Bastrop could gain a Dick’s Sporting Goods at Burleson Crossing East.

What we know: City Manager Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino teased the sporting goods retailer during the Sept. 14 State of the City address while discussing the development’s second phase.

She said Burleson Crossing East developers will extend a portion of nearby Blakey Lane because “there is a store that rhymes with Rick's that sells baseballs and those kinds of things” on the way.

What they offer: Dick’s Sporting Goods sells athletic apparel and footwear, sports equipment and outdoor gear for activities ranging from baseball and basketball to golf, fishing and fitness.

• Opening TBD

• Burleson Crossing East, SH 71 and Edward Burleson Lane, Bastrop

Get ready for spooky season with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, festivals and more happening across Bastrop County.

• Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park (Fridays-Sundays through Nov. 1): Brave five haunted attractions, a haunted hayride and other spooky entertainment in Smithville.

• Evergreen Farms Pumpkin Hunt (weekends through Oct. 31): Hunt for pumpkins and enjoy train rides, mazes, zip lines and other activities in Elgin.

• Pumpkin Patch and Trunk or Treat party (weekends through Oct. 31; Oct. 23): Visit Community Gardens for its seasonal pumpkin patch, then return for a free trunk-or-treat with decorated booths, vehicles and local vendors.

• Spooks & Scandals Walking Tour (Oct. 24): Explore ghost stories and darker tales from historic downtown Bastrop.

• 21st annual Fall Fest (Oct. 25): Enjoy train rides, a petting zoo, games, food and more.

• Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct. 30): Dress up for the cult classic at Film Alley Bastrop.

• Boo Bash (Oct. 31): Celebrate Halloween with downtown trick-or-treating, a trunk-or-treat and family activities.

Here are six trending Austin-area stories from Sept. 14-17.

1. Check out 22 Georgetown-area business updates

2. Cedar Park to build wave pool in $10 million Veterans Memorial Pool expansion

3. Final first days: Pflugerville ISD prepares for 4 school closures, admin cuts

4. Construction on RM 620 widening project may begin in early 2029

5. Round Rock readopts trails master plan identifying new corridors for connectivity

6. Airbnb launches national affordable housing fund with $6.4M Austin investment

Some Texas Republican leaders have vowed to get rid of the property taxes that homeowners pay to their local public school districts, and lawmakers are analyzing how much it would cost to do so.

The big picture: Texas school districts collect about $29 billion per year in maintenance and operations taxes, which cover schools' daily expenses.

Of that $29 billion in school tax revenue, the state comptroller's office estimates that about $8.6 billion is paid by homeowners, and the rest comes from commercial and industrial property taxes.

This means the state would need to spend at least $8.6 billion annually to zero out homeowners' school property tax bills, officials said.

Quote of note: "Broadly speaking, you have a question about how much you want to fund schools, and then separately, where does that money come from?" Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said during a Sept. 15 legislative hearing. "If you have a target of how much you want to spend, you need to make sure you have enough variable revenue sources to reach that."