Out of 26 million Texans, you may have an idea to change the world. You may have had several ideas to change the world. But only a tiny minority of you pushed through the U.S. Patent office from application to successful patent. We've seen Texans change the world many times over. Jack Kilby did it with Texas Instruments in 1958 with the integrated circuit, causing the start of the digital revolution, which, in part, is why you can read these words over your electronic device.
Over the last few years, Texas Business has brought its feature: Texas Business Patent of the Day. This list is of the ones that were either extremely clever, odd or strange. One thing becomes apparent from these patents and the patent that runs daily in Texas Business—Texans have a unique mind set.
Though the history of the Corn Dog is disputed, the State Fair of Texas claims to have introduced the Corny Dog sometime between 1938 and 1942. As a paean to that invention that now sits in the freezer section of every grocery store in the southwest, here are the fried foods the State Fair of Texas has introduced, or tried to introduce, in the last seven years.
Dead Texas musicians live on every time you hear their songs. Their songs play everywhere, so the dead Texas musicians appear to be immortal. Here's the short list.
Don't get caught up with John Wayne religion. For one thing, he's not Texan. He's in some fine movies involving Texas, most notably The Searchers, but none of his movies can make the best cut of Texas movies. Here's the short list.
Unsung Texas Business Journalists Mention that one is a reporter, and there's a spark of interest. Mention that one is a business news reporter, and watch the eyes glaze over. Except to the players, business and economic journalists are unappreciated. While many wish to become sports reporters when they grow up, most do not realize that business journalists cover the Real Game. Mention that reporter covers business, and watch the eyes glaze over. A toast to these below on the short list and the numerous unnamed ones slogging away. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Mexican Food: The Short List No, we're not going to debate the difference between Tex-Mex, Mex-Tex, Mexican and Texican food. Just know these establishments are the pinnacle of Texas Mexican fare. No brag, just fact. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Burgers Texas Burgers. . While a hamburger is merely sustenance and gratification for a meal, the memory a good Texas burger can give rise to Homeric odes. The short list. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Texas Business reports: AUSTIN - State officials gave final approval to approximately $1.9 billion in additional transportation funds to communities across the state.
The Texas Transportation Commission, in its revision of the 2012 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) gave approval for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to move forward with additional funding identified earlier this year.
TxDOT partnered with Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), regional transportation organizations, and districts to identify projects that focus on safety, congestion, maintenance, and statewide connectivity in the coming months.
Communities selected projects that meet important local needs, while leveraging the state's limited resources with other available funds or opportunities to achieve the greatest benefit possible for each community.
“This is a unique position for the state to be in with these funds becoming available,” said Texas Transportation Commission chairman Ted Houghton in a prepared statement. “We want to make the best use of them by partnering with local communities to insure this funding is applied where they feel it is most needed.”
Projects like the Interstate 35 expansion through Central Texas will benefit with a $9 million award to fund new construction and design of Loop 574, a connector to I-35 in Waco.
The additional funding sources originate from Texas Mobility Fund bond proceeds, anticipated federal funding and savings on construction projects currently under way make up the $1.9 billion in allocations.
“The state will be greatly impacted by the work added because of this funding,” said Bill Meadows, a Texas Transportation Commission member from Fort Worth, in a statement. “Continual work with our partners around the state brings solutions like this that provide needed improvements to the transportation infrastructure.”
“The state's transportation challenges remain great,” said Phil Wilson, TxDOT executive director in a statement. “But statewide efforts like this help us address them every time we make forward progress such as this.”
East Texas will see planning begin for the construction of portions of Interstate 69 in the Lufkin and Nacogdoches areas with $12 million dedicated to conducting the necessary environmental review and right of way identification for developing portions of I-69 in that area.
Initially, $2 billion was identified in additional funding. The remaining $100 million is still unallocated pending continued work by the department, MPOs and local stakeholders to finalize recommendations on the remaining funding needs.
The Texas News Scrawl is a handy reference to stories Texas Business recommends from other news sources. Some of the stories that Texas Business currently suggests include: Pipeline ruling strengthens Texas private property rights; Texas Bowl seeks new title sponsor; Insult to Injury: Texas Workers’ Comp System Denies, Delays Medical Help; American Airlines continues to shed jobs; Chemical Safety Board shut out of West probe by ATF; America’s greatest threat: Unsafe work conditions; The West News proves the value of a great weekly newspaper in a community torn up with grief and chaos; and more.
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