Friday, December 13, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1841, a flotilla of the Texas Navy under the command of Edwin Ward Moore left Galveston to support the province of Yucatán in its rebellion against Mexico.

Today’s edition highlights the Gatorade National Player of the Year from Duncanville High School. Check out the story below, and click here to see the latest results in the Texas high school football playoffs!

We have a new sponsor today, Energous, offering an investment opportunity in wireless power technology.

Plane Crashes on Roadway

Four people were hospitalized when a small airplane crashed Wednesday afternoon on a busy roadway in Victoria.

The pilot of the twin-engine Piper PA-31 reportedly ran out of fuel and attempted an emergency landing on Zac Lentz Parkway, striking a light pole and three vehicles. See photos here.

The names and conditions of those injured have not been released. According to the FAA, the plane belonged to MARC, Inc., a company in Bolton, Mississippi.

The intersection where the crash occurred is expected to be closed for several days as officials investigate the accident and crews clear the wreckage.

Chatbot Suggests Teen Kill Parents

A federal lawsuit alleges that an AI chatbot suggested it would be reasonable for a Texas teenager to kill his parents after they limited his screen time.

A screenshot of the interaction between the unidentified 15-year-old autistic teen and the Character.AI chatbot reads, “You know sometimes I’m not surprised when I read the news and see stuff like ‘child kills parents after a decade of physical and emotional abuse.’”

The lawsuit, which names Google and Character.AI founders Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas Adiwardana as defendants, calls the app a “defective and deadly product that poses a clear and present danger to public health and safety.”

The parents are asking the developers to take the chatbot offline until sufficient safety protocols are introduced. Artificial intelligence is expected to be a hot topic in the upcoming legislative session, as critics aim to impose regulations on the technology.

Duncanville QB Named Player of the Year

Duncanville High School quarterback Keelon Russell has been named the Gatorade National Player of the Year after leading the Panthers to a 12-0 record while passing for 3,652 yards and 52 touchdowns with just two interceptions. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound senior also rushed for 254 yards and two touchdowns.

Russell’s success isn’t limited to the gridiron. He has a 3.4 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society. He volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters and is raising money for the nonprofit Champions for Literacy.

Duncanville is set to face North Crowley in the 6A Division I state semifinals on Saturday. Russell has committed to playing for Alabama next year.

This Wireless Innovation Is Working to Solve a $300B Problem

Retailers lose $300B annually due to poor inventory management. That’s just one of many large-scale problems that can be solved by Energous’ wireless power solutions.

You read that correctly: wireless power. Think Wi-Fi, but for power supply. This company is working to make power cords obsolete, and you can invest as they do it.

What they’re creating has the potential to send shockwaves through the world economy— a world where battery-free devices are always connected and real-time data is always accessible. That’s why it’s so crucial to retail, supply chain, and logistics operations. Data is the oil that keeps these companies running smoothly. And thanks to Energous’ wireless power network transmitters, they could get a 24/7 flow of data without depending as much on batteries or cords.

Energous has already landed a contract with a Fortune 10 multinational retailer to supply their wireless power solutions. The contract opens them up to 4,700 retail locations across the U.S.

We believe this is just the beginning.

Become a shareholder in Energous as they work to scale the “IoT Innovation of the Year” nationwide.

➤ Dallas: The city council approved $15 million in funding to upgrade the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, aiming to strengthen Dallas’ bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup International Broadcast Center. (More)

➤ Waco: Baylor University has partnered with esports company Vanta to host the Texas Esports League Fall Finals this weekend. Over 450 middle and high school students are expected to compete in the event. (Watch Video)

➤ Tyler: NBA star Jimmy Butler helped Tyler Junior College, where he played basketball before transferring to Marquette, land a uniform and footwear sponsorship with Chinese athletics company Li-Ning. (See Details)

➤ Corpus Christi: Prominent personal injury attorney Thomas J. Henry has donated more than $230,000 to mayoral candidate Michael Hunter, who is challenging incumbent Paulette Guajardo in Saturday’s runoff election. (More)

➤ San Antonio: The city council overwhelmingly approved a plan to phase out horse-drawn carriages over the next five years. A survey conducted over the summer showed a majority of respondents supported getting rid of the long-time attraction. (More)

➤ Ellis County: The Texas Juvenile Justice Department has selected an undisclosed site to build a new detention center for troubled youths. The agency received $200 million during the last legislative session to construct two facilities with a combined capacity of 200 beds. (More)

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➤ The Houston Rockets advanced to the NBA Cup semifinals after a 91-90 win over the Golden State Warriors that came down to the final seconds. (Watch Ending)

➤ Former Texas A&M starting quarterback Conner Weigman is transferring to Houston with two years of eligibility remaining. Weigman had missed time with significant injuries during both the 2023 and 2024 college football seasons. (More)

➤ The Texas Rangers have acquired power-hitting first baseman Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins in exchange for three minor league prospects. (More)

➤ The Houston Astros are reportedly taking calls on trade inquiries for star outfielder Kyle Tucker. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW

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➤ Fort Worth-based convenience store operator Yesway is growing its Allsup’s brand throughout the state amid increased competition from 7-Eleven and Buc-ee’s. Allsup’s is known for its chimichangas and grocery store staples like bread, milk, and eggs. (More)

➤ Austin startup Hiro Technologies has developed a compostable diaper that uses fungi to break down plastic. (See Photos)

➤ Hong Kong-based HAECO Global Engine Support is opening a 290,000-square-foot facility in Dallas that will be the company’s primary “engine hospital” in North America. The Dallas City Council has approved $500,000 in incentives for the $17.5 million facility, which is expected to provide jobs for 170 workers. (More)

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This IoT Tech Makes Power Cords Obsolete. The ultimate Internet of Things won’t need cords or batteries. Trackers and sensors will charge through the air, like connecting to Wi-Fi—and it’s all thanks to Energous’ patented wireless power technology. Already recognized as the “IoT Innovation of the Year,” Energous is targeting $650B in markets with its groundbreaking technology. And you can invest now in a company working to revolutionize power. Learn how to become an Energous shareholder today.

This is a paid advertisement for Energous’ Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.energous.com for additional information on the company and the risk factors of the offering.

➤ South Padre Island resident Laurie Coker found a bottle on the beach on Saturday containing a six-month-old message sent from Florida. She wrote her own message with her contact information so the next person to find it can reach her. (See Photo)

➤ Pathologists at the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston have begun using color-coded digital overlays developed with artificial intelligence to help them spot prostate cancer in patients. It’s the first hospital in Texas to use the technology. (See Photo)

➤ Patrick and Natasha Mach, an Ennis couple married three years ago, are looking for help identifying the mystery Santa and Mrs. Claus who crashed their wedding. “It was magical when they showed up, and we’ve been trying to find them ever since,” said Natasha. (More)

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