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Dale Earnhardt Jr. describes learning to ’embrace’ Daytona after father’s death there

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been through it all at Daytona International Speedway.

The 50-year-old was twice a winner in the Daytona 500, the race his father won seven times and where the elder Earnhardt was killed in a crash.

As a team owner of JR Motorsports, Dale Jr. saw Justin Allgaier qualify for the “Great American Race.”

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NASCAR team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Peter Casey/Imagn Images)

Holding back tears after Allgaier qualified at the track, Dale Jr. said he could not “believe that we get to race on Sunday.”

Earnhardt Jr. has been back to Daytona International numerous times since his father Dale was killed after crashing on the final lap of the 2001 race. It’s safe to assume it was not easy for him to return.

However, Dale Jr. said Thursday night that following in his father’s footsteps, he needed to learn to be OK with returning.

He did that and more. Although, he did joke that he needs “a psychiatrist” to describe his emotions.

Dale Earnhardt (David Taylor/Allsport)

“Daddy loved Daytona,” Earnhardt said. “Loved winning here. Just loved to win any race here. He loved to add to that number whatever it was (34). Gosh, I loved coming here as a kid. Just a lot of great memories. So, when he passed away, I had to make a decision. I had a career in front of me, and I was coming back multiple times. I had to figure out a way to be OK with it.

“I knew that it wasn’t the track that took him. I knew that, wherever he was, he still felt the same about Daytona. So, I’ve embraced it. Him losing his life in this property brought this property closer to me. That doesn’t work the same with other people and tragedy, but, for me, knowing I had to keep coming here, I made some peace with it, embraced the track and loved it.”

Allgaier won his first Xfinity title last season. He finished second in 2020 and 2023 and has blossomed into one of the most popular drivers during his 14 seasons on the Xfinity series.

Earnhardt won two Daytona 500s, in 2004 and 2014, and 26 races overall. But he never won a Cup championship or came close to matching the achievements of his late Hall of Fame father, who won seven titles and was known as “The Intimidator.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. before the Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in Indianapolis July 31, 2022. (Marc Lebryk/USA Today Sports)

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Now, he’s going for his first as a team owner.

“We get to push a car on the grid Sunday for the first time ever,” Earnhardt said, “in the biggest, most important race that I’ve ever known. And I can’t wait.”

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February 14, 2025
Federal judge hears Labor Department’s renewed request to block DOGE access

A federal judge on Friday indefinitely delayed a final ruling on the Labor Department’s request to block Elon Musk’s government efficiency team from accessing internal system data, telling both parties only that “you will hear from me,” while declining to promise an exact time or date.

The update from U.S. District Judge John Bates, a George W. Bush appointee, comes just one week after he rejected an earlier attempt from the Labor Department to issue a temporary restraining order to block DOGE access to internal system data, saying that the plaintiffs lacked standing, and failed to show they would suffer sufficient harm as a result of the actions.

In response, unions amended their complaint to broaden the scope of the lawsuit, adding the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

LAWSUIT TRACKER: NEW RESISTANCE BATTLING TRUMP’S SECOND TERM THROUGH ONSLAUGHT OF LAWSUITS TAKING AIM AT EOS

Protesters demonstrate in support of federal workers outside of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on February 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. Organizers held the protest to speak on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts. ( (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images))

Arguments on Friday stretched for more than three hours, with plaintiffs arguing that DOGE employees were accessing their information illegally, since DOGE is not technically a U.S. government agency.

“There has been reporting that DOGE is directing the cuts of agency staff and contracts, not simply advising the president,” one lawyer for the plaintiffs told Judge Bates, “The situation is extremely fluid and changing,” plaintiffs argued.

They urged Judge Bates to grant a temporary request to block DOGE’s access to the information, which they said would “force the agency to implement a more thoughtful process.”

Meanwhile, the Justice Department argued in response that the DOGE personnel in question are “detailed” U.S. government employees, who have access to the information under provisions of the Economy Act.

Judge Bates declined to rule from the bench, telling both sides only that “You will hear from me.”

The update will likely do little in the near-term to assuage concerns at the Labor Department and other federal agencies over DOGE’s access to sensitive internal data.

Attorneys for Labor Department unions argued during last week’s hearing that, absent court intervention, DOGE could access protected agency information, including the financial and medical records of millions of Americans, and employee safety and workplace complaints.

