1 big thing: ⚖️ Storm of Texas "censorship" lawsuits on the horizon

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2. 🤓 Former D Magazine editor will appear on "Jeopardy!"

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New jobs to check out


3. 🗞 Burnt ends: Bite-sized news bits 

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4. 🎼 Symphony in the park

5. 🎧 One podcast to go

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Happy Thursday! You have everything you need to solve the problems you'll face.

🎵 Sounds like: The "Jeopardy!" theme song

🏀 Situational awareness: The Warriors beat the Mavericks 112-87 in the first game of the Western Conference finals. 

Also, we are filing from D.C. today because we're at an Axios staff retreat gathering ideas to make this newsletter even better.

Today's newsletter is 740 continuously improving words — a 3-minute read.

🤓 Mike is studiously taking notes in every session of the Axios retreat.

🍹 Tasha is by the hotel pool debating whether she should order that third pina colada. 

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Dallas

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Dallas. Written by Michael Mooney and Tasha Tsiperas.

Axios Dallas

1 big thing: Formula shortage hits Texas harder than much of U.S.

2. 🖼 Five Dallas date ideas under $25

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4. 📸 Picture of the day: Thunderstruck

Stop by to see who's hiring

5. 🥕 One cocktail to go: Nickel City

🥶 Today's weather: Cooling off to a brisk 96.

🎵 Sounds like: "Walking Thru the Park"

📧 Situational awareness: Our newsletter will be a little shorter than usual today because we're still at the Axios retreat.

Today's newsletter is an easy-to-read 764 words — a 3-minute read.

🥃 Mike is done taking notes and on his way to the hotel bar.

📓 Tasha is gathering great newsletter ideas from reporters in other cities.

Do you really carrot about our newsletter? Refer your friends to Axios Dallas and get cool merch like stickers, totes, hats, T-shirts and more!

1 big thing: 🚨 Shooting at Korean salon investigated as hate crime

2. 📊 Poll: 53% of Texans oppose overturning Roe

New jobs to check out  


3. 🏀 A tale of two Game 7s 🥅

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4. 🗞 Burnt ends: Bite-sized news bits 

5. 🤤 What snacks best represent Texas?

Happy Monday! Look for the light amid the darkness. 

☀️ Today's weather: High of 92. It's only getting hotter this week.

🗳 Situational awareness: Early voting for the May 24 runoff election begins today. 

A lot of people around North Texas are going to be late and tired today  because the Stars game went into overtime and didn't end until midnight. 

But it's OK. The mayor has issued an official permission slip to anyone who needs one. Totally legally binding, for sure.

Today's newsletter is 920 anti-hate words — a 3.5-minute read.

🦫 Mike is hoping someone suggests something better than beaver nuggets to take to D.C. 

🥱 Tasha is tired from all that playoff stress. Imagine how the athletes feel. 

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1 big thing: ⚡ ERCOT expects record demand this summer

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2. 🚨 Arrest made after Korean hair salon shooting

Look who’s hiring


3. 🏀 An incredibly casual fan's guide to the Mavs next playoff series

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5. 🍪 We asked, you answered: Snack edition

Happy Wednesday! Embrace the impermanence of life. 

🥵 Today's weather: Hot. High of 98. Just stay inside.

🧪 Situational awareness: Every household can now order eight free rapid COVID tests here. 

Today's newsletter is a sweltering 893 words — a 3.5-minute read.

🌶️ Mike is watching the Mavs game with a bag of Texas-shaped chips and a bowl of salsa from Joe T's. (Although that Frito pie mix sounds good, too.)

🦫 Tasha is hoping Mike packed the chocolate-covered Beaver Nuggets as promised. 

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1 big thing: Texas' environmental justice effort sputters

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2.  💰 Supreme Court sides with Cruz on capped political donations

Fresh openings from the Job Board 

3. 💉 Texas had almost 30k vaccine-preventable deaths 

5. 🌮 One taco to go: Rafa's

Happy Tuesday! Smile and wave to a neighbor today.

🍼 Situational awareness: Abbott Nutrition reached an agreement yesterday with the FDA to reopen its infant formula plant linked to the shortage. 

