🐸TCU Frog Club is making memories; Check every drawer for Pokémon cards; Court fights ahead for Costco, Shein.

Fort Worth-based Paragon Energy Soultions, a portfolio company of Windjammer Capital Investors, has been sold to Mirion Technologies. Paragon provides engineered solutions for large-scale nuclear power plants and small modular reactors. It offers a range of products, including electrical, sensor, power management, instrumentation and controls, HVAC, mechanical and flow components that are necessary for nuclear power facilities to operate safely.

Texas Wesleyan University’s School of Education received grants worth $1,790,082 from the Moody and Paul E. Andrews, Jr. foundations to launch the TWU Center for Educator Excellence and address the statewide teacher pipeline crisis. The Center is described as "an innovative, research-informed initiative designed to strengthen teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention across the Dallas–Fort Worth region."

Fort Worth-based PHP Capital Partners, a privately owned investor and operator of industrial real estate properties led by managing partners Paul Carr and Hunter Harrison, acquired the 115,000-square-foot Gateway Business Center at 6005 Commerce Drive; 6015 Commerce Drive; 6000 Campus Circle Drive W; and 6012 Campus Circle Drive W in Irving. Panther FW Investments, led by founding partner Tommy Pigg, served as PHP’s capital partner.

The Tarrant Appraisal District board will keep chief appraiser Joe Don Babbitt after an investigation into a 2024 election error that skewed voting power. Appointed in 2023, Bobbitt faces three corrective actions: He must promptly inform board members of any serious matters, improve employee oversight and training; and prioritize time and efforts to ensure direct involvement in all tax code matters. The Chief Appraiser's salary and benefits is more than $250,000.

Nashville-based, full-service facility operator and promoter Marathon Live announced the launch of a Facilities Management Division and its first client is Fort Worth-based Tulips FTW, owned by Jason Suder. The new program is targeted toward venues looking to tap into a larger independent network. “Marathon Live changes our dynamic … this collaboration opens up a world of prowess and access to artists we could not have achieved on our own,” Suder said.

Lockheed Martin was the sole bidder and winner of a $52-million Army contract for maintaining and operating the configuration of the high mobility artillery rocket system, multiple launch rocket system launcher fleet, and the respective repair parts storage and distribution center. The work will be performed in Grand Prairie with an estimated completion date of May 14, 2031.

Fort Worth based BNSF Railway asked the Surface Transportation Board to review Union Pacific’s compliance with conditions the board imposed to preserve competition after UP’s 1996 acquisition of Southern. The STB had granted BNSF the ability to serve customers at so-called 2-to-1 locations, where shippers served by UP and SP would be served by just UP after the merger.

Make a Memory is transforming how the TCU Frog Club engages its most loyal supporters. For years, donors received traditional recognition gifts like shirts, tumblers and other branded items. Now, they receive something far more personal: experiences that connect them directly to the student-athletes, coaches and programs their donations make possible.

Laura Kunkel, a clinical associate professor of kinesiology at the University of Texas-Arlington, says experiential learning activities tend to resonate more with students than traditional textbook instruction. Ok, how about a tornado? A simulated disaster was the latest example, with students from multiple disciplines participating in a hands-on exercise in navigating such an emergency when it strikes.

Costco joined dozens of businesses that are suing the Trump administration to ensure eligibility for refunds if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the President's global tariffs policy. They are challenging Trump’s use of an economic emergency powers law to impose the levies, according to court records. The Supreme Court heard arguments on Trump’s tariffs and put a fast-tracked schedule but didn’t say when it intended to rule.

A MESSAGE FROM BURT LADNER REAL ESTATE:

This 1940's home at 3721 Westcliff Road S in the highly sought-after Bellaire Addition is just a short walk to the TCU campus. The charming 3 bedroom, 2 bath, two-story has 2,371 square feet. Features include hardwood floors, built-ins, gas fireplace, eat-in kitchen with granite countertops, cedar closets, plus a bonus room with unlimited possibilities. A screened-in back porch overlooks an expansive backyard. Offered at $749,000 by TK Dorsey.

Texas' Attorney General office is investigating global fashion retailer Shein US Services LLC Corporation and its affiliates (“Shein”) for potential violations of Texas law related to unethical labor practices and the sale of unsafe consumer products.

Tyson Foods, with brands such as Jimmy Dean, Sara Lee and Hillshire Farms, is cutting 1,761 jobs by Jan. 20 and going to a single shift in Amarillo because of a cattle shortage. A Nebraska plant is shedding 3,200 jobs. 

Hong Kong-based Plaza Premium Group will open two lounges next year in D-FW International Airport’s Terminal D, the company announced. The Plaza Premium Group established its America headquarters at the airport in 2023 after having opened its first lounge in 2020 at Terminal E.

Daily digit: $6.7 billion = The total of 2025 new capital investment reported to the Fort Worth city council, a $.5 billion gain from September's estimated number. Additionally, 6,900 new and retained jobs were reported for the fiscal year. 

Significant stat: $911 million in Texas commercial real estate loans are scheduled for auction, with $659 million of that tied to multi-family properties. Here's a sampling of those in major Texas cities.

Snippets:

• AT&T Stadium is voted the most "iconic" of all the FIFA World Cup sites.

• Consumer confidence slides as Americans grow wary of high costs and sluggish job gains.

⚖️Notice to Tarrant County law firms: The January issue of our print publication will include a ranking of firms based on number of attorneys practicing in north Texas. Firms must have a minimum of five attorneys to be listed. The deadline to submit data is December 8; please contact [email protected] for details. There is no charge for the listing. 

Announcements: 

• Valor: Promotes Jason Beck to Chief Operating Officer.

• Whitley Penn: Announces Larry Autrey, Executive Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer, will retire December 31.

• Huitt-Zollars: Hires Philip Moore as Vice President and the National Rail and Transit Business Development Lead.

• Transwestern: Expands its industrial platform by adding Managing Directors John Bollman and Barrett Bufkin, and Senior Vice President Austin Fahy.

• Texas A&M Board of Regents: Selects Tarleton State University professor Dr. James (Jim) E. Gentry its Regents Professor for the 2024-25 school year.

• 2025 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Selects Jacob Schick as keynote speaker at the Kickoff Luncheon. He is a third-generation combat Marine and Purple Heart recipient, and CEO of the One Tribe Foundation.

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