🏆$35B not Lockheed's largest award; Airbnb owners strike out in court; Mystic in court, Gateway out.

Today in history: If you think today is warm, D-FW temperatures hit 113 degrees on June 26th and 27th, 1980, the highest recorded in D-FW history.

Lockheed Martin received a 7-year contract for up to $35 billion to quadruple production of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors. The award is one of the first major multi-year procurement contracts executed under the Department of War's Acquisition Transformation Strategy. And it represents one of the first full-scale transitions from framework agreement to contract execution under this initiative. The most expensive defense project is Lockheed's F-35 Lightning II, which carries an estimated $2.1 trillion lifetime price tag. 

QTS filed a permit to expand its data center campus a third time at 14100 Park Vista Boulevard in north Fort Worth near AllianceTexas. Next to its original data center, QTS built a two-story, 471,875-square-foot facility, a $220-million investment. This filing is for a 147,946-square-foot facility, representing a $300-million investment during 2027. 

A federal appellate court judge has affirmed that cities have the right to restrict Airbnb-style leasing to protect residential character and property values. The ruling on a New Braunfels case is applicable to restrictions Fort Worth and Grapevine have mandated. 

The state-appointed Fort Worth ISD board of managers approved the district's 2026-27 budget, which includes a 5% pay increase for classroom teachers and initiatives for recruitment and retention at high-need schools. Also approved was a contract settlement with former Superintendent Karen Molinar, who will receive one year of pay and additional benefits. The board authorized Superintendent Dr. Peter B. Licata to make purchases exceeding $250,000 without board approval.

Nearly one year after catastrophic floods killed 25 girls and two teenage counselors at the all-girls Christian camp along the Guadalupe River, Camp Mystic filed for bankruptcy, listing more than $10 million in debt. Families of the victims sued the camp in November, saying the camp operators failed to take the necessary steps to protect the girls.

InterConnect Wiring, a leader in military aerospace electrical wiring harnesses and a Vickery Blvd. mainstay, has nearly tripled its footprint after signing a 136,900-square-foot, full-building lease at 4901 Mercantile Drive in Fort Worth. Transwestern’s Kirk Kelly and Blake Grable represented InterConnect founders brother/sister John Ashour and Clare McGarrey. Ashour is the CEO and Joshua Bryant is President. Lockheed Martin is one of its global customers. 

In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Bayer, declaring the company cannot be sued under state laws for failing to warn consumers about cancer risks associated with its weedkiller, Roundup. Because the Environmental Protection Agency did not require Roundup (or its active ingredient, glyphosate) to carry a cancer warning label, the Court determined the company cannot be held liable under state laws for omitting one.

Higginbotham, an employee-owned insurance and financial services company headquartered in Fort Worth, has entered South Carolina by partnering with Turbeville Insurance Agency, which has four offices and more than 60 employees. Higginbotham is in 17 states with more than 4,000 employees.

Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have launched an eight-figure initiative to safeguard America’s bio-diversity — a modern day Noah's Ark, which was announced in February. This new partnership funding will enable Colossal to collect, sequence, and cryogenically store living cells, reproductive tissues, and reference genomes for more than 2,300 species protected under the Endangered Species Act. 

Ryan Cohen, the billionaire CEO of GameStop, said he is eschewing his potential $35-billion performance bonus while he pursues a buyout of eBay. Cohen said he plans to unveil more details soon about the takeover bid. 

Six Flags Over Texas delayed today's scheduled opening of Tormenta Rampaging Run because of a longer-than-expected commissioning process, a park spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE magazine. The record-breaking new dive coaster features a 285-foot drop. Six Flags posted on Instagram: "ensures that when Tormenta charges out of the gates, it will be a ride experience worthy of its name — bold, intense, and unforgettable." 

Airroot HVAC, which has been in Mansfield, purchased a 7,200-square-foot building at 3404 Loop 820E. Transwestern's Lyndon Todd, Charlie McCollum and Wythe Roberts represented the buyer and Lee & Associates the seller.

Tarrant County has a renovated training facility. Sheriff Bill Waybourn was joined by Judge Tim O' Hare and Commissioner Manny Ramirez for a blue-ribbon cutting ceremony at the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office Training Facility. The building took about three years to upgrade. "It is a vision I did not think would happen during my tenure," Waybourn said.

