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Top story
Bastrop's H-E-B Plus debuts 2-year, $30M renovation

The community celebrated the end of nearly two years of renovations May 22 with a grand reopening celebration at Bastrop's H-E-B Plus.

In a nutshell: The now-140,000-square-foot store underwent a series of changes, including expanded and remodeled departments throughout the store.

Expansion work began in July 2024 with a larger parking lot. Since then, nearly 17,000 square feet of interior space has been added, including:

  • Bigger departments, such as meat, deli, produce, bakery and seafood
  • Expanded pharmacy space for services such as immunizations and health screenings
  • Larger curbside area
  • More options for grab-and-go meals
  • Remodeled Texas Backyard, which offers plants and gardening supplies
  • A True Texas BBQ restaurant

One more thing: During the ceremony, company officials presented $10,000 checks to three local nonprofits, including:
  • Bastrop County Animal Shelter
  • Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry
  • Family Crisis Center

Why it matters: Officials said the expansion allows for more food options in Bastrop's fast-growing community.
  • Grand reopening on May 22
  • 104 N. Hasler Blvd., Bastrop
 
Market Story
Bastrop's Texas Roadhouse sets late July opening

Texas Roadhouse will soon welcome diners at Bastrop's 75-acre mixed-use development called Sendero.

Zooming in: Managing partner Abel Fragoso told Community Impact the steakhouse is on track for a late July opening.

As of June 3, the company was hiring for 12 positions ranging from hosts and servers to line cooks, bakers and more.

On the menu: Diners can choose proteins like hand-cut steaks, seafood and chicken; scratch-made sides such as baked potatoes, macaroni and cheese and green beans; whipped honey-cinnamon butter served with freshly baked dinner rolls; and more.

Stay in the know: Click here to learn about more eateries now open or headed to Sendero.

  • Opening July 27
  • Sendero, 829 SH 71 W., Bastrop
 

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Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Fish Fry Dinner & Silent Auction

Old Town Street Festival

June 5, 5-8 p.m.
Georgetown

June 6
Leander

More info

More info

 

FREE Community Clothing Swap

2026 Round Rock Pride Festival

June 6, 1-3 p.m.
Austin

June 6, 2-7 p.m.
Round Rock

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

News Near You
Austin added tens of thousands of affordable units since 2018, but gaps for lowest-income residents remain

More than 32,000 affordable housing units were built in Austin from 2018 to 2024, representing progress toward decade-long goals established in 2017. However, options for the lowest-income residents remain scarce citywide and many parts of town continue to see relatively few affordable additions.

The details: Affordable housing gains in Austin are monitored under the city's 10-year Strategic Housing Blueprint, which includes the high-level aim of creating at least 60,000 new income-restricted housing units by 2028. New data through 2024 was released in May.

Austin passed its decade-long goal of adding at least 15,000 new units for some low-income earners, and the city has made strides toward preserving affordable housing and adding new development in active areas. As of 2024 however, housing for the lowest income brackets continued to lag and new construction may slow thanks to larger market forces.

A geographic split in affordable development is also continuing, with much of West Austin falling well below blueprint benchmarks while areas on the east side were well beyond their targets as of 2024.

 
CI Texas
$8.4B boost did not shield Texas schools from budget cuts, educators say

Nearly $8.4 billion in new state funding was not enough to save Texas public school districts from budget shortfalls and campus closures, school administrators said June 1.

What happened: During a 10-hour public hearing at the state Capitol, school district leaders spoke of efforts to stretch their budgets amid high inflationary costs as teachers explained their decisions to leave the classroom due to pay cuts and large class sizes.

The big picture: Last year, Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 2, a $8.4 billion school finance bill designed to increase educator salaries, create a new pot of money for fixed costs, provide more training for teachers and boost special education resources.

Roughly one year later, districts across Community Impact’s coverage areas are cutting staff and closing campuses, citing enrollment declines and budget shortfalls. 

Quote of note: "This funding deficit is the final straw for me, and it will be for countless other educators across the state who must leave or who lose their jobs," Austin ISD French teacher Rachel Preston told lawmakers June 1.

 

Your local team

Amanda Cutshall
Editor

Leslie Bradshaw
General Manager

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