Bob Simpson buying again; Robert Allen bullish on FW; So long, Kinky.

Bob Simpson, Chairman and CEO of TXO Partners, announced the company was making a play in the Greater Williston Basin in Montana and North Dakota. TXO purchased assets in the Elm Coulee field in Montana and the Russian Creek field in North Dakota from Eagle Mountain Energy Partners and a private company for $243 million and 2.5 million common units of TXO.

Baylor Scott & White Health announced it had reached a 3-month agreement through Sept. 30 with Blue Cross Blue Shield to extend provider and facility contracts until a permanent contract can be reached. 

The Fort Worth City Council has authorized the City Attorney to pursue legal resolution to a property dispute with Texas Garden Clubs (TGC). The city claims it owns the property of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, including approximately 10.291 acres located within the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. TGC constructed and maintains a building and asserts it owns this property through a 1959 agreement executed by the President of the Board of Park Commissioners, but unauthorized by the Fort Worth City Council. The city says since 2019 staff has attempted unsuccessfully to resolve the competing claims of ownership. It says a lawsuit against Texas Garden Clubs would allow the courts to resolve the ownership matter, but is hopeful it still can be settled amicably.

Richard “Kinky” Friedman has died from Parkinson’s disease. He was 79. Friedman was known for his satire, provocative thoughts, one-liners, flamboyance, a black cowboy hat, and usually had a cigar in hand. In 2006, he ran for Governor of Texas, one of three to challenge Gov. Rick Perry. 

Collin County judge Angela Tucker dismissed a civil lawsuit claiming sexual assault by Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. Her ruling comes on the heels of Dallas police announcing in May that they had found "insufficient evidence" to support a criminal case against Prescott. 

Gladney Center for Adoption, is one of the 100 non-profits announced as part of the 2024 Lowe's Hometown program - a five-year, $100 million commitment to re-build and revitalize community spaces nationwide.  

The trailer has been released for You Gotta Believe, the story of the 2002 Westside Fort Worth baseball team reaching the Little League World Series after dedicating its season to Bobby Ratliff, a player’s father dying of cancer. The movie is directed by Ty Roberts (12 Mighty Orphans) and stars Luke Wilson and Greg Kinnear. The movie will be released August 30.

In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court ruled that people accused of fraud by the Securities & Exchange Commission have the right to a jury trial in federal court. The in-house proceedings the SEC has used in some civil fraud complaints, including against Houston hedge fund manager George Jarkesy, violate the Constitution, the court said.

Robert Allen, President and CEO of the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, writes about why he is so bullish on selling Fort Worth to the world.

Atlanta-based Hooters is closing about 300 restaurants nationwide, but did not release a list of locations. Two locations -- downtown Fort Worth and south Arlington -- are among those in Tarrant County affected.

City Council re-appointed judges to the Fort Worth Municipal Court and selected Simon González as chief judge and Andrew Bradshaw as deputy chief judge. Municipal Court judges are appointed to two-year terms. 

Today a champion will be decided in Blue Bell Ice Cream's 16-flavor "The Great Scoop Revival Flavor Tournament.” The company has produced more than 300 flavors. Vote here.

Passengers soon will be guaranteed a refund if airlines dramatically change or cancel flights. Could airlines wind up paying hefty sums to consumers?

Another one bites the dust. Sony Music has agreed to pay a record-breaking $1.74 billion for Queen's list of hits. If finalized, it will be the most lucrative music catalog deal in history.

The Supreme Court sided with the Biden administration in a dispute with Republican-led states about how far the federal government can go to combat controversial social media posts on topics such as COVID-19 and election security.

Below is a sampling of topics from this week’s Motley Fool column. To read all the Fool's gold, click here.

• Is investing in index funds enough or should you add individual stocks for diversification?

• The last recession ended in 2020; another could happen at any time. The Fool discusses what to know and how to prepare for recessions.

• This week’s stock pick: energy company Enbridge, a reliable, slow-growing dividend stock with a high yield.

Taxing flatulence! Denmark will tax livestock farmers for the greenhouse gases emitted by their cows, sheep and pigs starting in 2030. It is the first country to target a major source of methane emissions, a potent gas contributing to global warming.

This should end well: Colleges are trash-talking over whose football stadium has the cheapest beer. Thanks to NCAA rule changes, 55 out of 69 Power Five conference schools serve alcohol in their stadiums. A $2 beer is one way to increase enthusiasm and boost home-field advantage.

Believe it or not: A photographer has been disqualified from a picture competition after his real photograph won in the AI image category.

Snippets:

• Gas permits and public health are at the center of conversation for Arlington's city council. KERA has the story. 

• Fiji Airways, Fiji’s national airline, will join American Airlines' AAdvantage® travel rewards program in the coming year.

• The U.S. Justice Department's regulatory review of Cedar Fair L.P.'s merger with Six Flags Entertainment is final. The $2.2-billion merger will occur Monday.

• Fort Worth changed Ryan Place Triangle Park to Joan Kline Park, honoring the late community advocate for her contributions to the city.

• Six non-profits with Tarrant operations large and small receive grants as part of the Texas Talent Connection funds for workforce development.

• President Biden pardoned nearly 2,000 veterans who were convicted of engaging in gay sex under a military code that outlawed the behavior from 1951 to 2013. 

• Consumer confidence in U.S. falls in June as Americans fret about near-term prospects.

• The golf league Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are launching in 2025 reportedly has a valuation of $500 million. 

Announcements:

• United Way of Tarrant County: Hires Eric Marin as EVP and CFO.

• Higginbotham: Promotes Mary Russell to President-private client services.

• Roper (S.C.) St. Francis Healthcare System: Names Joseph DeLeon President and CEO, effective Aug. 5. DeLeon is President of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth.

• AIQ: Adds Katie Douglass as a marketing partner.

• Resultant: Adds Chas Stoker as business development consultant and growth executive. 

• OMNI Retail Enterprises: Hires Sharon M. Leite as CEO.

• PNC: Hires Carl Hanna as Southwest Retail territory executive.

🧨Reminder: We’re taking next week off. However, watch your inbox for the digital version of the next issue of our bimonthly print publication.