🤝FW company part of aviation merger; How crazy is this Texas weather? Arlington IndyCar establishes new tone.

American Airlines and Google said they significantly reduced the climate impact of some of the airline's flights using an AI-based forecasting tool to help prevent contrails, those white lines behind the airplane that some researchers say cause up to 2% of the earth's warming. 

A transformative deal: Southlake-based Sabre signed a transformative, strategic governance agreement with Constellation Software that ends the company's poison pill. Damian McKay from Constellation will join Sabre’s board.

Fort Worth-based Elbit Systems of America won a $49.9-million contract from the Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama to produce Heads Up Displays as part of the United States Army’s Air Soldier System. Work for the contract will be done through December 2030, and includes post-production support.

Fort Worth-based Paslay Management Group said Chicago-based Unison Consulting is merging with the firm to create a stronger, more comprehensive aviation consultancy of airport business advisory and development experts.

North Richland Hills council members indicate Tarrant County College turned down a proposal from Costco despite their suggestions otherwise, according to the Dallas Express.  

Even a week later, the afterglow of the IndyCar race in Arlington is that it was transcendent, the new game plan for the future of the circuit. Forbes has the story of how it all came together.  

Significant stat: 1,336,000 = Viewership of the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington broadcast on FOX (March 15). A 142% increase over viewership for the third race of the 2025 season (Acura Long Beach Grand Prix) and a 54% increase over the 2025 average for Sunday races on FOX.

President Donald Trump on Saturday issued a 48-hour warning to Iran. “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

University of North Texas head football coach Neal Brown, wife Brooke and the family foundation have made a $100,000 donation to UNT ...for football. "We want to support the student-athletes ...and help provide opportunities that allow them to succeed on the field, in the classroom and in life. Denton has welcomed our family with open arms, and we are excited to invest in the future of this program."

Texas is emerging from a weekend and a winter that stood out for its heat and lack of rain, ranking as the warmest and driest in several parts of the state. Winter was dominated by temperatures that frequently climbed 10 degrees above normal. Was this an exception or the new reality?

A jury found Elon Musk liable for misleading investors by deliberately driving down Twitter's stock price leading up to his 2022 acquisition for $44 billion. But it absolved him of some fraud allegations, ruling he did not “scheme” to mislead investors. How much will he owe? 

A Tarrant County grand jury declined to indict a woman that Arlington police claimed was behind a cold case murder from 1991. Janie Perkins has been cleared of a capital murder charge in the death of Cynthia Gonzalez. Perkins was arrested in November after detectives identified her as the suspect while working with students at the University of Texas at Arlington through a new partnership.

Dallas-based retailer Forty Five Ten opened at 3220 West 7th Street in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. Known for its luxury brands. the store includes Café Mirador, one of Dallas’ best-known restaurants.

The U.S. is poised to accept new F-35s without radars, according to a Breaking Defense report. Virginia Rep. Rob Wittman said though he expected issues with the new APG-85 radar to be resolved, in the interim, the U.S. military will be left with “lots of aircraft out there, but not ones that are ready to go to the fight.”

Active, reserve and retired members of the U.S. Military and National Guard can receive complimentary tickets and on-course hospitality during the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial, May 28-31. The tournament tradition is made possible by Fort Worth Colonial Charities, Rainwater Charitable Foundation, TXO Partners, the Charles Schwab Challenge and other sponsors.

Fort Worth's Economic Development Department launched a Small Business Development Program designed as a cornerstone for growth by cultivating competition and collaboration, increasing access to resources, and fostering innovation to ensure the long-term sustainability of the local business community and workforce across industry sectors.

Younger Partners Investments acquired the fully leased, 375,000-square-foot retail portfolio Presidio Junction at I-35W and North Tarrant Parkway from developer Weber & Company. Three contiguous retail centers -- Presidio Towne Crossing, Tehama Towne Crossing and Vista Ridge -- make up the portfolio, which includes Target and Costco, and national retailers TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Ross, Aldi, Petco, Old Navy and Sephora, among others.

Fort Worth’s Heritage Park (600 Congress St., north of the county courthouse) received $8 million from the Regional Transportation Council to make the park more accessible and pedestrian friendly. It includes a 1,236-foot pedestrian path connecting downtown with the Trinity Trails. 

