PICTURES: Look back at how the Beast from the East hit Winchester in 2018 – Hampshire Chronicle

Winchester is likely to get more snow in the coming days with another 'Beast from the East' style weather-front moving in.

Residents will remember when the first Beast from the East hit the town in February-March 2018 as it caused havoc across the UK and travel disruption in Winchester.

Click on our picture gallery above to relieve some of the moments from 2018.

For two days it caused chaos on the roads, events were cancelled, schools and libraries were closed, offices, shops and restaurants were empty, diggers stood unused and waste collections postponed.

Hospital chiefs were forced to pleading with any staff who could make it in to come to Winchesters Hospital to help ease the pressure caused by the snow.

For some it meant unexpected journeys to hospital. Actress Sarah Parish, 49, who lives near Alresford, was hospitalised after breaking a leg in a sledging accident. She fell badly after standing on a sledge as if it was a snowboard in her garden.

She posted from the Royal Hampshire County Hospital: Day 2 in Winchester Hospital. Looks like Ill be operated on today, she told fans.

Theyre putting a great big pin right through my shin!! No sleep last night, was on enough Morphine to knock the Navy out but still in pain. Note to self: cheap plastic sledges are for sitting in and gently trundling down primary slopes NOT a substitute for a stand up snowboard.

The owners of one of Winchesters oldest buildings had a nasty shock when a car slid into it. The car was spotted by a passer-by who said it had skidded down Blue Ball Hill and crashed into the corner of The Old Blue Boar. The witness added that the corner of the inn, which is on the junction with St Johns Street, was completely caved in.

Hampshires 5,000 miles of road took a severe beating from the weather - but council leader Roy Perry said the well-honed machine sprung into action with good partnership working.

Including 100 farmers kept on a retainer and paid an hourly rate to help out, as well as 400 4x4 volunteers driving key workers to work, Cllr Perry said the 1m spent in 2011 on salt and grit boxes for residential streets had been used properly for the first time.

But one Hampshire hero disagreed - and criticised police, the council highways as well as drivers. Peter Rockall, from Cheriton, said he spent 12 hours battling six-foot snow drifts to help cars stuck in the snow. The pre-school teacher said he was awake at 3am when he realised the severity of the situation . He and friend Peter Sharp spent the rest of Friday towing cars in really dangerous conditions along the A272 up from Cheriton to Cheesefoot Head, the 600-foot high hill near Winchester.

He said: There was a sign to say road closed but people had just pushed it over and were ignoring it. We pulled an elderly womans car up to the top of the hill but when I asked her if she was going for a hospital appointment or something but she said she was going for a massage. There were people saying they were going in shopping in Winchester.

One primary school stayed open on the coldest March day on record and despite chaos on the roads. Children at St Anthonys in Fareham said theyd had the best day ever while hundreds of other schools were shut due to heavy snowfall. Several events at the weekend fell victim before the thaw set in.

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PICTURES: Look back at how the Beast from the East hit Winchester in 2018 - Hampshire Chronicle

Gavin Hayes’ state championship highlights fifth-place finish by Ola wrestling team – Henry Herald

Gavin Hayes capped his high school wrestling career Saturday by winning the Class AAAAA state championship, and helping Ola to a fifth-place finish in the team standings.

The Mustangs finished with 162.5 points, just off the 166 scored by fourth-place Harris County.

In addition to Hayes performance, Conner Kimbrough and Chris Newman each finished as state runner-up, Reese Jones was third and Sam Harris was fourth. Travis Nollman and Ayden Hecht each placed fifth as the boys performed well a day after teammate Amani Jones won her third straight girls state title.

Hayes (31-2), a three-time state-placer, had a memorable final high school meet with his victory at 113 pounds. He defeated Harris Countys Oran Decker 7-1 in the finals, avenging two losses last season to Decker, including the 2020 state finals.

He opened the tournament with back-to-back pins, then faced his toughest test in the semifinals, where he edged nationally ranked Jake Crapps of Cass 5-4.

I saw a lot of growth in Gavin over the last month," Ola coach Joey DiNino said. "We focused on the right things leading into this week. Gavin was very dialed in and ready.

Kimbrough (25-5) was runner-up at 120, finishing his career as a two-time state-placer after losing by pin against Cass Cole Hunt, nationally ranked and unbeaten at 19-0, in the title match. Newman (20-5) took second at 170 after a loss by pin to Woodwards Gunner Filipowicz (26-1), also a nationally ranked wrestler.

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Newman has been a rock all season long, not only as an athlete but as a leader as well," DiNino said. "What an outstanding senior campaign."

After finishing third at region, Kimbrough put together four great matches to advance to the state finals.

Conner put together a great tournament," DiNino said. "Im proud of how he rebounded from a disappointing region meet.

Reese Jones (32-2), a three-time state-placer, pinned Woodlands Easton Bishop to finish third at 126. Harris (26-4) had a fourth-place finish that also made him a three-time state-placer. He trailed by two in the semifinals when he had to injury default to Woodland's Caden McCrary, a four-time state champ. Chris Ramos almost joined his teammates, but lost a decision in the place match.

Union Grove finished the tournament in sixth with 89 points, just ahead of eighth-place Locust Groves 85.

Alexander Troy (24-2) was Union Groves top finisher, losing by technical fall in the 182 finals to Woodwards Matthew Singleton (33-0). It was the second straight finals appearance for Troy. Jonah Lavendar and Garren Groover each finished fifth for the Wolverines.

Locust Grove had two state runner-up wrestlers Tristan Malette (44-3) at 106 and Cage Leddon (49-2) at 145. Malette lost 11-8 in the finals against Woodwards Colby McBride, and Leddon was pinned by Woodwards Michael Kilic (31-1) in the finals. Andon Hawkins and David Miles were in the round to place for Locust Grove.

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Gavin Hayes' state championship highlights fifth-place finish by Ola wrestling team - Henry Herald

The best of the west of Ireland – exploring Galway and its Connemara hinterlands – IrishCentral

While travel in 2021 might be slightly curtailed we can still plan and dream for our next Irish vacation and there's nowhere better to immerse yourself in the "real Ireland" than in Galway city and its surrounding areas. Take it all in.

* This article was originally published in IrishCentral's sister publication, Ireland of the Welcomes. Subscribe to this bi-monthly print magazine here *

It has sometimes been said that Ireland is a country with a southern European sensibility trapped in a northern European climate in other words, its predominantly Catholic, big on family, and more rustic than industrial, but without the good weather.

Like many observations, it is only partly true and already out of date, but when you stroll through Galway city on a summers day, from Eyre Square to the Spanish Arch, down Shop Street then Quay Street, positively bustling as they are with buskers, flamenco dancers, magicians, musicians, face painters, hair-braiders, body sculptures, and caricaturists, you could be forgiven for imagining yourself in Barcelona, walking down a rather rainier Ramblas.

As the name Spanish Arch suggests, Galways continental connections are by no means fanciful. Its history as a trading port built up strong bonds between the citys merchant families and France and Spain, and today the city serves as something of a summer camp for Spanish teenagers, who migrate to the city to learn English while their Irish counterparts head just a few miles up the road to the Connemara Gaeltacht to improve their Irish.

Galway Arts Festival, one of the finest in the country, is in full swing during our visit, and Race Week and the Oyster Festival are waiting impatiently in line for their turn to shine, but Galway is one of those places young, vibrant, bohemian that always seems to be in the party spirit. Above a doorway I spy a stone plaque commemorating Johnny Massacre Doran, Professional Lunatic, 1975-2003 its that sort of place.

If you get the chance, visit on a Saturday, for there is a wonderful food market then in front of the 700-year-old St Nicholas Church (where Christopher Columbus reputedly heard Mass before discovering you know where). You are spoiled for choice between sweet and savory crepes, sushi, South African bockwurst, and the most wonderful vegetarian curries.

An aerial shot of Galway.

Afterward, wash it down with a beer or a coffee in Tigh Neachtains, a wonderfully atmospheric pub right on the main drag. If the weather is kind, by all means, sit outside and watch the world go by, but do take the time to have a prowl around in the half-light inside, for the walls are alive with festival posters and playbills from down the years, conveying a sense of the citys rich artistic past.

The citys culture is no less rich today. If you get the chance, and if you can get a ticket, take in a production by Garry Hyness Druid Theater Company, which has taken work by Synge, Martin McDonagh, and Tom Murphy not just to the Abbey in Dublin but Londons West End, Broadway and Sydney.

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In the evening, by all means, eat Ard Bia at Nimmos, overlooking the Claddagh behind the Spanish Arch and right beside the City Museum, is by common consent the critics choice but on no account pass up the chance to imbibe some traditional music. I recommend the Crane bar, where after dark the suns rays are somehow transformed into the energy of a different kind, sound waves generated by fiddlers and flutists.

One of the joys of Shop Street used to be Kennys Bookshop and art gallery, which I was devastated to discover has now shipped out to the suburbs, but as if to compensate, the city has the brand new Galway City Museum, a beautiful modern building in a historic setting, with spectacular views overlooking the ancient fishing village of the Claddagh (home of the Claddagh ring), River Corrib and Galway Bay.

Tradition does not mean preserving the ashes, but keeping the flame alight. This quotation from the French writer Jean Jaures is inscribed near the entrance to the museum, and it sums up the spirit of the place, and the city itself. There is loads to see and learn here about the city; for instance, how until the railway came in 1811, Galway time was eleven and a half minutes behind Dublin time. Some would say there is still a significantly different approach to time between the two cities.

On display is a fine selection of currachs, the distinctive local boat, and the citys medieval civic sword and mace once lost to the city but later bought and then bequeathed back to it by none other than William Randolph Hearst. The American connection doesnt stop there Cardinal Cushing of Boston consecrated Galway Cathedral, a handsomely successful cross of the traditional and modern. A temporary exhibition, Looking West From Galway Bay, celebrates John F. Kennedys visit to Galway on June 29, 1963, documenting this momentous occasion for the city using photographs, rare film footage, and personal memories.

If the day was clear enough, records a large panel bearing excerpts from JFKs speech in Eyre Square that day, and if you went down to the bay, and you looked west, and your sight was good enough, you would see Boston, Massachusetts. And if you did, you would see working on the docks there some Dohertys and Flahertys and Ryans and cousins of yours who had gone to Boston and made good.

And, of course, you think with sadness of what was to befall the president less than six months later and grieve for what might havebeen. A bust of the late president stands in Eyre Square today.

Galway is, of course, famous in song for its bay, but at its back is another body of water, Irelands second-largest lake, Lough Corrib, and on a beautiful summers day there is nothing more relaxing or delightful than to make yourself comfortable on the sundeck of the Corrib Princess and enjoy a 90-minute cruise up the river, around the lake and back, passing ivy-clad ruined castles and flotillas of swans en route, with an entertaining and informative commentary thrown in for good measure, not to mention a pint of Guinness and an Irish coffee.

A night or two later, enjoying a late-night drink with my uncle and his brothers in a bar near Moycullen, I was singing the cruises favors. Just as well, too, for who should be sitting next to me at the bar but the ships captain, who proceeded to buy me another drink as we put the world to rights, climaxing in a political wager written on a beer mat and reprinted here for good measure if George Lee succeeds Enda Kenny as Fine Gael leader by July 18, 2010, I owe the good captain E50 (US$74).*

After a bracing walk along the promenade in Salthill, the citys seaside suburb, soaking up theglorious view of Galway Bay, and letting off some steam in the lovely playground next door, we visited Atlantaquaria, Irelands National Aquarium, another recent addition to the city and a welcome alternative to the more traditional amusement arcades.