Today's newsletter is a political 889 words — a 3.5-minute read.

🎧 Mike is reliving his youth and listening to the New Kids on the Block. 

🎵 Tasha was more of a Boyz II Men fan, anyway. 

Wanna talk boy bands with us? Become a Dallas member for as little as $50 a year and get exclusive newsletters and access to members-only events!

Austin

Axios Austin

As airlines predict their most profitable summer ever — and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport continues to break passenger records — a massive pilot shortage could mean sky-high prices and more flight cancellations for customers.

Why it matters: The U.S. is forecast to lose about half its pilots to retirement in the next 15 years, according to ABC News. Fort Worth-based American Airlines expects more than one-third of its 15,000 pilots to retire in the next seven years.

Fewer pilots will mean fewer flights, which will likely lead to fare spikes.

What's happening: Thousands of pilots chose early retirement at the beginning of the pandemic. The FAA also requires commercial pilots to retire at age 65, and major airlines are also struggling with a shortfall of flight instructors.

Between the lines: Pilots are also tired. The pilots union for Dallas-based Southwest Airlines recently told company executives that: "Fatigue, both acute and cumulative, has become Southwest Airlines' number-one safety threat."

Context: Pilots unions for both American and Southwest airlines are negotiating new contracts.

What they're saying: ​American Airlines 737 captain and union spokesperson Dennis Tajer tells Axios that Austin's high-growth airport could feel the scorch of pilot burnout.

"Austin is coveted by American because their growth model looks at connective traffic" — and many American routes out of Austin-Bergstrom connect through hubs in Dallas or Charlotte, North Carolina, Tajer says.

"Austin now is in a hypergrowth mode so all of these lagging performance issues are likely to show strongly in an area like Austin," he continued.

"We're trying to prevent an operation meltdown," Tajer says.

The other side: "I'm confident that the quality of life and the compensation for pilots is going to attract people to the industry," American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, who took charge at the end of March, said on a recent earnings call. 

There appear to be no downstream issues at the Austin airport: As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 80 aviation jobs were listed on Indeed.

"As far as the airport's daily operations — independent of the airlines' — we aren't really seeing an impact," ABIA spokesperson Sam Haynes tells Axios.

By the numbers: American has about 100 daily departures out of Austin, and Southwest has about 110. 

The bottom line: If you're thinking about becoming a pilot, you have a pretty good chance of getting a job.

Pilot shortage on Texas' horizon

"We're trying to prevent an operation meltdown," an American Airlines pilot and labor union spokesperson tells Axios.

Illustration of a pilot wings pin with a sad face in the middle

As airlines predict their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most profitable summer ever" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2022/04/21/american-airlines-ceo-robert-isom-says-q2-should-bring-record-of-all-revenues.html" data-vars-content-id="2dcb1785-04c3-4de2-8069-e7d4a8ea9ecf" data-vars-headline="Pilot shortage on Texas&#x27; horizon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2022/04/21/american-airlines-ceo-robert-isom-says-q2-should-bring-record-of-all-revenues.html" target="_blank">most profitable summer ever</a> — and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="continues to break passenger records" data-vars-click-url="https://mailchi.mp/304ad18daa72/march-2022-passenger-cargo-traffic-at-austin-bergstrom-328966?e=9f447a7bba" data-vars-content-id="2dcb1785-04c3-4de2-8069-e7d4a8ea9ecf" data-vars-headline="Pilot shortage on Texas&#x27; horizon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mailchi.mp/304ad18daa72/march-2022-passenger-cargo-traffic-at-austin-bergstrom-328966?e=9f447a7bba" target="_blank">continues to break passenger records</a> — a massive pilot shortage could mean sky-high prices and more flight cancellations for customers.Why it matters: The U.S. is forecast to lose about half its pilots to retirement in the next 15 years, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ABC News" data-vars-click-url="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/airline-pilot-shortage-real-cost-us-brace-impact/story?id=84176369" data-vars-content-id="2dcb1785-04c3-4de2-8069-e7d4a8ea9ecf" data-vars-headline="Pilot shortage on Texas&#x27; horizon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/airline-pilot-shortage-real-cost-us-brace-impact/story?id=84176369" target="_blank">ABC News</a>. Fort Worth-based American Airlines expects more than one-third of its 15,000 pilots to retire in the next seven years.

