A West Texas revolt is erasing hundreds of miles of President Trump's planned border wall.

Why it matters: The opposition in the Big Bend sector, which includes 517 miles of the southern border along the Rio Grande, is against the physical steel wall, not border security in general.

The latest: Advocacy groups and a West Texas resident sued the Trump administration last week over allegations it bypassed environmental laws to speed up building efforts, per the Texas Tribune.

State of play: Since last October, there have been about 42,800 encounters with border crossers at the southern border. Just 1,080 were in the Big Bend sector.

Catch up quick: After community pushback, the mileage of planned steel barriers in the Big Bend sector has been reduced to roughly 175 miles, according to No Big Bend Wall, a new local coalition tracking the mapping.

• "Regionally, we're a united voice," David Keller, a Presidio County resident and archeologist, tells Axios. "Republican, Democrat, Libertarian: doesn't matter. We all don't want it."
• The coalition's list of grievances with physical barriers includes degradation to vulnerable watersheds and archeological sites, disruption of animal migrations and the region's famous dark night skies, and hits to private property values.

The intrigue: Gov. Greg Abbott was assured by Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks that there wouldn't be a physical wall in Big Bend National Park or Big Bend Ranch State Park, a source familiar with the talks tells Axios.

The other side: "CBP continues to coordinate with the National Park Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and other federal and state agencies, throughout the planning of border barrier and technology deployments, in order to achieve Border Patrol's operational priorities," CBP spokesperson Hilton Beckham said in a statement.

Friction point: While some state and public parks have seen some relief from the physical wall plans, private land owners have already started receiving letters from the Army Corps of Engineers about leasing agreements for construction access.

The bottom line: The wins so far aren't enough for some Big Bend residents.

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Five technology startups with ties to San Antonio will compete today for a chance to win more than $50,000 in prize money to help them size up.

Why it matters: San Antonio's tech industry is small but growing, and the Tech Fuel startup competition aims to support its trajectory and the people behind it.

How it works: The five finalists are competing for part of a $100,000 pot backed primarily through Bexar County's Innovation Fund.

• Each finalist automatically gets $2,500. The grand prize winner gets another $50,000, second place gets $20,000, and third place gets $10,000. An honorable mention will be awarded $7,500.

The finalists:

• Rent Bamboo uses AI to help property management companies with leasing.
• ComeBack Mobility offers a tracking service to watch the weight load on limbs after injury.
• Freyya, based in Salt Lake City and led by a San Antonio CEO, created a pelvic floor monitoring device.
• Openlane brings automation to company compliance.
• Bytewhisper Security helps address risks with AI-generated software and software that uses AI.

If you go: The Tech Fuel pitch competition takes place 2-6pm today at the Weston Conference Center at UT San Antonio's San Pedro I building downtown.

• It's free to attend, but you must register in advance.

What's next: The half-day Tech Day conference is tomorrow at the Boeing Center at Tech Port. Find the schedule online.

🛍️ T.J. Maxx is planning its first store on the South Side near South Park Mall. (SA Business Journal 🔑)

🍔 Food truck Lucky Patty Smash Burgers will open its first brick-and-mortar restaurant downtown in the Maverick Building, though it is unclear when. (SA Current)

🇲🇽 Mexico Ceaty, the food court by chef Jason Dady, opens today at the Shops at Rivercenter. (CultureMap SA)

📈 Texas' economy hit a record $2.9 trillion in 2025, continuing to outpace national growth, according to preliminary federal estimates. (KFOX)

Dorrego's, the bar inside Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, is offering a reverse happy hour dubbed "The Nightcap Edit."

Why it matters: Just steps from the Majestic and Empire theaters, it's an easy spot to keep the night going after a show — especially with Fiesta Cornyation happening this week.

State of play: The menu features $6 well drinks, $6 house wine by the glass, $4 domestic beers and $5 imports, 9-11pm daily.

• Fiesta specialty cocktails — the Oaxacan Ember (mezcal-based) and La Siesta (a Spanish-style spritz) — cost $10.

The bottom line: The night doesn't have to end when the curtain call hits.