Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world 2025 at 12:59 AM EDTBookmarkSaveTakeaways NEWVoters in South Texas delivered Elon Musk a decisive victory overwhelmingly approving a ballot measure to establish Starbase residents of the far-flung community surrounding SpaceX’s rocket-launch site and headquarters voted resoundingly in favor of the incorporation effort according to results posted on the county election website voters also approved the city’s first elected officials all three of whom are current or former SpaceX employees and ran unopposed Log in to comment on videos and join in on the fun Watch the live stream of Fox News and full episodes Reduce eye strain and focus on the content that matters Elon Musk can now add "city founder" to his résumé after residents surrounding his SpaceX complex in South Texas voted this weekend to incorporate the area as "Starbase." SpaceX employees and their families make up virtually all the residents within the roughly 1.5-square-mile zone The city's first elected officials — all current or former SpaceX staff who ran unopposed — were swept into office on the same ballot Becoming a city will help us continue building the best community possible for the men and women building the future of humanity's place in space 🚀💫 Bobby Peden ran unopposed for mayor of Starbase Peden has worked at SpaceX for over 12 years, and his current title, according to LinkedIn, is "VP - Texas Test & Launch." Incorporating as a city moves local controls like zoning rules and building permits away from Cameron County officials and puts them directly in the hands of the new A shortage of housing is causing problems for SpaceX with hundreds of workers looking to move to the area for the company's Starship program that one day aims to send a spacecraft to Mars claiming it was "not safe" to live there anymore mostly the families of roughly 260 employees The vast majority of Starbase's 3,100-plus workforce commutes daily where there is a nine-foot-tall golden bust of Musk on the road leading into the SpaceX facility the incorporation has been met with resistance from some The South Texas Environmental Justice Network activist group has held protests and called on Texas to contact their state representatives to oppose the plans "Boca Chica Beach is meant for the people, not Elon Musk to control," the organization said in a statement on its site residents have visited Boca Chica beach for fishing and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe has spiritual ties to the beach decadelong transformation of the once-sleepy Boca Chica village SpaceX has rapidly terraformed the quiet coastline into a futuristic industrial campus all geared towards Musk's goal of reaching Mars Starbase may sound like some sort of galactic outpost located in the far reaches of space is not only home to many of SpaceX's launch operations the complex will be transformed into a city complete with its own mayor and city council The landslide results of the special election delivered a critical victory to Musk recently stepped away from his role in the White House as he and his companies have become increasingly polarizing Here's what to know about Starbase and how it became a city: Starbase is a company town built about 23 miles from Brownsville in South Texas launch control center and tracking station for SpaceX is under contract with both the Department of Defense and NASA which hopes to use the commercial spaceflight company's massive Starship rocket to send astronauts back to the moon Musk first proposed incorporating Starbase as a city in 2021 A petition in December then paved the way for Saturday's vote Of the 283 people eligible to cast ballots in Saturday’s Cameron County special election, 212 voted in favor of the measure while just six voted against it, according to results published online by the Cameron County Elections Department Residents of Cameron County are mostly SpaceX employees, the Associated Press reported has since January been leading efforts under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to dramatically slash government spending and cull the federal workforce Why does Elon Musk want Starbase to be a city?Musk and SpaceX officials have been relatively tight-lipped about exactly why they to wanted the company's headquarters to become a town that the city designation will give Musk and SpaceX greater municipal control of the area and eliminate some of the red tape the company has to navigate before a launch Musk has regularly clashed with federal regulators and lambasted what he sees as government overreach for his space ventures While many local officials have lauded SpaceX for the investment and employment opportunities the company has brought to the region not all have been happy with its space program Some activists who have regularly protested and opposed Musk's expansion efforts have been critical of the what they see as the billionaire's quest to assert control over the area That includes members with the South Texas Environmental Justice Network which most recently organized a protest Saturday a member of the South Texas Environmental Justice Network and native Esto'k Gna Tribe called the election "a private corporate takeover of pristine natural lands." "SpaceX never consulted with the Esto’K Gna about damaging our sacred beach for dangerous polluting rocket testing and destructive daily operations," Basaldú said in the statement One of the most prominent operations at Starbase is the ongoing development and testing of SpaceX's massive Starship rocket. Starship, the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, towers over SpaceX's famous Falcon 9 rocket – one of the world's most active – which stands at nearly 230 feet The 400-foot Starship is due to play a pivotal role in the years ahead in deep-space expeditions, as NASA eyes a return to the moon ahead of crewed voyages to Mars though its rocket booster also successfully returned in both tests to the launch pad Amid the ongoing testing, Musk has requested federal approval to increase the number of South Texas launches from five a year to a whopping 25 Musk also has stated his desire for SpaceX to launch an uncrewed Starship to Mars by the end of 2026 humans could then land on the Red Planet in 2029 This article has been updated to add new information Contributing: Rick Jervis Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network Local residents in South Texas have voted to make Starbase, the headquarters of Elon Musk's SpaceX company The majority of the residents who cast their votes are employed by SpaceX Musk took to his social media platform X to celebrate People are also reading: Elon Musk to take step back from DOGE as Tesla profit sinks 71% wrote the official request to Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr "To continue growing the workforce necessary to rapidly develop and manufacture Starship we need the ability to grow Starbase as a community," the petition letter said in part "That is why we are requesting that Cameron County call an election to enable the incorporation of Starbase as the newest city in the Rio Grande Valley." SpaceX has also requested that federal authorities allow Starbase launches to increase from five a year to 25 Despite the election results, not everyone is happy with Starbase's incorporation. Some residents worry Musk's company will restrict access to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Beach, The Associated Press reports the South Texas Environmental Justice Network organized another protest against the city's vote whose young child enjoys playing on the beach as the family's past generations have The family has already experienced restrictions to beach access and some days you get turned away," Hinojosa told The Associated Press a member of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas tribe who was responsible for organizing the protest explained that his ancestors had also resided in the area for generations is located at Texas' southern tip on Boca Chica Beach near Brownsville and the Mexican border The newly established city of Starbase spans about 1.6 square miles, or 3.9 square kilometers, according to the BBC Starbase is populated by about 260 SpaceX employees and their families, totaling around 500 residents, Bloomberg News reports Elon Musk’s SpaceX has a company town in Texas after residents in the area voted to create the new municipality on Saturday On May 3, voters approved a measure that allowed SpaceX to incorporate its South Texas rocket launch site as a new city called Starbase mostly SpaceX employees who have moved out to the roughly 1.5 square mile area in Cameron County approved the small city for Musk’s company by 212 votes in favor to 6 against according to the Cameron County Elections Department “Starbase, Texas Is now a real city!” Musk celebrated in a post to X TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT The news gives Musk greater control over the area where Space X launches its rockets, expanding the company’s ability to control local planning, taxation, and other issues, such as extending housing and managing road closures during rocket launches it could also potentially be handed powers to close a nearby beach and state park for launches Cameron County denied Space X’s request to build more housing for its employees Starbase will now be able to approve construction projects itself allowing up to approximately 3,000 employees who commute from nearby Brownsville to live where they work.  