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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1892, the town of Runningwater in Hale County was established, and residents celebrated the occasion with a barbecue. The town was abandoned after the Fort Worth and Denver Railway bypassed the community in 1928.

Texas made a strong showing on Southern Living's list of the Best New Barbecue Joints of 2024, with Lockhart's Barbs-B-Q earning the No. 2 spot and several other standout locations recognized.

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We’re sponsored today by Monogram, the Austin-based company known for its autonomous robotic surgical systems. Check out their investment opportunities today.

State Approves Record $104B for Highway Projects

The Texas Transportation Commission, which oversees TxDOT, approved a record $104.17 billion for a 10-year highway maintenance and construction plan, with major allocations for rebuilding I-45 and I-10 in Houston and widening I-35 in Austin.

The total spending plan, including projects contingent on variable funding, amounts to $147.87 billion. Both figures are more than those approved last year.

A TxDOT spokeswoman said the state’s Unified Transportation Plan should accommodate the expanding economy and a population projected to exceed 35 million by 2035, according to the Texas Demographic Center.

The agency requested input on its plan last month and received 1,256 comments, most of which concerned projects in the Permian Basin, such as the expansion of I-20 through Midland and Odessa.

Lyft Driver Kidnapped, Forced to Drive to Miami

An Arlington Lyft driver was kidnapped at gunpoint by Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez and spent 57 hours being forced to drive over 1,300 miles to Miami, Florida, according to federal prosecutors.

Pastran Hernandez demanded that the rideshare driver maintain the speed limit during the journey and later ordered the driver to call home and say the driver was on a long work trip.

Pastran Hernandez also allegedly took the driver’s handgun and ammunition, which were stored separately in the vehicle.

The driver escaped by hiding in a store bathroom in Florida, leading to Pastran Hernandez's arrest. Pastran Hernandez faces charges of kidnapping, carjacking, and firearm possession.

Texas Promotes Eating Venomous, Tasty Lionfish

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is encouraging residents to eat invasive lionfish, even sharing recipes, after one was caught consuming a native damselfish off the state's coast.

These Indo-Pacific natives pose a significant threat to local Gulf of Mexico ecosystems, with no natural predators and the ability to produce millions of eggs annually.

To combat the invasion, Texas is promoting lionfish consumption alongside broader efforts like the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's Lionfish Invitational, where trained divers remove lionfish.

Officials stress that proper handling techniques must be used when catching and preparing lionfish to avoid the venomous spines, but once cleaned, the fish offers a tasty and eco-friendly seafood option.

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Flying together with our sponsor

Monogram (Nasdaq: MGRM), the Austin-based company known for its autonomous robotic surgical systems, completed a crowd-funded public offering and NASDAQ Listing last year. What’s next? They just filed for FDA approval to market and commercialize their patented AI joint replacement tech. By the year 2027, 50% of knee replacement surgeries will be robotic – up from 12% today.

Monogram actually made history in the Lonestar State last year, successfully completing the first fully remote demonstration surgery between New York and Austin. Now, Monogram’s opened a unique opportunity for investors. They are selling preferred shares in their company. This isn’t the same stock trading on the Nasdaq. These shares feature:

Dividends: The preferred shares pay an 8% annual dividend (in cash or kind)
Warrants: Each preferred share comes with a warrant for future shares of common stock
Conversion: Preferred shares can be converted 1:1 into common shares

MGRM public shares recently closed as high at $3.40, but these unlisted preferred shares are available for $2.25. Monogram currently plans to close the Series D Preferred offering on September 12, 2024. Learn more on their website.

