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ST. IGNACE, MI -- The Mackinac Bridge Authority is simplifying the crossing process for MacPass card holders.

The MacPass toll card, which are frequently used by commuters and motorists who regularly cross the Mackinac Bridge, is being replaced with an automatically recognized windshield-mounted sticker.

The new system will increase customer convenience and make for quicker times in toll lanes, according to the MBA.

"Unlike the old MacPass cards that required drivers to roll down their window and hold the card near the reader device, the new system will automatically scan the windshield sticker when drivers pull up to the toll booths," said MBA Executive Secretary Kim Nowack.

"Drivers still need to stop and wait for the gate to rise before proceeding, but the new process will speed transactions for frequent customers."

The MBA has been slowly replacing current MacPass cards with the new stickers for the past few months. Any card holders who havent can do so online. There is no charge for the sticker until July 1, 2020, when the price will be $1.

MacPass customers use toll lanes designated for MacPass by the overhead signs, or any open lane. Current MacPass cards can still be used through the end of 2020.

Passenger vehicle MacPass accounts require an initial deposit of $80 and a $7 one-time set-up fee. Commercial accounts require a $200 deposit and $7 one-time set-up fee.

More information on the MacPass is available at http://www.MackinacBridge.org/MacPass.

See the rest here:
Mackinac Bridge Authority replacing MacPass cards with windshield sticker - MLive.com

The Blaugrana won their Champions League group and sit top of La Liga but could try to strengthen Ernesto Valverde's squad during the winter break

Barcelona are top of La Liga at Christmas and sailed through their Champions League group to reach the last 16. So far, so good? The mood around Camp Nou would suggest otherwise.

Fans and local media are unhappy with the teams performances, if not the results, and believe they could come a cropper once again in the knock-out phases in Europe unless they sharpen up.

One way to do that would be by bringing in a top player or two in the impending transfer window.

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Its hard to imagine Barcelona making any major moves in the winter market because they need to keep the books balanced.

However, as we saw when they lavished 160 million (137m/$179m) on Philippe Coutinho in January 2018, they are sometimes willing to break the bank in order to get their man.

Barcelona experienced Lautaro Martinezs threat up close and personal in the Champions League group phase, with the Inter forward passing his 'audition' for the Catalans with flying colours by turning in a particularly impressive performance when the two sides met at San Siro.

It is no secret that the club are looking to find Luis Suarezs successor and the feisty Argentine forward looks a perfect solution.

If the club are looking for, or wish to bring in another No. 9, it would not be strange; it is the reality of football, said Suarez recently.

Lautaro has eight goals in 16 games in Serie A this season and the explosive forward would be confident of boosting those numbers alongside compatriot Messi.

Whether Barca could really persuade Inter to part company with arguably their most prized possession midway through a season in which they're challenging Juventus for the Scudetto is another story altogether.

Lautaro does seem bound for Catalunya - but perhaps not just yet.

Barca could also look to sign a left-back, given Junior Firpo has not impressed since arriving from Real Betis. However, it is unlikely that the Catalans will look to find a replacement in January and will instead give Firpo more time to settle at Camp Nou before reviewing the situation in the summer.

On the plus side, Samuel Umtitis return to form means they will not be looking for a central defender and the Frenchman seems happy to stay at the club despite falling behind Clement Lenglet in the pecking order.

Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal is closest to the exit door at Camp Nou because he is not playing as regularly as he would like.

He stormed out of training before the Clasico after learning Ernesto Valverde wasnt going to start him against Real Madrid, but was picked against Alaves in the last game before Christmas, scoring as Barcelona won 4-1.

The all-action South American offers goals and physicality in support for the attack, which is something the other players in midfield at the club dont bring to the table.

Im happy and content, well see what happens after I get back, said Vidal before jetting off for his winter break.

However, Vidal has since gone public with his frustration with Barca over alleged unpaid bonuses and a parting of the ways would appear to suit both parties, with a transfer to Inter the most likely outcome.

Carles Alena has already left, joining Betis on loan until the end of the season, which should mean more midfield starts for Arthur and Ivan Rakitic, and perhaps even Sergi Roberto, who has been shunted to right-back.