Its an opportunity to reflect on an aspect of Irish life that is all too often overlooked. For instance, as I write this, I am looking at The Real Map of Ireland, a free handout from the aquarium which depicts the 220 million acres (89 million hectares) of Irelands marine territory. Irelands designated Continental Shelf includes such hidden gems as the Rockall Trough and Porcupine Seabight. Hidden depths indeed.

The fish are the main attraction, though, with over 150 species to gaze at, and its great fun to feed the sprats and mullets and stroke the starfish. A lot less alive, but equally impressive is the 60 ft (18 meters) skeleton of a fin whale, nicknamed Grainne Whale, a play on the name of Irelands pirate queen, Granuaile.

Next to the replica of Alvin, a life-size replica of the famous deep submergence vehicle, there is an exhibit dedicated to John Holland from nearby Liscannor, County Clare, inventor of the submarine who sold his device to the US Navy.

Going back in time a bit, there is also a Bearna dugout canoe, found nearby after a violent storm and dating back 5,500 years.

If Galway is a hedonists heaven, Connemara, its breathtakingly beautiful hinterland, is like a vast playground for the spirit. I first visited it as a teenager and have been returning all my life, drawn back to its endless vistas of soaring crags and shimmering lakes, its seemingly boundless miles of stunning scenery, and outposts of high civilization such as Ballynahinch Castle, near Recess (what an appropriate name for a place to enjoy a break), a great spot to have lunch.

Then there are the beaches. Among our favorites are Ballyconneely, roughly halfway between the two thriving towns of Clifden and Roundstone, both full of bars and shops that you itch to explore, and Tr Sailin, first left out of Spiddal as you head away from the city. Silver Strand, near Delphi, has countless colored seashells underfoot like a mosaic. It feels like a trick of the senses but these places seem to smell as good as they look, the air almost sweet, not salty.

Sky Road, Clifden, County Galway.

As if nature hasnt provided enough wonders, Connemara also has two hugely contrasting gardens that you must visit. Kylemore Abbey, between Clifden and Leenane, is Irelands oldest Benedictine abbey, originally founded in Ypres, Belgium, in 1665. The nuns moved to Kylemore in 1920, taking over a lakeside castle built by Mitchell Henry, a wealthy second-generation Irishman born in Manchester. Tragically, his wife died three years after it was completed in 1874 and so he built a neo-Gothic church, a cathedral in miniature, in the ground as a memorial, with a mausoleum nearby where she is buried.

You can tour most of the house and gardens, and enjoy a fine meal in the nearby restaurant and visitors center; but parts of the building are private, as not only is it a place of prayer and contemplation, but Kylemore has also served for several decades as an international girls boarding school.

However, with only 14 nuns left, the youngest in her 50s, its days are numbered, and it will shut this summer for good. Another aspect of Kylemore, however, has recently bloomed again. Its magnificent Victorian walled garden, six of whose 8.5 acres (3.5 hectares) are completely enclosed by a brick and limestone wall, has been in large part restored over the past 14 years to its original prime, and they are a marvel. Most of its 21 glasshouses have still to be rebuilt but the kitchen, flower and herb gardens, and herbaceous borders are a wonder.

Kylemore has long since been a must-see on the tourist trail but a more recent and less famous addition is Brigits Garden in Rooscahill, near Oughterard. If you love gardens and nature, or have a gr, or fondness, for Celtic mythology, this place will delight you; a not for profit project set in the middle of rolling countryside about a 20-minute drive from Galway city, just off the road to the lovely fishing village of Oughterard.

Incorporating contemporary garden design but inspired by the ancient wisdom of the Celts, the gardens are based aroundthe four Celtic seasons, so that a walk through them is a journey through the cycle of the year, which mirrors the circle of life.

Samhain or Halloween is a time of death and rebirth. Its garden is enclosed by a long grassy bank in the shape of a sleeping woman, representing the earth in its winter rest. The pool is enclosed by birch trees, reflecting the stark simplicity of the season.

Imbolc, or spring, the garden has a path through a wildflower meadow and fruit trees to a childrens glade with basket swings and a sunken garden with symbols linked to Brigit - both the Christian saint and the goddess of the land who predated her.

The gardens also offer a nature trail, a tranquil walk through woodlands, wildflower meadows, and along a lake, with a stone chamber, fairy fort, cranng, and calendar sundial to visit en route. The Garden Caf also serves very fine soups and sandwiches.

Another must in Connemara is a boat trip on Irelands only fjord, a nine-mile-long (15 km) inlet with some spectacular scenery which you may be familiar with if you ever saw the movie The Field, starring Richard Harris and John Hurt, which was shot here.

Killary Cruises (www.killarycruises.com) offers a money-back guarantee if you get seasick but wisely makes no promises about the weather. In fact, it boasts that it is the best rainy day experience in Connemara. Its funny, but even the landscape seems to be wearing weatherproof clothing. As the rain lashes down, the water seems to sheet off the steeply sloping sides of the valley with fast-flowing rivulets every few meters.

But the next day, on the drive to Louisburgh, I swear there are sheep sunbathing at the side of the lake as well as ambling along the road. I am fleetingly envious, till I remember the Connemara lamb on last nights menu. The drive from Delphi to Louisburgh along the side of Doolough lake is one of the most lovely in the land, but the Famine memorial by the roadside casts a somber shadow on even the sunniest day, reminding you that dozens died on this path less than 200 years ago, on a futile journey seeking respite from hunger.

* This article was originally published in IrishCentral's sister publication, Ireland of the Welcomes. Subscribe to this bi-monthly print magazine here *

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The best of the west of Ireland - exploring Galway and its Connemara hinterlands - IrishCentral

HBO’s 30 Coins Destroys Elena and Paco’s Lives With the Return of the Coin – CBR – Comic Book Resources

HBO's 30 Coins just brought back a key relic, and in the process, it brutally destroys Elena and Paco's lives -- most likely forever.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for 30 Coins Episode 6, "Holy War," now airing on HBO.

HBO's 30 Coins has truly done a number on Elena and Paco as they try to protect their small Spanish town of Pedraza. Thanks to Father Vergara's carelessness with the Judas coin, evil forces have descended as the cult known as the Cainites wants the relic to bring about the apocalypse and reshape the world.

Still, Elena soldiered on as a vet who really wanted to save her people, while Paco, as mayor, also tried to help the priest ward off the malevolent spirits. But with Vergara missing in action and their domestic problems coming home to roost, both Elena and Paco have now been brutally destroyed by the pain and tragedy surrounding them.

RELATED:HBO's 30 Coins Reunited Father Vergara With His Most Sinister Enemy

Elenahas nightmares about spirits coming for her and as it turns out, she's in Paris with Roque. She left town and a potential relationship with Paco to start a new life after an evil double of her husband, Mario, tried to kill her. Now, she's hellbent on a fresh start with the playboy. However, at a romantic dinner, Roque presents the coin thinking she lost it.

He found it in a restaurant a few days ago,after she threw it into a dam and it was eaten by a cod. He thinks it'll be a nice gesture, but Elena's horrified as she was warned that the coin would return to bring her more anguish. And the warning comes to pass as she calls Paco in the washroom, one of the Vatican's demonic agents enters and starts shooting up the place to get the coin. Sadly, despite the agent being killed, Roque gets hit in the chest and dies.

RELATED:HBO's 30 Coins Unleashes Father Vergara's Dark Side, Literally

Paco hears Elena over the phone crying out, and he also breaks down as he really does love her and just wanted her to be happy. He's majorly suffering as he's finally left Merche, wanting to leave the meat business and politics behind too. Paco can't cope with losing Elena and now, seeing as she went to Roque after "Mario" and lost yet another man in her life, he can't fathom how to work his way up in her eyes and prove that he can be her rock. All she knows is loss and given that she's chosen other guys repeatedly over him granted he's married it just feels like their romance will forever be doomed.

Merche's also pretty pissed and could be set to ruin Paco as she's always hated Elena, which means when they reunite in Pedraza, she'll come with a vengeance. And she'll have that moment sooner rather than later, because amidthe fracas in Paris, Elena finds the coin on the restaurant floor.

The coin is drawn to her like a magnet and she knows she has to return home to deal with it. She's been having nightmares with Vergara as well, so she thinks he's there to help her out, not realizing she's going to be taking the coin back to the enemy that's now infiltrated the town. And seeing as both her and Paco are desperate, broken and at their lowest point, the cult may not find resistance as strong as before.

Starring Eduard Fernndez, Megan Montaner, Miguel ngel Silvestre, Macarena Gmez, Pepn Nieto and Manolo Solo, 30 Coins airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and is also streaming on HBO Max.

KEEP READING:HBO's 30 Coins Just Killed off a Major Hero With Its Most Disgusting Monster

The Walking Dead Has Frightening Plans for Maggie and Negan

I'm a former Chemical Engineer. It was boring so I decided to write about things I love. On the geek side of things, I write about comics, cartoons, video games, television, movies and basically, all things nerdy. I also write about music in terms of punk, indie, hardcore and emo because well, they rock! If you're bored by now, then you also don't want to hear that I write for ESPN on the PR side of things. And yes, I've written sports for them too! Not bad for someone from the Caribbean, eh? To top all this off, I've scribed short films and documentaries, conceptualizing stories and scripts from a human interest and social justice perspective. Business-wise, I make big cheddar (not really) as a copywriter and digital strategist working with some of the top brands in the Latin America region. In closing, let me remind you that the geek shall inherit the Earth. Oh, FYI, I'd love to write the Gargoyles movie for Disney. YOLO.

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HBO's 30 Coins Destroys Elena and Paco's Lives With the Return of the Coin - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Thermoformed Plastics Market Development Trends, Key Manufacturers & Competitive Analysis 2020-2026 | Anchor Packaging, Inc., Pactiv, LLC.,…

The global Internet Banking Market report presents an overview based on the historic data. Report provides market key segmentation such as product type, industry, key regions and key companies. On the basis of historic data, market size has been forecasted in terms of revenue from base year 2021 to 2026.

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The geographical analysis of the Internet Banking market has been done by examining different global regions such as North America, Latin America, Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Africa on the basis of different parameters. The primary target for the Internet Banking market is the Internet Banking countries. The Internet Banking market has broadly compiled through extensive research and analysis techniques such as qualitative and quantitative analysis. Furthermore, it offers a blend of SWOT and Porters five techniques to analyze the data of the global market. Moreover, this report offers a complete analysis of different business perspectives such as the ups and downs of the global market shares. To expand the market at the global level, it makes use of different techniques and sales methodologies for achieving the outcomes of the businesses.

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Caltech Professor Inducted into the National Academy of Engineering Pasadena Now – Pasadena Now

Yu-Chong Y.C. TaiCredit: Caltech

Yu-Chong Y.C. Tai, the Anna L. Rosen Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).Induction into the NAE, one of the three national academies in the United States, is among the highest professional honors an engineer can receive.

Tai, also the Andrew and Peggy Cherng Medical Engineering Leadership Chair and executive officer for medical engineering, works in the field of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS). MEMS and NEMS are highly miniaturized electro-mechanical devices that are found in modern devices like inkjet printers, movie projectors, and the gyroscopes of smartphones. They also have uses outside the consumer marketplace in medical devices, optical data communications, and microscopy, among other applications.

During his time at the Institute, Tai founded the Caltech MEMS Laboratory, a facility dedicated to the development of MEMS and NEMS devices for use in medical settings. Research conducted at the laboratory has led to the creation of devices that can perform a variety of blood tests on a single chip, microscopic drug-delivery systems, and MEMS medical implants.