➤ The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that the 15th Court of Appeals, a new court created by lawmakers for cases involving statewide issues and elected officials, is not prohibited by the state constitution. (More)

➤ Dallas: Around 15 San Diego Chargers players and staff were stuck in a hotel elevator on Friday before a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. The fire department rescued them through a ceiling panel. (See Details)

➤ The Edwards Aquifer Authority implemented Stage 4 water restrictions for permit holders in eight Central Texas counties, limiting withdrawals for agricultural and industrial use by 40%. (See Details)

➤ San Benito: Cameron County is receiving $2.65 million in federal funding to cover water canals, reducing evaporation. (See Details)

➤ Longview: A performance contract was approved for Mint Innovation's new $15 million biomining facility, expected to create 28 jobs within three years. (More)

➤ Dallas: The jersey Babe Ruth wore when he hit his famous “called shot” home run in the 1932 World Series was sold at auction to an anonymous buyer for over $24 million early Sunday. (See Jersey)

➤ Manor: A grand opening ceremony was held for the new 5.5-mile hike and bike trail connecting Austin and Manor. The project, funded by multiple bonds, took ten years to complete. (See Trail)

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➤ Boerne Little League suffered a tough 10-7 loss to Florida in the Little League World Series national championship game. They later lost to Venezuela for a fourth-place finish. (More)

➤ Texas High School football is back—check out this incredible 65-yard touchdown pass by Saraland quarterback and Texas Longhorns commit KJ Lancey. (Watch Video)

➤ Dallas Cowboys all-pro cornerback DaRon Bland suffered a stress fracture in his foot that will require surgery, sidelining him for 6-8 weeks. (More)

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➤ Professional Bull Riders, the world’s largest bull riding league, has relocated its corporate headquarters from Pueblo, Colorado, to Fort Worth. The organization announced the move in 2021. (More)

➤ Work began this week on a 288-unit, $75 million affordable housing project in San Antonio, where nearly 300,000 residents pay more than 30% of their income on housing. (See Details)

➤ The cities of Lakeway and Bee Cave have sued to stop work on a 270,000-square-foot industrial park near the Austin suburbs, saying there was an agreement with the property’s prior owner to build commercial or office space instead. (See Details)

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Elite investors often get special deals that aren’t available to the public. Take Warren Buffett, for example. When he invested $10B in Occidental Petroleum, he didn’t buy the publicly traded stock. He got preferred stock paying an 8% dividend.

While you won’t be investing alongside Warren Buffett, Texas-based Monogram is offering you preferred stock with an 8% dividend (in cash or shares of MGRM) that's convertible to its common stock.

Monogram’s common stock (MGRM) recently closed as high at $3.40, but the unlisted preferred stock (which is convertible into one share of common) is available for $2.25 per share. This opportunity is planned to come to an end on September 12, 2024.

* ^{This is a paid advertisement for Monogram Technologies Series D Preferred Stock offering. A prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus have been filed with the SEC. Before making any investment, you are urged to read the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus carefully for a more complete understanding of the issuer and the offering.}

^{The securities offered by Monogram are highly speculative. Investing in these securities involves significant risks. The investment is suitable only for persons who can afford to lose their entire investment. Investors must understand that such investment could be illiquid for an indefinite period of time. There is no existing public trading market for the Series D Preferred Stock. Monogram does not intend to apply for listing of the Series D Preferred Stock or the common stock purchase warrants on a national securities exchange or quoted on an over-the-counter market.}

^{DealMaker Securities LLC, a registered broker-dealer, and member of FINRA | SIPC, located at 105 Maxess Road, Suite 124, Melville, NY 11747, is the Intermediary for this offering and is not an affiliate of or connected with the Issuer. Please check our background on FINRA's BrokerCheck.}

➤ AT&T Stadium introduced the Pizza Burger for the upcoming Dallas Cowboys season. The 16-ounce Angus beef patty, sandwiched between two pepperoni pizzas, is available at Papa John's stands. (See Photos)

➤ A Willis couple recovered their engagement ring lost in Galveston over a year ago. After the woman posted on social media, a local treasure hunter responded, having found the ring on Stewart Beach. (More)

➤ A viral social media video showed flooding in one of the dorms at the University of Texas at Dallas, where a water valve broke. (See Photo)

➤ Meanwhile, a viral social media post showcased the lavishly decorated SMU dorm room of Ava Hunt, daughter of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt. (See Photo)

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