The Cesar Chavez & Dolores Huerta Committee of Tarrant County, which formed in 2016, changed its name to ¡Sí Se Puede! Committee of Tarrant County. The change came after revelations that Cesar Chavez sexually abused girls and women.

Roanoke has been designated as a media production development zone, which allows media production companies to receive a two-year exemption from state and local sales taxes related to construction, maintenance, expansion, improvement or renovation.

Arcis Golf has completed a renovation of Cowboys Golf Club in Grapvine. The driving range was transformed to look like a Dallas Cowboys football field, using turf from AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

University Drive in Fort Worth will be closed in both directions starting at midnight tonight and closed until 4 a.m. Tuesday. The closure extends from Lancaster Avenue to Rosedale Street. Fort Worth police officers will help facilitate traffic.

Windsor America acquired Grand Prairie-based Fireside Hearth & Home's D-FW garage door operations. Going forward, the company will be called Jacobs Overhead Door. 

Tarrant County companies are curious about AI, but many employees and managers are still unsure of how to actually best use it. April 1, 817 Biz is hosting a free one-hour online AI Workshop for local business owners, executives and managers. During the session, sales and marketing consultant Ryan Dohrn will walk through practical examples of how AI tools can be used. The webinar is designed as a practical introduction, not a technical deep dive. Find more information and a registration link here. 

Snippets:

• A Fort Worth mansion that once belonged to oilman and Texas Rangers co-owner Bob Simpson is now listed for $7.5 million after failing to sell at auction.

• Are approvals for auto companies to become banks a game changer for funding? Here's a look at how it might work for General Motors. 

• Half the nation's oil reserve is in Texas. Here's what a potential reserve release means for the state, according to Texas Public Radio.

Announcements:

• Baylor Scott & White Health: Names Adam Baggs President of the hospital system’s foundation. He had been at TCU since 1995. 

• Țexas A&M Law School: Hires Lawrence B. Sorum as co-Director of the Center on the Structural Constitution.

• Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber: Promotes Ximena Arista-Zapata to Director of Marketing and Communications. 

• D-FW International Airport: Promotes Cody Shannon to Construction Facilitation Manager.

• National Farm Life Insurance Company: Elects Dr. Kyle W. McGregor, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, to serve as Chairman of the Board.

• Justin Brands: Promotes Shelbi Tidwell to Director of Product Development.

• Fort Worth Report: Hires Randi Potenzo as Strategic Partnerships Manager for the Fort Worth and Arlington publications.

• Dickey’s Retail Company and Rancher’s Premium Smokehouse: Selects Brooke Williams as Director of Marketing. 

• Apex Capital Corp: Promotes Sara Joseph to Chief People Officer. 

• Goosehead Insurance - The Collins Agency: Hires Michael Ireland as Account Executive.

• Charles Schwab: Hires Tatum Hall as Operations Associate.

• Gartner: Promotes Dalia Charif to Client Success Partner supporting the Global Conferences Team.

• REV Entertainment: Hires Melvin Clark in Corporate Partnerships. 

• First Third Bank: Names Brian Enzler north Texas Region President. Promotes Scott Silvas to south Texas Region President.

• First Citizens Bank: Hires Chris Stringer as Area Executive for D-FW.

• Dunaway: Selects Ryan LaValley as Principal. He is a Director in the technical civil engineering department.

• EY: Promotes Daniel Washburn to Managing Partner of the Fort Worth office.

• ProbablyMonsters: Hires Jonathan Lander as Chief Publishing Officer, David Reid as Chief Marketing Officer and Mark Subotnick as Chief Product Officer.

• Fort Worth: Names Justin Reid interim Operations Manager for Will Rogers Memorial Center, succeeding Claude Humphrey, who retired. Mitzi Puma, sales administrative assistant at the Fort Worth Convention Center, will take on interim role as Sales and Events Manager. 

• Bedford: Promotes Mark Long to Assistant City Manager. He had been the Parks, Recreation and Facilities Director. Brady Olsen has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer. He had been Director of Finance. 

• American Heart Association: Promotes McKenzie Lamb to Senior Director of Development.

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