🏈Super Bowl commercials rate better than game; Flying taxis in Arlington at World Cup? Stock Show auction raises $10M.

More than $10 million was raised in the 2025 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Junior Sale of Champions, approximately $1.8 million more than last year. Vaden’s Acoustics & Drywall outbid all at $375k for the Grand Champion Steer, owned by Mattison Koepp of La Vernia, Texas, and last year's runner-up. The Reserve Grand Champion Steer, shown by Bricelyn Patschke of Idalou, Texas, was purchased by Ed & Sasha Bass and Sundance Square for $300,000.

Led be a swarming defense, the Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl champions, crushing the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, and ending the Chiefs’ dream of the first 3-Peat. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts was the MVP, leading the team to its second SB title in five appearances. 

President Trump has ordered the Treasury secretary to stop minting new pennies, a move that he said would help reduce unnecessary government spending. (NYT)

A UT-Arlington professor is looking into whether flying taxis could join the list of transportation options with World Cup traffic in Arlington.

Cosm Technology uses the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History dome as its case study for fundraising, installation and implementation. 

The Trump administration approved military sales to Israel worth approximately $7.4 billion: 1) an estimated $6.75 billion for munitions, guidance kits and fuses, with Boeing Co. among the principal contractors; and 2) approval of an estimated $660 million for Hellfire Missiles to Israel in which Lockheed Martin would be the principal contractor. 

Conductor Robert Spano has received a contract extension through the 2030-31 season as Music Director of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. He was hired in 2022. 

Zips Car Wash has declared bankruptcy. The company grew from a single shop in Arkansas to approximately 260 locations, including five in the Tarrant County area.

Believe it or not: The Las Vegas Taco Bell Cantina, owned by Diversified Restaurant Group, is offering couples the ultimate way to say “I do.” This February, lovebirds can celebrate their big day with a $777 Wedding Package that includes an Elvis impersonator.

The Colleyville City Council is moving to 35 Veranda Lane in The Village with the Colleyville Chamber of Commerce subleasing 1,825 square feet. The city is leasing out the first floor, about 5,200 square feet. Eight offices and one conference room are available for small businesses to rent.

Department of Defense sets a preliminary Feb. 28 due date for an Iron Dome plan, an executive order from President Trump. The order requests a comprehensive missile shield over the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-peer, and rogue adversaries.

Insurance premiums have been soaring for years, and it's not just because of inflation and natural disasters. The average personal injury payout between 2010-2020 increased by 319%, according to data from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

Dexit ... when corporations depart Delaware and incorporate elsewhere ... is expected to happen quickly, with Meta Platforms, Dropbox and Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square among the latest to announce. An early adopter was Elon Musk, and the 2024 establishment of business courts in Texas has made the state an attractive alternative.

How does the Texas bill that allows families to use tax dollars for private schools work? Here is a breakdown of the version the Senate sent to the House. 

A public art piece by Christopher Blay was dedicated this month in Fort Worth. The East Rosedale Monument Project was eight years in the making. Writer Jessica Fuentes has served the past four months on the Fort Worth Art Commission and offers her insights on the project.  

Homebuilder Lennar is selling three new communities in the Fort Worth metro area. Rosemary Ridge is in Fort Worth near schools in Crowley ISD; Deer Creek is in Crowley, and Ashton Homeplace is in Keene. 

The television critic for The New York Times rates last night’s Super Bowl commercials from best to worst. Commence debating.

A Stradivari violin made in 1714 sold for $11.3 million at an auction at Sotheby's, and it was short of sale price estimates.

It's Day 2 of the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show with the winner to be announced tomorrow night. It has returned to Madison Square Garden. Here are the basics.

Tarrant County is the first in the state to receive all six transparency stars from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The criteria include traditional public finances, contracts and procurement, economic development, public pensions, debt obligations, and open government compliance.

Puppy love: Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., you are invited to the lobby of Fort Worth's City Hall at 100 Fort Worth Trail to meet animals needing a permanent home ... and all adoption fees will be waived. Fees also will be waived Thursday-Saturday for adoptions at the Smooches & Pooches event, hosted by Fort Worth Animal Care & Control at two locations.

It’s not the baby back ribs. Chili’s foot traffic increased 20 percent in the three months ending December 25, well above the level of traffic across all casual dining restaurants in the U.S., which was down 3.8 percent in 2024. New menu items drove the increase.

The U.S. Army updates and expresses high expectations and praise for the Bell V-280 tilt-rotor aircraft.

After 18 years as CEO, Bruce Frankel is stepping down as the leader of non-profit DRC Solutions. Tony Wilson has been selected as interim Executive Director. DRC Solutions was founded in 1999 to mitigate homelessness in Tarrant County by providing stability through permanent housing.

Daily digit: Americans' time at home increased by 1.65 hours/day from 2003 to 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found.

Snippets:

• Walsh Ranch will celebrate the grand opening of Fort Worth Fire Department Fire Station 43 on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 9 a.m.

• Actor Tony Roberts, a Woody Allen regular, dies at 85. 

• The U.S. Marines have re-configured their order of Lockheed Martin F-35s, requesting fewer F-35Bs and seeking more F-35Cs. Read why here.

• Engineers at the University of Texas are developing in-motion charging technology to combat EV range anxiety and potentially transform the future of electric transport.

Announcements: 

• Campus Compact: Recognizes University of Texas at Arlington President Jennifer Cowley with civic and community engagement honor.

• Premier Truck Rental: Adds Dustin Hames as Vice President of Fleet and promotes Jason Bird to Vice President of Operations.

• GameStop: Appoints Nicolle Robles as Director of Communications. 

• Sabre: Karl Peterson will not stand for re-election and will retire from the Board of Directors before the April 23 annual meeting.

• TCU football: Adds offensive line assistant coaches Randy Clements and Robert Luce, and Brett Cumnock, Aaron Green and Chris Owens as assistant directors of player personnel.

• BNSF Railway: Adds Juan Reyes as Audit Manager.

• OrderMyGear: Adds Matt Lawson as Sr. Content Marketing Manager. 

• Honolulu Museum of Art: Hires Clint Riley as Chief Advancement Officer.

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