🏈Patriots, Seahawks are Super; Can you bank on Ford, GM?; Goosehead, Kwedar are big deals.

Super Sunday LX: The 60th game will feature the New England Patriots, a 10-7 winner over the Denver Broncos, and the Seattle Seahawks, a 31-27 winner over the L.A. Rams. The teams met in the 2014 Super Bowl, with the Tom Brady-led Patriots winning when Seattle threw a last-minute interception in the end zone and lost, 28-24. This year’s game is Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Game time is approximately 5:30 p.m. and broadcast by NBC and Peacock. Seattle opened as a 3.5-point favorite. Bad Bunny is the halftime performer.

Grapevine-based GameStop transferred its bitcoin holdings — about 4,710 BTC worth roughly $420 million — to Coinbase Prime, a move that fueled speculation that GameStop might be preparing to exit its bitcoin position with an estimated loss of around $84 million. GameStop did not comment on the transaction. It did release information that CEO Ryan Cohen recently purchased an additional $10 million in shares.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. approved applications from Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co., paving the way for them to establish industrial banks. Ford Credit Bank and GM Financial Bank will be chartered in Utah and will focus on auto lending, with Ford lending through indirect retail installment and lease contracts originated by auto dealers and GM funding through retail installment contracts from GM Financial.

A roughly 40,000-acre property in Nebraska has been purchased by the billionaire Westlake-based Goosehead Insurance founders and part owners who have a vision to build a "world-class cattle operation." Mark and Robyn Jones paid $56 million for the Pawnee Springs Ranch. The high school sweethearts with six kids and 20 grandchildren said they were seeking to diversify their business ventures.

Fort Worth's Greg Kwedar is up for Oscars for the second consecutive year. He is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay with writing partner Clint Bentley for their film Train Dreams (streaming on Netflix). The film also received nominations for Best Picture, Best Cinematography and Best Original Song. Last year, they were nominated for their film Sing Sing (available on HBO) for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Original Song.

Several Facebook real estate sites are writing that H-E-B has purchased the vacant Sack ‘N Save at 3451 Altamesa Blvd., Fort Worth (the northeast corner of McCart & Altamesa). Reports are it will open during 2026. Until the first TABS/City permit hits the wire, it won’t be known if H-E-B plans to re-purpose the store or scrape the lot.

Baylor Scott & White Health plans to open four small-format emergency hospitals across north Texas during the next two years as part of a broader strategy to expand access to care in underserved areas. The new facilities — one in Dallas, one in Aledo and two in Fort Worth — are jointly being developed with Emerus Holdings, a Houston-based operator of neighborhood hospitals.

The 747 jetliner donated by the Qatari government to serve as a new Air Force One is primed to be ready for service this summer, according to the Air Force.

The Cliburn -- in partnership with the Houston Symphony and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University -- will launch a Cliburn International Competition for Conductors 21-to-35 years of age during June 2028 in Houston. Marin Alsop, conductor of the 2022 and 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competitions, will serve as Jury Chair, and the Houston Symphony will perform with all competitors.

Adrian Burciaga of Burciaga Hospitality Group announced a summer opening of Almacén El Gallo at 500 West 7th St. in downtown Fort Worth. The “interior Mexico” menu will be designed by Michelin-starred chef Rodrigo Rivera Río. The location in the First on 7th tower was previously occupied by Neighbors House Grocery.

Tomorrow, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit will hear oral arguments in two consolidated cases challenging state laws requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in public school classrooms. Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District challenges Texas' Senate Bill 10, and Roake v. Brumley involves Louisiana's House Bill 71. 

BASF Agricultural Solutions reached agreement with private equity firm Paine Schwartz Partners and other shareholders to acquire its portfolio group, Fort Worth-based AgBiTech, which specializes in biological insect control solutions in the U.S., Brazil and Australia. BASF will assume full ownership of AgBiTech, including all assets such as portfolio, intellectual property rights, manufacturing operations, research and development facilities and personnel. The parties agreed not to disclose the financial and commercial terms.

Philip Morris presented data to the FDA's Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee in an effort to classify the company’s smokeless tobacco pouch ZYN as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product. The designation -- a first in the U.S. -- would allow Philip Morris to advertise ZYN as a lower-risk alternative to tobacco, thereby encouraging the switch from cigarettes to nicotine pouches.

The Cybertruck could be going extinct. The futuristic-looking Tesla saw its sales plummet 68% in the last quarter, while sales for the full year were down almost 50%. That’s the largest sales decline of any EV, including models that were discontinued halfway through the year.

The Information reported that Apple is working on a wearable AI pin — a “thin, flat circular disc” the size of an AirTag, featuring one speaker, two cameras, and three microphones.

Is he or isn't he? Bob Tallman, the voice of professional rodeo, told podcaster John Fletcher: "Well, you know, I've been there 50 years this year and I'm going to retire in the 2026 season. Uh, not quitting, but they're going to retire me...50 years."

The NRP Group announced Sunday the completion and opening of Thrive on Crawford, a 67-unit, mixed-income development at 1310 Crawford Street. The majority of homes are reserved for families earning between 30-to-60% of the Area Median Income and has access to essential health services. The development includes 2,200 square feet of Class-A commercial space leased to JPS Health Network.

The Pentagon’s unclassified version of its National Defense Strategy places the homeland as the department’s No. 1 priority and seemingly signals cuts to come to U.S. forces in Europe and South Korea. The document denies a push toward “isolationism” while calling for greater burden sharing from allies and increased investments in the defense industrial base.

Snippets:

• 15-year-old Austin steakhouse with famous name closes.

• Fewer young adults are dying from the leading causes of cancer death — except colorectal cancer.

• Wiener takes all: Iconic hot dog brand Nathan’s Famous has been bought for $450 million.

• Today is the first day the IRS accepts 2025 federal income tax returns. The rest of us have until Wednesday, April 15.

Significant stat: 1.95 million = Average number of barrels of oil equivalent per day produced by ExxonMobil, the leader in public onshore exploration and production companies.

Announcements:

• Freese and Nichols: Hires Ruth Lohmer as Urban Planner/Project Manager.

• Gallagher Bassett: Names Joseph Drago Senior Resolution Specialist.

• Camp Fire First Texas: New board members are: Sharon Levy, Creating Superheroes; Loc Spann-Ly, retired Merck; Lori Matthews, Baylor Scott & White; and Albert Perez, BNSF Railway.

• North Texas Communities Foundation: Adds Angela McQuien, CPA, as Chief Financial Officer.

• TCU athletics: Hires Kevin McCadam as Director of speed and performance, and John Porchivina and Shaw Lee as Assistant Directors of football strength and performance.

• FWISD: Hires Kimberly Russell as Intervention Specialist II.

• Duane Morris: Hires attorney Taylor Winn as Senior Associate.

• Siemens Healthineers: Hires Melissa Kelly Williamson as Key Account Executive. 

• Financial Operations Management: Launched by Michael Mangrum.

• Genesee & Wyoming: Hires James Landavazo as Director of Sales & Marketing.

• Fort Worth Apartment Association: Promotes Coni Leal to Director of Membership.

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