News

Business

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the organization that manages the state's electricity grid, is predicting a record high demand for power this summer, according to a report released this week.

Why it matters: The Texas power grid supplies electricity to more than 25 million Texans. A failure during sweltering temperatures could be catastrophic, risking lives and all manner of business across the state.

ERCOT expects the state to have sufficient electricity "under normal conditions," according to the report. 

Yes, but: The state has already seen abnormally high temperatures, which could soon reach triple digits.

Context: ERCOT told power generators this week that they would need to defer planned outages for maintenance for a second time this month to maintain power across the state. The warning of possible emergency conditions has been extended through Friday.

Flashback: Last week, ERCOT asked power plants to delay repairs ahead of the May heat wave. One of those plants was among the six that crashed Friday, per the Texas Tribune.

ERCOT asked Texans to turn up their thermostats to 78 degrees for the weekend and avoid using large appliances during the hottest hours of the day to reduce strain on the power grid.

By the numbers: ERCOT is forecasting a new record for peak demand in the summer at 77.3 gigawatts, according to the new report. 

The previous record was 74.8 gigawatts, set in August 2019.

The report indicates energy supply will be at 91.3 gigawatts, roughly 18% more than forecasted peak demand.

What they're saying: "With unseasonably hot weather driving record demand across Texas, ERCOT continues to work closely with the power industry to make sure Texans have the power they need," the organization said in a statement.

ERCOT expects record demand this summer

ERCOT expects high Texas electricity demands this summer

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the organization that manages the state&#x27;s electricity grid, is predicting a record high demand for power this summer, according to a<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ercot.com/files/docs/2022/05/16/SARA_Summer2022.pdf" data-vars-content-id="36e8d4cd-38a6-4ad1-a0fb-ac0b5b150eee" data-vars-headline="ERCOT expects record demand this summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ercot.com/files/docs/2022/05/16/SARA_Summer2022.pdf" target="_blank"> report</a> released this week.Why it matters: The Texas power grid supplies electricity to more than 25 million Texans. A failure during sweltering temperatures could be catastrophic, risking lives and all manner of business across the state.

Russian hackers have been searching for ways to disrupt Texas' energy operations, including oil and gas processing centers and the infrastructure of the Texas power grid, according to cybersecurity experts charged with protecting the industry.

Driving the news: Texas energy companies say they've been aware of the increased risk of Russian cyber threats since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

"We are on super high alert," Thad Hill, CEO of Texas power giant Calpine, recently told the Texas Tribune. 

Why it matters: "Texas is home to a big population with a very wide geographic spread of energy generation as well as thousands of miles of transmission and distribution lines, which requires a great deal of effort to secure," Andrew Dillon, a Dallas-based Innovation Fellow with the digital consulting firm West Monroe Energy & Utilities, tells Axios.

The big picture: Texas regulators and security experts are working to stop hackers from breaching the state’s power grid system — which could shut off electricity to millions of Texans — while also trying to protect seaports that transport oil and gas around the world, Dillon says.

Zoom out: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently warned that "evolving intelligence indicates that the Russian government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks."

Recent Russian state-sponsored cyber operations have included distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and older operations have included deployment of destructive malware against Ukrainian government and critical infrastructure organizations, according to a CISA memo released last month.

Flashback: Last year, a ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline — which originates in Houston — led to price spikes and fuel shortages along the East Coast.

What's happening: Hackers are continuously looking for vulnerabilities, and in many cases the hackers replicate themselves as automated bots that circulate around the “digital perimeter” of a utility to find open doors to enter and inflict damage, Dillon says.

Between the lines: The Port of Corpus Christi has become one of the nation’s largest exporters of natural gas, which is more pivotal now, as many European countries that have relied on Russian natural gas turn to the U.S. 

What they're saying: "It's a community effort to battle this growing new threat to our society," Dillon says. 

