🎓UT Board sending $127M to UT-Arlington; Two killed in crash at Hicks Airfield; Body care products from ...Snoopy?

The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved nearly $127 million during three years in Permanent University Fund proceeds to UT-Arlington to address deferred maintenance, upgraded classrooms and labs, and campus infrastructure. Regents said the investment underscores UTA’s commitment to enhancing teaching, learning and research environments.

Centurion American Development Group has purchased hundreds of acres in north Fort Worth with plans to build nearly 1,800 homes, according to The Dallas Morning News. Centurion American acquired Rio Clara, a 629.4-acre community southeast of Morris Dido Newark Road and Bonds Ranch Road, from PMB Capital Investments for an undisclosed price.

Coppell-based Naterra International, which recently opened a $120-million manufacturing plant in Fort Worth, has signed Snoopy and the Peanuts gang for a limited line of body care products. Dallas Innovates has the story. 

AI needs a new home and Texas is building it. Training advanced AI models means housing thousands of power-hungry servers, and that takes land, electricity and advanced facilities. North Texas is delivering.

BNSF leaders wondered: How do we get back to our roots technology-wise? Meet the answer: bnsf | tech. The entity, created in March, is charged with developing technology solutions to address operational challenges, including various technologies designed to improve safety, on-time performance, terminal functions and the customer experience.

Two people were killed Sunday afternoon when the small airplane they were in crashed near Hicks Airfield in northwest Fort Worth, igniting a massive blaze that sent a “giant ball of fire” into the air. The Federal Aviation Administration would be the lead investigative agency, according to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office.

Merco launched its first corporate and leaders’ reputation ranking in Texas. The results: The top five most reputable leaders include executives from Dell Technologies, H-E-B, Tesla and Apple — plus entrepreneur Mark Cuban. See the complete list of the state’s business elites.

Hudson House has plans for another Tarrant location, this one in Southlake. The East Coast–inspired restaurant from Hunter Pond’s Vandelay Hospitality Group plans to open during 2026 in Park Village, taking over the former RA Sushi space at 1131 E. Southlake Blvd. Hudson House, with a location on Dexter Ave. in Fort Worth, is known for a signature raw bar, savory cheeseburgers and the “World’s Coldest Martini.”

Trademark Property Company and Shivers Family Partnership have plans for a 40-acre, mixed-use development in Southlake called Shiver’s Farm. Community Impact reported the project is working its way through the city’s approval process. Plans call for a mix of restaurants, office space, an organic grocery store, and 37 single-family residential lots in a subdivision called Willow Meadows. A hotel and gas station are also under consideration.

Transwestern said Honest Water Company has leased an 8,000-square-foot warehouse condo at Point 820 — 5531 East Rosedale Street. Lyndon Todd, Charlie H. McCollum and Wythe Roberts represented Honest Water Company.

CR Fitness Holdings, the fastest-growing franchisee of Crunch Fitness with 88 locations, says it will open in 2026 Crunch Saginaw, a $12-million, 36,000 square-foot fitness facility in Saginaw. Crunch Saginaw will be located at 1653 Creststone Trail. CEO is Tony Scrimale and the owner is PE firm North Castle Partners. 

Next Monday, nine universities must decide if they will change operations to please the Trump administration in exchange for favored research grants and other funding. The University of Texas said it was "honored" to be among the nine. Massachusetts Institute of Technology said no way! Politico takes a deep dive. 

A proposed Texas constitutional amendment on the November 4 ballot would prevent the creation of new taxes on stock trading and individuals working in the securities market. Supporters say it assures investors that Texas is a business-friendly state; critics claim this provides no competitive benefit to the state. 

Lockheed Martin authorized a fourth quarter 2025 dividend of $3.45 per share, an increase of $0.15, or 5% per share. The Board authorized the purchase of up to an additional $2 billion of common stock, raising the total number available for buybacks to $9.1 billion. 

Believe it or not: Pumpkin carving got its start in Ireland, where people carved turnips—not pumpkins—to keep bad spirits away. The custom was part of Samhain, a pagan festival marking the end of summer and the Celtic new year, which later evolved into Halloween.

Daily digit: $686,875 = Income required to be ranked in the top 1% of Texas earners according to a Business Journals’ analysis of 2022 IRS earnings data..

Significant stat: 17.7 = Percent of households in the U.S. that are millionaires, possessing assets in excess of $1 million, up from 12.3 percent in 2017. However, a lot of these millionaires are pretty cash-poor. Their actual wealth is locked away in housing, retirement funds and businesses.

Snippets:

• ‘Let’s see what happens when you unscrew this’: Worker turns D-FW International Airport ramp area into a jet fuel Slip-‘N Slide. 

• Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TMRW Sports is a leading candidate to transform the NFL's flag football plans. 

• West Texas woman finds “lost” NASA equipment in neighbor’s backyard wheat field.

• The top 50 news websites in September in the U.S. were led by The New York Times, CNN and Fox News. See the entire list here.

Announcements: 

• Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau: Honors Gerald B. Alley, Founder & CEO of Con-Real, with its Arlington Visionary Award.

• Cigna Health: Adds Yolanda Harper as Engagement Consultant. 

• KeraLink International: Hires Tyler Emler as Major Gifts Officer. 

• University of North Texas: Police Department promotes Dana Mays to oversee administration staff and community engagement team.

• Six Flags: Names Marilyn Spiegel Board Chair.

• Grad Resources and Christian Grads Fellowship: Hires Eli Mercer as CEO and Executive Director. 

• First Command Financial Services: Promotes April Kirk to Manager of Business Analysis. 

• VLK: Chad Davis retires from the firm to concentrate on Chad M. Davis Architectural Photography. 

• Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau: Hires Sydney Patterson as Director of Marketing. 

• Public Relations Society of America-Southwest: Recognizes Abigail Hoover of Story & Strategy PR as Volunteer of the Year.

• Yellow Rose Gala Foundation: Names Sabrina (Red) Renteria fractional Executive Director. 

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