Cricket capital of U.S.? Another $22.5 billion oil deal; Siri, what's up with your AI?

FTAI Aviation has an agreement to purchase Lockheed Martin Commercial Engine Solutions from Lockheed Martin Canada for $170 million. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is anticipated to close during the second half of 2024.

Global viewership of cricket fans is expected to be in the billions on digital, social and broadcast platforms for the Men's T20 World Cup's beginning Saturday ... in Grand Prairie. The bid to be host country took years of lobbying. Grand Prairie is hosting the first match — the U.S. vs. Canada Saturday — and three other matches.

The Dallas Mavericks started fast last night and coasted past the Minnesota Timberwolves, 124-103, and into the NBA finals. The Mavs will play the Boston Celtics in Boston beginning June 6 in a best-of-seven series. The Mavericks last played in the finals in 2011, defeating the Miami Heat. Mav Dirk Nowitzki was MVP.

Bisnow reports that AI will take a big bite out of office demand during the next year — as many as 85 million jobs worldwide will potentially be replaced. That is going to have “a pretty deleterious impact on office demand,” according to CBRE.

According to Dallas Innovates, Dill Dinkers' local business partners have committed to open "at least 50 locations" in the North Texas area — including pickleball venues in Euless, Southlake, Keller, and Mansfield. 

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ConocoPhillips has agreed to acquire Marathon Oil for $22.5 billion in stock. ConocoPhillips will expand its footprint with assets in Eagle Ford and the Bakken Formation, among others.

Donald Trump was convicted of all 34 felony counts related to falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal. He is the first U.S. President to be declared a felon. Trump is free and can campaign until Judge Juan Merchant sentences him July 11. Merchant could impose prison for up to four years or give him probation. It's likely Trump's lawyers will appeal, which could take years to decide.

The Fort Worth Zoo has opened its Exploration & Learning Center as a second hub for education programs and advancement of the zoo’s mission to strengthen the bond between humans and wildlife. Funders: A matching grant from the Once Upon a Time Foundation; major support from the Sid W. Richardson Foundation and the Morris Foundation; and grants from Tarrant County and the Junior League of Fort Worth Inc.

Two states have passed laws banning junk fees, sometimes called “service” or “convenience” fees that appear on event tickets, food delivery, hotel rooms, and other items. Another 13 states have considered similar bills this year. Eight in 10 voters say they are more likely to support a state legislator who backed such legislation.

About 170 of the 371 shuttered 99 Cents Only Stores from Texas to California will be re-opened as Dollar Tree locations in the fall after the leases were secured out of bankruptcy proceedings.

United Way of Tarrant County announced it is bringing the TeamBirth maternity program to Tarrant County birthing hospitals. TeamBirth is an evidence-based program that improves care by ensuring that people giving birth and the clinicians caring for them have shared input and understanding during delivery. 

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists safely administer more than 50 million anesthetics each year in the U.S. "When anesthesia is administered by a nurse anesthetist, the care is recognized as the practice of nursing; when it is administered by a physician anesthesiologist, it is recognized as the practice of medicine,” said American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology President Dru Riddle, associate professor of professional practice and director of clinical education at TCU. “ ... all anesthesia professionals give anesthesia in the same exact way.”

Nelson Peltz reportedly has sold his stake in Walt Disney — profiting about $1B — just weeks after the activist investor lost his proxy contest with the Board and voting stockholders.

Reality has set in in the place where dreams come alive. Disneyland characters and performers have agreed to form a union.

Snippets: 

• Apple's plans for iOS 18 include an overhaul of Siri with advanced AI that will allow users to control app features with their voice. 

• Red White & Blue Thrift has opened its 26th location, this one in Arlington at 5424 S. Cooper.

• There are a few ways for residents to share their opinions with Fort Worth on its 2025 fiscal budget. 

   

Below is a sampling of topics from this week’s Motley Fool column. To read all the Fool's gold, click here.

• This week’s stock pick is Nike. The stock has fallen in recent years, but with its valuation a little more reasonable, the downside risk looks limited.

• The Fool explains what liquidity means in the financial world, and where to find the best interest rates on CDs.

• A reader’s dumbest investment was in the now-liquidated iShares MSCI Russia exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Daily digit: More than half (58%) of Americans are following election news closely, but many (62%) are already worn out by it.

Significant stat: Baseball's Negro League stats were incorporated with Major League Baseball this week and Josh Gibson became the career leader with a .372 batting average, surpassing Ty Cobb’s .367. Gibson’s .466 average for the 1943 Homestead Grays became the season standard, surpassing the .440 by Hugh Duffy in 1894. Gibson also became the career leader in slugging percentage (.718) and OPS (1.177), moving ahead of Babe Ruth (.690 and 1.164).

Wild card: A New York man swindled more than $1.3 million by getting people to invest in bogus real estate projects involving a company named Vandelay Contracting Corp., a fictitious business name used in a joke in an episode of Seinfeld.

Announcements:

• American Airlines: Vasu Raja, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer is leaving in June. Stephen Johnson, Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer, will lead the Commercial organization and help lead the search for a Chief Commercial Officer.

• Texas Bar Foundation: Elects Mike Micallef as public member to the Board of Trustees.

• Hospitality: David Winter, senior catering, events and operations leader the last 11 years between the Omni Fort Worth and Renaissance Worthington hotels, has retired. 

• Wiseda Corporation: Hires Justin Dorsey as Human Relations Director.

• The Dallas Morning News: Hires Stephen Buckley as Public Editor.