SUMMARY: The 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season began on June 1 and runs through November 30, with peak activity around September 10. Key factors influencing the season include sea surface temperatures, El Niño/La Niña, wind shear, and moisture. Colorado State University and NOAA both forecast an above-average season, expecting 13-19 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes, and 3-5 major hurricanes, driven by warm waters and favorable wind patterns. Early season storms likely develop near the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. Texans are advised to stay prepared year-round. The 2024 season was above average, highlighted by Category 5 Hurricane Beryl—the earliest on record in the Atlantic.

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SUMMARY: Hundreds gathered at the Texas Capitol to protest bills awaiting Governor Greg Abbott’s decision as the legislative session ends. The demonstrators urged Abbott to veto several controversial measures, including a bill requiring state documents to list sex assigned at birth, a THC ban, and a mandate to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms. The Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chair, Fron Reynolds, emphasized Texas as a testing ground for policies affecting communities of color and trans people. Actor Lucas Nef also showed support, highlighting the broader impact. Abbott has indicated plans to sign some of these bills into law.

Protesters marched from the governor’s mansion to the Texas Capitol on Saturday morning, calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to veto some legislation that’s faced opposition from voters during the legislative session.

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“Starbase, Texas’ newest city, has liftoff; seeks $1.5 million loan from Elon Musk’s SpaceX” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

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STARBASE — Texas’ newest city had liftoff this week.

Starbase city leaders were sworn in Thursday and appointed a city manager. On Friday, they met again to approve a loan request to help fund the city until tax dollars trickle in. In an early sign that reaffirms just how entwined the South Texas city is with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, the city is seeking a loan from the space company, not a bank.

Known as a tax revenue anticipation note, Starbase is asking for a short-term loan of $1,550,000 from SpaceX, the space exploration company that employs the majority of the city’s estimated 500 residents.

By negotiating directly with SpaceX in a private sale of the debt, the city will forgo the municipal bond marketplace and will not need approval by the Texas Attorney General’s Office because the life of the loan won’t exceed a year.

The loan will cover a portion of their expenses, currently projected to be $1,941,140 in the city’s preliminary budget.

The city plans to pay back the debt at a 0% interest rate with property tax revenues. The minimum tax rate the city would need to impose to pay back the note would be $0.1813 per $100 of valuation.Because SpaceX is located within the city limits, the company would also be taxed by the city, said Leonardo Olivares, a former city manager to multiple cities in South Texas. The company would simultaneously lend the city money while also paying taxes to city to help pay its debt.

“SpaceX is going to lend the city the money to build a different infrastructure for SpaceX and all their employees. It’s kind of like this, you know, a shell game,” Olivares said. 
”It’s not wrong. Everything’s legit. It’s just a very tightly run organization and community.”

Mayor Bobby Peden, along with commissioners Jordan Buss and Jenna Petrzelka, also approved a slew of actions during their first two city meetings this week.

After taking the oath of office, the three appointed key positions including the role of city administrator, which is filled by Kent Myers from Clear Career Professionals, a recruitment firm connecting professionals to municipal governments.

According to his biography on the firm’s website, Myers has lived in Fort Worth and has served as a city administrator in many cities over 40 years, including starting his career in Converse, a small town near San Antonio.

The commission also adopted city codes, established an emergency management plan, approved a city website and approved a schedule for public meetings, among other actions.

The city is also working on establishing a comprehensive zoning ordinance, which determines how specific land within the city can be used.

Last week, some residents received a notice that the area where their home is located is expected to be zoned as a “mixed use district” that will include residential, office, retail, and small-scale service uses.

A public hearing scheduled for June 23 will determine whether or not they can continue to use their property for its current use, according to the notice.

City officials declined requests for an interview.

Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/30/starbase-texas-spacex-loan/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

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Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

The content provides a straightforward and factual report about the establishment and early governance of Starbase, Texas, with a focus on the financial relationship between the city and SpaceX. The coverage is neutral, without evident partisan language or ideological framing, simply outlining municipal actions and context. The inclusion of diverse perspectives, such as an expert’s commentary and procedural details, supports a balanced viewpoint. Therefore, the content leans toward a centrist political bias.