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Two North Texans Among Six Appointed to Trinity River Authority Board by Governor Abbott

Governor Greg Abbott has named six individuals to the Trinity River Authority Board of Directors, including two North Texans, Megan Deen of Fort Worth and Cathy Altman of Midlothian, according to a news release from the governor’s office. Both were reappointed to serve terms through March 15, 2029, joining two other returning members and two new appointees....

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North Texas Lands $62M+ in EPA Grants for 244 Zero-Emission Vehicles Across Two Organizations
by | Jan 10, 2025

The North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Dallas Independent School District have received grants totaling more than $62 million to help buy 244 zero-emission vehicles via the Environmental Protection Agency’s first-ever Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program....

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‘Sustainable Paint’: Irving-Based Celanese Partners with Canada’s Cloverdale Paint on Carbon Capture-Based Emulsions
by | Jan 9, 2025
Celanese said it has commercialized an approach for converting waste emissions into renewable feedstocks via industrial CO2 emissions that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere. Its partnership with Cloverdale aims to leverage that tech to create "new-to-market sustainable paint solutions."
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North Texas’ JCPenney Merges with SPARC Group to Form a ‘Powerhouse’ New Company Called Catalyst Brands
by | Jan 9, 2025
The combination of JCPenney with entities including the parent of brands Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, and more will be based in Plano and have $9 billion in revenue, 1,800 stores, and 60,000 employees.
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Dallas’ Maple Park Capital Partners Snags Majority Stake in Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard

by | Jan 9, 2025
Founded in 1984, Rita's has grown to become the largest Italian Ice concept in the world with a franchise network spanning more than 575 locations across 30 U.S. states, as well as international markets.
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Muscling Up Dogs: Westlake-Based Virbac NA Launches Soft Chews That Improve Canine Mobility
by | Jan 9, 2025
Virbac said that URSOLYX Soft Chews target mRNA expression in skeletal muscle, harnessing the proven benefits of ursolic acid to enhance muscle function and strength in aging, active, or recovering dogs.
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Alpha Cognition Inks $44M Deal With China’s CMS to License Alzheimer’s Drug in Asia and Beyond
by | Jan 9, 2025
Alpha Cognition’s Alzheimer’s oral therapy ZUNVEYL, FDA-approved in July, targets U.S. launch in Q1 2025 as the company boosts its commercialization team with five new hires.
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The Last Word: Richard Upchurch on the Inspiration Behind His Brand New Noise ‘Sound Gadgets’
by | Jan 9, 2025
Upchurch is the inventor and mastermind behind the irresistible wooden "sound toys" available from Dallas-based Brand New Noise. Mixing physical knobs and inviting touchability with electronic circuits, his boxy devices range from Moon Lander "tongue drum" recorders with delay effect to Reverse the Curse (shown above), a lo-fi audio recording gadget with pitch control, delay effects, reverse audio switch, and continuous loop switch.
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Virginia-Based Torc Robotics To Open Autonomous Truck Hub in Fort Worth

by | Jan 8, 2025
Torc said its new facility in Hillwood’s AllianceTexas development will be a hub for its autonomous testing efforts, customer freight pilots, and future commercialization slated for 2027.
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Action & Indie Film Distributor Well Go USA Entertainment Relocates HQ to Allen
by | Jan 8, 2025
Launched in 1989 after its founders moved to North Texas, the family-owned theatrical and home entertainment distribution company has evolved alongside the film industry. It moved beyond DVDs and Blu-Ray discs to launch its proprietary streaming service, Hi-YAH!, which is dedicated to Asian action cinema—and also engages audiences through theatrical runs and film festivals.
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Plano-Based ServiceMinder Appoints New Chief Executive Officer
by | Jan 8, 2025
Berkley Simmons, an operating partner since Greenridge Growth Partners’ 2023 investment, becomes CEO of ServiceMinder as founder John Keene transitions to Chief Technology Officer to focus on product innovation.
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Dallas’ Applied Digital Hires Honeywell Executive as New COO
by | Jan 8, 2025
Applied Digital, which raised $160 million in September from investors including chip giant Nvidia, said Laltrello's addition is intended to enhance its position as a leader in cutting-edge data centers and digital cloud solutions at the forefront of the AI revolution.
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This week, newly granted patents also include:

  • Alcon's hydraulic delivery of surgical implants
  • Bank of America's user-side non-fungible token storage using super non-volatile random access memory
  • Bitly's systems and methods for providing search results based on user interaction with content
  • EllansaLabs' system and method for etching internal surfaces of transparent gemstones with information pertaining to a blockchain
  • Ferndale Pharma Group's composition and method of treating fragile skin
  • Hunt Energy Network's systems for optimizing battery charging and discharging
  • Magic Leap's technique for controlling virtual image generation system using emotional states of user
  • ProKidney's bioactive renal cells


Patented: Bank of America’s Gesture-Based Authentication in the Metaverse and More North Texas Inventive Activity

Dallas-Fort Worth ranked No. 10 for patent activity out of 250 metros for the week of Dec. 3 with a total of 88 patents granted.
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Fort Worth’s Stellar Blu Solutions Acquired by Israeli Company in Deal Worth Up to $245M
by | Jan 7, 2025
Stellar Blu Solutions, headquartered at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, develops cutting-edge connectivity, network, and avionics solutions for next-generation satellite networks.
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Plano-Based Fisher Investments Finalizes $3B Minority Stake Sale, Valuing Firm at Nearly $13B
by | Jan 7, 2025
Fisher Investments—which relocated its headquarters from Washington State to Plano in 2023—said the investment by Advent International and ADIA was part of founder Ken Fisher's long-term estate planning and "ensures the firm's long-term private independence, culture, growth evolution, and devotion to exceptional client service."
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Dallas-Based TI Debuts Radar Sensor, Audio Processors to Enhance ‘In-Cabin Automotive Experiences’
by | Jan 7, 2025
Texas Instruments said the edge AI capabilities of its new radar sensor help improve automotive safety, while its next-gen microcontroller units and processors elevate driving via "more immersive audio." All are being debuted this week at CES 2025 in Las Vegas.
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