Given its new designation as a Type C city meaning the municipality must hold fewer than 5,000 people Starbase will also hold the power to levy a property tax of up to 1.5% on residents On Saturday, voters also approved measures, electing senior SpaceX executive Bobby Peden as mayor and creating positions for two Starbase city commissioners two bills running through the Texas state legislature would give Peden and his cohort the authority to close a local highway and limit access to the nearby Boca Chica Beach and Boca Chica State Park instead of being required to coordinate through Cameron County for approvals.  During rocket launches and other company activities such as engine tests access to those locations must be restricted or eliminated altogether The two companion bills running through the legislature would shift authority over access away from Cameron County to the new city’s mayor and city council including Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino The United States has a long history of company towns. In the late 1880s, Pacific Lumber Co. developed a site in California for loggers and mill companies that lasted for over 100 years; in the early 1900s Milton Hershey formed a company town that helped take his famous chocolate utopia to the masses Other prominent examples include George Pullman’s company town in Chicago that housed an estimated 12,000 railway workers and their families the creation of Starbase highlights the shift away from industrial hubs toward the tech-based industry And Musk’s SpaceX is only one of multiple Big Tech companies in recent years that have looked to expand corporate power through the company-town model MUSK GETS HIS TEXAS WISH. SPACEX LAUNCH SITE IS APPROVED AS THE NEW CITY OF STARBASE Meta, Amazon, and Google are among other companies looking to set up company towns, according to Business Insider.  ‘We can create an ideal city and ideal world,'” Grant Bollmer a senior lecturer in digital media at the University of Queensland in Australia “‘We can structure it according to the principles that are built into these technologies that we’ve created and the values that we’ve created.'” Voters who live at Elon Musk’s Starbase in South Texas will vote on becoming the newest city in Texas But some local critics say SpaceX is becoming too powerful CNN Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins gives an inside look on the grounds of the White House for the week of President Trump's first 100 days of his second term '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" His focus is on covering news and politics in Texas as well as other general news across the United States James joined Newsweek in July 2022 from LBC and previously worked for the Daily Express You can get in touch with James by emailing j.bickerton@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton were spreading "hateful misinformation" regarding proposals for a new Islamic themed settlement in the state the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) the largest Muslim advocacy group in the United States Abbott's press secretary described CAIR as "an antisemitic hate group" in a comment to Newsweek Paxton did not respond to a request for comment The East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) announced that it wants to build a new Muslim-themed town dubbed "EPIC City," on a 402-acre piece of land covering parts of Collin and Hunt counties However the proposal has sparked controversy in Texas with Abbott instructing multiple state agencies to investigate EPIC's activities and warning that legislation could be passed "to restrict it." The New York Times reported that the Trump administration was preparing to ban all travel to the U.S though the White House said no final decision had been made During Trump's first term, he imposed a travel ban on a number of Muslim-majority countries which came after he pledged a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims" entering the country during the 2016 campaign Preliminary plans for EPIC City show more than 1,000 houses along with a mosque The plan is being overseen by Community Capital Partners which was created by the East Plano Islamic Center for this purpose However, the project is being fiercely opposed by Abbott, who in February responded to the proposals on X, formerly Twitter writing: "Sharia law is not allowed in Texas." There is nothing on the EPIC City website that says the new settlement would be ruled in accordance with Sharia law and organizers insist they will obey state and federal laws told Newsweek: "We've seen an unprecedented increase in civil rights complaints and Islamophobic attacks against Muslims it has become common to seek to deny Muslims their civil rights "Texas Governor Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have chosen instead to add fuel to the fire by disseminating hateful misinformation about their Muslim constituents and Islam Instead of acting like true public servants and leaders they have chosen to abuse their power by launching groundless 'investigations' against EPIC and violating their rights to constitutionally protected religious expression." Abbott said the proposed settlement had "serious legal issues" and was being investigated by "a dozen state agencies" along with the Texas attorney general He added: "Legislators are considering laws to restrict it as well as laws to prevent foreign adversaries from buying land in Texas." The same month, Texas authorities sent a cease-and-desist letter to the East Plano Islamic Center instructing it to stop holding funeral services after claiming it had violated state law regarding funeral homes "They are knowingly breaking state law in many ways including by operating a funeral home without a license," Abbott wrote on X March 2025 also saw Paxton issue a Civil Investigation Demand (CID) to Community Capital Partners "as part of an ongoing investigation" into the EPIC City project He said: "My office has an open and ongoing investigation into EPIC City and this CID will help ensure that any potential violation of state law is uncovered." Community Capital Partners told the Dallas Morning News that they would adhere to the Fair Housing Act which bans discrimination based on religion," and would "not enforce blanket bans on any group of people" at EPIC City When contacted for comment by Newsweek, Abbott's press secretary described CAIR as "an antisemitic hate group" and claimed its leaders "openly praised Hamas ruthlessly killing innocent Israelis during the October 7 massacre." He provided a link to an article by the Anti-Defamation League which reported CAIR's executive director Nihad Awad had responded to the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas at a conference in November 2023 I was happy to see people breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land and walk free into their land that they were not allowed to walk the people of Gaza have the right to self-defense Israel as an occupying power does not have that right to self-defense." In a statement responding to the comment from Abbott's office CAIR said: "Governor Abbott cannot justify his un-American unconstitutional attacks on the Texas Muslim community which is why he must resort to outright slander "Unlike Governor Abbott — an anti-Muslim bigot and anti-Palestinian racist who supports the Israeli government's genocidal slaughter of innocent men women and children in Gaza — our civil rights organization has consistently condemned all forms of bigotry They also sent Newsweek an article by Awad published by media outlet RNS in December 2023 which stated: "We have always condemned violence against both Palestinian and Israeli civilians We have repeatedly and 'unequivocally' condemned the attacks against Israeli civilians on Oct as well as past attacks on Israeli civilians dating all the way back to suicide bombings that began in the 1990s." CAIR published an article clarifying Awad's comments he made at the conference anti-Palestinian hate website selected remarks from my speech out of context and spliced them together to create a completely false meaning "What I actually said while discussing international law: Ukrainians Palestinians and other occupied people have the right to defend themselves and escape occupation by just and legal means but targeting civilians is never an acceptable means of doing so which is why I have again and again condemned the violence against Israeli civilians on Oct 7th and past Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians all the way back to the 1990s— just as I have condemned the decades of violence against Palestinian civilians." Awad also posted on X in December 2023: "As a Muslim and Palestinian-American I have always stood with people facing persecution I've spoken against antisemitism countless times and here I was doing so at the very start of my conference appearance that later faced dishonest attacks." The East Plano Islamic Center said in a Facebook statement: "Unfortunately recent misinformation online and at a public hearing has led to an increase in hate and attacks on our community We are regularly receiving hate calls and death threats "Our mosque leaders' personal home addresses have been shared Due to the hateful attacks and a cease and desist letter by the Texas Funeral Service Commission we have stopped funeral prayers for our loved ones." East Plano Islamic Center resident scholar Yasir Qadhi said: "EPIC City is going to be a role model community of thousands of Muslims living well-integrated We're not forming big barriers between the rest of society We're going to be giving back to this state and this country and we're going to be showing what it means to be a Muslim neighborhood." The EPIC City project remains in the preliminary stage and a formal planning application has not been submitted. It is unclear what impact the stringent opposition from prominent Texan Republicans will have on the plan Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. A visitor photographs a large bust of Elon Musk near SpaceX’s Starbase as the Starship is prepared for a test flight in Boca Chica, Texas, March 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) Now, a new Musk project is on the brink of victory: an election Saturday to officially turn a small patch of coastal South Texas — home to his rocket company SpaceX — into a city known as Starbase. The cosmic dateline sounds like a billionaire’s vanity project in an area where the man and his galactic dreams already enjoy broad support from residents and state and local officials. But there are creeping concerns that the city vote and companion efforts at the state Legislature will give Musk and his company town too much control over access to a popular swimming and camping area known for generations as the “poor people’s beach.” Saturday’s vote to establish Starbase is seen as a done deal. The proposed city at the southern tip of Texas near the Mexico border is only about 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers), crisscrossed by a few roads and dappled with airstream trailers and modest midcentury homes. The polling site is in a building on Memes St., a cheeky nod to Musk’s social media company X. Musk first floated the idea of a Starbase city in 2021. SpaceX officials have said little about exactly why they want a company town, and did not respond to messages seeking comment this week. But a fight over beach access highlights at least part of what could be at stake. SpaceX rocket launches and engine tests, and even just moving certain equipment around the launch base, requires closing a local highway and access to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Beach. Closure currently requires collaboration with surrounding Cameron County. Two bills being considered by state lawmakers would move most of that responsibility to the new city, just as the company seeks permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to increase the number of launches from five to 25 a year. SpaceX officials say the bills would streamline beach closures and operations at a company that has contracts with the Department of Defense and NASA for use of its heavy rocket Starship, including a goal to send astronauts back to the moon and eventually Mars. “This fully reusable rocket system keeps the U.S. ahead of global competitors like China, and its being developed right here in South Texas,” SpaceX Vice President of Starship Legal and Regulatory Sheila McCorkle wrote to state lawmakers. She noted the company’s $4 billion investments and thousands of jobs in Texas. “We need to carry on our mission of turning South Texas into the Gateway to Mars and making humankind multiplanetary,” McCorkle wrote. A legislative hearing this month on the beach access bills drew just a handful of company executives and environmental activists but generated hundreds of comments from supporters and opponents. Dozens of people who identified themselves as SpaceX workers, scientists and engineers living in the area submitted identical statements: “It improves coordination around beach access during spaceflight activities without increasing closures. This is key to public safety and continued growth of the space industry in Texas.” Others praised SpaceX’s mission, jobs and investments in the area. Opponents countered that the state would be giving Musk and his company too much control over a beach that draws tens of thousands of visitors every year. Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr., said the county has been a good steward for beach closures and that there is no need to move the authority to the new city. “SpaceX is a strong economic driver in our region, one of which we are extremely proud,” Trevino said in a letter to state lawmakers. “However, we believe that this bill does not serve the public interest and has received an overwhelmingly negative response from our local community,” Another proposed bill would make it a Class B misdemeanor with up to 180 days in jail if someone doesn’t comply with an order to evacuate the beach. But that measure would only take effect if beach closure authority is shifted to the new city. In a temporary setback for Musk and SpaceX, a state House panel this week rejected a bill that would shift control of closing beaches for rocket launches from the local county government to the new city. Bekah Hinojosa, co-founder of the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, has organized protests against the city vote and the beach access issue. The group will hold another protest on Saturday, even though the city will likely be easily approved. Hinojosa said her organization tried to organize a block walk around SpaceX to encourage voters to reject the city vote. The company’s private security escorted them away, she said. “We’ve been sounding the alarm about Musk and SpaceX for many years,” Hinojosa said. “Now that the rest of the country is starting to listen, if feels like we’re finally being heard.” the billionaire’s takeover of Starbase will be complete Residents of the tiny community near SpaceX’s rocket launch site voted on Saturday to officially incorporate the area as its own city The outcome was hardly in doubt: Almost all of the eligible voters work for the company or live with someone who does who owns a house in the 1.45 square-mile tract is all in on the plan to form a new government The home of Elon Musk's SpaceX operations in Cameron County Texas has been approved as an official city following an election vote Before he bought Twitter, Musk tweeted on the platform back in March, 2021, that he was “Creating the city of Starbase, Texas“ it’s becoming a reality after an election approved the decision SpaceX originally began purchasing land near Boca Chica Beach in Cameron County in South Texas near Brownsville back in 2012 it covers 1.6 square miles and operates as a SpaceX Starship production eligible residents in the area – largely consisting of SpaceX employees – voted to approve the new municipality at 212 votes in favor to six opposed As a Type C city – with a municipality of less than 5,000 residents – Starbase’s local government will consist of a mayor Bobby Peden – who ran unopposed – along with two commissioners – also with SpaceX ties according to BBC – who will oversee taxation The designation as a city would give official the authority to pass local ordinances would allow SpaceX to close roads and limit Boca Chica Beach access during test launches according to the Associated Press The present population of Starbase is a little more than 500 people and the like emerging over the years since SpaceX first landed in the area Starbase now features a number of quirks you might expect from the eccentric billionaire is a large bust of Elon Musk that features a plaque reading “ELON AKA Memelord” One of the area’s main streets is named Memes St Starbase also features an employee-only restaurant on the grounds called “Astropub” that brandishes a neon sign behind the bar reading “Occupy Mars” Many have been opposed to Elon Musk’s Texas city Environmental groups have raised alarms over the site’s proximity to protected ecosystems arguing that rocket launches and debris pose serious threats to endangered species and fragile habitats The frequent road closures also limit access to wildlife refuges and interfere with ecological research opponents argue that SpaceX has bypassed or rushed regulatory processes and expanded operations beyond the scope initially approved Lawsuits have been filed over the lack of a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement residents of nearby Boca Chica Village have voiced concern on the company’s ability to limit public beach access critics question whether it’s acceptable for a private company to exert such influence over a small community and ecologically sensitive area Following an election held this past Saturday in which voters approved to incorporate the new municipality Elon Musk's Starbase city will become an official city in Texas Following a local vote approving the creation of the new municipality Starbase – a SpaceX launch facility of one Elon Musk – will officially become a Texas city SpaceX began acquiring land near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas the site spans roughly 1.6 square miles and serves as the central hub for Starship production local voters—mostly SpaceX employees—voted overwhelmingly in favor of establishing the city with 212 votes supporting the measure and only six opposing it Texas is now a real city!” Musk announced on X (formerly Twitter) Designated a Type C municipality due to its small population (under 5,000) Starbase will be governed by a mayor—36-year-old SpaceX executive Bobby Peden all reportedly affiliated with the company They will handle responsibilities like taxation Starbase will have the authority to enact local ordinances A bill currently under consideration would