🚨Sensors to alert FW driver cellphones of floods; Tarrant cuts spending, but ups lawmen pay; Allsup's deep-fried burrito about to go IPO.

Fort Worth-based Yesway, with more than 440 convenience stores in nine states, is reviving plans for an initial public offering to raise approximately $300 million, according to Bloomberg. The potential listing could occur in late 2025 or early 2026. Yesway's initial IPO filing in 2021 was withdrawn. The stores are best known for Allsup's deep-fried burrito.

Tarrant County Commissioners Court approved a budget that cuts spending and raises pay for law enforcement. This is the third consecutive year of budget cuts paired with higher law enforcement pay. The new starting salary for a deputy is $79,800, the highest in Texas.

Texas' new state agency aimed at shrinking the reach of government has a leader -- Jerome Greener, an executive at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and former Americans for Prosperity state director. The Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office is to identify unnecessary regulations, reduce red tape, and set best practices for how state agencies adopt rules and measure costs.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed "The Woman and Child Protection Act," which goes into effect Dec. 3 and provides additional protections for unborn children and their mothers. This law cracks down on the manufacture and distribution of abortion-inducing drugs.

Fort Worth has secured a $4 million state loan to upgrade wastewater treatment plants and reduce per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances -- often called “forever chemicals” -- to improve the environment.

Fort Worth launched a pilot program that connects roadside water sensors directly to navigation apps such as Apple Maps, Waze and certain in-car infotainment systems. The goal: warn drivers of flooded roads in real time, before they end up in harm's way.

Saturday Night Live icon Lorne Michaels entrusted the University of Texas’ Harry Ransom Center with his archives. Finally, we are getting a glimpse with lots of smiles and laughs. 

Texas Senator Ted Cruz is no fan of suspended ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Neither is he a fan of how it happened and what it means that Kimmel is out. 

Approximately 100,000 passengers were stranded across the U.S. Friday as 585 flights were cancelled and more than 5,250 delayed because of a major communications outage that crippled air traffic control systems. The outage disrupted crucial communication lines between air traffic control towers and radar systems.

The Federal Aviation Administration instructed airlines to re-evaluate emergency evacuation procedures, including flight crews' training, announcements and commands to passengers, NBC News reported. The FAA said the recommendations are meant to ensure that "passengers understand they must leave carry-on items behind during an emergency evacuation."

Justin has partnered with the King of Country, George Strait, to design a line of boots for men who want extreme comfort. There are eight styles with prices between $225-$670. A portion of every George Strait purchase is contributed to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, which provides financial assistance to professional rodeo athletes.

President Trump has endorsed the coast-to-coast, $85-billion merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. What are the strategic and financial implications? What is the effect for Fort Worth-based Burlington Northern Santa Fe? 

The Fort Worth Botanic Garden has installed “Musical Swings”, an interactive installation. Now through December 7, “Musical Swings” creates an intuitive experience without music; visitors simply swing and advanced technology activates notes from different instruments.

Hurst Police Chief Steve Niekamp, 56, passed away because of a health complication. He had been with the department since 1990 and served as its chief since January 2018.

Taylor Gandy, a philanthropic champion for the arts who, with his wife Shirlee, invested in preserving downtown landmarks and led efforts to build the JFK Tribute, has died. The Gandys invested in restoring historic downtown properties, including the Santa Fe Depot and Ashton Hotel.

Believe it or not: Meta’s second-gen smart Ray-Bans have been a surprise hit, with sales tripling in Q2 of this year after the tech giant boosted production.

Significant stat: 73% = Percentage of people who couldn’t tell the difference between human and ChatGPT-written conversations, per a study.

Daily digit: Moosehead Breweries announced it will stop selling its signature green-bottled brews. Thirty-two years ago, 90% of Moosehead’s beer was sold in bottles. Now? It says that number is down to just 7% and 85% is sold in cans, with the rest in kegs.

Announcements: 

• First Financial Trust: Hires R. Mark Davidovich as Executive Vice President and leader of Fort Worth Market.

• Pinnacle Bank: Hires Julie Gallegos as Loan Assistant.

• GM Financial: Promotes Emily Skaggs to Cyber Security Team Lead.

• Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum: Promotes Allison McNamara to General Manager. 

• Salvation Army North Texas: Appoints Rob and Carolynn Webb as the region’s Area Commanders.

• Tarleton State University: Associate Dean Alejandro (Alex) del Carmen, Ph.D, to leave Jan. 3, 2026 to concentrate on his consulting business. 

• Fort Worth Sister Cities: Recognizes SaJade Miller with the Bob Bolen Award for Outstanding Board Leadership. 

• JO Agency: Hires Gary Dodds to handle strategic marketing for the firm and its clients.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County: Receives 2025 Community Grant of $50,000 from the Taco Bell Foundation to support character and leadership development.

• Tarrant Area Food Bank: Adds Robert Sturns, Executive Director at Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; Rabbi Andrew Bloom from Congregation Ahavath Sholom; Mike Micallef, President of JMK Holdings; and Dr. Don Mills, Texas Christian University, to its Board of Directors.

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