🍺We'll drink to that; Karate kids coming; How hot was it?

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📣NEWS OF THE DAY:

DrinkPAK, a manufacturer of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, is expanding operations with two locations in Fort Worth. The facilities, totaling approximately 2.8 million square feet, will be at a Trammell Crow development at 35 Eagle on I-35W and Eagle Parkway in far north Fort Worth, and at Carter Park East in south Fort Worth. The $452M capital investment will result in the creation of 1,000 full-time jobs by 2026 with an average annual salary of $70,000.

Diamonds Direct plans to open a location at 1661 S. University Drive in a building that had been a branch location for Wells Fargo bank, according to a state filing. The 6,687-square-foot project has an estimated completion date of May 11, 2024.

USA Karate has chosen Fort Worth to host the 2024 and 2026 USA Karate USA Open and Junior International Cup at the Fort Worth Convention Center (March 28-31, 2024, and April 23-27, 2026).

Newmark Group, Inc. arranged joint venture equity financing for the development of 121 Commerce Center, a Class-A industrial project in Grapevine. The 272K-square-foot development is expected to break ground in March. GTIS Partners is the sponsor.

Stonemont Financial Group, a private real estate investment firm, sold a 218,000-square-foot industrial warehouse to Dot Foods and leased an additional 267,000-square-foot warehouse to Giti Tire USA at DFW Point35, a two-building industrial park in north Fort Worth.

Staff Sgt. Cody J. Foster has been named 2023 USO National Guardsman of the Year. Foster serves with the 136th Airlift Wing, Texas Air National Guard in Fort Worth, and helped save the lives of a mother and her 3-year-old child who were injured and dehydrated after crossing the Rio Grande River at the U.S./Mexico border.

After seven years, Park + Eighth, the retail store on Camp Bowie in Fort Worth that specializes in vintage furniture, accessories and artwork, is closing. A social media post from the retailer said the closing date would occur before the end of the year.

An epic pickleball experience called Stadium Smash is coming to Globe Life Field in Arlington from Dec 18-22. Twenty pickleball courts will be offered for rent on the outfield of Globe Life Field, as well as professional clinics, tournament play and live music. (tickets)

Another really big dill: There’s a new ketchup flavor in town. Heinz is rolling out “Pickle Ketchup,” combining two BBQ staples into one squeeze bottle. Research from the company found that 73% of Americans like the taste of pickles, and that consumers are hungry for new products.

Fort Worth has joined the North Texas Innovation Alliance, a 501(c)3 regional consortium of more than 40 municipalities, agencies, corporations and academic institutions with a mission to build the "most connected, smart and resilient region in the country."

Last month, the Fort Worth City Plan Commission approved a waiver and preliminary plat for a 500-home subdivision called La Frontera in northwest Fort Worth. The waiver wasn’t controversial — it removed a requirement for a “bridge to nowhere,” officials said — but it raised a much bigger question about drainage in the area. 

The American Hospital Association and allies in Texas sued the U.S. Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights to block enforcement of HIPAA guidance regarding online tracking technologies for customer relationship management. They argued the rule "precipitously upended the balance that HIPAA and its regulations strike between privacy and information-sharing," and also runs contrary to the practices of several federal healthcare websites.

How hot was it? According to The Dallas Morning News, this summer was Texas’ second hottest on record behind 2011, when the state went through an extended drought. For parts of southern Texas, it was the hottest on record. For D-FW, it was the third hottest.

DAILY DIGIT: According to a LinkedIn survey, 72% of Gen Z would leave or consider leaving a job if their employer didn’t offer a satisfactory flexible work policy.

⌛ON THIS DATE:

• 1966: Movie actor Ronald Reagan elected Governor of California.

• 1972: Home Box Office, otherwise known as HBO, was launched with a total of only 365 subscribers.

• 2020: Television personality Alex Trebek, best known as the host (1984–2020) of the game show Jeopardy!, died at age 80.

✂️SNIPPETS FROM AROUND THE WEB:

• Intoxicated bears and freight rail are not a good mix. (read)

• Grammy winner Leon Bridges designed the new Dallas Mavericks jerseys to honor Fort Worth.

• Next year, you can put more money away for retirement and get a tax break.

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