Wednesday, November 13, 2024

The Roundup

Article Icon 1Cornyn Vies For Top Senate Post

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is in the running to become the next Senate majority leader when the new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3.

After picking up four seats in last week’s elections, Republicans will hold a 53-47 majority in the new Congress. They are meeting behind closed doors today to select who will lead the conference after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell steps down at the end of the year.

John Thune of South Dakota and Florida’s Rick Scott are also running for the position. Thune currently holds the No. 2 post among Republicans as the party’s “whip,” a position Cornyn previously held from 2013 to 2019.

Cornyn and Thune have previously criticized Trump, making Scott the preferred pick among some of the President-elect’s supporters. All three expressed agreement with a social media post in which Trump stated his intent to make recess appointments for new Cabinet members.

Article Icon 1Texas A&M Funds $200M Space Institute

The Texas A&M Board of Regents approved more than half a billion dollars in construction projects last week, chief among them a $200 million Space Institute on 32 acres near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The four-story facility will house simulated lunar and Martian landscapes the size of Kyle Field, along with research garages, labs, offices, classrooms, and an auditorium. Construction is slated to begin in January.

Other projects receiving funding include a $10 million hypersonic wind tunnel at the tech-focused RELLIS Campus in Bryan, a $181 million clinical veterinary teaching and research complex, and a $25.3 million training facility for first responders and law enforcement.

Article Icon 1Michelin Guide Texas Debuts

Houston’s 713 Music Hall hosted the award ceremony for the first-ever Michelin Guide Texas, a list of the state’s top eateries curated by the French tire company.

Dating back to 1900, the Guide awards one, two, or three stars to restaurants based on five criteria, including ingredient quality, mastery of flavors and cooking techniques, and consistency across visits.

While no Texas restaurants received the incredibly rare two- or three-star award, 15 received one star. Austin led the way with seven, followed by Houston with five. Dallas, San Antonio, and Spring each have a single one-star restaurant.

The Guide also named 45 restaurants receiving the Bib Gourmand recognition, which highlights establishments offering exceptional food at moderate prices. See the list here.


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The Flyover

Invest in the company that won over the Dragons

The pioneer in smart-doorbell technology, RING, pitched their business on the hit show Shark Tank at a valuation of just $7 million – the sharks shut them down.

5 years later, the company sold to Amazon for more than $1 Billion, turning the 10% stake initially offered to the sharks from $700K to $100M!

A similar story is brewing up in the Smart Shades segment of the industry. A company called RYSE pitched on the Canadian version of Shark Tank called Dragon’s Den.

The difference? They received two offers and have an addressable market that could be significantly larger than that of RING’s.

The hallmark of all successful smart home products is their ability to launch into retail, and RYSE’s recent deal with Best Buy has put them miles ahead of the competition.

Invest in RYSE alongside the Dragons

Around Texas

➤ Yesterday marked the first day new and returning members of the Texas Legislature could file bills for the upcoming session. Some early bills address tuition for illegal immigrants, social media use by minors, and the minimum wage. (More)

➤ Corpus Christi: A mother and her two daughters were safely recovered Monday after they were believed to have been kidnapped from Missouri, prompting authorities there to issue an Amber Alert. Two men are in FBI custody. (See Details)

➤ Houston: Mayor John Whitmire is asking drivers to turn on their headlights today in honor of fallen firefighter Marcelo Garcia, who died battling a fire last week. A public funeral is being held this morning. (More)

➤ Del Rio: An injured hiker was rescued from a remote area of Seminole Canyon State Park on Saturday. First responders carried the hiker over large boulders to a spot where she could be airlifted to a local hospital. (See Photos)

➤ Plano: Toyota donated $15 million for a 5-acre park across the street from its North American headquarters. The park’s name—Mendomi Park—means “taking care of workers like they are family” in Japanese. (More)

➤ Laredo: A monument honoring the 28 Laredoans who lost their lives in the Vietnam War was unveiled during a ceremony on Saturday. (Watch Video)

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Texas Sports

➤ Victor Wembanyama exploded for 34 points, including six three-pointers, to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 116-96 win over the Sacramento Kings. (Watch Highlights)

➤ The No. 21 Texas women’s soccer team beat No. 14 South Carolina 1-0 to win their first SEC title, earning an automatic bid to the 64-team NCAA tournament this weekend. (More)

America’s Sweethearts, the popular Netflix documentary about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad, has been renewed for a second season. (More)

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

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The Business Of Texas
Southwest Airlines is extending buyout offers to ground operations employees at 18 airports across the country, blaming the cuts on delays in receiving new planes from Boeing. (More)

The Tyler Economic Development Council sold a 30-acre property to Amazon for the construction of a $50 million, 140,000-square-foot delivery station that is expected to create more than 100 full-time jobs. (See Details)

Coca-Cola is reintroducing the Mexican soft drink Barrilitos in Texas and California after acquiring the company in 2008 and discontinuing the brand in the U.S. The sodas will come in four flavors: Mandarina, Manzana, Piña, and Ponche de Frutas. (More)

 Right NOW: 15% Off Sale site-wide for Flyover Roast Coffee!  We offer two exclusive single-origin coffee roasts: the Afterburner Nicaraguan Dark Roast and the Cruising Altitude Guatemalan Medium Roast, both in whole bean and ground. This coffee is how we stay fueled to bring you the best news every morning at no cost to you! 

Ring sold to Amazon for $1.2B. Nest went to Google for $3.2B. Missed out? Don’t miss this:

RYSE, a tech leader in Smart Shades, is now offering shares at just $1.75. With 10 patents filed and issued, RYSE’s breakthrough tech offers:

  • Unmatched Convenience: Motorizes existing shades, controlled by voice, smartphone, or schedule.

  • Affordable Luxury: Priced at $149 vs. competitors at up to $1,000.

  • Radical Efficiency: Cuts cooling costs by up to 24% and lighting by up to 74%.

With the Smart Shades market growing 23% annually, now’s your chance to invest before RYSE becomes a household name.

Et Cetera

Longtime Texas Tech professor Mark Miller is retiring as the coach of the school’s meat judging team. His 13 national titles are the most in collegiate meat judging history. (Watch Video)

Ema Mathis, a senior at Vanguard College Preparatory School in Waco, published a children’s book on the importance of thanking veterans for their service. She credits her World War II history teacher, Brad Livingstone, with inspiring her effort. (Watch Video)

USA Today nominated El Paso’s WinterFest for a spot on its list of the top 10 holiday markets in the U.S. The annual celebration features a tree-lighting ceremony, a parade, live music, ice skating, and a variety of vendors. (More)

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The Polling Station

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

  1. Up to 15 minutes
  2. Up to 30 minutes
  3. Up to 45 minutes
  4. Up to an hour
  5. As long as it takes
  6. I don’t eat out
 

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you like to dance?

  1. If I’m in the mood: 37.2%
  2. Not really: 34.9%
  3. Any chance I get: 27.9%
Texas Trivia

Where in Texas can you find a one-person cemetery in the median of a neighborhood street?

Show me the answer

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