The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development no longer requires landlords to waive pet policies for untrained emotional support animals. HUD has determined that requests to waive pet policies for animals trained to perform specific disability-related services are reasonable, but requests to waive pet policies for untrained ESAs are not. HUD no longer expects housing providers to extend accommodations intended for trained assistance animals to untrained ESAs.
HUD will only investigate cases involving animals trained to provide disability-related assistance. Untrained emotional support animals will no longer be considered exempt from pet fees in rental property.
The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a service animal as “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.” To be a service animal, the tasks performed by the animal “must be directly related” to the disability. Providing emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship does not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
Going forward, HUD will use the training component of the ADA’s definition for service animals to assess animal-related reasonable accommodation complaints under the Fair Housing Act. Defining an assistance animal as an animal trained to assist with a disability is the best guarantee of evenhanded enforcement of the Fair Housing Act.
On Aug. 26, the Fort Worth City Council approved $28.6 million to modernize the historic landmark, contributing to a yearslong $50.5 million effort to renovate the Will Rogers Memorial Center.
Will Rogers is the historic home of the annual Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. The 90-year-old coliseum hosted events ranging from bull riding to concerts to circuses to boxing matches.
The city’s funds will go to preserving the coliseum while updating amenities, including its restrooms, HVAC system, food facilities and electrical system.
Renderings depict what Will Rogers Coliseum could look like once renovations are completed. (Courtesy images | Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo)
“It’s a pretty extensive facelift for the building,” said Mike Crum, director of the Fort Worth Public Events Department.
The money — which will be doled out over the next four years — comes in part from hotel tax revenue in the Culture and Tourism Fund. Another $12.5 million for the project is being reallocated from other memorial center renovations.
Event Facilities Fort Worth Inc., a nonprofit supporting organization for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, is chipping in $5 million.
“Our visitors are paying for this project, and this project will enable the coliseum to keep on attracting visitors to our community,” Crum said.
The renovations continue recent efforts to revitalize the entire Will Rogers Memorial Center by the time it turns 100 in 2036, Crum said. The center reopened in late 2024 with updated sheep and swine barns. In the last five years, it also saw improvements to its poultry building and cattle barns.
A man walks down a swine barn aisle on Dec. 17, 2024, during the unveiling ceremony for the sheep and swine barns and new show arena at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
Matt Carter, president of the stock show and rodeo, said in a statement that keeping costs low while ensuring renovations will complement future improvements were top priorities. The coliseum is in its first phase of projects that will take place over the next 11 years.
Will Rogers generates more than $217 million annually for the local economy, Carter said, describing it as the “epicenter of the Western equestrian competitive world.”
Dickies Arena, which opened in November 2019, neighbors Will Rogers and also hosts stock show events and other acts.
The coliseum has been closed since March for renovation work and is expected to reopen mid-November through mid-December, Crum said.
Nine decades of heavy use, foot traffic and hoof traffic created the need for improvements, stock show officials have said.
Carter remembers being 8 years old, coming to Fort Worth from Amarillo, and visiting the stock show with his father and grandfather. He recalled sitting in the coliseum and watching a rodeo, then getting his first-ever boot shine in the hall outside.
Will Rogers is “part of Fort Worth’s DNA,” Crum said, adding that it’s worth investing in.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
Excellent location with approx. 279 ft of frontage on State Hwy 171. This property has multiple buildings suitable for numerous businesses, a good layout and use of the property, and several loading docks for your business. The main building has loading in the front and back, freezer spaces, a kitchen, and office space. Remodels and renovations were done in 2023, which is what TAX shows as the year built.
Approx halfway between Cresson and Cleburne on Highway 171 on the west side of Highway. From Ft W go S on Chisholm Trl Pkwy, then right on FM 917, cross 171 & property just to your right. Coming from Burleson, 174 s to 917 then west steve@steveyoung.pro
A moving salute to America can be viewed on the nation’s railroad tracks.
Fort Worth-based BNSF Railway is celebrating the country’s 250th birthday with three specially decorated locomotives. The commemorative locomotives — each painted red, white and blue with stars and stripes — will travel along the railway’s 32,500-mile network for special events and freight shipments.
The locomotives are numbered 250, 1776 and 2026 with an exclusive livery to honor the nation’s semiquincentennial birthday on July 4. The locomotive numbers recognize the nation’s birthday, the year the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the original 13 colonies, and the current year, respectively.
Katie Farmer, BNSF president and CEO, said the locomotives recognize the impact railroaders had on building America.
“For nearly two centuries, railroaders have helped shape the American story, connecting communities, powering economic growth and strengthening the nation we call home,” Farmer said in a statement. “These locomotives pay tribute not only to our country’s heritage, but also to the men and women of Team BNSF who carry that legacy forward today.”
Each locomotive was painted by Mid-America Car Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri. The decorative embellishments feature a nod to the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution with the words, “We the People.” The paintings toward the end of the locomotives include the words “freedom” and “liberty” on the sides and a tribute to the Betsy Ross flag, officials said.