In defence, Jean-Clair Todibo appears Italy-bound, with AC Milan interested in securing the French centre-backs services, although Manchester United have also been linked.

Valverde has a predilection for B team defender Ronaldo Araujo, meaning Todibo has barely featured. Barcelona would ask for a buy-back clause in any prospective deal.

Despite the intense interest in Lautaro, it seems unlikely that the Argentine will arrive in January. If Barca were to pull off what would be a sensational deal, he would obviously go straight into the starting line-up in place of Suarez.

Griezmann is starting to find his feet on the left flank, while Messi has been in typically fantastic form on the right.

Frenkie de Jong has been a fine addition to a midfield still anchored by Sergio Busquets but Barca will be hoping that Arthur gets back to his best sooner rather than later.

Semedo appears to be ahead of Sergi Roberto in the battle for the right-back berth, while the rest of the defence pretty much picks itself, despite Umtiti's resurgence.

Read more:
What Barcelona need in the January transfer window - Goal.com

Mackinaw City A new toll scanning method could meantravelers who frequently cross the Mackinac Bridge see shorter wait times at the bridge's toll booths, the bridge authority said.

The bridge's MacPass toll card is beingreplaced with a windshield-mounted sticker that is automatically scanned when a driver pulls up to the toll booths,Kim Nowack, Mackinac Bridge Authority Executive Secretary, said in a statement.

"Drivers still need to stop and wait for the gate to rise before proceeding, but the new process will speed transactions for frequent customers,"Nowack said.

Maintenance crews are giving the Mackinac Bridge a new coat of paint.(Photo: John L. Russell, file, Special to The Detroit News)

The new sticker can only be used by those with aMacPass account.Those who are not account holders will still have to roll down their window and pay at the toll booth each time they cross the bridge.

The MacPass sticker is currently free,and will be $1 each after July 1, 2020.Customers who already have a MacPass account can still use their cards through the end of 2020 and do not need to open a new account to get a sticker.

The stickers are part of a new tolling software system installed in the fall of 2019. Anyone can open a MacPass account, which allows for online deposits and transaction information.

Drivers interested in receiving a sticker are encouraged to visit the MacPass websiteto sign up for an account and receive stickers in the mail.

ecarter@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @EvanJamesCarter

Read or Share this story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/12/30/mackinac-bridge-macpass-card-replaced-with-sticker/2776506001/

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Mackinac Bridge 'MacPass' toll card to be replaced with windshield-mounted sticker - The Detroit News

Its that time of year when transfer speculation goes into overdrive, but which Premier League teams are likely to do some big business to get them through the second half of the season?

A good place to start is Chelsea, where Frank Lampard reportedly has around $200m to spend now that their transfer ban is out of the way. The Blues could probably strengthen at left-back and they are favorites to sign Leicesters Ben Chilwell. They might even try and bring Bournemouths Nathan Ake back to the club for defensive support.

But if Chelsea is to spend in January, it will probably be on a striker. Tammy Abraham is looking fatigued and both Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi are fading in relevance. RB Leipzigs Timo Werner is thought to be their number one target.

This window could also be critically important for Manchester United, who must push for the top four in order to keep some of their star players happy. Ole Gunnar Solskjaers side has a high-quality front three, but they need some quality in midfield behind them. Leicesters James Maddison and Aston Villas Jack Grealish have both been hotly tipped, while a big-money bid could also be made for Jadon Sancho, who remains unhappy in Dortmund.

Manchester City, meanwhile, has seen their title chances fall apart mainly because of a lack of cover at center-back. Aymeric Laporte should be returning in the coming weeks, but they are still paper-thin in the position.

Perhaps Napolis Kalidou Koulibaly could provide the quality they desperately need? Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho may not have a huge war chest this January, but he will have a wish list. The key position that needs covering is right-back, where Serge Aurier hasnt exactly excelled. Leicesters Ricardo Pereira would be a great replacement and his deal might be funded by the sale of want-away midfielder Christian Eriksen.

