Thursday, November 14, 2024

The Roundup

Article Icon 1Trump Appoints Texans To Leadership Roles

President-elect Donald Trump selected former Texas congressman John Ratcliffe on Tuesday to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. Ratcliffe represented several counties in Northeast Texas from 2015 to 2020 before he became Director of National Intelligence in the final months of the first Trump administration.

Trump also appointed Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The temporary commission will identify government waste and unnecessary regulations.

Trump said he would appoint Musk to an advisory role at an August campaign event, prompting the billionaire to post a photo of himself with a fictional seal for DOGE, saying, “I am willing to serve.” Musk said he could cut up to $2 trillion from the federal budget.

DOGE is an apparent reference to an internet meme and cryptocurrency by the same name, both of which Musk has popularized through frequent social media posts.

Article Icon 1East Texans Oppose Battery Storage Facility

Hundreds of Van Zandt County residents gathered at the Whitton Community Center on Tuesday to voice their opposition to a planned lithium-ion battery storage facility, citing concerns about the risk of a potential explosion.

Taaleri Energia, a Finnish-based renewable energy developer and fund manager, plans to break ground on the project in late December or early January. However, residents have raised concerns about the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries overheating.

A petroleum pipeline is located right next to the proposed facility. Fire departments in the area—many staffed by volunteers—are relatively small. Additionally, some residents have expressed concerns that an explosion could release toxic gases.

It makes me nervous, a lot of the people that live around it, it makes them angry and it scares them,” said opposition organizer David Dunagan.

Article Icon 1Astrodome Redevelopment Plans Revealed

Houston’s Astrodome Conservancy unveiled a $1 billion redevelopment plan to transform the historic structure into a multipurpose space with four modern buildings, a retail village, and a central boulevard inspired by New York’s High Line.

When it opened in 1965, the Astrodome was dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” It was the longtime home of the Astros and Oilers. It hosted a Muhammad Ali fight, the famous Battle of the Sexes tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, and performances by Elvis, Pink Floyd, and Madonna. In 2005, it housed up to 25,000 Hurricane Katrina refugees.

Closed to the public since 2009, the Astrodome is structurally sound, asbestos-free, and paid off. The Conservancy hopes to raise up to $750 million from private sources to minimize the burden on taxpayers.


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The Flyover

The Last Step in AI: Why New Sapience Outpaces Big Tech

Big Tech is searching for the next step in AI, but New Sapience is delivering the last step: Synthetic Intelligence that learns, understands, and interacts like a human.

Platforms like ChatGPT rely on massive, expensive supercomputers and regurgitate information without true comprehension. New Sapience’s patented technology is fundamentally different.

Why is New Sapience better?

  • Learns and comprehends like a human

  • Doesn’t have bias or misinformation

  • Doesn’t steal data from creators

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Around Texas

➤ Sen. John Thune of South Dakota edged out Sen. John Cornyn to become the GOP pick for Senate majority leader when the new Congress is seated next year. (More)

➤ Plano: A home security camera captured the third mountain lion sighting in North Texas since Oct. 27. Officials believe the feline was passing through and is unlikely to remain in the area. (Watch Video)

➤ Bastrop: Residents have lodged hundreds of complaints with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality about an odor that “smells like death” from a facility that processes poultry by-products and used cooking oil into pet food and fuel. (See Details)

➤ Dallas: The annual Global Conference for Israel is being held today through Sunday, with approximately 2,500 attendees expected. The conference will include discussions on combating antisemitism and a Shabbat dinner featuring Texas barbecue. (More)

➤ Pharr: U.S. Customs and Border Protection confiscated more than $30 million worth of methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of serrano peppers. (See Photos)

➤ San Antonio: Floating litter booms have been installed along Salado Creek at two local parks as part of a program to remove trash from the waterway. The company that makes the booms is also working with groups in Dallas, Houston, and Laredo. (Watch Video)

➤ Austin: City officials discussed a plan to add more than 26 acres of community space by constructing “caps” and “stitches” over sections of I-35, which TxDOT plans to expand and lower through downtown in the coming years. (See Photos)

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Texas Sports

Texas is No. 3 in the latest College Football Playoff Rankings, putting them in a position to earn a first-round bye. Texas A&M and SMU are currently a few spots outside of qualifying for the playoff, sitting at No. 14 and No. 15, respectively. (More)

➤ The Dallas Stars offense went off for six first-period goals to destroy the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-1. (Watch Highlights)

➤ The Dallas Mavericks lost their first 2024 NBA Cup game, falling to the Golden State Warriors 120-117 in Klay Thompson’s first game against his former team. (More)

 Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAF | NCAAM | NCAAW  

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The Business Of Texas
Sports drink brand Electrolit is planning to build a $400 million manufacturing facility in Waco in early 2026. It is expected to employ 200 skilled professionals and technicians. (More)

Austin-based robotics company Avride has started delivering Uber Eats orders in downtown Austin with its fleet of more than a dozen autonomous robots. (Watch Video)

Firefly Aerospace, a rocket company based in Cedar Park, is now valued at more than $2 billion after raising $175 million in its latest round of funding. (More)

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Et Cetera

An Uber Eats delivery driver ended up in Galveston Bay after taking a wrong turn last Friday night. The driver was unhurt, and authorities managed to fish him and his vehicle out of the bay. (More)

The Oscar Mayer Weinermobile is in Waco today through this weekend. (See Schedule)

Brandi Botello, a 29-year-old Irving woman with 40,000 followers on Instagram, is pleading for the return of her 3-year-old spider monkey Jorgie Boy. Authorities confiscated the unpermitted monkey when Botello and a friend were involved in a one-car wreck. (More)

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The Polling Station

Have you ever visited the Astrodome?

  1. Yes
  2. No
 

Yesterday’s Results:

How far are you willing to drive to eat at a good restaurant?

  1. Up to 15 minutes: 12.3%
  2. Up to 30 minutes: 26.0%
  3. Up to 45 minutes: 15.2%
  4. Up to an hour: 21.5%
  5. As long as it takes: 14.6%
  6. I don’t eat out: 10.4%
Texas Trivia

What are the Big Inch and the Little Big Inch?

Show me the answer

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