Latest news with #Houston-based
Sky News AU
35 minutes ago
- Lifestyle
- Sky News AU
American mum living in Brisbane causes online controversy after revealing bizarre list of things she hates about Australia
An American expat residing in Brisbane has sparked a lively online debate after listing her top grievances about Australia, including difficult shopping trolleys and a puzzling highway system. Lex, a social media content creator whose account provides an American perspective on integrating into Australian culture, posted the video to TikTok and listed her five top issues with her adopted homeland. Number one on the list was that Australian shops close their doors far earlier than those in America, with the former Houston-based mum admitting 'it was a little strange at first'. 'The shops close early here, I'm used to it, I've been here nine months, but it was a little strange at first, but I understand it, because there can be a duality with things like that'. An American expat residing in Australia has sparked a lively online debate after listing her top grievances about life down under. Picture: NewsWire /John Appleyard. The popular user then claimed in the US 'supermarkets are pretty much open all of the time'. However one user questioned, 'the shops close early where you are? Come to Victoria, the shops are open very late here'. The Brisbane mum's second bugbear was that Australian shopping trolleys are 'challenging to steer'. 'Shockingly 90 per cent of Aussies are in agreement with me on this," wrote Lex, adding she was "challenged with this nine months in'. The Brisbane mum was more confidant about her second bugbear, that being the unruly nature of Australian shopping trolleys. Picture: Bev Lacey/NCA. She conceded, 'you really have to put you body into it', with a raft of Australians taking to the comment section to encourage Coles and Woolworths to apply a generous portion of WD-40 to the aging fleet. 'You don't push a trolly here, you manage it' one person said. However another user claimed US trollies were far worse, writing "I HATE American trollys I go to Costco and it's infuriating." However, a more contentious compliant from the women was that 'Mexican food is pretty bad here' and was far inferior to that served in Texas. 'The Mexican food is not great, and I don't expect it to be great, it's just hard because in Texas the Tex-Mex is so good, I crave it'. One person said, 'the Mexican thing is true, but we're about as far from Mexico as you can get', whilst another disgruntled user asked, 'do you have a Guzman y Gomez in Brissie because that's pretty good?' "In Melbourne we have fabulous Mexican restaurants," shot back another commenter. However, a more contentious compliant from the women was that 'Mexican food is pretty bad here'. Picture: Guzman y Gomez via NCA NewsWire. The expat also unloaded on Australian motorways, and that they were almost impossible to understand. Picture: Nigel Hallett/NCA/ The expat also unloaded on Australian motorways, claiming they are almost impossible to navigate as opposed to the gigantic American interstate highway system. 'The highways here are a bit of a challenge, and I don't exactly know why, we turn around easily and take the wrong exit, and I can't figure out if it's the signage, the signage is different for sure,' the women said. 'The name of the highways aren't as prominent as Houston, the name of the highways are blatantly big in Texas and so that took me a minute. I had to get used to searching for the name of the highway which is what I was used to'. One user pointed out that 'the moment you use a tunnel in Brisbane [Google] maps no longer works', with another bemoaning that 'if you get off on the wrong exit, so often you can't just get back on! You're stuck!' Whilst admitting her last irk was 'so petty' the women was shocked that Australian restaurants and cafes make customers pay for condiments and sauces and stated this was the biggest culture shock of all. 'You have to pay for condiments here, in the states if you want 50 sauces then that's that, it goes to the other direction where it's wasteful, but yeah you have to pay for condiments here so that was an adjustment." However one follower fired back: "Surely you now need to expose how GREAT our sauce packets are? Squeeze to dispense - no ripping a packet - use again later in the meal - the best!"
