Dickies, Trump Promises, Esports: Monday's Business Briefing

THE BIG STORYSurgical mask maker who backed 'Buy American' pledge now sees it as 'hot air'For years, Prestige Ameritch executive vice president Mike Bowen has been vocal about the dwindling presence of American companies in this once thriving local industry of surgical masks.But now he sees the effort as "a waste of time."What sent him over the edge most recently was that just days after the White House touted "Made in America Week," a July event to spotlight American-made goods, the government awarded contracts for surgical masks worth more than $1 million to a supplier that does the bulk of its production south of the border."If the government doesn't even buy American, who will?" Bowen asked.-Sabriya RicePlus: Find more on D-FW health careTHE LATEST Transportation: Fluor Enterprises, Lane Construction to design, build Texas' proposed bullet train. Retail: Aldi to offer online grocery shopping in Dallas through Instacart. Energy: Trump's idea to drain half of America's emergency oil reserve so far finds few takers. Real estate: McKinney picks Dallas developer to launch industrial building project. M&A: Frisco logistics giant Transplace sells to TPG Capital. Health care: Merck CEO quits Trump council as 'matter of personal conscience' and draws president's Twitter anger.   Continue reading...