🍸Glazer's spirits are dropping; GM not liking Cruise control; Take AAdvantage of new perks.

General Motors Co. is shutting down Cruise, its autonomous-vehicle company that operated robo-taxi services in California, Arizona and Texas. The Cruise and GM technical teams will combine and focus on developing autonomous technology for personal vehicles, specifically Super Cruise, a self-driving feature in GM vehicles. GM has spent an estimated $10 billion since 2016 to acquire a majority stake in Cruise.

Alliance Center East No. 3, which is part of the AllianceTexas development by Hillwood, requested and Fort Worth approved the creation of a Media Production Development Zone. The designation could open access to a two-year use and sales tax exemption pending Texas Film Commission approval. Alliance Center East No. 3 plans to convert a more than 200,000-square-foot facility into a space for television and film production, including four 18,000-square-foot stages, a shop for set building, storage, wardrobe and offices. 

David Bonderman, the billionaire co-founder of Fort Worth-based TPG Capital, has passed away at 82. A private-equity pioneer, legal scholar, and conservationist, Bonderman became Chief Operating Officer for Robert Bass and the Bass Group. There, Bonderman met Jim Coulter, his business and investing partner for more than 38 years. In 1992, they left Bass and acquired Continental Airlines out of bankruptcy. The $66-million investment in Continental ended up turning a 10x profit. After making that successful bid, David, Jim and Bill Price founded TPG.

Getting married was difficult. Getting separated is worse. Albertsons is giving up on its merger with Kroger a day after it was rejected in two courts, and is suing, saying Kroger didn’t do enough to make the union work.

The Federal Trade Commission is suing Addison-based alcohol distributor Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits LLC for alleged practices that charge mom-and-pop grocers significantly higher prices for alcohol products than big retail chains. 

Chris Morris, the CEO of Coppell-based Dave & Buster’s, has stepped down as the company reported a 7.7% decline in third-quarter, same-store sales. Kevin Sheehan, the current board chair, will serve as interim CEO.

Tarrant County has posted a bid that seeks to simplify child visitation. The Domestic Relations Office is attempting to implement a cloud-based system that enables scheduling, communication, identity verification and check-in/check-out processes for families, guardians and staff.

Texas Wesleyan University will offer free undergraduate tuition starting in fall 2025 for Texas students who qualify for a Pell Grant. The free tuition credit -- for education materials, and room and board -- can be renewed for four years.

The Torlonia Collection will be exhibited for the first time in North America in an international tour between the United States and Canada. The Kimbell is one of three museums that will host this robust collection (Sept 14, 2025 - Jan 25, 2026).

Today’s trivia: In 2023, Deion Sanders' first game as head coach for Colorado was at TCU. In 2025, Bill Belichick's first game as head coach for North Carolina will be hosting TCU. 

Cam Ward, quarterback at the University of Miami, is the 2024 Davey O'Brien QB Award winner. In 1938, O'Brien led TCU to an undefeated season and a national championship. He won the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award that year.

The athletes whose lawsuit against the NCAA want schools to pay them directly also want a players’ association to represent them in contract negotiations. TCU basketball player Sedona Prince is one of three players that wrote to the judge saying that although they are generally happy with the terms of the proposed $2.8-billion settlement “there still remains a critical need for structural changes to protect athletes and prevent the failures of the past.”

New life of a college athlete: Chandler Morris, University of North Texas' (ex-) quarterback, is entering the transfer portal. Morris began his odyssey at Oklahoma in 2020 as a redshirt, moved to TCU from 2021-2023, where he earned a starting role before injuries, and then transferred to North Texas to lead the Mean Green in 2004.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office is investigating Character.AI and 14 other companies including Reddit, Instagram, and Discord regarding their privacy and safety practices for minors pursuant to the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act and the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act.

The Woodmont Company announced the investment sale of Grapevine Centre, an 85,421-square-foot neighborhood shopping center at 1250 William D. Tate Ave. in Grapevine.

North Texas Community Foundation announced the recipients of its Conservation and Environment Fund, and Animal Fund grant cycles, awarding $290,344 to 29 area non-profits. This latest round of funding brings the Foundation’s total grantmaking to more than $38 million during 2024.

Tilman Fertitta, who owns the Landry’s restaurant chain and the Golden Nugget’s six hotels and casinos, reportedly is Donald Trump's choice to become the next U.S. Ambassador to Italy. Fertitta, 67, also owns the Houston Rockets, purchased for $2.2B in 2017, and is reportedly interested in buying the New Orleans Saints. 

PHX Minerals announced an agreement to initiate a process to evaluate certain strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value, including a potential merger or sale. RBC Capital Markets has been retained as financial advisor. Chad Stephens is President and CEO.

Fort Worth-based Energy Hire’s AI-driven hiring platform will be available to members of the American Association of Professional Landmen, which serves professionals in the energy industry.

Southlake-based Sabre has a multi-year renewal to provide its technology to American Airlines. Integral to the renewal is the SabreSonic Passenger Service System. 

Arlington will begin a 10-month project in January to extend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive from East Bardin Road to Ingleside Drive, eventually linking to Southeast Green Oaks Boulevard.

Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter, after earlier promising he would do no such thing, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Snippets:

• Fort Worth shareholder Alta Fox Capital expects better “scoring” with its 11% Daktronics investment. 

• Good news for AAdvantage mile members. No raised thresholds for 2025 and more perks.

• How much more will the Fed cut interest rates? A look at what could happen when the Fed announces its perspective Wednesday.

Announcements:

• Project Partners: Adds Haily Summerford as Senior Consultant. 

• Mid-America Apartment Communities: Names Bradley Hill president and CEO. Eric Bolton to retire and become Executive Chairman. 

• CREW Fort Worth: Names 2025 Board of Directors -- Cassie Walker,  Bank of America; Patricia Zelayandia, Texas First Bank; Dana M. Compton, Ridgemont Commercial Construction; Madhvi Patel,  Equinix; Jennifer Siehling, The Beck Group; Beth Thurman, NTT Global Data Centers; Brooke Duran, Abstract Construction; Jennifer King, Global Furniture Group; Lauren Taylor, Muckleroy & Falls; Amy Phipps, GL Seaman; Sarah Ward Rega, Texas First Bank. 

• Bank of America: Neighborhood Builders program has selected BRAVER Together and Catholic Charities Dallas as its 2024 honorees.

🎅🏻817 Biz is formatted for viewing on mobile devices. If this email doesn’t look right, click the link at top right. Some links may expire after initial posting or be paywall protected.