Plaintiffs noted that Labor Department systems contain sensitive information about investigations into Musk-owned companies Tesla and SpaceX, as well as information about trade secrets of competing companies, plaintiffs noted— sparking concerns about Elon Musk’s possible access.

Attorney Mark Samburg argued that DOGE access to this information could have a “chilling effect” on new employees coming forward, due to fear of unlawful disclosure or retaliation.

“The sensitive information of millions of people is currently at imminent risk of unlawful disclosure,” Samburg said.

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Judge Bates suggested Friday that DOGE’s creation and its hierarchy were “odd,” noting that it “was created in a way to get it out of OMB [Office of Management and Budget], and instead answering to the chief of staff of the president.”

DOGE “took great effort to avoid being an agency, but in this case, you’re an agency,” he said of DOGE. “It just seems to strain credulity.”

This is a breaking news story. Check back shortly for updates.

Breanne Deppisch is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the Trump administration, with a focus on the Justice Department, FBI, and other national news.

February 14, 2025
At least 2 people shot near Eagles’ Super Bowl parade celebration: reports

At least two people were shot in Philadelphia near the parade route celebrating the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX victory on Friday, according to multiple reports.

CBS News was the first to report that two people were shot. The Philadelphia Inquirer also reported citing Philadelphia police that the two victims were women, who appeared to be in their 20s and that they were shot by a man in an Eagles jersey after an argument.

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Map for the shooting at the Philadelphia Superbowl Parade.
(FOX News)

The shooting reportedly took place near 23rd, per multiple reports.

Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore told the Inquirer that the victims are in stable condition, but it is unknown whether the women knew the shooter and what the argument was about.

A police officer at Philadelphia’s 9th district told Fox News Digital that the understanding is “something happened out there,” but did not confirm the shooting.

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People take part in the Philadelphia Eagles victory parade, after they won the Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., February 14, 2025. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Last year, a shooting erupted at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade in downtown Kansas City. One person was killed and twenty-two others were wounded by gunshots, including eleven children.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 14, 2025
Patrick Mahomes’ grandfather dies days after Chiefs’ Super Bowl heartbreak

The grandfather of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has died just weeks after being put in hospice care, the NFL star’s mother confirmed Friday.

Randi Mahomes shared a post on Instagram announcing the passing of her father, Randy.

Randi Mahomes shared a post on Instagram Friday announcing the passing of her father, Randy. (randimahomes/ Instagram)

“Hard to find the words of holding my fathers hand as he goes to Heaven,” the caption read.

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“I know he’s in a better place. I love you daddy. Well done, good and faithful servant! Matthew 25:23.”

The heartbreaking news for the Mahomes family comes just days after the Chiefs suffered a crushing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) walk off the field after a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

PATRICK MAHOMES’ GRANDFATHER REPORTEDLY ‘HANGING ON’ IN HOSPICE CARE TO WATCH GRANDSON PLAY IN SUPER BOWL LIX

Randi previously shared to her Instagram Stories last month that she was “lost for words” after her father had been placed on hospice care for an undisclosed reason.

At the NFL Honors last week, Randi told People that she believed her father was “hanging on” to hopefully see his grandson make NFL history by winning three straight Super Bowls.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates with his mother Randi Martin during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade on Feb. 15, 2023. (Denny Medley-USA Today Sports)

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“I know that it has meant a lot to him,” she said. “And I think he’s hanging on because he wants to see his grandson do an amazing thing or just let him play.”

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February 14, 2025
Israeli UN ambassador blasts Palestinian plan for Gaza: ‘Condemn Hamas’

Gazans respond to President Trump’s plan

The Center For Peace Communications spoke to Gazans about President Trump’s plan to relocate them to Egypt, Jordan and other countries. (Video courtesy: The Center For Peace Communications.)

EXCLUSIVE – Israel’s United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon is making the Jewish State’s disapproval of the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) “Relief and Early Recovery Plan” for Gaza crystal clear.

“It would be better if they dealt with terrorism in Judea and Samaria and condemn Hamas,” Ambassador Danon told Fox News Digital exclusively. Judea and Samaria are commonly referred to as the West Bank outside of Israel.

The PA’s plan, which was submitted to the U.N. Security Council for review, is broken up into three phases and will cost approximately $3.5 billion, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital. It calls for an “international commitment to end the Israeli siege” in the Gaza Strip and “longer-term changes.”

