✈️Pentagon considering selling F-35s to Saudis; Dilbert creator makes plea to Trump on X; Businesses in a pinch over pennies.

The Trump Administration is considering a Saudi Arabian request to buy as many as 48 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, a potential multi-billion-dollar deal that has cleared a key Pentagon hurdle. A sale would mark a significant policy shift, potentially altering the military balance in the Middle East and testing Washington's definition of maintaining Israel's "qualitative military edge."

American Airlines is cutting its corporate workforce with hundreds of jobs expected to be eliminated at its Fort Worth headquarters, according to Bloomberg. The job cuts will be predominantly in mid-management and support staff, affecting areas such as finance, technology, commercial and communications.

Hello, is Donald there: At 3:29 a.m. on November 2, Dilbert creator Scott Adams wrote on X, “On Monday, I will ask President Trump, via X, to help save my life. He offered to help me if I needed it. I need it. As many of you know, I have metastasized prostate cancer." Nov. 4, the Trump Administration took care of the insurance holdup for the treatment.

A nickel for your thoughts? Yes, inflation has impacted the old adage because the U.S. is experiencing a shortage of pennies. President Trump decided to stop production in February and we are running out sooner than expected. Banks are rationing pennies to their business clients and seeking answers for the crisis.

Fort Worth-based BNSF Railway, a Berkshire Hathaway company, showed gains in revenue and profits for the third quarter and nine-month period. Revenues for the quarter were $5.988 billion compared to $5.881 billion in the corresponding period in 2024. Pre-tax earnings totaled $1.912 billion, up from $1.846 billion. Net earnings were $1.449 billion, up from $1.383 billion. 

In early returns, voters looked to approve a constitutional amendment to raise the state’s homestead exemption and shave hundreds of dollars off the typical homeowner’s property tax bill. Homeowners 65 and older would see bigger cuts. Businesses also were poised to get a break on their property taxes with an exemption up to $125,000 of inventory from being taxed. The race to fill a Texas Senate seat representing much of Tarrant County looked to be heading to a runoff. Fort Worth Democrat Taylor Rehmet and Southlake Republican Leigh Wambsganss were on track to face each other Dec. 13.

Trump administration and private investors sign off on a $1.4-billion deal with rare earth startups. How does that impact Fort Worth's MP Materials beyond its stock price. 

MacKenzie Scott has given Howard University an $80-million, mostly unrestricted gift. $17 million is to go to the medical school. That brings her total gifts to the Washington D.C. university to $132 million. 

B.R. Distilling, parent company of Blue Note Bourbon, selected Fort Worth-based Ben E. Keith Beverages as its distributor in Texas to grow the whiskey portfolio.

Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth at 5601 Bryant Irvin Rd., has begun a major renovation aimed at enhancing its dealership experience. A new client lounge and showroom, more service bays, and an expanded parts department for Mercedes-Benz clients are included in the renovation.

American Airlines launched a calculated assault on Delta Air Lines’ network dominance, announcing four new routes and expanded service in what aviation analysts describe as a classic “tit-for-tat” competitive response.

Arkansas-based HFA, an architecture and engineering firm with an office in downtown Fort Worth, has acquired TRIA, a Boston-based architecture firm known for its expertise in life sciences and laboratory design.

Real estate transactions:

• Whitestone Hospitality purchased the 108-room, Arlington Comfort Suites from an affiliate of Waramaug Hospitality. It is at 411 W. Road to Six Flags. Marcus & Millichap represented the seller and procured the buyer.

• Marcus & Millichap announced the sale of the 34,000-square-foot Meadowcrest Corners retail property on 2.6 acres at 5306-5356 Snow Drive in North Richland Hills. Marcus & Millichap marketed the property and procured the buyer. 

• Trailspur Capital Partners purchased the five-building industrial outdoor storage property at 13053 Gateway Alliance Drive in Fort Worth. The nearly 28,000-square-foot property sits on 19.6 acres and was sold by North Texas Contracting Inc.

News you can use about food and dining:

• Patriot Pig Chophouse and North Richland Hills are near a deal for a $5-million food and event center near the Smithfield TEXRail stop. The restaurant would serve steaks and seafood as well as barbecue and would have a full bar.

• Mary Patino Perez, founder Enchiladas Ole, will open her barbecue cuisine, Holy Cue, December 1 at 208 W. Magnolia in the Hospital District.

• Nikuya, a sushi restaurant, has opened on the rooftop of the Sinclair Hotel at 512 Main St. in Fort Worth. It's from DRG Concepts, which brought us Wicked Butcher, Wild Salsa and Chop House Burger.

Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history, died at 84 because of complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. Cheney served father and son presidents, leading the armed forces as defense chief during the Persian Gulf War under President George H.W. Bush before returning to public life as vice president under George W. Bush.

A couple went opposite routes upon arriving in the U.S. to test the new “One Stop Security” system that allows international passengers to skip re-checking bags and TSA lines. See here for the results. 

Snippets:

• Will AI be the end of call centers...as soon as 2029? 

• A Texas court ruling pulls Dr Pepper from Coca-Cola distribution and fountains. So, the latter is bringing back a re-energized Mr. Pibb.

• MSNBC is on the way out. Hello MS NOW. Starting Nov. 15, the cable news network will be called “My Source for News, Opinion, and the World” or MS NOW.

In case you missed it: Here’s the thrilling conclusion to Game 7 of the World Series condensed into nine minutes.

Significant stat: $1,618 = what the average D-FW commuter lost from wasted fuel and lost productivity in 2024, per the Texas A&M Transportation Institute's 2025 Urban Mobility Report. The average driver in the metro area spent 69 hours sitting in traffic in 2024. That's four more hours than in 2019.

Announcements: 

• SERVPRO: Hires Emily Aguilar as Executive Assistant.

• Fort Worth Academy -- Adds Chuck Bouligny to its Board of Trustees.

• Texas Rangers: After 11 years with the team, third base coach Tony Beasley will not return in 2026.

• Teton Ridge: Names Shawn Colo Executive Chairman after the departure of CEO Deirdre Lester. Colo will work to expand Teton Ridge’s sports and entertainment platform and elevate Western culture.

• Tarrant To & Through Partnership: Hires Ashley Payne as Manager of Corporate & Community Impact. 

• Banabox: Hires Melissa Willard as Payroll Coordinator.

• Frontiers of Flight Museum: Adds Cameron Hernholm as Chief Philanthropy Officer. 

• Tarrant County College: Promotes Ernesto Cuellar to Senior Career Advisor. 

• Vartabedian Hester & Haynes: Adds attorney Alicia Pitts.

• Bourland, Wall & Wenzel: Adds associate attorney Ashley Tran.

• Central Storehouse: Adds Scott Morikawa as Advisory Board member.

• Sixth Street Specialty Lending: Names Robert Stanley co-CEO.

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