🐴NCHA's $12M payout; Melinda's $250M in gifts; A&M-Fort Worth gets another $2M.

Lockheed Martin promoted the deputy of its behemoth F-35 fighter jet program to leader, announcing that Chauncey McIntosh will take the helm Dec. 1. He succeeds Bridget Lauderdale, who is retiring after three years leading the F-35 program. This year, the company is dealing with major delays while developing new technology for the jet, which resulted in the Pentagon halting deliveries and holding off on milestone payments.

Fort Worth-birthed, Dallas-based Care N’ Care Advantage Medicare plan is closing at year-end. Here is its statement: "Updated Medicare Advantage requirements, as well as increasing market pressures, resulted in an untenable environment for smaller MA plans like Care N’ Care.  As a result, Care N’ Care (HMO/PPO) elected not to offer an MA product in 2025.“

Principals with Asbury Automotive Group, owner of three D-FW area David McDavid used car dealerships, are fighting back against the FTC’s claim that they had conducted unlawful practices related to unauthorized and inconsistent pricing for vehicle add-ons.

Nanoscope Therapeutics, focused on developing gene therapies for vision loss, said it would apply for approval to sell its gene therapy during the first quarter of 2025 after having received positive regulatory feedback from the FDA. The company’s MCO-010 treats Retinitis Pigmentosa, a group of rare eye diseases that affect the retina and is a leading cause of blindness in working-age adults.

The Botanical Research Institute of Texas Inc. (BRIT) took over responsibilities for the 109-acre Fort Worth Botanic Garden under an agreement with the city in October 2020. During 2023, there were over 418,000 guests, a 286,000 increase over 2020 when there were 132,000. The city provides management fee funding to BRIT, which retains all revenues earned. BRIT is working on a plan with the city for a partnership with the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, a 3,700-acre nature preserve. 

The National Association of Broadcasters recently held the 2024 NAB Marconi Radio Awards, where they recognize the country’s best radio stations in various categories. Local station 96.7 FM/1310 AM The Ticket was awarded Major Market Station of the Year. Individuals with Dallas stations KSCS-FM and Reach Media/Urban also won hardware. Rachel Ryan of KSCS-FM won Major Market Personality of the Year and Erica Campbell of Reach Media/Urban One won Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year.

Industrial Realty Group has acquired a 364,667-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility. The 10.4-acre property at 1300 E. Berry was formerly owned by S&B Technical Products, who will lease back a portion of the facility. 

Who is the man behind the company that bought Burnett Plaza, Fort Worth’s tallest building?

The Fort Worth Zoning Commission approved the plan for a residential-retail development over 56 acres by Ken Schaumburg adjacent to a commuter rail station at Fort Worth’s CentrePort area, just south of D-FW International Airport. City Council could vote on it at its Nov. 13 meeting. 

The Texas Supreme Court held up a Second Court of Appeals decision and sided with Fort Worth in its decade-long battle that eight-liner gaming devices were unconstitutional lotteries.

The NRP Group, in partnership with JPS Health Network, announced the financial closing of a 67-unit, mixed-income multi-family development in Fort Worth called Thrive on Crawford at 1310 Crawford St.  60 units will be reserved for residents earning 30, 50 and 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), with the remaining seven set aside as market-rate. The development will also include 2,200 square feet of commercial space leased to JPS to service the surrounding community.

Riyadh Air entered into a strategic agreement with Southlake-based Sabre for its SabreMosaic™ Offer Optimization technology. It will provide the intelligence to enable the airline to operate on offer- and order-based technology across its retail spectrum.

The Leo Potishman Foundation pledged a $2-million gift for the construction and development of Texas A&M-Fort Worth. Potishman, who died in 1981, was a long-time Fort Worth businessman and philanthropist whose foundation continues to support local arts, education and community institutions.

Fastest fast-food: Taco Bell has the fastest average drive-thru service time at 194.16 seconds, according to QSR Magazine’s annual survey. The average drive-thru experience came in at 244.86 seconds, with some better (KFC, 206.41 seconds) and some worse (McDonalds, 271.81 seconds). The outlier is Chick-fil-A, which has an average time of 479.42 seconds (about 8 minutes). Chick-fil-A has re-written the parameters of long waits with its in-line order-takers and system of delivering hospitality at multiple points during the experience.

Did this Texan really leave the U.S. government $7 billion in estate taxes? It was the biggest estate tax payment in modern history, but no one knew who made it. Then an anonymous phone call pointed to one man.

Today’s trivia: The Dallas Arboretum displays more than 100,000 pumpkins, squash and gourds from Floydada, a small town in the South Plains, according to The Texas Tribune. That region grows between 1.8 to 2.4 million pumpkins annually, staking claim to the pumpkin capital of Texas.

Significant stat: Kevin Smith, adjunct sports professor at TCU, shares that the National Cutting Horse Association Triple Crown will pay more than $12 million during 2024 compared to $9 million paid by Thoroughbred Racing's Triple Crown.

Snippets:

• In its antitrust case against Google, the Justice Department is suggesting Google divest such divisions as its Chrome internet browser, Google Play Store and its Android mobile operating system. 

• Melinda French Gates will grant $250 million to support women’s health globally through an open call for non-profits to apply for funding.

• Fort Worth breaks ground on a new Fire Station 16 next Wednesday at 5701 Lovell Ave. in 76107.

 Announcements:

• TCU Ralph Lowe Energy Institute: Hires Nikki Morris as Executive Director.

• UNTHSC: Names Dr. Evan Robinson Dean of College of Pharmacy.

• FWISD: Names Karen Molinar interim Superintendent, her second stint at the top job. 

• United Way of Tarrant County: Names Steve Bobb, retired BNSF, Chair of the Board; Barbara Williams, Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Simpson, Vice Chair; and adds to the board Arely Cure, IMS Legal; John Dandurand, Bell; Chris McLaughlin, DFW International Airport; Jeffrey Paul, Deloitte Services; Richard Roby, RSH Concessions; Lauren Team, Security State Bank & Trust.

• Higginbotham: Hires Erin McAdoo as claims customer service representative.

• PRSA (Fort Worth Chapter): Honors photographer Brian Luenser as Communicator of the Year and Jennifer Henderson, founder of J.O. and The Cause Agency, as the Douglas Ann Newsom PR Professional of the Year. 

• Hotel Resources: Hires Nikki Markov as Sales Manager.

• GoVision: Names Jack Williams and Kollin Padon, project management; and Mike Kaplnek, director of events.

• Thermal Scientific: Promotes Ashley Moon to Procurement & Product Manager.