🐮Herding cattle fraud; Details of 2 new hotels; Kimbell goes green

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📣NEWS OF THE DAY:

Silver Star Properties appointed Gerald Haddock as co-CEO. Haddock, who is also the firm’s executive chairman, will serve alongside interim CEO David Wheeler. Haddock is the former CEO of Crescent Real Estate Equities and is president of Fort Worth-based Haddock Investments. He’s worked in commercial real estate for more than 40 years.

The Le Meridien Fort Worth hotel is scheduled to open next spring near the convention center. The 14-story luxury hotel will have 188 rooms, a pool deck, fitness center, rooftop terrace, full-service restaurant and nearly 5,000 square feet of meeting space. The boutique hotel is an addition to Marriott Bonvoy and will be operated by Remington Hospitality.

The Arlington City Council has approved a public-private partnership with Loews Hotels for a 500-room hotel with a minimum of 25,000 square feet of convention space. The 311-room Sheraton Arlington Hotel at 1500 Convention Center Drive will be demolished, freeing up 14 acres for development. 

These alleged investors from a Fort Worth-based company were all hat and no cattle, according to the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges.

American Airlines has received a three-year, $22-million award from Oklahoma’s Business Expansion Incentive Program to grow and improve the airline’s maintenance base and engine repair and overhaul facility in Tulsa. AA says it has spent more than $400 million in enhancements at the facility in the last three years.

Cumulus Media Dallas announced WBAP would become 100% simulcast starting January 3rd at 8:20 am. At that time, WBAP will be heard on 820 AM and 93.3 FM. Cumulus pointed out that FM-only dials would be able to get news talk heading into the 2024 election cycle. 

The Kimbell Art Museum has acquired Standing Figure Holding a Were-Jaguar Baby (c. 900–300 B.C.), a sculpture from ancient Mesoamerica. The statuette carved in jadeite became the most significant work of ancient American art in the Kimbell’s collection. The figure was purchased as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Kimbell’s Renzo Piano Pavilion.

Getting sick is getting expensive. According to the Consumer Price Index report from the Labor Department released December 12, hospital and related services prices were up 6.3% year-over-year in November — the biggest annual jump in almost 13 years.

Matt Smith, Superintendent at Belton, Texas ISD, is the unanimous lone finalist for the Arlington ISD position. There is a state-mandated 21-day period before Smith can begin his tenure, which would be January 8.

The royalty of resale: Which vehicle had the lowest depreciation over five years? Answer: the Porsche 911 Coupe only loses 9.3% of its retail value, according to a study by iSeeCars. Three other Porsches, six Toyotas, four Subarus, and three Chevrolets made the top 25 list.

Right back at ya: Spending at U.S. retailers rebounded in November after declining in October, pointing to the continued resilience of the U.S. consumer and a strong start to the holiday season.

Real estate whack-a-mole: Where are home prices rising and falling? Regional changes in house prices can provide clues to bigger economic pictures. Here’s a look at the states and cities where prices are fluctuating.

People on the move:

• Camp Fire First Texas: Adds David Simpson as Chief Operating Officer and promotes Jen Smith to VP of Outdoor Connections

• Cook Children's: Adds Yadira Goodpaster as Bilingual Executive Secretary

• City of Forest Hill: Promotes Andre McEwing to Vice Chairman of Community Economic Development Corporation 

Today in history (December 15):

• In film & TV: 1939 - "Gone With The Wind" starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh premieres in Atlanta

• In music: 1955 - "Folsom Prison Blues" single released by Johnny Cash

• In sport: 1992 - Arthur Ashe is named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year

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