Whataburger officials filed construction plans June 25 to build a new fast-food restaurant at the chain's current Bastrop spot.

The details: Plans for the $2.5 million project include a new 3,800-square-foot fast-food restaurant with sit-in dining and drive-thru service.

It is unclear whether the restaurant will be closed during construction, as officials did not respond to requests for more information by publication. Community Impact will publish updates as more information becomes available.

Zooming out: Two other Whataburger restaurants serve Bastrop County, including:

• 2537 SH 21 E., Paige

• 1392 US 290 W., Elgin

What’s next: Construction at the Bastrop location is expected to begin Aug. 3 and be completed by Dec. 29.

• 401 SH 71 W., Bastrop

Stay in the know with seven Independence Day events in Bastrop County, including fireworks, parades, live music, history programs and family-friendly activities from June 28-July 4.

Austin will strip markings from several roadways in response to state and federal safety directives, ending months of local planning and opposition to mandates.

A national transportation safety program launched in 2025 led Texas officials to mandate the removal of all roadway markings deemed to be potentially distracting and unrelated to traffic control. Cities and counties that didn't comply risked losing significant funding and mobility partnerships, prompting Austin to begin a local compliance process that includes prominent installations like rainbow painted crosswalks downtown and a roadway mural dedicated to Black artists in East Austin. 

A city review found crashes around more than a dozen targeted roadways weren't impacted by street art or paintings, and sought exemptions from the state process. However, the city learned this spring that no exceptions would be made and all markings will now be stripped this summer.

City leaders had also convened a resident-led task force to propose alternative installations at the identified locations, a process that is continuing after public celebrations at those places in June.

State lawmakers are considering water use impacts tied to the spread of new data center developments across Texas, and recently heard input from industry representatives and residents as they plan for next year's legislative session.

The setup: The initial review may preview proposed state laws regarding data centers and their local impacts. Ahead of the hearing, Gov. Greg Abbott also stated his "bottom line" expectations for data centers going forward: providing their own power, reusing water and reducing electricity costs for their neighbors.

Testimony from regulators revealed that Texas lacks accurate information about the water use of most data centers now operating statewide, despite mandates to submit those details.

Representatives suggested data centers' self-reporting on utility use could be one topic to address next year. Many impacted residents and elected officials also raised concerns with public notice and local regulatory authority in relation to the high-profile developments.