And finally, lets talk about Arsenal. Mikel Artetas squad is not deep, there are plenty of injuries and the likes of Granit Xhaka look destined for the door. The Gunners could really do with some defensive strengthening, particularly at center-back, and Wilfred Ndidi is believed to be a big target to help screen the defense. But Arsenal wasted a lot of money on Pepe in the summer and it remains to be seen if they will back their new manager with cash this winter.

For more on the beautiful game - follow @FCYahoo on your favorite social channelsand stay up to date on Yahoo Sports.

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Five EPL clubs who could make big moves in the January transfer window - Yahoo Sports

Its no secret that the Brewers have lost more star power than theyve gained so far this offseason. Yasmani Grandal, Mike Moustakas, Eric Thames, and Drew Pomeranz are all gone and in to replace them are Omar Narvaez, Ryon Healy, Justin Smoak, Avisail Garcia, and Brett Anderson, among others.

Thats not quite an inspiring group of names, although they could provide similar production.

But the Milwaukee Brewers should not be happy to settle for finding players to provide similar or slightly worse production at a cheaper cost.

The end goal for this Brewers team is to win the World Series, and they fell short of it last year because their roster wasnt good enough. They shouldnt be looking just to replicate last years production. They need to improve upon it.

The best way to make that kind of improvement is to make a big move that brings in a player or players that move the needle of this roster further towards the World Series. The Ryon Healy and Eric Sogard additions are nice depth pieces, but dont really push a team from just a playoff contender to a World Series caliber team.

They should. Whether they will or not is unknown at this point. But the Brewers should be well aware of how long their contention window is open with Christian Yelich under team control for three more seasons. These next three years are the best chances they are going to have at a World Series for the foreseeable future. They have to take advantage of that.

Brewers GM David Stearns has been shedding payroll so far this offseason and they currently sit about $30 million under their 2019 payroll for next season. They have room to spend some money.

No, we shouldnt panic about the Brewers not making a big splash yet. Keep in mind, the past two offseasons, Stearns has made his biggest moves in the month of January. He got Yelich and Lorenzo Cain on January 25th, 2018 and then he signed Yasmani Grandal in early January of 2019.

The starting pitching market has been mostly picked over, and there arent any options out there that could remotely be considered a No. 1 or No. 2 starter. That leaves the trade market. Matthew Boyd and Robbie Ray seem to be the most available trade candidates and both could make sense for the Brewers to grab.

At third base, Josh Donaldson is the lone big fish remaining on that market. Reports say that Donaldson is going to get a four year deal and that might be a year too long for the Brewers, but perhaps Stearns could surprise us. On the trade market, Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant appear to be available, but the contract for Arenado will be a sticking point and the Cubs, well, they just arent going to trade Kris Bryant to the Brewers for obvious reasons.

Of course there still is the possibility of a Josh Hader trade, which could bring back multiple good pieces to the roster, or possibly one great piece. Moving Hader would definitely count as a splash move, although not one typically a World Series contending team makes.

Theres still plenty of time to make moves, but as far as getting a big addition to the club that could actually make them more of a World Series threat, there arent that many options left.

Want your voice heard? Join the Reviewing The Brew team!

January is when Stearns has done his best work, so lets see what he can whip up this time.

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Brewers: Will They Make A Big Splash This Offseason? - Reviewing the Brew

The Gunners sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table and have a new manager, so there could be plenty of comings and goings in north London

Mikel Arteta has only been in the job for a fortnight but he is already about to enter his first transfer window as Arsenals head coach.

Publicly, the Spaniard has stated that he hasnt made any firm plans with the club over potential January deals but he certainly discussed the club's recruitment strategy with head of football Raul Sanllehi, technicaldirector Edu and the rest of Arsenals management group during the process which led to his appointment.

Unai Emery was unable to make any permanent signings last January due to financial restrictions, meaning the only addition to the squad was Denis Suarez, who joined on loan from Barcelona.

Money will be tight once again this year, although some possible departures could allow Arsenal dip into the market if a decent opportunity presents itself.

Below, Goal takes a look at what business could be done by the north London club in January...