“The end of Israel’s occupation of the State of Palestine and the achievement of the two-state solution, as outlined in numerous U.N. resolutions as well as the Arab Peace Initiative, is the only [way] forward for the State of Palestine and the State of Israel to live side by side in peace and security,” the PA’s plan reads.

TRUMP’S GAZA RELOCATION PROPOSAL SPARKS HEATED DEBATE AMONG PALESTINIANS: ‘NO LIFE LEFT HERE’

Israeli Permanent Member to the United Nations Danny Danon speaks during a session of the Security Council at the New York City headquarters. (Israel United Nations mission)

Israel’s Mission to the U.N. condemned the plan in a statement provided exclusively to Fox News Digital. Israel sees the plan presented by the PA as a way to “circumvent basic security requirements, including disarming Hamas.”

“While the Trump administration presents plans to change the reality in Gaza, including voluntarily transferring the residents of the Strip to other countries, the Palestinian Authority offers the U.N. an independent reconstruction plan – without any reference to the demilitarization of the Strip or Hamas’ responsibility for the destruction caused to it,” the statement from Israel’s Mission to the U.N. said.

In its plan, the PA puts the onus of ensuring the delivery of humanitarian supplies to Gaza on Israel, calling it the “occupying power.” However, in 2005, Israel unilaterally pulled out of the Gaza Strip, and Hamas took over after a 2006 election.

The physical restoration of Gaza is not the only focus of the PA’s plan; there is also the establishment of a “Governmental Emergency Operations Room” to oversee the plan, along with the controversial United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Destroyed buildings are pictured in the west of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on Feb. 11, 2025, amid the current ceasefire deal in the war between Israel and Hamas. (BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images)

EGYPT REPORTEDLY RELEASES DETAILS ON PLAN TO REBUILD GAZA; THERE’S NO MENTION OF ‘COOPERATION’ WITH THE US

Both the PA and UNRWA have been accused by Israel of perpetuating terrorism and violence.

“The Palestinian Authority, which has not yet condemned the atrocities of October 7, does not have the moral standing and executive ability to take part in these issues,” Ambassador Danon told Fox News Digital. “It would have been better if they had focused on stopping the rotten culture of incitement and demanded a stop to the ugly terrorism that has reared its head in Judea and Samaria.”

Upon reviewing the PA’s documents, Fox News Digital did not find any references to the Oct. 7 attacks, or the hostages taken into Gaza by force. The PA did, however, repeatedly accuse Israel of committing “genocidal aggression” in Gaza.

Hamas is not mentioned in the PA’s plan, which aligns with the two factions’ history of friction.

In February 2024, Russia attempted to launch peace talks between the PA and Hamas. Hamas urged Russia in October 2024 to push PA President Mahmoud Abbas to agree to a unity government for post-war Gaza, but so far nothing has come from those efforts.

While Israel’s Mission to the U.N. condemned the PA’s plan, it also admitted that the “chance that it will be overwhelmingly accepted remains an open question, especially in light of the Trump administration’s new policy on Gaza.”

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu answer questions during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 4, 2025 ( REUTERS/Leah Millis)

HAMAS SAYS IT WILL FREE MORE ISRAELI HOSTAGES ON SATURDAY AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED

When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited D.C. earlier this month, President Trump said the U.S. would “take over” Gaza and relocate the Palestinians living there.

When recently asked about the president’s plan, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ruled out the idea of putting American troops on the ground in Gaza. Instead, she said that President Trump would “strike a deal with our partners in the region.”

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Before he returned to the Oval Office, President Trump warned Hamas that there would be “hell to pay” if the hostages were not returned. Since then, several hostages have been released.

Saturday will see three more Israeli hostages released, including American Sagui Dekel Chen.

Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.

February 14, 2025
Andy Barr mulls Senate bid “independent” if Sen. Mitch McConnell runs or not

EXCLUSIVE: Republican Rep. Andy Barr’s decision on whether to run for U.S. Senate in Kentucky will be made “independent of the decisions that others make, including Sen. Mitch McConnell,” he told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview Friday morning, stressing that “it’s time for Kentucky to have a U.S. senator who supports President Trump.”

The congressman, who currently represents Kentucky’s 6th congressional district, told Fox News Digital that he is “doing a lot of listening right now.”

