🎁Rutledge gifts $1.5M to cancer research; Donor gives first FW-specific gift to Wishes; FW again is an 'Oscar' city.

A post from Aurum Construction says that The Van Zandt project at the corner of W. 7th Street and Foch St. in the Cultural District has completed topping-out. The project features 95,000+ square feet of Class AA office space, retail/dining, apartments and a multi-level parking garage. The good news for developer Goldenrod Companies is it stands to earn $11.17 million in local incentives if it finishes by December 31.

Fort Worth-based Rutledge Cancer Foundation is funding a $1.5-million grant for Ewing sarcoma research, its largest to date. The three-year initiative will bring together leading researchers from John Hopkins and the National Institutes of Health to pursue new treatment strategies for one of the most difficult-to-treat cancers affecting children, adolescents and young adults.

Make-A-Wish North Texas has received a seven-figure gift from Andy Dunning and Jaime Wester in support of its “Two Years, Too Long” campaign, and it's the first gift of its size designated specifically for Fort Worth-area children. The grant helps provide life-changing wishes and reduces the wait for children with critical illnesses. Approximately 380 children in the Fort Worth area are waiting for wishes to be granted.

President Trump announces the "biggest oil deal in world history"; an agreement with Venezuela is for a 100-year lease and 65 billion barrels of oil.

In case you missed it: An Arlington family is asking for the return of a sentimental “Tin Man” yard decoration stolen from its home. The figure is especially meaningful to 11-year-old Elliott, whose nickname is “Tin Man” and who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital condition. The decoration was a gift from his great-grandmother.

Vanguard agreed to acquire fintech and custody platform Altruist in a deal valued at approximately $4-to-$4.6 billion. The acquisition represents a massive push by Vanguard to compete with Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab in the wealth management and financial advice sectors.

Dallas-Fort Worth again has earned a distinction shared by a handful of U.S. cities: official Oscar-qualifying status from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This recognition means filmmakers' paths to Hollywood’s biggest night can begin in Fort Worth.

The Tarrant County elections administrator has proposed 224 potential Election Day and 47 early voting polling places for the Nov. 3 mid-term after commissioners had delayed a vote on an earlier proposal that would have slashed the number of sites. These numbers are 48 more than the first proposal, but 92 fewer than the 2022 mid-term. The vote is Tuesday. 

Fort Worth ISD has joined a fresh wave of school districts signing on to OpenAI's ChatGPT for Teachers program, but district leaders have yet to say how the free chatbot will actually be used, who decides what student information can go into it, or how teachers will be trained before it touches classrooms. 

Daily digit: -83% = Drop in Zoom Communications closing share price Friday ($98.43) from its October 2020 pandemic-era peak above $560. The video-conferencing company became one of COVID’s biggest market winners as remote work surged, but its stock retreated sharply as offices reopened and growth normalized.

Former TCU safety Jacob Fields, who was dismissed from the team last week after an altercation with another player, is facing an aggravated assault charge. Fields turned himself in and was booked into the Tarrant County jail Sunday and is being charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. 

A daily pill from Revolution Medicine sold under the brand name Rasonque has been approved by the FDA for previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. It acts as a "molecular glue" that attaches to an active mutated RAS protein to turn off signals that make cancer cells multiply. It is for adults with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who already have tried at least one treatment or cannot take multi-agent chemotherapy.

Squeal for joy: The outdoor Peppa Pig Theme Park in North Richland Hills will add the equivalent of nearly 40 operating days to its existing schedule this fall, going to six days a week and longer park hours through December 31. 

The projected cost of acquiring the Pentagon’s F-35 fighter fleet from Lockheed Martin has risen approximately $51 billion since late 2023, reflecting higher spending on aircraft, engines, software upgrades, spare parts and fleet readiness. The new acquisition estimate is $536 billion, up 10% from $485 billion, according to a government report and the F-35 program office. When the program began in 2001, its estimated price tag was $233 billion. 

Tarleton State University says its preliminary fall enrollment exceeds 27,000 students across Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, RELLIS and online. More than 4,600 new students will attend this fall, including 3,400 first-time-in-college students, which is up 12% from 2025. 

Northwest ISD will lower the district’s tax rate for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The board approved a $1.0638 tax rate per $100 valuation for properties within the district for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The fiscal year 2026-27 property tax rate for Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is the same rate used for fiscal year 2025-26. Trustees approved a rate of $0.8686 per $100 valuation.

Snippets:

• Industry experts at Wine Enthusiast declared only one Texas winery restaurant as a top destination. Go here, then go there.  

• American Airlines says it has too many broken seats (and apparently too much duct tape). It is sending more than 60 technicians to six airports to fix them.

• Oil magnate J. Paul Getty’s grandson, William, and wife, Vanessa, scoop up a $20-million Dallas mansion.

• Simply Wall St. offers an analysis of what Charles Schwab's expansion of crypto offerings means for shareholders. 

Believe it or not: A smartphone plummeted 33,472 yards from the edge of space without a parachute and landed in the Swedish wilderness fully functional.

Today in history: 1955 = General Motors shows off the first solar-powered automobile. GM engineer William Cobb demonstrated the tiny 15-inch Sunmobile at the company’s Powerama exhibition in Chicago. Twelve selenium photovoltaic cells powered its electric motor, offering an early glimpse of solar-powered transportation.

Significant stat: Texas has the largest number of NYSE listings among all states, approximately 180 representing $4.8 trillion in market value. 127 companies have listed on NYSE Texas (Y'all Street).

Announcements:

• Texas Rangers: Promotes Karin Morris to President of Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. 

• North Central Texas Council of Governments: After an 8-6 vote, Executive Director Todd Little has left in what is called a “mutually agreed separation”.

• Federal Reserve Board: Names Kate Faucher Senior Advisor for Energy Programs.

• Texas Health Resources: Names Kaitlin Cowan Care Transition Manager. 

• McKesson: Matt Williams, Vice President, U.S. Government Affairs, is leaving August 31. 

• Privia Medical Group: Adds Dr. Jonathan Hughes. 

• James L. West Center for Dementia Care: Promotes Natalie Cobble to Director of Community Relations. 

• BNSF Railway: Selects Erik Vega as Manager Bulk Operations. 

• StraCon: Hires Larissa O’Donoghue as Program Analyst, and Tyler Kimmel as Proposal Manager. 

• Staples: Hires Lora Freeman as Chief People Officer.

• PGP Construction: Hires Bryan Blagg as a Superintendent.

• Tarleton State University: Hires Dr. Marcela Nava as Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Administration. 

• DeVry University: Adds Lori Eilers as visiting Professor. 

• Behavioral Innovations: Names Rachel Russell Chief Marketing Officer. 

• BCD Travel: Adds Todd Richmond as Chief Architect for its corporate travel division. 

• Turner & Townsend: Names Anna Kay Parker Senior Talent Acquisition Recruiter. 

• The African Think Tank: Hires Hilary Utuke as Head of Digital Marketing, Dr. Natasha Wilson as Chief Digital Officer and Jessica Richmond as Chief Marketing Officer. 

• Ford Creative Company: Hires Tatum Mikeska as Project Manager. 

• Burns & McDonnell: Names Travis Alexander Branch Manager in Austin office.

• Innovent: Promotes Sabrina Shaikh to Vice President-Engagement. 

• Air Distribution Technologies: Selects Karen Pinkham as Assistant Corporate Controller. 

• Austin Street Center: Evan White, Director of Advancement Operations, is leaving. 

• CED National Accounts: Hires Marlies Hooten as Operations Manager. 

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