📌Drowning in data center issues; Roanoke votes for convention center; Jail cell built for a Lego thief.

Three years ago today: The first issue of this newsletter was distributed to 767 subscribers. Today’s issue will reach more than 15,000 subscribers. While we celebrate, we are thinking of all of you that have supported our efforts and been unusually kind to our miscues. On to year four...

Texas remains business friendly... but Gov. Abbott recommends sweeping data center regulation, including eliminating the sales tax exemption during the next legislative session. 

To calm concerns, Google has made a $10-million commitment to Texas to produce more water than its data centers will use.

The design-build agreement for the Roanoke Convention Center and Hotel has been approved, according to Community Impact. The Roanoke Convention Center Hotel Local Development Corporation and the council members approved Brasfield & Gorrie to proceed with the full build-out for $97.5 million. The Dallas company listed a start date of Sept. 3 and a completion date of June 2, 2028.

An armed serial Lego thief received a 45-year sentence in state prison under Texas’ strengthened organized retail theft law. Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells said the conviction of Winston Love, 28, was the first jury trial in the state under the Organized Retail Theft statute, which applies to crimes committed on or after Sept. 1, 2025. Love was convicted June 4 of organized retail theft with a deadly weapon.

San Diego-based Sempra, which has an 80.25% stake in Oncor, announced several new southern Dallas-Fort Worth projects and upgrades valued at $7 billion after receiving endorsement by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). When placed in service, which is anticipated between 2026 and 2034, these projects will support approximately 16 gigawatts of new electric demand.

Elon Musk is expected to IPO SpaceX today at $135 a share, aiming to raise $75 billion and achieving a valuation of approximately $1.77 trillion. It would be the largest IPO in history, topping Saudi Aramco's 2019 IPO at $1.7 trillion, the only other one above a trillion. 

LEAGUE Commercial, in a competitive RFP, won the opportunity to lead Texas Wesleyan University leasing efforts for multiple retail spaces along East Rosedale Street. More than 6,000 square feet of retail space adjacent to the campus is available, including properties located at 3014 and 3016. LEAGUE Commercial is represented by advisors Kalyn McKittrick, Bronson Pope and Kelsey Gentry.

A seven-building medical office and retail portfolio in north Fort Worth’s Alliance corridor changed hands in an off-market transaction brokered by Southlake-based Field Commercial Real Estate. Financial terms were not disclosed. Field announced it closed the sale of Heritage Trace Center, representing the seller, a private ownership group, and sourcing the buyer, Fort Worth-based MainStreet Partners. 

Bedford-based SkyWalker Property Partners purchased Alliance Commerce Center, a 73,747-square-foot office building in north Fort Worth. The building is located within AllianceTexas and was 90 percent leased at the time of sale. Cameron Deptula and Blake Schur of Davidson Bogel represented the seller, Group O. Jack Mock and Chris Aguilar internally represented SkyWalker.

Arlington City Council voted unanimously to designate its entertainment district as a cultural district, awaiting state approval. Cultural districts are defined by the state, and if a city is approved, it is then connected to special resources and a network of other cultural districts across the state.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is pulling troopers off north Texas toll roads Aug. 31 and will not renew its agreement with the North Texas Tollway Authority, which probably will work out interlocal city agreements.

Texas' Attorney General office sent a letter on behalf of its client, Texas Tech University, to leaders of the Big 12 Conference, notifying them that any effort to sanction Texas Tech for acting consistent with a valid court order would constitute a violation of federal and state law and expose the conference and its members to antitrust liability. The warning follows the Temporary Injunction Order issued by a Texas court in Sorsby v. NCAA, which enjoined the NCAA from prohibiting Brendan Sorsby from practicing, playing, or otherwise participating on Tech's football team during the 2026 football season. 

Fort Worth craft beer Rahr & Sons Brewing, which left its long-time space in 2025, has entered a partnership with another acclaimed brewery: Lakewood Brewing of Dallas. Lakewood will produce certain Rahr brands at its Dallas facility, and Rahr will continue brewing beer in Fort Worth.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom told shareholders that the airline is in contact with Boeing and Airbus about a possible new widebody aircraft order as part of “investments to improve business”.

Twelve Cook Children’s patients will be center stage Sunday for the first FIFA World Cup 2026 game in north Texas. The teenagers will serve as Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup 2026 Flag Bearers, carrying the national flags for Japan and Netherlands. 

