📉Elbit up $34M, Meta out $17.1B; Abbott: Graduate college in just 3 years; Clyde's shotgun goes for $1M.

Fort Worth-based Elbit America was awarded a $34.1-million, fixed-price Army contract to provide repair services and materials for integrated helmet and display sight system components used for Apache attack helicopters. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 29, 2031.

Gov. Greg Abbott wants some Texas college students to earn their bachelor’s degree a year early, beginning as soon as next year, under a program he introduced to fast-track select high-demand degree programs. “There’ll be legislation passed on it in May,” Abbott said (predicted?). “The effective date will either be sometime over the summer or late September of next year. But this will be ready to go for the next school year.” He said the program addresses high tuition costs and helps raise the college graduation rate.

A federal judge again struck down a Texas law aimed at restricting drag performances, after an appeals court set it aside. U.S. District Judge David Hittner permanently blocked Texas' Attorney General office from enforcing a 2023 law that restricts certain sexually oriented performances on public property or in front of children. Hittner declared it unconstitutional in 2023, before it could take effect. But an appeals court overturned that decision last year and sent the case back to Hittner for further review.

Fort Worth-based Higginbotham, an employee-owned insurance and financial services company, has acquired Kansas City-based Two West Capital Advisors to enhance its growing retirement planning and wealth management division. Founded in 2010, Two West serves employers and individual investors. 

Texas has secured more than $1 billion as part of a historic $17.1-billion settlement between 48 states and Meta Platforms to protect children online. The settlement requires Meta to implement significant new safeguards to better protect children on its platforms. This is the third agreement worth $1 billion+ that Texas' Attorney General office has secured from Big Tech companies. Previous settlements were $1.4 billion with Meta for unlawfully collecting and using facial recognition data, and a $1.375-billion settlement with Google for violating Texans’ privacy rights.   

That $17.1-billion Meta settlement with 48 states we just told you about? Well, it seems the amount could be much lower and Meta might have possibly put a squeeze to YouTube and TikTok platforms.  

Two iconic brands are now teammates. H-E-B has signed a partnership agreement to become the Exclusive Grocery and Pharmacy Partner of the Dallas Cowboys. H-E-B and the Cowboys will kick off a multi-year partnership that includes ticket and merchandise giveaways, in-store and in-game activations, tailgating and pop-up events, and community outreach opportunities.

Up close and personal: A $20 show inside Cowtown Coliseum is turning Fort Worth's beloved longhorn cattle drive into a full-blown arena production, complete with drovers, live steers and a post-show photo session. Legacy of the Longhorn, a 45-minute immersive experience, runs Monday through Thursday at 12:30 p.m. The show is a partnership between Cowtown Coliseum, the Fort Worth Herd and Professional Bull Riders.

The U.S. Army is asking Congress to allow the shift of $350 million to prevent a stop-work order and as many as 5,000 layoffs to workers on Bell Textron's new long-range assault helicopter. The Army had warned Bell Textron that a potential stop-work order could hit the MV-75 Cheyenne II tiltrotor program if fiscal year 2026 funds ran out before additional money was approved. Instead, it is trying to move money to have the tiltrotor by 2028. 

A 10-year review of North Texas’ TEXpress managed lanes credits the system with $25.1 billion in regional economic output, $18 billion in traveler and community impacts, and support for more than 121,400 full-time-equivalent jobs through 2025. The study examines the 43-mile network made up of the LBJ Express, North Tarrant Express, and North Tarrant Express 35W.

TCU athletics has banned the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and revoked the newspaper's credentials for its reporting on a locker room incident after which safety Jacob Fields was released from the team because of an altercation with receiver Dozie Ezukanma. TCU said the reporting put a student in danger. The newspaper said it still would send a sports reporter -- without credentials -- to Ireland for Saturday's opening game against North Carolina. 

TCU plays North Carolina Saturday in Ireland. And while the football team has been preparing all summer, the university has also been engaged, visiting and marketing with bigger goals in mind.

Mansfield awarded an $876,449 contract to CGC General Contractors for construction of a disc golf course at James McKnight Park. Additionally, Mansfield approved two specific use permit requests from Blazing Hospitality, LLC for eating establishments with drive-through service at 351 Matlock Rd. and 2431 E. Broad St. The addresses are within the Shops at Stillwater development. 

The Coop, a Memphis-based upscale wings bar/restaurant concept, signed a lease for approximately 2,250 square feet at 1012 S. Main in Fort Worth, taking over this fall at the former Brix Barbecue space. Bailey Floyd, Vice President at Hatfield Advisors, represented The Coop. Rachel Forslund and Jake Burns of The Retail Connection represented the landlord.

The Fort Worth Zoo announced a matching gift of $3.25 million from the John and Shirley Dean Foundation to support Phase Two of the World of Primates renovation. Every dollar contributed will be matched by $4. The Zoo has raised more than 70% of the required match from local individuals, foundations and corporations. Construction on Phase Two will begin in early September. 