allow SpaceX to restrict access to a highway and Boca Chica Beach during rocket tests the area has transformed with the addition of homes and idiosyncratic touches associated with Musk At the city’s edge stands a bust of Musk labeled “ELON AKA Memelord,” and one of the main roads is called Memes St There’s also an employee-only restaurant named “Astropub,” featuring a glowing “Occupy Mars” sign behind the bar Despite its quirky personality and high-tech promise Starbase has faced significant opposition on environmental Environmental advocates have warned about the proximity of rocket activity to protected natural areas saying it endangers wildlife and disrupts fragile ecosystems Regular road closures for testing also limit access to wildlife refuges and hinder scientific research critics claim that SpaceX has circumvented proper environmental assessments and expanded beyond what was originally permitted Lawsuits have been filed citing the lack of a full Environmental Impact Statement as required by federal law residents of nearby Boca Chica Village have raised concerns over their shrinking access to public beaches and Musk’s growing influence in the area Some question whether a private corporation should wield such power over a small Residents at Starbase voted to incorporate it into a city according to unofficial results of the May 3 election According to the Cameron County Elections Department 212 votes were cast to incorporate Starbase into a city There are close to 300 eligible voters that live there If the vote to incorporate the city goes through so will the vote for mayor and two city commissioners Early voting results show Bobby Peden ran for mayor and received 216 votes and Jordan Buss and Jenna Petrzelka ran for city commissioners Buss received 177 votes and Petrzelka recieved 188 votes All votes are unofficial until they have been canvassed If Starbase were to be incorporated into a city that means that the city will be in control of their own taxes and city ordinances Some people are concerned over what turning Starbase into a city can mean for the community "Not only the vote that's going to happen for this small city but the vote that's going to come out in Austin and if they were to give this city the right to open and close the only access road to Boca Chica Beach," Brownsville resident Rene Medrano said a new bill has been introduced which would allow Starbase the opportunity to close access to Boca Chica Beach For more early voting results, click here. Showers early then continued cloudy and windy overnight. Low 74F. Winds ESE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible. Campaign signs line the grass in front of the Galveston County Annex on the final day of early voting in League City on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Amber Prouty, a Texas City High School alumna and the parent of two Texas City Independent School District students, jumped out to an early lead in the District 6 trustee race. Amber Prouty, a Texas City High School alumna and the parent of two Texas City Independent School District students, is the projected winner in the District 6 trustee race. Prouty, the general manager at Guaranteed Roofing and Remodeling, garnered 115 of the 178 votes counted in the race as of 9:18 p.m. Elias Ramirez, a program coordinator at the Galveston County Food Bank, received 63 votes of the ballots counted thus far. Will this affect your life? How? Please share with us. 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Photo: AP PHOTOThe South Texas home of Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket company is now an official city with a galactic name: Starbase All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA vote on Saturday to formally make Starbase a city was approved by a lopsided margin among the small group of voters who live there who are mostly Musk's employees at SpaceX The tally was 212 in favour to six against according to results published online by the Cameron County Elections Department Musk celebrated in a post on his social platform Starbase is the facility and launch site for the SpaceX rocket program that is under contract with the Department of Defense and NASA that hopes to send astronauts back to the moon and someday to Mars The election victory was personal for Musk The billionaire's popularity has diminished since he became the chain-saw-wielding public face of President Donald Trump's federal job and spending cuts and profits at his Tesla car company have plummeted SpaceX has generally drawn widespread support from local officials for its jobs and investment but the creation of an official company town has also drawn critics who worry it will expand Musk's personal control over the area with potential authority to close a popular beach and state park for launches SpaceX is also asking federal authorities for permission to increase the number of launches from five to 25 a year The city at the southern tip of Texas near the Mexico border is only about four kilometres and SpaceX officials have said little about why they to want a company town (AP PHOTO)"We need the ability to grow Starbase as a community," Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders wrote to local officials in 2024 with the request to get the city issue on the ballot The letter said the company already manages roads and utilities as well as "the provisions of schooling and medical care" for those living on the property SpaceX officials have told lawmakers that granting the city authority to close the beach would streamline launch operations and even just moving certain equipment around the launch base requires the closure of a local highway and access to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Beach Critics say beach closure authority should stay with the county government which represents a broader population that uses the beach and park Another proposed bill would make it a Class B misdemeanour with up to 180 days in jail if someone doesn't comply with an order to evacuate the beach The South Texas Environmental Justice Network which has organised protests against the city vote and the beach access issue held another demonstration Saturday that attracted dozens of people Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. A few showers this evening with numerous thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Campaign signs line the grass in front of the Galveston County Annex on the final day of early voting in League City on April 29. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. voted overwhelmingly in favor of the incorporation I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Elon Musk's SpaceX facility in South Texas has officially become a city voted overwhelmingly in favor of the incorporation on Saturday published by the Cameron County Elections Department showed a landslide victory of 212 votes to 6 Musk first floated the idea of Starbase in 2021 and approval of the new city was all but certain The election victory was personal for Musk. The billionaire’s popularity has diminished since he became the chain-saw-wielding public face of President Donald Trump’s federal job and spending cuts SpaceX has generally drawn widespread support from local officials for its jobs and investment in the area But the creation of an official company town has also drawn critics who worry it will expand Musk’s personal control over the area Companion efforts to the city vote include bills in the state Legislature to shift that authority from the county to the new town’s mayor and city council All these measures come as SpaceX is asking federal authorities for permission to increase the number of South Texas launches from five to 25 a year The city at the southern tip of Texas near the Mexico border is only about 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers) crisscrossed by a few roads and dappled with airstream trailers and modest midcentury homes SpaceX officials have said little about exactly why they to want a company town and did not respond to emailed requests for comment. “We need the ability to grow Starbase as a community,” Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders wrote to local officials in 2024 with the request to get the city issue on the ballot. The letter said the company already manages roads and utilities, as well as “the provisions of schooling and medical care” for those living on the property. SpaceX officials have told lawmakers that granting the city authority to close the beach would streamline launch operations. SpaceX rocket launches and engine tests, and even just moving certain equipment around the launch base requires the closure of a local highway and access to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Beach. Critics say beach closure authority should stay with the county government, which represents a broader population that uses the beach and park. Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino, Jr. has said the county has worked well with SpaceX and there is no need for change. Another proposed bill would make it a Class B misdemeanor with up to 180 days in jail if someone doesn’t comply with an order to evacuate the beach. The South Texas Environmental Justice Network, which has organized protests against the city vote and the beach access issue, held another demonstration Saturday that attracted dozens of people. Josette Hinojosa, whose young daughter was building sandcastle nearby, said she was taking part to try to ensure continued access to a beach her family has enjoyed for generations. With SpaceX, Hinojosa said, “Some days it’s closed, and some days you get turned away,” Organizer Christopher Basaldú, a member of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas tribe, said his ancestors have long been in the area, where the Rio Grande meets the Gulf. “It’s not just important,” he said, “it’s sacred.