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Bastrop County residents discuss Darling Ingredients ‘foul odors’ with TCEQ

Several Bastrop County residents took a trip to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s office in Austin on Oct. 8 for a regular meeting—a visit where they voiced their concerns about alleged “foul odors” emitted by Darling Ingredients.

Some background: The facility at 264 FM 2336 in Bastrop collects and recycles food industry waste to produce animal feed ingredients, biofuels and other byproducts, according to Darling Ingredients.

“Traditional resources are depleting and the demand for sustainable ingredients is growing,” Darling Ingredients said in a statement posted to the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce website. “That’s where we come in. We are committed to help meet that demand, as we believe that nature has significantly more to offer than we currently use.”

The outlook: State Rep. Stan Gerdes—who explained that he could smell the Bastrop facility from his home in Smithville on Sept. 26—is exploring several options to improve conditions.

“We’re looking into involving the [attorney general’s] office, and preparing legislation to stop the stink,” he said.

 
Coming Soon
Bastrop Automotive to be built on FM 969

A new auto body shop is coming to Bastrop.

The details: Bastrop Automotive, owned by Maxwell residents Steve and Marissa Classen, is scheduled to begin soon, with a completion date of June 1.

The 11,980-square-foot facility and parking area, which will be adjacent to Caliber Collision, is estimated to cost $485,000.

  • 119 FM 969, Bastrop

 

YOUR WEEKEND TO-DO LIST

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

To submit your own event, click here!

Bastrop  |  Oct. 10, 8-10:30 a.m.

Little Hike

More info

 

San Marcos  |  Oct. 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Monarch Fest & Fall Native Plant Sale

More info

 

Hutto  |  Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Hutto’s 40th annual Olde Tyme Days

More info

 

Leander  |  Oct. 11, 3-7 p.m.

Artoberfest 2025

More info

 

Austin  |  Oct. 11, 8 p.m.-midnight

The Pancakes & Booze Art Show

More info

 
CI Texas
New York-based tech company to run Texas’ education savings account program

Odyssey, a New York-based tech company, has been selected to manage Texas’ $1 billion education savings account program, the state comptroller’s office announced Oct. 6.

The overview: Odyssey will work with the comptroller to launch the program, deemed “Texas Education Freedom Accounts,” ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Families can begin applying for the program early next year, and those accepted will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to private school or homeschool them.

Zooming in: Odyssey will develop and manage an online platform to administer Texas’ education savings account program. State law also tasks the company with:

  • Collecting applications and determining which families are accepted to the program
  • Approving vendors for education-related materials and services, such as textbooks, transportation and tutoring
  • Reviewing inquiries and complaints about the program
  • Advertising the program and communicating with interested families 

Odyssey operates similar education savings account programs in Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Utah and Wyoming.

 

Your local team

Amanda Cutshall
Editor

Leslie Bradshaw
General Manager

Email [email protected] for story ideas, tips or questions.

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