Fort Worth-based The Rainwater Charitable Foundation, one of the largest independent funders of neurodegenerative research, announced $750,000 grants to fund four innovative research projects. They are centered around therapies for tauopathies, which are a group of devastating neurodegenerative disorders driven by the abnormal accumulation of tau. The Rainwater Charitable Foundation has invested more than $165 million in medical research.

The Rainwater Charitable Foundation announced changes to its strategy and to its personnel. It intends to increase focus on investments in children and family economic security, while overall funding in its historic focus areas decreases. Carlo Capua and Sarah Cotton, effective August 18th and October 15th, respectively, will go from employees to advisors. 

CNN reported that the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA has been closed since July 12 and is being investigated after two women suffered severe, similar brain hemorrhages within six days of riding it. One rider is in critical condition and in a coma; the other survived emergency surgery and is re-learning basic skills.

Jerry Bolz and Sally Glen Turner of Worth Commercial Real Estate represented Hanson Operating in a 6,704-square-foot lease at 801 Cherry St. (Burnett Plaza) in Fort Worth. Hanson Operating, an oil and gas exploration and production company, is re-locating its headquarters from New Mexico. Sam Davis of TXRE Properties represented the landlord.

Scioto Properties and NeuroRestorative are building a 16-bed, post-acute rehabilitation services facility in Arlington at 1201 Gambrel Road. The rehab site will offer access to specialized in-patient and out-patient care for individuals with brain, spinal cord and other medically complex injuries.

Fort Worth approved a revised site plan for Black Mountain's $10-billion data center campus, which spans more than 450–500 acres between Forest Hill, Everman, and Kennedale (near Lon Stephenson Road and Forest Hill Drive). Developer Black Mountain assured a 300-foot buffer zone. The project still needs approvals from other municipal and regulatory factions. The data center is expected to add approximately $30 million annually in tax revenue for Fort Worth and Tarrant County, and provide hundreds of full-time jobs averaging about $75,000 in pay.

Tallahassee-based MCCi, a technology company serving more than 2,100 government clients in 50 states, has acquired Cloud Driven Solutions (creators of AgendaLink), a Fort Worth company owned by A J Thompson, a former TechFW member. With the purchase, MCCi has made available JustMeetings, a platform that manages the complete public meeting lifecycle from agenda creation through public archives.

Double duty for Tarrant County College leaders: Northwest Campus President Zarina Blankenbaker also will serve in the newly created position of Vice Chancellor for Student Success. Southeast Campus President Andy Bowne will add Connect President to his responsibilities. Sean Madison is President of the Trinity River and South campuses. 

Snippets:

• Charlotte says Arlington was willing to incent Six Flags to return to its former home. 

• American Airlines adds seven international routes on XLR planes for 2027, but none depart from D-FW. 

• Cute? You be the judge. D-FW International Airport's Bolt named 2026 Transportation Security Administration Top Dog (cutest). 

• Fort Worth's Park & Recreation department will break ground Saturday at 11 a.m. for Smiley Park at 1798 E. Maddox Ave. in east Fort Worth.

• The Welman Project is launching Pages for the People, a free community book shop. Its opening is Saturday. 

• Two tough consecutive nights for Fort Worth fire personnel ... and local citizens.

Today in history: 1898 = North Carolina pharmacist Caleb Bradham renamed his popular fountain drink “Brad’s Drink” as Pepsi-Cola. Bradham had developed the beverage at his drugstore several years earlier. What began as a local soda-fountain concoction grew into one of the world’s best-known consumer brands.

Daily digit: TCU said approximately 11,000 undergraduate students enrolled this semester, with more than 2,800 first-year students.

Announcements:

• Medical City Healthcare: The North Texas division of HCA Healthcare promotes Brandy Stegall to Division Chief Nursing Executive. She has been the Chief Nursing Officer of Medical City Fort Worth the past two years. 

• Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber: Selects Erika Maldonado, Branch Manager of New American Funding, as its Ambassador of the Year.

• La Costena USA: Hires Jennifer Amy as Chief Human Resources Officer.

• OpTic Gaming: Hires Grace Tye as Manager of Partnership Activations.

• Educational First Steps: Names Norman Robbins Board Chairman. 

• Lone Star Sports EMMYs: Honors Texas Rangers Sports Network producer Patrick Modrovsky for Live Sports Producer, and Tim Johnston for Sports Branded Content.

• Collective Growth: Promotes Karen Finney to Managing Director.

• Peloton Equity: Adds Dr. Scott Rsnsom as Advisor.

• SHPE North Texas: Braulio Reyes is the new Chapter President.

• Harlan Homes: Promotes Taylor Ricard to Director of Finance & Administration.

• J.P. Morgan Private Bank: Adds Victor Payne as Executive Director and Regional Team Leader--Mineral Asset Management in the Global Trusts & Estates practice*.

• President Trump: Re-names Lake Ontario to Lake America, cousin of Gulf of America.**

  *Anyone have a longer title? Send it in.

  ** Canada refuses tariffs, loses lake. 
  

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