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies govt and politics"},{"score":0.642093,"label":"/law govt and politics/government/government contracting and procurement"},{"score":0.610855,"label":"/business and industrial/business operations/business plans"},{"score":0.57545,"label":"/society/work"},{"score":0.540353,"label":"/law Last Saturday, voters near SpaceX's rocket testing and launch facility approved Elon Musk's proposal for a new Texas city After the county officially certifies the results "Starbase" will become the latest city in the Lone Star State and no grand celebration—just a few SpaceX employees quietly toasting at the Astropub Only 283 residents living within the proposed city limits were allowed to vote It looks like Musk is trying to gain more control of a nearby public beach has been closed off during SpaceX launches They argue that SpaceX has disrupted sensitive habitats and is overlooking the cultural and environmental significance of the beach Musk just may become the first person in history to start their own town solely for employees I'll be back here writing about it again Download our station app for more updates on the newest city in Texas and keep scrolling for more Texas-based content in the galleries below.. Gallery Credit: Renee Raven A groundbreaking election at SpaceX's doorstep! Will the creation of Starbase herald a new era for Texas or spark local outrage?\nRead More Last Saturday, voters near SpaceX's rocket testing and launch facility approved Elon Musk's proposal for a new Texas city https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 SpaceX headquarters could soon become Texas' newest city known as Starbase if a small group of voters approves the measure at the polls on Saturday the proposed city would effectively function as a company town—serving as the future headquarters of Elon Musk’s rocket company Musk has envisioned a space-age town like Starbase populated primarily by his SpaceX employees the coastal land would be formally incorporated as a municipality According to an AP report engine tests and equipment movements often require closing a local highway and access to nearby Boca Chica State Park and Beach this requires coordination with Cameron County two proposed state bills would transfer much of that authority to the new city Critics argued that the move would grant Musk and SpaceX undue authority over a heavily visited public beach According to county election records cited by AP nearly 200 of the 283 eligible voters had already cast early ballots by Tuesday On Saturday, those who live around SpaceX’s rocket launch site in South Texas will vote on whether to incorporate the area as the City of Starbase That’s because most of the voters work for him that means at least two-thirds of the eligible voters either work for SpaceX or have already indicated their support for the new City of Starbase The eligible voters include everyone from plumbers to engineers and the CEO himself It’s unclear whether Musk plans to show up for the vote SpaceX may be the first company to actually incorporate its own town in Texas and could lay the groundwork for similar cities Musk plans to found here in the future modern compound that runs for miles along State Highway 4 The state highway winds past the SpaceX rocket launchpad. The road ends at Boca Chica Beach a public beach popular with locals that hugs the border with Mexico Boca Chica Village, a small beach town founded in the 1960s SpaceX has bought up almost all of the houses there adding Airstream trailers and tiny homes for its employees SpaceX officials say only 10 of the properties are not owned by the company Musk has wanted Starbase to be its own city since at least 2021 when he posted the idea on the social media site X Creating the city would “streamline the processes required to build the amenities necessary to make the area a world class place to live,” said Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders in a letter to the county judge obtained by The Texas Tribune She said the company already established a clinic and school and Starbase could take over those responsibilities as an official government body Starbase would also need to hold regular open meetings and share information about its spending and revenue with the public This might open up the company itself to more public scrutiny and transparency “To continue growing the workforce necessary to rapidly develop and manufacture Starship we need the ability to grow Starbase as a community,” Lueders wrote Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño ordered the incorporation vote after at least 10% of the proposed city’s residents signed a petition Local leaders do not have the power to block a new city from incorporating if this threshold is met If the vote goes Musk’s way, the city would become official as soon as the county finalizes the results. Treviño said Starbase would be the first new city in Cameron County in 30 years It is opposed by county officials and local environmentalists The new city would only include the area immediately around the SpaceX compound according to a copy of the new city map provided by county officials This includes Boca Chica Village and a smaller area down the state highway where a handful of executives have larger homes The city would be small, with fewer than 5,000 residents. Three people want to be the city’s new elected leaders. They all have links to SpaceX. Company towns may seem like an anachronism, a throwback from the days of Hershey, Pennsylvania or Gary, Indiana. But tech leaders in recent years have taken the concept into the modern age, with companies like Meta and Apple creating corporate campuses in Silicon Valley to draw and retain the best employees in their fields. Musk may be the first among these modern entrepreneurs to take the idea of his own city this far. In Texas, he has built his corporate compounds in rural, unincorporated areas where he is subject to fewer city rules and regulations. In addition to Starbase, he has a corporate compound in Bastrop County adjacent to Austin where X Corp and the Boring Company, his tunneling firm, are headquartered. He has also floated the idea of also incorporating a part of that complex — called Snailbrook — as its own town. A closer comparison than Apple or Meta might be Gary, Indiana, said author and journalist Hardy Green. U.S. Steel not only made many of the big decisions in Gary, including how to attract a labor force, it was so involved that it even laid out the street grid for the town. “Every company creates a certain atmosphere,” Green said. Whether benign or not, he added, they often leave the place with a “Big Brother-like feeling.” The upshot, he said, is that company towns that are run well end up being “showpieces” that provide amenities for the workers and give good publicity to the corporation — like Hershey, Pennsylvania. “The town itself was like Willy Wonka-ville,” he said. “You're coming to this town where the very air smells like chocolate.” So what does Musk want with his company towns? Green said if anything, he appears to be putting his own twist on an old concept. “There's nothing new under the sun in a way. But I think that he'll try to make what he does seem unusual,” Green said. “He wants to be seen as futuristic and defining new frontiers.” Also today: The cost of ICE flying immigrants to far-flung detention centers and New Jersey transit warns of potential strike.  2025 at 1:55 PM EDTBookmarkSaveBillionaire Elon Musk may soon put his stamp on a new government Residents of a tiny community near SpaceX’s rocket launch site are voting this week on whether to officially incorporate the area as its own city — Starbase Texas — and elect a three-person government to run it But it’s hardly a point of contention; most of the nearly 500 residents either work for Musk’s company or live with someone who does In an era of rapid urbanization, inhabiting new cities is the need of the hour. All over the world, new cities are being developed on different models reflecting the vision of capitalists for the future. In this regard, Elon Musk is also engaged in transforming the operating area of the SpaceX company on the southern tip of Texas to a city called Starbase Although the initiative seems progressive on the surface it raises critical questions about corporate urbanism and environmental sustainability.  the residents of the southern region of Texas voted on incorporating a piece of land as the new municipality while six opposed the accession of the land by SpaceX Although the numbers reflect fair play by SpaceX in acquiring the land the overwhelming support underlines a deeper imbalance The majority of the voters were SpaceX employees effectively turning the process into a corporate-controlled referendum and highlighting the troubling trend of corporate urbanism for the company in the vicinity of Southern Texas The sparse local residents complained about the environmental disruption created by the urbanization campaign the majority of voters favored the land acquisition by SpaceX but it does not translate to the concerns of Indigenous people Ever since SpaceX expanded its venture in Texas environmentalists have censured the corporation for creating environmental hazards in the area the company was fined around $150,000 by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for raising water pollution in the region by dumping wastewater SpaceX declared this fine a ‘disagreement over paper’.  