🪥Schein takes big bite with Southlake opening; Former TCC Chancellor sues over firing; Trump has plan to 'save' college sports.

Henry Schein, the world’s largest provider of health care solutions to office-based dental and medical practitioners, opened a discovery center in Southlake. Schein already has a distribution center in Fort Worth. The Southlake center, located at 1800 S. Kimball Ave., is an 8,300-square-foot training facility designed to bring health care education, technology and innovation under one roof. It is the company's first training center. 

President Donald Trump, after a “Saving College Sports” meeting with a large group of officials with vested interests, said he plans an 'all-encompassing' Executive Order within a week. He also expects legal challenges.

President Donald Trump said leading U.S. defense contractors have agreed to quadruple production of "exquisite class weaponry." Companies represented at the White House meeting included BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, RTX, Northrop Grumman, Honeywell and L3Harris Technologies. 

We can share: The Van Cliburn, the Fort Worth-based organization that puts on the famed international piano competition, now has a second home in Dallas. It signed a 20-year partnership with Southern Methodist University and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra that will keep the Cliburn International Competition for Young Pianists in the city for the next five editions. The deal includes master classes, an in-residence fellowship for teen pianists, and a final round at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Former Tarrant County College Chancellor Eugene Giovannini has sued the college, alleging breach of contract and a flawed termination process following a 2022 investigation into an alleged relationship with an employee. According to the Fort Worth Report, the lawsuit claims TCC fired him without cause and says the process was based on "falsehoods."

Cumulus Media, owner of 394 radio stations, including six in north Texas (99.5 The Wolf, WBAP and WBAP-HD2, The Ticket, KSCS and KLIF), filed for bankruptcy protection under ​a restructuring deal that would eliminate most of the company’s $697 million in debt. The company previously ​filed for bankruptcy in 2017.

At a $40+ billion valuation, Elbit Systems has become Israel's most valuable firm. Elbit Systems of America is headquartered in Fort Worth.

360 moment: One of Warren Buffett's last investments with Berkshire Hathaway was a $350-million investment in The New York Times. Berkshire had been out of the newspaper business for years. A local angle: In the late-1980s until early 1990s, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was owned by Capital Cities, which was 18% percent owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Some employees were eligible to buy shares for about $2,500.

Starting with the 2026 franchise-tax report, Texas businesses will be able to expense many purchases much faster after the state moved to align its rules with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill. The shift lets companies take larger first-year depreciation deductions - in many cases a full 100% write-off - for equipment, computers and similar property.

Fort Worth-based Presidio Production Company, a result of the recent business combination of Presidio Investment Holdings and EQV Ventures Acquisition that produced a $735-million enterprise value company with a 12+% dividend, has gone public. The oil and gas operator, focused on acquiring and optimizing existing wells, will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange as FTW.

Trinity Metro is starting its third color-coded bus line, La Línea Rosa, which will connect downtown Fort Worth to La Gran Plaza at I-35 and Seminary beginning this fall. It was preceded by the Orange Line (Stockyards) and the Blue Line (downtown).

Beginning April 1, Texas will bar Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients from using benefits to buy candy and soda, the first state to do so. Beverages with five grams or more of added sugar or any artificial sweetener are included. Prohibited snacks include those glazed, crystallized, or coated in chocolate, yogurt, or caramel, such as candied nuts or raisins.

A MESSAGE FROM BURT LADNER REAL ESTATE:

This 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath home at 314 Creekview Terrace was custom-built by Glendarroch Homes. This Parks of Aledo listing features two living rooms, gourmet kitchen, two dining areas, study and game room. The kitchen boasts a built-in Sub-Zero refrigerator, double ovens, a gas stove, dual islands and pantry. Additional features include hand-scraped hardwood floors, brick accent wall, arched hallways, mud lockers, designer lighting and built-in bookshelves. Offered at $849,000 by Laura Kelly.

President Donald Trump’s endorsed Republican primary candidates largely succeeded, winning 24 of 28 U.S. House contests. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick were easy winners, and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller lost handily. Trump and Abbott backed different candidates in four major races, with each winning two. 

Distribution Solutions Group, an MRO, OEM and industrial technology products supplier in Fort Worth, reported its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 results, showing a modest end-of-year sales uptick. Annual growth was more substantial, powered by bolt-on acquisitions and solid organic sales. DSG was formed in April 2022 through a merger of Lawson Products, Gexpro Services and TestEquity. J Bryan King is Chairman and CEO. 

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., based in Fort Worth, was awarded two modification contracts totaling $216 million. One, for $133 million, provides continued flight test support for training systems labs, flight test labs, and Autonomic Logistics Information System/Operational Data Integrated Network labs for the F-35 air system. The other adds scope to procure special tooling and test equipment in support of F-35 canopy tooling for the Joint Strike Fighter program for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and non-Department of War participants. 

Following various lawsuits and pressure to close Camp Mystic, Travis County Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled that its annual summer camps can continue on territory unaffected by last summer’s deadly flooding.

Get in the queue for DQ: March 19, participating DQ locations are celebrating the first day of spring with a free small vanilla cone as a part of its annual Free Cone Day celebration. The offer is limited to one per person, with no purchase required.

Country Joe MacDonald and the Fish were one of the starring acts at Woodstock, and their anti-war song became an anthem. Joe had a long career as a solo artist. He passed away at 84. 

Snippets:

• The Perot Museum in Dallas opened a six-month exhibit over the weekend focused on soccer and FIFA.

• Going all in on steak made Texas Roadhouse No. 1 in casual dining.

• Storage is the new status symbol. The wealthy are creating spaces to showcase their supercars, handbags, and wine collections.

Daily digit: 46 cents = Per gallon increase in gasoline last week in the D-FW area, according to AAA.

Significant stat: 3.4 million = Square footage currently under construction by Hillwood at Alliance Texas across four industrial buildings. 

Announcements:

• Fort Worth Chamber: Selects Crescent Real Estate as 2026 recipient of the Chairman’s Spirit of Enterprise Award, which honors companies that have made significant contributions to the advancement and prosperity of Fort Worth.

• Kimbell Art Museum: Hires Australian Emerson Bowyer as Chief Curator. He has an extensive background in acquiring major art and organizing exhibitions.

• Worthington Bank: Names Michael Slesinger President of the Sundance Square location.

• Higginbotham: Hires Mark Cohen as Content Editor/Communications.

• Henry Schein: Appoints Frederick M. Lowery Chief Executive Officer.

• Bonds Ellis Eppich Schafer Jones: Adds David Garza as a Partner.

• Alcon: Selects Jessica Mathew as Director, Clinical R&D - Surgical, Vision Care, Pharma.

• WFAA: Selects Mark Kennedy as Integrated Account Manager. 

• Ensemble Coworking: Adds Jeff Ware as Community Manager and Brianna Parkhill as Operations Coordinator.

• Freed People: Names Mark Page Director of Development. 

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