🖥️FW to host Fortnite; Poll says we have best margaritas🍸

A federal law set to take effect Monday was blocked by a federal judge in north Texas. Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk held that final rules under the Community Reinvestment Act—issued in October by the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency—went beyond the 1977 law. The rules were set to expand regulators’ assessments of banks’ lending and investments in low- to moderate-income communities. 

Tarrant County has reversed course and will not overhaul the administration of its court system to county officials. Defense attorneys, sitting judges and others participated in six hours of testimony before the county decided to form an 11-person working group tasked with finding a way to reduce the jail population and prevent fraud in the justice system. Group members have until July 1 to come up with a proposal.

Gage Zero, an Austin-based company that deploys and operates electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, and Hillwood agreed to develop Texas' first public commercial EV charging facility catering to trucks and last-mile fleets.

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Methodist Southlake Medical Center has entered into a five-year sponsorship contract for signage with Carroll ISD’s Dragon Stadium. The sponsorship will generate $490,750 for the district over the contract period in addition to in-kind services.

Fort Worth and Dickies Arena will host the 2024 Fortnite Championship Series Global Championship Sept. 7-8 and the 2024 Rocket League Championship Series World Championships Sept. 13-15. The e-sports tournaments, in partnership with the Fort Worth Sports Commission, are expected to bring more than 250 athletes and a combined $9.6M economic impact from an estimated 9,000 room nights and hospitality.

Companies are ratcheting up their mental health programs and benefits, according to a report in the Business Journals' national newsletter. The Conference Board's survey of HR managers and executives shows 42% said they plan to offer new well-being benefits this year. 36% said they were responsible for the well-being of their employees, and another 62% said they were somewhat responsible. 25% said they plan to increase their spending on well-being initiatives.

Crescent Real Estate LLC plans to build a 170,000-square-foot office building on the backside of its existing mixed-use development at 3300 Camp Bowie Blvd in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. Crescent Office West will include two restaurants, a gym, amenity deck and meeting space.

Fort Worth-based since 2022, MP Materials is generating assistance in constructing America’s first fully integrated rare earth magnet manufacturing facility. Through the Department of Energy, it has received a $58.5 million tax credit award to advance construction. It received $35 million from the Department of Defense and a tax abatement from the city. Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets are the world’s most powerful and efficient, indispensable component in electric motors and generators that power hybrid and electric vehicles, robots, wind turbines, drones, electronics, and critical defense systems. 

According to the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, 2,390 people experienced homelessness in January, down from 2,723 in 2023. Coalition Executive Director Lauren King said increased investments in housing and other assistance were contributing factors. The city and Tarrant County have $50 million for housing the homeless, which should add 300 units in the next two years. “If there’s one takeaway I have for you, it’s that housing works,” King said.

Cushman & Wakefield represented VariSpace, a shared workplace venture, in leasing 41,000 square feet at its Southlake location to an unnamed technology company.

Dr. Warren von Eschenbach has been named interim President of the University of North Texas Dallas campus. Bob Mong, President the past nine years, has moved to Associate Chancellor. 

Snippets:

• According to Southern Living’s eighth-annual South’s Best survey, the best margaritas in Texas are from Joe T Garcia’s. According to the magazine's website, the online survey had more than 20,000 reader responses.

• North Carolina-based Rise plans to open a second D-FW location at 7064 Blue Mound Road in north Fort Worth this summer. Rise serves a southern breakfast and lunch with biscuits, chicken, sides and sweet stuff. 

• Did you know UNT Health Science Center has a performing arts medicine clinic? Researchers are studying bone health of female ballet dancers.

• Did the Supreme Court's decision to keep Donald Trump's name on the Colorado ballot leave open a loophole to drop candidates on state-wide ballots? 

Announcements:

• BNSF Railway: Hires Todd Podell as Chief Sourcing Officer.

• Ensemble Coworking: Adds Niki Huffman as Director of Marketing and Community Engagement.

• Duane Morris: Adds litigator Roger Diseker as Special Counsel.

• Higginbotham: Hires Jennifer Vuduris as Account Manager for Personal Lines Private Clients. 

• Fort Worth Report: Hires Mike Distelhorst as General Manager and Chief Revenue Officer, and Shomial Ahmad as higher education reporter.

• Tri-County Electric Cooperative: Hires Scott Pence as President and CEO.

• Gateway Church: Adds Justin Dittmar, Facilities Support.

• Medley: Adds Melissa Kelly Williamson as Sr. Enterprise Account Executive.

• M&M Painting and Construction: Adds Juan Carlos Torres as D-FW Area Manager.

• Agora Data: Hires Robin Dukes as VP of Strategic Alliances.

Last poll results: Does your household own one or more electric vehicles or hybrids, or do you plan to? Yes, currently own (12%), No, never (67%), We plan to (20%).