⚽FIFA tourists make for a record June; Collectibles: Shohei Ohtani & Clyde Barrow; $7-million crackdown on speeding is on.

Clyde Barrow's sawed-off shotgun, perhaps the most infamous in history and a constant companion throughout his two-year, multi-state crime spree with Bonnie Parker, will be offered this August at Rock Island Auction Company in Bedford. It is the shotgun in one of the most famous photographs from the Public Enemy era, an image of Parker playfully aiming the weapon at Barrow. It was recovered from what has come to be known as the Bonnie and Clyde bullet-riddled "death car."

Lockheed Martin announced it had been awarded a seven-year contract for up to $53.86 billion for PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors, supporting the Department of War's Acquisition Transformation Strategy. Its original award for the program in the spring was $4.7B. This brings the total multi-year contract value to $58.62B. 

Nine FIFA World Cup matches in Arlington -- 15 nations -- had an average crowd of 70,205 spectators. 631,843 fans from around the world experienced Arlington's hospitality, entertainment and attractions. During June, Arlington hotels generated $31 million in room revenue, crushing the previous monthly record of $23.6 million set in November 2024, which included three Dallas Cowboys home games, the Mike Tyson–Jake Paul fight and Arlington Convention Center business. 

A secretive U.S. court created 30 years ago to deport suspected terrorists convened for the first time Thursday, opening a new front in the administration’s effort to remove non-citizens accused of national security threats. The Alien Terrorist Removal Court was open to the public and its hearing centered on Nazira Haji Zada, a 47-year-old lawful permanent resident of Fort Worth accused of supporting Islamic State and helping conceal a failed Election Day 2024 mass shooting plot. Prosecutors say much of the evidence cannot be publicly disclosed.

In case you missed it: Fort Worth council member Michael Crain suffered a defeat this spring in his legal dispute with former business partner Will Northern, removing a cloud over redevelopment of the former Woodhaven Country Club. Judge Jerry Bullard of the Texas Business Court enforced a mandatory buy-sell clause and ordered Crain to transfer his ownership interests in Northern Crain to Northern, effective retroactively to Dec. 19, 2024. Bullard then dismissed Crain’s derivative claims, ruling he lacked standing to sue on the companies’ behalf because he was not a member when the lawsuit was filed.

T. Cullen Davis and the 1976 murders at his opulent Fort Worth Stonegate Mansion combined enormous wealth, a bitter divorce, high-profile attorneys and two sensational criminal trials. Sunday is the 50th anniversary of the crime.

A Boca Raton, Fla., collector pulled a 1-of-1 Shohei Ohtani Dual Gold Logoman autographed card from a box of 2026 Topps Chrome Baseball... and sold it for $10 million. High-end collector Matthew Allen posted: "To make it very clear, I paid over $10 million for the card." Allen, Shark Tank personality Kevin O'Leary and Paul Warshaw are the three principals of Secure Collectibles.

Fort Worth and the North Central Texas Council of Governments launch an effort Saturday to curb excessive speeding, the top contributor to serious and fatal crashes in the area. The program is part of the Regional Transportation Council’s $7-million effort to reduce speeding. Closer enforcement on stretches of Loop 820 and Interstate Highway 30 will be from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., the time frame when roads are statistically among the most dangerous.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott proposed a health insurance plan designed to cut family premiums by nearly 20% and lower small business employer costs by about 20%. The proposal aims to remove dozens of state-specific health benefit mandates that exceed federal requirements. Small business owners say high insurance mandates price small companies out of the market. Opponents argue that removing state mandates reduces necessary healthcare coverage rather than fixing core pricing issues.

MWG Enterprises, a Fort Worth-based energy development company, and two partners launched MERA Oil, a U.S.-Saudi private consortium in the final stage of selecting a host site for a $5-billion integrated refinery and energy export corridor. MERA is down to three locations outside the Strait of Hormuz. MWG was founded by Mark W. Gunderson.

D-FW International Airport's Public Facility Improvement Corp. board unanimously approved the purchase of the Hyatt Regency, located next to Terminal C, according to the Dallas Business Journal. Next, the deal will be considered by the airport's board of directors Aug. 6. If approved by the board, the deal would have to be approved by Dallas and Fort Worth, which own the aviation hub.

Trademark Property Co. has secured a $55-million refinancing loan for Westbend, its 281,000-square-foot, mixed-use campus comprising an 11-story office tower and retail space off S. University Dr. in Fort Worth. Construction of a residential component is far along. PGIM issued the seven-year note, which retired a previous loan in the same amount originated by JP Morgan in 2016.

Logile, a Southlake-based workforce management software provider, is expanding into major grocery and food service accounts as it rolls out AI-powered planning tools. Dallas Innovates went shopping for the update. 

Texas Wesleyan University launched a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree, a flexible, workforce-aligned program designed to meet working adults where they are by crediting the knowledge and experience they already have earned. The two-part program gives up to 75 credits for previous learning, including work experience and recognized technical certifications, which reduces the time and cost to earn a bachelor's degree. 