The company will get more power over regulations thus hampering environmental sustainability the announcement of Musk that SpaceX’s operating area in Texas is going to become a real city is a progressive move it also highlights the pressing issue of corporate urbanism and environmental disruption The residents and environmentalists are raising these concerns that need to be addressed before the city turns into a Musk colony.  Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase which helps us to keep delivering quality content to you Naba Fatima is a Corporate Strategy Analyst and business reporter at TECHi.com She writes about AI-driven workforce shifts and organizational change Her insights help decode the future of work and business strategy Also, please check the comments policy on our comment policy page and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" In an era where digital transformation is not just a buzzword but a business imperative In what is seen as a brave move bearing on national security a congressman is poised to introduce an unprecedented.. Amazon stock earnings for the first quarter surpassed expectations reporting an EPS of $1.59 on revenue of $155.7 billion hopefully the Wi-Fi does not drop the line but for Houston Techi Intelligence guides you through the world of technology as we navigate the tech revolution together All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes See here for a complete list of exchanges and delayed quotes © TECHi.com – All rights reserved | Combines individuality (“I”) with technology A vote Saturday to formally organize Starbase as a city was approved by a lopsided margin among the small group of voters who live there — mostly Musk’s employees at SpaceX. With all the votes in, the tally was 212 in favor to 6 against, according to results published online by the Cameron County Elections Department. Musk celebrated in a post on his social platform X, saying it is “now a real city!” Starbase is the facility and launch site for the SpaceX rocket program that is under contract with the Department of Defense and NASA, and which aspires to send astronauts back to the moon and someday to Mars. Musk first floated the idea of Starbase in 2021, and approval of the new city has been all but certain. Of the 283 eligible voters in the area, most are believed to be Starbase workers. The election victory was personal for Musk. The billionaire’s popularity has diminished since he became the chain-saw-wielding public face of President Trump’s federal agency cuts, and profits at his Tesla car company have plummeted. SpaceX has generally drawn widespread support from local officials for its jobs and investment in the area. But the creation of an official company town also has elicited criticism amid concern that it will expand Musk’s personal control over the area, with potential authority to close a popular beach and state park for launches. Companion efforts to the city vote include bills in the state Legislature to shift that authority from the county to the new town’s mayor and city council. All these measures come as SpaceX, formerly based in Hawthorne, Calif., is asking federal authorities for permission to increase the number of south Texas launches fivefold to 25 a year. The city-to-be at the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border is only about 1.5 square miles, crisscrossed by a few roads and dappled with Airstream trailers and modest midcentury homes. SpaceX officials have said little about why they want a company town and did not respond to emailed requests for comment. SpaceX officials have told lawmakers that granting the city authority to close the beach would streamline launch operations. SpaceX rocket launches and engine tests, and even just moving certain equipment around the launch base, require the closure of a local highway and access to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Beach. Critics say beach closure authority should stay with the county government, which represents a broader population that uses the beach and park. Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. has said the county has worked well with SpaceX and there is no need for change. Another proposed bill would make it a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail, if someone doesn’t comply with an order to evacuate the beach. Josette Hinojosa, whose young daughter was building a sandcastle nearby, said she was taking part to try to ensure continued access to a beach that her family has enjoyed for generations. With SpaceX, Hinojosa said, “some days it’s closed, and some days you get turned away.” Protest organizer Christopher Basaldú, a member of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, said his ancestors have long been in the area, where the Rio Grande meets the Gulf of Mexico. Gonzalez and Vertuno write for the Associated Press and reported from McAllen and Austin, Texas, respectively. Politics World & Nation California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map (TNND) — The South Texas site Elon Musk and his SpaceX rocket company has been vying for has been approved to become an official city with the galactic name a vote to formally organize Starbase as a city was approved by a small group of voters who live in the area – most of whom are already Musk’s employees at SpaceX The vote tally came out to 212 in favor to 6 against according to results published by the Cameron County Elections Department Musk took to social media to celebrate the victory SpaceX has generally garnered support from local officials for its job opportunity and investment in the area the creation of an official company town has drawn critics who worry it will expand Musk’s control over the area with the potential to close a popular beach and state park for launch purposes These measures come as SpaceX is seeking to increase the number of South Texas launches from five to 25 a year “We need the ability to grow Starbase as a community,” Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders wrote to local officials in 2024 in the request to get the city issue on the ballot The letter also said that the company already manages roads and utilities as well as “the provisions of schooling and medical care” for those living on the property Doing so would require the closure of a local highway and access to Boca Chica State Park and Boca Chica Beach has said the county has worked well with SpaceX and there is no need for change The Associated Press contributed to this report A temporary error has occurred. If the problem persists, please visit my.wpengine.com or check our status blog for updates Showers early then continued cloudy and windy overnight A 55-year-old Texas City woman was sentenced Monday to 50 years in prison for the 2023 shooting death of her mother A Galveston County jury sentenced Sherene Lavett Washington-Harper for the murder of her 76-year-old mother Texas City police officers responded on Oct to a home on Amburn Lane and found three children inside the home with their great-grandmother according to a news release from the Galveston District Attorney’s Office The 8-year-old had called 911 after finding Gray unresponsive on the floor Officers recovered five bullets from the scene but detectives did not locate the murder weapon Washington-Harper was later indicted for murder Prosecutors Casey Kirst and Kate Willis showed the jury evidence that Gray had taken steps to formally evict Washington-Harper from the home which Gray owned and emotional abuse to Adult Protective Services and Texas City Police Department over the months before the murder Detective Larry Williamson was granted a search warrant for Washington-Harper’s phone and located videos of verbal altercations between Washington-Harper and Gray Gray could be heard begging her daughter to get out of her house Family and friends of Gray testified that Gray expressed fear of her daughter and described verbal threats Washington-Harper had made Washington-Harper testified in her defense When Willis cross examined Washington-Harper about the missing gun testified in defense of his mother and stated he could account for all of her time except the half hour in which the murder occurred Video footage from the Texas City Fire Department captured the audio which determined the precise time of the five gunshots told the jury that she was asleep in the room with her great-grandmother She woke up to see a shadow in the doorway and later identified the shadow as belonging to Washington-Harper Kirst argued there was one person in the world who had the motive and opportunity to cause Gray’s death The jury returned a guilty verdict after less than two hours of deliberation there are no recent results for popular videos Start your morning with the top headlines each day Receive email alerts anytime there is breaking news or a severe weather alert Get the latest local and national sports headlines delivered to your inbox every morning Receive Laura Elder's Biz Buzz direct to your inbox every Sunday Receive the daily weather