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Morris Law and Associates Attorney Brittanye Morris Launches Innovative Dual-Service Approach to Real Estate Law in Houston Market
SUGAR LAND, Texas, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorney Brittanye Morris, who served as State District Court Judge, has unveiled a pioneering approach to real estate legal services through Morris Law and Associates PLLC, becoming one of the few attorneys in the Houston metropolitan area to combine full-service real estate law representation with direct title service capabilities as a WFG National Title Fee Office innovative business model comes at a critical time for Houston's real estate market, as property transactions grow increasingly complex and clients seek streamlined legal solutions. By integrating both legal representation and title services under one roof, Morris is addressing a significant gap in the local market that traditionally required clients to coordinate between separate law firms and title companies. "The traditional model of separate legal and title services creates unnecessary complexity and potential communication gaps," Morris explains. "By offering both services through one practice, we've eliminated those inefficiencies while providing more comprehensive protection for clients throughout the entire real estate process." This service integration comes as Houston's real estate market faces increasing challenges from regulatory changes, market fluctuations, and more complex transaction structures. Local real estate professionals have noted that Morris's approach addresses a long-standing pain point for property investors and developers. "Having your attorney also handle title services streamlines what can otherwise be a fragmented process," says James Henderson, a Houston-based real estate developer who has worked with various legal and title providers. "This kind of integrated approach is something the market has needed." Morris's integrated service model addresses several critical challenges in the current real estate environment: Transaction Security: By handling both legal and title aspects, potential issues are identified earlier and addressed more efficiently. Regulatory Compliance: Recent changes in real estate disclosure laws and financing regulations are seamlessly incorporated into both the legal and title processes. Cost Efficiency: The streamlined approach often results in both time and cost savings compared to working with separate providers. Dispute Prevention: The comprehensive oversight helps prevent the common disconnects that can lead to post-closing litigation. In addition to her innovative service model, Morris has launched an educational resource center providing guidance on navigating complex real estate transactions in the current market environment. These resources address common questions about property rights, title issues, and real estate litigation in Texas. Morris Law and Associates PLLC is located at 1600 Highway 6 #160, Sugar Land, Texas 77478. Additional information about Morris's practice and services can be found at About Morris Law and Associates PLLC Morris Law and Associates PLLC provides comprehensive legal representation in real estate transactions, real estate litigation, title services, and complex commercial litigation. Attorney Brittanye Morris, who served as State District Court Judge, combines deep legal expertise with specialized knowledge to deliver exceptional client service throughout the greater Houston area. Contact Information: Brittanye MorrisMorris Law and Associates PLLC1600 Highway 6 #160Sugar Land, TX 77478Phone: 713-363-3834Email: Bmorris@ Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the Morris Law and Associates PLLC. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Business Wire
13 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Qbtech Expands US Presence with Formation of New Houston-Based Teams and Staff Appointments
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Qbtech, the global leader in objective ADHD testing, announces the formation of its Houston-based clinical research and strategic partnership teams, along with new staff appointments and promotions at the company's US headquarters. The employee expansions bolster the company's continued growth in the region, enhancing its capabilities and market presence as it continues to develop and enhance its software solutions. Former clinical research manager Ragini Sanyal has been promoted to Head of Clinical Research, with Jonas Bäckström joining as Chief Strategic Partnership Officer and Jack Smith as Head of US Commercial Operations. As Head of Clinical Research, Sanyal will lead the formalized clinical research team and its efforts to study the clinical utility and validity of objective ADHD assessments for diagnosing ADHD and its benefits in post-treatment follow-up. 'I truly believe objective ADHD technology is a guiding light through the uncertainty of the mental health space. I'm so excited to take on this role and lead our newly structured clinical research team to curate and share the data behind our objective assessments and how they can be used to progress ADHD care,' says Sanyal. 'This new team structure allows us to streamline our efforts across clinical operations, data management, medical writing, and trial execution. It will also help simplify decision-making, improve cross-functional collaboration, and provide a clearer focus as we continue to expand both our team and our portfolio. Coming off the World Congress on ADHD, I am so proud that our team was able to present four meaningful posters, and I can only imagine what we will accomplish in the coming months and years.' Jonas Bäckström, a former member of Qbtech's Board of Directors, has joined as Chief Strategic Partnership Officer, leading the newly established partnerships department from the Houston office. He brings a strong background in digital innovation, having worked with a pioneering digital healthcare provider in Sweden prior to joining Qbtech. 'This is an exciting opportunity for both me and Qbtech,' says Bäckström. 