From a proposed public hearing about a Cedar Creek power plant to new downtown business rules and more, catch up on three stories drawing attention across Bastrop-Cedar Creek.

What’s happening: Bastrop County commissioners are asking the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to hold a public meeting on Pacifico Energy’s proposed natural gas-fired power plant, which would support a 2,842-acre Cedar Creek data center campus.

Also of note: Bastrop officials are considering new Downtown Historic District rules aimed at increasing foot traffic. Residents and business owners can weigh in during the P&Z public hearing at 6 p.m. on Oct. 29 at Bastrop City Hall, 1311 Chestnut St.

One more thing: Bastrop’s love-lock tradition is returning with the BTX Love Locks sculpture, which officials plan to unveil during the Old Iron Bridge ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 4.

Winnona and Marcus McDonald are now serving slow-cooked barbecue sandwiches and more from their new food truck at Terry's Corner near Paige.

What they offer: Doug’s Boys Pig & Loaf serves slow-cooked barbecue with a sandwich-first twist, including chopped beef, pulled pork and sausage.

Other options include loaded macaroni and cheese or loaded nachos.

What else? The Black-owned business also offers catering and mobile barbecue vending for community gatherings and special events.

• Opened Aug. 29

• 1148 SH 21, Bastrop

Read trending stories from the Austin area Oct. 19-23.

1. Hopdoddy Burger Bar announces opening date for Pflugerville location

2. Austin airport likely to see busy travel days surrounding Formula 1 Race

3. Monument Cafe opens beer garden and market in Georgetown

4. Major McCarty Lane developments gain opening timeline clarity

5. SH 71 update: Where 3 Bastrop County projects stand

6. New Chipotle location coming soon to Cedar Park

In July, Texas' top elected officials directed most state agencies, appellate courts and public universities to cut spending by 3% in their base budget requests for the next two years.

The overview: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows said those reductions will help Texas hold a "strong fiscal position" by expanding property tax relief and maintaining public education funding when the legislature returns to Austin next year.

The issue: Dozens of agency leaders have warned that the cuts, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, are not sustainable. They would cause Texas residents to lose "essential" services and lead to losses in state revenue, leaders said at the Capitol and in budget documents.

Zooming in: Government institutions protesting the budget reductions include the comptroller's office, the attorney general, Texas' Cancer Prevention and Research Institute, state criminal justice agencies and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.