“I’m listening to supporters, advisors, friends, people I trust, but most importantly, I’m listening to my family and talking to my family, and I am grateful for the strong encouragement to run,” he said. “A lot of constituents are encouraging me to run for the Senate, and I am grateful for the outpouring of financial support that’s coming my way.”

Rep. Andy Barr, left, R-Ky., said “it’s time” for his state to have a senator who supports President Donald Trump. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Scott Eisen)

RNC BRINGS ON NEW SENIOR LEADERSHIP TO ‘WORK AROUND THE CLOCK’ TO SUPPORT TRUMP AGENDA, ELECT REPUBLICANS

But Barr said that “ultimately, this is going to be a family decision on our timeline.”

“It will be a decision that we make independent of the decisions that others make, including Sen. McConnell, or others who have or will express an interest in running for the Senate in 2026, so this will be a family decision that we make,” Barr said. “All I can say is, I am very, very grateful for the outpouring of support, mainly from Kentuckians, but people around the country who want to see strong, America First leadership in the U.S. Senate.”

Sources close to Barr told Fox News Digital back in 2023 that he could be “a serious contender” for McConnell’s seat in 2026.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was the longest-serving party leader in U.S. Senate history. (J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press)

In a veiled swipe at McConnell, Barr told Fox News Digital that “it’s time for Kentucky to have a U.S. senator who supports President Trump.”

McConnell, at this point, has now opposed three of Trump’s now-confirmed Cabinet secretaries: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“He votes against almost everything now,” the president said of McConnell on Thursday. “He’s a, you know, very bitter guy.”

Trump also said McConnell is “not equipped mentally” and said he “let the Republican Party go to hell.”

Barr doubled down, saying: “I think it is time for Kentucky to have a U.S. senator who has a vision, not only to make America great again, but to make Kentucky great again, and I think that’s why a lot of people have encouraged me to run,” Barr said. “They see me as someone who has been, and has a proven record of, supporting President Trump’s America First agenda, but also a very strong record of supporting the signature industries of Kentucky and building a very strong record of constituent services and accessibility to the people of Kentucky.”

He added, “I have a vision for Kentucky, just like America, to be great again. I have a vision for Kentuckians to achieve their potential and to restore the American Dream for Kentuckians.”

Barr said he believes the state has “enormous potential” and said that “with strong partnership with President Trump, we can deliver just extraordinary possibilities for the people of Kentucky.”

Rep. Andy Barr’s decision on whether to run for U.S. Senate in Kentucky will be made “independent of the decisions that others make, including Sen. Mitch McConnell,” he said. (Fox News)

MITCH MCCONNELL STEPS DOWN AS REPUBLICAN LEADER

When asked for comment, a McConnell aide told Fox News Digital that the senator has not made an announcement on his 2026 plans.

McConnell, who will turn 83 later in February, stepped away from serving as the Senate Republican leader in November 2024. McConnell was the longest-serving party leader in U.S. Senate history.

Meanwhile, Barr told Fox News Digital, “I’m my own man.”

“People try to peg me as this type of Republican or that type of Republican, but at the end of it, I’m an America First conservative who loves my home state, the commonwealth of Kentucky,” he said.

“I think what sets me apart is that nobody else looking at the race has been in the trenches on the job with President Trump to drain the swamp,” he continued. “I’ve got a proven record, and I think that does differentiate me from anyone else.”

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But Barr stressed that his decision on whether to run for the U.S. Senate “is not dependent on anybody else.”

“I’m just going to remain focused on working with President Trump and working with his team to deliver on his America First agenda — we don’t have any time to waste,” Barr told Fox News Digital. “And so that’s my focus right now.”

Brooke Singman is a political correspondent and reporter for Fox News Digital, Fox News Channel and FOX Business.

February 14, 2025
Eagles GM Howie Roseman bleeds from forehead after being hit with beer can during Super Bowl parade

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was bleeding from his forehead during the team’s Super Bowl victory parade Friday.

Photos show a wide gash on the general manager’s forehead after the incident.

However, it didn’t seem to stop him from partying.

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“I laughed at him a little bit when it happened,” Eagles player Josh Sweat told NBC Sports Philadelphia. “And I know he’s mad at me. … When I saw it, I knew what happened, and I couldn’t contain my laugh. … I did not throw the can at him. But, hey, that’s part of it. They’re throwing full cans and bottles.”

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It was not clear who hurled the can that struck Roseman.

At the final destination of Friday’s parade, Roseman shouted to fans, “I bleed for this city!”

