IRS friendlier in 2025; GM up, Lockheed down; He cost AA $21 million.

The Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University and The University of Texas at Arlington have launched a joint M.D.-Ph.D. program in bio-medical engineering. The first will begin July 2025. The dual-degree program merges the Burnett School's novel approach to medical education with the interdisciplinary research expertise of UTA’s Department of Bio-engineering.

Here are the federal income tax brackets for 2025 — the standard deduction is up to $30,000. You'll have to earn more money to go up a tax bracket in 2025. You can deduct more, too.

Craftmasters is proposing to purchase 62 acres located in the Hooper Business Park in Burleson for a trade skills campus for a minimum of 5,000 students, a corporate headquarters for 400, a coffee shop and a student experience center. The project would be topped off with a residential neighborhood of 100 homes.

AVX Aircraft Company, known for its vertical lift technology, is moving to Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, part of the AllianceTexas development. AVX already is hiring and plans dozens of new jobs with 14,000 square feet of office space and a 7,000-square-foot testing area.

General Motors stock jumped 10.4% Tuesday, its best day since 2020 after delivering stronger profit and revenue numbers than expected. GM benefited from stronger sales to individual U.S. customers as sales to large fleet buyers slowed.

Lockheed Martin's stock fell 6% after reporting quarterly results, which included a dividend raise of 5%.  Third quarter 2024 net sales were $17.1 billion and net earnings were $1.6 billion, both up slightly year over year. Cash was down $500 million from last year and free cash flow was down $400 million.

Empire Holdings has its first tenant — Green World Windows and Doors — in its Campus Industrial Park project off SE Loop 820. Bowie Holland is President of Empire Holdings, which is backed by Sandra McGlothlin. 

Fort Worth-based Conner Industries, which provides lumber, wood crates, pallets and more, announced the expansion of its Guardian Packaging in Dallas. The facility addition encompasses 100,000 square feet, a 53% increase. David Dixon is CEO.

Texas Women’s Foundation awarded nearly $877K to 23 north Texas non-profits. Three were given to Tarrant County organizations: Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, Inc. for math tutoring, Mercy Clinic of Fort Worth and Texas Health Resources Foundation for women's health initiatives. 

Fort Worth-based Elbit America last week displayed a scale model of its new SIGMA, a wheeled, self-propelled howitzer designed to respond to the needs of the U.S. Army for its next-generation mobile howitzer.

A man who had purchased an American Airlines $250K lifetime, first-class ticket had it revoked after he cost the airline $21 million. But the revocation wasn’t because of the millions he was costing the airlines, but for another reason.

The 2024 State Fair of Texas has closed, setting two attendance records. Overall attendance was up 100,000 to 2.4 million. And Red River Rivalry Saturday, the day of the annual OU-Texas game, had 200,000 attendees. 

The Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks tip off their 2024-25 season tomorrow at home against the San Antonio Spurs, featuring 7-4 center Victor Wenbanyama. Klay Thompson, a four-time NBA champion, is the most known acquisition after having won four championships while playing 13 seasons with Golden State. TNT has game coverage with a 6:40 start time. See the Mavs schedule here.

The U.S. Navy landed an F-35B on a Japanese destroyer for the first time. Don't worry, it was planned ... and successful.

Each month, 15.4 million copies of Costco Connection are mailed out to members. Another 300,000 are distributed via Costco warehouses. It is now the country's third largest print magazine, reportedly behind AARP: The Magazine and The AARP Bulletin. (NYT)

Snippets:

• The Peppa Pig Theme Park being built at 8851 Blvd 26 in North Richland Hills posted on Reels that it would open March 1.

• Popular Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo continues its expansion in north Texas with the Friday opening of a location at Parks Mall in Arlington.

Nothing to do with business: The 10 most popular pet names in 2024.

Daily digit: 38% = The percentage of U.S. adults who think businesses should take a public stance on current events, according to a Gallup poll. 

Significant stat: The amount Americans believe they need to save for retirement has increased from $951K in 2020 to $1.46M this year.

Announcements:

• Jess Stewart: Names Carly Lywood as Director of Operations and Client Development; hires Meghan Phillips as Director of Business Development and Client Experience.

• Fort Worth Club: Adds Lauren Kimberlin as a Marketing Project Manager. 

• Arlington Texas Economic Development: Hires Kay Brown-Patrick as Assistant Executive Director.

• Colleyville Chamber of Commerce: Promotes interim Hannah Mack to President and CEO.

• Clemson University: Hires Kendall Riddell as Director of Regional Development.

• CTJ Marketing: Hires Tassie Gaither.

• LOGIX Fiber Networks: Hires Tony Obas as Major Accounts Manager.

• Buzz Worth Property Management: Announces opening of Big Bass RV Park and Boat Storage at Lake Fork.

• Champions Fight Counseling & Consulting: Launched by Nick Young, Owner/LPC-Associate. Young also has been hired as a Child Therapist at Safe Haven Fort Worth.

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