⚖️UT prof, same-sex weddings lose in court; Texas beats Google, gains $1.375B; $1M buys more house in D-FW than most cities.

Employers legally can discipline employees through threats, the Fifth Circuit ruled, handing a win to the University of Texas at Austin and its stance on diversity, equity and inclusion. Richard Lowery, an assistant professor in finance, sued, claiming officials threatened his position for encouraging donors to not give the school money because it supports DEI practices. The court ruled he failed to establish harm because he never lost his job and received a pay increase.

Affordable Care Act premiums will average a hike of 35.2% in Texas, with open enrollment having started Saturday. The percent increase will be more pronounced in Texas than in all but five states. Insurance industry officials say it is because of rising costs and the likelihood of expiring premium tax credits.

Former Fort Worth city council member Gyna Bivens, 71, said she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Bivens wrote in her announcement: “Your thoughts, prayers, and support mean the world to me during this time. As more information becomes available, I will be sure to keep you informed." She is undergoing an in-patient evaluation at Clements University Hospital in Dallas.

Texas’ Historically Underutilized Business program — the state initiative to give additional exposure to businesses owned by women, minorities and disabled veterans seeking state contracts -- has been frozen. The state said it was reacting to new guidance from national and Texas legislators regarding diversity, equity and inclusion. The Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber said it "remains steadfast in our mission to support the success of all businesses, especially those that have faced systemic barriers. We will continue to work closely with our members, partners, and the broader business community to ensure that every entrepreneur has a fair shot at growth and opportunity."

The University of Texas at Arlington received a $2-million commitment from attorney, alumnus and former football student-athlete J. Ron Young ('67 BA, History) — the largest single philanthropic pledge made to UTA athletics.

The Texas Supreme Court issued a clarification to the state’s Judicial Code of Conduct, affirming that judges may decline to perform same-sex weddings if doing so conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs.

Google’s worst enemy? Attorney General Ken Paxton's office agreed to a settlement with Google for $1.375 billion, concluding two of the largest data privacy enforcement actions brought by a state against the tech giant. The last three Texas settlements with Google total $2.083 billion.

Fort Worth-based Range Resources was higher after posting third-quarter results: Revenue was $748.53 million and net income was $144.31 million, both up over prior year and analyst expectations. Range bought back more than 1.5 million shares, bringing total repurchases to more than 12% of its outstanding shares since 2019.

TXSE Group (Texas Stock Exchange) said J.P. Morgan had made a strategic investment. The total capital raised by TXSE, backed by financial heavyweights BlackRock, Schwab and Citadel Securities, is more than $250 million. The exchange is expected to launch in early 2026. 

Whoever oversees the pre-game trivia questions for the SMU football scoreboard didn’t quite think this one through. The trivia challenge on the scoreboard was: What is the name of SMU’s football stadium? Go here for the answer. Joke’s on the poster, too, who didn’t know the location of the stadium was Dallas.

A MESSAGE FROM BURT LADNER REAL ESTATE:

This custom, 4,158-square-foot Walsh Ranch home at 13616 Nouvelle Circle has 4 bedrooms, 5 baths and modern features throughout. Views of the nearby catch-and-release lake are included in this contemporary architecture home. The swimming pool and heated spa have an adjacent covered patio with fireplace. Zoned for Aledo ISD public schools, this resort-like lifestyle is offered at $1,750,000 by Ashley Sartain, 817-917-4303.

The Arlington Sports Commission and Arlington Baptist University received a three-year agreement (2026-2028) to host the National Christian College Athletic Association's (NCCAA) Division II Women's Volleyball Championships.

PoobahAI, a Fort Worth-based AI-powered, no-code platform dedicated to democratizing Web3 development, has raised $2 million in seed funding. The round was led by FourTwoAlpha Ltd, a venture capital firm with a focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. 

Eligible Fort Worth students can receive direct admission to the University of Texas at Arlington and full funding for tuition and course fees with the Blaze Forward Program. The deadline to be considered is March 1, 2026.

President Donald Trump sees tariffs — or the threat of them — as a powerful tool to bend nations to his will. This week, the Supreme Court hears arguments on whether Trump has overstepped federal law with many of his tariffs.

A MESSAGE FROM DERWOOD PRODUCTION COMPANY:

Derwood is proud to unveil the Texas Motorcycle Stampede, a two-day gathering of motorcycles, cars, music, and creative culture Nov 7–8 in the Stockyards. Sponsored by Harley-Davidson and hosted by Luther Cory Moore of Austin Speed Shop, the weekend features a curated lineup of classic and custom motorcycles, vintage cars and hot rods, live music, local art, photography and more.

The Fifteenth Court of Appeals justices took a field trip to Texas A&M School of Law to hear arguments in disputes over taxes and trade secrets, and to allow law students the chance to see a court in action. In one case, a bench trial, Judge Jessica Mangrum denied the comptroller and attorney general’s counterclaim and awarded American Airlines a tax refund of $107,577.04, plus interest.

Air Methods, which recently accepted delivery of a Bell 429, signed a purchase agreement for three Bell 407GXis, further expanding its air medical capabilities. Earlier this year, Air Methods signed a Master Purchasing Agreement for up to 27 aircraft.

Believe it or not: Two messages in a bottle were found over 100 years later on a remote beach in Western Australia.

Significant stat:  $10.02 million = what Spanish professional tennis player Alejandro Davidovich Fokina surpassed in career earnings in last week’s 2025 Paris Masters. A remarkable achievement because he has amassed such a sum despite never actually winning any of the 138 ATP tournaments he played. Among active players, the next-highest career earnings without a win is $6.9 million.

Announcements: 

• National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts: Honors Easton Tally, a manager in the consulting division of JTaylor, as a 30-Under-Thirty standout.

• Connect CRE: Honors Monica Luera, VP-Development at Trademark, as one of its 2025 Women in Real Estate.

• Maria’s Mexican Kitchen: Expands with an Irving location at 5240 N. O’Connor Blvd. Founded by chef Felipe Armenta, Maria's Mexican Kitchen is in Fort Worth and Odessa.

• Sestina: Bentonville, Ark. restaurant hires former Fort Worth Wicked Butcher chef Corrin Ellis as Executive Chef.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star: Announces 10-year CEO, Pierce Bush, will step down, effective November 30.

• Trinity Habit for Humanity: CEO Gage Yager posts the non-profit is looking for a Chief Strategy Officer to potentially become CEO in two years when he retires. 

• Texas A&M Health Institute for Healthcare Access: Adds Brian Dixon as a clinical supervisor.

• Word on Fire Catholic Charities: Adds Kendall Kennedy as Event Manager.

• EssentiallySports: Hires Mike Fisher as an NFL columnist. 

• TPG Real Estate: Fort Worth-based firm loans $100 million to Harwood International for a Dallas office tower with law firm Jones Day as lead tenant, according to Dallas Business Journal. 

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