Texas

U.S. forfeited microchip production, but Texas could help get it back

Published

10 hours ago

August 7, 2024

U.S. forfeited microchip production, but Texas could help get it back

The United States leads the world in semiconductor research, design and innovation. However, our abdication of electronics manufacturing preeminence over the past three decades is an example of the hollowing out of a critical strategic industry.

For this reason, we have high hopes for a $1.4 billion, five-year partnership between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the University of Texas at Austin to establish the first U.S. hub for advanced microelectronics manufacturing. If successful, the partnership could accelerate the resurgence of a domestic semiconductor manufacturing industry.

The irony is that the nation and Texas have been here before, as recently as the 1980s when the federal government, the state and major American semiconductor companies set a goal of keeping the United States the world’s most dominant player in advanced technologies.

But since then, the U.S. semiconductor industry has been on the wrong side of semiconductor manufacturing, having shortsightedly traded its domestic manufacturing capacity for short-term offshore manufacturing cost advantages.

The United States, which gave birth to the microelectronics revolution and once controlled 100% of the semiconductor industry, has seen its market share plummet to roughly 10%, the result of decades of outsourcing, first to Japan and then to the rest of Asia.

Taiwan is now a global leader in the semiconductor industry, producing about two-thirds of the world’s semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced chips found in smartphones, computers, cars and countless other products. Such concentration of vital electronics offshore, even in the hands of a close ally, poses national security and commercial vulnerabilities. China’s threats against Taiwan and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which threatens access to other critical materials used in semiconductor manufacturing, further adds to global risks.

DARPA, which develops advanced technologies for the military, has a long history as a trailblazer tracing back to the 1960s, when the organization paved the way for the modern internet. This time, DARPA is tasked with creating a next-generation domestic center and program to pioneer cutting-edge fabrication techniques.

This collaboration smartly builds from the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which provided billions of dollars to bolster microelectronics research, development and manufacturing in the United States. Through DARPA, the Defense Department will invest $840 million and the state of Texas will invest $522 million into the University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Institute for Electronics, which will house the center.

Texas already is reaping benefits from private and public investments. Samsung and Texas Instruments are investing billions of dollars in new semiconductor plants in Texas. Separately, Texas A&M Semiconductor Institute has a project to increase research and education and train semiconductor workers to support state and federal semiconductor initiatives. And across the country, the Biden administration has taken steps to help foreign manufacturers produce chips in the United States.

America invented the microchip, and Texas could help revive the industry on our shores.

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Texas

Here's when Central Texas school districts are going back to school

Published

3 hours ago

August 7, 2024

Press Room

Here's when Central Texas school districts are going back to school

First day of school for Del Valle ISD students

Summer is over for some students in Central Texas. Education reporter Jessica Rivera has more.

Another school year is right around the corner!

Here’s when Central Texas school districts will open their classroom doors.

READ MORE: Texas tax-free weekend starts Friday. Here’s what you need to know.

Wednesday, August 7

Thursday, August 8

Llano ISD
Nixon-Smiley CISD

Monday, August 12

Bartlett ISD
Dime Box ISD
Fayetteville ISD
Texas School for the Deaf

Tuesday, August 13

Dripping Springs ISD
Hays CISD
Pflugerville ISD
Round Rock ISD
San Marcos CISD
Schulenburg ISD

Wednesday, August 14

Bastrop ISD
Blanco ISD
Burnet CISD
Coupland ISD
Eanes ISD
Elgin ISD
Flatonia ISD
Florence ISD
Fredericksburg ISD
Giddings ISD
Gonzales ISD
Hutto ISD
Jarrell ISD
Lake Travis ISD
Leander ISD
Lexington ISD
Liberty Hill ISD
Luling ISD
Manor ISD
Marble Falls ISD
McDade ISD
Round Top-Carmine ISD
Taylor ISD
Thrall ISD
Waelder ISD
Wimberley ISD

Thursday, August 15

Harper ISD
La Grange ISD
Lago Vista ISD
Georgetown ISD
Smithville ISD
Thorndale ISD

Monday, August 19

Texas School for the Blind/Visually Impaired

Tuesday, August 20

Austin ISD
Comal ISD
Lockhart ISD
New Braunfels ISD

Wednesday, August 21

Monday, August 26

Doss CCSD
Granger ISD
Prairie Lea ISD

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Texas

Texas football RB CJ Baxter reportedly suffers an injury in practice. What it means for Texas.