The big news is, of course, the imminent exit of Granit Xhaka, who looks set to return to Germany to join Hertha Berlin.

The former Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder's departure was inevitable from the moment he clashed with the Arsenal fans following his substitution against Crystal Palace in October. It was merely of question of whether he would leave in January or at the end of the season.

Xhaka is pushing for a deal with Hertha to be done immediately and although Mikel Arteta has expressed his admiration for the player, its highly likely he will leave as long as Arsenal are happy with size of the fee.

Xhaka has a contract until 2023 and Arsenal want to recoup as much of the 35 million ($46m) feethey paid for the Switzerland international in 2016.

There is also a chance that Shkodran Mustafi could move on if the right offer comes in but, as was the case in the summer, the German centre-back will not be pushed out of the club, even though it has been made clear he is free to leave.

Arsenal are unlikely to sanction any other permanent sales during January, but some youngsters, including Emile Smith Rowe, could go out on loan, as could Konstantinos Mavropanos, providing a centre-back is brought in.

Xhakas departure would make a new central midfielder a necessity. Arsenals big dilemma is, therefore, whether to try to plug the gap temporarily with a loan signing or bring in a replacement on a permanent basis.

The Gunners hold a long-standing interest in Adrien Rabiot that dates back to Arsene Wengers time in north London.

Unai Emery was also a fan of the midfielder and Arsenal tried to sign on a free transfer from Paris Saint Germain last summer only for the Frenchman to instead join Juventus.

However, things havent gone well for the 24-year-old in Turin to date and Arsenal may try to tempt Juventus into a loan deal for the remainder of the season should Xhaka complete his switch to Berlin.

Defensively, a lot depends on whether Mustafi leaves and the results on the scans which will be carried out on Calum Chambers knee following the injury he sustained against Chelsea.

Arsenal want to bring in a new centre-back but are aware they have William Saliba arriving in the summer once he finishes the season with Saint-Etienne. There is no agreement in place with the French club that could see Saliba join in January.

There was interest in Dayot Upamecano in the summer but, from an economic perspective, a deal for the RB Leipzig star would be all but impossiblethis winter.

It leaves Arsenal in a difficult situation, one that again could see them turn to a short-term loan option to see them through to the summer window, when they will have more financial clout and more of their targets are accessible.

There was some interest in Daniele Rugani during the summer and given his lack of game time this season for Juventus, he could be an option once again.

Arsenal have been decimated by injuries in recent weeks, especially in defence. where they have been without full-backs Kieran Tierney, Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin.

Bukayo Saka and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have been filling in, but Artetas side will undoubtedly be stronger when the regulars return.

Arteta has set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation during his first two games at the club and that system looks to be the one the Spaniard will stick with during the second half of the campaign.

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When fit, Bellerin and Tierney will certainly fill the full-back positions and Gabriel Martinelli could well come in on the left side of attack, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moving into his preferred central striking role at the expense of Alexandre Lacazette.

The big question will be who fills Xhakas role should he leave for Germany.

Will it be Rabiot? Or will Arteta opt to wait until the summer and pair Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira together for the remainder of the season?

The rest is here:
What Arsenal need in the January transfer window - Goal.com

Every year dozens, if not hundreds, of new technological products reach the market. Some, like iPhones, Netflix, and Facebook, become overwhelming success stories, while others are ultimately deemed complete failures, sometimes even scams.

You might recall how in 2014, social networking apps promising users the ability to post anonymously began to sprout, prompting users to publish secrets, gossip, and exclusive scoops about their own friends. Perhaps the most famous was mobile app Secret, which enabled users to communicate incognito with their existing social circles on other social networks. Other apps, including Yik Yak, Whisper, and Ask.fm, soon caught on. At its prime, Yik Yak Inc. managed to raise $75 million from investors such as Sequoia Capital, while Secret Inc. raised over $35 million.

