News from the South - Texas News Feed

Texas official approves election to make SpaceX site a city

Published

3 months ago

February 12, 2025

Staff Editor

feeds.texastribune.org – By Ayden Runnels – 2025-02-12 17:23:00

County judge approves election to decide whether SpaceX launch site will become a city

By Ayden Runnels, The Texas Tribune

Feb. 12, 2025

“County judge approves election to decide whether SpaceX launch site will become a city” 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.

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

Cameron County’s top elected official on Wednesday signed an order clearing the way for an election that would allow employees of SpaceX’s South Texas launch site to make it the county’s newest city.

The order, signed by County Judge Eddie Treviño, approves a petition filed in December by several SpaceX employees requesting an election to determine whether their Starbase headquarters could become a town under the same name.

The would-be town is roughly 25 miles east of Brownsville along the Gulf of Mexico.

If approved by voters in the town’s proposed area, the base would become a Type C municipality, defined as less than two square miles with 200 to 5,000 residents. Type C municipalities use a commission form of government with a mayor and two commissioners; the petition notes that SpaceX’s security manager, Gunnar Milburn, is the sole candidate for mayor.

The petition required at least 10% of potential residents to sign, and a simple majority is required in the election to create the new city. The petition had just over 70 signatures and an affidavit attached to the judge’s order showed just under 500 people living in the area, including almost 120 children.

Almost all of the signatures on the petitions were by people with addresses the affidavit marked as residences of SpaceX employees.

The affidavit also states that SpaceX owns almost all of the homes; just four homes listed in the affidavit are not owned by SpaceX, which also owns all of the land within the prospective city’s footprint, “with only a few exceptions.”

When asked for comment, SpaceX referred the Tribune to a December letter sent to Treviño by Starbase’s general manager, Kathryn Lueders. The letter says SpaceX already manages roads, schools and utilities that local governments usually maintain, and establishing a city would move management of those services to a “more appropriate public body.

“Incorporating Starbase will streamline the processes required to build the amenities necessary to make the area a world class place to live,” Lueders said in the statement.

Election Day for the city’s creation would be May 3, with early voting occurring in late April. Treviño said in a statement that Starbase would be the first new city in Cameron County since the addition of Los Indios in 1995.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/12/texas-space-x-city-election-starbase/.

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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Youth-led business boom: Magnolia siblings thrive in local markets

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7 hours ago

April 30, 2025

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www.youtube.com – KHOU 11 – 2025-04-30 22:28:50

SUMMARY: The Magnolia siblings are thriving as youth entrepreneurs, running successful local businesses with determination and creativity. Fifteen-year-old Aruro Era sells his secret recipe chamoy and taheen seasoning, branded as “Kay,” at farmers markets and events, earning hundreds on Saturdays. He manages time carefully despite distractions like video games. Inspired by Aruro, 11-year-old Angel creates and sells jewelry through “Angel’s Creations,” keeping detailed sales records and enlisting help from their younger sister Mila, aged six. Their proud parents support the ventures and invest in cryptocurrencies. This family exemplifies youth-driven business success in Magnolia’s local markets.

Arturo Herrera, a 15-year-old from Magnolia West, turns birthday money into a business, selling Mexican treats at markets.

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News from the South - Texas News Feed

Murder suspect caught on camera shooting ex-brother-in-law

Published

8 hours ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – KPRC 2 Click2Houston – 2025-04-30 22:10:27

SUMMARY: A man caught on camera shooting and killing his ex-brother-in-law on Whittingham Lane has a criminal history and is in the U.S. illegally. Andreas Fernandez de Laaz, 36, shot Ediesi Insensio Pinero, 34, who died at the hospital. Fernandez de Laaz, a Cuban national, was under FBI investigation for credit card skimming before the murder. He was arrested in 2023 with skimming devices and had been released despite an ICE detainer, as Cuba refused to accept his removal. The judge denied his bond, and the family seeks the maximum sentence for justice. The FBI has not confirmed its role in investigations.

A 36-year-old Cuban national is charged with murder in Harris County after surveillance video shared with KPRC 2 News captured him fatally shooting his ex-brother-in-law at point-blank range Sunday on Whittingham Lane.

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News from the South - Texas News Feed

Woman sues American Airlines for midflight sex assault

Published

8 hours ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth – 2025-04-30 22:02:07

SUMMARY: A woman is suing American Airlines after being sexually assaulted by a man on a flight from San Francisco to Dallas in April last year. The suspect, Sheranne Abraham, had previous allegations of assault on American Airlines flights, but was still allowed to fly. Abraham was arrested by the FBI last month after allegedly groping a woman on another flight. The FBI confirmed Abraham had touched other passengers inappropriately before. The lawsuit accuses American Airlines of ignoring prior complaints and failing to take sexual assault reports seriously. The airline defers to law enforcement but claims safety is its top priority.

A woman is suing American Airlines after she says she was assaulted by a man on the flight. Barbara Morgan says the man had already been accused of assaulting another woman on a flight but was still allowed to fly.

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