✈️TCU and TCC taking flight; Yesway IPO has $1.2B valuation; Bit too early to light up joints.

Dick’s Sporting Goods is in its 800,000-square-foot distribution center in south Fort Worth, according to Hillwood. The center will handle regional distribution to more than 100 Dick’s Sporting Goods stores in several states.

Governor Greg Abbott did say we were the Aviation Capital of Texas. Tarrant County College announced a traffic control certificate degree program earlier this week. And yesterday, Texas Christian University announced a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aviation and an Aviation Studies minor. TCU’s major will include two concentrations — Aviation Administration and Professional Pilot — designed to prepare students for careers across the aviation industry.

GE Aerospace Foundation announced the communities selected for its $30-million workforce training initiative, Lifting Futures, and Tarrant County College will be included in the program to help solve workforce skills gap challenges for the advanced manufacturing workforce while supporting the aviation community. The award was described as: Dallas, Texas, where demand for advanced manufacturing labor is high, the program will complement existing training opportunities, including the Aviation Maintenance Technician program at Tarrant County College. 

General Motors announced the indefinite postponement of its next-gen, full-size electric pickup project, which includes the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado. Slated for a 2028 launch, the decision comes amidst challenges in electric vehicle production and sales.

The Arlington City Council voted, 7-2, to approve an agreement with the Dallas Cowboys that extends the team’s lease at AT&T Stadium 15 years through 2055. The city-owned stadium opened in 2009. The agreement includes investments in improvements to the stadium complex and surrounding public infrastructure. HR&A Advisors reported the team's use and operation of the stadium currently generates about $324 million in annual economic impact in Arlington.

Fort Worth-based convenience store Yesway went public Wednesday on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. It raised $280 million in its initial public offering, pricing shares at $20 for a valuation of $1.21 billion. The stock closed Thursday at $21.70.

The Trump administration re-classified state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug — a major change to how it is regulated in dozens of states that permit its medical use. However, don't go planning any Cheech and Chong parties just yet. 

Fort Worth ISD classroom teachers in non-elevate schools will receive 5% raises starting in the fall. Teachers in Elevate classrooms already will receive higher pay than the average Fort Worth ISD educator because those campuses have performed poorly academically. 

FIFA is not the last of major soccer in the area for 2026. The CONCACAF women's competition will be played Nov. 27-Dec. 5 at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium and Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Eight teams, and the top four qualify for the FIFA 2027 World Cup. The top three qualify for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The University of Texas System, with 229 patents during 2025, ranked 4th globally among universities. UT-Arlington, one of 14 schools in the UT System, had 28, up 12% from 2024. Here is the National Academy of Inventors' Top 100 Worldwide Universities Granted U.S. Utility Patents list.

Keller and the Texas Rangers have a partnership in which the new Keller Sports Park baseball fields will be named after Nolan Ryan, Iván "Pudge" Rodríguez, Adrian Beltré, Michael Young, Juan Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, Rusty Greer, Kenny Rogers, Ferguson “Fergie” Jenkins, Charlie Hough and Ian Kinsler. Community Impact has the story. 

Warner Bros. Discovery investors voted to combine with Paramount, a deal that has been met with significant opposition. The potential $111-billion acquisition would concentrate ownership of two major movie studios and CNN.

A MESSAGE FROM BURT LADNER REAL ESTATE:

This 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 5,049 sq ft residence at 2211 Colonial Pkwy is situated on a .84-acre lot across from Colonial Golf Course, with close proximity to TCU, the Fort Worth Zoo, shopping, and restaurants. An open-concept kitchen is connected to the second living and dining areas. To relax or entertain, the outdoor living space and poolside area offer the perfect setting. The second level houses the primary suite. Additionally, there are two more bedrooms on this level. A guest suite is on the first level. Offered at $4,790,000 by Suzanne Burt and Laura Ladner.

Some Social Security offices across the U.S. are facing temporary closures or service disruptions, but officials say they expect no delays in monthly check deposits.

Lockheed Martin reported net earnings of $1.5 billion, or $6.44 per share. Sales were $18 billion. Cash from operations was $220 million. The company re-affirmed its 2026 financial outlook.

Lockheed Martin said it has invested $25 million in Fortem Technologies as part of that company’s Series B fundraising round. The investment furthers an existing partnership focused on countering unmanned aerial system threats.

Texas' Attorney General office is investigating major music streaming services for allegedly accepting bribes to promote certain songs, artists and content. The practice, coined “payola” in the late 1930s from a combination of the words “Pay” and “Victrola”, was made illegal in 1960. Demand letters have been sent to Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music and YouTube Music.

Save the date: Applications for the 14th annual Fort Worth Business Plan Competition, sponsored by Frost Bank, will open at noon Monday, May 4 as part of National Small Business Week. For more information / eligibility details, go here.

Fort Worth-based First Cash Holdings announced first-quarter results, with a Non-GAAP EPS of $2.69, surpassing expectations by $0.30. The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.42 per share, set for distribution in May.

Matthew Montague and Jake Neal of Colt McCoy's HPI Real Estate Services & Investments brokered the the sale of 1413 Rio Grande Avenue — the iconic Balcom Agency office building off I-30 near downtown Fort Worth. 

LanCarte Commercial brokered the sale of a two-building industrial portfolio at 4608 Fairlane Ave. and 4700 S. Edgewood Terrace in Fort Worth. The facilities total approximately 47,000 square feet. Both are equipped with crane systems and heavy power. Finn Wilson and Sarah LanCarte represented the seller and buyer, Faropoint.

American Airlines and Alaska Air once talked merger. They are talking again, but this is about a revenue-sharing agreement and other strategic partnerships.

Snippets:

• A-to-F: TCU Provost, faculty do not agree on instituting a mid-semester grade policy. 

• We hear a lot about what Fort Worth thinks of Texas A&M making roots in Fort Worth. Here is some of what A&M sees. 

Believe it or not: Three Californians have been sentenced to 180 days in jail for a fraud scheme that involved dressing up in a bear costume to stage attacks on luxury cars, then seeking ~$142,000 in insurance payouts.

Significant stat: $2.485 billion = Collectible trading card game sales in 2025 compared to $1.49 billion in 2024. There’s a renaissance of the in-store play scene and speculation-fueled buying from those who see the trading card game packs as investments.

Announcements:

• Empire Roofing: Co-Founder Ronnie McGlothin has retired. He and Sandra McGlothin started the company in July 1982. 

• Whitley Penn: Adds J. Kyle Turner as a Valuation Partner.

• Bank OZK: Hires Pete Thoune as Market President-Commercial Banking, Fort Worth. 

• Fort Worth: Hires Todd Rice as Assistant Director of Communications & Public Engagement. 

• The Texas Tribune: Hires Eva-Marie Ayala as education editor. 

• University of Texas - Arlington: Promotes Cynthia Arredondo to Assistant Director of Marketing. 

• Arts Fort Worth: Announces 2026 Board of Directors — Bob Jameson, Glenda Thompson, Lisa Powers Miller, Steve Gordon, Jessica Sangsvang, Whitney McLean, Wesley Kirk, Megan Carroll Henderson, Grant Summers, Shanna Saldaña, Katherine Barr Smith, Blake W. Moorman, Andrew Reynolds, David Colón, and Arts Fort Worth Executive Director Wesley Gentle.

• DebtBlue: Adds Lindsi Ramirez as Digital Director of Marketing.

• CRB: Hires Sonalie Barr as Mechanical Engineer. 

• NAFA Fleet Management Association: Ranks Fort Worth 13th out of 100 cities in the U.S. 

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