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Bastrop-area residents seeking a place to connect, share experiences and navigate life’s challenges can take advantage of a range of local support groups focused on specific topics and situations.

GriefShare: The program, designed for people who are grieving the death of a loved one, helps participants navigate the emotional, mental and spiritual challenges that come with grief.

• River Valley Christian Fellowship, 1224 Hwy. 71 W., Bldg. B, Bastrop

• 431 Old Austin Hwy., Bastrop

• Hampton Inn and Suites, 240 S. Hasler Blvd., Bastrop

Jersey Mike’s Subs will open its first Bastrop location this spring, a company representative told Community Impact. 

The details: The 1,800-square-foot fast-dining restaurant—known for using the same recipes since opening its first location in New Jersey in 1956—will cost approximately $650,000, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. 

The menu: Nearly 30 sandwiches will be available for purchase, including:

• Buffalo Chicken Cheese Steak, served hot with Frank’s Red Hot-seasoned chicken, white American cheese and topped with blue cheese dressing
• Big Kahuna Chicken Cheese Steak, served with grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms, jalapeños and white American cheese
• Mike’s Famous Philly, served hot with grilled steak, peppers, onions and white American cheese
• Club Supreme, served cold with roast beef, turkey, bacon, mayonnaise and Swiss cheese
• Original Italian, served cold with provolone, ham, prosciuttini, cappacuolo, salami and pepperoni

• Sendero, 853 Hwy. 71 W., Ste. 104, Bastrop

Texas Children’s Hospital in North Austin has become the first pediatric hospital to have its own helicopter based in Austin.

The helicopter will allow Texas Children’s Hospital to provide faster critical care to more patients across Central Texas.

In their own words: “[The helicopter] represents Texas Children's long-term investment in this region and a commitment to bringing world-class pediatric, neonatal, and maternal care closer to home,” said Jeff Shilt, Texas Children's president of Austin and Central Texas, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 12.

How it works: Through the new helicopter, Texas Children’s may pick up patients from community hospitals who need specialized pediatric care and transport them to the North Austin hospital.

The mobile intensive care unit is operated by Texas Children’s Kangaroo Crew of registered nurses and respiratory therapists who can begin providing ICU therapies to stabilize patients at their bedside before arriving at the hospital.

The impact: The Austin-based helicopter can travel within a 120-nautical-mile service area, including Waco, San Antonio, Houston and College Station.

Check out some of the top trending news stories from the Austin area Jan. 26-29. 

1. PopStroke eyes spring opening for new Cedar Park venture

2. Layne's Chicken Fingers now open in Leander

3. Juan & Lupe's Kitchen closes in Georgetown

4. Tejas Meat Supply to expand to Round Rock

5. New lakeshore landscape unfolding south of downtown Austin

6. Tumble 22 opens new Pflugerville location  

The March 3 primary election is coming up, and so is the deadline to register to vote. Eligible Texans must register by Feb. 2 to cast votes in dozens of races, including 18 statewide officials, 38 members of Congress, 166 state legislators and various local seats, such as county judges and commissioners.

How to register: Texans must submit a paper voter registration application by Feb. 2. Applications can be mailed to their county elections office or delivered in person.

To avoid delivery delays under new federal postmark rules, prospective voters may request that mailed applications be hand-stamped at a local post office.

The big picture: Texas holds primaries for partisan elected positions at the federal, state, regional and local levels. Republican and Democratic primary voters will have a say in which candidates will represent their chosen political party on the November ballot, shaping who is ultimately elected to each seat.

In recent years, no more than one-fourth of registered Texas voters have cast ballots in primary elections, state data shows.

In the upcoming March 3 primary, voters will select the Republican candidate in the race for Texas governor. Eleven Republicans are seeking the nomination.

The overview: Republican incumbent Greg Abbott is seeking a fourth term in the governor's office. He is challenged by ten Republican candidates: R.F. "Bob" Achgill, Evelyn Brooks, Pete “Doc” Chambers, Charles Andrew Crouch, Arturo Espinosa, Mark V. Goloby, Kenneth Hyde, Stephen Samuelson, Ronnie Tullos and Nathaniel Welch.

Stay tuned: If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the Republican primary, a runoff election will be held between the two top vote-getters May 26.

The winning Republican candidate will face the winner of the Democratic nomination in November; the winner of that election will be sworn in for a four-year term in January 2027.

In the upcoming March 3 primary, voters will select the Democratic candidate in the race for Texas governor. Nine Democrats are seeking the nomination.

The big picture: Patricia Abrego, Chris Bell, Bobby Cole, Carlton Hart, Gina Hinojosa, Jose Navarro Balbuena, Faizan Syed, Zach Vance and Angela “Tia Angie” Villescaz will appear on the Democratic primary ballot for Texas governor.

Stay tuned: If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the Democratic primary, a runoff election will be held between the two top vote-getters May 26.

The winning Democratic candidate will face the Republican nominee in November, and the winner of that race will be sworn in for a four-year term in January 2027.