Two candidates will face off for Bastrop County Judge in the November general election.

Who's running? Republican incumbent Gregory Klaus and Democratic candidate Dock Jackson will compete in the Nov. 3 election for Bastrop County Judge.

How we got here: In the March 3 primary election, Klaus defeated Republican challenger Donald Loucks with about 64% of the vote.

Jackson was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Dates to know: Voter registration is open through Oct. 5 for the November elections.

Other key dates include:

• Oct. 19: Early voting begins

• Oct. 23: Deadline for the Elections Office to receive a ballot-by-mail application

• Oct. 30: Last day of early voting

• Nov. 3: Election Day

What else? Community Impact's goal with election Q&As is to provide a side-by-side, equitable resource for Bastrop County voters to review candidates' perspectives before they head to the polls.

Learn more: Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents.

Circuit of the Americas is gearing up to go beyond racing with the opening of COTALAND Theme Park later this month.

A closer look: Officials said the park will offer everything from extreme-thrill coasters to children’s rides and family-friendly attractions.

Learn more: The roughly 30-acre park will feature 33 attractions, with a compact layout designed in part to help keep guests and employees cooler during hot Central Texas summers.

Bobby Epstein, chairman and founder of COTA, discussed the approach with Community Impact before construction began.

“Most parks would spread this many rides out over a wider space, but what we’ve tried to do with this park is actually condense it a little bit so that we have more shade,” Epstein said.

What's next? Beyond COTALAND, officials said they are planning a water park and, longer term, an on-site resort to expand the venue's year-round entertainment offerings.

Community Impact will provide more details as plans develop.

• Opening Sept. 26

• 9111 Circuit of the Americas Blvd., Del Valle

To strengthen consumer protections, the Texas Department of Insurance is asking state lawmakers to consider adjusting when new home and auto insurance rates are implemented.

What's happening: Texas currently operates under a "file-and-use" system, allowing insurance companies to begin using new rates immediately after they are filed, regardless of whether the TDI has reviewed them.

In a Sept. 14 letter detailing actions the department is taking to address Texas' high home insurance costs, Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford suggested that the legislature look into "adding a delay between a rate filing and its use in the market." Under the current system, if the TDI finds an issue with a new insurance rate, there is "limited" redress for affected policyholders if that rate is already in effect.

The background: Crawford's letter comes after Gov. Greg Abbott directed the TDI to take affordability-focused actions in an Aug. 24 letter.

Texans paid the nation's fourth-highest home insurance premiums at the end of 2025, according to previous Community Impact reporting.