01.17.2024

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Today’s Forecast

41º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:31 a.m. | Sunset 5:47 p.m.

⚡️ LG is the name, charging is the game

LG opens first US electric vehicle charging factory in Fort Worth

Mayor Mattie Parker and LG President Alec Jang celebrate the grand opening of the company’s first U.S. EV charger factory. | Photo by Brandon Wade/LG Electronics USA

LG Electronics cut the ribbon on its first electric vehicle charging factory in the US last week — and it’s in north Fort Worth.

The repurposed facility — used previously by LG — at 2153 Eagle Pkwy. is now a 100,000-sqft factory powered entirely with green energy. The initial operations only take up 60,000 sqft, allowing space for future expansion.

By the end of the year, the facility will be able to produce more than 10,000 charging units annually in a variety of models including:

Level 2 AC Chargers | 11-kilowatt chargers that can be wall- or stand-mounted
Level 3 DC Chargers | 175-kilowatt fast chargers with an LCD touch-screen display that can display advertising
350-kilowatt ultra-fast chargers (coming soon)

The facility will bring dozens of new tech jobs — in addition to the 40 local residents already employed. In addition to local labor, the new owner-operated charging stations will allow businesses to set their own rates and retain profits, rather than sending them to third-party station operators.

FTW-LG-factory-ev-charger — The Fort Worth factory will start production on Level 2 AC chargers by the end of 2024.
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Photo by Brandon Wade/LG Electronics USA

“This is a great day for Fort Worth,” Mayor Mattie Parker said in a statement, “with this global leader choosing to establish its U.S. manufacturing base for EV chargers and creating new jobs here.”

This factory adds to LG’s Fort Worth presence — a 1 million-sqft center on North Beach Street has distributed consumer electronics and home appliances for three decades.

FTW-LG-facotry-lab — As a US manufacturing base, the LG factory brings more jobs to Fort Worth.
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Photo by Brandon Wade/LG Electronics USA

But wait, there’s more — the factory opening wasn’t the only electric vehicle news to hit headlines last week.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments received $15 million from the federal government to install 100 public charging stations across DFW in the next five years. The funding is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s $623 million effort to create an EV charging network across the US.

NCTCOG also received $70 million to build up to five hydrogen fueling stations for freight trucks in Texas.

Asked

How many electric vehicles were sold in the US in 2023?

A. 900,000
B. 1.2 million
C. 3.4 million

Quiz time

Events

Wednesday, Jan. 17

Painting | Wednesday, Jan. 17 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Southwest Community Center, 6300 Welch Ave., Fort Worth | $20 | Take up a new hobby in 2024 with a beginner- and intermediate-level art class.

Thursday, Jan. 18

“A Legacy in Leather” | Thursday, Jan. 18 | 6 p.m. | Club Reflection, 604 S. Jennings Ave., Fort Worth | Free | Learn more about the Cowtown leatherman organization from the Tarrant County LGBTQ+ History Project.
Artisan Chocolate Truffle Workshop | Thursday, Jan. 18 | 6-8 p.m. | Grape Vine Springs Winery, 409 S. Main St., Grapevine | $55 | Sip a glass of wine and learn how to make a decadent treat just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Friday, Jan. 19

Frost Bank Chuck Wagon Lunch | Friday, Jan. 19 | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Frost Bank Keller Financial Center, 1240 Keller Pkwy., Keller | Free | Chow down on brisket, beans, potato salad, and peach cobbler from this Texas bank.
Mustang Champions Freestyle | Friday, Jan. 19 | 6 p.m. | Will Rogers Coliseum, 1600 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth | $15-$25 | Nine horse trainers will show off the beauty, versatility, and trainability of the American Mustang in this sellout show.

Saturday, Jan. 20

TCU Men’s Basketball | Saturday, Jan. 20 | 1 p.m. | Schollmaier Arena, 3000 Stadium Dr., Fort Worth | $45-$55 | Grab last-minute tickets to watch the Horned Frogs tip-off against the Iowa State Cyclones.
Four Day Weekend Comedy Show | Saturday, Jan. 20 | 7 p.m. + 9:30 p.m. | Four Day Weekend, 312 Houston St., Fort Worth | $25 | Get ready to laugh your socks off at this weekly comedy show.

Events calendar here

Due to inclement weather earlier this week, please note events are subject to be postponed or canceled. Be sure to check in with event hosts and businesses via social media to be aware of any cancellations or event updates. Click here to have your event featured.