forecast and the weekly outlook in your inbox each morning Receive an email notification each time resident weather expert Stan Blazyk writes a new article ICYMI is a weekly newsletter highlighting stories from the past week most read or most talked about we want to make sure you read them ICYMI also features select historical content Receive the most recent obituaries every afternoon Get a link to the latest e-Edition delivered to your inbox each morning Receive updates on the latest issues of Coast Monthly Receive the latest Dear Abby column in your inbox each morning Receive special offers from The Daily News and select partners including discounts Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Jeff Winstead discusses an unsolved murder during an episode of the city’s new podcast “Texas City Tells: Unsolved.” The podcast will debut during Police Week Jeff Winstead will be featured in the episodes of the new 'Texas City Tells: Unsolved' podcast which will examine unsolved murders in the city City Secretary Rhomari Leigh and Director of Communications Jennifer Laird have launched a podcast to look at some of the city’s unsolved murders who works in the department’s Criminal Investigations Division will be featured in the episodes of “Texas City Tells: Unsolved,” which debuts on Texas City’s YouTube channel during Police Week The podcast is a spinoff from the city’s original podcast “Texas City Tells,” which launched in August 2022 and has attracted “thousands and thousands of views,” Laird said Looking at unsolved cases seemed like a natural progression given how much interest the genre has generated in recent years Laird said they followed Winstead’s lead and have avoided the term “cold case” in the episodes but detective Winstead tells me that he doesn’t call them cold cases because they’re never cold for him,” Laird said he actually has pictures and the case files and everything They’re very much a part of his office every single day so they’re not cold for him — they’re just unsolved The oldest case they have discussed dates to 2002 and the most recent one is from 2014 Winstead said he can’t divulge too many details beyond what already is publicly known but he hopes talking further about them will lead to listeners and viewers calling in with more leads He’s also hopeful that increased rewards for information that leads to the closure of any of the cases will trigger people’s memories The previous rewards in the cases was $5,000 but Winstead worked with Mainland Communities Crime Stoppers to get the organization to double the reward to $10,000 for each case Winstead joined the department in 2017 and not long after he arrived gave him the files of two of the murders that remain unsolved and are featured in the podcast Since then he has been looking into more unsolved cases and is up to 20 with the oldest unsolved murder he’s aware of in the city dating to 1974 He said there also are six or seven unsolved sexual assault cases that the podcast may examine in the future Laird said they likely will release two episodes during police week but they don’t want to release too many right away because they want to give people an opportunity to think about the information for awhile in case it triggers a memory that could be a lead The first two episodes will be “Billy Blanchard” on May 12 and “Jean Britt” on May 16 the episodes also will be available on the city’s Facebook and Instagram pages as well as Spotify and Amazon “anywhere you can stream a podcast,” Laird said Jeff Robinson: 409-683-5226: jeff.robinson@galvnews.com Email notifications are only sent once a day began operating in a small community in Cameron County just a few miles inland of the Gulf Coast employees who live there and other residents will vote next month to incorporate their Starbase community as Texas’ newest city the leaders they elect at the same time will have the responsibility of creating a city from the ground up What does it take to have a fully functioning city A few of Starbase's first steps as a newborn city can be anticipated because state law sets certain requirements for raising and spending public money and how governing bodies can operate Texas generally gives municipalities a lot of discretion on how to manage and govern themselves an attorney who specializes in city governance Texas cities under the law are not required to do much," Bojorquez said He emphasized that much of what the new city of Starbase will do will ultimately depend on what services and programs city officials and residents want the city to provide Before Starbase can officially incorporate the election results must be certified by Cameron County Incorporation will be effective on the day that Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño enters an order stating the community has incorporated Starbase will have a commission form of government — a mayor and two commissioners — who will be elected by the voters on the same day they vote to incorporate Their terms in office last two years unlike the typical four-year terms held by officials in larger cities City leaders are required under Texas law to hold elections and public meetings at least once a month The city is also required to archive records and provide them for public inspection under the Texas Public Information Act The mayor will be tasked with running the city’s daily operations unless voters later approve hiring a city manager Many Texas cities and towns have a city manager who reports to elected leaders They have broad responsibilities including hiring and firing other leaders like police and fire chiefs a former city manager to multiple cities in the Rio Grande Valley said the city commissioners must set priorities quickly “What are the needs of the community in terms of development Cities also need a budget if they want to spend money which they will have to do if they provide services such as water "I think the initial challenge for the first commission of Starbase is going to be to share with the electorate what they are going to be doing," Bojorquez said SpaceX leaders have made no secret of their plans to grow Starbase submitted with the petition to incorporate Starbase Manager Kathryn Lueders wrote that the community wished to incorporate so it could continue to grow “Incorporating Starbase will streamline the processes required to build the amenities necessary to make the area a world class place to live—for the hundreds already calling it home as well as for prospective workers eager to help build humanity’s future in space,” Lueders wrote She added that through agreements with the county SpaceX performs several civil functions such as management of the roads and utilities They have also established a school and a medical clinic Incorporation would allow SpaceX to take over the management of those functions The company has already made moves to commercially develop the area as well SpaceX is building a $15 million shopping center and restaurant there and a $100 million office facility and industrial factory The city has to figure out how to pay for the services it plans to offer The major sources of revenue for cities are property taxes and sales taxes City leaders can approve an initial assessment of property taxes but sales and use taxes must be approved by voters through another election a Type C city is limited to $1.50 per $100 of valuation They may allocate one cent toward general revenue up to half a cent may go toward economic development and they could dedicate up to half a cent toward property tax relief “There's going to be continual activity out there so I think it's a responsible thing to do — plan for that continued growth,” Olivares said You've got to get some good people out there who know what they're doing.” Starbase will be a company town — an idea that evokes the image of early 20th century workers settling down around the coal companies or mills that employ them One of the most well-known in Texas is Sugar Land which was home to sugar plantations beginning in the mid-1800s that later became the Imperial Sugar Company Company towns have persisted and the SpaceX employees living in Starbase appear poised to establish the newest one What they hope to accomplish through incorporation will likely have a lot to do with the company’s activities “Because this is a project that is closely affiliated with SpaceX you can imagine that the goals for the municipality are probably in pretty close alignment with the needs of SpaceX," Bojorquez said those goals were incompatible with the regulations of the county While Cameron County officials have welcomed SpaceX — touting investment and job creation — and allowed the company to conduct its operations with seemingly little pushback there have been instances where the two have been at odds SpaceX requested a variance for the county’s lot frontage requirements to maximize what Starbase could build on four available lots at Boca Chica Village a small residential neighborhood near the SpaceX offices where Elon Musk owns a home a SpaceX engineer told the county commissioners is that they would be able to recruit more employees to live there In addition to being able to adopt more permissive rules the city could also gain control over the closure of Boca Chica beach on weekdays for launches The Texas Senate approved a bill that would transfer that authority to them from the county a move that the county judge and the commissioners publicly opposed The Texas House has yet to vote on the bill