Company Activities and Information

Hostess: Dead by Murder, Suicide, or Natural Causes? Uh ... Yes?

In this week's cover story, we examine the demise of Irving-based Hostess, purveyor of Wonder Bread, Ho Hos, Twinkies and Ding Dongs -- basically all the stuff you should never put in your body. These days, pretty much everything is political, even the fate of snack food. Can blame for the company' ... More >>

Sam Bush at Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge

Say Farewell to John Jay Shannon, Parkland's Chief Medical Officer

Update at 1:29 p.m.:Dr. Shannon's email announcing his resignation, as well as board chair Donna Branson's responses to my questions, are below. Original post: Skip over to Parkland's website and scroll through the roster of senior executives and you'll notice it hasn't been updated in a while. But ... More >>

Aaron Barker's Ice Cream Education

Aaron Barker Went to Ice Cream College, and Yes, That's a Real Thing

That cat has one thing on its mind​After the Great Cupcake Flood of 2008 and the Cake Ball Frenzy of 2010, the baked goods wave seems to have slightly receded in Texas.There's only so many times you can hear "red velvet cake" before you want to stab someone with a spork. However, among the man ... More >>

Captain America's Team: Marvel Comics and Your Dallas Cowboys Join Forces. Again.

Via.​Well, this is certainly odd timing: Only a few hours after flashing back to that Dallas Times Herald gimme featuring Spider-Man and Danny White, Your Dallas Cowboys have announced a partnership with Marvel Entertainment. As in:Through an agreement that enables the Dallas Cowboys to license Ma ... More >>

In DISD and Across Local Charter Schools, Teach for America's Growing Next Year

​While they were busy voting not to extend their term lengths last Thursday, the Dallas Independent School District board of trustees also made the call to extend the district's partnership with Teach for America, on the heels of the glowing review they heard of TFA's first year-and-a-half here so ... More >>

Once More, Blockbuster to Close Out Year By Closing a Couple Hundred Stores

​It's been exactly a year now since our last extensive sit-down with Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes, who, at the time, referred to the downtown-based videotailer as "a football team that's rebuilding." At the very same time, Blockbuster was shuttering dozens of stores, including the location at Royal L ... More >>

In Other Rangers News, Mark Cuban and Jim Crane Still Fighting to Get Their Bid Refund

Sam Merten​A few weeks back we noticed that Mark Cuban and Jim Crane wanted their millions back for trying to buy the Texas Rangers out from under Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan (and Ray Davis and Bob Simpson). Long story short: Cuban and Crane, as Radical Pitch LLC, figured they're owed a refund ... More >>

Rangers Win! Hicks Loses!

TexasRangers.com​As last night's Game Five wore on, the damnedest thing began to happen: My neighborhood, in Northwest Dallas, began echoing with mighty, mighty shouts of joy. A few friends reported the same thing in other parts of town -- you didn't even need to have the Rangers-Rays game on to k ... More >>

AT&T Performing Arts Center's CEO, Mark Nerenhausen, Has Resigned Effective Pronto

Mark Nerenhausen​The release just sent by the AT&T PAC folks announcing the sudden and surprise resignation of Mark Nerenhausen, who was named president and chief executive officer for the then-Dallas Center for the Performing Arts on December 4, 2008, doesn't say what led to the decision this ... More >>

Yo, Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes. Niko Celentano of the Bronx Would Like a Word. And An Emergency Shareholders Meeting.

​One week ago today I received an e-mail from a "large stockholder" in Blockbuster -- a gentleman high on the movie-studio food chain, as a matter of fact. He copied me on a missive he sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission in which he asked what in the wide, wide world of sports he could ... More >>

This Just In: Greenberg, Ryan Ready to Seal Rangers Deal ... Even If It Means Auction

Sam MertenChuck Greenberg, Tom Hicks and Nolan Ryan​After the jump is a press release that just popped up in the Unfair Park in-box courtesy one Kevin Sullivan, ex-Mavs man and Bush man now doing the talking for Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan, who'll be danged if some auction -- which they agreed ... More >>

On Day Debt Payment's Due, New York Stock Exchange Halts Trading of Blockbuster's Stock

​At this very moment, beleaguered Blockbuster's PR peeps are preparing a statement to explain why, moments ago, its stock stopped being traded on the New York Stock Exchange. At present, it's stuck at a whopping 23 cents. NYSE spokesperson Mirtha Medina sends this brief note: "BBI was halted today ... More >>

Six Flags Moving the Bossman to Dallas

WFMU​Actually, if I'm not mistaken, Six Flags's corporate offices in the DFW are in Grand Prairie on Avenue J East. But today -- which marks the amusement park's return to the New York Stock Exchange following Chapter 11 reorganization -- Six Flags announced that Al Weber Jr., its president and i ... More >>

Judge Agrees With Rangers' Attorney: Hicks Didn't Have to Sell Team to Highest Bidder

Sam MertenIn federal court this morning, Nolan Ryan looked much like he did at the presser announcing the team's prepackaged bankruptcy -- totally defeated.​With his broad shoulders squeezed in tightly next to Chuck Greenberg, Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan looked like he'd rather be tossi ... More >>

After Sending Out Proxy Materials, Blockbuster Steps Up Attack on "Dissident Stockholder"

