Amtrak gets $64M thumbs up; Frontier, can you hear me now? Cowboys fans ask: What's a pizza burger?

Amtrak has received a nearly $64-million grant to continue planning the Texas High-Speed Rail project between Dallas and Houston after several years of stagnation because of the COVID pandemic. Texas Central, the company in charge of the project, estimates it could create 1,000 permanent jobs. No mention of a Dallas-to-Fort Worth connection was in the release. 

TechFW, an accelerator/incubator for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to become scalable businesses, and Hayden Blackburn are parting ways today. Blackburn arrived in 2016 and in 2018 was named Executive Director, which changed in 2024, when he became COO.

A new Six Flags Over Texas chaperone policy goes into effect tomorrow at 4 p.m.

Topgolf Callaway plans to split into independent companies. Topgolf’s initial portfolio will include 100 venues.

Florida-based Basis Industrial recently purchased more than one million square feet of industrial space in D-FW. Included are four addresses on Suffolk Drive in Fort Worth, 1655-1663 Hickory Drive in Haltom City, and 3201-3217 E. Pioneer Parkway in Arlington.

RangeWater Real Estate and equity partner NTT Urban Development Corporation closed on 14.16 acres in Corinth to expand its build-to-rent Storia portfolio.

Palm Primary Care has acquired MetHealth PA, a primary care practice in Haltom City. Palm operates six primary care clinics in D-FW and 44 locations in Texas and Florida. The Haltom City practice is led by Dr. Mai V Hoang and Dr. Tuan H. Nguyen, two family medicine physicians.

Senske has acquired Nutri Green Lawn Treatment & Weed Control, a well-established lawn care company in Fort Worth.

ShipBob plans to consolidate its North Texas operations—including a Grapevine fulfillment center it opened in August 2023—into a new Fort Worth industrial building at 11401 Harmon Road. Chicago-based ShipBob is a platform for small business and mid-market e-commerce merchants.

Verizon, America's No. 1 wireless provider and a player in fiber broadband delivery, has agreed to acquire broadband giant Frontier Communications.

U.S auto safety regulators have closed a 5-year investigation into seat belt failures in some General Motors SUVs after the company issued extended warranty coverage.

Elvis is in the building: Elvis Andrus, who helped usher in the Texas Rangers’ American League successes more than a decade ago, will officially retire as an active Rangers player today.

The Fort Worth Public Library has books, videos, audio, magazines, DVDs and ... pickleball kits. The kits come in singles (two paddles) or doubles (four paddles), along with balls, a net, instructions, a map of area courts, and a bag.

Tom Brady makes his NFL broadcasting debut at 3:25 Sunday afternoon for FOX Sports at the Dallas-Cleveland game.

Cowboys fans may want to break out the Sansabelt pants before heading to the stadium Sept. 15. Legends Hospitality has announced a new line of menu items for the 2024 season at AT&T stadium. New foods include the Pizza Burger, Wagyu Truffle Burger, and the sweet syrup dripping Churro Waffle.

BAMA LLC founders Angie and Shevoyd Hamilton have taken over what was the Fort Worth Business Press and renamed it The Business Press, a monthly print and online publication. They also own The Metro Report, which will remain a separate entity. BAMA is Shevoyd’s mother’s nickname.  

California is home to the nation's top two universities for startup founders, according to a new analysis by PitchBook. The University of California, Berkeley topped the list, followed by Stanford University. Harvard University checked in at No. 3. PitchBook compared schools based on the number of alumni entrepreneurs who have found success in the venture capital market in the last decade. Here’s the complete top 100 list.

Kamala Harris has a proposal aimed at expanding tax deductions for small businesses. It is expected to include raising the startup-expense deduction for small businesses from $5K to $50K.

Young people are taking over the workplace, and that’s a problem for bosses. Some of the dissatisfaction stems from how the younger generation entered the workforce. Leaders should cater to younger workers’ needs and advise them about workplace norms. (WSJ)

Daily digit: An analysis from Fidelity Investments that examined 24 million accounts across 26,000 employer-sponsored plans found 497,000 Americans with $1+ million in their 401(k) last quarter, representing the highest figure on record. Overall, Fidelity found the average 401(k) account balance rose 13% from a year ago to $127,100.

Significant stat: Playoffs and Super Bowl aside, there will be 544 games this NFL season, and fans are projected to wager $35B, a 30% increase over last year. 

Snippets:

• U.S. small business surges and sentiment improves, Treasury report says.

• Members of the Nordstrom family are offering to take the century-old department store private for $3.76 billion.

• Tarrant County College chef educator named tops in culinary education.

• Want to feel cool? Phoenix has had 100+ straight days with triple-digit temperatures; no end is in sight.

• UT Austin research team says it found an antibody that protects against COVID.

Announcements: 

• WFAA:  Adds former Star-Telegram Cowboys reporter and ESPN broadcaster Ed Werder.

• FWISD: Hires Jonathan Morrison as Dean of Students.

• AllianceHCM: Hires Juan Carlos Torres as Major Accounts HCM Executive.

• United Way of Tarrant County: Promotes Beverly Delaney to Director of Corporate Relations.

• Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County: Promotes Alissa Deaton to President & CEO, succeeding Carla Jutson, who is retiring in September after 50 years of leadership.

• Partnership Home: New name for The Tarrant County Homeless Coalition.

• Legacy Bank & Trust: Appoints Jorge Marín as SVP-director of treasury management sales.

• Goodwill North Central Texas: Promotes Adrian Kirkland to Director, Grants & Compliance.

• Fruit Street Health: Appoints Arvind Ravinutala as Chief Medical Officer.

• Junior League Fort Worth 2024-25 Board: Sarah Washington (President), Shay Gipson (President-Elect 2024-25), Kaci Lightner (Administration VP), Cara Hardin (Community VP), Janie Latimer (Communications VP), Dr. Tara Reed (Education VP), Emily Paul (Finance VP), Savannah Petronis (Assistant Finance VP), Rachel Navejar Phillips (Fund Development VP), Jessica Walsh (Membership VP), Corrine Hyman Quast (Nominating Chair), Carrie Cappel (Sustaining Advisor), and Kristi Brhlik (Assistant to the Board).