The NAE elected 106 members and 23 international members this year. Also elected was B. Gentry Lee, chief engineer for the Solar System Exploration Directorate at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which Caltech manages for NASA. Lee, who has worked on a variety of NASA missions and programs including Viking (1975), Voyager (1977), Galileo (1989), Spirit (2003) and Opportunity (2003), and Curiosity and Dawn (2007), was recognized for contributions to 20 planetary exploration missions to Mars, Jupiter, asteroids, and comets, according to the NAE.

In addition, Caltech alumnus Francis J. Doyle III (PhD 91), John A. and Elizabeth S. Armstrong Professor and dean of Harvard Universitys Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, was named as a member of the NAE for insights into natural biological control systems and innovative engineering of diabetes control devices. Another Caltech alumnus, Sudhir K. Jain (PhD83), director of the Indian Institute of Technology-Gandhinagar, was elected as an international member of NAE for leadership in earthquake engineering in developing countries.

The newly elected class will be formally inducted into the NAE during a ceremony at the academys annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on October 3.

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How Nanotechnology Has Improved the Auto Industry – Salon Priv Magazine

The automotive industry is constantly in pursuit of innovation. New technology has made the modern car faster, lighter, more comfortable and increasingly efficient. Many technologies have disrupted the field, and nanotechnology is one of the latest and most impactful.

Innovation has perhaps never been more critical to the industrys success than right now. As of 2018, 67% of people worldwide saw climate change as a significant threat, compared to just 56% in 2013. Since transportation is a substantial contributor to carbon emissions, theres a rising demand for the industry to become eco-friendly.

Environmental concerns aside, there are more drivers now than ever before, and that number keeps climbing. Automakers have to keep improving to satisfy the needs and desires of their growing consumer base. Nanotechnology provides a solution.

Nanotechnology refers to the applications of science, engineering and technology that occur on a nanoscale. The nanoscale deals with materials between one and 100 nanometers, so small that theyre invisible to the naked eye. Given this tiny scale, companies havent had the technology to work with these materials extensively until relatively recently.

When engineers and scientists work with nanotech, they manipulate the very atoms that make up other materials. They adjust the physical and chemical properties of matter. This level of precision enables tremendous advances and changes in how materials, parts and devices interact with the world.

This field has applications across many industries, but automakers have taken a particular interest in it. Its no exaggeration to say that nanotech has revolutionized the sector. Heres how.

One of the most common applications of nanotechnology in the auto industry is in weight reduction. Lighter cars can accelerate faster and are more fuel-efficient, as they take less power to move. Nanotechnology can create novel materials that provide the strength cars need without weighing them down.

While steel and aluminium may be comparatively light for metals, theyre still heavy. With nanotechnology, engineers can design plastics and carbon-based materials that are far lighter than these metals. Car components made from some nanoengineered plastics can be up to 40% lighter than traditional steel parts.

In addition to creating new materials, nanotechnology can improve preexisting ones. Engineers can use nanotech to modify the physical properties of steel or aluminium, improving their relative strength to achieve similar results with less material.

As the world becomes more concerned about climate change, sustainability becomes increasingly crucial for automakers. Since nanotechnology makes cars lighter, it makes them more fuel-efficient, leading to fewer carbon emissions. Nano carbons also have a thermal conductivity five times higher than other materials, reducing heat waste to improve efficiency further.

Nanotechnology has green applications beyond increasing the efficiency of fossil fuel cars, too. Nano engineers have recently developed methods for embedding silicon nanoparticles into graphene battery components to make lithium-silicon batteries. This technology can make batteries last 20% longer per charge, making electric cars a more viable option.

Nanotechnology also paves the way for thinner, more efficient hydrogen fuel cells. These technologies provide another green alternative to fossil fuel cars, producing water and heat as their only emissions. As these sustainable alternatives improve, car owners will have more options for zero-emission vehicles.

Nanoengineered materials are also typically more durable than traditionally manufactured alternatives. Research has shown that nanoparticles substantially improve scratch and abrasion resistance and maintain these properties for longer. These improvements come mostly from the way nanoparticles move as a vehicles coating encounters more elements.

As cars face adverse weather or even prolonged UV exposure from the sun, they develop microscopic scratches and cracks in their coating. Nanoparticles tend to fill pores as they appear, clogging up these minute blemishes and protecting the materials underneath. As a result, it takes longer for the elements to affect the metal under the paint, preventing rust and other corrosion.

Nanotech can improve the durability of tires, too. Materials like soot and silica improve rubbers natural properties, and the size of these particles directly impacts their efficacy. By applying these materials on a nanoscale, automakers can maximize their benefits, making tires more resistant without sacrificing grip.

Another leading application of nanotechnology in the auto industry is in the interior of a car. Vehicle interiors hold a lot of soft materials like felt and leather to make seats more comfortable. While excellent for comfort, these porous surfaces can trap bacteria and other microorganisms that could pose a risk to passengers health.

Metallic nanoparticles like silver and titanium oxide have unique antimicrobial properties that can solve this problem. Many of these tiny metal particles destroy the cell membrane of harmful microbes while posing no risk to humans. Hospitals have started using them extensively to disinfect equipment and manufacture drugs, and the auto industry has caught on.

Car manufacturers can coat interiors with these metallic nanoparticles, helping prevent the spread of disease. Similar coatings in a vehicles air filter can eliminate harmful microbes from the air, too.

Not all improvements from nanotechnology deal with vehicle performance and safety. Some are less crucial yet still central to the business side of the auto industry. Namely, nanotechnology makes cars more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.

Some nanomaterial coatings can make surfaces hydrophobic and dirt-repellant. These improvements can help keep cars clean, both inside and outside. The anti-corrosion properties of nanoparticle-infused paints dont just protect the chassis but maintain the paints factory polish. With fewer scratches and blemishes, cars retain their initial beauty for longer.

Since some nanomaterials have tremendous heat conductivity, theyre ideal for heated seats. Seat cushions woven from nanofibers can heat up and cool faster than traditional materials, providing a more comfortable ride.

As technology advances, cars are featuring more and more of it. The more tech features a vehicle has, the more likely it is to sell, and some of this tech improves performance as well. Nanotechnology is just the latest in a long tradition of the industry embracing cutting-edge tech.

Nanotech is still relatively new, yet the automotive industry has already capitalized on it. As these technologies become cheaper and more versatile, theyll see even broader implementation. Nanotechnology could easily revolutionize transportation.

Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded, where he writes about a variety of topics, including the most recent trends in tech. Follow him on Twitter @TModded for regular updates!

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How Nanotechnology Has Improved the Auto Industry - Salon Priv Magazine

Caltech: Tai Inducted into the National Academy of Engineering – India Education Diary

Yu-Chong Y.C. Tai, the Anna L. Rosen Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Induction into the NAE, one of the three national academies in the United States, is among the highest professional honors an engineer can receive.

Tai, also the Andrew and Peggy Cherng Medical Engineering Leadership Chair and executive officer for medical engineering, works in the field of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS). MEMS and NEMS are highly miniaturized electro-mechanical devices that are found in modern devices like inkjet printers, movie projectors, and the gyroscopes of smartphones. They also have uses outside the consumer marketplace in medical devices, optical data communications, and microscopy, among other applications.

During his time at the Institute, Tai founded the Caltech MEMS Laboratory, a facility dedicated to the development of MEMS and NEMS devices for use in medical settings. Research conducted at the laboratory has led to the creation of devices that can perform a variety of blood tests on a single chip, microscopic drug-delivery systems, and MEMS medical implants.

The NAE elected 106 members and 23 international members this year. Also elected was B. Gentry Lee, chief engineer for the Solar System Exploration Directorate at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which Caltech manages for NASA. Lee, who has worked on a variety of NASA missions and programs including Viking (1975), Voyager (1977), Galileo (1989), Spirit (2003) and Opportunity (2003), and Curiosity and Dawn (2007), was recognized for contributions to 20 planetary exploration missions to Mars, Jupiter, asteroids, and comets, according to the NAE.

In addition, Caltech alumnus Francis J. Doyle III (PhD 91), John A. and Elizabeth S. Armstrong Professor and dean of Harvard Universitys Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, was named as a member of the NAE for insights into natural biological control systems and innovative engineering of diabetes control devices. Another Caltech alumnus, Sudhir K. Jain (PhD83), director of the Indian Institute of Technology-Gandhinagar, was elected as an international member of NAE for leadership in earthquake engineering in developing countries.

The newly elected class will be formally inducted into the NAE during a ceremony at the academys annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on October 3.

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Caltech: Tai Inducted into the National Academy of Engineering - India Education Diary

New coalmine questioned and high-density hydro planned: 10 top stories of the week – Professional Engineering

High-density pumped hydro could store energy in small hills

Professional Engineering

Thousands of hillsides around the UK could host a new type of pumped-hydro energy storage system, its developers have claimed. Unlike conventional hydro power, the system from RheEnergise uses dense liquid instead of water. The fluid is two-and-a-half-times denser than water, and could therefore potentially provide two-and-a-half-times the power of equivalent conventional systems.

The Guardian

Cumbria County Council is to reconsider planning permission for a controversial coalmine project, which would be the first such deep coalmine in the UK for three decades. The council will reconsider planning permission in light of new information about the governments carbon budgets and net-zero aims.

Professional Engineering

A new ultimate mobility vehicle (UMV) will use wheels, legs and an attachable drone to traverse the most inhospitable and remote environments. Designed to carry deliveries, aid packages or scientific equipment, the uncrewed Transforming Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot (Tiger) is being developed by Hyundai Motor Group in California.

Professional Engineering

Complete printed human organs are coming ever closer, thanks to some innovative engineering. Before being implanted in patients, they could radically transform drug development by replacing animal testing and human volunteers, helping speed up the process massively.

The Engineer

United Airlines is partnering with Archer Aviation on a fleet of up to 200 flying taxis. The four-passenger tilt-rotor taxis have a predicted range of about 100km. They could fly from Manhattan to JFK airport in just seven minutes.

E&T

A team of researchers from New York University and New York Stem Cell Foundation have precisely replicated natural bone tissue using biothermal imaging and a heated nano-chisel. The system could be used for studying drugs and diseases, or creating orthopaedic implants.

Professional Engineering

More than 40% of people aged 16-24 are putting their career or education plans on hold until the pandemic is over, a new survey has found. The research, commissioned by BAE Systems to mark National Apprenticeship Week, found a fifth (21%) said they are more confused about their career path than before the pandemic, with 20% saying the industry they had wanted to work in has been deeply impacted.

Renewable Energy Magazine

A new trial from H2GO Power, the European Marine Energy Centre (Emec) and Imperial College London is using artificial intelligence (AI) software to control hydrogen storage technology. The system will make real-time asset management decisions to optimise renewable energy integration.

Professional Engineering

A new form of 3D-printed material made by combining common plastics with carbon nanotubes is tougher and lighter than similar forms of aluminium, its developers have said. The team, led by University of Glasgow engineers, developed a new plate-lattice cellular metamaterial. It could lead to the development of safer, lighter and more durable structures for aerospace or automotive.

Professional Engineering

Schools, parents and businesses should collectively push the message that apprenticeships are of equal value to traditional academic routes, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has said. Skills and education lead Stephanie Baxter called for a shift in perception after IET research revealed that a third (32%) of engineering companies are still looking to recruit and train apprentices and graduates to fill skill gaps.

Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? TheProfessional Engineeringnewslettergives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, clickhere.

Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

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New coalmine questioned and high-density hydro planned: 10 top stories of the week - Professional Engineering

Plastic-nanotube composite ‘tougher and lighter than similar forms of aluminium’ – Professional Engineering

The material could lead to the development of lighter and more durable structures for use in aerospace or automotive (Credit: University of Glasgow)

A new form of 3D-printed material made by combining common plastics with carbon nanotubes is tougher and lighter than similar forms of aluminium, its developers have said.

The material could lead to the development of safer, lighter and more durable structures for use in the aerospace, automotive, renewable energy and marine sectors, the researchers said.

The team, led by University of Glasgow engineers, developed a new plate-lattice cellular metamaterial capable of impressive resistance to impacts.

Metamaterials are a class of artificially created cellular solids, designed and engineered to have properties which do not occur in the natural world. One form of metamaterials, known as plate-lattices, are cubic structures made from intersecting layers of plates that exhibit unusually high stiffness and strength, despite featuring a significant amount of space between the plates. That porosity also makes plate-lattices unusually lightweight.

The researchers set out to investigate whether new forms of plate-lattice design, manufactured from a plastic-nanotube composite they developed, could make a metamaterial with even more advanced stiffness, strength and toughness.

The composite includes a mixture of polypropylene or polyethylene low-cost, reuseable plastics widely used in everyday items like bags and bottles and multi-wall carbon nanotubes.

The team used its nanoengineered filament composite as the feedstock in a 3D printer, which fused the filaments together to build a series of plate-lattice designs. Those designs were then subjected to a series of impact tests by dropping a 16.7kg mass from a range of heights to determine their ability to withstand physical shocks.

A hybrid plate-lattice design, including multi-faceted aspects, proved to be the most effective in absorbing impacts. The polypropylene version showed the greatest impact resistance. The team found that it could withstand 19.9 joules per gram a superior performance over similarly-designed micro-architected aluminium metamaterials.

Dr Shanmugam Kumar, reader in composites and additive manufacturing in the James Watt School of Engineering, led the research project. The research team also involved mechanical and chemical engineers from Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi and Texas A&M University.

Dr Kumar said: This work sits right at the intersection of mechanics and materials. The balance between the carbon nanostructure-engineered filaments weve developed as a feedstock for 3D printing, and the hybrid composite plate-lattice designs weve created, has produced a really exciting result.

In the pursuit of lightweight engineering, there is a constant hunt for ultra-lightweight materials featuring high performance. Our nano-engineered hybrid plate-lattices achieve extraordinary stiffness and strength properties and exhibit superior energy absorption characteristics over similar lattices built with aluminium.

He added: Advances in 3D printing are making it easier and cheaper than ever to fabricate the kinds of complicated geometries with tailored porosity that underpin our plate-lattice design. Manufacture of this kind of design at industrial scales is becoming a real possibility.

One application for this new kind of plate-lattice might be in automobile manufacture, where designers perpetually strive to build more lightweight bodies without sacrificing safety during crashes. Aluminium is used in many modern car designs, but our plate-lattice offers greater impact resistance, which could make it useful in those kinds of applications in the future.

The recyclability of the plastics were using in these plate-lattices also makes them attractive as we move towards a net-zero world, where circular economic models will be central to making the planet more sustainable.

The teams paper, titled Impact behaviour of nanoengineered, 3D-printed plate-lattices, was published inMaterials & Design. The work was supported by funding from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the University of Glasgow.

Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? TheProfessional Engineeringnewslettergives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, clickhere.

Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

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Plastic-nanotube composite 'tougher and lighter than similar forms of aluminium' - Professional Engineering

Scientists study moving worm "blobs" to create robot swarms – Big Think

A new study looked at how California black worms work together to form "worm blobs" in order to model their behavior in moving swarms of simple robots. The "blob" formation, which can range in size from 10 to 50,000 worms, serves to protect the creatures from drying out and withstanding threats like strong heat.

The researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology focused on how thousands of the worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), about a centimeter in length each, can intertwine into an "active matter," which behaves as one. This self-organized shape-shifting blob allows the worms to achieve much more complex outcomes together than they would without getting hitched up.

The work promises to help engineers working on swarm robots to understand and adapt the mechanics of how such blobs behave.

Saad Bhamla, an assistant professor at Georgia Tech's School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, highlighted that being in a group is beneficial to the worms' survival:

"We were curious about why these worms would form these living blobs," said Bhamla. "We have now shown through mathematical models and biological experiments that forming the blobs confers a kind of collective decision-making that enables worms in a larger blob to survive longer against desiccation."

The scientists also showed that the worms in a blob can move together, exhibiting unique collective behavior. The capabilities of the blob are much more than anything the individuals can do on their own. Studying these blobs helps researchers who are looking to transfer the key traits of living systems to ones designed by humans. Swarm robots, in particular, are built around the idea that individual robots must collaborate to be able to engage in complex actions.

Collective worm and robot "blobs" protect individuals, swarm together

The worms were studied closely by the research associate Yasemin Ozkan-Aydi, whose experiments included testing the blob's responsiveness to temperature and light changes and creating a "worm gymnasium", which allowed her to gauge the strength of the worms. To create a worm blob, she took the worms out of water. When they couldn't find the water, they came together in a ball-like blob. The worms would trade off on who would be on the outside of the blob, where most evaporation took place. This allowed the collective to suffer less of an effect from the lack of liquid. The researchers concluded that being in a blob helped the worms survive 10 times longer when being out of water, compared to individual worms.

Georgia Tech research associate Yasemin Ozkan-Aydin holds a smarticle blob as Georgia Tech Assistant Professor Saad Bhamla holds a worm blob.

Credit: Christopher Moore, Georgia Tech

Professor Daniel Goldman, in whose lab these experiments were carried out, pointed to the unexpected smartness of what the worms did.

"They would certainly want to reduce desiccation, but the way in which they would do this is not obvious and points to a kind of collective intelligence in the system," explained Goldman. "They are not just surface-minimizing machines. They are looking to exploit good conditions and resources."

This intelligence of the worms was also on display in heat experiments, where the cooperation between the worms in the blob allowed them to slink away from hot spots, dramatically improving their survival chances. Moving as a blob, 95% of the worms made it to the cold side.

Ozkan-Aydin incorporated the observations of worm behavior into small robotic blobs made of "smart active particles" or "smarticles." She pinned six 3D-printed robots which featured two arms and two light sensors in a mesh, essentially entangling them similarly to the worms. She then programmed and tested different movements the robots could perform, finding that the robot swarms "generate emergent behavior that is similar to what we saw in the worms."

You can check out the new study "Collective dynamics in entangled worm and robot blobs" published in PNAS, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Scientists study moving worm "blobs" to create robot swarms - Big Think

Riding the Funding Wave: These DFW Startups Got the Money in 2020 Dallas Innovates – dallasinnovates.com

COVID brought in-person meetings and pitches to a screeching halt last year, but that didnt stop deals from getting done. VCs, angels, and corporatesalong with IPOskept the money flowing for companies in Dallas-Fort Worth to fund future developments, hires, and next-gen tech. From Taysha Gene Therapies $125 million in two funding rounds (and its subsequent IPO) to Bestows $70 million Series C , the investment landscape defied the pandemic with robust activity.

Weve rounded up 32 notable funding deals. Fitting the digital demands of a global pandemic, its a tech-heavy group, with liberal doses of biotech and healthcare-related firms, received money to keep them growing. These are startups to watch.

The Plano-based healthcare website marketing platform announced a $7 million Series A funding round led by Austin-based PE firm Unbundled Capital in January 2020. Founded in 2003, DoctorLogic works with medical practices in the field of aesthetics, dentistry, surgery, and general medical. Its technology includes a proprietary Content Creation Engine showcasing its customers online presence, helping them acquire new patients and measure their marketing efforts.

The Dottid team in January 2020. Founder and CEO Kyle Waldrep is fifth from the left. [Photo: Dottid]

The Dallas proptech startup offering SaaS for commercial real estate landed $3.9 million in seed funding in January 2020. The startup doubled its staffing last year anddeveloped Dottid Industrial, which officially unveiled in early 2021. CEO Kyle Waldrep, who founded the company in 2016, calls Dottids new workflow management platform the first-ever created specifically for industrial owners, managers, brokers, and tenants. Its time for the commercial real estate industry to catch up with the innovation industrial property tenants are used to, he said in a news announcement. The company hired a former Toyota Connected engineer, Senneca Miller, as its new CTO in 2019.

Patricia Zilliox, with expertise in global clinical development in ophthalmology and a 30-plusyear career at Alcon Laboratories, is president and CEO.[Photo via Eyevensys]

Biotech startup Eyevensys, led by a one-time Alcon exec, is a privately held biotech with U.S. operations based in Fort Worth at UNTs HSC and a headquarters in Paris, France. The clinical-stage company, which was founded in 2008, raised $30 million in Series B funding in January 2020. Eyevensys develops non-viral gene therapies for retinal and other ophthalmic diseases. Among its tech is a gene therapy platform to deliver ocular drugs via an electrotransfection system to the ciliary muscle of the eye. The company is funded by the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, Pureos Bioventures, Bpifrance through the Innobio Fund, CapDecisif, Inserm Transfert Initiative, Pontifax, and the Global Health Sciences Fund.

Pieces Founder & CEO, Ruben Amarasingham

The Dallas healthcare AI startup closed a $25.7 million Series B round led by Concord Health Partners in January 2020. Physician and scientist Ruben Amarasingham invented the Pieces platform to connect providers with data and people with services. Since its founding in 2015, the healthtech startup has built integrated communities with clients from hospitals, health systems, and health plans to community clinics, service providers, and educational services. The company recently acquired Bowtie Business Intelligence to fuel its growth in January 2021.

Sales software provider Spotio received $4.5 million in January 2020 in Series A funds from Florida venture capital firm Ballast Point Ventures. The Dallas startup, which has an office in Poland, provides a mobile-first platform for field salespeople to manage sales territories, conduct face-to-face meetings, and improve sales performance. CEO Trey Gibson, who founded the startup in 2014, said the funding would be used to accelerate development of its tech pipeline, add to its sales team, and strengthen its marketing efforts. The company has raised a total of $5.1 million in four rounds since 2016, according to Crunchbase.

The Dallas building configuration software startup announced $2 million in seed funding in early 2020 from Parkway Venture Capital. The game-like city-building software helps architects, real estate developers, and general contractors run simulations to determine how buildings can be set up on a site. TestFit CEO Clifton Harness, who co-founded the company in 2017, said the funding would help the firm scale and expand into new markets, while continuing to innovate its generative-design software. Testfits app, a software-as-a-service solution, uses proprietary AI algorithms to produce results in seconds, the company says.

Cysiv CEO and co-founder Partha Panda [DI composite: Photo via Cysiv, illustration via istockphoto]

The Irving-based enterprise Security Operations Center-as-a-Service company originally incubated within Trend Micro. The spinout closed a $26 million Series A funding round in February to scale business operations and fuel further platform enhancements. Cysivs cloud-based platform aims to address the challenges enterprises currently face in protecting their data. Its technology combines elements of a threat-hunting security operations center with a managed security stack for hybrid cloud, network, and endpoint security.