​The postman was kind enough to deliver my Blockbuster proxy materials yesterday in advance of this month's board meeting downtown. (I recently bought 100 shares -- it was either that or a pack of smokes.) CEO Jim Keyes, yet again, reminded me vote for his slate of candidates to the board of direc ... More >>

In-N-Out With Some High-N-Tight End-of-the-Day Follow-Ups to Which We Plead Guilty

​Where to begin? Let's go with Your Texas Rangers, who were back in bankruptcy court in Fort Worth for the second day of "first day" proceedings following Monday's voluntary Chapter 11 filing. Reports the Associated Press, U.S. District Judge D. Michael Lynn finally decided after a bidding war bet ... More >>

Carl Icahn, Who Once Led the Charge to Remake Blockbuster, Closes His Account

​Around the time self-proclaimed shareholder activist Carl Icahn bought into Blockbuster half a decade ago, its stock was worth $10, give or take. He ultimately spent well over $300 million stocking up on shares, in large part to lead the effort that would lead to the ouster of then-CEO John Antio ... More >>

It's Official: MAPSCO Has New Owner, Needs Map to Find Fort Washington, PA

​On Friday we broke the news that 62-year-old MAPSCO was being bought out by Pennsylvania-based Universal Map, though higher-ups at both companies refused to offer comment. Today, we get The Official Comment: Universal Map's done snatched up the entirety of the Dallas institution's assets for an u ... More >>

Despite SEC Filing Warning of Possible Chapter 11, Blockbuster Remains Defiant

​At this late date, is there even any need to recount Blockbuster's myriad woes? They are innumerable, but to the list add this one: the possibility of having to file for Chapter 11. CEO Jim Keyes says that's so much nonsense, the doing of attorneys who have to give fair warning. But in the 148-pa ... More >>

A Blockbuster Free-Fall

​Near the close of business Wednesday, we posted Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes's admission that the Christmas season delivered little more than a lump of coal for the Dallas-based videotailer, as in: "Our performance during the holidays was well below expectations." When I spoke with Keyes at great le ... More >>

U.S. Trustee in Charge of Bob's Bankruptcy Isn't Very Happy With His Steak

It's been almost two months since Silveroak Holdings, Ltd. -- better known as Bob's Steak & Chop House -- filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Dallas; on this otherwise slow news morning, well, it seemed like a good time to check in. Which, as you'll see from the doc b ... More >>

On the Bob's Steak & Chop House Line, a Chapter 11 Filing to Restructure Massive Debt

Yesterday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Dallas, Silveroak Holdings, Ltd. -- better known as Bob's Steak & Chop House -- filed for Chapter 11 reorganization. Bob Sambol and his attorney, Mark Ralston, say the bankruptcy filing has nothing to do with Lee Thompson's claim that Sambol owes him $300,00 ... More >>

GameStop Banking On "Used Product"

Grapevine-based GameStop this morning reported its first-quarter '09 financials, which look pretty nice on the surface: Total sales were up 9.2% to $1.98 billion, and net earnings jumped 13.4% to $70.4 million. Among the reasons cited for the increased income: the release of the Nintendo DSi and suc ... More >>

Food For Thought 5.6.09

"Speculation that Starbucks is losing retail market share to competitors has been grossly exaggerated. Our customers are not trading down." (Howard Schultz, chairman of Starbucks, announcing lower pricing on certain items in some markets to combat slower sales. The Seattle-based chain reported a 77 ... More >>

Food For Thought 5.4.09

"[Sales] may have been negatively impacted by media surrounding swine flu." (Chuck E. Cheese executive Michael Magusiak on the effect of the "pandemic" on the family friendly pizza chain's fortunes, The restaurants suffered a 20 percent drop in same-store sales during the first three days last week. ... More >>

The Bailout Bonus Round: Jeb Hensarling Is Not Happy With AIG. Not at All.

In light of the news that American International Group -- better known as AIG -- is doling out those "distasteful" but nonetheless delicious bonuses to its execs, the House Financial Services Subcommittee is meeting at this very moment to discuss AIG and "how it got into its current situation, why i ... More >>

DISD Trustees May Make Cutbacks in Democratic Process

DISD trustees may try to cancel next year's school board election to preserve the status quo and the superintendent

At Harold's, Everything Must Go

Beginning Wednesday at Circuit City on Central, Everything Must Go

Not Schadenfreude, Swear. Really, Just Something to Chew On.

Attention, All Shoppers, It's Cancellation Day at The Last Mall

What Ross Perot's Thousand-Dollar Investment Has Yielded

The Texas Rangers Are Pleased to Meat You, Nolan Ryan

Guitar Hero Will Save the Economy

The Feds Are Not Going After Belo For Phony Circulation Numbers

Say it Like Seinfeld: Neumann

Bye, Bye, Bio Willie

Mo' Comerica

And Qantas Never Crashed

Belo in Bed with Yahoo!

Got Half a Billion ACS Can Borrow? Like, Now?

The ABCs of ACS Lawsuits

On What Legal Grounds?

How Belo Can You Go

Bob Hoofs North

The Plano version of Bob's Steak and Chophouse stays true to form--mysterious carrot and all

The Star Chamber

Why is unsuccessful politico Brenda Reyes deciding who gets minority contracts? Because Adelfa Callejo says so.

Darling, you smell

Local company accused of dumping animal carcasses in Minnesota stream

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