Concert

Fat Daddy’s Mansfield is the hot spot for local music, cover groups + karaoke

Back in Black, an AD/DC tribute group, playing Fat Daddy’s. | Photo by Niki Tyler

Calling all live music lovers: Fat Daddy’s Mansfield hosts live music every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night featuring acts across genres and time periods — 70s, 80s, rock, alternative, country, dance, and more.

Here are five acts we’re adding to our calendar:

That 70’s Band | Friday, Jan. 19 | A local group that takes it back to the grooviest decade.
Live Band Karaoke with Shannon Cobb | Wednesday, Jan. 24 | Hit the stage for karaoke with live backing from local musician Shannon Cobb.
The Dolan Band | Thursday, Feb. 1 | Enjoy a variety of classics and fan favorites with this local cover group.
Reputation - Taylor Swift Tribute | Thursday, Feb. 8 | Couldn’t make it to the Eras tour? This tribute night is perfect for finding your fellow Swifties.
Rise Against the Machine | Saturday, Feb. 24 | Rage all night with this Dallas Rage Against the Machine cover band.

See more upcoming events

News Notes

Community

In case you missed it, the cold weather and icy roads from earlier this week prompted the city to push solid waste removal by one day. Trash cans should be set out at the curb by 7 a.m. the day after your usual scheduled pick-up.

Fort Worthian

Illustrator Tatyana Alanis created the Google Doodle for MLK Jr. Day on Monday. Her doodle featured peaceful protesters led by Dr. King marching from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. See more of Alanis’ work downtown in the Small Works Show at 400h Gallery through Monday, Jan. 29.

Civic

City Council approved a resolution that will allow the city to raise hotel occupancy taxes by 2% to 17%. If approved by voters in the Saturday, May 4 election, the revenue will go towards Phase 2 of the convention center renovation and incentives for the Omni Hotel expansion.

Travel

This month marked the 50th anniversary of DFW Airport, which opened on Jan. 13, 1974. Celebrate with 50% off garage, $3 remote, and $6 express parking booked online by Thursday, Jan. 25 for travel through Friday, March 1.

Coming Soon

A third Fort Worth location of Sprouts Farmers Market is set to open in late June. The new store will be north of Saginaw at 4525 W. Bailey Boswell Rd., measure 23,280 sqft + cost approximately $6.75 million, according to a state filing.

Announced

Vince Puente, Sr. was selected as the new chairman of the Tarrant Appraisal District Board of Directors in a meeting last week. Puente has served on the board since 2022 and will be joined by the new secretary Gloria Peña. (Community Impact)

Concerts

The second annual Fort Worth Music Festival & Conference released its full lineup. Headliners include Texas artists Radney Foster, Abraham Alexander, Band of Heathens + more. Get tickets for the Stockyards festival happening Wednesday, Feb. 28-Saturday, March 2.

Health

As of last month, Medical City Fort Worth has performed 1,000 kidney transplants. In the last 22 years of transplants, the hospital has become the highest-rated Texas facility for kidney transplants and one-year kidney survival, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.

Civic

New year, new city?

Fort Worthian 101: Our guide to becoming a Fort Worth resident

Soon, seeing this skyline will mean “I’m home.” | Photo by Joseph Haubert

If 2024 finds you in a new city, we’re here to help. First off — welcome to Cowtown. We’re thrilled you’re here. We’ve rounded up some things to help you get settled. Keep reading for Fort Worthian 101, our guide to all things Fort Worth residency.

Voter registration
Make sure you’re eligible and registered to vote, find your polling location, and preview upcoming elections and sample ballots here.

Library card registration
If you think libraries are only for renting the occasional book, think again. Register for a library card at your nearest Fort Worth Public Library branch to take advantage of:

Events
eBooks, music, and movies
Online databases
Private meeting spaces for groups
Instrument + technology lending

To get your free card, you’ll need proof of identity and proof of residence.

Click the button below to discover more essential, educational, and home resources, as well as some fun things to try as a new resident.

City Guides are presented by Walsh.

Howdy, there

The Buy

The Buy 1.17.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

The No. 1 best-selling GUESS women’s fashion sneaker, which has a sleek and slim design and modern color choices (including some sparkling metallics).

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Kate

From the editor

Calling local vegans — or anyone who enjoys a plant-based meal — Belenty’s Love and Vida Café are hosting an all-vegan food festival and market on Sunday, Jan. 21. Stop by Southside Bar and Party Hall (342 S. Grove St.) from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. to peruse local vendors at Fort Worth Veg-Fest.

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