In discussion: The future of a 2013 state law allowing data center developments to be exempt from Texas state sales tax if certain qualifications are met. When the law was passed, legislators expected only one data center per year would be constructed. Some Senators expressed frustration that, under the law, the tax exemptions are being awarded based on the future promises of the data center developers.

Visterra Landscape Group has made a "strategic investment" in Qualitiscape Services, a Fort Worth-based provider of commercial landscape services. Founded in 1983 by President Russell Smith, Qualitiscape has served properties across a multitude of verticals.

A four-story, mixed-use development featuring apartments and a variety of shops, offices and restaurant space is planned for Downtown Arlington. Wolverine Interests would invest at least $60 million by 2029 to redevelop the 500 and 600 blocks of West Abram St. and the 400 and 500 blocks of West Main St. The development would include multi-family units, a minimum of 15,000 square feet of commercial space and a multi-level parking garage with at least 300 spaces. If completed, Arlington will reimburse the developer up to $2,550,000 for eligible costs. 

Urban Logistics Realty, part of a joint venture, acquired 53 acres of Harris Ranch in Denton for a 1.109-million-square-foot industrial development done in two stages. Urban Logistics is joined by a real estate fund advised by Crow Holdings Capital, with construction financing provided by First United Bank. GSR Andrade Architects, Kimley-Horn and Bratjen Construction are participating, and Holt Lunsford is the leasing agent.

Carson Hearing Care, on Camp Bowie in Fort Worth since 2013, is expanding with a second office at 5708 Colleyville Boulevard. Founder Dr. Robin Carson said the independent health care company already has approximately 600 clients in the Colleyville area. 

The Amon Carter Museum of American Art will celebrate the country's 250th anniversary with an exhibition examining a most recognizable symbol: The Statue of Liberty from Bartholdi to Warhol will open August 15 for a nearly five-month run.

Fort Worth-based TimelyCare, a virtual healthcare provider, received accreditation from URAC for its use of artificial intelligence. URAC affirms that its systems meet standards for governance, transparency, safety, oversight and risk management. TimelyCare said it uses AI to support clinical documentation, identify potential safety concerns, and assist care teams, while maintaining human oversight of clinical decisions.

Westwood Financial acquired Target-anchored South Town Crossing II, a 23,300-square-foot shopping center in Burleson. It has owned South Town Crossing I since 2012. Westwood owns 83,286 square feet (82%) of the space surrounding Target.

Snippets:

• Dallas-based gym Absolute Recomp has posted it will open a facility in Arlington between November 20 – December 20.

• In its efforts to reach Research 1 status, TCU looks back at its 2x first-year gain and ahead to what can be.

• Don't be truant: Fort Worth ISD moved its first day of school to Monday Aug. 10. The original calendar had school starting Aug. 11. 

Believe it or not: An Austin company -- Throne -- raised $10 million for its AI-driven camera that attaches to your toilet seat and does the dirty work of monitoring gut health for colon cancer. 

Today in history: 1790 = America grants its first patent. President George Washington signed the first U.S. patent, awarding inventor Samuel Hopkins protection for an improved method of making potash, then widely used in fertilizer and manufacturing. It marked the beginning of the nation’s formal patent system.

Significant stat: 15 = weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 for Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas”, making it the longest-running U.S. No. 1 by a female solo artist for a non-holiday single, surpassing Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey records. 

Announcements:

• PenFed Credit Union: Names Jeanette Cooper AVP of Mortgage Servicing Operations, overseeing collections, loss mitigation and default. 

• Whitley Penn: Hires Alex Smith as tax associate.

• Texas Historical Commission: Welcomes Historic Handley into its First Street initiative, a program to highlight Texas downtown areas. 

• Emilia’s in the Crescent Fort Worth: Hires chef Sean Malek.

• The Family Place: Hires Amy Camp as Senior Vice President of Fundraising. 

• American Speech & Hearing Association: Selects TCU’s Dr. Jennifer Watson as a 2026 Honors of the Association recipient, the highest organizational recognition possible. Names TCU’s Dr. Emily Lund a 2026 Fellow of the Association for outstanding contributions. 

• Texas Farm Credit: Names Scott Petty as Regional Vice President, serving the Southlake and Fort Worth markets.

• BoardBuild: 2026-2027 officers are Anthony Palencio, Board Chair; Ryan Morris, Vice Chair; Rachael Ross, Secretary; and Sheelu Verma, Treasurer. 

• Leadership Fort Worth: New at-large board members are Rosemary Cruz with Goodwill North Central Texas, Glenda Diaz with D-FW International Airport, Dr. Cynthia Montes with TCU, and Angela Zuniga with AT&T.

• Trinity Habitat for Humanity: Hires Michael Edmison as Chief Philanthropy Officer. 

• Eosera: Hires Matthew Red as Head of Operations.

• WFAA: Hires Kolten Parker as Assistant News Director. 

• Southwest Christian School: Names Andy Compton as CFO.

• Rohit Dand: Acquires Hilton Denver North Westminster.

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