🎢Six Flags off rollercoaster, coming home; Exxon drilling down on automation; Dolly, (We) Will Always Love You.

Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the nation's largest regional amusement park operator with 43 locations, will move its corporate headquarters in 2027 from Charlotte, N.C. to its previous home in Arlington. The headquarters at Choctaw Stadium, where it has a large workforce, will serve as the primary hub for corporate leadership and shared business functions.

With Texas homeowners facing sharply rising premiums -- as much as 70+% -- Gov. Greg Abbott directed insurance regulators to take immediate action to lower costs. Texas Scorecard has the details.

Exxon Mobil plans to dramatically increase its use of automation for its 30-drilling rig operation in the Permian Basin and increase production 40% to 2.5M boe/day by 2030. Two of the 30 are automated rigs with robotic equipment, supplied by Helmerich & Payne last year. By 2028, Exxon ​aims to transition half of its fleet to automated rigs to reduce the need for workers, increase ​efficiency and drill wells faster.

Florida-based Carrier, the heating and air conditioning giant, is considering a $10.9-million package of tax incentives to put a manufacturing facility at Westport 12, a 1.2-million-square-foot building under construction by Hillwood. Carrier would be expected to invest approximately $433.8 million and provide 495 full-time jobs with an average salary of $75k, according to the Dallas Business Journal. 

Dolly Parton was about six when she wrote her first song: "Little Tiny Tasseltop," an ode to her corncob doll with corn-silk hair. "I loved that little doll," Parton wrote decades later. "I expressed myself and my feelings through writing..." Parton never stopped making music until Tuesday, when the country music singer, songwriter and actress whose charisma, lyrics and business acumen captured the public's imagination died at the age of 80. Just five days ago, she spoke with People about her health.

Vernell Sturns, an acting City Manager in Fort Worth during the ‘80s and later Executive Director of D-FW International Airport, was a statesman in north Texas. He passed away Monday, and memorial services are in Arlington and Fort Worth Thursday and Friday.

Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and Mansfield announced the relocation and expansion of the TTUHSC School of Nursing's existing Mansfield instructional site. The new site, developed in partnership with the Mansfield Texas Economic Development Corporation, will be in The LinQ Innovation District. The space will provide approximately 33,000 square feet for classrooms, a simulation lab and student collaborations. The building will be completed by fall 2027.

Fort Worth unanimously made official a $11.25-million settlement for the family of Atatiana Jefferson, a 28-year-old Black woman fatally shot by a city police officer in 2019. Jefferson's two minor nephews would receive their portions in a trust when they turn 18, and additional shares will be divided among other surviving family members. 

Vic Partners is developing Vic Centre at 7120 Anderson Blvd., just outside Loop 820 and north of Interstate 30, after raising a $50-million loan construction package. The 268-unit housing development in east Fort Worth is a bet that renters priced out of newer luxury towers will fill nine three-story buildings. 

Mercantile Partners has filed to build two hybrid office and warehouse buildings at 3588 E. Long Avenue in Fort Worth. The cost is expected to be $50 million and includes a 530,000-square-foot building and a 178,000-square-foot building. Construction is expected to begin Sept. 21 and be done in January 2028. 

Dallas-Fort Worth has surpassed Los Angeles to become North America’s fifth-largest market for technology workers, according to CBRE. D-FW had about 236,600 tech workers in 2025 after adding more than 37,000 since 2022 — an increase of nearly 19%. Only New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, Toronto and Washington, D.C., have larger tech workforces.

Shares of Southlake-based Sabre reached a 52-week high of $2.30 Tuesday and closed at $2.2550. The company had a quarterly loss of $0.17 per share. MarketBeat takes a deeper dive.

Attorney General Ken Paxton, running for the U.S. Senate, unveils a four-point plan for data centers in Texas. It aligns closely with Gov. Abbott's requests. Read how it fits in the political spectrum. 

Nearly three years after an explosion destroyed the Sandman Signature Hotel at 810 Houston St. in downtown Fort Worth, the hotel's high-profile Asian restaurant Musume is planning an early November 2026 re-opening. And the restaurant tells Culture Map about 90% of the original workforce is returning. 

Texas Van Interiors has opened its upfitting business to cover D-FW from 11214 S Pipeline Road in Euless. The company offers services aimed at commercial customers with retro-fitting to suit each client's specifications.