'I look forward to focusing on building scalable, evidence-based business models in the ADHD space and linking telehealth innovation with clinical, payer, and employer ecosystems. With my experience in business development and digital health, I am eager to help our partners achieve sustainable growth, improve patient outcomes, and shape a smarter, more accountable future for mental health, starting with ADHD.' Jack Smith will serve as Head of US Commercial Operations, leading efforts across sales and clinical support to drive Qbtech's expansion and identify new growth opportunities. A military veteran, Smith has served in various roles within the healthcare industry for more than 25 years. "I'm thrilled to be joining Qbtech at such a pivotal time in the US ADHD market. My goal is to build a world-class sales team that delivers real value to clinicians by driving improved patient outcomes through objective, evidence-based tools,' says Smith. 'As awareness grows and underserved markets expand, we have a unique opportunity to empower physicians with the confidence they need to make accurate ADHD diagnoses." The Qbtech team plans to hire additional staff in the Houston office throughout the year. Available career opportunities can be found at Qbtech is a privately-owned Swedish company that has developed leading solutions and products for improving the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients living with ADHD. Qbtech has operations in 14 countries and has offices in Stockholm, Houston, and London. Qbtech is an award-winning company recognized for its innovation, most recently winning the 2022 HSJ Partnership Award for the 'Best Mental Health Partnership with the NHS.' For more information about Qbtech, visit
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Qbtech Expands US Presence with Formation of New Houston-Based Teams and Staff Appointments
Addition of clinical research and strategic partnership teams marks another milestone for Qbtech in North America, bolstering the company's regional capabilities and footprint HOUSTON, June 02, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Qbtech, the global leader in objective ADHD testing, announces the formation of its Houston-based clinical research and strategic partnership teams, along with new staff appointments and promotions at the company's US headquarters. The employee expansions bolster the company's continued growth in the region, enhancing its capabilities and market presence as it continues to develop and enhance its software solutions. Former clinical research manager Ragini Sanyal has been promoted to Head of Clinical Research, with Jonas Bäckström joining as Chief Strategic Partnership Officer and Jack Smith as Head of US Commercial Operations. As Head of Clinical Research, Sanyal will lead the formalized clinical research team and its efforts to study the clinical utility and validity of objective ADHD assessments for diagnosing ADHD and its benefits in post-treatment follow-up. "I truly believe objective ADHD technology is a guiding light through the uncertainty of the mental health space. I'm so excited to take on this role and lead our newly structured clinical research team to curate and share the data behind our objective assessments and how they can be used to progress ADHD care," says Sanyal. "This new team structure allows us to streamline our efforts across clinical operations, data management, medical writing, and trial execution. It will also help simplify decision-making, improve cross-functional collaboration, and provide a clearer focus as we continue to expand both our team and our portfolio. Coming off the World Congress on ADHD, I am so proud that our team was able to present four meaningful posters, and I can only imagine what we will accomplish in the coming months and years." Jonas Bäckström, a former member of Qbtech's Board of Directors, has joined as Chief Strategic Partnership Officer, leading the newly established partnerships department from the Houston office. He brings a strong background in digital innovation, having worked with a pioneering digital healthcare provider in Sweden prior to joining Qbtech. "This is an exciting opportunity for both me and Qbtech," says Bäckström. "I look forward to focusing on building scalable, evidence-based business models in the ADHD space and linking telehealth innovation with clinical, payer, and employer ecosystems. With my experience in business development and digital health, I am eager to help our partners achieve sustainable growth, improve patient outcomes, and shape a smarter, more accountable future for mental health, starting with ADHD." Jack Smith will serve as Head of US Commercial Operations, leading efforts across sales and clinical support to drive Qbtech's expansion and identify new growth opportunities. A military veteran, Smith has served in various roles within the healthcare industry for more than 25 years. "I'm thrilled to be joining Qbtech at such a pivotal time in the US ADHD market. My goal is to build a world-class sales team that delivers real value to clinicians by driving improved patient outcomes through objective, evidence-based tools," says Smith. "As awareness grows and underserved markets expand, we have a unique opportunity to empower physicians with the confidence they need to make accurate ADHD diagnoses." The Qbtech team plans to hire additional staff in the Houston office throughout the year. Available career opportunities can be found at About Qbtech Founded in 2002, Qbtech is a privately-owned Swedish company that has developed leading solutions and products for improving the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients living with ADHD. Qbtech has operations in 14 countries and has offices in Stockholm, Houston, and London. Qbtech is an award-winning company recognized for its innovation, most recently winning the 2022 HSJ Partnership Award for the 'Best Mental Health Partnership with the NHS.' For more information about Qbtech, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Hilari Barton, Trevelino/KellerHnbarton@ 404-214-0722 x 130
E&E News
14 hours ago
- Business
- E&E News
How the AI rush is reshaping electric utilities
