Latest news with #TexasDepartmentofLicensingandRegulation
Business Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Times
Tesla targets June 12 launch of robotaxi service in Austin
[SAN FRANCISCO] Tesla is poised to begin its long-awaited robotaxi service in Austin on Jun 12, according to a source familiar with the matter, a milestone in Elon Musk's plan to reshape the company around driverless vehicles and artificial intelligence. The previously unreported date was discussed internally and could still change, said the source, asking not to be identified because the information is private. Musk has previously said the service would begin by the end of June. In preparation for the launch, the company this week operated a test vehicle on public roads in Austin with no one in the driver's seat for the first time, according to the source. A Tesla engineer was riding in a passenger seat of a Model Y SUV, which drove autonomously with no remote operation, the source said. Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The planned start of autonomous service builds upon testing that the electric vehicle maker has been doing recently with safety drivers around the city, carrying employees ahead of the public rollout. Musk, Tesla's chief executive officer, has said robotaxi service – initially using consumer models before eventually incorporating a purpose-built vehicle known as Cybercab – will be central to Tesla's business in the future. Its shares rose 1.1 per cent as of 4.09 pm after regular trading in New York. The stock declined 12 per cent this year to Wednesday's close. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The company demonstrated the Cybercab at a flashy event last year in California, giving attendees rides in prototypes of the vehicle, which will have no steering wheel or pedals. But the routes were on private land, sidestepping permitting requirements. Texas, where Tesla is headquartered, has relatively relaxed rules around autonomous driving, which is regulated much like any other type of passenger vehicle operation. The driverless vehicles are required to have cameras and be able to follow traffic laws and have insurance. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which regulates rideshare services, does not currently list Tesla as a rideshare licensee. The city of Austin does not regulate self-driving vehicles, but has set up a task force that coordinates with Tesla and other autonomy companies. The state capital has become a focal point for the growing robotaxi industry, with companies such as Alphabet's Waymo already operating there. Tesla vehicles with manufacturer plates have become a frequent sight in the south and southeast portions of the city as the company has expanded testing with safety drivers. Musk said this month that Tesla would initially roll out a fleet of about 10 self-driving robotaxis in Austin before expanding to a thousand vehicles within a few months. BLOOMBERG
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Solar scams? Texas to consider cracking down on deceptive solar panel sales tactics, fraud
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas lawmakers are considering cracking down on a growing problem of scams and fraud related to solar panels. In recent years, Texas has led the country in installing more new solar capacity than nearly every other state. However, Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, told her colleagues she believes that 'positive development is being overshadowed by a rise in fraudulent and predatory residential solar panel sales practices.' A recent report from Texas Appleseed reviewed consumer complaints from recent years and confirmed skyrocketing rates of frauds, scams and consumer harms related to the solar industry. It found the number of complaints related to solar panels submitted to the Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG) increased by 818% from 2018 to 2023. The number submitted to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) increased 576% during the same time frame. The report also found that many of the harmful practices targeted older Texans and people who are not native English speakers. They including misleading statements, false promises, forgeries of signatures or other deceptive practices used to execute financing contracts, according to Texas Appleseed. It's why Zaffirini authored Senate Bill 1036, which aims to better regulate the solar industry and expands and provides more consumer protections. Her proposal would require salespersons and companies to register with the state and provide proof of liability insurance to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The bill would also create standardized contracts for solar panels, ban deceptive trade practices, provide a cancellation period for customers and allow the state to penalize violators. Those penalties increase if a victim is over the age of 65. The Senate passed the bill in April. In a hearing prior to its passage, State Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, told his colleagues he had heard several stories about older people, in particular, in his district falling victim to this kind of fraud. He relayed a story about a woman in her seventies, convinced to sign a 30-year loan for the product. Andrea Earl, Associate State Advocacy and Outreach Director with AARP Texas, said the organization has heard countless similar stories. For example, one older person thought they were getting more information on solar panel installation, only to later realize they had signed a contract. 