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Roseman has been the Eagles’ general manager since 2010 and is largely credited as the architect of the team’s success since. Under Roseman, the franchise has reached three Super Bowls, winning two.

Under Roseman’s leadership, the Eagles have a 139-104 overall record and a 10-7 playoff record.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 14, 2025
Judge issues restraining order after Trump blocks federal funds for youth sex change operations

A judge in Washington state has issued a temporary restraining order over President Trump’s executive order that withholds federal funding to health care providers who prescribe youth puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones or who perform surgeries for gender dysphoria.

Judge Lauren King, in the Western Washington District Court, issued the order on Friday.

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President Trump signing an executive order. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

It comes after a federal judge in Maryland issued a similar temporary retraining order this week.

February 14, 2025
Assoc of American Med Schools chief says medical research needs ‘regulatory relief’

While the debate over President Donald Trump’s cuts to facilities and administrative costs associated with federally funded research grants rages on, one expert in the field of medicine says he sees a clear way forward.

Dr. David Skorton, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges, has had a wide-ranging career spanning government, higher education and medicine. He now runs a national association that oversees all Medical Doctorate-granting schools in the country, and about 500 academic health systems teaching hospitals. Skorton told Fox News Digital that while he does not agree with Trump’s blanket cuts, the current status quo needs changing. He cited over-regulation as a reason why facilities and administrative costs have gotten so “wildly expensive.”

TRUMP NOMINEES DEBUT NEW SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL AIMED AT SPURRING SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE, INCREASING TRANSPARENCY

He also said that transparency from research institutions could help create better awareness of how taxpayer dollars are being used to support those institutions that have become the bane of critics who say they are stockpiling taxpayer dollars for their own benefit.

Dr. David Skorton, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which represents all the MD-granting accredited medical schools in the country, and about 500 academic health systems teaching hospitals. (Fox News)

“In some cases, more than one agency will develop regulations, and the researchers have to answer to all of those different agency regulations. We should be able to harmonize those things and come out with a more thoughtful approach to reducing some of the regulatory burden,” Skorton said. He added that, in turn, researchers will be able to spend more time doing what they do best, research, which in the long run will mean greater results for the public.

“It would also mean that the costs would go down because the additional personnel, the additional things that are necessary to keep track of things for these regulations, that would also go down,” Skorton pointed out.

JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP ORDER LIMITING ‘INDIRECT’ NIH RESEARCH COSTS AFTER PUBLIC OUTCRY

Skorton said that the impact of reducing over-regulation will be two-fold: it will improve the current research environment and show that there is room for collaboration to reduce overhead costs while not threatening new research. In particular, he pointed to research involving human or animal subjects, which Skorton said is often riddled with regulatory requirements that, while important, could be streamlined.

The National Institutes of Health is facing a shakeup with the new administration, worrying some about how it may impact critical aspects of public health. (Fox News)

Skorton added that the AAMC was “very hungry” to work with the administration on improving this framework, noting that “we’re not here to claim that the status quo is perfect, and we want to defend it, but the idea of very quickly knocking down the facilities and administrative costs to what felt like an arbitrary number to many of us, 15%, will cause research to be reduced.”

The AAMC president said there is an onus on research institutions as well to better educate folks about where their taxpayer dollars are going when they are utilized by federally funded research programs.

JUDGE ORDERS TEMPORARY REVERSAL OF TRUMP ADMIN’S FREEZE ON FOREIGN AID

“For every dollar that we get at universities, medical schools, et cetera, for research from the NIH or some other science agency, for every dollar another half dollar, roughly, is contributed by the institution,” Skorton pointed out. “That’s something that maybe people don’t realize, and why would they, because we have to be more clear in making that visible, that we already contribute a lot to the research.”

In fiscal year 2023, the NIH spent around $35 billion across roughly 50,000 grants that went to research institutions, such as universities and hospitals. Of that $35 billion, according to the Trump administration, $9 billion was allocated for “indirect costs” that cover expenses related to depreciation on buildings, equipment, capital improvements, interest on debt associated with certain buildings, and operations and maintenance expenses. (iStock)

Fox News Digital spoke to medical experts who have supported Trump’s blanket cut to administrative and facilities costs, and they argue that reducing this price burden on the federal government will increase the availability of new research grants, while getting rid of financial bloat that universities have been able to take advantage of at the taxpayers’ expense.

