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🗓️ Programming note: We're off tomorrow in observance of Veterans Day.

• To all veterans, thank you for your service.

Today’s newsletter is 951 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Tesla launched its robotaxi service yesterday in San Antonio.

Why it matters: The rollout expands autonomous vehicle offerings in the Alamo City, where Waymo is the only other operator, and grows the footprint where San Antonians can hail a self-driving car.

The latest: The Tesla service area covers downtown and nearby areas, extending to The Shops at La Cantera and Six Flags Fiesta Texas on the Northwest Side.

• Waymo's service area only extends as far north as San Antonio International Airport.

Yes, but: Waymo is authorized to take riders to and from the airport. Tesla is not yet, airport spokesperson Tonya Hope tells Axios.

The big picture: Waymo is broadly considered the national leader in robotaxis. Tesla is looking to compete, TechCrunch reported.

• Tesla often begins its robotaxi service with a limited number of vehicles and gradually expands, per the technology news website.

Reality check: Tesla appears to have just one robotaxi vehicle in San Antonio, per the website Robotaxi Tracker. When the company launched in Houston in April, it had just two vehicles.

Flashback: Tesla is planning a robotaxi charging hub on the North Side, which the City Council OK'd this fall. That could mean more vehicles are on the way.

Catch up quick: Waymo launched locally in February, but paused operations to make fixes after one of its vehicles drove into floodwaters.

• Waymo relaunched in San Antonio in September.
• Waymo told city councilmembers last week it has no immediate plans to expand its San Antonio service area, but will add vehicles as demand grows. It has about 100 vehicles locally.

What we're watching: Texas is a key testing ground for self-driving cars, as the state has generally limited local restrictions. But last week's Democratic election sweep could tap the brakes on the industry's ambitious growth plans.

• While Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa didn't say much on the campaign trail about AVs, she was among seven Democratic Texas lawmakers who asked Tesla in 2025 to postpone its Austin robotaxi launch until new regulations took effect.

U.S. veteran homelessness declined more than 50% over the past 15 years, according to the latest federal housing data.

Why it matters: The widespread declines represent significant progress in addressing homelessness among those who served, including in Texas.

By the numbers: Veteran homelessness declined in 43 states and Washington, D.C., between 2011 and 2025, according to an Axios analysis of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) data.

• New York (-78%), North Dakota (-77%), Louisiana (-75%) and Georgia (-72%) saw the sharpest declines in that timeframe.

Zoom in: Veteran homelessness dropped 61% in Texas from 2011 to 2025.

• There were more than 1,900 veterans who were homeless across Texas last year.

Zoom out: The Pacific Northwest stands out as a region where progress was limited. Oregon saw veteran homelessness rise by 11% after 2011.

• Housing costs and a shortage of available housing are among the challenges facing veterans and non-veterans alike in that part of the country.

How it works: The HUD data reflects point-in-time counts, annual estimates of the population experiencing homelessness taken during a single night in January.

What we're watching: Whether new VA programs help house more veterans.

🚧 President Trump can continue border wall construction in Big Bend National Park after the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday paused a lower court's ruling that blocked work there. (Reuters)

⏭️ Democratic state lawmakers filed bills yesterday to expand Medicaid, raise the minimum wage, ban Flock cameras and more, offering an early look at priorities ahead of next year's legislative session. (Texas Tribune)

🗃️ The federal government agreed to conduct an environmental review of a planned ICE detention center on San Antonio's East Side, following a city lawsuit over the matter, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said yesterday. (SA Report)

🏈 Our Lady of the Lake University will begin its first football season next fall. (KENS)

Five people, including three children, were killed when a car went off an overpass in Seguin on Sunday. (MySA)

Holidays on Houston Street is outgrowing its namesake, with this year's festivities spreading to new sections of downtown.

The latest: The popular holiday market will now run over two full weekends for the first time, and will relocate from Houston Street to La Villita.

• The market will run Dec. 4-6 and Dec. 18-20.
• Also new this year is the Downtown West Chili Classic on Dec. 5 at Legacy Park. A $20 ticket gets you chili tastings in support of Hogs for the Cause.

Returning events include:

• A Taste of Holidays on Houston Street: Dec. 3.
• The SATX 5K, a collaboration between Holidays on Houston and the San Antonio Marathon: Dec. 4.
• Texas Public Radio's Holiday Night City: Dec. 11.
• The Gingerbread Building Competition, led by chef Johnny Hernandez with St. Philip's College culinary students: Dec. 11-13.

What they're saying: "What began as a vision to reimagine the holiday experience along one of downtown's most iconic corridors has grown into something much bigger," Centro San Antonio CEO Trish DeBerry said in a statement.

Thanks to our editors Astrid Galván and Bob Gee.

🫶 Madalyn loves that Victor Wembanyama added some 210 love to this card autograph.

😋 Megan is enjoying some pumpkin chia pudding this week.