Pirogue announced the groundbreaking of professional office space at 5636 W. Vickery Blvd.  Among the partners are 97w, Flanagan and Evans Consulting & Construction. 

Fort Worth is launching the engageFW Community Academy, a five-session and two field days cohort in September that offers info about how the city works and assists with next level community engagement.

Downtown Dallas may be losing sports teams, but financial institutions are moving in for Ya'll Street. Morgan Stanley is weighing a $1.3-billion office tower, the latest Wall Street giant to bet on Texas as a financial hub. The New York-based bank would consolidate several businesses in different parts of the city into a 709,000-square-foot skyscraper at 2401 McKinney Avenue. The property would be less than a mile from the $500-million campus rival Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is building.

This news from Austin came in on a Taylor Sheridan stagecoach: Earlier this month, the Texas State Securities Board entered an Emergency Cease and Desist Order against Southlake-based Lasater Capital, LLC, its principals Shiloh Boone Lasater and Tie Glenn Lasater. The decree is to stop the alleged offer and sale of securities through materially misleading statements and omissions involving a real estate investment fund being marketed to investors. Read the allegations here.

The Dallas Business Journal's new class of 30 influential women in north Texas includes five from Tarrant County. They are Cynthia Blankenship, Bank of the West; Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld, Standard Meat Co.; Abby Holovac, Vibe Environmental; Sunday Morgan, First Command Financial Services; and Pamela Zeigler-Petty, Interbank. 

Texas A&M Fort Worth said its Law and Education Building will open Aug. 5, the first building of the "new" downtown A&M. In this building will be the School of Law, and programs from the College of Engineering and Health Science Center. 

Snippets: 

• Jersey Mike's topped the American Customer Satisfaction Index for quick-service restaurants (16,400 customer surveys). It dethroned Chick-fil-A’s 11-year run.

• Trinity Metro is pitching in with a free ride day on all local Tarrant County services as the U.S. marks 250 years Saturday July 4th. 

• A Federal judge has tossed the financial fraud lawsuit against Gateway Church and former leader Robert Morris. 

• The Tarrant County Public Health Department notified Bedford that a mosquito sample collected from Zone 4 tested positive for West Nile Virus. Here is what you need to know. 

Daily digit: $7.95B = The amount of sales tax revenue Texas is projected to not collect from 2026 to 2030 because of the state’s existing exemption for qualified data centers.

Significant stat: In the first six months of 2026, Texas school districts have voted to close at least 55 schools. It’s an acceleration of an ongoing problem: At least 135 public schools across the state have closed or been approved to close since 2023, amid budget crises and state funding shortfalls, according to nonprofit Our Schools Our Democracy. “It’s not a local failure; it’s a statewide trend,” the organization’s director said. 

Announcements:

• TPG: Names Axel André Partner and Chief Financial Officer. 

• JPMorgan Chase: Promotes DeNae Dutton to Vice President-Senior Business Banking Relationship Manager.

• Huntington National Bank: Hires Ryan Jones as Senior VP-Middle Market Commercial Banking. 

• North Texas Chapter NTMA (manufacturers association): Adds Christopher Thomas to its Board. 

• Roots to Leadership: Adds Juliet Moses to its Board. Moses is a Senior Management Analyst for Fort Worth’s Neighborhood Services Department.

• EY: Dallas office Managing Partner Michelle Vopni is stepping down after 35 years. 

• eosera: Founder and CEO Elyse Dickerson has been named a 2026 Tory Burch Foundation Fellow. 

• Carhartt: Adds Chris Phillips as Chief Product Officer. 

• MAG: Hires experienced escrow processor Adrienne “Dri” Tockey. 

• TCU Equestrian: Hires Courtney Line as Assistant Jumping Seat Coach.

• Empower Pharmacy: Hires Rohit Wadhwa as Chief Marketing Officer. 

• Great American Media: Names Jennifer Nickerson Vice President of Ministry & Community Engagement.

• FM: Hires David Roark as Vice President of Product. 

• United Way of Tarrant County: Honors Alexandra MacMartin, CPA with SFC LLP, with its Greater Arlington Steering Committee Award. 

• Makeready: Hires Jared Williams as Vice President of Hotel Operations. 

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