One of the doctors who shared their thoughts, Dr. Erika Schwartz, echoed calls for reform to the current structure, similar to Skorton.

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“While infrastructure support is necessary, there’s room for more efficient cost management. A reformed funding model could redirect more resources to direct research activities while maintaining essential support services,” Schwartz said. “This could potentially increase the number of funded research projects and accelerate medical breakthroughs, ultimately benefiting patients more directly.”

February 14, 2025
NYSE coming to Texas coming as Lone Star State continues to attract businesses

Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, explains how a Republican leadership in government can unleash prosperity, how the federal budget can be cut, and discusses former President Trump’s tax proposals.

Texas has in recent years become a significant home for companies looking to relocate, including the latest — the New York Stock Exchange’s “fully electronic equities change” NYSE Texas in Dallas.

The NYSE revealed Wednesday that it plans to add operations in Dallas by reincorporating its NYSE Chicago as NYSE Texas in the Lone Star State, saying the “fully electronic equities exchange” will “provide public companies with a listing and trading venue centered within the vibrant economy of the southwestern U.S.” once it goes live in the future.

NYSE Group President Lynn Martin said the exchange is “delighted to expand our presence in the Lone Star State,” touting Texas as the state “with the largest number of NYSE listings” and a “market leader in fostering a pro-business atmosphere.”

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange November 28, 2011. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES – Tags: BUSINESS) ( REUTERS/Brendan McDermid / Reuters Photos)

NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE PLANS EXCHANGE IN ‘PRO-BUSINESS’ TEXAS

A report released last year by the Federal Reserve Bank for Dallas found a net of over 7,300 firms moved into Texas between 2010 and 2019, putting it among the top states for business relocations.

The state has notched more firms moving into it than out of it since 2000, the report also said.

University of Texas at Dallas Accounting Assistant Professor Kirti Sinha told FOX Business said “several factors” have drawn companies to the Lone Star State.

“The first is, of course, the taxes. There is no personal income tax and corporate income taxes in Texas in general,” she said. “Then, second, I think our regulatory environment is, I would say, much more relaxed compared to some other states.”

“We have lower disclosure or regulatory oversight compared to other states, and I think also the way, for example, the governor has been signalling ‘come here, make this your home, and I’m here for you,’ those kind of give signal to companies that whatever the situation in terms of regulations right now, it’s going to stay like this in the future,” Sinha added. “That kind of gives them confidence.”

A Texas flag and American flag flown together on a building in Austin, Texas, March 11, 2023. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The space that Texas has for manufacturing facilities and warehouses and its wage rates have also appealed to businesses, according to Sinha.

“Texas has been working for decades to establish itself as the best place in America to do business. With one of the fastest-growing populations in the country, the highest number of Tier 1 research universities of any state in the country, and a business and regulatory environment that make it easy for companies to succeed, Texas is unmatched as a place to do business,” Nate Sharp, the dean of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M, told FOX Business.

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Among some of the big-name companies that moved their headquarters to Texas in recent years are Tesla, Fisher Investments and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

Fisher Investments announced its move to the Lone Star State in 2023. The relocation was prompted by the Washington State Supreme Court upholding the state’s capital gains tax.

Hewlett Packard Enterprises in 2020 pointed to “opportunities for cost savings, and team members’ preferences about the future for work” for its own move to Texas.

In a more recent example, energy giant Chevron said in fall 2024 that it would be moving its headquarters to Texas from California. Andy Walz, Chevron’s president of America products, said California being a “tough place” to do business and “recruit people” played a part in its relocation decision, as well as the company looking to “drive better business outcomes.”

Sharp said the launch of NYSE Texas “will accelerate the growth of business” in the state and make it “even more attractive.”

Skyline of downtown Dallas, TX on a partly cloudy day. (Photo by: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Nasdaq, another major stock exchange, also has a presence in Texas, and the TXSE Group is working to set up the Texas Stock Exchange in the state as well, filing its Form 1 registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission late last month.

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“The whole listing process has become very complicated over the years, and having a physical office helps them talk to these companies more directly and gives them direct access,” Sinha told FOX Business.

She also said exchanges being in Texas “gives signals to investors that they can trust the system here, and so I think it is a very self-fulfilling kind of cycle, like ‘oh so the companies were coming, the New York Stock Exchange came’ and then that will bring in more investors and more companies.”

February 14, 2025