"Like any protection plan, it starts from the ground up, with procedures and governance, to ensure there aren't gaps in awareness at any organization." 

Why it's so hard to protect the Texas power grid

Texas energy companies say they've been aware of the increased risk of Russian cyber threats since the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.

Russian hackers have been searching for ways to disrupt Texas&#x27; energy operations, including oil and gas processing centers and the infrastructure of the Texas power grid, according to cybersecurity experts charged with protecting the industry.Driving the news: Texas energy companies say they&#x27;ve been aware of the increased risk of Russian cyber threats since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Former President Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy appeared together at a Dallas fundraiser this week, praising each other repeatedly at the event.

Why it matters: Trump used the event to continue his baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen, which has become a lucrative fundraising tactic for Trump-supporting Republicans across the country.

Context: Just last month leaked audio revealed McCarthy calling Trump's behavior during the Jan. 6 insurrection "atrocious and wrong." Though Trump used the Dallas fundraiser to lash out at several Republican enemies, McCarthy wasn't among them.

"Kevin's been with me from the beginning," Trump said, and McCarthy called Trump the GOP's "secret weapon," per a CNN report.

What happened: The fundraising event wasn't open to the public or media, but the Dallas Morning News obtained a recording of the former president's 70-minute speech. 

What they're saying: "Republicans cannot stop looking at the election, but we also have to go on and we have to go forward," Trump said, per the DMN. "We cannot stop looking. We have to find it, because otherwise they will do it again."

The intrigue: During his Dallas speech, Trump also touted his 33-0 record this year in Texas races, according to the DMN. But one of his most prominent selections, Attorney General Ken Paxton, is still facing a May 24 runoff against Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush — the son of another former Trump rival.

What's next: Trump has a rally scheduled in Austin this Saturday.

National

Trump and McCarthy appear together at Dallas fundraiser

Trump used the event to continue his baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen, which has become a lucrative fundraising tactic.

Former President Trump and Kevin McCarthy in  California in 2020. The two men appeared together in Dallas this week. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Former President Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy appeared together at a Dallas fundraiser this week, praising each other repeatedly at the event.Why it matters: Trump used the event to continue his baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen, which has become a l<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ucrative fundraising tactic" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/09/gop-candidates-cash-in-on-trumps-false-election-claims" data-vars-content-id="76b948ff-22fa-4722-8d04-e05e4263104a" data-vars-headline="Trump and McCarthy appear together at Dallas fundraiser" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/09/gop-candidates-cash-in-on-trumps-false-election-claims" target="_self">ucrative fundraising tactic</a> for Trump-supporting Republicans across the country.

Politics

Bankruptcy attorneys across the nation are watching the case of Irving-based Boy Scouts of America, which is working to settle the largest sex-abuse lawsuit in history.

Parties involved in the settlement include the national organization, chapters across the country, religious organizations that sponsored chapters, insurance companies and more than 80,000 abuse survivors.

Driving the news: A ruling in the case, which involves a $2.7 billion settlement offer to survivors, could come any day.

Catch up quick: Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2020, after several states changed laws that allowed victims to sue over decades-old allegations.

More than 50,000 survivors voted on the proposed settlement, which averages out to $31,000 per survivor.

The big picture: Regardless of the ruling, the office of the U.S. Trustee — part of the Department of Justice — could appeal based on the settlement's use of nonconsensual third-party releases, which could set a precedent for large-scale tort litigation.

These releases allow a company or organization to cap its total liability after a settlement, meaning nobody else can sue over this particular issue.

Yes, but: Even if all the parties involved in the suit agree to the terms of the settlement, the particulars of federal bankruptcy code could still be a roadblock.

In December, a federal judge in New York rejected Purdue Pharma's $4.5 billion bankruptcy settlement with thousands of state, local and tribal governments who sued the company over the opioid epidemic, ruling that the court doesn't have the legal authority to release the Sackler family from liability in civil cases.

What they're saying: "If the bankruptcy court rejects this settlement, or it gets rejected on appeal, the global settlement architecture will fail," Steven B. Smith, a partner in the restructuring and finance litigation department at Herrick, Feinstein LLP in New York, tells Axios. 

