Payment withheld, but Lockheed earned $1.6B; Which UT is an SEC loser? After 125 years, Tarleton has its first doctorate.

Despite a recent resumption of deliveries after a year-long freeze, the Pentagon is still withholding payments to Lockheed Martin for new F-35s because of continued delays with the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrade, according to Andrew Hunter, the Air Force’s top acquisition executive. “There are still withholds. Since not everything that we contracted for has been delivered, payment is also not complete,” he said.

The Tarrant Appraisal District board voted to move appraisals to every other year, rather than the annual appraisal in place. It also approved a measure limiting increases to a home's appraised value to 5%, though it can increase to 10% if the appraisal district can clearly prove the home's value has increased more than 5%. The new policies will have a direct impact on residents' 2025 tax bill.

Gilchrist Automotive Group bought a building at 116 University Drive that formerly was Audi Fort Worth. The Dallas Business Journal said the seller was Baillargeon Realty. A purchase price was not available but Gilchrist obtained a $4.8 million loan from First Financial Bank. Across three tracts of land, the property has been valued at $3.2 million by Tarrant Appraisal District. The sale was facilitated by LanCarte Commercial's Sarah LanCarte and Jenny Carlstrom.

Dallas-based Merriman Anderson Architects has opened an office at 2421 West 7th in Fort Worth. It also has offices in Austin, Cincinnati and Charlotte. MAA has a history of work in Fort Worth, including the Bell Helicopter headquarters, The Sinclair and AC hotels, One University and WestBend South.

Tarleton State University will mark a milestone Friday when it confers its first Ph.D. Dr. Mark Brown is the initial graduate of The School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and Public Administration, which had its first cohort in 2019. Tarleton College was founded in 1899 and became a university in 1973. 

Fort Worth-based Corinth Land Co. acquired the six-tenant Bank Street Business Park at 351 Bank Street. It is 7,200 square feet and 100% occupied. The purchase was financed by Pinnacle Bank with equity provided by Corinth, according to a press release. 

Fort Worth-based Stellar Blu Solutions has completed qualification to deliver in-flight connectivity for airlines. Stellar Blu and strategic partner BAE Systems have ramped up production on the terminal to meet more than 1,000 existing orders. 

American Airlines is the first U.S. airline to launch an automated tag for mobility devices. Developed in-house by American’s Technology team, the tags feature customer- and device-specific data such as itineraries, delivery points, device weight, battery type and the number of items removed and taken on board.

The discovery of a large illegal dump site in east Fort Worth and efforts of concerned, vigilant residents has the city collaborating with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to develop a remedy to the ongoing environmental sore.

BNSF railway police have asked authorities in Nebraska to talk with a 17-year-old it believes purposely caused a derailment to film it. 

Riscky’s BBQ will host its 18th annual rib-eating contest at 11 a.m. Saturday at its Stockyards location. Thirty contestants will eat as many beef ribs as possible in 60 seconds, with the top 3 receiving gift cards. The contest is part of the National Day of The American Cowboy celebration in the Stockyards.

Billions of dollars set aside by Congress to advance rail projects has rekindled interest in exploring a conventional passenger rail system connecting Texas’ urban areas. Texas Tribune has the story.

The University of North Texas Health Science Center's Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine maintained its elite status in 2024 as U.S. News & World Report ranked the college as a Tier 1 medical school. TCOM is one of only 15 nationwide to receive the prestigious ranking.

About 33% of business leaders said in an Intelligent.com survey their company eliminated a bachelor’s degree requirement in the hiring process this year. Among the organizations that have removed the degree requirement, 59% have done so for entry-level jobs, 54% have done it for mid-level roles and 18% have done it for senior-level positions. The shift shows a broader recognition of the importance of practical skills and real-world work experience as an indicator for success. 

Snippets:

• Bell delivered the 500th Bell 429 aircraft. It went to Latin America-based operator, Mendes Group, and will be used for corporate transportation in Brazil.

• Lockheed Martin's net earnings for second quarter 2024 were $1.6 billion. How did you do? 

• SEC says UT is Tennessee. Texas is TEX. Are you kidding? Commence debate.

Daily digit: 39% -- the number of Americans between the ages of 25-34 that lived with their spouse last year. In 1970 the figure was 81%. For both cultural and financial reasons (housing affordability), people are waiting longer to take traditional first steps in their lives.

Significant stat: According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau, women aged 50 and older who are working full-time and year-round earn about 75 cents for every dollar their male counterparts make. This is in contrast to women aged 20 to 29, who earn 93 cents for every dollar men make.

Announcements:

• Master Meter Inc.: Adds Coby Kleinjan as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

• VNTR Capital: Adds Sara Fishbane as Corporate Marketing Manager.

• Balcom Agency: Promotes Caroline Meekins to Senior Account Manager.

• GoVision: Hires Philip ONeal as Senior Advisor.