🟪 Why Elon Musk says recruiting top engineers in Texas is still difficult (Austin American-Statesman)

🟪 A cloud lifts on the Austin Convention Center's redevelopment (Austin Business Journal)

🟪 Austin's MD Anderson Cancer Center all but certain to rise near The Domain (Austin Business Journal)

🟪 FAA closes El Paso airspace for 10 days over security concerns (CNN)

🟪 Abbott breaks with Trump over president's call to nationalize elections (KUT)

🟪 Texas county rejects a moratorium on data center development amid AI boom (Texas Tribune)

🟪 Public Utility Commission of Texas to study water usage at data centers as they expand across state (Houston Public Media)

🟪 Texas labor unions are increasingly divided on which candidate to endorse for governor (Texas Tribune)

READ ON!

🟪 [Team]: Bingham Group is pleased to welcome Annick Beaudet, MPA, FAICP as a Senior Consultant focused on Mobility and Public Infrastructure.

Based in Austin, Annick brings nearly 30 years of experience working at the intersection of transportation systems, land use, and public-sector capital programs, with a reputation for helping public agencies turn ambitious visions into executable, results-driven initiatives.

Before entering consulting, Annick spent 18 years in senior leadership roles with the City of Austin, including Assistant Director of the Austin Transportation Department and Mobility Officer for Project Connect, where she helped coordinate and advance Central Texas’s landmark transit expansion efforts.

For organizations exploring strategic partners to advance mobility or public infrastructure priorities, Annick’s addition further expands Bingham Group’s ability to support complex, high-impact initiatives. Contact us here.

🟪 [Podcast] Also, check out my recent feature on the Austin Eras Podcast. Host Adam Flagg and I discuss my path into community leadership and the lobbying profession, growing up in Austin, and what’s shaping the future of Central Texas.

🟪 Book Review - The Austin–San Antonio Megaregion: Opportunity and Experience

🏛️ Memos:

✅ Why Elon Musk says recruiting top engineers in Texas is still difficult (Austin American-Statesman)

California still has it over Texas in at least one key way, Elon Musk says: Hiring. After moving headquarters of SpaceX and Tesla Inc. to Texas in recent because of political disagreements, he said it’s still easier to recruit employees to work in California. With one exception. “Austin, it helps,” Musk said — while noting that Tesla still has most of its engineering staff in California. “Getting engineers to move … I call it the significant other problem.” That’s what makes engineering recruiting toughest at Starbase, the remote South Texas outpost where SpaceX is developing its Starship mega-rocket.

“For Starbase that was particularly difficult, since the odds of finding a non-SpaceX job are pretty low,” Musk said, referring to the idea that Austin can be an easier pitch for tech hires because they know they can move to other local companies, too. “It’s quite difficult. It’s like a technology monastery thing, remote and mostly dudes.” Musk companies also have operations in Robstown McGregor, Bastrop and elsewhere across the state. He disclosed the issues on the Cheeky Pint podcast during a chat in which he also accused tech giant Apple Inc. of trying to poach Tesla’s talent when that company was working on its own self-driving electric car, a project it later scrapped.

“They were carpet bombing Tesla with recruiting calls,” Musk said. He claimed their opening offer would be roughly double the compensation at Tesla, indicating what he referred to as a “Tesla pixie dust” factor, in which other companies assume if they hire someone from Tesla, the employee would put them on track to success. “When we had the pixie dust problem, we would get relentlessly recruited from,” Musk said. “Also, Tesla being engineering, especially being primarily in Silicon Valley, it’s easier for people to just … They don’t have to change their life very much. Their commute’s going to be the same.”… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ A cloud lifts on the Austin Convention Center's redevelopment (Austin Business Journal)

One cloud hanging over the development of the Austin Convention Center has cleared off for now. 

The cloud was an ongoing lawsuit between the Austin United PAC and the city of Austin over a signature gathering effort from the PAC that tried to get on the May ballot an initiative that could've slowed or stopped the redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center. The lawsuit filed by Austin United PAC alleged the Austin city clerk improperly invalidated signatures that kept the ballot initiative off the ballot. 

A Travis County judge ruled against the Austin United PAC, which means the ballot initiative won’t appear in front of voters in May.

The redevelopment of the Austin Convention Center has been going on for roughly a year. It started after the 2025 South by Southwest festival, and currently there is a giant hole at the convention center site as work continues to get a larger convention center open in time for the 2029 spring festival season. 

