💰Crestline Fund II raises $625M; Elbit's cannon has self-propelled howitzers: DOJ is sending $577k to Tarrant.

Senator John Cornyn said the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded $577,626 in federal grant funding to Fort Worth, Arlington and Tarrant County to enhance public safety, provide law enforcement with updated technology and equipment, and improve response efforts to mental health crises. The funding comes from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. 

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick warned school districts to remove explicit books from library shelves or the Legislature will take additional action to force the removal. Patrick suggested legislation to ensure that districts that fail to remove explicit materials lose a letter grade from their “A-F” accountability ratings. 

Fort Worth-based Elbit Systems of America is producing SIGMA Mobile Tactical Cannon with a fully automated 155mm/52-caliber wheeled self-propelled howitzer. It is being proposed to the U.S. Army under the Self-Propelled Howitzer Modernization program. It carries 40 projectiles, can fire at a rate exceeding eight rounds per minute and provides 360° firing capability. 

A federal jury in the Northern District of Texas sided with a former University of Texas at Arlington engineering professor who accused the university of gender discrimination and retaliation. Jurors decided she was wrongfully stripped of her leadership role and ultimately fired after she raised internal complaints about how male colleagues treated her. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex -- Harry and Meghan -- have become experts in shaking things up, making unexpected decisions, and rocking the boat. Now add to that the news that they are returning to live in the UK. Why now?

ChatGPT’s parent company, OpenAI, is rolling out ChatGPT for Teens. It's available for kids 13 to 17, tailored with stronger content restrictions and new features to help cut back on cheating.

American Airlines has overtaken United Airlines as the largest U.S. carrier by international flight count -- 138,848 in the first half of 2026 against United’s 128,064. Some of the change is due to seasonality, but it is also clear that American's renewed international expansion is having an impact. There is, however, more to the story.

Fort Worth's Levi Gardner, the former private chef to Taylor Sheridan, is taking on the Roy Pope Grocery kitchen. PaperCity has the story. 

The Jonas Brothers will headline at the American Airlines Center Nov. 10 as part of their "Burning Up Tour All Over Again." Tickets drop at 10 a.m. this morning.

Texas' Attorney General office launched an investigation into companies that market and sell products that are labeled as “made with avocado oil.” This follows reports that these products may contain undisclosed seed oils or other ingredients that are not identified on their ingredient labels.

An independent living, assisted living and memory care community called Presbyterian Homes from Denver-based Confluent Development is planned for Colleyville. Construction on the 241,000-square-foot project at 913 Cheek Sparger Road will start Sept. 1, and is expected to be completed by October 2028 at a cost of $63 million. 

Construction is underway on The Park, an 83,473-square-foot speculative industrial and flex development at 6521 Colleyville Blvd. The Class A commercial development by Shoal Creek Capital and CamberMark is scheduled for delivery later this year. Citadel Partners Partner Mac Morse and Market Principal Paul Clarkson are leading the leasing efforts.

Sally Glen Turner at Worth Commercial Real Estate completed a 6,613-square-foot sub-lease transaction on behalf of her client, TOA Global, at 3100 W. 7th Street (Museum Place) in Fort Worth. TOA Global is going remote. Hannah Whitehead of Stream Realty Partners represented the sub-tenant, Honest Water.

Kidder Mathews has expanded to Dallas and will cover north Texas commercial real estate with six brokers: Mart Martindale, Brandon Beeson, Wilson Stafford, John David Cobb, and Claire Schmeltekopf form an investment sales team, and Barrett Jones is a healthcare tenant advisory specialist. Together, they have completed more than $3.5 billion in transactions and have valued more than $20 billion in assets. 

Bimbo Bakeries in Irving has received a three-year, $26.1-million contract for fresh bread and bakery items. Work for the Coast Guard, Army and Air Force will be done in Texas and Oklahoma. 

Fort Worth-based Crestline Management closed Crestline European Capital Solutions Fund II with $625 million in capital commitments, nearly 75 percent larger than Fund I. The new Fund received strong support from existing Crestline clients and new investor relationships, including public and private pension plans, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors.