'So, they used this tablet kiosk, signed it, and then they were locked into a 30-year contract that would essentially outlive them, with a ton of hidden fees and something they really could not afford to do,' Earl said. Earl said AARP Texas has been working to raise awareness about this and other types of fraud aimed at older Texans, often using technology such as artificial intelligence or cryptocurrency. However, regarding door-to-door sales scams, Earl said, 'There's just a certain comfortability of somebody coming to your door and doing this, as well as just some of the language that they use. And so it's really key for vulnerable adults and just vulnerable populations in general, to understand what's happening.' The bill also received support from the Texas Solar and Storage Association. Its executive director, Mark Stover, told lawmakers they want the industry to flourish in the state. 'Unfortunately some bad actors have given the industry a black eye, leaving consumers harmed along the way. It's time to tighten up regulations, expand consumer trust and ensure responsible home solar installations,' Stover said. Representatives from associations of electric and roofing contractors also testified in favor of the increased regulation. On Friday, the House State Affairs committee will hear testimony SB 1036. KXAN will update this article after that hearing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
State suspends midwife license of Houston-area woman accused of illegally performing abortions
The Brief The state Department of Licensing and Regulation suspended the license of a midwife accused of performing an illegal abortion. The move comes after 49-year-old Maria Margarita Rojas was arrested and charged with performing an illegal abortion and practicing medicine without a license. Rojas operated clinics in Waller, Cypress and Spring. HOUSTON - The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has suspended the license of a Houston-area midwife accused of illegally performing abortions without a medical license. What we know Maria Margarita Rojas' midwife license was suspended through an emergency order by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The agency said the suspension was pending the outcome of the criminal case against Rojas. What they're saying "The accusation that she practiced medicine without a license, including holding herself out as a gynecologist and making terminal medical decisions for pregnant clients, falls outside the scope of practice for midwives in Texas," the agency said in a release. The backstory Rojas, 49, a midwife known as "Dr. Maria" from Cypress, and Jose Cendan Ley, 29, a Cuban citizen living in Houston, were taken into custody and charged with the illegal performance of an abortion and practicing medicine without a license. Waller County District Attorney Sean Whittmore said the Attorney General's Office came to him a few months ago to tell him that they were investigating what they called an "illegal abortion" that happened in Waller. "In this case we're dealing with someone who is not licensed to practice medicine and who allegedly performed an abortion," he said. Investigators with the Attorney General's Office said Rojas owned and operated multiple clinics: Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring. The facilities allegedly employed unlicensed individuals who posed as medical professionals, according to the AG's Office. Both Rojas and Ley are charged with at least two counts of performing an illegal abortion and practicing medicine without a license. Bond was set at $500,000 for each count of performing an illegal abortion and $200,000 for each count of practicing medicine without a license for each defendant. Providing an illegal abortion is a second-degree felony that comes with a prison sentence of up to 20 years, if convicted. Under the Texas Human Life Protection Act of 2021, abortion providers can receive civil penalties of at least $100,000 per violation. The Healthcare Program Enforcement Division of the Attorney General's Office filed a temporary restraining order to shut down the clinics. The Attorney General's Office is expected to prosecute the case. The Associated Press reports that this is the first time authorities have filed criminal charges under the state's near-total abortion ban. The Source Information in this article comes from a FOX 26 interview with Waller County District Attorney Sean Whittmore, the Office of the Attorney General and Waller County Court records. Information on Rojas' license comes from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Following Trump's lead, Gov. Abbott pushes state agencies to end telework
Texas state agency leaders have begun instructing employees to return to the office full time following a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott's office to end telework policies, according to three emails from agency directors obtained by The Texas Tribune. 'Teleworking employees must return to the office on or before March 31, 2025,' reads a Wednesday email Texas Workforce Commission Executive Director Ed Serna sent to the agency's 4,700 or so employees. There will be 'very limited' exceptions to the policy, and the parameters of those exceptions are still being finalized, Serna wrote. Similar emails were sent by the director of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Those announcements created chaos for agency leaders tasked with bringing thousands of workers back to offices that, in some cases, have been downsized to save money. And it upset some state workers who said they get more accomplished when they work from home. Abbott's push to end telework follows President Donald Trump's January executive order requiring federal department heads to 'terminate remote work arrangements.' Trump and Elon Musk, the billionaire in charge of Trump's cost-cutting efforts, have threatened to fire employees who do not report to the office. Federal workers 'will either show up for work in person or be removed from their job,' Trump said in his joint address to Congress on Tuesday. In a statement, Abbott's press secretary alluded to Trump's mandate to end remote work but did not provide details about the state's new directive, including whether there would be penalties for noncompliance. 