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Texas continues to grow its economic power despite the low oil prices that are affecting its largest industry and export. Recently, a Japanese HVAC company made the move to build a mega factory for its AC production outside Houston. This factory, a sprawling 4.2 million-square-foot complex, is set to be one of the largest buildings in the area. Its roof alone spans 100 acres. In comparison, the average Walmart Store is 100,000 square feet. The company behind this giant of a facility is Daikin, and it has invested around $500 million on what can be considered its most advanced factory yet. But why would Daikin build this mega factory in rural Waller County, Texas? It's because Texas has one of the best HVAC markets in the country, something that Takeshi Ebisu, head of Daikin's U...

Research shows that taking a trip has numerous benefits on one's well-being. Not only can just planning a vacation make you happier, but 53% of employed American adults come back feeling refreshed after a trip. That often results in higher levels of productivity, creativity, and overall job satisfaction. But a new poll has found that 43% of Americans aren't going to be taking a vacation this summer -- and the number one reason is that they simply can't afford it. The poll, conducted by the Associated Press, found that a huge portion of working Americans won't be able to take a summer vacation, with 49% of those respondents citing that cost was the barrier. Around 11% said they couldn't take the time off from work, and 3% said they simply don't like to be away from their jobs. In additio...

The Industrial Commission of Arizona’s reduction in employer penalties regarding workers’ deaths and injuries has been deemed non-permissible by federal officials. A federal investigation led by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) officials found that the commission’s actions violated the laws of Arizona. The commission was warned by the officials to cease their reductions of employer penalties immediately. OSHA officials investigated the commission after receiving a complaint in December from the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health. According to the Arizona Capital Times, the "agency had been monitoring state commission meetings for months previously." The monitoring of the state commission paid off. OSHA officials reported the Arizona workplace safe...

According to experts and state officials, Arizona is the place to grab a bite -- especially if you have a discerning palette, have embraced a vegan lifestyle, or simply want the biggest meal you can imagine. By the year 2020, the global tableware market is projected to exceed $41 billion. Of course, local restaurants eat up a good portion of that. And between last month's Arizona Restaurant Week and the PHX Vegan Food Festival in February, foodies are starting to flock to the area for the latest and greatest in local dishes. Back in 2015, the United Nations' Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization recognized the city of Tucson for its gastronomy scene's local food production and investment in natural resources. But while Zagat recently gave Phoenix and Scottsdale the numbe...

Nearly 21 million women throughout the U.S are experiencing some degree of hair loss. Women who lose their hair due to chemotherapy and other cancer treatments often find it a struggle to feel attractive or feminine. To help these women regain their confidence, popular beauty retailer Sephora is offering free classes for cancer patients at 40 of their nationwide locations, including those in Arizona. Approximately 39.6% of women and men receive a cancer diagnosis at some point during their lives. While invasive cancer treatments can fight the disease, they take a physical toll on the body. Those who undergo these treatments are often left to grapple with significant physical changes, including hair loss, changes in weight and skin, and scars from surgery. Unsurprisingly, many experience...

Arizona is not keeping up with national construction job growth, recent data shows. This is according to a report by KTAR News. The United States broke this decade's record by adding 58,000 construction jobs nationally, according to the most recent Employment Situation Summary, while the number of Arizona construction workers has actually gone down. While the 2006 housing boom sparked the hiring of more than 240,000 construction workers statewide, this number is now down to 134,000, according to the news report. Citing economist Rick Merritt, KTAR News reports that this has caused builders to pay higher wages. It has also caused the actual building process to take longer. This increase in time and money could outweigh money-saving techniques such as the installation of vinyl siding, whi...

In the early 1920s, planes began using trailing banner advertisements as a way for businesses to promote their products and services more clearly and boldly. For Jonathan Smith, getting up in the air had always been a dream -- but he had no idea that once he achieved his goal, flying would allow him to communicate his message more clearly. Smith suffers from a severe stuttering disorder, which he later learned would make it impossible for him to get his pilot's license. After reaching out to multiple flight schools in 2010, and being subsequently turned down by each one, Smith all but gave up on his aviator dreams. "I became interested in flying as a kid, but was told time and time again that, due to my stuttering, I could never be a pilot," Smith said. "The stuttering made it very h...

London Bridge might actually be falling down. No, this isn't a nursery rhyme. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), of the 8,154 bridges across the state, 214 are structurally poor. This includes the well-known London Bridge of Lake Havasu City, which has been deemed "functionally obsolete." So what does this mean? According to Mark Clark, the maintenance services division manager for the city, it means that the bridge isn't up to the same safety code that it would be if it was built today. “It’s not something you would say is inherently unsafe, either from a structural or safety standpoint; it’s doing its job, it’s just not doing its job as well as it would if it was engineered to the newest safety or design standards," Clark explained to Havasu News. The culpr...

In Arizona, a senior advocacy group is speaking out against proposals in Congress that would have a huge impact on health care expenses for seniors. Today, the average total cost for medical expenses for a 65-year-old couple is about $218,000 over a 20-year period. According to the AARP, Arizona seniors should expect that number to rise if the Republican replacement to the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) is passed into law. The new "repeal and replace" proposal has been called both Ryancare and Trumpcare, and it has drawn intense opposition from all across the political spectrum. AARP Arizona recently launched a campaign to oppose Speaker Paul Ryan's health care plans, which would provide seniors with a fixed monthly subsidy to purchase health coverage. The AARP pr...

Like a popular slogan hints to, America certainly does run on coffee. The overall retail value of the U.S. coffee market is estimated to be $48 billion, with specialty coffee blends accounting for roughly 55% (and growing). Now, following a nationwide outpouring of support for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), coffee lovers can support the organization simply by drinking a cup of coffee. Across the country, hundreds of coffee shops are participating in a charity event to support the ACLU as the organization continues its fight in court against President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban. During the first week of February, the ACLU had already raised $24 million, and that was before the coffee donation drive started. Spurge reports that California-based Peet's Coffee a...