Peter LeCody, president of Texas Rail Advocates, a Dallas-based nonprofit rail advocacy group, said the patriotic displays highlight the historic contributions of railroads to building the nation.
“I think it does show the railroads have been an integral part of the American fabric for centuries now,” LeCody said. “It’s certainly nice to see their representation of the 250th celebration is on display.”
Patriotic boxcars
Other rail companies are also joining the celebration.
On March 31, the Greenbrier Companies and TTX Co. introduced five new, custom-painted flag boxcars with paint donated by Williams Hayward Protective Coatings Inc. of Summit, Illinois. The boxcars were first publicly displayed at Greenbrier’s rail maintenance facility in Cleburne.
“These American flag boxcars commemorate more than 250 years of U.S. history by highlighting the innovation, operational excellence and strategic partnerships that drive North American freight rail today,” TTX CEO Tom Wells said at the Johnson County event.
Five custom-painted flag boxcars, a partnership between the Greenbrier Companies and TTX Co., were introduced March 31 at a rail maintenance facility in Cleburne. (Courtesy | Greenbrier Companies)
Wells said TTX was proud to partner with Greenbrier to “honor the enduring legacy of our industry.”
Lorie Tekorius, Greenbrier CEO and president, said the flag boxcars will likely be viewed for decades while moving freight across the nation.
“Freight railcars can remain in service for up to 50 years, meaning this American flag boxcar will travel across America’s rail network for decades to come,” she said. “It serves as a visual reminder of the vitality of the rails as America moves toward its third century, thanks to the people who keep it running every hour of every day.”
Union Pacific Railroad, which has rail operations in Fort Worth and other parts of Texas, announced two new flag-themed locomotives, including one named for President Donald Trump. On May 25, the railroad launched an East Coast tour of a rare Big Boy steam locomotive — last seen in Fort Worth in October 2024 — for the 250th celebration.
Enduring legacy
America’s 250th birthday is an opportunity to recognize industries and workers who shaped the country, said Jen Condon, executive vice president of America250, a national nonpartisan organization created by Congress to celebrate the historic anniversary.
“BNSF’s commemorative locomotives are a powerful tribute to the role railroads have played in America’s growth and to the people who continue that legacy every day as we approach the semiquincentennial,” Condon said in a statement.
Officials said BNSF started in 1849 with the Aurora Branch Railroad in Illinois and has incorporated nearly 400 rail lines throughout its history. Historic predecessors include the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad; Great Northern Railway; Northern Pacific Railway; Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway; and the Fort Worth and Denver Railway.
In 1995, Burlington Northern Railroad and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway merged to become Burlington Northern Santa Fe, now called BNSF Railway. The company, the nation’s largest railroad, operates in 28 states and three Canadian provinces.
At the Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
• Memorial Day was originally called “Decoration Day” after the American Civil War and began as a tradition of decorating Soldiers’ graves with flowers, flags, and wreaths.
• The first ceremony took place at Arlington National Cemetery on 30 May 1868, where both Union and Confederate Soldiers are buried.
• The National Cemetery Administration, part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, credits Mary Ann Williams of the Ladies Memorial Association of Columbus, Georgia, with being the first to express the idea of an annual date to decorate the graves of Civil War veterans with flowers.
• After World War I, the holiday expanded to honor all American military personnel who died in service to our Nation.
• In 1971, Memorial Day became an official federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May.
• Protocol for flying the American flag on Memorial Day includes raising it quickly to the top of the pole at sunrise, immediately lowering it to half-staff until 12:00 noon, and displaying it at full staff from noon until sunset.
• A National Moment of Remembrance is encouraged each Memorial Day at 3:00 PM local time across the United States.
• Memorial Day honors those who died while serving in our Armed Forces, while Veterans Day honors all who served in the military.
Bob on Business: New-to-area retailers set for Southlake
by Scott Nishimura, Fort Worth Report May 17, 2026
This story was originally published by the Fort Worth Report. You may read the original version here.
Southlake Town Square, regarded as a trendsetter in new retailers and food offerings, has a lineup of tenants set to open throughout 2026.
“Southlake Town Square continues to attract best-in-class brands that align with the lifestyle of our community,” Jason Kasal, vice president and senior leasing director of Kite Realty Group and Southlake Town Square’s owner, said in a news release.
Set to open this year:
On Running will bring its footwear and apparel to Southlake Town Square in a 6,000-square-foot space at 415 Grand Ave. East. Its location in Southlake Town Square will open in the second half of the year and will be the first On store in Tarrant County.
Reformation, a fashion brand known for its designs and environmentally conscious practices, will open in a 2,007-square-foot space at 213 Grand Ave. It will be the brand’s first retail location in Tarrant County. Reformation has celebrity fans such as Taylor Swift, Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Jennifer Aniston and others.
Crate & Barrel is expected to open in July in a 18,945-square-foot space at 321 State St.
Ascension Coffee is set to open in August at 100 State St. in a 4,223-square-foot space.
Rothy’s is already open in a 1,972-square-foot space at 307 Grand Ave. East. The brand features machine-washable footwear and accessories crafted from recycled materials.