which is needed for the proposal to become law Other benefits to becoming a city include the ability to acquire real estate through eminent domain a process by which governmental bodies can force the transfer of property Bojorquez said the process is often used to build roads "I think it's clear in this example that most of the reasons are being provided by SpaceX," Bojorquez said of the possible motivations behind seeking incorporation "I have no opinion about whether it's right or wrong Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival Texas’ breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase Choose an amount or learn more about membership A boat explosion and fire in Texas City left one person dead and another injured Tuesday Firefighters were advised that the boat on fire had living quarters and there was a possibility someone may be aboard One person died and another was taken to a hospital for treatment, KHOU reported An investigation is underway to determine the cause Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976 Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post Entire Ohio Police Force Resigns: 'We're Tired of Being Disrespected' A Texas city plans to rebuild its police department after its chief and all of its officers resigned their posts City Manager Mike Smith told KFDX-TV that the entire staff of the Jacksboro Police Department had resigned and taken other jobs Smith said they left on their own and wouldn't elaborate on what led to the departures the city has no plans to eliminate the agency Jack County sheriff’s deputies will provide coverage in the interim “We’re not losing the department," Smith told KFDX We will continue to have law enforcement coverage We will continue to have the same number of officers on duty as we had when the department was here They’ll just be driving a different vehicle or in a different uniform But they’re still certified law enforcement officers." The next step for the city will be to post a job opening for police chief Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsAhmed Humble TEXAS CITY Texas – A domestic violence incident overnight Monday has turned into a deadly standoff at a Texas City home SEE ALSO: Shooting incident leaves one dead, another in critical condition in Houston when police said they got a call from a child about family members fighting outside a home on 27th Avenue North near Galveston Bay Investigators said at least four to six shots were fired at responding officers as they arrived from inside the home An unidentified woman inside the home got out and ran to police who then took her to a hospital to have her injuries (non-life-threatening) treated MORE CRIME-RELATED NEWS STORIES and Texas City PD and their crisis negotiators and SWAT teams were called to assist and tried reaching out to him SWAT officials later went inside the home and found the man dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound No other people were found inside the home and investigators confirmed there were no additional injuries reported in the area Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved expert on "The Simpsons," amateur photographer film & tv reviewer and race/religious identity scholar Joined KPRC 2 in Spring 2024 but has been featured in various online newspapers and in the Journal of South Texas' Fall 2019 issue TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Meet the Team Careers at KPRC Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 Click2Houston.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group UPDATE------\nA woman was injured and a man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after Texas City Police officers.. E-commerce giant Amazon told League City it plans next summer to activate the more than 180,000-square-foot League City warehouse it built but never used The Walmart Supercenter in La Marque is set to get a makeover this summer Dunkin’ Donuts plans to occupy part of the vacant Marathon Republic Federal Credit Union Building on Palmer Highway in Texas City Hole story: The largest coffee and donuts brand in the United States has settled on a site for a Texas City shop Dunkin’ Donuts plans to secure permits to renovate the building formerly occupied by Marathon Republic Federal Credit Union Massachusetts-based Dunkin’ Donuts shops mostly are owned by franchisees Operators of the Texas City store plan to lease 2,000 square feet of the building with a drive-through The remaining 2,789 square feet will be leased to retailers The building owner bringing in Dunkin’ Donuts and other yet-to-be named retailers is Main Street Commercial Partners which in 2023 began heavily investing in commercial real estate around Galveston County The firm in 2023 bought 7 acres at the intersection of FM 1764 and Interstate 45 in La Marque for a commercial development that so far includes McDonald’s fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant Chipotle and fried-chicken purveyor Raising Cane’s Main Street Commercial Partners added to its portfolio the 151,000-square-foot shopping center The Plaza at Galveston a principal with Main Street Commercial Partners Main Street Commercial Partners hasn’t provided Texas City planning officials with information about other tenants at the Palmer Highway building But Main Street representatives said they planned to open the Dunkin’ Donuts by the year’s end The city’s planning board approved the development in March but Main Street Commercial Partners hasn’t yet submitted for a building permit “Everyone is looking forward to helping them get opened,” Laird said Dunkin’ Donuts in November 2019 announced it had signed store development agreements with new franchisee Manchester Enterprises to develop 18 restaurants in the Houston area including in three Galveston County cities The group also planned to develop 10 multi-brand stores with ice cream purveyor Baskin-Robbins has more than 14,000 restaurants in nearly 40 global markets and is as famous for its coffee as for pastry products What’s in store: In more big commercial buzz for the mid-county crews plan in early summer to begin a massive makeover of the Walmart Supercenter The La Marque store is one of 67 in Texas Walmart plans to renovate this year The remodel store will include bigger signage better equipped online pickup and delivery services to fulfill the growing number of online customer orders and updated pharmacies that feature privacy checkout areas Walmart set an ambitious goal to remodel more than 650 U.S Pharmacy changes — not just at Walmart — are being driven by consumer complaints about employees discussing private health information too loudly at the counter and in ear shot of others waiting for prescriptions The renovations represent a commitment by Walmart to cities where the Arkansas-based retailer operates “Our stores often serve as the heartbeat of the communities we operate in and these remodels are a testament to our dedication to enhancing that role,” said Paul Lewellen Southwest Business Unit Operations for Walmart “By investing in our stores and associates we are not only improving the shopping experience but also reinforcing our commitment to being a vital part of the community’s fabric helping to build a brighter future for all.” staunch Walmart competitor Amazon told League City officials it’s beefing up its commitment there with plans to finally activate the 180,000-square-foot $30 million delivery station at 2455 Tuscan Lakes Blvd informed them the company planned to be up and operating by summer 2026 That’s big news for a city stunned when Amazon in June 2022 reported it was de-escalating its warehouse investment spree built the League City center — which includes 10,000 square feet of office space 17 dock doors and hundreds of vehicle parking spaces — for Amazon to lease The Daily News reported in June 2022 momentum had stalled and the last-mile delivery station’s opening was in limbo as Amazon de-escalated its warehouse investments and sought to shed or sublet industrial space as homebound consumers pushed e-commerce to new heights Amazon nearly doubled the size of its distribution network acquiring nearly 370 million square feet and accelerating its program to build new fulfillment centers and warehouses across the country according to commercial real estate industry reports But Amazon slammed on the brakes after seeing an economic downturn and an overextended logistics network on the road ahead Amazon began reversing its post-pandemic pullback in logistics expansion “buying up industrial property and restructuring its sprawling distribution network as it looks to speed up package delivery and cut shipping costs,” The Wall Street Journal reported “The changes are aimed at setting up Amazon to better compete with the nation’s largest retailer and low-price online upstarts Shein and Temu.” Amazon and League City in 2021 announced plans for the last-mile delivery station which accepts packages from Amazon fulfillment and sorting centers and delivers them to customers Amazon at the time said it expected to create about 200 jobs in League City with starting wages of $15 an hour and benefits The League City building was to be the second Amazon hub for Galveston County The company opened a warehouse in La Marque in 2021 Amazon officials couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Rumor late Friday had it a suitor with a wad of cash had bought the idle Hooters building Laura Elder: 409-683-5248; laura.elder@galvnews.com