📌GM, Netflix get wrists slapped; Cowtown Angels get an exit; Goodwill buys north side building.

Overall passenger satisfaction for North America airlines is up eight points from 2025, according to a JD Power survey of 10,914 passengers. Above are the best and worst airlines based on a 1,000-point scale.

Ouch! General Motors has agreed to a $12.75 million fine, the largest in California Consumer Privacy Act history, for selling driver data without consent. Investigators found GM sold names, contact info, location and driving behavior data to LexisNexis and Verisk Analytics between 2020 and 2024. Additional penalties are here. 

General Motors is laying off between 500 and 600 salaried IT employees, representing more than 10% of its IT department. The cuts are to replace legacy technology roles with AI-focused talent.

Sundance Square Management hired Michael Wheat and Isabella Burnette of JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) to handle retail leasing for its 105,000+ square feet in downtown Fort Worth — mostly along Commerce, Houston, Throckmorton and Third streets. LanCarte Commercial was brought in last July to lease office spaces, including the Chase Bank Building and The Cassidy.

Goodwill North Central Texas acquired the property at 318 E. Long Ave. in Fort Worth and plans to transform it into a multi-use facility focused on workforce development, retail operations and community service.  It will include an Outlet location, a Job Resource Center offering bilingual career and digital skills services, and is expected to create approximately 70 jobs when it opens spring/summer 2027.

A Cowtown Angels investment — Strategic Thermal Labs, a specialist in advanced liquid-cooling technologies — has been acquired by Vertiv, a leader in critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions. Cowtown Angels, a program of TechFW, made an investment during 2024, as did the Cowtown Sidecar Fund-l.

Cool hand Sam? Samuel L. Jackson apparently has not lost his edge. A new YouGov survey found Jackson topped Americans’ list of “cool” celebrities, ranking alongside The Beatles, with Michael Jordan rounding out the top three. The 77-year-old actor has been spotted frequently around the 817 this month as filming continues for Taylor Sheridan’s upcoming TV series Frisco King. See the complete “coolest celebrities” ranking here.

In its letter rejecting a $56-billion takeover offer from GameStop, eBay cited uncertainty regarding the proposal, including financing and the operational risks. “eBay’s Board is confident ... the company is well-positioned to continue to drive sustainable growth, execute with discipline, and deliver long-term value for our shareholders." The question remains as to whether GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen will pursue the takeover directly with shareholders or move on to a new target. 

Amazon will close its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go physical stores and shift resources toward Whole Foods Market and grocery delivery. Amazon Go is the cashier-less, convenience-store concept, built around technology that uses sensors and computer vision so shoppers can pick up items and pay on the app. 

The office of the Texas Attorney General sued Netflix for collecting users’ data without their knowledge or consent. Texas alleges Netflix for years represented to consumers that it did not collect or share extensive user data, but in reality, is a logging company that records and monetizes billions of behavioral events — and occasionally streams movies.

Texas' Attorney General office secured a settlement with LG Electronics U.S.A., over unlawful privacy violations involving smart television technology. LG agreed to no longer use Automated Content Recognition technology to collect consumers’ viewing data without their informed consent.  

The Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center announced its inaugural TMAC Manufacturing Excellence Awards. The Industry Builder of the Year was the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, which delivered nearly $10 billion in investments and more than 11,000 jobs in two years. Fort Worth was the Best City to Build Your Dream, noted for Investing in small businesses through training, contracting opportunities and access to capital that support long-term economic growth. See all awardees here. 

Former NFL quarterback Craig Morton has passed at 83. He was the first quarterback to lead two different teams --Dallas and Denver -- to the Super Bowl. He was with the Cowboys for nine of his 18-season career. 

We knew the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington through the entertaininment district was returning for a second year. Now we have the weekend days -- March 19-21, 2027. The event is a partnership between Penske Entertainment, REV Entertainment and the Dallas Cowboys.

Benbrook-based Tandy Leather Factory announced that revenues, operating income, gross margins and EBITDA were slightly higher year over year for the first quarter. Expenses, however, were up 11%, and cash holdings were down because of a special dividend to stockholders.

Elbit Systems of America – Night Vision LLC, headquartered in Fort Worth, received a delivery order valued at approximately $212 million for the continued production of the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle - Binocular systems for the U.S. Army. Deliveries under the award will take place through 2028.

The Texas Bar Foundation announced a $30,000 grant to DFW-based ACT (Advocates for Community Transformation) to support an initiative to hold owners of crime-enabling commercial properties accountable and restore safety to neighborhoods. ACT equips residents with the legal resources to shut down drug houses that make their neighborhoods unsafe.

U.S. inflation accelerated during April, with the Consumer Price Index rising 3.8% annually— 0.6% above March and the highest in three years. Energy prices jumped, accounting for more than 40% of the increase.

President Donald Trump and a growing number of congressional representatives are voicing support for a pause in the federal gas tax because of the inflation in prices caused by the war with Iran. The gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel. Congress approval is needed to pass the legislation.

Daily digit: 38% = Increase in international airfare prices since the Iran war began in late February, according to travel site Kayak. The average flight now costs ~$150 more compared to the same time last year.

Snippets:

• FIFA World Cup 2026 Dallas schedule, match dates and fan fest details.

• Want to participate this fall in the Near Southside's Arts Goggle? Application deadline is 11:59 p.m. May 20.

• Here is the list of business executives President Donald Trump invited to join him on his China trip. 

Announcements:

• Exchange Club of Fort Worth: Honors Kit Moncrief with its Golden Deeds Award — a prize the club has bestowed annually for more than 100 years. Read her numerous accolades as she continues the family legacy of giving. 

• Tarrant County Bar Association: Selects Roland K. Johnson, an attorney at Harris, Finley & Bogle since 1982, as its 2026 Blackstone Award recipient. He is a former President of the State Bar of Texas and has been honored often for his professionalism and legal knowledge. The Blackstone Award is based on his consistent ability, integrity and courage. 

• Neeley School of Business: Adds Andrew (Drew) Ruiz as Director for the TCU Center for Supply Chain Innovation. He has more than 20 years of supply chain leadership experience from stops at Lockheed’s Skunk Works and F-35, BNSF Railway and his consulting firm, Blue Innovations.

• Texas Health Resources: Names Robert Early Director of Retail, Health and Wellness Services.

• REV Entertainment: Hires Kristen Mee as Director of Sales, College Properties, in the Sports Marketing Department. 

• Worthington Bank: Names Greg Morse Executive Chairman. 

• Carrollton: Hires Kelly Baggett as Economic Development Manager. She had been in economic development in Fort Worth. 

• Truist: Hires Jorge Calderon as Middle Market Team Leader for north Texas. 

• Peinado Construction: Hires Bailey Klement as Director of Client Services. 

• Virtuoso Travel: Names Emily Aguilar Executive Assistant to the CEO. 

• Blue Zones Health: Promotes Kimberly Porter to National Community Prescriptions Director. 

• Wild Common Spirits: Hires Olivia Jacobs as Regional Marketing Manager.

• Navan: Hires Jordan Alexander as Sales Development Representative. 

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