Brown & Fortunato announces 3 new attorneys
Brown & Fortunato announced recently that attorneys Dusty A. Abresch, Jesse K. Fishman, and Michael K. Gawargi have joined the firm.
Abresch is a member of Brown & Fortunato’s Corporate Group where her practice includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and real estate. She has experience handling a variety of equity and asset transactions, restructuring corporate entities, and negotiating real estate agreements. She is a member of the State Bar of Colorado, the Colorado Bar Association and the Denver Bar Association.
Fishman is a Senior Attorney in the firm’s Labor and Employment Group where her practice is focused on representing employers in litigation, pre-litigation, and counseling matters. She has experience representing individuals in various discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination matters and uses that knowledge to advise employers on best practices and how to avoid costly mistakes. She was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2019 through 2024 and is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Wyoming State Bar and the Washington State Bar Association.
Gawargi joined Brown & Fortunato as a member of the firm’s Corporate Group where his practice is focused on drafting and negotiating complex agreements, assisting in mergers and acquisitions, managing corporate governance issues, and guiding business entities through formation and strategic growth initiatives. He also has experience in private equity holdings, giving him a unique perspective and a well rounded background in corporate and transactional matters. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Amarillo Area Bar Association, and Amarillo Area Young Lawyers Association.
Pantex cuts ribbon on Advanced Fabrication Facility
Pantex’s modernization efforts continue as antiquated structures are removed and new buildings are erected in their place. Two years ago, Pantex broke ground on the Advanced Fabrication Facility (AFF), replacing structures built nearly 80 years ago.
For more than 58 years, Pantex has manufactured high-explosive (HE) charges for every weapon in the nation’s nuclear stockpile. The AFF, with an approximate cost of $21 million, has a footprint of 20,000 square feet and will provide a more efficient and cleaner workspace for development and testing operations, Pantex said.
“The AFF will enable Pantex to support Weapon Modernization Program production, which directly impacts deliverables to our Department of Defense customer and global security for the nation,” said Jason Armstrong, Pantex Field Office Manager. “Completion of this facility is another example of our commitment to our mission and to our designation as the National Nuclear Security Administration High Explosives Center of Excellence for manufacturing.”
The AFF replaces a legacy facility with an annual maintenance cost exceeding $470,000 and allows for consolidation of operations from three World War II-era buildings, with improvements in operations and efficiency. Other near-term construction projects supporting the HE mission include the High Explosives Science and Engineering Facility and the High Explosives Synthesis, Formulation, and Production Facility.
Community Options appoints Samantha Cutler to Texas State Director
SAN ANTONIO – Community Options, a leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people with disabilities, has announced that Samantha Lara Cutler was appointed by the National Board of Directors as Texas State Director. In this capacity, Cutler will manage operations in San Antonio, Amarillo, Dallas, Austin, El Paso, Lubbock and Corpus Christi. Most recently, she was Regional Director over San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi.
Community Options operates 58 homes and supports over 1,300 individuals with disabilities and families across Texas. The national nonprofit develops innovative housing and employment support for over 6,000 people with disabilities and families across 12 states.
Region 16 Education Service Center becomes home to groundbreaking Edge Data Center
Region 16 Education Service Center (ESC) has announced the addition of a state-of-the-art Edge Data Center (EDC), constructed in partnership with Duos Edge AI, Inc. a subsidiary of Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUOT). This first-of-its-kind facility in Texas will transform educational and economic opportunities for the Panhandle region, according to a news release.
To celebrate this milestone, a launch event will be held on March 18 at Region 16 ESC, located at 5800 Bell St. in Amarillo.
“We are thrilled to launch our first edge data center in Amarillo, a location that will serve as a critical hub for education and economic development in the region,” said Doug Recker, President and Founder of Duos Edge AI. “Our collaboration with Region 16 underscores our commitment to improving educational outcomes and driving economic growth in underserved areas.”
“The 60 public school districts in the rural Texas Panhandle rely on Region 16 for their educational and technological needs. Introducing edge data centers in our area is a critical step in ensuring that our students have the resources and connectivity they need to succeed,” said Michael Keough, Chief Technology Officer at Region 16. “This advancement will enable rural communities to enjoy the same level of access to educational and business opportunities as urban areas, minimizing delays and enhancing the quality of service throughout the region.”
To learn more about Region 16 ESC, visit www.www.esc16.net . To learn more about Duos Edge AI, visit www.duosedge.ai .
Optimum announces update on carriage negotiations with Nexstar
Optimum said Jan. 10 after an agreement stalled with Nexstar, the owners of multiple broadcast stations, Nexstar content has been removed from Optimum TV lineups, effective immediately. Local Amarillo stations impacted include KAMR and KCPN.
Optimum stated it offered an extension to keep Nexstar’s content on the air while carriage negotiations continued for reaching a fair deal for customers, but Nexstar refused, “ tying local channels to less popular ones,” Optimum said in its statement, as well as demanding exorbitant rates.
Optimum said customers who are looking to watch Nexstar-owned content can continue to do so for free over the air with an antenna, or visit www.optimum.com/nexstar to learn more about other solutions. Optimum teams are ready to help customers find the best packages for them via phone at 866-347-4784, online chat or by visiting their website.
USDA announces 2025 enrollment periods for crop and dairy safety-net programs
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week the 2025 enrollment periods for key safety-net programs – Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) as well as Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC).
Agricultural producers can submit applications to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) for ARC and PLC for the 2025 crop year from Jan. 21 to April 15 and for DMC for the 2025 coverage year from Jan. 29 to March 31.
The ARC and PLC programs provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues and are vital economic safety nets for most American farms, while DMC provides producers with price support to help offset milk and feed price differences. For more information on ARC and PLC, producers can visit the ARC and PLC webpage, the DMC webpage or contact their local USDA Service Center. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov or usda.gov.
President and CEO of The Meadows Foundation set to retire
DALLAS — The Meadows Foundation announced Jan. 15 that Peter M. Miller will retire as president and chief executive officer on Dec. 31, 2025, after six years of dedicated service. Miller, who became president and CEO in January 2020, is the great-nephew of the Foundation’s founders, Algur H. and Virginia Meadows.
Since 1948, The Meadows Foundation has provided over $1.4 billion in grants and charitable distributions across all 254 Texas counties.
Under his leadership, the Foundation has elevated its 76-year legacy of funding Texas nonprofits. Miller had served as a Foundation director and trustee for 10 years. During his tenure, the Foundation focused on five high-priority initiatives: postsecondary completion, educator preparation, water conservation, depression, and homelessness.
A successor is expected to be named in June 2025 and begin Jan. 1, 2026.
UMB Financial Corporation receives regulatory approval to acquire Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. and DENVER, Colo. – UMB Financial Corporation and Heartland Financial USA, Inc. shared recently that the regulatory approvals from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System have been received to complete the previously announced acquisition of HTLF. These approvals follow shareholder approvals for both companies.
The acquisition is expected to close on or around Jan. 31. Upon closing, UMB will have approximately $66 billion in assets (based on assets as of Sept. 30, 2024), elevating it to the top 4% of the 599 publicly traded banks in the U.S. The transaction will expand UMB’s presence from eight to 13 states, which includes Texas.