More Texas prisoners died during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic than in any other state, but the true death toll in prisons across the country is still unknown, researchers say.

Why it matters: Although it's long been clear that prisons struggled to contain COVID outbreaks, there's still no official pandemic prison death toll — leaving the work up to a "patchwork of research groups and reporters," per the Marshall Project, a nonprofit criminal justice news outlet that analyzed the findings.

Driving the news: Mortality in U.S. prisons increased 77% in 2020 compared to 2019 — more than three times higher than the free population during the worst phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study published in Science Advances.

• In Texas, there were more than 49 deaths per 10,000 incarcerated people —nearly 700 total deaths — in 2020, a roughly 60% rise in the mortality rate from just one year prior.
• The researchers, out of the University of California, Irvine, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, combined disparate state and federal prisons data to create what they consider "the most comprehensive understanding to date of in-custody mortality during 2020."

Flashback: The Marshall Project's analysis reflects earlier findings from University of Texas researchers.

• UT researchers in November 2020 found that people in Texas prisons tested positive for COVID-19 at a rate 40% higher than the national prison population and a 490% higher rate than the state's general population.

What they're saying: Michele Deitch, who directs LBJ's Prison and Jail Innovation Lab and led the 2020 prison research, notes that the pandemic also kept people from getting access to health care, including preventative care.

• "Even if a lot of the deaths aren't formally attributable to COVID, we know that there were disproportionate numbers of deaths during that time period, and people were also dying from other conditions that they shouldn't have been dying from," Deitch tells Axios.

Older prison populations

Elon Musk sought to dispel concerns by investors and analysts about Austin-based Tesla on Tuesday evening, following a disastrous start to the year for the world's most valuable car company.

Why it matters: Tesla is grappling with slumping sales, increased competition and questions over its spending priorities.

Driving the news: The company on Tuesday reported revenue of $21.3 billion and net income of $1.13 billion in the first quarter, down 9% and 55% from the same period a year earlier.

Catch up quick: In the past three weeks alone, Tesla reported a huge miss in its Q1 vehicle deliveries, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a recall of all 4,000 Cybertrucks and Musk told employees that Tesla was cutting 10% of its workforce.

• Nearly 2,700 Austin jobs will be cut, according to a WARN notice posted this week.

What they're saying: Still, Musk said Tesla would achieve autonomous vehicle breakthroughs "even if I got kidnapped by aliens tomorrow," though it might take longer to get there.

What's next: Musk said the company would provide more details about its next-generation vehicles when it introduces a robotaxi at an event Aug. 8.

Affordable model production

Pflugerville police are searching for 35-year-old Crystal Caudillo, who was last seen on March 15. (KVUE)

🚙 Tesla used a new state law to remove itself from Austin's extraterritorial jurisdiction, making its factory no longer subject to the city's environmental regulations. (Austin Business Journal 🔒)

🧳 Austin-based Oracle will move its world headquarters to a "huge campus" in Nashville to be closer to a major health care epicenter, chairman Larry Ellison said yesterday. (CNBC)

Foxtrot Market abruptly closed all stores yesterday, including four in Austin.

Why it matters: The Chicago-based boutique grocer bet big on Austin, opening stores on The Drag, South First, Burnet Road and Second Street.

• The shops were filled with artisanal snacks and wine and quickly became a popular local spot after first arriving last year.

Driving the news: All of Foxtrot's 33 national stores across Austin, Chicago, D.C. and Dallas closed as of Tuesday, per a company release.

• Delivery, the Foxtrot app and customer credits also ceased.
• "We explored many avenues to continue the business but found no viable option despite good faith and exhaustive efforts," the release says.

Between the lines: The closures come just a few months after Foxtrot Market merged with Chicago boutique grocery Dom's Kitchen & Market.

The intrigue: Management notified corporate workers over a conference call Tuesday morning, and many store employees were left in the dark, Eater Chicago reports.

👋 Axios Texas Bureau chief Bob Gee here with a recipe for loquat syrup to try.

Why it matters: Loquat trees are often planted as ornamental evergreens, but their fruit is actually tasty when ripe.

• We made ours over the weekend, and my 3-year-old helped pick the loquats.

What to do: Look for loquats that are turning orange. Fill a bowl and try a few as you do.

• Back home, cut each fruit in half, remove the seeds and drop the halves in a pot. Cover with water and boil for at least half an hour.
• Mash with a potato masher and run the mashed loquats with the liquid through a food mill, then strain the remaining liquid through a cheesecloth.
• Pour the liquid back into the pot and add lots of sugar — 2/3 of the volume of liquid — and the juice of one lemon for every 4 cups or so.
• Boil on high for about 15 minutes.
• After it cools slightly, give it a stir and carefully pour it into small Mason jars and refrigerate.

The bottom line: Give some to your neighbor with the loquat trees and enjoy the rest on plain yogurt or Sunday morning pancakes!

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