⏳UTA 10-year plan approved; Pappas see business On the Border; Cook Children's' passionate plea.

Attorney General Ken Paxton's office secured a $1.375-billion settlement in principle with Google. Calling it a "historic win for Texans’ data privacy and security rights," the recovery is the largest against Google for any attorney general’s enforcement of state privacy laws.

Pappas Restaurants, which provided $10 million in debtor-in-possession financing, will purchase On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina out of bankruptcy. On The Border filed for Chapter 11 in early March. The transaction, subject to court approval, is expected to close in a few weeks. Pappas has more than 80 units across nine concepts while On The Border has 60 company-owned restaurants.

Cook Children’s unleashed a dire warning to legislators with a press release about the threat of healthcare access for children throughout the state, including approximately 125,000 in its network.

The University of Texas System Board of Regents last week approved an expansive growth plan from Jennifer Cowley, the UT-Arlington President and a seasoned urban planner. The transformative 10-year master plan is detailed here.

From Michael Williams, Chancellor of the University of North Texas System: This is a story about loss, leadership, and the sacred call to show up with a trembling heart. If you've ever wondered what it means to be human first, this one's for you. 

BNSF Railway is creating a division called “bnsf | tech” and in the interim has laid off a portion of its technology services workers, possibly as many as 175. BNSF's statement said this new organization “will be infused with new investment and an expanded team of software engineers focused on building a safer, smarter railroad" ... and that some “positions are being repurposed or eliminated."

Fort Worth has approved a federal grant application seeking $1.8 million that would, if awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration, help with plans to make about $6 million in runway infrastructure improvements to bustling Meacham International Airport. As Texas’ second-busiest general aviation airport, Meacham saw more than 210,000 takeoffs and landings in 2024.

S&P Global Ratings assigned an 'AA+' long-term rating to the Trinity River Authority's approximately $68-million series 2025 improvement revenue bonds, issued for the Tarrant County Water Project. It also affirmed its 'AA+' rating on the authority's debt outstanding for the Tarrant County Water Project.

LOOK Dine-In Cinemas has opened a 10-screen theater at 2204 Airport Freeway in Bedford. It is the company's second Tarrant location, with one in Arlington. 

WhiteHawk Income Corporation has signed a definitive cash agreement to acquire PHX Minerals in a transaction valued at $187 million. PHX was based in Fort Worth, but has moved to Oklahoma City. The acquisition will add roughly 1.8 million gross unit acres and expand its footprint in the Haynesville Shale in east Texas/north Louisiana and into the SCOOP/STACK region in Oklahoma.

U.S. regulators said they would allow three new color additives made from natural sources to be used in the nation’s food supply. It comes after health officials pledged a phase-out of petroleum-based dyes widely used in foods from cereals to sports drinks, though action is pending. 

Welcome a banker, a bread winner and a Sancho. The Texas Trail of Fame, Inc., which has placed more than 250 large bronze stars in the sidewalks of the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, will add 10 more in October.  See if you made it here.

A three-year project at AT&T Stadium in Arlington to upgrade the technology of the 160-foot wide HD video board, mobile app integrations and Wi-Fi network to the Dante brand has been completed.

Trophy Club will start construction this summer on a new football facility for Byron Nelson High School. The 7,500-seat stadium is expected to be ready for the 2027 school year. The present stadium field will become a practice field.

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, eight returning city council members and one newly elected member will be sworn in at 5 p.m. tomorrow during a specially-called meeting to accept the results of the May 3 election. One district will have a runoff.

The Tarrant County Republican Party voted to censure State Rep. John McQueeney of Fort Worth, and if upheld by the state GOP June 13-14, he could be refused a chance to run for office in 2026. The county party claimed the freshman lawmaker violated three platform principles and two legislative priorities by supporting House Resolution 4 and Senate Bill 1.

Believe it or not: If it hits 100 degrees this week, as projected, it will not be a record for the earliest date. On March 9, 1911, way before global warming, it hit 100 degrees. 

Significant stat: There are 233 U.S. cities where a typical starter home costs $1+ million, up from 85 such cities in March 2020, per a new Zillow report.

Announcements:

• Wheeler Advertising: Adds Larryssa Hilcher as Account Director.

• Pecos Ai: Launched by Jordan Johnson.

• American Red Cross: Hires Brian Murnahan as Regional Program Director at Camp Humphreys, Seoul, South Korea.

• SafeHaven of Tarrant County: Hires Meghan Parker as Housing Intake Specialist.

• MedTech Breakthrough: Recognizes TimelyCare of Fort Worth as the "Best Virtual Care Solution."

• Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains: Adds these Tarrant County 2025-2027 board members at-large — Julie Ferraro, Kelly Jimenez, Dr. Monica Lynott and Lieutenant Colonel Alexis Wright.

• State Bar of Texas: Elects Scott Lindsey of Boyd Powers & Williamson to its Board, and Andrew Tisdale of Goranson Bain Ausley to its young leaders board. 

• Liongard: Adds Abram Elmore as Account Manager serving Texas. 

• Michael's House Treatment Center: Adds Valerie Proctor as Director of Business Development.

• American Business Awards: Recognizes Valor CEO Joseph DeWoody with Gold Stevie for Best Entrepreneur-Financial Services and Valor with Bronze Stevie as Company of the Year-Financial Services. 

• Delaware Symphony Orchestra: Hires Michelle Di Russo, formerly with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, as music director designate.

• Northwest ISD: Selects three principals — Jeremy Harris at Adams Middle School; Jeff Dickeson at Pike Middle School; and Dr. Daryl Porter at Northwest High School. 

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