❎Does Dems' exit stall redistricting? Justin high school runner sets record; AA says 'nite, nite' in style.

Gov. Greg Abbott informed Texas House Democrats that he would attempt to have them removed from office if they do not return to Austin to pass the GOP’s proposed new congressional maps.

Cooper Lutkenhaus, a 16-year-old junior-to-be student at Justin Northwest, broke the 800-meter Under-18 world record for the third time this summer and qualified for the U.S. team in the World Championships in Tokyo next month. Lutkenhaus ran 1:42.27, defeating two 2024 Olympians and the world's second-ranked half-miler, to finish second. 

Texas has a water crisis. Dallas investor Kyle Bass claims to have part of the solution, but some state officials have expressed concerns. Dallas Express takes a dive into the deep end. 

Texas Monthly’s 2025 Top 50 Barbecue Joints list just dropped and small-town Seguin’s Burnt Bean Co. claims the crown. Nearly half the list is made up of first-timers from outside the big cities, serving everything from barbecue breakfast to koobideh sausages. What’s behind the boom? A new wave of pitmasters re-thinking what Texas barbecue can be.

Certain American Airlines business-class flights are about to get much cozier. Starting this month, AA will provide unisex pajamas to passengers on wide-body (planes, not humans) flights from D-FW International Airport, and international airports in Philly, L.A. and New York's John F. Kennedy to far-flung destinations. Those include East Asia, India, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

Texas has seen a surge in film and television productions, largely because of legislation being championed and passed by state government. Many Texas filmmakers, including Fort Worth's Red Sanders and his Red Productions, actively lobbied the Legislature. Now that it has passed a $5-billion package, Red rolls the credits about where we are and where we are going.

In its second quarter crime report, the Fort Worth Police Department reported a 14.3% reduction in overall crime with 12,392 offenses compared to 14,456 in 2024. Crimes against persons decreased 16.3%, crimes against property decreased 14.1%, and crimes against society decreased 8.2%.

Los Angeles Laker Luka Dončić signed a three-year, $165-million contract extension, with a player option in 2028. The option is important because it will allow him to then sign a maximum 5-year deal in 2028 for an estimated $417 million, making up for the potential $335 million deal lost when the Dallas Mavericks traded him in February. 

Doug Renfro, President of Renfro Foods (think salsas), did a dance with inquisitive John Fletcher on Fletch's 15 on Fridays podcast. Did you know Doug was the solo xylophone player in his high school marching band? There's more here.

Deion Sanders never ceases to amaze. The Colorado football coach, after being diagnosed with bladder cancer and having his bladder removed, announced a partnership with Depend, the underwear brand for incontinence. Check out Deion's endorsements here.

A MESSAGE FROM BURT LADNER REAL ESTATE:

It’s a Mediterranean Monday. This one-level villa in the gated community of Rivercrest Bluffs has an open layout with 3,474 sq ft, 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Highlights include wood flooring, plantation shutters, an epoxy-finished garage, an office with vaulted ceiling, and direct access to the Trinity River trails. A chef’s kitchen has a marble island, Sub-Zero refrigerator, stainless steel gas range, and double ovens. Outside is a covered veranda with stone fireplace. Offered by Alden Karotkin at $1,495,000.

Lisa Pardo, founding owner of Stone House Restaurant in Colleyville, has stepped down to spend more time with her family, according to a Facebook post. The new majority owner is Brian Hendershot; Greg Kalina remains as a minority owner.

Three days of hearings held by federal investigators shed new light on the deadly mid-air collision last January between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter just outside Washington, D.C. Here are three big takeaways.

El Rancho Supermercado is partnering with Texas Health Resources to help make fresh produce more affordable. The pair is offering double Food Bucks Texas benefits for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients at eight of the grocer’s north Texas stores.

Fort Worth-based Certrec, a regulatory compliance and digital integration firm serving the energy industry, has been acquired by Atlanta-based Mirion Technologies, which provides radiation monitoring and analysis solutions. The deal is valued at $81 million in cash plus equity incentives. Certrec was founded in 1988 by CEO and President Ted Enos and CFO and Vice President Kathy Enos.

Believe it or not: The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz will be the first classic movie to play at The Sphere in Las Vegas later this month. A 2,000-person team utilized AI technology to expand the film’s frames, ensuring the movie would adequately fill the Sphere’s 160,000-square-foot LED screen. If you go, beware the flying monkeys.

Significant stat: The U.S. fertility rate fell to an all-time low of ~1.6 children per woman in 2024, according to Centers for Disease Control data.

Snippets:

• Want to start a coffee house? There's a school for that and it's in Arlington. 

• Trophy Club officials launch incentive program to boost town tourism, hotel stays.

• Not just Big Bird: Things to know about the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, its funding cuts and Sept. 30 closing.

• Fort Worth's Matthew Ingle wins a 1-year supply of Dr Pepper, one of three winners who visited the soda maker’s museum in Waco.

• ASI robots got a taste of Fort Worth's recently initiated Welcome, Fort Worth greeting. 

Announcements:

• Trinity Metro: Names Reed Lanham Chief Operating Officer.

• Red Productions: Promotes Steven Navar-Landa to Executive Vice President. Adds Stephanie Cortes as Creative Coordinator and Bret Dominguez as Account Director. 

• Platinum Press: Promotes Karen Hayford to Vice President of Accounting.

• Tarleton State University: Promotes Barry Lambert to Associate Provost and Associate VP for Retention and Persistence. 

• Rivertree Academy: Names Michael Handley Director of Finance. 

• TCU: Adds Haley Gifford as graduate assistant for beach volleyball.

• North Texas Food Bank: Hires Annam Manthiram as Chief External Affairs Officer.

• Brackett & Ellis: Adds attorney Brittany Taylor.

• Medtronic: Promotes Jennifer Cryer to Principal Shared Services Specialist - Global Leaders Services.

• Statewise: Adds Kelly Burgess as Senior Account Representative.

• ConnectIDD: Promotes Shay Feeney to Director of Philanthropic Strategy.

• RSM US: Promotes Jennifer Randles to Government Contract Advisory, Director.

• The Ladder at One Safe Place: Names Hannah Smiley Director. 

• Texas Restaurant Association: Selects Hurst restaurant James Provisions its 2025 Rising Star. 

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