'Texans expect their public servants to be present and engaged in the work on their behalf,' press secretary Andrew Mahaleris said in an emailed statement. 'With remote federal workers returning to the office where possible, it's important that state agencies ensure they do the same.' State agencies have discretion to decide when employees must return to the office but have been directed to do so as quickly as possible, according to multiple state employees, who have asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. Texas has 114 state agencies that employ about 141,000 full time employees, according to Texas 2036. Courtney Arbour, executive director of Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, sent a notice to its employees on Tuesday, stating workers must be in the office 'as soon as practicable.' 'We are taking a thoughtful approach to any guidance beyond what is included here,' Arbour wrote. 'We will continue sharing information in the coming days.' Arbour did not immediately respond to the Tribune's request for comment. Requiring employees to return to the office could drive up costs and lead to high turnover, said Myko Gedutis, vice president and organizing coordinator for the Texas State Employees Union, which represents about 8,000 state workers and retirees. 'This doesn't seem to be a rational decision,' Gedutis said. 'It seems to be politically driven posturing that will undermine state services.' Gedutis said he had been fielding several calls and emails from state employees worried about a return-to-office mandate. State workers have been on edge about a possible change in remote work policies since last month, when a Senate Finance Committee invited the Legislative Budget Board to present their findings from a fall 2024 survey of state agencies' remote work policies. Of the 96 executive and judicial agencies that responded to the survey, 92 allowed for some form of remote work, the LBB told the committee. An overwhelming majority of them — 80 agencies — reported a positive impact on recruitment and retention; the remainder reported no impact or did not respond to that question. The Texas Workforce Commission reported that their remote working policy has saved nearly $1 million annually in facility related costs. Those savings were directed to vocational rehabilitation programs and other client services, the agency reported. The agency has allowed for some form of remote work for more than a decade, according to the director's Wednesday email to employees. The agency expanded remote work practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. After hearing from the LBB, lawmakers said they were still concerned that remote work could affect the quality of service state agencies provide. 'If you ask the customer who has to deal with remote scheduled people, I think the response would be an overwhelming, 'This ain't working,'' Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock said. At the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, the return-to-office directive means employees could be coming back to a building that doesn't have room for them. 'We quite literally don't have physical places to put people,' said one employee who asked to remain anonymous. The agency employs about 850 people, and its headquarters are currently under renovations. In an email to its staff, the agency's executive director Daniel Avitia said the agency will be strategic with how staff return to the office's limited space at its headquarters in Austin. Disclosure: Texas 2036 has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. We can't wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New grocer coming to Bastrop, targeting 2026 opening
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new grocer is sprouting up in Bastrop, according to state licensing documents. Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market is setting up shop off State Highway 71 in Bastrop, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings. The storefront will be located at 655 W. SH 71, Ste. 101, as part of the first phase of the Burleson Crossing East project. Project work is expected to begin March 1 and wrap in March 2026, per project filings. The approximately $6 million project will result in a 23,349-square-foot store. There are currently 54 Sprouts locations in Texas, including several Central Texas storefronts in Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park and Georgetown. The new grocer news followed expansion work underway on the city's existing H-E-B. The enhancements and renovations included a 21,000-square-foot addition, featuring a True TX BBQ, enlarged curbside service, an upgraded tortilla bar and other amenities, the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation said in a November update. Work on that project is expected to wrap late this year, per the Bastrop EDC. The additional grocer also comes as food insecurity needs have risen in Bastrop County in recent years. In an April 2024 interview with KXAN, the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry said they reported an 89% increase in food and support requests since 2020. At the time, the nonprofit told KXAN they were working to rebuild its food pantry into a new, larger facility to be able to store ample food supplies and increase the number of intake rooms for families seeking services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
