A community banquet will honor Bastrop County veterans while raising funds for local programs supporting service members, student cadets and veteran recognition efforts.

What to expect: Dedicated to honoring local service members, the Red, White & Blue Veterans of Bastrop County Banquet will offer a catered dinner, raffles, live music and more.

Why it matters: Proceeds from the banquet go to the Bastrop County Veterans Honor Guard, the Bastrop and Elgin High School NJROTC programs, Restoration Ranch, and the Bastrop Memorial and Veterans Day Ceremonies.

• Nov. 14, 6-9 p.m.

• $30 (admission, veterans and spouses); $40 (admission, non-veterans)

• Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center, 1408 Chestnut St., Bastrop

Catch up on some of the most-read Bastrop-Cedar Creek stories from Oct. 26-30, including SH 71 project updates, new retail, school initiatives, data center permitting and more.

1. SH 71 update: Where 3 Bastrop County projects stand: Pope Bend Road nears bidding as work advances at FM 1209 and Tucker Hill Lane.

2. Burlington plans $3.3M store in Burleson Crossing East: Construction is expected to begin Nov. 9 at Burleson Crossing East.

3. Bastrop ISD administrative staff trade offices for classrooms: A new districtwide initiative requires all staff to substitute in a classroom at least one day per academic year.

4. UPDATE: Texas halts online environmental permit filing amid data center review: Texas regulators continued advancing data center applications after Gov. Greg Abbott's Sept. 21 directive, prompting renewed scrutiny of the state's permitting process.

5. Bastrop County early voting turnout tops previous midterms: About 25% of eligible Bastrop County voters cast ballots in the first week.

St. David’s HealthCare CEO David Huffstutler will retire in March 2027, the health system announced Oct. 15.

What we know: Huffstutler has led the system, the fourth-largest private employer in the Austin area, since February 2011. The system grew from 60 sites of care to more than 200 in Central Texas during his tenure, per the announcement. It now has nine hospitals. He will stay on as president and CEO through March and is also president of HCA Healthcare’s Central and West Texas Division.

What’s next: HCA Healthcare, the system’s hospital operating partner, is searching nationwide for his successor and expects to announce a choice in the next few months.

At her first public event since winning the Nov. 3 election, Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa announced her initial plans for the transition between gubernatorial administrations, emphasizing her plans to work across the aisle in "building a government that is working for the people of Texas."

The overview: Hinojosa also announced the team leading her transition to the governor's office:

• Joe Madden, former chief of staff for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo

• Former GOP state Rep. Ernest Bailes

• Ryan Pollock, executive director of the Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council

• Tamala Barksdale, a former Austin ISD trustee

Quote of note: "This is not about being a Democratic administration," she said. "I'm not going to be the governor for just Democrats—I'm going to be the governor for all the people of Texas."

One more thing: Hinojosa said Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, whom she unseated in the Nov. 3 election, had been "gracious" and expressed that his office would "fully cooperate with this transition and be helpful as they can."