Are TI's tiny controllers the bomb? Time to think mortgage re-fi? Presidential debate(s) are on.

Mortgage rates dropped and refinancing applications swelled. The 30-year U.S. fixed mortgage rate fell to 6.55% last week, the lowest since May 2023, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. This drop led to a 59% increase in refinancing applications compared to the same week last year.

Texas Instruments introduced new digital light processing controllers that are 90% smaller and will enable 4K ultra-high-definition projectors, technical advances that can make consumer enthusiasts and gamers happy.

Is there renewed vigor in commercial real estate? This week, Equity Residential announced the purchase of a $964M apartment portfolio of 3,572 units from Blackstone. The properties are in growing markets Atlanta, D-FW and Denver. And Fort Worth-based TPG, fresh off $1.2B spent on real estate in Q2, said it has $14B more. CEO Jon Winkelried said it had been “purposely patient” the last few years, as it anticipated “substantial stress” was on the way.

Westlake-based ECI Software Solutions has acquired ProfitKey, an enterprise resource planning platform for discrete manufacturers. The acquisition strengthens ECI's manufacturing software portfolio. ECI provides cloud-based business management software and services to more than 24,000 customers in 80+ countries. 

Vertical Cold Storage, a developer and operator of temperature-controlled distribution centers, has opened in Burleson. The company entered the market in 2022 with the purchase of Lone Star Cold Storage in Richardson.

Fort Worth-based TFF Pharmaceuticals, Inc. provided an update on its patented Thin Film Freezing technology platform, and the ongoing Phase 2 trial of Tacrolimus Inhalation Powder for the prevention of lung transplant rejection.

Mark your calendars: Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have agreed to a debate Sept. 10 on ABC. A Trump spokesperson and ABC employee said he also has agreed to Sept. 4 on FOX and Sept. 25 with NBC. Harris said she would be happy to consider additional debates. 

Southlake-based Sabre and Priceline have extended and expanded their multi-year agreement. 

Life Time debuts "athletic country club" in Westlake, the 13th Life Time in the D-FW market. 

The NFL is introducing facial recognition for employees, vendors and media across the league. Created by Verizon and software startup Wicket, credentialed personnel will be able to pre-enroll their facial scans into a database that allows them to enter the stadium through walk-through security scanners.

A small ask? From legal correspondent Greg Cox: "...I am once again calling on the #txlege to take the roughly $21-billion surplus and authorize the acquisition of Montana. Texas is the greatest state and with global brand awareness, it's time we start opening new locations. We can increase the property tax base, pick up new revenues, and boost summer morale.”

The number of women getting abortions in the U.S. went up slightly during the first three months of 2024 compared with before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to a report, reflecting the lengths that Democratic-controlled states went to expand access. 

Are you fit to serve? The TSA is taking a unique approach to fill entry-level Federal Air Marshal positions. The agency has a booth at the 2024 CrossFit Games at Dickies Arena this weekend.

A no-brainer: Work emails, calls on golf course worsen performance, study finds.

Nothing to do with business: Caitlin Clark’s moves on the basketball court are smooth as butter - literally. A butter sculpture of the Indiana Fever rookie guard is on display at the Iowa State Fair. Caitlin played college basketball at Iowa.

Snippets:

• The State Fair of Texas opens 7 weeks from today (Sept 27). What Texas-fried goodness will we be eating? How about cotton candy bacon on a stick? Here are the Big Tex Choice Awards finalists.

• Wynn Las Vegas has partnered with Taylor Sheridan and his Four Sixes Ranch to present the Four Sixes Ranch Steakhouse pop-up, debuting at the resort next month. 

• Traffic for the movie Twisters was particularly high in tornado-prone states. Oklahomans boosted their moviegoing traffic 224.1% for the July 19 opening.

• The Fort Worth Fire Department was part of a test for a pre-cancer screening product.

Announcements: 

• U.S. Energy Development: Promotes Mark Lillis to Director of Investor Relations.

• St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center: Names former Medical City COO J.W. Newman its CEO.

• JTaylor: Adds Catherine Rude as a Principal in the tax services division. 

• Munsch, Hardt, Kopf & Harr: Adds Stephen Huschka as Shareholder.