9. Magic Leaps AR glasses

Founded by Israeli entrepreneur Rony Abovitz, Plantation, Florida-headquartered Magic Leap Inc. was supposed to be the next big thing. The company claimed it could bring augmented reality technologies to the masses with capabilities that have yet to be seen outside of science fiction movies. But when its long-awaited headset was finally launched last year, tech enthusiasts were disappointed to find a less than revolutionary device, compared to existing products on the market. Earlier this month, The Information reported that Magic Leap was only able to sell about 6,000 pieces of its $2,300 device in the first six months following its launch, quite a disappointing figure for a company that managed to raise several billion dollars from investors including Google and JP Morgan.

About 18 months ago, rumors began to surface that Samsung was reviving its plans to produce a mobile device with a flexible screen. Such screens have been around for several years and were exhibited at leading tech conventions but have yet to be implemented in an actual product until Samsung took on the challenge and work on the first foldable smartphone began. The Galaxy Fold was launched in February this year but was soon christened a catastrophe.

The funny thing about Google is that while it is among the internets undisputed rulers, it has yet to gain a substantial hold on the webs three main innovative fields: social media, instant messaging, and enterprise cloud computing services. Most prominent of all is its failure in the realm of social networks, driving it to decommission all of its attempts, four so far, in the past 10 years.

6. Uber and Lyft

Ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft gained much public attention since their launch, but their failure revealed itself fully once they decided to go public. Uber had a valuation of $120 billion before its Nasdaq initial public offering (IPO) in May, which brought its market capitalization down to just $75 billion. Since then, Ubers stock has further devalued, from $45 per share at the time of the IPO to $30.67 at market close Friday, losing nearly 40% of its worth. Ubers massive losses amounted to over $5 billion in the second quarter of 2019. Its rival Lyft is in slightly better shape with $644 million in losses for the quarter but has also seen a devaluation of over 30% since its March IPO. Both companies are unlikely to become profitable before 2021.

Early in the decade, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg believed his social network should become the internets main source of information. To achieve this goal, it was not enough to have its app at the top of every mobile phone application store, and in 2013, Facebook tried to make its own Android-based smartphone to further control users content consumption. Three models were eventually manufactured by HTC, all of them shelved after failing to meet sales expectations.

Alongside his relatively successful companies, Tesla and Space X, Elon Musk also tried his hand at mass transport, with Hyperloopa sealed system of air-free tubes through which a passenger pod would travel at high speeds without resistance or friction, saving on fuel. Experiments began in 2014 but not a single kilometer of active hyperloop tunnel has yet to be built. Even Musk has seemingly moved on to standard, boring, car tunnels, founding The Boring Company in 2016.

More of a hoax than a business failure, Juicero Inc. is one of the best examples of how investors can get temporarily side blinded and waste money on fake tech. Juicero sold a $400 kitchen counter device that supposedly produced fresh, cold-pressed juice from vacuum-sealed bags sold separately. In 2017, Bloomberg called Juiceros bluff, showing readers the bags can be squeezed manually to receive the same result as the presser. A day after the story was published, The Verge reported Juicero was offering all of its customers a full refund. The company went out of business five months later.

1. Samsung Galaxy Note 7

First place had a lot of worthy contenderssome more infuriating such as Apples butterfly keyboard, malicious joy invoking such as Amazons smartphone, or hopeful as to the fate of humanity, such as the death of Googles smart glassesbut none more impressive a failure than Samsungs Galaxy Note 7. Launched in 2016, Samsungs flagship smartphone received high praise for its advanced technological capabilities and large screen but less than a year later, the company had to recall it. The reason: its batterys tendency to spontaneously combust, at one time on a plane mid-flight. Credit Suisse analysts estimated the damages suffered by Samsung as a result at $17 billion.

Link:
10 Biggest Tech Fails of the Decade - CTech

By Lindsey M. Roberts Washington Post

If only we could use one cleaning product to get our homes spick and span. Alas, its just not possible, says Carolyn Forte, home appliances and cleaning products director at Good Housekeeping.

Different areas have different soils that need different cleaners, she explains. Multisurface cleaners are the most versatile, cleaning counters, walls, appliances and more, but for bathrooms, carpets, windows and wood floors, you really need cleaners that are safe yet effective on those surfaces.

