⚖️Supremes OK Texas' revamped districts; Texas puts kibosh on HUB opportunities; TCU gets $3M from Bezos Family Fund.

Ariat International, a provider of western, work and equestrian footwear and apparel, will invest $72.6 million and create 250 jobs as part of an expansion of its regional headquarters in Fort Worth. The expansion will occur in two phases. Ariat will expand its regional headquarters, resulting in an $8.9-million investment in property improvements and equipment, and the creation of 150 jobs. The second phase is construction of a regional distribution center a few miles away, which will be an investment of $63.7 million in property and equipment and create 100 jobs.

By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court ruled Texas can use its new gerrymandered map in the upcoming election, likely yielding up to five additional Republican seats toward control of the U.S. House. President Donald Trump had urged Republican-led states to conduct unusual mid-decade redistricting. 

The FIFA World Cup draw is today beginning at 11 a.m. and Arlington will learn the teams expected to be playing games at AT&T Stadium next summer. Here is the information you will want to know to follow along, highlighted by the area's Official Draw Party at Billy Bob's Texas. 

Circle R Ranch, a Flower Mound landmark known for its Western charm and community legacy, has been sold, only the second ownership transition since its founding in 1973. Jason and Hillary Roberts, who operated the ranch since 2013 and purchased it in 2017, finalized the sale to two Denton County families: Ignacio and Alexandra Garza, and Rick and Sylvia Sanchez.

The Texas Comptroller's office announced it is removing women- and minority-owned businesses from the Historically Underutilized Business program, which gives additional exposure to businesses owned by economically disadvantaged groups. Its new focus is businesses owned by disabled veterans. 

The Dallas Cowboys winning streak ended at three games with a 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions. They are 6–6-1 and likely needing to run the table for a chance at the playoffs. ESPN Analytics has the Cowboys playoff chances at 8%. 

Daily digit: 57.23 million = The record-shattering average number of viewers for the Thanksgiving Day game between the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. The most-watched NFL regular-season game in league history was 15.1 million more than the 42.1 million tuned in during the 2022 Thanksgiving game to watch the Cowboys take on the New York Giants. 

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will open its newest park -- Palo Pinto Mountains State Park -- to guests with reservations on New Year’s Day. The park, located 83 miles southwest of Fort Worth, is nestled on 4,871 acres of former ranch land.

Fort Worth City Council received a staff proposal that sets up pay raises and term limits among potential amendments to the city charter. The proposal would increase council’s annual pay and extend members’ term lengths from two years to three or four. Staggered council elections also could be on the table. 

The Fort Worth Police Department has created the Constitutional Policing Unit, an initiative to improve legality, accountability, transparency and continuous learning across regulations, procedures, training and operations. The CPU supplements the Office of the Police Oversight Monitor and establishes an internal mechanism in place of the external one.

If you combined all of developer Mehrad Moayedi’s north Texas communities, the expanse would almost cover the city of Philadelphia. The Real Deal portrays the struggles, the wins and the challenges of the "D-FW Real Estate Kingpin."

Tarleton State University is expanding its partnership with Opal’s Farm to offer urban agriculture education across all campuses. A grassroots effort to improve access to fresh, healthy foods in one Fort Worth neighborhood has developed into an innovative education model that Tarleton State is bringing to Stephenville, and online for its students in Waco and Bryan.

Good news for defense startups and legacy firms. J.P. Morgan says it has $10 billion for investments under the bank's Security and Resilience Initiative. One key priority is funding nuclear submarine construction.

Texas Christian University announced an endowed fund made possible by a $3-million investment from the Bezos Family Foundation in recognition of the College of Education’s centennial year. The endowment will fund an expansion of the college’s research initiatives and community-engaged projects that address critical education issues.

Fort Worth-based, non-profit Brighter Outlook has received $125,000 of the additional $2 million in energy assistance being donated by Atmos Energy for the cold winter season.

The Pentagon identified more than 1,000 companies that could work on the $151-billion, 10-year Golden Dome, including Fort Worth-based Elbit Systems of America. 

Locals Insider takes a deep dive into travel numbers...which airports are growing passenger traffic and which are slowing from 2024 to 2025, and which seem to be emerging. 

Fort Worth plans to launch in January the Nuisance Enforcement Task Force. The project is Fort Worth's latest approach to dealing with places plagued by ongoing criminal activity and code compliance issues.

Fort Worth investor group Cowtown Angels has invested in Evecxia Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage psychiatry company developing innovative treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other underserved mental health conditions. No terms were disclosed. There are no FDA-approved, next-line therapies available for OCD.

According to CRE Daily, which covers commercial real estate news, Fort Worth is first in the nation for permitting efficiency. The rating is from Labrynth’s 2025 Red Tape Index 500, an AI-driven analysis evaluating how quickly and effectively cities process development permits.

Significant stat: $834.6 million = What AllianceTexas facilitated in international trade in 2024, an increase of 550.7% since 2016, according to a state study.

Snippets:

• Lockheed Martin demonstates an AI system that re-plans a drone’s mission in seconds.

• President Donald Trump pardoned Texas Democratic congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife in a federal bribery and conspiracy case.

• Tech billionaires Michael and Susan Dell are pledging $6.25 billion to create approximately 25 million additional "Trump Accounts" for children across the country.

⚖️Notice to Tarrant County law firms: The January issue of our print publication will include a ranking of firms based on number of attorneys practicing in north Texas. Firms must have a minimum of five attorneys to be listed. The deadline to submit data is December 8; please contact [email protected] for details. There is no charge for the listing. 

Announcements: 

• The Academy of Western Artists: Honors north Texas natives Michael Martin Murphey and Red Steagall with lifetime achievement awards.

• HTeaO: Promotes Kelsey McManemin to Senior Vice President of Marketing, and adds Brittany Knollmiller as Director of Marketing.

• Fruge Seafood: Names Kenidy Herring Business Development Specialist.

• Partners Real Estate: Hires Peter Mainguy as Executive Managing Director to lead expansion in Texas.

• World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth: Hires Jess Koloini as President and Chief Executive Officer, 

• MyRoleFit: HR Services company launched by co-founder David Steed. 

• Keurig Dr Pepper: Names Anthony DiSilvestro CFO.

• Texas Roadhouse: Names Mike Lenihan Chief Financial Officer.

• Texas: Names Stephanie Muth, former commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, its state health commissioner starting Jan. 3. She replaces  Cecile Erwin Young, who is retiring. 

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