As electricity demand from the tech sector and manufacturing skyrockets, utilities are facing a stark reality: We're going to need a bigger fleet. And the pressure to add new generation quickly — and without imposing unrealistic costs on consumers — has the industry thinking about deal-making. 'There is a noticeable acceleration,' said Pavel Molchanov, an investment strategy analyst focusing on the utility sector for Raymond James. 'You can go back as far as you want and there have always been mergers and acquisitions in the electric power industry. But it is certainly accelerated by the universal recognition that the next decade and beyond will be a time of growth in electric power.' Advertisement Already this year, several power producers have reached into the market to vastly expand their gas fleets. Houston-based NRG, for example, said it would add 18 gas-fired power plants to nearly double the size of its current fleet in a $12 billion cash-and-stock deal with LS Power Equity Advisors. That came just months after NRG purchased six gas plants capable of producing 738 megawatts from Rockland Capital. Texas-based Vistra announced just days later its own deal to secure seven gas generators totalling 2,600 MW of capacity across five states from Lotus Infrastructure Partners. 'We believe natural gas fired generation will continue to play an ever-increasing role in the reliability, affordability, and flexibility of U.S. power grids for years to come,' said Vistra CEO Jim Burke in a statement on the $1.9 billion deal. He added that the 'attractive portfolio' of new gas assets would allow Vistra to meet growing power demand. In January, Baltimore-based Constellation said it would acquire Calpine Corp. in a $16.4 billion transaction, combining Constellation's nation-leading nuclear fleet with Calpine's fleet of 79 power generators that total some 27,000 MW of power. Canadian company Capital Power in April purchased two gas plants from LS Power for $2.2 billion, making it one of five North American independent power producers to have more than 10,000 MW of natural gas capacity. Earlier this month, TXNM, the parent company of New Mexico's largest utility, announced its acquisition by private equity firm Blackstone. The move, CEO Pat Collawn said, is designed to use an infusion of private capital to help TXNM build a lot more capacity without forcing customer bills to rise significantly. The operations may all have different details, but they share a common goal: getting as much reliable power on the grid as quickly as possible. And with supply chains for generation of all kinds, but especially gas, running behind schedule, Morningstar utilities analyst Travis Miller said that's forcing utilities to look anywhere they can. 'Utilities that need to serve load right away are going to have to do it with existing assets, whether it's theirs or someone else's,' Miller said. 'The recent moves are an attempt to be one of the first available suppliers for any kind of new load.' Utilities are facing unprecedented demand growth. A May report from consulting firm ICF projects that U.S. electricity demand will grow 25 percent by 2030 and 78 percent by 2050, compared with 2023 numbers. Meeting that, ICF said, would require utilities to double the pace of new generation. Other estimates have similarly said that data centers, electrification and onshoring of manufacturing could cause demand to rise at rates not seen in decades. While some utilities are looking to extend the life of their aging fossil fuel assets, many have had retirement plans in place for years. Building new plants is increasingly expensive and time-consuming as parts suppliers ramp up a supply chain that just years ago was in decline. According to Wood Mackenzie, it can take until 2030 for new gas plants to come online thanks to delays in the market. The analysts predict that about 890 gigawatts of new gas-fired generation will be added between 2025 and 2040, with nearly half of that in the U.S. and China. A May analysis by research firm Enverus notes that amid the 'sharp resurgence' of merger and acquisition action in the gas market, the per-megawatt cost of acquiring gas plants on the market has been running well above the $0.5 million average between 2021 and 2024. Yet the report found they're still cheaper than the estimated $2 million to $3 million it can cost to build each megawatt of new gas capacity. 'AI euphoria' That can be encouraging news to utilities already facing upward pressure on rates from the costs of maintaining infrastructure amid extreme weather and meeting new demand. Nationally, federal data shows that the average electricity price will rise 13 percent between 2022 and 2025, outpacing inflation. ICF says that nationally, rates could jump 15 percent to 40 percent between 2025 and 2030, depending on the market. A February report from consulting firm Deloitte said the growing need for capital combined with already rising utility rates means that regulated utilities are 'facing growing limitations' through the traditional method of raising funds. Retail electricity prices, Deloitte wrote, increased nearly 23 percent from 2019 to 2024 and utility requests for rate increases hit record highs between 2020 and 2024. That could make regulators skeptical of further rate increases. That, in turn, means that utilities are eyeing 'alternative funding avenues' such as mergers and acquisitions or infusions of private capital. Between 2016 and 2024, Deloitte found, the average annual investment in the power sector by private capital was up 113 percent compared with the previous eight-year period. The TXNM deal — which will see Blackstone invest $400 million in the short term while the sale is reviewed by regulators — is just the latest sign that Wall Street sees the electricity market as a growth sector. Earlier this year, private equity firm KKR acquired a stake in American Electric Power. On the renewables side, the climate investing arm of asset firm TPG made a $2.2 billion purchase of Altus Power, the largest commercial-scale solar owner in the U.S. In February, the U.K.'s National Grid divested its 3,100 MW of U.S. renewables in a sale to Brookfield Renewable Partners. Raymond James' Molchanov said that the 'AI euphoria' that has accelerated across the tech sector has reshaped the financial picture for the power sector in just a few short years. 'All generation assets have greater value than they did five years ago, or even three years ago,' he said. 'We understand that power demand is in growth mode for the next decade and beyond, and that means the entire category of assets, regardless of the type of generation, is a lot more in vogue.'