Tarrant County College is working toward solving a problem in its communities — a shortage of teachers. The response is to launch its first bachelor’s degree program since opening in 1967. Students can earn a Bachelor of Applied Science in early childhood education and teaching. Classes will begin the second eight-week session of the fall semester.

The Mission-Ready Small Business Contracting Summit will help small- and veteran-owned businesses navigate government procurement so they can better access and secure contracts at city, state and federal levels. The free event, held in the Council Chambers at Fort Worth City Hall, will take place from 5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. Registration is required to attend.

TCU Vice Provost for Research Reuben F. Burch V earned the designation of “Prolific Inventor” with the issuance of his 50th patent. The milestone patent covers technology that uses a swarm of drones to capture human movement in real-world settings, allowing researchers to study athletes on tracks, football fields, and rugged terrain.

A west Arlington fire in the 2400 block of West Abram Street destroyed three small businesses -- Beirut Grill, Smash Toast and Folklore Grove Bookstore -- and injured a firefighter, leaving owners trying to figure out what comes next. 

PCCP and RPM Living Investments acquired Truman at Arlington Commons, a four-story, multi-family community located at 505 E Lamar Boulevard in Arlington. The property, built in 2021, was developed and owned by The Nehemiah Company. 4,900 square feet of ground-floor retail is occupied by Nehemiah Coffee Company. 

Fort Worth's WPWealth will add Optimus Capital Advisors to its wealth management platform starting Sept. 1, adding a team serving individuals, families and businesses. Optimus Capital Advisors provides investment management, retirement planning, education funding strategies and broader financial planning services.

Daiso, a Japanese discount store, plans to close its Grapevine Mills location August 30, according to Community Impact. Daiso has nearby locations in Irving and Euless. 

MY DR NOW opens its second Tarrant County and fourth north Texas walk-in family clinic Monday at the southwest corner of Texas 360 and Broad Street in Mansfield. 

Snippets:

• Jason Williamson, who works at Fort Worth’s Dunaway, will travel to space during the Purdue 1 sub-orbital flight in 2027.

• U.S. national debt hits a record $40 trillion. What does that mean to us?

• The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation celebrated the opening of the Mansfield Miracle League Field this week at Fields at Station 63. The facility has a cushioned, rubberized playing surface built to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility devices for kids and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities. 

In case you missed it: Frank Beard, the drummer for the legendary Houston rock band ZZ Top, has died at age 77. Beard is the second original band member to have died. Bassist Dusty Hill died in July 2021 at age 72.

Today in history: 2016 = The Dallas Cowboys officially opened their new headquarters and training complex, The Star in Frisco. The project includes the 12,000-seat Ford Center, built through a partnership among the Cowboys, the city of Frisco and Frisco ISD.

Significant stat: Dallas-Fort Worth’s industrial market reached record heights during the second quarter, driven by increased demand from the booming data center industry. Industrial leasing activity jumped nearly 4% quarter-over-quarter, bringing its first-half 2026 total to a record 40.3-million-square-feet, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

Announcements:

• Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership: Chelsea Griffith is leaving to join the Lockheed Martin Government Relations Team. Her last day is Sept. 1.

• EECU: Names Josh Brian Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer. 

• Dunaway: Adds Kenzie Porter to its Planning + Landscape Architecture team. 

• Catholic Charities Fort Worth: Hires Erin McKinley as Community Engagement Director. 

• Busey Bank: Hires David Milton to oversee its D-FW operations and expansion.

• Fairmont Hotels & Resorts: Adds Paula Drummond as Senior Sales Manager.

• Tolleson Private Bank: Promotes Mark Foxworth to Chief Credit Officer

• Watco: Promotes Chase Downing to Vice President of Sales - Logistics.

• Grandstream Networks: Hires Darren James Knapp as Global Vice President of Business Development. 

• WFAA Channel 8: Hires meteorologist Mike McGuff. 

• CERIS: Promotes Cereasa Horner to Vice President Payment Integrity and Governance.

• Sabre: Names Derek Sharp Vice President for Lodging, Ground and Media division. 

• GoVision: Adds JJ Murray as Fixed Installation Project Manager.
  

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