Founder Vaidyanatha Siva and board member Prabhaka Reddy, who is co-founder and managing partner of Naya Ventures, at the 2020 Innovation Awards presented by D CEO and Dallas Innovates. Siva was named Startup Innovator of the Year. [Photo: Bret Redman]

The Irving AI healthtech startup, which was founded in 2015, announced bridge funding from Chicago PE firm Colosseum Group in February 2020 under the name DocSynk. Three months after its bridge funding, the company rebranded to FelixHealthcare.AI to better describe the companys patented AI healthcare engine, founder and CEO Vaidyanatha Siva told Dallas Innovates. The startup tech uses machine and deep learning to help healthcare organizations transform both business and clinical processes. DocSynks AI system can compile lists of patients who are at risk for chronic illnesses, such as early-onset diabetes or coronary artery disease, along with their probability of being diagnosed within certain time frames. The funding will help the startup move toward a Series A round, the company said at the time. The startup previously received $1 million in seed funding from Naya Ventures in 2016. Of the new name, the company says Felix is roughly defined as happy. That aligns to the startups mission to make the healthcare journey happy and successful for all stakeholders.

Shiftsmart Inc., a Dallas-based marketplace for part-time work, raised more than $16.3 million of a $16.5 million equity funding offering, per a filing in February. Founded in 2015, Shiftsmart connects part-time workers with open shifts in a number of industries. The startup helps companies source workers and manage peak shifts, and provides a channel for running promotions and incentives. An app matches workers with jobs based on their credentials, availability, and preferences. People can accept or decline the job with a swipe, Shiftsmart said. The startup has raised a total of $22.5 million in funding over 2 rounds since 2017. The January Series A round included investments from Perot Jain, Mark Cuban, HALL Group, SoftBank, Spieker Partners, and the WeWork Creator Fund, according to Crunchbase.

Worlds is the third AI Venture for Dave Copps (left) and Chris Rhode (center). The duo, along with CTO Ross Bates (right), started their latest venture in 2018. [Photos: Worlds Inc.]

Emerging from stealth in early 2020, Dallas-based AI startup Worlds Inc. raised a $10 million Series A in February. Its platform creates live AI-powered models of real-world scenes, making it possible for organizations to remotely sense physical environments from a single interface. The extended reality environments are almost like turning real life into a video game, Copps says. The tech gives businesses and organizations a new way to viewand managetheir physical assets. In October, the founders unveiled Worlds Protect, a non-invasive, rapid breath test for COVID-19 that has FDA emergency-use authorization on the radar along with a team that includes Texas A&M and the U.S. Army.

In March, the Dallas biopharmaceutical company received an oversubscribed $80 million Series A investment led by Colt Ventures, the Dallas-based family office of Darren Blanton, and OrbiMed Advisors LLC. The funding will help bring two new lung disease drugs to marketReCode plans to file an investigational application with the FDA in 2021. As part of the deal, ReCode also merged with TranscripTx, a California-based biotech firm. The genetic medicines company has an office in Menlo Park, California.

The Dallas-based edge computing innovator announced a Series B equity funding round in March that it said will be used to accelerate growth in product development, engineering, and go-to-market activities. Led by California-based Juniper Networks and Atlanta-based Cox Communications, the amount of the round was not disclosed. Including an earlier Series A round led by Abry Partners, the new funding brings StackPaths total equity raised a reported $396 million. In September, the edge-computing platform hired a new chief technology officer, William Charnock, who will help expand its global footprint, CEO Kip Turco said. StackPath, founded in 2016, is eyeing the rapid growth of edge computing, partly attributable to new and growing 5G digital cellular networks that can boostby a factor of 10wireless network speed and increase data volume capacity by an estimated 40 percent per user over current 4G standards.

The Dallas tech unicorn reported explosive growth in 2020. In April, the supply-chain planning pioneer announced a minority equity investment from KKR that valued the company at over a billion dollars. o9 Solutions AI-powered platform, which helps global enterprises drive digital transformation, has grown its annual recurring revenue by more than 100 percent in the last year, it said at the time. The first external capital raise in its history, the funding is expected to accelerate o9s expansion in industry verticals and global markets. in late December, o9 announced a partnership with Gurobi Optimization, which produces whats been called the worlds fastest mathematical optimization solver. o9 will offer the Gurobi Optimizer as part of its AI-powered platform. The startup said it more than doubled its annual recurring revenue bookings last year, per a news release. o9 reported bookings across all its core industry verticals: CPG, Manufacturing, and Retail. The startup also noted growth in the Food and Beverage and Fashion and Apparel segments. Crunchbase reports o9 Solutions has raised a total of $122 million in funding over seven rounds since 2012.

Coppell-based Peak Nanosystems, known for taking nanotechnology out of the lab and into the real world, closed on a Series C funding round with a $25 million investment from Connecticut-based Squadron Capital in April. The company is expanding its optical product development and acquired PolymerPlus, which has developed its own tech for optics and film capacitors that are ready for product launches in 2021. Through the acquisition, Peak Nano will get exclusive rights to that tech.

Panna Sharma, CEO of Lantern Pharma

The Dallas clinical-stage biotech startup specializing in precision oncology therapeutics earned more than $26 million in its June IPO. That will allow it to hire more biologists, cancer researchers, and AI developers, said CEO Panna Sharma. Lantern recently surpassed one billion data points on its proprietary AI platforma milestone that could help improve patient outcomes by matching biomarker signatures with the best treatment options.

In June, Frisco-based Trivie, a training and communication startup that uses cognitive science, gamification, and adaptive learning to help employees remember training information longer, closed $5 million in Series A funding to increase the distribution of its app. Trivie said the investment round, led by Cottonwood Venture Partners, will expand its remote learning technology to Fortune 1000 companies and others in industries like energy, manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, and consumer goods. So far, Trivie has raised a total of $16.6 million in funding over four rounds since it was founded by Lawrence D. Schwartz and Leland Putterman in 2011, according to Crunchbase. As the need for safety training and remote learning increasesand62 percent of Americans work from homethe startup said major companies have turned to its AI-based gamification software. Subway, Anheuser-Busch, and more have wanted to ensure employees will remember and follow guidelines, Trivie says.

John Tomlinson, the co-founder of Equalizer Games and a former NFL coach. [Image: Courtesy Equalizer Games]

The Dallas startups app, a virtual football training program for quarterbacks and coaches, received a $100,000 investment from Arlan Hamilton, well known in the VC community for investing in underrepresented entrepreneurs. Created by former NFL coach John Tomlinson, the app helps QBs read coverages and make smarter decisions.

The Dallas-based first-mile supply chain startup closed on a $2.5 million funding round in July, following a $3.2 million seed round led by Austin-based LiveOak Venture Partners that was announced in late 2019. The startup, which offers solutions for importers and connects global supply with demand through its platform, aims to bring international trade into the digital age. The most recent investment was led by Austin-based Ironspring Ventures and joined by a new investor, Supply Chain Ventures. Mercado plans to leverage the two companies support, along with its existing team of investors, to optimize and advance its supply chain platform.

Photo-illustration: TechFW

The Bedford-based startup closed an oversubscribed Series A funding round in July for its leading work on retinas, which could enable the blind to see. The undisclosed amount of funding is expected to be used to begin a clinical trial on inherited retinal disorders and other eye-related initiatives. The startup, a TechFW client, also announced the addition of Dr. Alvaro Guillem, a co-founder of ZS Pharma, as its chairman of the board.

Alkami Technology

Plano-based Alkami, a fintech founded in 2009 that provides cloud-based digital solutions for credit unions and banks, raised $140 million in a September 2020 venture round lead by D1 Capital Partners. Also in 2020, Alkami reached the 10 million user milestone and brought in more than $100 million in revenue. The fintech has raised a total of $385.2 million in 10 rounds since 2011, per Crunchbase. In October, the fintech acquired fraud prevention provide ACH Alert for an undisclosed amount.

R.A. Session II, president, CEO, and founder of Taysha Gene Therapies [Background image: Olena Yepifanova via iStock]

The Dallas biotech had an explosive start in 2020, moving from stealth to IPO in a matter of months. The clinical-stage startup that develops treatments for monogenic disorders of the central nervous system raised more than $125 million over two funding rounds in 2020: a Series A in April and a Series B Round in August. The company then went public in September at $20 a share, with an estimated $716.2 million in valuation, according to Crunchbase. Kicking off this year, Taysha and UT Southwestern together launched a new innovation fund in January 2021 to advance the development of new gene therapies.

Adaptive3D focuses on creating strain-tolerant materials used for additive manufacturing. [Photo: Courtesy Adaptive3D]

Spun out of UT Dallas, the startup founded in 2014 wants to change how the world mass manufactures plastics and rubbers. In October, it closed on an undisclosed Series B round to scale up its materials for 21st-century manufacturing. Per Crunchbase, the startup has raised a total of $5.1 million in two rounds. With a team of inventors and a large IP portfolio, it plans to use the funds to scale production and distribution to deliver photo-resin parts at a fraction of the weight and cost. Its photopolymer resins for additive manufacturing are tough, strain-tolerant, tear-resistant rubbers. Founded by inventor Walter Voit, the president and CEO, in 2014, the company is now known as a premium supplier of photopolymer resins. Voit is a professor at UTD who heads up the Advanced Polymer Research Lab.

The Dallas-based startup helps live streamers like Dude Perfect and Snoop Dogg scale their streams through tools for better audience engagement. A cross-platfrom chatbot, Botisimo raised $700,000 in initial seed funding in October 2020 from Mason Bridge, a Dallas-based operating partner specializing in software-driven businesses. Its suite of viewer engagement tools are available on Twitch, Mixer, YouTube, and more.

Craig Lewis is the CEO and founder of Gig Wage. [Photo: Michael Samples]

In October, the Dallas-based pioneer in simplifying payroll for the gig economy raised a $7.5 million Series A round to boost its banking platform. The funding was led by Green Dot, a Pasadena-based financial technology and bank holding company. Additional participation comes from Techstars and Rise of the Rest, among others. The deal goes beyond just an investmentGreen Dot will now serve as an infrastructure bank partner to Gig Wage, allowing the startup to add Green Dots solutions to its instant payments platform for gig workers and the huge number of underbanked Americans. This year, the startup raised another $2.5 million in follow-on funding in January. That brings the Dallas-based fintechs total Series A funding to approximately $10 million, the startup told us. Founder and CEO Craig Lewis plans to quadruple his team by the end of 2021.

Linear Labs electric motor was invented by Brad Hunstable and his father, Fred, while they were working to design a device that could pump clean water and provide power for small communities in underdeveloped regions. [Photo: Courtesy Linear Labs]

In October, the smart motor maker got a $6 million round and plans to expand its manufacturing and employee base. That followed a June kick off of Linear Labs public/private partnership with the City of Fort Worth, which included economic incentives worth up to $68.9 million to create a smart electric motor manufacturing facility and a research and development facility in the city. Founded in 2014, its motors have twice the torque of competitive motors or equal torque in half the size, Co-Founder Brad Hunstable says. Linear Labs also added Masergy Chairman and CEO Chris MacFarland to its Board of Directors last year.

MediBookr Founder and CEO Sunny Nadolsky [Image: Courtesy MediBookr]

The Dallas-based healthcare company offering a digital platform for provider-patient interactions raised an estimated $2.6 million in seed funding in October 2020. Founded by Healthcare Wildcatter alum Sunny Nadolsky, MediBookr responded to COVID-19 demand by rolling out several new tools offering improved digital engagement. Founder and CEO Sunny Nadolsky sees a healthcare experience of the future that rivals the efforts taken in the retail sector. The future of healthcare has a UX built for customer loyalty, she says. The ultimate end result? Lower operating costs and increased revenue for providers.

