Bastrop County commissioners unanimously approved a measure allowing SpaceX to apply for state tax incentives through the Texas Enterprise Zone Program, following more than an hour of public comment, much of it focused on data centers and tax abatements.

What's happening: The designation allows SpaceX to pursue “Triple Jumbo Project” incentives tied to at least $250 million in investment and 500 new jobs. The company said it plans to invest $855 million to expand production of Starlink user terminal kits at its Bastrop County facility and produce more than 10 million units by the end of 2026. SpaceX currently employs more than 1,500 workers in the county.

Officials emphasized the vote does not grant local tax breaks or permits but enables a state-level application process.

Most speakers shared concerns about data centers, citing water use concerns amid drought conditions and broader opposition to tax incentives for large-scale projects.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries has opened a thrift store in Cedar Creek aimed at funding career support services for residents in Bastrop County and Cedar Creek.

The details: The store opened in April and is located on the Cedar Creek United Methodist Church campus.

Proceeds from donated goods will support job assistance programs, including English-for-work classes, access to tools and clothing needed for employment, and emergency support such as utility assistance for people who have lost jobs.

The thrift store also fills a gap for affordable shopping in the area while expanding access to workforce resources for residents who may not qualify for other programs, according to Methodist Healthcare Ministries staff.

The store is open 2-7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

A new Carvana, Austin Country Club renovations and a higher education center are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

Carvana ($65 million): Located off SH 130 in Manor, the business will offer automotive sales and services.

Austin Country Club ($38 million): This project involves construction at the country club, including a parking garage, a fitness building and a dining building. Renovations will also be made to an existing youth building.

Ayn Rand Center ($30 million): Located near the University of Texas at Austin, the center will consist of a library, exhibition spaces, offices and higher education classrooms.

One of the Kids Therapy Center ($10 million): The therapy center, which has locations in Cedar Park and South Austin, offers applied behavior analysis, speech, occupational therapy, swim therapy and more.

O'Reilly Auto Parts ($1.4 million): Construction on the automotive store in San Marcos is set to begin this fall.

In the May 26 runoff election, Republican voters across Texas cast their votes in a contentious U.S. Senate race between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The context: The Republican race for U.S. Senate is one of several statewide contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

About the candidates: Cornyn, an incumbent senator with nearly 24 years in office, is seeking to hold his seat for another six years while being challenged by Paxton, the once-impeached state attorney general who was recently endorsed by President Donald Trump. Read each candidate's priorities in their own words here.  

The winning Republican candidate will face the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, state Rep. James Talarico of Austin, in November.
 
Keep reading to see the results in the Cornyn-Paxton race and find other runoff results at communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

For the first time in more than a decade, there is no incumbent in the Texas attorney general's race as Ken Paxton runs for the U.S. Senate. Voters across Texas made their picks for attorney general in the May 26 runoff election, with the winning candidate from each political party moving on to the November election.

The context: The Republican and Democratic attorney general races are among several statewide contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

The attorney general serves as Texas' top lawyer and law enforcement officer.

About the candidates: On the right, state Sen. Mayes Middleton of Galveston and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Austin are each seeking the Republican nomination for the seat.

On the left, state Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski are vying for the Democratic nomination.

Keep reading to see the results in the two attorney general races and find other runoff results at communityimpact.com/voter-guide.