Saturday School

TEDxUTA 2014 speakers include medicine game changer and Nobel Prize winner

Not one to let SMU have all the TEDx fun, the University of Texas at Arlington has revealed its lineup for the second annual TEDxUTA. Featuring 12 innovative speakers, the day-long idea conference is set for March 22 at UTA's Rosebud Theater.

Highlights include Dr. Michael S. Brown, winner of the Nobel Prize for medicine and the U.S. National Medal of Science; Bart Weiss, an award-winning film producer and co-founder of the Dallas Video Festival; and Dr. Esther Sternberg, a best-selling author named one of the 300 women physicians who changed the face of medicine.

For the first time, two UTA students will take the speaker stage as well. Jarryd Willis, an experimental psychology doctoral student, and Kel Walters, a political science and psychology sophomore, were selected from a field of 25 applicants.

Willis will speak about how bullying can lead to self-harm, while Walters will tackle polyamory — the practice of having more than one romantic relationship at a time.

For the full list of speakers and information on buying tickets, go to TEDxUTA.com.

TEDxUTA takes place Saturday, March 22, at 3 pm in the Rosebud Theatre of the E. H. Hereford University Center, 300 W. First St. Tickets cost $15 for UTA students, $25 for faculty/staff and $35 for the general public.

Esther Sternberg, seen here with Pope Benedict XVI, is a best-selling author named one of the 300 women physicians who changed the face of medicine.

Azjewishpost.com

Esther Sternberg, seen here with Pope Benedict XVI, is a best-selling author named one of the 300 women physicians who changed the face of medicine.

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State of innovation

Texas ranks among 5 best states to start a business in 2025

Photo by Mykyta Kravčenko on Unsplash

Texas' friendly business climate has allowed the state to regain its rightful position among the top five best states to start a new business.

As one of the largest states in the U.S., it's no surprise Texas is big on business and entrepreneurship. Now the state is earning new praise among WalletHub's 2025 list of "Best & Worst States to Start a Business."

The Lone Star State claimed the No. 4 spot in the report's rankings — putting Texas in a better shape than it was last year when it earned No. 8 in WalletHub's 2024 report.

The study compared all 50 states across 25 metrics to determine the best places to start, grow, and find success with a new business. Factors that were considered include the number of startups per capita, job growth rates, financing accessibility measures, labor costs, and corporate tax rates.

The three states to outperform Texas are Florida (No. 1), Georgia (No. 2), and Utah (No. 3). Idaho rounded out the top five.

Across the study's three main categories, Texas performed the best in the "business environment" rank, earning No. 1 nationally. This section compared the states based on its five-year business survival rates, average business revenues growth, and more.

Texas ranked No. 12 in the nationwide comparison of "access to resources" – which covers working age population growth, venture investment amounts per capita, and other means – and earned a fair No. 34 in the report's "business costs" ranking.

But Texas can still do better with its business friendliness to reclaim a top-three overall ranking, which the state last earned in 2023.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in the report that it is imperative for potential new business owners to establish their enterprise in a place that can maximize their ability to succeed.

"Around half of all new businesses don’t survive five years, so the idea of becoming a business owner can be daunting, especially with the current high cost of living," Lupo said. "The best states have low corporate tax rates, strong economies, an abundance of reliable workers, easy access to financing and affordable real estate. On top of that, you’ll need to make sure you start in a place with an engaged customer base, if you’re operating locally."

Dallas has also proven to be at the top of the destination list for entrepreneurs who are looking for their next venture.

The top 10 best states to start a new business in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Florida
No. 2 – Georgia
No. 3 – Utah
No. 4 – Texas
No. 5 – Idaho
No. 6 – Oklahoma
No. 7 – Nevada
No. 8 – Colorado
No. 9 – Arizona
No. 10 – Kentucky

business entrepreneurship rankings texas wallethub