The convenience store company moved its HQ to Fort Worth last summer, closing on $235 million in equity funding in October for a store raze-and-rebuild campaign across its portfolio. The five-year-old startups fast-growth track was kickstarted when it acquired the 304-store Allsups chain in 2019. Yesway, which has 402 store locations, is on its way to a goal of 500. Yesway says it wants to pursue other acquisitions complementary to expanding the Yesway/Allsups brand.

ShearShares co-founding couple Courtney and Dr. Tye Caldwell. [Image: Courtesy ShearShare]

The McKinney-based beauty tech startup closed a $2.3 million seed round in November. Its a time of rapid financial growth for ShearShare, as it reaches $3.9 million in overall funding, per Crunchbase. The mobile marketplace for stylists said it experienced a 157 percent increase in users over the past few months, despite the pandemic. The startup was also one of four Black-founded startups in DFW to receive funding in October from the $5 million Google for Startups Black Founders Fund. The local founders in total received $300,000.

Apty received $5.4 million in post-seed funding in December. The Frisco-based company develops Digital Adoption Platform software for enterprises to improve complex business processes and is used by big clients such as Mary Kay and Hitachi. This is not just the first outside investment for Apty but also validation of our success in the market, Krishna Dunthoori, Aptys founder and CEO, said. Dunthoori, who founded the startup in 2017, sees a growing need for digital adoption in the new normal. The startups platform lets companies solve issues in software utilization, digital transformation, and process compliance. Its tech and UX aims to make that easy with on-screen guidance, usage analytics, and insights. That, in turn, can improve process compliance.

From left: Bestow co-founders Jonathan Abelmann and Melbourne OBanion, photographed in 2018. [Courtesy: Bestow]

The Dallas-based digital life insurance platform capped 2020 with a $70 million Series C funding round, following a $50 million Series B raise in February. So far, the insurance innovator has raised $145 million in total funding as it readies for expansion. The startup wants to make life insurance coverage fast, easy, and accessible to millionsand expand the market. Bestow also acquired Centurion Life Insurance Company and started a nonprofit during the pandemic.

Founders Mandy Price and Star Carter.

Kanarys, a tech platform that helps companies prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion to strengthen workplace culture, had a landmark year in 2020. The company received $500,000 in funding as a runner up in Revolutions Rise of the Rest Tour pitch competition, also gaining a spot in Morgan Stanleys Multicultural Innovation Lab 2021 cohort. Black and female-founded startup was chosen for the inaugural Google for Startups Accelerator: Black Founders. They also were a recipient of Google for Startups Black Founders Fund. Kicking off 2021, the social innovation startup landed $3 million in seed funding in January, after receiving $1 million in pre-seed funds a year ago. Co-founded by Mandy Price and Star Carter in 2019, the startup now has $4.6 million in total funding. CEO Mandy Price has a lofty goal: Changing the face of DEI, so that we can all work where we belong.

Zirtue Co-Founder and CEO Dennis Cail calls his startup, Zirtue, a radically different fintech platform

The Dalla-based startup, along with Kanarys, took home $500,000 as a runner up in Revolutions 2020 Rise of the Rest pitch competition. It also landed an estimated $1.6 million in Seed Round funding in May and received funds from Dallas Cowboys Jaylon Smiths Minority Entrepreneurship Institute Capital Fund and the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund in 2020. Thelending platform raised $1M in seed funding in 2019. Cail launched the startup in 2018 with co-founder Michael Seay, a Dallas financial executive and entrepreneur who serves as Zirtues CFO. He aims for a business strategy that includes social impact. The startups patent-pending app encourages transparent and equitable lending options for all people.

A version of this story was originally published in Dallas Innovates 2021: The Resilience Issue.

Our fourth annual magazine, Dallas Innovates 2021: The Resilience Issue, highlights Dallas-Fort Worth as a hub for innovation. The collective strength of the innovation ecosystem and intellectual capital in Dallas-Fort Worth is a force to be reckoned with.

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Riding the Funding Wave: These DFW Startups Got the Money in 2020 Dallas Innovates - dallasinnovates.com

Will Gambling Proceeds Support Education in Texas? – Reform Austin

In 1991 one of the big questions the State of Texas faced was whether legislators should allow a lottery to help fund some of the states needs. Many supporters of the lottery promised that proceeds could be used to help fund public schools so during the first special session of the 72nd Texas Legislature House Bill 54 and House Joint Resolution 8 called for a vote on the lottery. The following November, Texas voters approved Proposition 11 allowing the institution of the Texas Lottery.

Today we face a similar issue in the state with those who want to allow sports betting. In January of this year House Bill 1121 was filed by Rep. Harold Dutton in the Texas House of Representatives to allow sports betting in Texas. Behind the push for the bill is the Sports Betting Alliancea coalition of sports betting franchises and platforms. Major sports teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Texas Rangers are working with them to ensure that the bill passes.

According to his office, Rep. Dan Huberty is working on another sports-betting bill that would use some of the proceeds for special education. While 90% of the proceeds would go to bettors the other 10% would go to fund education for special needs students. The bill could generate several hundred million dollars, according to Huberty. The bill has currently been drafted but not filed.

Opponents of sports betting in Texas include owners and operators of gambling venues in neighboring states like the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations from Oklahoma. The two tribes have given over $5 million to Texas legislators since 2006 to stop gambling in the state. An opponent with strong political clout is Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who recently stated that sports betting is not even an issue thats going to see the light of day this session. While Patrick has let it be known that he is not a proponent expanding legal gaming, he indicated that the Senate is not supportive of it this session, stating We are nowhere close to having the votes for it.

But many ask, if sports betting were to pass in Texas, would we use the funds to support public education? How we distribute funds from the Texas lottery may provide a hint. Close to 26% of lottery funds are currently allocated to the Foundation School Fund to support Texas public schools, accounting for about 5% of the funds budgeted for public education. The lions share of lottery proceeds around 62% go to lottery winners. Historically, at least some lottery proceeds have gone to public schools. Whether it is the amount that was promised by some or expected by many is another story.

Finally, some wonder if we should use gambling proceeds for public schools from a moral standpoint while others feel the additional revenue outweighs and such problem. An old joke tells the story of a gambler offering a portion of his winnings to a minister. The preacher pondered it for a moment and then said, The devil has had it long enough. Give it here!

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Will Gambling Proceeds Support Education in Texas? - Reform Austin

Mo. company accused of illegal gambling sues the state – Griffon News

A Missouri-based company accused of operating illegal gambling devices filed a lawsuit alleging state law enforcements crackdown on rogue slot machines is a campaign of harassment and intimidation.

Torch Electronics, LLC, filed its lawsuit Friday in Cole County against the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.

The company alleges the state exceeded its authority by removing Torch machines from Warrenton Oils convenience stores, as well as other locations. Warrenton Oil joined Torch in the lawsuit.

These government officials continue to threaten to remove Torch devices based solely on their own incorrect interpretations of Missouri gambling laws, the lawsuit, filed by Jefferson City attorney Charles Hatfield, states.

As such, the lawsuit continues, judicial intervention is necessary to prevent the department and the Highway Patrol from exceeding their authority by continuing to remove Torch amusement devices from convenience stores.

The lawsuit comes as Missouri legislative leaders are pushing for tougher regulations to root out illegal gambling machines across the state.

On Monday, the Senate briefly debated a bill sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, that would grant the Missouri Gaming Commission authority to go after these machines.

It also allows for the revocation of a liquor license of any businesses found to be allowing the machines to operate on their premises.

I just want them to stop violating the law, Schatz said of the illegal machines.

Torch Electronics opposes the bill, arguing that it would put the company out of business.

The machines in question operate similarly to what youd find in a casino. A player inserts money, selects a game and decides how much they wish to wager. Winners get paid by the store cashier.

Missouri officials estimate there are 14,000 of these machines across the state.

The Missouri Gaming Commission has deemed them gambling devices, which are prohibited outside of licensed casinos, and the state highway patrol considers them illegal.

Torch disagrees, saying its machines reveal the outcome of the wager before the player moves forward. Thus, the company argues, they are not a game of chance and therefore not illegal.

Sen. Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, doesnt buy Torchs argument that its machines are not illegal gambling.

Because these machines operate outside the law, Hegeman said, there are no consumer protections in place and they do not abide by the same restrictions as other slot machines including that a portion of proceeds goes to fund public education.

Im passionate about getting after these illegal machines who are stealing money from our kids for their own personal benefit, he said. It makes me mad. It makes me upset. They need to be taken out. They need to be destroyed. They need to get out of the state of Missouri.

Last year, Hegeman earmarked $150,000 in Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitts budget to crack down on illegal gaming machines around the state.

Schmitt initially declined to spend the money until a case involving illegal gambling machines in Platte County was resolved. That case ended last month, with Kansas-based Integrity Vending paying a fine after being found guilty of promoting gambling in the first degree.

Integrity Vending chose not to appeal the ruling.

The attorney generals office then said the case proves that these cases are local matters that should be handled by local prosecutors.

Hegeman said if the attorney general doesnt spend the money, we will probably make an adjustment to that. If we give them the resources to do that, and they dont, then we will find something else to do with it.

The attorney generals office declined comment.

I heard for two years that we need to wait for the Platte County case. As soon as that is adjudicated, well take action, Schatz said Monday. Well, that case is resolved.

In addition to filing a lawsuit, Torch Electronics also earlier this month donated $10,000 to a political action committee connected to its lobbyist, Steve Tilley.

Last summer, the company gave $90,000 to a different PAC connected to Tilley, and that money was doled out to various lawmakers in the run-up to the November election.

Tilley is also a longtime friend and adviser to Gov. Mike Parson, as well as one of his top fundraisers. Torch donated $20,000 to a PAC supporting Parsons bid for governor.

In its lawsuit, Torch is asking a Cole County judge to declare that its machines are not gambling devices and that the state overstepped its authority when it removed machines from convenient stores.

The company also wants the judge to prevent the state from removing or participating in the removal of any Torch machines from convenience stores moving forward.

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Mo. company accused of illegal gambling sues the state - Griffon News

Novak Djokovic ‘gambling’ on fitness after Australian Open win over Raonic – The Guardian

Novak Djokovic says he could potentially cause more damage to his body by continuing to compete at the Australian Open following the abdominal injury he sustained during his third-round match against Taylor Fritz. On Sunday the world No 1 returned to beat Milos Raonic 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

After stating following his match against Fritz on Friday night that the ATP physio had told him his injury was definitely a tear, on Sunday he declined to describe his injury in detail. He said he had spent the previous 48 hours doing different treatments with different devices, including pills and painkillers, having coordinated with medical staff of Tennis Australia, ATP physios and his own physiotherapist.

Its kind of a gamble, said Djokovic. I mean, thats what the medical team told me. Its really unpredictable, you cant know whats going to happen with you once youre on the court. Youre not gonna save yourself or think about going for that point or this shot or that shot. It just pulls you. Its normal. Playing at this level, you just want to give it all.

It could cause much more damage than it is at the moment, but it also could go in a good direction. So thats something that I dont know, and I dont think I will also know until I stop taking painkillers. As long as Im with high dose of painkillers, I guess, you know, still can bear some of the pain.

Djokovic said he did not know whether he would play until a few hours before the match but he produced a highly competent performance to overcome Raonic. Although he sometimes grimaced, he won 78% of first serve points, fired 41 winners to just 25 unforced errors, moved smoothly and broke Raonics considerable serve three times.

Playing best-of-five with kind of an aggressive mover that I am on the court doesnt help much with this kind of injury, but I think the combination of pills and treatments and also some willpower and of course certain degree and level of bearing the pain. Mentally I think you have to kind of accept that I did come into the match knowing that Ill probably feel pain all the way through, which was the case, said Djokovic.

