🥜Sony not paying Peanuts for these comics; Lockheed, Denton deals are not peanuts; Guess whose NCAA athletic valuation is No. 1?

Scheduling note: 817 Biz will be off for the holidays starting Dec. 24 and will resume publishing Jan 5. During the interim, watch your inbox for the digital version of the January issue of our print publication. Not a subscriber? Sign up for free.

The rich get richer: Flying basic economy with American Airlines no longer earns miles or points toward elite status, a shift that favors wealthier travelers. To quote: "We routinely evaluate our fare products to remain competitive ... Customers who purchase a Basic Economy ticket on December 17, 2025, and beyond will not earn AAdvantage miles or Loyalty Points toward AAdvantage status."

The Department of Defense/War awarded a $3,626,277,130 contract to Lockheed Martin's Aeronautics Co., with 59% of the work to be done in Fort Worth. The award is for modifications -- logistics support in nearly a dozen categories -- on delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Air Systems for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Foreign Military Sales customers, and non-DOD program partners.

The Air Force has awarded U.S. Aviation Academy in Denton an $835,580,012 contract for initial pilot training for U.S. government and international military student candidates.

Fort Worth-based TechPro Power Group has been sold to Searchlight Capital-backed Integrated Power Services for approximately $350 million, a deal that significantly expands IPS' power management services with TechPro's expertise in power system life-cycle management. TechPro, led by CEO Michael Kilpatrick, is a family of companies, including Potomac Testing and Sentinel Power Services, among others.

Burlington Northern Sante Fe President & CEO Katie Farmer issued the following opposition statement on the filing by Union Pacific on an $85-billion application to acquire Norfolk Southern.

Today’s trivia: CNBC has ranked the 75 most valuable college athletic programs for 2025. Combined, the valuations are $51.22 billion, 13% more than the top 75 in 2024. There's a new No. 1 and two of the top three are Texas universities.

The 2025 University of North Texas football program reached unprecedented levels of reach, revenue and visibility during its 11-2 season. 

At 309 feet, Tormenta Rampaging Run has hit its peak at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. The rollercoaster, expected to open in 2026, projects to smash six world records.

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History has launched Waste to Wonder, an interactive exhibition created with the Tarrant County Education Foundation that explores sustainability through creativity, reuse and hands-on learning. In 2021, Americans purchased more than 86 billion plastic water bottles: just 29 percent (about 25 billion) was recycled or re-used.

Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences' non-profit arm has raised $50 million, bringing its total funding to $100 million since launching in 2024. The foundation helps advance de-extinction technologies. 

A MESSAGE FROM DAVID LEWIS BUILDER:

Welcome to the Equine Division of David Lewis Builder. For over four decades, we’ve been crafting luxury homes and ranches across Texas. Now, we’re bringing that same passion for quality and craftsmanship to the equine world — building barns, arenas, and facilities designed for horsemen who expect the best. Follow us for project highlights, event updates, and a closer look at the horses and shows we’re proud to support.

Tarleton State University received a $5,000 FirstGen Forward Transformation Grant to support its initiative of serving first-generation college students. It is one of only four universities to receive the award supported by the Gates Foundation. Two selected students will enable Tarleton State to advance meaningful, data-driven improvements for first-generation college students.

Chris Wolfe, judge in the 213th State District Court in Tarrant County and a former federal prosecutor, has been recommended for nomination to the Waco federal court bench.

Thursday, February 19, The Fort Worth Club will host chefs from The Chumley House, Dos Mares, The Mont Fort Worth, and two of its own for a four-course dinner designed not as a tasting menu, but as a conversation among styles, backgrounds and ideas shaping the future of Fort Worth dining. The “Metamorphosis” event benefits the Fort Worth Food & Wine Foundation.

PGA Tour golfer Scottie Scheffler is the 2025 golfer of the year, his fourth consecutive selection. He trails only Tiger Woods, who was honored from 1999-2003. 

It’s the end of the year and you may already be worn out by best-of lists. So, we’re sharing a resource that compiles them in a consistent, simple format, fittingly located at yearendlists.com. The best books, movies, podcasts, albums, tv shows, and even poetry.

In case you missed it: The Wall Street Journal’s office tested the company’s AI vending machine, and it wasn’t exactly seamless. It gave away almost all of its inventory for free (including a PlayStation 5), ordered a live fish and offered to buy customers stun guns and pepper spray. 

Daily digit: 1.6% = Percentage of city of Argyle that a 123-acre, mixed-use project called Heritage will occupy. Plans call for retail, restaurants and a 50-acre medical services hub anchored by H-E-B grocery. Argyle is 11.1 square miles, which is approximately 7,430 acres.

Significant stat: Viewers watched 700 million hours of podcasts on YouTube during October, nearly double the amount during October 2024.

Snippets:

• Grapevine-based GameStop has closed its only store in the city, exiting the Grapevine Mills mall.

• Next June, American Airlines will fly non-stop from D-FW International Airport to Lincoln (Neb.) Airport twice daily and to Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport (Va.) once daily. 

• Texas' Attorney General office is suing foreign smart TV manufacturers and, in the meantime, has a set of directions for you to turn off the alleged spying.  

Announcements: 

• JTaylor: Adds David Cleveland as Director of Strategic Growth and Client Engagement.

• Lockheed Martin: Selects Bethany Smith as Employee and Executive Communications Representative.

• Zyn Apparel: Names David Deering Chairman. 

• Compass: Adds Amanda Blake Cummins as a Real Estate agent. 

• Keller Williams Fort Worth: Adds Ann Morris as a Real Estate agent.

• The Sales and Marketing Department: Adds Wayne Canter as an Account Executive.

• Greater Fort Worth Association of REALTORS: Installs Shawn Buck as the 2026 President.

• Lithic Energy Partners: Bruce Selkirk steps down as Chairman and CEO of Nacero to co-found Lithic. 

• Layne's Chicken Fingers: Appoints Cuyler Esposito as Vice President of Culture Operations. 

• Alcon: Selects Meghan Graham as a Director, Medical Affairs Operations. 

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