Here is a recap of what was featured in the Wednesday, March 20, e-edition of the Taylor Press. Read the e-edition for the full stories and more. The e-edition is emailed to subscribers and available at www.taylorpress. net.
REPORT: SAMSUNG GETTING $6 BILLION FEDERAL GRANT
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has reached a preliminary agreement with the U.S. Commerce Department for a grant estimated at $6 billion to expand beyond its current Austin operations and the massive semiconductor foundry under construction in Taylor, reports Bloomberg News.
Citing sources “familiar with the matter,” the news organization said Commerce officials are expected to announce in the next few weeks several large grants for semiconductor manufacturers to expand in the U.S.
The money is part of the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, which has about $39 billion for grants to companies such as South Korea-based Samsung, its large competitor Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and U.S.-based Intel.
The act is designed to preserve national security by ensuring a supply of advanced chips made on U.S. soil for consumer electronics, automotive, military matériel makers and numerous other industries.
The Taiwanese TSMC is expected to receive about $5 billion from the federal government and Intel is said to be seeking about $10 billion in federal grants and loans, Bloomberg reports.
CITY TO RECONSIDER MALLARD BIKE LANES
Taylor residents raised a ruckus over the restriping of Mallard Lane to include bike lanes, and their voices have been heard. The Taylor City Council has asked to have an agenda item on an upcoming meeting to discuss options and solutions.
Mallard Lane was part of the city’s road maintenance plan for 2024, along with Fourth Street and Second Street. These three roads were budgeted to have repairs and to have bike lanes added. While the bike lanes are part of the city’s multi-modal transportation plan, the real reason for adding the lanes at this point is to slow down traffic on these major streets, according to city leaders.
The bicycle lanes were created in a way that limits normal usage of the road. Delivery drivers, garbage trucks and mail carriers are having to stop in the driving lane rather than pull off to the side.
Traffic is often blocked, causing frequent delays and stoppages.
At last week’s council meeting, Jacob Walker of HDR Engineering said that Mallard, Second and Fourth streets were all chosen because while they are not failed streets, they were on the brink of worsening and making improvements now would keep them from failing imminently. While the bike lane being added to Fourth Street has also had detractors, the issue is dampened because it is not affecting residences and their need for services.
LADY DUCKS POWERLIFTING COMPETES AT STATE FRISCO — The Taylor High School girls varsity powerlifting team competed Friday, March 15 at the 4A DI State Championship meet held at Comerica Center in Frisco.
Junior Krista Randig placed second in the 242-pound class with 1,000 total pounds lifted –390 on the squat, 245 on the bench press and 365 on the deadlift.
She set a deadlift state meet record in her class. Senior Rylie Dlouhy placed fourth in the 114pound class with 780 total pounds lifted – 290 on the squat, 180 on the bench press and 310 on the deadlift.
Senior Ri’Queleigh Holmes-Grant placed 11th in the 148-pound class with 825 total pounds lifted – 310 on the squat, 210 on the bench press and 305 on the deadlift.
FUTURE CHEFS PREPARE FAVORITE RECIPES
Twelve fourth and fifth grade students from Naomi Pasemann Elementary and Main Street Elementary dressed in chefs’ hats and aprons as they entered the kitchen at the Main Street campus on March 6, for Sodexo’s annual Future Chefs competition.
With a theme of “Your Favorite Recipes from Home,” interested students submitted entry forms with recipes for their favorite entrees, side dishes, appetizers and desserts.
Twelve finalists were chosen for the competition, and each one was assigned a mentor from Taylor High School’s Culinary Arts classes or from the Sodexo staff.
Contestants met their mentors in the kitchen for an intense two and a half hours of prep, cooking and presentation.
Each contestant served their entry to the judges and answered questions about their dish.
The Taylor High School girls varsity powerlifting team and coaches following the 4A DI State Championship meet held at Comerica Center in Frisco. From left: Daniel Thomas, Rylee Davis, Sophia Plonka, Krista Randig, Rylie Dlouhy, Ri’Queleigh Holmes-Grant and Elyse Tatum. Photo courtesy of Rylee Davis