Ventana Mental Health, a behavioral health clinic, has opened at 420 N Carroll Ave. in Southlake, its third Texas location. Ventana offers in-person psychiatric evaluation, telepsychiatry and interventional treatments built around accessible, structured care. The Southlake clinic serves as the center for in-person psychiatry, Spravato and ketamine treatments.

Texas Healthcare Fort Worth Bone & Joint Clinic has a new name: Orthopedic Institute of Fort Worth. The 82-year-old entity offers care for injuries, chronic conditions and other musculoskeletal concerns. It has locations in Fort Worth, Southlake and Weatherford. 

The University of Texas at Arlington will congratulate seven alumni and new Business Hall of Fame members October 16. They are:

• Greg Barron, CEO of Barron Companies

• Jimmy & Cathy Campbell, former Community Bank President & CEO

• Dr. David Mack, former Associate Dean of the UTA College of Business

• Molly Sandlin, President of CAET Construction

• Andrew Feghali, President Aeroblaze Laboratory and Bramport Supply

• Jerry Thomas, CEO, Decision Analyst

The North Texas Giving Day officially opens tomorrow and closes with the one-day flourish Sept. 17. The online fundraising supports more than 3,000 north Texas non-profits across 20 counties. All the info is here. 

Texas Wesleyan University opens its 2026 football season Thursday at the Crowley ISD stadium in Fort Worth. Here are the details for a team rated highly in its conference. 

Dallas baker Ismael Trejo doesn't take days off. Now he will have even less time off as he is bringing his Dallas favorite, Lubella's Patisserie, to 978 N. Cooper St. in Arlington.

Milestone moment: Manufacturer Trinity Forge is celebrating two long-time employees: Richard Hughes and Don Moody, each with 50 years of service to the company. Hughes is the first employee in Trinity Forge’s 71-year history to achieve 50 years, and Moody followed shortly thereafter. They represent a combined century of experience, dedication and institutional knowledge at the Mansfield-based forger and machinist of parts.

Snippets:

• The Coyote Drive-In is closing Sept. 7. What does that deliver for Panther Island development? 

• U.S. consumer confidence falls to its lowest level in seven months, with gas prices stuck above $4 per gallon.

• Granted Health said it will pay the full hospital bill for one Texas educator. The application period opens Aug. 25 and runs through Sept. 13.

• A Fort Worth promoter is sued by Trey Songz for $500k after a concert is postponed.

• Texas' Third Court of Appeals reduced conspiracy-theorist Alex Jones’ $50 million in damages owed to Sandy Hook families for defamation to $1.5 million.

• Did you know? How No. 2 pencils became a uniquely American school supply staple. 

Today in history: 1968 = The Beatles released “Hey Jude” in the United States. The single, issued on the band’s new Apple Records label, went on to spend nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — the longest chart-topping run of any Beatles single in the U.S. At more than seven minutes, it was also unusually long for a hit single of its era.

Daily digit: $3.35 million = Price paid for Diego Maradona’s “hand of God” soccer ball, the Adidas Azteca ball he used to score two of the most famous goals in history during the 1986 World Cup.

Significant stat: A Gallup survey found 71% of Americans oppose a data center in their area. This compares to the 53% who would oppose a nuclear energy plant in their area.

Announcements:

• Java House Grand Prix of Arlington: Names Troy Yarbrough, formerly Team Penske's senior director of partnerships, as its President. The second edition of the race through Arlington's Entertainment District is March 19-21, 2027.

• Fort Worth: Promotes Assistant Fire Chief James Horton, a 28-year veteran of the department, to interim Fire Chief. Chief Raymond Hill retires Sept. 1.

• Kelly Hart: Hires attorney Joseph D. Lopez to its Real Estate & Finance Practice. 

• Higginbotham: Hires Sarah Powers as Senior Legal Counsel.

• Bank of Texas: Hires Vito Ciraci for its Private Wealth team. 

• BNSF Railway: Hires Hannah Bowen as a Budget Manager.

• Ofi Chito: Hires Randall Ford as Chief Operations Officer.

• 80th Flying Training Wing: Names Christopher Mulder Commander. 

• Signet Jewelers: Hires Rolando Loya as Director of Merchandising. 

• MCCi: A J Thompson starts position as Technical Product owner.

• Chandler Ross law firm: Awards scholarship to Texas Wesleyan student and content creator Reina Hernandez. 

• NCR Atleos: Names Jenny Kocher SOX Compliance & IT Project Manager. 

• Point Blank Tequila: Recognized with two golds at the 2026 Agavos Awards International Spirits Competition for its Reposado and Añejo.

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