Autonomous Freight Funding: Qatar Investment Authority led a $200M Series D for Texas-based autonomous trucking firm Gatik, partnering with Koch Disruptive Technologies as the company expands fully driverless routes across Texas and beyond. Data Center Water Fight: A Delaware company applied to Texas regulators to dump up to 95,000 gallons a day of treated wastewater into Lake Wichita from a proposed Archer County data center site. Oil & Gas Waste Pressure: Texas lawmakers and industry leaders warned the Permian Basin is running out of underground space for produced-water disposal, pushing reuse and discharge plans to the front. AI Power Pushback: Texas data centers remain a political flashpoint as candidates and officials clash over grid strain, water demands, and local control. Space Industry: SpaceX will build a Starship launch complex in southern Louisiana, expanding beyond South Texas with a massive new “Starbase” site. Retail & Jobs: Casey’s is using a football partnership to boost Texas expansion, while IEM announced a $200M San Antonio manufacturing investment tied to up to 3,000 jobs. Sports Business: Austin FC hired Khaled El-Ahmad as sporting director/chief soccer officer as the club rebuilds. Community & Culture: A new LGBTQ+ youth shelter, Asia’s House, opens in Houston to serve homeless or runaway teens.