Fort Worth Star-Telegram week in review

TCU plans new dorms and major campus developments

TCU’s Board of Trustees approved several major campus construction and development updates during their March 26 meeting, advancing the university’s strategic plan. A new dorm housing about 2,500 students will open on the east side of campus in fall 2027, alongside The Morado on Berry Street, an 800-unit apartment complex with 25,000 square feet of retail space, also set for fall 2027. A new east campus parking garage and police station will be completed in February 2027. Renovations to Ed Landreth Hall and Auditorium are expected to begin this summer and finish by fall 2028. TCU aims to grow undergraduate enrollment from 11,152 to 18,000 by 2035 and is pursuing Research 1 status.

Reported by Samuel O’Neal | Star-Telegram, published March 31, 2026 5:46 PM

New development plans emerge for Ridgmar Mall

Fort Worth’s Ridgmar Mall, which has struggled with vacancies after losing most of its major retailers, may be on the verge of significant redevelopment. Westwood Professional Services, a Fort Worth-based engineering and land surveying firm, has filed FAA building height reviews for eight separate buildings at the mall, located at 1888 Green Oaks Road. Each proposed building would stand around 70 feet tall. No permits have been filed with the city, and Fort Worth City Council approval would be required to move the project forward. The mall opened in 1976 and was a premier shopping destination through the 1980s and ‘90s, anchored by Dillard’s, Sears, JCPenney, and Neiman Marcus. Previous redevelopment efforts in 2015 and 2017 failed to fully revitalize the property. Westwood did not respond to requests for comment.

Reported by Samuel O’Neal | Star-Telegram, published April 01, 2026 5:44 PM

Barnes & Noble coming back to central Fort Worth

Barnes & Noble is returning to central Fort Worth, with a new location planned for Montgomery Plaza on the West 7th Street corridor. A filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation confirms the retailer will occupy a 20,000-square-foot space previously leased by Office Depot, complete with a cafe. Interior construction worth approximately $500,000 is set to begin in July and finish by late October, with the store potentially open by the holidays. The last central Fort Worth location, a beloved two-story Sundance Square store, closed on New Year’s Eve in 2013. Since new ownership took over in 2019, Barnes & Noble has rebounded strongly, now operating more than 700 locations nationwide and planning to open 60 new stores in 2026.

Reported by Matt Leclercq | Star-Telegram, published March 31, 2026 2:04 AM

Fort Worth ISD board names officers in first meeting

Fort Worth ISD’s new state-appointed Board of Managers held its first meeting, selecting Pete Geren as president, Courtney Lewis as vice president, and Rosa Maria Berdeja as secretary. The board unanimously confirmed Peter Licata as superintendent on an interim 21-day contract, with a long-term contract expected in April. The board also approved a superintendent certification waiver for Licata, who previously served as superintendent of Broward County Schools in Florida. Additionally, the board temporarily suspended certain local policies related to board duties, meeting rules, and employment practices, drawing concern from former board president Roxanne Martinez, who questioned the lack of clear justification. Geren pledged greater transparency going forward, saying future agenda items will include all necessary documentation. The board’s next meeting is scheduled for April 28.

Reported by Samuel O’Neal | Star-Telegram, published April 01, 2026 2:07 AM

Arlington family sentenced in $8.5M IRS fraud case

Three members of an Arlington family have been sentenced to prison following convictions in a multimillion-dollar tax return fraud scheme. David Hunt, twin sons Baylon Hunt and Brandon Hunt, and half-brother Corey Burt filed false tax returns under trusts they claimed to control, applying for more than $8.5 million in refunds they were not entitled to receive. Authorities say Baylon and Brandon Hunt submitted fake documents, including altered money orders, to the IRS. The group continued filing false returns even after receiving warning letters, according to the Department of Justice. The co-conspirators received more than $1.7 million and used the funds to purchase a Cadillac Escalade, a Mississippi home, and cryptocurrency. David Hunt and Corey Burt were each sentenced to nearly eight years in prison, while Baylon Hunt received just over three years. Brandon Hunt’s sentencing is set for May. All defendants were jointly ordered to pay more than $1.7 million in restitution.

Reported by Harriet Ramos | Star-Telegram, published March 28, 2026 6:00 PM

Girl, 5, dies after scooter accident in Fort Worth

A 5-year-old girl has died after riding her scooter out of a driveway and into a Fort Worth street, where she was struck by a vehicle, police said. Isabella Hall died of blunt force injuries at Cook Children’s Medical Center approximately six hours after the 3 p.m. accident in the 1900 block of Portland Street, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office. Isabella landed beneath a parked vehicle on the north side of the street, where the driver found her and assisted with CPR until emergency personnel arrived. She was pronounced dead at approximately 9:30 p.m. A GoFundMe was organized to help her family with memorial expenses, describing Isabella as “a bright and beautiful soul” with a sparkling personality who brought joy to everyone around her.

Reported by Emerson Clarridge | Star-Telegram, published April 01, 2026 3:21 PM

This story was originally published April 3, 2026 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Fort Worth Star-Telegram week in review."