🎯Texas Wesleyan hits $40M goal; Kimbell Royalty upping its ante; QB Hoover leaving TCU.

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According to numerous reports, the United Arab Emirates has been identified as the $2.3-billion buyer of Israeli defense giant Elbit Systems Ltd. Although they are under the limited banner, it is unclear if the Fort Worth, U.K., and Australian Elbit headquarters are included in the buy. Efforts to reach Fort Worth officials after hours were unsuccessful. Elbit Systems of America's estimated revenues are in the $2-billion range.

TCU quarterback Josh Hoover told ESPN that he will enter the transfer portal, becoming a top prospect for major colleges. He will not play in TCU's Alamo Bowl game against the University of Southern California. 

Fort Worth and Dallas' $1.32-billion financing for D-FW International Airport is the southwest winner and a finalist in The Bond Buyer deal of the year. The deal made D-FW the first U.S. airport to introduce an Extendable Commercial Paper program; its innovative structure allowed the airport to secure interim funding for its $8.6-billion capital plan while bypassing traditional bank fees, resulting in notable cost savings. 

Virbac, which has its U.S. headquarters in Westlake, has acquired a leading drug for the treatment of feline hyperthyroidism from Norbrook. The purchase is approximately £100 million, and Virbac says it will be accretive to sales growth and EBITDA margin from year one. Hyperthyroidism's hormone imbalance affects more than 10% of older cats and can be fatal.

Fort Worth-based Kimbell Royalty Partners, owner of oil and natural gas mineral and royalty interests in more than 131,000 gross wells across 28 states, announced it has lowered its cost of capital and increased its maximum facility size from $750 million to $1.5 billion.

Texas Wesleyan University has completed its Engage. Inspire. Invest. capital campaign, surpassing its $40 million goal. Launched in 2021, the campaign united alumni, donors and friends in support of academic excellence, campus growth, and community revitalization. A lead gift from trustee Karen Cramer helped propel the campaign and the campaign’s completion was secured through a gift from honorary alumna and trustee Lou Baker Martin.

The Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees, mostly President Trump appointees, voted to re-name the performing arts institution the Trump-Kennedy Center. One hang-up might be that the federal building is statutorily named the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Congress has not given the board the authority to change the name.

UNT Health Fort Worth renewed and expanded its state-funded partnership with TechFW to advance technology commercialization, support early-stage innovators and strengthen the region’s growing health innovation ecosystem. The collaboration develops programs that strengthen innovation pathways, prepares researchers and founders for successful commercialization, and provides structured access to entrepreneurial training.

The U.S. and Taiwan announced an $11.1-billion arms package that includes eight separate purchases, which cover HIMARS rockets systems, anti-tank missiles, anti-armor missiles, loitering suicide drones, howitzers, military software and parts for other equipment. Officials in Beijing, China said it “firmly opposes and strongly condemns” the move.

Defense stocks were falling this week after Reuters reported the Trump administration is drafting an executive order aimed at penalizing contractors that fail to meet budget and scheduling requirements. The order would impose limits on executive compensation, stock buybacks, and dividend payouts for companies tied to delayed or over-budget military projects.

The U.S. Army admitted liability in the helicopter collision with an American Airlines jet that killed 67 people last Jan. 29.

BJ's Wholesale Club confirmed its 2026 store openings and there are five in north Texas, including southwest Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Forney, Waxahachie and Mesquite. 

Fort Worth-based Service Compression, a provider of natural gas compression services to exploration and production companies, upsized its asset‑based loan credit facility $100 million to $400 million.

Angry Chickz franchise plans restaurants in 14 Texas cities during 2026, each employing 30-35 people. Fort Worth is on the list. 

Top executives of Irving-based sub-prime auto lender Tricolor have been indicted on federal fraud charges, including the company's CEO, who faces up to life in prison if convicted. Lenders JPMorgan and Barclays allegedly were caught up in the schemes. 

A different kind of 'job fair': The North Texas Automobile Dealers Auto Tech Competition broke a record with 64 schools participating at Texas Motor Speedway. The two-day event tested competing students’ diagnostic and repair skills while giving them direct access to dealership leaders and hiring managers.

A menswear brand, backed by an investment of $1 million from Shark Tank investors Mark Cuban and Peter Jones, is making its Texas debut in Southlake Town Square. Collars & Co. re-imagines men's shirts with a patent-pending Dress Collar Polo, which combines a soft shirt with a crisp collar. CEO Justin Baer founded the company in 2021.

TMGOC Ventures and Ad Astra Capital closed on their first joint acquisition, the Home2 Suites by Hilton on University Drive in the Cultural District. It has 162 rooms.

Chuck Neinas, the one-time Big Eight commissioner whose “media savvy and dealmaking helped turn college football into the multibillion-dollar business it is today,” passed away at 93. For 17 years, Neinas led the College Football Association, an agency “created by several big conferences that sought to wrest control of their TV rights from the NCAA.” 

Standard Textile has taken 109,521 square feet in Building 3 of the Arlington Cooper Commerce Center. The high-end, luxury manufacturer said the facility will offer flexibility for business customization. 

Copeland Tower and Stadium Place, adjacent Arlington properties at 1250 and 1200 East Copeland Road totaling just over 210,000 square feet, are expected to be marketed for sale in early 2026, according to a Nov. 15 notice tied to their commercial mortgage-backed securities loan. The Dallas Business Journal reported the update and that the buildings’ appraised value keeps sinking and leasing momentum remains elusive.

S&S Activewear, a distributor for brands such as Adidas, Champion and Under Armour, is closing a facility in Irving and will lay off 146 workers between now and Sept. 1, 2026.

During 2025, Arlington residents made more than 10,000 service requests through the Ask Arlington app. Check out the top 10.

Mansfield will re-open Katherine Rose Memorial Park today after nearly two years and $7M of renovations to add more than 100,000 square feet of adaptive play space for all abilities.

Believe it or not: The U.S. Mint auctioned off the final pennies ever produced for circulation, with 232 three-cent sets selling for a combined $16.76M.

Daily digit: 71% = Foundations that plan to prioritize grants that demonstrate clear evaluation methods and long-term sustainability strategies in 2026, according to Candid’s 2025 Philanthropy Outlook.

Snippets:

• Elon Musk predicts that universal income will replace the need to work.

• The Fort Worth Police Department has accepted delivery of its second Bell 505 helicopter.

• A joint statement from three Tarrant Chambers after their visit to assess parts of the Houston ISD after it has been under Texas Education Agency control. 

• The Fort Worth Report received a $1.5M grant to expand its Tarrant County news coverage.

Announcements: 

• Historic Fort Worth: Honors St. Mary of Assumption with Steward Award.

• OmniTRAX: Names Colby Tanner CEO, effective Jan. 1. He is a former BNSF Railway executive who had been appointed Co-CEO earlier this year.

• Schwab Advisor Services: Selects Julian Lopez as leader of Enterprise Solutions.

• Grapevine-Colleyville ISD: Names Rick DeMasters interim Superintendent. 

• Denton: Names Tony Salas interim Chief of Police starting January 10, succeeding retiring Chief Jessica Robledo.

• Vyve Broadband: Adds Chris Milligan as Sr. Vice President of Commercial Services.

• Southwest Christian School: Hires Steve Wood — former state championship head coach at Aledo — as its head football coach.

• University of North Texas: Adds North Crowley head football coach Ray Gates to Neal Brown’s staff.

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