🍰A non-Christmas Fruitcake; Teacher goes zero-gravity; Great FW philanthropist dies

Southwest Airlines and its approximately 20k union flight attendants reached a tentative agreement on a contract. Flight attendants had rejected a previous deal in December that would have given them a raise of 20%, followed by four annual raises of 3%. Attendants will be briefed on the contract next week, and voting should occur in a few weeks. 

Fort Worth-based Red Productions, led by Red Sanders, is producing the movie Fruitcake. It is based on the accountant who stole $17 million from Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana, Texas. Jennifer Garner stars.

Rosalyn Rosenthal, one of Fort Worth’s greatest philanthropists, has passed away at the age of 99. Her contributions to health and arts non-profits were unmatched, and she and her deceased husband, Manny, built Standard Meat Co.

Fort Worth Academy instructor Lauren Parker was among eight teachers nationwide selected for a unique space-simulated opportunity. She went aboard the zero-gravity G-Force One Aircraft in Florida and took along experiments designed by her students. Then, she tested the students’ theories in zero gravity.

Twenty-four undergraduate programs will be offered to first- and second-year students at Tarleton State University's Fort Worth campus off Chisholm Trail Parkway beginning this fall. More programs will be added in 2025. They will join the established upper-level and graduate degree opportunities.

Here’s a sampling of topics from this week’s Motley Fool column. To read the expanded feature click here.

• Many people are saving and investing for their retirements, aiming to amass $1 million. But for many folks, that might not be enough.

• The Fool answers a reader’s question about why a company’s announcement of a major layoff didn’t necessarily lead to a plunge in the stock.

• This week’s stock pick is Google’s parent company, Alphabet. Find out why the best stocks to buy are those with “optionality” and why Alphabet has more than most.

The Moncrief Cancer Institute's second Mobile Screening Clinic bus is up and running for Tarrant County residents. It has the latest medical technologies, including digital 3D mammography and high-speed telemedicine links to cancer experts. Tarrant County funded the $1-million mobile clinic through a three-year, $9-million grant through the American Rescue Plan Act.

A mini-golf course co-owned by Tiger Woods will open March 28 at The Colony’s Grandscape development. PopStroke will feature two 18-hole mini-golf courses, a restaurant, a beer garden, and a playground.

The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth announced the 2024 winners of four awards honoring those who have made significant contributions to the council, commercial real estate, and the community.

Real estate transactions:  

• The CIM Group sold a 139,502-square-foot cold storage warehouse recently completed in south Fort Worth near Interstate 20 and Interstate 35. Terms and the buyer were not disclosed.

• Marcus & Millichap arranged the sale of a 5,912-square-foot medical and retail center in north Fort Worth. Gus Lagos and Alex Wolansky of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller. Marty McAdams of McAdams & Associates represented the buyer.

Daily digit: Every day, 2.9 million people fly over American airspace and are carried by more than 45,000 aircraft, with approximately 65 fliers per flight.

Believe it or not: A Texas scam artist tricked one person out of $6,300 for a false divorce proceeding after meeting him at a Burger King.

Announcements:

• Goodwill North Central Texas: Promotes Jeffrey Marchese to Vice President of Facilities Management & Asset Protection, and Kim Perkins to Vice President of Human Resources. Christy Allen (Human Resources), Courtney Caraway (Rehabilitation Services) and Jennifer Moore (Staffing Services) have been appointed Directors.

• Texas Christian University Department of Social Work: Names Lauren King, Executive Director of the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, its 2024 Alumni of the Year.

• The Catholic Foundation Board of Trustees: Elects Richard D. Kelly, Thomas Reidy and Jean M. White as Trustees. 

• Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County: Names Kim Brennan as Strategic Initiatives Director.

• CrossFirst Bank: Hires Kiara Bowers as a Relationship Banker.

• HFA Architecture + Engineering: Hires Lisa Hess as Chief Financial Officer.

Last poll results: What’s your favorite Easter candy? Answers: Reese’s peanut butter eggs (30%), Malted milk eggs (21%), Jelly bean eggs (11%), Cadbury creme eggs (11%), Marshmallow Peeps (8%), Other (8%), Chocolate bunny (6%), Foil-wrapped chocolate eggs (6%).