The Charles Schwab Foundation announced a $2.85 million, multi‑year expansion of its partnership with SIFMA Foundation to broaden access to high‑quality, credible investing education for students nationwide. And another $20 million to support financial literacy opportunities. 

Two Skills Development Fund grant awards totaling $273,910 are coming to the Tarrant County College District from the Texas Workforce Commission. A grant of $91,453 is to train 67 workers at AO Smith in blueprint reading, OSHA compliance and project management. And a grant of $182,457 is to train 106 workers at DOT IT Restaurant Fulfillment in flexographic printing and inventory management.

Indian poultry vaccine manufacturer Globion India Pvt Ltd has been re-named Virbac Biologicals Pvt Ltd, the final stage of its integration into the global animal health company Virbac. The company's U.S. headquarters is in Westlake. 

EV car manufacturer Rivian filed a formal opposition to block a Delaware-based neuro-marketing company from registering the trademark ‘Neurivian’ in the U.S. The filing with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, claims the mark is confusingly similar and would dilute the distinctiveness of the Rivian brand.

During the United Way of Tarrant County 6th Annual Women United Investing in Impact Luncheon, $115,000 in grants was awarded to seven organizations helping women and girls access education, develop workforce skills and create pathways to long-term success. The awardees: Community Healing Mental Health Project; Diamond Hill Northside Youth Association; The Foundation for Young Women’s Leadership Academy; Laundry Love of Fort Worth; Mental Health Connection; Refugee Empowerment Network; Tarrant County Academy of Medicine’s Project Access Tarrant County.

Karen Cramer, a philanthropist, businesswoman and dedicated supporter of Texas Wesleyan University and Texas Health Resources, has passed away at 76. Among her most visible gifts was the contribution that made possible Karen Cramer Stadium, the future home of Rams athletics, cheer, dance and the university’s planned marching band.

Texas high school students made gains in every subject from algebra to U.S. history, according to results from state tests, a positive sign after years-long efforts to make up for pandemic-related learning disruptions.

Snippets:

• There’s still room at the ‘Inn’. $15k-$20k can get you a night at the finest suite at the Loews Arlington. 

• The real deal: Taylor Swift is not toying with us in “I Knew It, I Knew You”. 

• The Fort Worth Education Partnership has launched The Tarrant County Education Dashboard to highlight student and school progress.

• Gov. Greg Abbott announced more than $750 million in Teacher Incentive Allotment funds have been awarded to more than 65,000 Texas teachers across more than 800 school systems. 

Today in history:

• 1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark opened in U.S. theaters. The Harrison Ford film launched the Indiana Jones franchise and became the year’s top-grossing movie.

• 1991: Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win the franchise’s first of six NBA championships. Jordan was named Finals MVP.

• 1999: The Fort Worth Herd made its first cattle drive in the Fort Worth Stockyards. The daily longhorn drive was created for the city’s sesquicentennial.

Daily digit: 74 = Number of majors on AI offered by U.S. colleges. In 2021 there were just five, per Northeastern University.

Significant stat: 4.2% = The annual inflation rate in May, the highest level in three years.

Announcements:

• Simmons Bank: Hires Jim Recer to lead its Texas expansion efforts. 

• Texas Wesleyan University: Appoints Dr. Terri D. Kane as Dean of the School of Health Professions. 

• StraCon: Promotes Zach Curran to Program Manager. Hires Jane Pears as Program Analyst, Kevin Smith as Engineering Technologist and Technician, and Maggie Montiegel as Management Analyst. 

• Champion Hydrovac: Hires Melinda See to the business development and sales team. 

• Whitley Penn: Hires Jacob Zalac as Senior Manager-Digital Services. 

• D-FW International Airport: Names Ingram Brown Customer Programs Manager.

• American Association of Orthodontists: Awards the James E. Brophy distinguished service honor to Colleyville’s Dr. Larry Tadlock, head of orthodontics at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas.

• Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber: The Board honors Tarrant County Contracts Administrator Andre McEwing with its President’s Award. 

• World Affairs Council of D-FW: Hires Trasa Cobern as Chief Development Officer. 

• Bimbo Bakeries: Hires Burcak Cinar as Consumer Insights Associate. 

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