🚂A Grizzly tale of woe; Joe Groves returns to FW; Just $4.9M for this waterfront estate

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📣NEWS OF THE DAY:

BNSF is being sued by two environmental groups claiming its trains allegedly killed 63 grizzly bears since 2008 on federally protected grounds in Idaho and Montana, violating the Endangered Species Act.

PMG has entered the European market by acquiring UK-based RocketMill, a full-service digital marketing agency with offices in London and Brighton. The acquisition brings PMG to nearly 900 employees worldwide, including its headquarters office in Fort Worth’s museum district at 2845 West 7^th Street.

Fort Worth-based M2G Ventures, a real estate investment and development company founded by twins Jessica Miller Essl and Susan Gruppi Miller, leased 56,000 square feet at the re-developed Archetype urban industrial project at 3131 Irving Blvd between Dallas’ Design District and Love Field. See M2G’s portfolio of projects here.

Ellen's, a Southern home-cooking restaurant in downtown Dallas, projects to open at 601 S. Main in Fort Worth by early summer 2024. The all-day restaurant is known for its meatloaf, chicken-fried steak, and breakfast/brunch, with shrimp and grits and a "pancake pot pie.” Founder and co-owner Joe Groves is a Fort Worth native. See its menu here.

Gridiron giveaway: One lucky reader will receive a VIP Package to the Dec. 23 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. The winner gets four ESPN VIP pre-game party passes, four Champions Club seats, and a VIP parking pass. To enter, email your contact info before noon TODAY to [email protected].

Christianne Simmons has been named Chief Transformation Officer for the City of Fort Worth, a position that leads the Fort Worth Lab. Its focus is the city's $2.6 billion operating budget and implementation of priority-based budgeting. Her team will develop and implement budgeting strategies that balance the city's current and future fiscal needs with the strategic priorities of the City Council.

Road warrior update: Bogged down on University Drive south of I-30? Relief is in sight.

Festive flying: American Airlines projects about 12.7 million passengers on more than 110,000 flights during its extended 19-day holiday season.

This season’s hottest shopping trend - falling prices. As inflation slows, prices for some physical goods are falling outright, which could lift consumers’ spirits. (NYT gift article)

Monday mansion: This $4.9M Possum Kingdom waterfront estate has 5,743 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 5 full baths, 2 half baths, plus a large home office with a wet bar. Located in The Ranch private community, this contemporary home offers the ultimate in lake living.

Brenda Lee is celebrating “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” on the 65th Anniversary of the holiday classic with a music video featuring cameos by country stars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood. Lee was 14 when the song was released in 1958. This year, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time. Lee, 79, is the oldest artist ever to top the chart.

Daily digit: $1,300 – What attendees of the Taylor Swift The Eras tour spent per person, with 71% saying it was worth it and 91% saying they’d go again, according to a survey from QuestionPro. The “experience economy” has thrived post-Covid.  

People on the move:

• Tarrant County: Hires Tom Stallings as Deputy County Administrator

• Brand & Co: Hires Scott Kirk as Brand Strategist

• Lewisville Police Department: Hires Brook Rollins from Arlington Police Department as Chief of Police 

• JPS Health Network: Names Roger Fischer Chair of the Board, succeeding Dorothy DeBose

• CareerPhysician LLC: Adds Bruce Rubin, M.D., to its Child Health Advisory Council

• Interstate Renewable Energy Council: Hires Brandy O’Quinn as Program Director overseeing the SolSmart Program

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Just for fun: Pardner, it’s time to put on your pants and do the holiday dance. Kick it up with this dancing snowman cowboy.

Snippets from around the web:

• The 50 greatest innovations of 2023: Popular Science’s best of what’s new.

• Milk showdown: American Airlines gate agent takes on mother with breast milk. 

• Story worse than headline: Jailed man uses iPad for illicit chats with underage girls; wife faces bigamy charges.

Today in history (December 18): 1966 - The TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, an adaptation of Dr. Seuss's classic children's book, aired for the first time and became a holiday staple. The song You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch was sung by Thurl Ravenscroft (who also voiced Tony the Tiger). Boris Karloff narrated it.

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