📎Feds suing feds; D.R. Horton 'dumped'

The Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors returns to Fort Worth March 21-23, 2025. Dubbed the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing, the tournament drew crowds totaling 147k when it was here in 2021. The purse is $1 million, with $300k to the winner. The Fort Worth Sports Commission will host the tournament and festivities at the Fort Worth Convention Center and Dickies Arena. The week-long tournament has an expected economic impact of more than $25 million.

Coming to WWE on Netflix: You think Biden-Trump is going to be ugly? How about the Internal Revenue Service suing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.? The IRS is seeking to determine how much the independent agency should pay to cover around $1.45B in taxes owed by failed regional lender Silicon Valley Bank. The FDIC took control of SVB in March 2023 - in the biggest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis - and is denying the tax claim. 

Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which bought six million shares of D.R. Horton Aug. 15, 2023, sold all of them during the 4th quarter. On Dec. 15, Horton was up nearly 20% over the Aug. 15 closing price. 

Syndicator Kenny Wolfe is in legal hot water with another downtown high rise, according to the Real Deal. The CEO of Plano-based Wolfe Investments is being sued by lender TBG Funding, accused of defaulting on a $7.5-million bridge loan. The suit also names 307 Star GP LLC and 307 Star Highrise LLC, which are likely connected to downtown Fort Worth’s (former) Star-Telegram building at 307 W. Seventh Street. Last May, Wolfe partnered with Dallas-based syndicator Bluelofts to purchase the 19-story Star-Telegram building and the adjoining 16-story Oil & Gas building. The developers are planning multifamily conversions for both properties, with a total of 268 units.

Why not tax 'em? They will be gone soon: FW City Council voted to put an additional 2% hotel occupancy on the May 4 ballot. Why? Construction costs for the Fort Worth Convention Center renovation have increased. The tax is paid by those renting a hotel room. The 2% would be in addition to the current 15% general state and local taxes. The rate in Austin and Houston is 17%. At that rate, Fort Worth projects an additional $10 million.

Shares of Sabre lost more than a quarter of their value after the travel software company issued soft revenue guidance. The stock fell about 27% to $3.21. Shares are down more than 42% over the past 12 months.

Dee Kelly Jr. ...lawyer, right? How about Dee Kelly Jr. ...author. Yes, coming soon is Kelly's first novel under his name -- The Malachi Covenant. In the past, he has written several novels under the pseudonym Landon Wallace.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom will deliver the keynote address at the Fort Worth Chamber’s annual meeting March 27 at Cowtown Coliseum. The theme is “Tradition Meets Transformation.”

As part of a national expansion, PNC Bank is adding 17 branches in D-FW during the next five years to the 95 already here. PNC had more than $6 billion in local deposits as of June 30, 2023, according to FDIC data, and recently opened an office at The Crescent Fort Worth.

A McKinney-based developer and manufacturer of medical diagnostic supplies has a new manufacturing facility in Arlington. StatLab Medical Products acquired two UK-based histology consumables and diagnostic equipment companies and will have injection molding operations at its 35,000-square-foot facility. StatLab said there would be available space to grow the operation. 

Fort Worth-based PMG opened its new office for about 300 Dallas employees with the three upper floors (75k square feet) at The Link at Uptown. The tower, developed by Kaizen Development Partners (KDP) and managed by JLL, opened in November. 

A tie between Costco, H-E-B and Publix moved Trader Joe's, last year's leader, to 4th place in the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index. More than 40,000 shoppers were surveyed. The top 10:

• Costco (85 points)

• H-E-B (85 points)

• Publix (85 points)

• Trader Joe's (84 points)

• Sam's Club (83 points)

• BJ's Wholesale Club (82 points)

• Target (82 points)

• Wegmans (82 points)

• Whole Foods (82 points)

• Aldi (81 points)

The Grapevine Vintage Railroad, which carries passengers round trip from downtown Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyards, resumes weekend service tomorrow. The railroad is serviced by four vintage locomotives that travel the historic Cotton Belt Route. Tickets start at $18.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill will open a location at 450 W. State Hwy 114 in Grapevine on Feb 26. Known for steaks and seafood over an open flame, Firebirds opened its first D-FW restaurant near Alliance Town Center in 2022.

Henry, the official spokespup of Fort Worth Animal Care & Control, and his adopter, Code Compliance Director Brandon Bennett, will both retire Feb 23.

People on the move:

• UNT Health Science Center: Named Asim Kichloo Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics.

• Alliance For Continuing Education: Names Pam McFadden President in Health Professions.

• Clear Fork Carpentry: Launched by James Story.

• National Glazing Solutions: Names Todd McCann Field Operations Supervisor.

• Women's Center of Tarrant County: New board members are Jeff Anderson, USI Insurance Services; Brie Diamond, TCU; Megan McCormack Gasca, Bridgeway Academy; Christine Klote, Structural and Steel Products, Inc.; Brady Olsen, City of Bedford; Amanda M. Scott, Alcon; Holly Shipman, PIMCO;  Dr. Bianka Soria-Olmos, Cook Children’s Physician Network; Anne Weiskittel, community volunteer; and Tami Parker, US Attorney's Office, North Texas District.

In case you missed it:

• Ranking the 10 best Super Bowl commercials from 2024.

• The first 90 hours: What new CEOs should – and shouldn’t - do to set the right tone.

• The most expensive home for sale in the U.S. goes up for $295 million in Naples, Florida.

Last poll results: If you purchased a gift for a Valentine this year, what was it? Answers: Candy (17%), Flowers (14%), Evening out (19%), Jewelry (11%), Clothing (14%), Gift card (8%), Something else (17%).