🍿Flipping the script on Wall Street; A new #1 in natural gas🔥

Chesapeake Energy agreed to buy smaller rival Southwestern Energy in an all-stock transaction valued at $7.4 billion, a deal that will make it the largest independent U.S. natural gas producer.

Dumb Money, which will begin streaming on Netflix in the Jan. 19-21 window, tells the story of a central figure behind Grapevine-based GameStop's phenomenon that rocked the stock market and headlines for months. It pits Keith Gill against Wall Street individual and institutional investors. Actors include Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Vincent D’Onofrio, America Ferrera, Nick Offerman, Anthony Ramos, Sebastian Stan, Shailene Woodley and Seth Rogen. (see trailer)

American Airlines’ nearly 15,000 customer service team members across airports, Premium Guest Services and Reservations ratified a new five-year agreement. American said the contract includes significant improvements in pay, benefits and quality of life provisions.

Hillwood Development Company has filed permits to begin construction of Harvest Town Center within Harvest by Hillwood, a 1,200-acre master-planned community spanning Argyle and Northlake. The mixed-use development features shopping, restaurants, multi-family and a 63k-square-foot Tom Thumb. The Harvest community also includes a farm and orchard.

Cook Children's has won two national honors. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit has been presented with the Silver Beacon Award for Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the institution has earned the 2023 Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award® for outstanding dedication to patient experience.

Zip code 76179 in Fort Worth ranks among the hottest nationally for home-buying activity. According to residential real estate company Opendoor, the northwest area of Fort Worth ranked No. 10 in the analysis, which tracked the number of homes (mostly new) that went under contract within 90 days of listing in 2023. Texas had seven of the hottest 10 ZIPs.

Arlington Cemetery is home to several key historical figures, including former mayors, settlers and postmasters. Thanks to a change in state law, Arlington city government now has a legal path to sell plots for the first time since taking ownership of the land in 1995.

The Davey O’Brien Foundation has announced that College Football Hall of Famer and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Danny White is the recipient of this year’s Davey O’Brien Legends Award.

Are you part of the American Airlines Frequent Flyer program? If so, here are the changes for 2024. 

The accounting firm Hartman Wanzor LLP has become Hartman Wanzor McNamara LLP, with Josh McNamara named Partner. Also, Spencer Gregg has been named Partner, Summar Schiller has been promoted to tax managing director, and Misty Blackwelder is a tax director.

The Department of Labor has finalized a new rule that will force companies to treat some workers as employees instead of contractors. It will likely see legal challenges.

Credit card balances and delinquencies have hit a new high in the U.S. That may be good for consumer spending in the short term, but in the long term, not so much. 

Buying home and auto insurance is becoming more and more difficult. Huge losses from national disasters prompt higher prices and pull backs from some markets, the ‘worst possible scenario’ for consumers. (WSJ gift article)

Walmart says it will have drone delivery this year to 75% of the D-FW market, covering 30 communities, and 1.8 million households.

Fort Worth-based AZZ has all beats in quarterly results.

The “Oscars” of wildlife photography: 25 images from the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest. In this image, a polar bear naps on an iceberg off Norway.

Significant stat: The wealthiest 10% of U.S. households own nearly 93% of the stocks. 58% of households own stocks via mutual funds or as individual shares. (Financial Times)

Daily digit: 603 – The number of “standard drinks” that an American age 21 or older drinks in a year. Part of 10 facts about Americans and alcohol from the Pew Research Center.

On this date (1885): Dr Pepper sold its first bottle in the U.S., making it the oldest soft drink brand in America. It was created by pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, TX.

People on the move:

• JTaylor: Announces Lindi Jacks and Doug Mann in Tax, and Julie La Pata in Consulting, have been named Partners.

• Texas Motor Speedway: Hires Steve Lowe as VP-marketing. He had been with the XFL Arlington Renegades.

• Texas Grain & Feed Association: Hires Robert Braden as President /CEO

• Camp Fire First Texas: Names Travis Davis VP-Early Education Workforce Development

• Victory Equine Therapy Center: Hires Rick Bousquet as CEO

Snippets:

• An affront to the taste buds? In a product release this week, Miller Lite unveiled its latest offering: Miller Lite-flavored Beer Mints. Because people only drink it for the taste, of course.

• Beats the stairway technique: Wu Wuqiang started creating slinky tricks in 2009 and set the world record for "most glass bottles trapped with a slinky in one minute,” with 41 bottles successfully trapped and not knocked over. See him in action here.

• Hello George Jetson: Honda unveiled two concept cars as a preview for a new lineup of EVs arriving in North America in 2026.

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