"These releases are the lynchpin for this type of litigation. Without them, many companies facing tort exposure will have to liquidate, and survivors will have to pursue individual settlements. It'll be a race to the courthouse."

Boy scout case could change large bankruptcy cases forever

A ruling in the case, which involves a $2.7 billion settlement offer to survivors, could come any day now.

A statue of a boy scout looking over his shoulder

Boy Scouts of America headquarters, in the Dallas suburbs. Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Bankruptcy attorneys across the nation are watching the case of Irving-based Boy Scouts of America, which is working to settle the largest sex-abuse lawsuit in history.<ul><li>Parties involved in the settlement include the national organization, chapters across the country, religious organizations that sponsored chapters, insurance companies and more than 80,000 abuse survivors.</li></ul>Driving the news: A ruling in the case, which involves a $2.7 billion settlement offer to survivors, could come any day.Catch up quick: Boy Scouts of America <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/02/20/bankruptcy-boy-scouts-chapter-11-ethics-sexual-abuse/4805003002/" data-vars-content-id="d6f4da08-4877-4cec-9a5a-7fc54b71c9d1" data-vars-headline="Boy scout case could change large bankruptcy cases forever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/02/20/bankruptcy-boy-scouts-chapter-11-ethics-sexual-abuse/4805003002/" target="_blank">filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy</a> in February 2020, after several states changed laws that allowed victims to sue over decades-old allegations.<ul><li>More than 50,000 survivors voted on the proposed settlement, which averages out to $31,000 per survivor.</li></ul>The big picture: Regardless of the ruling, the office of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Trustee" data-vars-click-url="https://www.justice.gov/ust" data-vars-content-id="d6f4da08-4877-4cec-9a5a-7fc54b71c9d1" data-vars-headline="Boy scout case could change large bankruptcy cases forever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.justice.gov/ust" target="_blank">U.S. Trustee</a> — part of the Department of Justice — could appeal based on the settlement&#x27;s use of nonconsensual third-party releases, which could set a precedent for large-scale tort litigation.<ul><li>These releases allow a company or organization to cap its total liability after a settlement, meaning nobody else can sue over this particular issue.</li></ul>Yes, but: Even if all the parties involved in the suit agree to the terms of the settlement, the particulars of federal bankruptcy code could still be a roadblock.<ul><li>In December, a federal judge in New York rejected Purdue Pharma&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$4.5 billion bankruptcy settlement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/15-states-purdue-pharma-settlement-opioid-lawsuit-b0bac056-01f0-4c18-9685-31d6bd21be5f.html" data-vars-content-id="d6f4da08-4877-4cec-9a5a-7fc54b71c9d1" data-vars-headline="Boy scout case could change large bankruptcy cases forever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/15-states-purdue-pharma-settlement-opioid-lawsuit-b0bac056-01f0-4c18-9685-31d6bd21be5f.html" target="_self">$4.5 billion bankruptcy settlement</a> with thousands of state, local and tribal governments who sued the company over the opioid epidemic, ruling that the court doesn&#x27;t have the legal authority to release the Sackler family from liability in civil cases.</li></ul>What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;If the bankruptcy court rejects this settlement, or it gets rejected on appeal, the global settlement architecture will fail,&quot; Steven B. Smith, a partner in the restructuring and finance litigation department at Herrick, Feinstein LLP in New York, tells Axios. <ul><li>&quot;These releases are the lynchpin for this type of litigation. Without them, many companies facing tort exposure will have to liquidate, and survivors will have to pursue individual settlements. It&#x27;ll be a race to the courthouse.&quot;</li></ul>

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Stories

ERCOT expects record demand this summer

Boy scout case could change large bankruptcy cases forever

Trump and McCarthy appear together at Dallas fundraiser

Why it's so hard to protect the Texas power grid

Pilot shortage on Texas' horizon

Newsletter editions

🍼 Formula shortage woes

⚖️ "Censorship" lawsuits loom

⚡ Power grid test looming

Environmental justice standstill

🚨 Hate crime investigation