Tesla has rolled out a limited version of its long-awaited robotaxi service in Austin, culminating what CEO Elon Musk described as "a decade of hard work."

Why it matters: Autonomous vehicles represent a critical growth area for Tesla, whose electric vehicle sales have declined, in part due to blowback from Musk's political activity.

Driving the news: A handful of social media influencers and Tesla investors were the first to ride without a driver in Tesla's taxi service, paying a flat $4.20 fee.

• A Tesla employee rode along in the front passenger seat as a precaution, although it was unclear whether the safety monitor could control the car from there.

The intrigue: U.S. safety regulators are seeking information from Tesla after examining online videos of robotaxis appearing to violate traffic laws, including using the wrong lane and of speeding by another driverless vehicle, Reuters and Bloomberg News reported Monday.

How it works: The service operates between 6 a.m. and midnight, and only within certain "geofenced" areas, covering about a third of central Austin. It also doesn't operate in rain.

Zoom in: Texas lawmakers showed more interest in regulating robotaxis this session.

• Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed a bill, which takes effect Sept. 1, to require robotaxi operators to obtain state permits before operating without a human driver.
• A 2017 Texas law preempted local regulation of autonomous vehicles, which made the state fertile ground for companies' expansion.

Reality check: Tesla is still far behind Waymo, which launched its first driverless rides to the public in 2020 and now has a fleet of 1,500 robotaxis in multiple states.

• Uber began offering Waymo rides through the Uber app to Austin riders in March.

Safety monitors in Tesla cars

Texas' multibillion-dollar hemp industry faces the potential for heavy regulation after Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a THC ban Sunday and called for a special session in part to tackle the issue.

Why it matters: The Legislature now has to decide how to proceed with Abbott's call to further regulate consumable hemp after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's push to ban the substance failed.

Driving the news: In his Senate Bill 3 veto proclamation, Abbott made several recommendations to lawmakers on how to potentially regulate the industry during a special session in July, including:

• Making it a crime to sell or transfer consumable hemp products to minors and banning sales near schools, churches, parks and other places children frequent.
• Mandating testing and manufacturing guidelines for producers and adding permits, fees and other regulatory requirements.
• Relegating sales to the same hours alcohol can be sold and bolstering the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's authority to monitor the industry, among other suggestions.

What they're saying: Patrick, a fellow Republican, pushed back against Abbott at a press conference yesterday, saying he would not support a bill that "legalizes recreational marijuana in Texas."

• "I will not gavel it down, and that's what he's asking the Legislature to do," Patrick said.

The other side: Jake Bullock, CEO of THC beverage company Cann, whose products are sold across Texas, said Abbott's veto "shows real leadership, pushing back on panic-driven narratives and acknowledging what's actually working in the real world."

What's next: The special session begins July 21.

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🥗 Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a $60 million budget measure for Texas to participate in a federal summer lunch program for low-income children. (Texas Tribune)

🚀 Terry Virts, a former astronaut and International Space Station commander, jumped into the Texas race for U.S. Senate as a Democrat. (Texas Tribune)

✏️ Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill that will require all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. (KUT)

Texas ranks 46th nationwide for 988 calls per capita, a new analysis finds.

Why it matters: Use of the 988 national suicide prevention and mental health hotline remains uneven.

• The service was launched nearly three years ago to help address America's mental health crisis.

Driving the news: The service received 18.5 contacts per 1,000 Texans in 2024, per new research published in JAMA Network Open.

• Alaska (45.3 contacts per 1,000 people) was highest and Florida (15.6) was lowest.

The big picture: 988 fielded more than 16.3 million calls, texts and chats between July 2022 and the end of 2024.

What they're saying: Several factors may contribute to the state and regional differences in 988 use, says study author Jonathan Purtle, associate professor and director of policy research at New York University's School of Global Public Health.

• That includes differences in how 988 is being advertised by states and cities, as well as political attitudes.
• Many Americans remained unfamiliar with 988 as of last summer, per Ipsos polling.

How it works

👋 Asher here. Last week I stopped by Handsome Dan's, a newish bar and bodega at Springdale Station whose vibe is meant to conjure up rural bait shops from the 1970s.

• Think vinyl stools at the counter and taxidermy hanging from the walls.

The intrigue: I think of Handsome Dan as the name of the bulldog mascot of that non-rural-bait-shop university in New Haven, but the restaurant has its own naming backstory.

• "Handsome Dan is that hunting and fishing guide everyone wanted to learn from," reads the restaurant's website.
• The friendly owner, Josh Hare, who was manning the register when I visited, told me that Handsome Dan was also the nickname of the stuffed deer-like creature behind him … so who knows.

What I ordered: The generous, moreish tuna melt — house-made tuna salad, served with a tongue of melted orange cheddar on grilled Easy Tiger sourdough — and the handsome Italian, on ciabatta.

• Sandwiches run $12 and come with a bag of chips.

Six-word review: Come for style, stay for food.