We asked five expert cleaners, including a professional organizer and a housekeeper, what they keep in their house-cleaning kits.

Organized people tend to be clean people, and Amber Kostelny, a professional organizer in Chicago, knows why: The more organized someone is, the easier it is to clean. The less clutter is out, the easier it is to clean and sanitize surfaces. One of her favorite tough cleaners is Lysol Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner ($1.99 for 24 ounces, target.com). She finds it works especially well on hard-water stains.

As owners of Handmaiden Cleaning in Walla Walla, and founders of the American House Cleaners Association, Grace and Kevin Reynolds are picky about the products they recommend for their own cleaners and others in the industry. A favorite is Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser Powder ($1.93 for 21 ounces, walmart.com). Its excellent at cleaning stainless steel, removing hard-water buildup and stains on glass and tile, Grace says. They will sometimes create a paste on a rag with the cleanser, an essential oil and a few drops of Dawn soap, and they make sure to wipe in the direction of the stainless steels grain.

For windows, Gay Browne, author of Living With a Green Heart: How to Keep Your Body, Your Home and the Planet Healthy in a Toxic World, uses Aspen Cleans Natural Glass Cleaner ($7.99 for 22 ounces, cleaningproducts.aspenclean.com). Leaving no window streaks (only a lime scent), the product is made of biodegradable, plant-derived ingredients. For more house-cleaning products, Browne recommends taking a look at the Environmental Working Groups top-rated products list (ewg.org).

One of the most versatile cleaners we have ever tested at Good Housekeeping is Simple Green, Forte says ($4.97 for 32 ounces, homedepot.com). It can be diluted for lots of different household uses and it works very well on a wide variety of stains and soils. Although dilution and instructions vary for different surfaces, Forte says the payoff is fewer bottles in the cleaning closet.

Clients with allergies ask Maxine Mills of MaxAll Cleaning Services in Florida to use products sensitive to their needs. Mills has allergies, too, and has started using citrus-based Lemi Shine Shower and Tile Cleaner for fighting mold and mildew in bathrooms ($4.09 for 28 ounces, walmart.com). It leaves a great smell without being overpowering, she says.

More:
Five experts come clean about products they keep in their kits - The Spokesman-Review

Photo: Kim Brent / Kim Brent/The Enterprise

The top 10 development stories of Whats New

Southeast Texas saw a bevy of change in the retail scene this year with new businesses moving in and old staples growing or disappearing.

The Beaumont Enterprise launched a new ongoing feature called Whats New to help readers catch up with some of the latest business updates online in brief web stories and took broader looks at the highlights of the week in a Wednesday print column.

There is sure to be more coming in 2020, but here are a few of our favorites from the past year.

10) Chick-fil-A announced at the beginning of December that it is working to bring a location to Orange directly off the I-10 corridor on 16th Street. The location has been teased for more than a year after Orange Mayor Larry Spears Jr. announced the company was interested in developing the 16th Street area. The city has invested economic development dollars into the land around the commercial property for road upgrades and utility connections.

9) The developer bringing Walk-Ons Bistreaux & Bar to Mid-County teased that construction would start in November or December of this year. The story of the Louisiana-based franchise co-owned by Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees coming to Southeast Texas has been a microcosm of what growth and speculation has been like in the area. C.O. Vallet, a Lake Charles club owner, is bringing the franchise to Port Arthur after originally planning for a Beaumont location after seeing a boom in industrial investments.

8) After more than a year in development, Beaumont now has a Topgolf connection with the opening of 5 Under Golf Center. The centers double-deck driving range is still under construction, as is its outside bar, but the business opened to the public with its Topgolf Swing Suites. It is also an example of an older family business, Games People Play, changing in the hopes of creating a new business model in the city.

7) The Walmart Supercenter in West Orange finished a complete remodel and fully integrated new pick-up technologies in September. It is part of an ongoing plan to introduce the new grocery and online pick-up model to new markets throughout the state. Walmart plans to invest $265 million in renovations to Texas by the end of the year. It also plans to integrate 82 new pickup towers across the state.

