The New Texan · Thursday, May 21, 2026

MUSK WATCH

A Cybertruck Sank in Grapevine Lake. Tesla Hasn't Said a Word.

A Cybertruck sank in a Dallas-area lake. A SpaceX worker died at Starbase. Two companies, 24 hours, no statement from either.

KVUE and the Texas Tribune filed these stories within the same 24-hour window — from unaffiliated newsrooms, on separate beats, with no reference to each other. One story ends with an arrest. The other ends with a launch. Neither company has issued a public statement.

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The New Texan staff · May 21

a server delivers two lobster rolls with fries to a table at a nautical-styled booth in Austin, Texas

LIST WATCH

Paprika ATX Made Three Eater Lists in 90 Days. Then Fell Off All of Them.

The Austin restaurant was added to Eater's lunch list in February, promoted to the flagship 38 in April, and dropped from the heatmap by May.

The New Texan staff · May 21

PAXTON WATCH

Paxton Filed Five Legal Actions in One Week. All of It Happened During Early Voting.

A settlement, a lawsuit, warning letters to 130 cities, a compliance deadline, and a Trump endorsement — each move came as Paxton campaigns against John Cornyn in the Senate GOP runoff.

The New Texan staff · May 21

THE INDEX

The Index: Austin in May 2026, by the Numbers

May 2026: Texas's tallest tower opened, four suburban schools closed, fire stations were shot at, and Austin studied the same rail line it has been studying for decades.

The New Texan staff · May 21