A spokesperson for the Austin Convention Center said the project is still on track to open in 2029; excavation work is still ongoing and prep work is being done to start vertical construction in the near future… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Austin's MD Anderson Cancer Center all but certain to rise near The Domain (Austin Business Journal)

University of Texas leaders shared insight about the future development of the UT Medical Center that's being developed in partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center — and it sounds like the massive project won't be moving forward at the site within Austin's new medical district that used to hold the Frank Erwin Center.

The University of Texas had previously shared plans that the school would build out a medical center that would blend the school's academic and research capabilities with the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center to create a digitally enabled, patient-centered academic health system. At one point it was planned to be built on the site of the Frank Erwin Center, which was an old UT sports arena.

But university leaders began to change their tune on the future location of the medical center this past November when Kevin Eltife, the UT board chairman, said another university-owned site near The Domain in North Austin is being considered for the development of the UT Medical Center. 

“We’re not just building an integrated academic medical center, we’re building a district for the future,” Eltife said during the November board meeting… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Austin approves hiring incentive for genetic testing lab near Cedar Park (Community Impact)

The city of Austin approved an economic development incentive with 3billion US Inc.—a South Korean genetic testing company—for the company's first U.S. branch, slated for northwest Austin near Cedar Park. Austin City Council voted in favor of the incentive Feb. 5.

The program will award $1,000 to 3billion for every job the company hires—up to $200,000 in total over a 10-year period. The company is expected to create 200 full-time jobs with an average salary of $95,000, according to a news release.

The city also anticipates roughly $2.3 million in fiscal benefits over 10 years, including property tax, sales tax and utility revenues, the release states.

"This expansion enables 3billion to bring our high-quality, AI-powered rare genetic disease diagnostic services directly to patients across the United States while creating high-wage jobs for local talent," 3billion CEO Changwon Keum said in a statement… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ FAA closes El Paso airspace for 10 days over security concerns (CNN)

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight restriction immediately halting all flights to and from El Paso International Airport in Texas and an area of southern New Mexico for 10 days.

According to the FAA’s website, the pause over El Paso and Santa Teresa, New Mexico, is due to “special security reasons.”

A notice by the FAA classifies the airspace as “(National) Defense Airspace” and says pilots who violate the restriction could be intercepted, detained and questioned by law enforcement.

It warns that additional actions could be taken for pilots who don’t adhere to the restrictions, including suspension of flight certifications, criminal charges, and that the US government “may use deadly force” if an aircraft poses an “imminent security threat.”… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Abbott breaks with Trump over president's call to nationalize elections (KUT)

President Donald Trump's call to nationalize elections in some areas of the U.S. is exposing a rare public split with one of his closest political allies.

At a recent campaign event in Houston in which he touted the endorsement of several labor unions, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was asked directly about Trump's suggestions to nationalize elections.

"Listen, my understanding of the United States Constitution, uh, and that is elections for state positions are to be conducted by states, and I don’t think we should deviate from that," Abbott said.

Trump's comments have reignited a debate over who controls U.S. elections, placing constitutional limits, partisan tensions and practical realities into sharp focus. While the Republican president frames federal intervention as a response to election integrity concerns, legal experts and even some allies warn the Constitution gives states primary authority over elections, making any attempt to nationalize the process both legally fraught and logistically complex.

Trump has discussed the idea at least twice this month, first in an appearance on former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino's podcast on Feb. 2.

"The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over. ... We should take over the voting in at least ... 15 places.’ The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting," Trump said… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Texas county rejects a moratorium on data center development amid AI boom (Texas Tribune)

After hours of testimony from dozens of residents, Hood County commissioners voted down a proposed temporary pause on new industrial development, including data centers, after a letter from a state senator threatened legal action saying the county did not have the power to issue moratoriums.

The 3–2 vote comes as Texas faces a wave of data center proposals fueled by the AI boom and strong backing from state and national Republican leaders, prompting warnings from experts and residents about the state’s already strained water supply. Hood County, which sits about 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth, already has at least four proposed data centers. Residents say they were informed the night before the vote that two more are on the way.

Data centers have become a flashpoint in Texas’ looming water crisis. Residents warn the county lacks sufficient water to support multiple facilities and the power plants that typically accompany them. Texas doesn’t holistically track water use by the industry because there is no uniform way for reporting or tracking water usage… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Public Utility Commission of Texas to study water usage at data centers as they expand across state (Houston Public Media)

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) plans to conduct a survey to study the water use of data centers and virtual currency mining facilities as they expand across the state. State Rep. Armando Walle, a north Harris County Democrat, authored a rider in the state's 2026-2027 budget to direct the commission to conduct the study. "It's important that we know and have transparency about how much water is being used and how much energy is being used by these large scale emerging technology centers," he said. With an influx of these facilities coming to the state, Walle said he wants to find solutions for Texans and determine how much natural resources are being used.