6) Parkdale Mall and its parent company CBL Properties are creating a new business on the malls property set to open next year that embodies the changing landscape of modern retail investments. The large steel structure being built near the malls food court entrance will be a drive-thru, multi-level, climatized storage facility for long-term and short-term storage, according to the mall management. Kathryn Reinsmidt, executive vice president and chief information officer with CBL, briefly discussed the project in an August investors call, comparing it to other storage designs where the company has used its land as equity in the investment. The work led by EMJ Construction is expected to be completed sometime in the spring of 2020.

5) Southeast Texas saw an increase in online pick-up options as retailers shifted to attract customers inside their stores. Arts and crafts chain Michaels and UPS partnered to create drop-off points for packages called UPS Access Points at the Beaumont location and more than 1,100 other stores nationwide in October. The Michaels partnership followed the local Stein Mart on North Dowlen Road which was equipped with an Amazon Locker Hub in May. Big box stores like Target entered the delivery business with the acquisition of Shipt, while Kroger and Walmart increased their in-store pickup options regionally.

4) A new event space and retail center on North Major Drive in Beaumont, named the Major Event Center, became the latest addition to a quickly growing corridor for residential and retail investments. The center will be a space for conferences and parties that can fit as many as 500 people, according to the managing company. The overall retail space will also host a new pho restaurant, automotive business and possibly two other tenants. The event center will likely be open by February.

3) The new headquarters for Neches Federal Credit Union had big progress in 2019 and is on track to open in the spring. The 48,000-square-foot building at Magnolia Avenue and Merriman Street is expected to be finished in April. The project will complete the first step of the land swap with Port Neches-Groves ISD approved in fall 2017. The banks old office will become the districts new central administration building, putting all of the districts administrative staff in the same space for the first time.

2) Broussards BBQ made a November return in Beaumont with a new building and plenty of barbecue after it was destroyed in a May lightning storm. The restaurants interior was burned away. The structure was torn down to build anew. In its place is a new barbecue joint complete with the iconic green and yellow easily seen from 11th Street. Pitmaster Leonard Broussard, known to most as Mr. B, said losing the old building was a challenge thats kept him busy for the past six months, but its also created new opportunities. Gods got it, Broussard said He has plans, so maybe he didnt like that old building I was in. I kind of believe that.

1) After Tropical Depression Imelda swept through Southeast Texas and damaged businesses through central Beaumont and the I-10 corridor, residents waited for weeks to hear when some of their favorite spots would reopen. Twin Peaks reopened in late October after what company representatives called significant water damage to the building. Chilis followed at the end of November. Outback Steakhouse on I-10 South in Beaumont reopened in early December.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jdickjournalism

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The top 10 development stories of Whats New - Beaumont Enterprise

Development is booming in Birmingham. Every month, more construction sites pop up across the region.

Here are 10 developments to pay attention to in 2020.

1. Protective Stadium

By now, youve seen the huge bowl cut out of the earth in Uptown, but 2020 will bring actual construction happening at the stadium site.

Bids for construction were submitted on Dec. 17. Soon, the multi-million construction deal will be awarded. Construction should start in early 2020.

The $174 million stadium is expected to be complete by Fall 2021, in time for the 2021 UAB Blazers football season.

See the latest construction photos here.

Design renderings for the $123 million Legacy Arena renovation. Work is set to begin in Spring 2020. (images courtesy of Populous).

2. Legacy Arena renovations

Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex is getting a major face lift. The arena, built in the 1970s, will be completely renovated inside and out.

Renovation work will begin after the Bassmaster Classic ends in March 2020. The renovation is expected to take about 18 months.

3. Southtown Court redevelopment

Speaking of face lifts, work to redevelop the Southtown Court housing community is set to begin in 2020. Residents are expected to move out of the 445-unit complex this summer.

Southside Development Corporation is leading the $26 million project that will turn the complex into a mixed-use, mixed-income development with senior and affordable housing, as well as commercial enterprises.

The entire redevelopment project, including housing units, stores and a grocery store, is expected to be complete by 2024.