Published

17 hours ago

August 6, 2024

Press Room

Texas football RB CJ Baxter reportedly suffers an injury in practice. What it means for Texas.

CJ Baxter, a sophomore projected as the starting running back for Texas football, suffered a knee injury during Tuesday’s practice and will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, according to reporting by Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.com.

A fomer five-star recruit in the 2023 class from Florida, Baxter earned the starting job as a freshman last season before a rib injury in the season-opener limited his playing time and opened the door for Jonathon Brooks to seize the starting job. After Brooks’ season ended with a torn knee ligament in November, Baxter and Jaydon Blue shared the bulk of the carries for the final four games of the season, including a loss to Washington in a College Football Playoff semifinal.

More: Texas football RBs CJ Baxter, Jaydon Blue learning pass protection as important as yards

What would Baxter’s absence mean for Texas?

Last season, Baxter tallied 138 carries for 659 yards and five touchdowns to go with 24 receptions for 156 yards while Blue added 398 yards and three touchdowns rushing on 65 carries and another 135 yards on 14 carries. The two were expected to again carry the load in the backfield this season; both Baxter and Blue earned a spot on the preseason Doak Walker Award list, a postseason honor for the nation’s top running back.

Blue, a third-year junior who has played in 23 games, would likely get most of the carries if Baxter misses any time. One of the fastest players on the squad, the 6-foot, 200-pounder from the Houston suburb of Klein boasts game-breaking ability but only has 80 carries in his career.

Sophomore Tre Wisner is expected to handle some third-down duties for Texas this season but could see extended snaps with the absence of Baxter. Freshmen Jerrick Gibson and Christian Clark could also be in line for expanded roles.

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Texas

Understanding Texas employment laws: What workers need to know

Published

1 day ago

August 6, 2024

Press Room

Understanding Texas employment laws: What workers need to know

Navigating employment law in Texas is complex, largely due to the state’s strict employment-at-will doctrine.

This policy, which grants employers the right to fire employees for any reason—or none whatsoever—poses particular challenges for workers.

Attorney Gregg Rosenberg, Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, sheds light on some critical aspects of Texas labor laws.

“One common issue we deal with in Texas is the employment-at-will doctrine,” explains Rosenberg. “This doctrine often gets confused with the concept of Texas being a right-to-work state, though the two are entirely different. Employment-at-will means an employer can terminate an employee for good reason, bad reason, or no reason at all.”

Rosenberg emphasizes the vulnerability of employees in scenarios where job offers are revoked before they even begin working, especially when significant life changes, like selling a home or relocating, are involved.

“In such cases, the employee is generally left without a remedy because Texas law does not require employers to treat employees or prospective employees fairly unless there is an express agreement,” he notes.

The best way to protect yourself in these situations is to secure an agreement in writing with the prospective employer.

“If an employer is unwilling to provide such an agreement, it should be a red flag for the employee,” advises Rosenberg. “Prospective employees need to ensure that there is some form of written assurance that their job will not be retracted, especially if they are giving up something significant to take the new position.”

For those who find themselves in a position where they have relied on a job offer that is later rescinded, Rosenberg explains that legal recourse is often limited.

“Unfortunately, cases based on detrimental reliance or promissory estoppel are not generally winnable in Texas, because the law imposes an obligation on the prospective employee to be aware of the at-will employment situation they are entering,” he says.

Rosenberg’s advice to prospective employees is clear.

“It’s always worth asking for an agreement. If the answer is no, it provides insight into how the prospective employer values the employee. The key takeaway is to understand that most employment situations in Texas are at-will, and the best way to protect oneself is to get any job-related promises in writing,” he said.

Understanding these nuances of Texas labor laws is crucial for employees and prospective employees alike. By being informed and proactive, workers can better navigate the challenges and ensure their rights are protected.

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