Injuries were the theme of the day as the 21st seed Grigor Dimitrov produced a shock 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 victory against the third seed Dominic Thiem to reach the quarter-finals. Thiem offered little energy or resistance throughout, scoring just six points in the 21-minute third set. Afterwards, he noted physical issues but declined to further elaborate.

Some little physical issues, he said. I dont want to go closer to them. I dont want to find any excuses. But the thing also is that Im also not a machine. I mean, sometimes I would like to be, but there are really, really bad days. As soon as youre not a 100% there on the court on this level, then results like this come up and thats exactly what happened today.

Dimitrov will face the surprise of the tournament, Aslan Karatsev, a 27-year-old Russian qualifier who defeated the 20th seed Felix Auger Aliassime 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to become the first male player in 25 years to reach a grand slam quarter-final on debut.

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Novak Djokovic 'gambling' on fitness after Australian Open win over Raonic - The Guardian

Gambling bill tops list of tough issues when Alabama Legislature returns to work – AL.com

Alabama lawmakers finished what they considered urgent business the first two weeks of the legislative session, passing three bills related to the COVID-19 pandemic with overwhelming bipartisan support, but face more controversial topics in the weeks ahead.

They will first take a week off to evaluate how well efforts to meet safely during the COVID-19 pandemic are working.

If they dont find problems and return as expected on Feb. 23, they will dive into a plan for a lottery and casinos, a major gambling expansion that would raise a half-billion dollars or more a year for state programs.

The money would go to college scholarships for high-demand careers, expand access to broadband internet, support health care and mental health care, and other needs.

The bill is a constitutional amendment that would go to voters for a final decision if it clears the Legislature.

Besides the gambling bill, legislators will consider a range of bills on other timely or controversial topics, including Alabamas overcrowded and violent prisons, election law changes related to last years disputed presidential election, and issues that come up every year, such as gun control laws and medical marijuana.

Bills awaiting consideration would:

The legislative session can last up to 15 weeks, or until mid-May.

Some of the bills are likely to cause sharp disagreements. That will be a change from the last two weeks, when Republicans and Democrats, with just a handful of exceptions, voted for three priority bills to help the state cope with and recover from the pandemic.

On Friday, Gov. Kay Ivey signed the three bills. They will:

House Speaker Mac McCutcheon and Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed said the legislation is an important response to the pandemic, which cut short last years legislative session and killed those bills and others.

I think we accomplished what we needed to do, McCutcheon said. We got the three major bills out between the House and the Senate.

Weve had good progress on our budgets. And honestly, what we have gotten done over these two weeks has just really been phenomenal. Weve done better than I even thought we would do.

Reed sent out a statement saying the session was off to a strong start.

These are trying times for many across our state, and the Legislature, working with the governor, identified these three pieces of priority legislation to help Alabamians recover from the economic hardships endured throughout this pandemic, he said.

While these have been a strong first two weeks of session, we still have a lot of important work ahead of us. I look forward to continuing the bipartisan collaboration we have seen over the past few weeks as we continue to deliver results to the people of Alabama.

The Senate elected Reed as pro tem when Sen. Del Marsh stepped down after holding that post for a decade. Marsh, who is not running for reelection in 2022, said he wanted to concentrate on major legislation during his last two years in office. He is the sponsor of the constitutional amendment to allow a lottery and five casinos that would offer a full range of casino games and sports betting.

The Legislative Services Agency estimated the lottery and casinos could raise net revenue for the state of $450 million to $670 million. Read the fiscal note, which describes how the money would be used.

Senators discussed the bill Thursday but did not vote. Marsh said he expected to make changes to the bill in response to what he has heard from senators, representatives, and others, and would return with a revised version on Feb. 23.

Ive got to determine what is a package that I can truly, one, get through the Legislature and get to the people, Marsh said. And when they look at it they can say, They checked all the boxes. Im comfortable with this. I believe the money is going to the right places.

Alabama voters have not had a chance to vote on a lottery since 1999.

The Legislative Services Agency estimated the lottery would raise net revenue of $194 million to $279 million a year for the state. The money would go to a Lottery Trust Fund that would be used to pay for scholarships to community colleges. The intent is to help Alabama build a workforce needed to fill high-demand jobs in growing industries like automotive plants and aerospace companies. Scholarships would also go to students seeking teaching degrees in math and science, where there is a shortage of teachers.

The Legislature would hammer out more details in separate legislation. Marsh said his intent is to pass that before the amendment goes on the ballot so that voters will know the specifics.

The bill would allow casinos at the states four greyhound tracks in Birmingham, Macon County, Greene County, and Mobile, plus a fifth in northeast Alabama operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

Senators who spoke Thursday generally praised the bill but some complained that their districts would have no casino and would lose revenue they now receive from bingo. The bill would prohibit electronic bingo except at the casinos.

Marsh said he might change the bill to allow up to two more casinos but said he strongly believed that voters want a limit on the number.

For several years, lawmakers have taken steps to expand high-speed internet access. They created the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund to offer grants to help bring fiber connections to areas where providers might not otherwise serve because theres not enough return on the investment. But the funding is a fraction of what is needed. The pandemic has reinforced the importance of broadband, with public schools switching to online classes and many adults working from home.

Marshs bill would apply almost half of the revenue from casinos to broadband expansion until that total reached $1 billion. A companion bill would set up a new state agency, the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority, which would develop short-term and long-term plans to expand broadband and enable the state to issue bonds for that purpose. Read the summary.

The gambling bill would also direct money to rural health care. Marsh said Ivey wanted that to be part of the plan because she wanted to help rural hospitals.

Funding would also go to mental health services. Marsh said that was the result of discussions with House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter, who has led efforts to expand mental health care.

If the plan is approved, the governor would enter a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians that would allow the tribe to offer the full range of casino games at their electronic bingo casinos on tribal land in Atmore, Wetumpka, and Montgomery.

The plan would also authorize betting on sports events at the casinos and online.

Marsh said he wanted his bill to be as close to a final document as possible if it passes the Senate but said he understand the House will probably want to make changes.

House Speaker McCutcheon did not commit to supporting the bill or speculate on it. McCutcheon said the comprehensive nature of the bill -- with the lottery, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the four greyhound tracks, and county-based bingo all included -- is an important stating point.

It would be too early for me to start making a comment about what I would support and what I would not support, McCutcheon said. I do know, and Ive said this from the very beginning, is that weve got to bring all of these different entities together where we can sit down at the table and not fight against each other but try to look for the things that bring us together so that we could have a hope of passing something.

Prisons are a major topic. The Department of Justice sued the Alabama Department of Corrections last year, alleging that the state violates the constitutional rights of inmates by failing to protect them from violence. Alabamas prisons hold far more inmates than they were built for and their supervision suffers from a severe shortage of correctional officers.

The House Judiciary Committee has approved about a half-dozen bills related to the prison problems. They would give judges more discretion in sentencing parole violators; allow some nonviolent offenders to petition courts for shorter sentences; promote community corrections and other programs that divert offenders from prison; and temporarily create a second parole board to help relieve a backlog of inmates eligible for parole hearings.

McCutcheon said he expects those bills to receive consideration in the House.

Ivey has signed lease agreements for two new mens prisons and is negotiating a third. The leases do not require legislative approval. Legislators have said they are worried about the cost, projected at about $3 billion over 30 years. McCutcheon said the House has a backup plan to the lease agreements, but no bill has been introduced.

At least two bills propose changes to a law that prohibits cities and counties from moving historical monuments that are 40 years old or more from public property. The Legislature passed the Memorial Preservation Act in 2017 in response to Confederate statues coming down in other states. The law imposes a $25,000 fine for removal of monuments. Still, Birmingham, Mobile, and Madison County all took down Confederate monuments last year.

The House Judiciary committee did not approve a bill by Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, that would repeal the Memorial Preservation Act and allow cities and counties to move monuments to parks, cemeteries, or similar sites, or transfer ownership to other cities, counties, or a state agency. But the bill is in a subcommittee and could still be considered.

Another bill takes the opposite approach, making it harder to move monuments by increasing the penalties for removal. Rep. Mike Holmes, R-Wetumpka, is the sponsor.

McCutcheon said he did not want to speculate on what the House would do but said he expects representatives to debate the issues.

I think that there is a good possibility that that issue is going to be addressed. And I think theres a good possibility there may be some changes. To what extent that will be, I dont know, McCutcheon said.

The speaker said Givans bill had some merit because it would increase local control but did not endorse it.

A lot of the members have talked about thats a positive, they would like to see more local control because every area is not the same in the state. But, there again, the bills got to go through the process, McCutcheon said.

A Senate committee approved a bill that would prohibit puberty-blocking drugs, hormone treatments, and surgeries for minors seeking transgender therapy. The House Judiciary committee held a public hearing on a similar bill but did not take a vote.

A bill to legalize and regulate the production, sales, and use of medical marijuana products won approval by a Senate committee and awaits consideration by the Senate. It has passed the Senate the last two years but died in the House.

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Gambling bill tops list of tough issues when Alabama Legislature returns to work - AL.com

Opinion | Marshs gambling bill is already good, but it could be great – alreporter.com

The comprehensive gambling bill filed this week by Republican state Sen. Del Marsh is a good bill. That statement will undoubtedly anger both many of my progressive friends, who view gaming and specifically, a states reliance upon gaming revenue to pay important bills as a tax on the poor, and many anti-gaming conservatives, who believe gambling in any form is a sin (except for, of course, the church raffles and the church bingo).

But both groups, while likely well-intentioned, are off-base. Their arguments are superficial and ignore key, indisputable facts about the current gaming reality in Alabama, and about how legalizing gaming in this state could drastically alter the tax structure and opportunities facing the states poorest citizens.

So, first things first, lets explain the bill and what it does. The short version is that it would authorize voters to approve a constitutional amendment allowing for a lottery, full casino gaming at five locations, a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians that would allow three additional full casinos and would allow all casino locations to operate a sports book. It also creates a new gaming commission to oversee all of this gaming.

All told, this gaming bill is projected to bring in somewhere in the range of $750 million to $1 billion annually. That money will go towards a college scholarship program (similar to Georgias HOPE program), IT infrastructure, rural health care, mental health care and the general fund.

To determine if this is a good bill, I have three questions that must be answered:

Lets start from the top.

Marshs bill probably has the best chance of passing of any gaming bill that has come along in at least the last 15 years. There were a couple of close calls on video poker bills in the 90s, and then more near-misses in the early 2000s, but nothing that had the backing of several major players. And certainly nothing this ambitious.

There are two reasons why: First, the Poarch Creeks and the dog track owners sat down and reached an agreement. Second, the agreement spreads the wealth around to several different districts, making it far more likely that they can eliminate wishy-washy lawmakers by promising millions in revenue and thousands of jobs for their areas.

People can ignorantly whine about the dog tracks getting casinos, but you wouldnt have a deal otherwise. Because those tracks are huge money-makers for the local communities the very poor and economically depressed local communities and have been for decades. So, the lawmakers representing those areas protect the jobs of their constituents, as they should.

Historically, that has meant that no gaming or lottery bill gets through unless the tracks are included. Alternatively, until this deal, the tracks getting a piece of the pie has always been a non-starter for the Poarch Creeks, who didnt want to see their potential revenue diluted.

But over the last year-plus, the right people from those two groups got together and hammered out a compromise that didnt make any of them completely happy, but will ultimately make them and the state of Alabama a lot of money. Assuming this deal passes and voters approve it.