Site plans for the Northside Park development, which will be on the former site of Carraway Hospital. (Corporate Realty)

4. Carraway Hospital site redevelopment

The former hospital site thats been the subject of YouTube videos about abandoned places will be demolished and the site redeveloped in 2020. Work is expected to begin in Spring 2020. The new development will be called Northside Park.

Carraway Hospital closed in October 2008 after encountering a series of financial issues that led to the hospital filing bankruptcy twice. About 1,000 people lost their jobs when the hospital closed. The closure put Carraway among one of more than 20 hospitals that have closed since 2000.

Real estate company Corporate Realty wants to turn the former hospital site into a multi-use development complete with office, retail, entertainment, hotel and residential space.

View from the Boutwell Parking deck looking east. I-59/20 bridge construction project. Photos taken 12-11-19. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com)

5. I-59/20 bridge project

The work to complete the new Interstate 59/20 bridges through downtown Birmingham is nearly complete. The project included completely demolishing and replacing the interstate interchange, ramps and bridges.

The interchange has been closed since Jan. 21, 2019. It could open as early as Jan. 21, 2020, earning contractor Johnson Brothers a hefty bonus. The work needed to be complete by March 21.

See the latest construction photos here.

Renovations at Wald Park are set to be complete in spring 2020. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com)

6. Wald Park

Wald Park in Vestavia Hills is getting $15 million worth of upgrades. The plans for Wald Park include two new pools, along with a dog park, new baseball fields, tennis courts, and more

The park project is part of a larger city initiative, called the Community Spaces and Infrastructure Program. That campaign is expected to cost approximately $58 million and will include a new community center, improvements for storm water drainage, and updates to fields at Cahaba Heights Elementary School. There are also plans for widening certain roads and paving others.

Work on the park is expected to be complete by Spring 2020.

(Contributed | UAB)

7. University of Alabama at Birmingham construction projects

While students were away on summer break, UAB was hard at work on various construction projects across campus.

Creature is the the designer and contractor for the New Ideal Lofts, which are adjacent to the Pizitz Food Hall on 18th Street North.

8. New Ideal Lofts

The former New Ideal department store building is being transformed into condominiums and retail space. Architecture and construction firm Creature is redeveloping the space.

The former department store sits at Second Avenue North and 18th Street North. The building has been vacant since around 1990, said Creature CEO and Co-founder Mike Gibson. The New Ideal was originally built as a department store in 1908.

Micro, one- and two-bedroom units are available. The units range in size from 390 to 1,900 square feet. Price ranges for the units are from $144,900 to $524,900.

William Thornton

Gov. Kay Ivey is joined by several officials at the groundbreaking for the Grand River Technology Park Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019.

9. Grand River Technology Park

The Grand River Technology Park, between Barber Motorsports Park and the future site of the relocated Southern Museum of Flight, is expected to be complete by spring 2020. A groundbreaking on the 64-acre site was held in October.

The project was announced in February as a regional hub for research and development, tourism and light manufacturing. Officials said it could add more than 1,200 jobs and have an economic impact of about $85 million.

The technology park is another large scale development at the I-20 exit near Leeds, which has seen several projects over the last two decades - Barber Motorsports Park, Bass Pro Shops, the Shops at Grand River, and the announcement this year of a 50,000-square-foot Buc-ees convenience store, gas station and travel center.

Birmingham's Zyp BikeShare program will soon be replaced with new electric scooters and pedal-assist bikes. The Zyp bikes will be decommissioned by the end of 2019. The new e-bikes and scooters should be rolling on Birmingham streets by March 2020. (Anna Beahm | abeahm@al.com).

10. New scooters and e-bikes coming to Birmingham

This last one isnt a construction project, but it represents another new means of transportation in Birmingham. The city recently launched its pilot with Via, an on-demand transit service that uses vans instead of large buses on fixed routes.

More scooters and electric bikes will add another layer of the evolving transportation in Birmingham. The scooters and bikes will replace the Zyp bikes.

The Birmingham Department of Transportation hasnt announced which brand of scooters and bikes will be coming to the city, but city officials said to expect that announcement in early 2020.

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Keep an eye on these Birmingham developments in 2020 - AL.com