DreamWorks draws profits from ‘Shrek’

The ogre in the animated blockbuster “Shrek 2” continued to produce an abundance of green for DreamWorks Animation SKG during the fourth quarter, while the comedy “Shark Tale” did swimmingly at the box office.

The Glendale, Calif.-based maker of computer-animated films said this week it earned $192 million, or $1.99 a share, thanks to “Shrek 2” DVD sales and the theatrical performance of “Shark Tale.”

A year earlier, DreamWorks Animation lost $36.6 million, or 48 cents a share. Revenue more than tripled in the fourth quarter to $495.7 million.

NCAA Tournament

US Airways adds flights for Final Four

Folks in North Carolina already are landing some transportation conveniences in anticipation of next month’s NCAA Final Four.

US Airways announced Friday that it would expand its flight schedule between Charlotte, N.C., and St. Louis, for March 31 and April 1, 4 and 5. The airline said it was adding flights to accommodate the thousands of college basketball fans expected to head to St. Louis for the national tournament’s semifinals April 2 and finals April 4.

Why Charlotte? Perhaps it’s the city’s proximity to Duke, the No. 1 seed in the Austin region, and North Carolina, the No. 1 seed in the Syracuse region.

Or it could be that US Airways has a hub in Charlotte. The airline also is adding St. Louis flights to and from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, also US Airways hubs.

No word yet about additional flights from Kansas City International to St. Louis.

Audit

KCC fines landscaper for safety violations

A Lawrence company is among 31 motor carriers fined for safety violations uncovered by state regulators during the last three months of 2004.

The Kansas Corporation Commission fined Lawrence Landscape $3,000 for five violations: failing to implement an alcohol or drug testing program; failing to maintain complete driver-qualification files; and allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without proper medical examinations, inspection reports or periodic inspections.

Frank Male, co-owner of Lawrence Landscape, said he had warned the auditor that he would find problems — because the company didn’t know which rules it needed to comply with.

“We were in the dark, Male said. “They had no intention of giving us a heads up, telling us what needs to be in place. They basically came in and said, ‘Gotcha.’ They were more interested in levying fines than helping people comply with the law.”

The commission’s transportation division audited 126 motor carriers in the state.