🏈Big 12 first to have private capital deal; Hamlin can't chase down Elliott; Mansfield fence, courts company sold.

The Big 12 completed its long-discussed private capital deal — the first conference-wide agreement in college sports. The five-year deal with RedBird and Weatherford Capital includes a $12.5-million investment to drive commercial development and business growth; an offer to each school of an opt-in credit line of $30 million; and a strategic business partnership that pays off when the conference goes to market for its media rights contracts.

Fort Worth voters approved an $845-million bond package and gave raises to council members, and Arlington Mayor Jim Ross won a final term. All Tarrant County election results are here. 

During Saturday's Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, BNSF Railway CEO Katie Farmer had an on-stage session. The company, which was told to improve margins, is making sure it's institutionalizing the improvement it saw in 2025 into 2026. The railroad moved more volume in first quarter 2026 than it did in the previous quarter, but with 260 fewer locomotives. That improves profitability, she said. The company is "attacking the largest structural cost buckets," she said. Technology will give BNSF the ability to run trains with fewer people. In past years, BNSF ran trains with five people aboard. Now, it runs trains with only two aboard.

GameStop is preparing a potential acquisition offer for eBay, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move would mark an escalation of CEO Ryan Cohen’s effort to remake Grapevine-based GameStop into a larger e-commerce player.

Chase Elliott held off Danny Hamlin the closing four laps after a final re-start to win at Texas Motor Speedway Sunday, his second victory of the season and 23rd of his career. Elliott led a race-high 87 laps and joined five-time winner Tyler Reddick as the only NASCAR Cup drivers this season with multiple wins.

Elbit Systems of America, headquartered in Fort Worth, was awarded a contract worth up to $450 million to develop and test the Binocular Night Observation Device (BiNOD), and establish a vehicle for future production orders.

Lockheed Martin is one of 12 companies selected for the $3.2-billion Space Force, which will provide prototype technologies for space-based interceptors in support of the Golden Dome initiative.

Israel approved plans to acquire two additional combat squadrons of advanced fighter aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The package includes a fourth squadron of F-35 stealth jets and a second squadron of F-15IA aircraft. Israeli officials described the move as an early stage of a wider $119-billion defense modernization program.

The Ensign Group, which invests in and provides skilled nursing and senior living services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, has purchased numerous facilities in Texas, including two in Tarrant and a total of five across D-FW. Among the purchases were La Dora Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a 62-bed skilled nursing facility in Bedford, and Mallard Creek Therapy and Living Center, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility in Fort Worth. 

A district judge ruled the sale of natural smokeable hemp products, such as flower buds and rolled joints, can continue until July 27. The ruling extends a pause on the statewide ban granted earlier this month. It also prevents a 3,000% increase in licensing fees for hemp retailers from taking effect. 

Trader Joe's has filed a permit for a store at 3020 Matlock Rd. in Mansfield, next to a Chick-fil-A and less than half a mile from a Sprouts Farmers Market. The cost of the renovation/alteration is estimated at $900,000 and completion is expected by March 2027.

With two bankruptcies since 2024 and the 2026 costs of fuel because of the war with Iran, Florida-based Spirit Airlines closed its business Saturday morning.

Near Earth Autonomy will employ Textron's Bell 505 helicopter for the second increment of the Marine Corps’ Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle–Expeditionary Logistics development program. “The program is to develop an un-crewed aerial logistics aircraft for where the risk and need are highest,” said Lyle Chamberlain, Near Earth’s chief technology officer.

Fenceworks, a portfolio company of Gemspring Capital, has acquired T-Bar Fence, which is headquartered in Mansfield and operates across D-FW. T-Bar offers installation services for wood, chain-link, wrought iron and vinyl fencing, along with tennis, pickleball and multi-purpose sport courts, which was an attractive add-on for Fenceworks' capabilities. Mark Spradlin is President of T-Bar Fence. Financial terms were not released.

Fort Worth-based Justin Boots launched Prodigy Collection, a line of work boots engineered for performance without sacrificing style. Designed with a high abrasion outsole and aggressive stitching, it is aesthetically pleasing and built for durability. 

The Freedom 250 Tour, a U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of our country, will host a two-day Freedom Festival in Bedford Friday and Saturday at the New Beginnings Church Outdoor Complex at 2000 Forum Pkwy.

Daily digit: 46,800 = Number of non-farm jobs Texas added in March, reaching a record 14,403,500 total jobs.

Significant stat: 8,477,157 = D-FW metropolitan area population (Census 2025), remaining the fourth-largest metro area and closing on No. 3 Chicago at 9,434,123. Since 2020, D-FW has grown approximately 11 percent, outpacing every other top five metro. The past year, D-FW added 123,557 residents, or about 339 people per day.

Snippets:

• Dirty Job Brewing closed yesterday after nearly nine years in downtown Mansfield. Owners are Derek and Lashawn Hubanek, and Justin Watson.

• Ġov. Greg Abbott is "lobbying" on behalf of retired teachers to get lower Medicare health premiums. 

• A federal court blocks the rule that let Texans obtain out-of-state abortion pills. Judge rules they must be purchased in person. 

Announcements:

• JPMorganChase Private Bank: Promotes Keith Wiley to Managing Director. 

• Arlington: Lindsey Mitchell will become part of the Office of Strategic Initiatives under Marty Wieder, the Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation. The group will work a portfolio of Special Projects, Real Estate, Research & Analytics, and Neighborhoods/Historic Preservation & Urban Design. 

• Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau: Names Taylor Morton Director of Communications.

• Fort Worth Police: Assistant Chief Julie Swearingin retires after 31 years of service to Fort Worth. 

• REV Entertainment: Hires Ally Hunter as Event Services Coordinator.

• Presbyterian Night Shelter: Chief Philanthropy Officer Brenda Rios is leaving after seven years. 

• TCU Athletics and the Block T Association: Announces eight inductees as its 59th Hall of Fame class. Included are seven individuals elected this year, along with a 2020 electee who will be formally inducted following his professional career. 

• TCU John V. Roach Honors College: Selects Stacy Landreth Grau, associate dean and professor of professional practice, as the 2026 Roach Honors Professor of the Year as voted by students. 

• Culture Map: Click here to see its Fort Worth Tastemaker Awards selections.

• Texas Wesleyan: Assistant Athletic Director Jill Gerold retires. 

• Associated General Contractors of America: Honors Linbeck with three first-place Build America Awards for The National Medal of Honor Museum, Mood-Bridwell Hall at Southwestern University and Fort Worth's new city hall chambers. 

• Greenhouse Treatment Center: Hires psychiatric nurse practitioners Adedeji (Ade) Babajide and Tania Hastings.

• Alliance for Justice: Promotes Natalie Roetzel Ossenfort to Senior Program Director. 

• One Safe Place: Hires Roger Foggle as Lead Advocate, providing direct advocacy services to survivors of domestic violence.

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