-sat-down-with-italys-top-chief-candidate.png", "date_modified": "2026-02-19T16:30:00.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Opinion", "Police", "Italy, Texas", "Interview" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/ive-been-doing-my-homework-seven-points", "content_html": "A week into researching Seven Points city government, here's what the public should know heading into the May election, and a message for the voices steering the conversation sideways.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/ive-been-doing-my-homework-seven-points", "title": "I've Been Doing My Homework, Seven Points", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-02-ive-been-doing-my-homework-seven-points.png", "date_modified": "2026-02-19T13:07:11.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Seven Points, Texas", "Opinion", "Local Government", "Elections", "Politics" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/five-candidates-file-goodlow-city-council", "content_html": "With an incumbent stepping down, five candidates are set to compete for a seat on the Goodlow City Council this May.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/five-candidates-file-goodlow-city-council", "title": "Goodlow Election: Five Candidates and an Unfinished Audit", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-02-five-candidates-file-goodlow-city-council.png", "date_modified": "2026-02-19T12:01:12.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Goodlow, Texas", "Elections", "Politics" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/italy-candidate-forum-update", "content_html": "The city called back about the candidate forum. They won't let me use city hall, and the alternative costs more than it's worth. So I'm doing it my own way.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/italy-candidate-forum-update", "title": "Italy Candidate Forum Update", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-02-italy-candidate-forum-update.png", "date_modified": "2026-02-19T11:07:39.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Opinion", "Elections", "Italy, Texas", "Politics" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/five-candidates-file-hubbard-city-council", "content_html": "Three incumbents and two challengers will compete for seats on the Hubbard City Council this May.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/five-candidates-file-hubbard-city-council", "title": "Five Candidates File for Hubbard City Council", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-02-five-candidates-file-hubbard-city-council.png", "date_modified": "2026-02-17T23:28:51.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Hubbard, Texas", "Elections", "Politics" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/bringing-a-candidate-forum-to-italy", "content_html": "Italy has never hosted an open candidate forum in recent memory. I called City Hall this morning to change that.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/bringing-a-candidate-forum-to-italy", "title": "Bringing a Candidate Forum to Italy", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-02-bringing-a-candidate-forum-to-italy.png", "date_modified": "2026-02-17T23:19:41.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Elections", "Italy, Texas", "Politics" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/leaving-italy-not-the-fight", "content_html": "ITXN is done. I'm not. Here's what we built, why I'm walking away from Italy, and where this work is taking me.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/leaving-italy-not-the-fight", "title": "Leaving Italy, Not the Fight", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-02-leaving-italy-not-the-fight.png", "date_modified": "2026-02-17T00:26:23.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Opinion", "Italy, Texas" ] }, { "id": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/seven-thoughts-for-seven-points", "content_html": "After attending my first Seven Points city council meeting, here are seven thoughts I can't stop thinking about, and one reason to stay hopeful.", "url": "https://watchtowerci.com/2026/02/seven-thoughts-for-seven-points", "title": "Seven Thoughts for Seven Points", "image": "https://watchtowerci.com/og/2026-02-seven-thoughts-for-seven-points.png", "date_modified": "2026-02-15T19:33:05.000Z", "author": { "name": "Ron Helms" }, "tags": [ "Seven Points, Texas", "Opinion", "Local Government" ] } ] }