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  • ⚖️Speed Fab-Crete settles for $1.8M; James Morris to launch church April 12; East Fort Worth finds itself in pickle.

⚖️Speed Fab-Crete settles for $1.8M; James Morris to launch church April 12; East Fort Worth finds itself in pickle.

Plus, more bite-size news about business in Tarrant County.

Boeing has been selected over Lockheed Martin to complete a $20-billion Air Force contract to produce the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, dubbed the F-47.

Kennedale-based Speed Fab-Crete agreed to pay the U.S. government $1.8 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the company of fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 loans. The government said the company took out a $1.17-million loan while the company's owners were facing criminal charges, a violation of the Paycheck Protection Program.

Bob R. Simpson will retire as TXO Partners' Chief Executive Officer effective April 1 and will remain as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Gary D. Simpson and Brent W. Clum will be Co-Chief Executive Officers and Simpson will join the Board of Directors. Gary Simpson will maintain his existing responsibilities as head of Production, and Clum will continue as President of Business Operations, Chief Financial Officer, and Director of the General Partner. Bob Simpson led XTO in 2009 when it was purchased by Exxon for $31 billion in stock and $10 billion of debt assumption.

Trademark revealed its plans for Westbend Residences, a 7-story, mixed-use development with resort-style amenities. Fort Worth Digital Diary has the story.

General Motors has selected Nvidia to partner and build its future self-driving fleet, according to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. He announced building with GM AI in three areas — for manufacturing, for enterprise for how they work, and for in the car.

Fort Worth-based Buxton, a provider of consumer analytics solutions, has acquired Audiense, a consumer intelligence and social insights platform. The purchase enhances Buxton's omnichannel consumer intelligence, providing brands with faster insights and analytics across every stage of the buying journey.

The National Medal of Honor Museum hosted a celebration in Arlington Saturday that featured a former President, a Governor, two Senators and 3,500 hero inductees. Tomorrow, the museum in Arlington's entertainment district, opens to the public. Here is what to know.

The Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board opened the 100,000-square-foot Tuskegee Airmen Texas State Veterans Home at 2200 Joe B. Rushing Road in Fort Worth, the 10th long-term care home for eligible veterans, spouses, and Gold Star Parents in Texas. The home, which can serve 120, is named after the World War II Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American combat flying support program in the United States Armed Forces.

An indoor pickleball facility is coming to the east side. Fort Worth Badminton Club announced plans to build a 30,000-square-foot indoor badminton and pickleball facility at 3001 Fisher Ave. in the Riverside neighborhood. The site, which has been unused for two decades, is expected to be ready as a sports hub by January 2026.

EGRE, which transforms older or distressed assets into residential communities, acquired an independent senior living complex at 8000 Calmont in Fort Worth that will be ready for leasing April 1. The facility has been re-named Manor Independent Living.

While his father, Robert, awaits the courtroom, former Gateway Church pastor James Morris and his wife, Bridgette, told their Instagram followers they plan to launch Passage Church on April 12 at St. John Church in Southlake.

Flagship Healthcare Properties acquired a Class A, 100% leased medical outpatient building and ambulatory surgery center in Grapevine. It includes clinical office space and a surgery center, featuring eight exam rooms and two operating rooms. Flagship will provide property management and asset management services. 

Fort Worth state representative Charlie Geren is a signee on a bill that might add clarity for doctors and administrators about exceptions to medical abortion legislation. 

Stellar Painting opened at 3327 Winthrop Avenue, Suite 150 in Fort Worth. Its original location for commercial and residential work is in Benbrook.

Notable and quotable: “That's my gift. I let that negativity roll off me like water off a duck's back. If it's not positive, I didn't hear it. If you can overcome that, fights are easy.”

—George Foreman (1/10/49 - 3/21/25), professional boxer, businessman, preacher and author, who passed away Saturday

The Nasdaq exchange, headquartered in New York, is moving its Irving regional office to Dallas, part of its expanding investment in the state and the Southeast. More than 200 Texas companies are listed on the Nasdaq.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will unveil a plan this week to upgrade the U.S. air traffic control system. Previously, Duffy said he would ask Congress for tens of billions of dollars to revamp air traffic control infrastructure, including new radar systems and control terminals, and boost hiring.

Altus Equity Group acquired Kennedale Light Industrial Park, a new, small-bay industrial property located at 7406 Mansfield Highway. The property includes seven buildings totaling approximately 160,000 square feet on a 13.196-acre lot.

Snippets: 

  • Report says Disney is in talks to buy NFL Media for approximately $2 billion.

  • Arlington is looking for volunteers to serve on boards and commissions. The deadline to apply is May 15. 

Significant stat: During 2024, Texas A&M University School of Law had the ninth-highest, first-time bar pass rate in the U.S., and the highest in Texas. A&M posted a 97.4% pass rate, followed by The University of Texas School of Law at 96.4% and Baylor Law School at 95.2%. 

Daily digit: More than 263,000 people have moved to D-FW from another country since 2020, about 10,000 more people than have moved to the region from elsewhere in the U.S.

Announcements:

  • Story & Strategy PR: Adds Kim Brown as co-Founder, joining Abigail Hoover. 

  • Amon Carter Museum of American Art: Names Charles Wylie Curator of Photography.

  • Goodwill North Central Texas: Promotes Jenna Jones to Director of Procurement.

  • Texas Wesleyan University: Names Keenah Lambert as first head coach of its women’s flag football team, which begins play in 2026. Texas Wesleyan is the first university in Texas to launch a women’s flag football team.

  • Ciera Bank: Hires Rick Jenkins as Executive Vice President - Commercial Lending.

  • Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame: Inducts former TCU and NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson into its Hall of Fame.

  • Alcon: Hires Jasmine Luna Gdovin as Channel Marketing Manager - Vision Care.

  • American Airlines: Promotes Karen Correa Matos as Analyst IOC Planning and Support Communications.

  • JPS Health Network: Recognized as a Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner for the second consecutive year, and one of only 70 organizations globally to receive the honor.

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