"There’s a lot of opportunity here. There's a favorable business climate, regulatory climate. But we also know that we have to be good stewards of our natural resources," Walle said. "Water and energy is a huge factor for us and we need to be able to preserve our water source, whether it's for urban communities or whether it’s for agricultural communities." Luisa Venegoni, chief of staff to the executive director at PUCT, presented plans for the study to commissioners during their meeting Friday. She said the goal of the study is to provide data for its statewide planning work. Questions about direct water use, technology used and indirect water use will be included. The survey will launch in the spring, and facilities will have six weeks to respond. The commission will share that data with the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

During the commission's meeting last week, Commissioner Kathleen Jackson urged data centers to cooperate and elaborate on their answers. "We are only as good as the data we receive," she said. Commissioner Courtney K. Hjaltman said data centers support modern technology, but it's also important to understand their impact. "Texans, regulators and the legislature really needs to have an understanding of data centers, really needs to understand the water they’re using, so that we can plan and create the Texas we want," she said… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Texas labor unions are increasingly divided on which candidate to endorse for governor (Texas Tribune)

A host of labor unions backed Gov. Greg Abbott last week in his bid for reelection, endorsements the Republican governor says represent a historic break from the Democratic Party by organized labor.

Teamsters Joint Council 58 and Joint Council 80, representing 40,000 workers across Texas, endorsed Abbott last Wednesday, joined by several other unions representing multiple industries.

The endorsements split organized labor’s support in the governor’s race between Abbott and state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, a shift from unions’ historic support of Democratic candidates in Texas.

The Plumbers Local Union 68, International Longshoremen South Atlantic & Gulf Coast District Association and the Pipefitters Local Union 211 also backed Abbott for a record fourth term as governor last week. The endorsements continue a rightward shift of working class voters’ political preferences, but experts say the relationship between organized labor and the Democratic Party remains largely intact… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Allred wants James Talarico to apologize for alleged racially charged remark about him (CBS News)

Former Democratic Congressman and current Congressional candidate Colin Allred of Dallas is calling on fellow Democrat and U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico to apologize following their clash that went viral last week over an alleged racially-charged remark he made to a supporter and influencer in a private conversation. In some of his first remarks since he posted a video on "X" criticizing Talarico, Allred spoke to CBS News Texas Monday afternoon at the MLK Community Center in Dallas.

"I think there needs to be an apology either way; an apology and some attempt to recognize that there are certain things, whether the full intent was intended or not, that it came across in a way that was offensive to that young woman and to many others," Allred said. In a video posted on TikTok by the woman identified as Morgan, she said, "James Talarico told me that he signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, not a formidable and intelligent black woman."

Morgan was referring to Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, who entered the race in December, hours after Allred left the race to run for the 33rd District seat in Congress. Morgan said she is now supporting Crockett. CBS News Texas has reached out to her several times, but she has not responded. Last week, Talarico responded to the controversy with a statement, "This is a mischaracterization of a private conversation. In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett, I described Congressman Allred's method of campaigning as mediocre - but his life and service are not. I would never attack him on the basis of race."

Allred said Monday that he and Talarico spoke by phone after the dust-up. "I offered him a chance to apologize, and he declined to do that," said Allred. "It is surprising. I think it's the easiest thing to do in this situation. Say, listen, whatever, you can even say. 'I feel like that's not how the conversation went, but either way, I apologize for the offense that was given,' which I think would have been the right thing to do."… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Trump administration fails to indict Democrats involved in 'illegal orders' video (NBC News)

The Trump administration tried and failed Tuesday to indict Democratic lawmakers over a video urging members of the military and intelligence communities not to comply with unlawful orders, three sources familiar with the matter told NBC News. Six Democrats participated in the video, and some had said they would not cooperate with the Justice Department’s probe into their involvement.

The indictment, pursued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, led by Trump appointee Jeanine Pirro, is the latest example of the Justice Department’s targeting the president's perceived political opponents. The government attorneys assigned to the case are political appointees, not career Justice Department prosecutors, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

A Justice Department spokesman and a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night. The FBI had sought interviews with the six members of Congress who appeared in the video, which was posted to social media in November: Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Sens.

Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. The lawmakers, all of whom served in the military or in intelligence roles, said in the video that the Trump administration was pitting members of the military and the intelligence communities “against American citizens.” They then pointed out that public servants can refuse illegal orders. “Now, more than ever, the American people need you,” the lawmakers say in the video. “Don’t give up the ship."… 🟪 (READ MORE)