There are a few problems here. Overall, I think the bill strikes the correct tone, in terms of where the money goes, but the pathways to those locations arent clearly defined. And a couple of locations need to be changed, or at the very least the amount of money going to those locations changed.

What constitutes rural health services or mental health services isnt defined at all, and it needs to be. Or you could remove the rural services and simply expand Medicaid a move that would help every area of the state and would also generate billions of dollars and thousands of jobs.

Also, Id like to see the distribution of revenue altered to allow a repeal of the grocery tax and make it clear that career tech and certification programs can be covered by the lottery revenue, in addition to the college scholarships.

Theres enough money to do those things and still also improve our IT infrastructure and expand broadband throughout the state. Depending on the compact deal worked out between the tribe and Gov. Kay Ivey, there might also be enough to offer free pre-K to all Alabama children.

If we get anywhere close to this level of change, you have just fundamentally altered for the better the future of millions of Alabamians for generations to come.

Marshs bill taxes casinos at a 20 percent rate. Thats pretty close to average. Most other states have a variety of tax rates for example, taxing gaming machine revenue at a much higher rate than table game revenue making it difficult to assign an overall tax rate, but of those with flat rates, the rates vary from mid-teens to 30 percent.

That rate can be adjusted in the future, if needed. Although, the Poarch Creeks are currently (and rightfully) making the case that the rates shouldnt be changed during a licensing term.

So, thats it. Thats why I think its a good bill now, and one that could be life-altering for this state with just a few changes in revenue disbursement.

But theres also one other thing that I need people to understand: We already have gambling in this state.

Whenever this debate pops up, the go-to argument for gaming supporters is that theres gambling in states all around us. But you dont have to go that far. The Poarch Creeks already operate three casinos in Alabama. VictoryLand, GreeneTrack, the Birmingham Race Course and various smaller locations around the state also are already offering some form of gaming. So, theres already gambling occurring at seven of the eight proposed casino locations.

And that means all of the negative aspects of gaming that you complain about, we already have them here. What we dont have is revenue that would allow the state to implement changes that could positively affect all Alabamians, particularly poor Alabamians, and offset some of that harm.

That only comes by passing good, comprehensive gaming legislation that legalizes gambling at certain locations, regulates it and taxes it.

Marshs bill does that.

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Opinion | Marshs gambling bill is already good, but it could be great - alreporter.com

State trooper, three others charged with illegal gambling, prostitution – WNEP Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

The charges stem from an investigation into Sinners Swing Gentlemen's Club in Mayfield.

MAYFIELD, Pa. A state trooper in Lackawanna County is one of four people charged with illegal gambling and prostitution.

Investigators say Trooper Robert Covington, 45, of Olyphant, is a co-owner of Sinners Swing Gentleman's Club in Mayfield.

State police say an investigation revealed the club was being used for illegal gambling, prostitution, and money laundering.

Co-owner David Klem, 38; club manager Michael Ball, 48; and club employee Deanna Tallo, 31, were also charged.

Of the four people arrested on Thursday, one is a Pennsylvania State Trooper, one is a convicted drug dealer, and another pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs into the Lackawanna County Prison.

They're all accused of running an illegal operation out of a gentlemen's club in Mayfield since 2018.

Sinners Swing Gentlemen's Club co-owner David Klem flashed a smile at our cameras as he left the Lackawanna County Criminal Justice Center, followed by the three others who were charged with running an illegal gambling and prostitution ring out of the club in Mayfield.

One of the four arrested is Trooper Robert Covington, a 13-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police, who's assigned to enforce gambling regulations at Mohegan Sun Casino in Wilkes-Barre.

Investigators say Trooper Covington and David Klem own the club together.

Michael Ball is the club's manager, and Deanna Tallo is an employee.

After a year and a half long investigation, state police convinced a grand jury that these four people were running a corrupt organization and laundering money to cover it up.

Sharon Earyes works at an auto repair shop across the street from the club. She was surprised to learn of the illegal activities that were allegedly taking place there.

"If they were doing something bad, they did a very good job of keeping it secret because we didn't know anything," Earyes said. "I really didn't see much action over there. At night, we'd come by after dinner, and there'd be no cars in the lot, maybe one or two in the back you figure are employees. But in all honesty, I thought the place was closed."

Two of the four people arrested have a criminal history.

David Klem did time for using his pizza shop in Olyphant as a front for a drug trafficking operation. He was released on parole in 2015.

Deanna Tallo pleaded guilty in 2019 to smuggling drugs to inmates in the Lackawanna County Prison. Her sentencing in that federal case is scheduled for April.

According to court paperwork, Trooper Covington sent a text to another state trooper in February of last year, saying, "did I tell you I'm a silent partner in a strip club? I went halves with my friend in 2018. I told him I can't have any hand in daily operations till I hit my 20 yr mark lol. I'm almost making my PSP salary there."

Covington is currently suspended without pay from the Pennsylvania State Police.

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State trooper, three others charged with illegal gambling, prostitution - WNEP Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

Conn. expects $50M in revenue from online gambling; tribes close to deal with state – The Union Leader

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Gov. Ned Lamont penciled in $50 million in revenue from new digital gambling platforms in his two-year budget released Wednesday, betting that the legislature and Connecticuts two tribal casinos will approve sweeping changes in the states gambling enterprises.

The governor, legislative leaders, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino have negotiated unsuccessfully in the past few years an agreement to expand gambling to digital platforms such as the internet, phone apps and sports betting. The sides now are close to agreement, prodded by a shared need for revenue cut sharply by the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Our neighboring states are moving forward with sports betting and iGaming and Connecticut should not leave these opportunities for other states to benefit from our inaction, Lamont said in his budget address to the General Assembly.

Lamonts budget anticipates revenue from sports betting, iGaming and iLottery.

Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which owns Foxwoods, said the governors revenue projection based on sports betting and digital gambling shows a level of commitment.

Butler said the Lamont administration and casinos are really, really close in reaching agreement on legislation.

Were at the one-yard line. We just need to punt it in, he said.

James Gessner Jr., chairman of the Mohegan Tribe, said said Connecticut is poised this year to modernize its gaming laws, realize significant new state revenue and grow our local economy, just as neighboring states are already doing.

Even as the tribes negotiate with Lamont, money the governor budgeted in his spending plan is very much achievable through an agreement with the tribal nations, he said.

Lamont said his administration has been in active negotiations with the tribes to bring the states gaming economy into the digital age. He said he is submitting legislation that he believes is the best bet in ending this stalemate of inaction.

The $50 million in expected revenue for the fiscal year beginning July 2022 is a conservative estimate and will likely grow with added digital gaming, he said.

Melissa McCaw, Lamonts budget director, said at a budget briefing that modernizing the industry is critically important.

We believe theres alignment with our tribal partners on that goal, she said.

The tribes say their state compacts that have resulted in more than $8 billion in slot revenue to Connecticut since the early 1990s gives them exclusive rights to gambling. Commercial operators of casinos and sports betting are fighting efforts that would block them from competing for gambling business.

Sports betting operates in 20 states, including in neighboring New York and Rhode Island and nearby New Hampshire, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, according to the American Gaming Association.

Its legal, but not yet operating in five states.

In New Jersey, internet gambling generated nearly $1 billion in revenue last year, doubled from 2019, and delivered $145 million to the state, according to Howard Glaser, global head of government affairs and special initiatives at Scientific Games Corp., a Las Vegas gambling and lottery company.

In Pennsylvania, online lottery sales were $1 billion by May 2020 after its first year, he said.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Conn. expects $50M in revenue from online gambling; tribes close to deal with state - The Union Leader

Saudi Cup Gambling Analysis and Picks – The Sports Gambling Podcast

The worlds richest horse race, the $20 million Saudi Cup, holds its second running on Saturday. The Kingdom have done what theyre known for, built a state of the art facility and thrown a shed-load of money at an event. The race fits into the racing calendar in the region and provides competition for the other Gulf states who hold their racing festivals at this time of the year. Its a two day meeting with a wide range of events. Were here to concentrate on Saturdays main attraction heres your Saudi Cup Gambling Analysis and Picks.

The King Abdulaziz course in Riyadh is a new track so we dont have a ton of data, but in this instance we dont really need it. Its your standard left handed dirt oval, the 9f event held around one sweeping turn. Jockeys have been very complimentary about the surface and its lack of kickback. In short, therell be no excuses here. Theres not a huge field so everybody should be able to run their race. Maximum Security won last year having stalked the pace. Midnight Misu finished second having come from way back. The nine furlong trip looked to be a true test so Id want a horse with a bit of stamina and guts. Try and give the undercard a watch if you can, therell be clues on both days and you can pivot if there is an obvious trend.

Charlatan 7/4. Trained by Bob Baffert, Charlatan is 4 for 4. Having missed the Triple Crown races through injury, he returned from an eight month layoff to win the Malibu Stakes at Gulfstream in January. That was over seven furlongs, but the horse has won over this trip and that Malibu win was impressive. He could be anything and is a worthy favorite.

Knicks Go 9/4. Brad Cox trains this Pegasus World Cup winning star. I found his Breeders Cup Dirt Mile win even more impressive, going wire to wire and setting a track record. Hell be the one to catch and sets a daunting standard.

Mishriff 6/1. He hasnt been seen since finishing down the field in the Champions Stakes at Ascot. The horse overcame traffic to win the Prix du Jockey Club impressively, and trainer John Gosden has said the hed like a wide draw in order to drop in behind and pick his position. I think the layoff and lack of big race dirt experience may prove too much to overcome here.

Tacitus 11/1. Ran in this race last year and was always near the front without getting truly competitive. The horse doesnt have a Grade 1 winning record and I think we can expect more of the same here.

Military Law 12/1. He won a Grade 2 at Meydan and won it really well, though has previously finished behind horses not good enough to take this.

Chuwa Wizard 14/1. The Japanese raider interests me. Won an invitation here by taking the Grade 1 Champions Cup over todays trip at Chukyo. He travelled well and came home from midfield to win cozily. If anything is going to come from the back this might be the one.

Max Player 16/1. (pictured) Became a SGPN darling after filling out exotic placings in last years Belmont Stakes. He was the only horse to compete in all three Triple-Crown races, running with credit each time. However, we get it now. Max Player will run well and finish fifth.

Sleepy Eyes Todd is admirable but wont win today. Bangkok has taken an interesting route having won the Lingfield Winter Derby Trial in the UK, however this is a huge leap in class and its hard to see him getting involved at the finish. British phenom Hollie Doyle rides Extra Elusive who has G2 and G3 wins, but on a form line through Mishriff is up against it here. Alzahzaah is here representing the Saudis but nothing else.

Knicks Go has the form in the book and will take some passing. The presence of Charlatan makes Knicks Go an attractive price too. I think hell scoot off the front and come home untouched. Charlatan will need to get into a drive off the turn and may get picked up by closers for a place. Military Law has shown class and a good attitude, if he doesnt try to rate with Knicks Go he could stay on for a minor prize. Chuwa Wizard represents an element of the unknown, but didnt do a lot wrong last time and if the frontrunners cut each others throats then he could fly late and run in the money. Good Luck.

1st Knicks Go 9/4

2ndMilitary Law 12/1

3rdChuwa Wizard 14/1

The Saudi Cup meeting is covered on Fox Sports (US) and Sky Sports (UK)

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Cheltenham Festival betting tips

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Saudi Cup Gambling Analysis and Picks - The Sports Gambling Podcast