More retail coming to North East Mall
North East Mall in Hurst also has some new retailers ready to open shop.
Now open are:
Lovisa, a fashion jewelry and accessories retailer that provides hundreds of new styles and must-have trends in stores each week.
Black Island, a retailer offering a curated collection of premium clothing for men, women, youth and children.
Trendy Treats, a store that offers exotic candies, cookies, chocolates, chips, sodas and other unique treats sourced from around the world.
Coming this summer to North East Mall will be Perfumania, a fragrance retailer.
JLL, Sundance Square enter leasing partnership
Chicago-based JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) and Sundance Square will support targeted retail leasing for the commercial space, the two entities said in a joint news release.
Sundance Square encompasses 3.7 million square feet of commercial space, JLL and Sundance said. In the retail partnership, “JLL’s scope, led by Michael Wheat and Isabella Burnette, covers over 105,000 square feet of space at Fort Worth’s most visited destination,” they said.
“Sundance Square is where Fort Worth’s Western heritage meets modern urban sophistication in perfect harmony,” Wheat said in the release.
“We’re thrilled to partner with all those involved in ensuring Sundance Square is a vibrant source of culture and entertainment for Fort Worth residents and visitors for decades to come.”
Ed Kraus, Sundance Square vice president and former Fort Worth police chief, said in the release, “We see significant opportunity to further strengthen the tenant mix in ways that reflect both Fort Worth’s identity and evolving consumer demand. With JLL’s experience and market insight, we’re well-positioned to build on the current momentum.”
Sundance previously hired Dallas-based Henry S. Miller Co. to manage and lease Sundance Square, under an agreement that started in 2020 and ran for several years.
Scholarships in the ag world
AgTexas Farm Credit is based in Lubbock, but they have plenty of area offices. AgTexas had its annual AgYouth Scholarship Banquet for the Central Texas area April 27 at Granbury’s River View Ranch Resort, highlighting 14 graduating high school seniors who each received a $1,000 scholarship.
AgTexas is a rural lending cooperative, providing financing for
real estate and operating capital, as well as insurance, leasing, and cash management services for the agriculture industry since 1934.
Do you have something for the Bob on Business column? Email Bob Francis, business editor for the Fort Worth Report, at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org.
Scott Nishimura, senior editor for local government accountability and a Fort Worth City Hall reporter, contributed reporting.
At the Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
…to downtown Fort Worth this week. Here’s what to know
by David Moreno, Fort Worth Report April 12, 2026. This story was originally published by the Fort Worth Report. You may read the original version here.
Downtown Fort Worth will soon be filled with hundreds of visual artists, booths and musicians when two distinct art festivals founded by members of the Bass family return next week.
The long-running Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival returns April 16-19 at the same time as the Fort Worth Art Fair at Sundance Square Plaza. Both events are free and open to the public.
Established in 1986 with support from Robert Bass, the Main Street festival spans over 18 blocks on its namesake street between the Fort Worth Convention Center and the Tarrant County Courthouse. The event paused for two years during the pandemic.
The Art Fair was developed by Sundance Square owners Ed and Sasha Bass in 2022 following a dispute over the number of local artists included in the Main Street festival. The Sundance event specifically highlights Fort Worth and Texas talent and the downtown district’s artists-in-residence.
The 39th iteration of the Main Street festival features more than 200 exhibiting artists selected by a jury from a nationwide pool of nearly 1,000 applicants.
Fort Worth creatives taking part on Main Street include Travis Clayton at booth 347, Alexander Isokrari at booth 354 and Diane Allison at booth 572. Click here for the complete list of participating artists.
The Main Street event will also be amplified by a diverse lineup of musical acts across three stages. Headliners include Austin-based rock artist Ian Moore, Americana group Ghosts of Hill County and Tejano band Quimikoz del Son.
Vendors will not be accepting cash. Event organizers encourage guests to leave pets at home. Attendees can bring folding chairs to events, but they must be placed out of walkway areas.
What times will the Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival run?
10 a.m.-10 p.m. April 16
10 a.m.-11 p.m. April 17, 18
10 a.m.-8 p.m. April 19
Nearby, the Fort Worth Art Fair will spotlight more than 100 artists from across the state and 24 local bands, orchestras, and DJs. Featured North Texas artists include Sari Shryack, Amy Jenkins, and Cedric Ingram. Click here for the complete list of participating artists.
“That local focus matters because it supports working artists, strengthens the local creative economy, and connects them directly with collectors and the community, building relationships and keeping that energy rooted in Fort Worth,” a spokesperson with Sundance Square Art said in a statement.
Headlining music groups include Fusion Latina, Summer Dean and Matt Kirk & The Gueyfarers. Click here for the complete performance schedule.
The Art Fair runs from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Musicians will perform on the plaza stage from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday, and until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Coolers, folding chairs, wagons and picnic blankets are not permitted within Sundance Square. Limited seating and tables are available throughout the plaza.
The Fort Worth Report’s arts and culture coverage is supported in part by the Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation and the Virginia Hobbs Charitable Trust. At the Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
Stevesellsdfw's Blog 
Reply