ATX Pulse 5/11-13/26 (free): Blue Origin Eyes $650M Facility in Hutto // Obama Makes Surprise ARX Visit // Neighbor Dispute Leads to Homicide in NW Austin // 16-Year-Old Sought in Restaurant Murder // 2 Overall Seed Texas Softball Opens Postseason Thursday at Home

In partnership with

MONDAY, MAY 11, 2026 - WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026

Compiled by Matt Mackowiak

Thank YOU for being a FREE subscriber.

Please become a PAID subscriber below.

STATEWIDE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE

Are you one of the 220,000+ subscribers to Must Read Texas, a newsletter that delivers everything you need to know from across Texas each weekday.

Subscriptions are $7/mo or $70/yr here: http://mustreadtx.substack.com.

> Become a FREE subscriber here.
> Become a PAID subscriber for $7/mo or $70/yr here.

SPONSOR #1: Kalshi

Turn Predictions Into Profit—Get $10 Free

Sports aren’t just for watching anymore—you can trade them.

With Kalshi, you can take a position on real outcomes: who wins, season milestones, and major matchups. If you know sports, you already have an edge. Buy “Yes” or “No” shares based on what you think will happen—and earn returns if you’re right.

There’s no house—you’re trading peer-to-peer against other users, with transparent market pricing. And you can cash out anytime before the final whistle.

To get you started, we’re giving you a free $10. No deposit, no catch. Use it to test your instincts on upcoming games and see how it works.

From the playoffs to the finals, every moment is a market.

Claim your $10 and start trading sports now.

Claim Your $10

_{Trade responsibly.}

SPONSOR #2: Roku

How Jennifer Aniston’s LolaVie brand grew sales 40% with CTV ads

The DTC beauty category is crowded. To break through, Jennifer Aniston’s brand LolaVie, worked with Roku Ads Manager to easily set up, test, and optimize CTV ad creatives. The campaign helped drive a big lift in sales and customer growth, helping LolaVie break through in the crowded beauty category.

Learn more

SPONSOR #3: The Rundown AI

Learn AI in 5 minutes a day

You don't have to scroll every AI thread, track every new tool, or watch every demo. 

The Rundown AI breaks it all down for you — the latest AI news, tools, and tutorials in one free 5-minute email every morning. 

Trusted by 2M+ professionals at Apple, Google, and NASA.

Sign up to start learning.

WEATHER

Today: H: 91° / L: 64°. Partly cloudy.

Thursday: H: 92° / L: 65°. Partly cloudy.

Friday: H: 90° / L: 68°. Mostly cloudy.

Saturday: H: 90° / L: 71°. AM clouds / PM sun.

Sunday: H: 89° / L: 74°. 20% chance of isolated thunderstorms.

TOP NEWS

"Former President Obama makes surprise stop in Austin with James Talarico, Gina Hinojosa" via AAS – Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, Texas Democratic Senate candidate and Texas state Rep. James Talarico, and former Presidentappeared together Tuesday in Austin to boost Democratic candidates ahead of this year’s midterms.

The appearance was not a formal endorsement, but Obama introduced the two to a crowd at a taco restaurant east of the University of Texas as “the next senator and governor of Texas.” Democrats haven’t won a statewide contest in Texas in 32 years.

“Now everybody remember to vote,” the former president said as the young crowd jostled for photos and autographs.

Talarico will face off in November against either U.S. Sen. John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton. Hinojosa will go head to head with Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a record fourth term. (AAS)

"UT-Austin defends its handling of pro-Palestinian protest in federal trial" via Texas Tribune – A University of Texas at Austin student is asking a federal district judge to strike a suspension from his academic record over his participation in the pro-Palestinian protests in April 2024.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman will rule this week on whether the state’s flagship university’s handling of the protest was a violation of free speech rights or lawfully managed.

Ammer Qaddumi, a student organizer with the Palestine Solidarity Committee, was among the first to be arrested at a protest in April 2024. He was later suspended for three semesters. Qaddumi is set to graduate from the school this month, but the suspension could still threaten his employment, Pitman has said.

The protest at the center of the suit was a chaotic scene where state troopers used horses and riot gear to get protesters to disperse. The protesters were calling for UT-Austin to divest its multibillion dollar endowment from manufacturers supplying Israel weapons in its strikes on Gaza. (TX TRIB)

THE BLOTTER

"Man shot, killed in neighbor dispute in northwest Austin; case under investigation" via KXAN -– Austin police have identified a man killed in a shooting on Friday. Officers responded about 6:06 p.m. May 8 to the intersection of Gardenridge Hollow and Wallace Drive in northwest Austin after receiving multiple calls reporting gunfire.

The initial 911 call came moments earlier, with a caller heard yelling for someone to “get back” before the line disconnected, according to police. Authorities said the victim, Billy Carlisle, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene after lifesaving efforts by Austin‑Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

Police believe the two neighbors had a prior history, and a verbal dispute escalated, culminating in the shooting, the release said. Police said no charges have been filed at this time, and the case remains under active investigation.

The incident is being investigated as Austin’s 23rd homicide of 2026, according to police. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Police Department at 512‑974‑TIPS or submit tips anonymously through Capital Area Crime Stoppers. (KXAN)

"Police search for 16-year-old suspect in fatal shooting at Austin restaurant" via AAS – Austin police are looking for a 16-year-old accused of killing a man outside a North Lamar Boulevard restaurant after a late-night fight ended in gunfire, investigators said.

The shooting happened shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Los Braseros Mexican Restaurant at 9207 North Lamar Blvd. Police said 35-year-old Andres Omar Reyes was shot after he stepped into a physical altercation involving people from another group.

A restaurant employee was able to wrestle the gun away from the teenager, but the suspect ran from the scene and remained at large, police said.

Officers found Reyes in the parking lot with gunshot wounds after callers reported the shooting. Austin-Travis County EMS attempted to save his life, but Reyes was pronounced dead at 12:46 a.m. (AAS)

Subscribe to Austin Insider (Premium) to read the rest.