Bastrop commissioners to discuss Aquifer Storage and Recovery opposition
Bastrop County officials will continue to discuss a potential resolution stating commissioners' opposition to Austin's planned Aquifer Storage and Recovery project at a future meeting after tabling the item Sept. 8.
The ASR project, approved as part of Austin’s Water Forward Plan, aims to store and draw water at the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer through a facility Austin officials plan to build in northeast Bastrop County, as previously reported by Community Impact.
What residents should know: Although the resolution was tabled during a meeting Sept. 8, Precinct 2 Commissioner Clara Beckett noted a recent conversation she had with the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District—an agency the Texas Legislature created to protect the water supply for residents in Bastrop and Lee counties.
She asked the president of the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District board, “If you could be king for the day and write a piece of legislation, what would it be?”
SpaceX poised for $8 million in upgrades in Bastrop
SpaceX is slated to expand its footprint in Bastrop.
The facility at 858 FM 1209 in Bastrop will soon add an additional 80,000 square feet to its existing office space—an estimated $8 million in upgrades, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
The project is scheduled to begin on Sept. 1 and conclude Jan. 1, 2026, according to the filing.
Some context: In March, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that a $17.3 million grant was awarded to SpaceX through the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to assist with the expansion, which is expected to create more than 400 jobs.
“Texas connects the nation and the world with the most advanced technologies manufactured right here in our great state,” he said at the time.
Although the next phase of the project is for 80,000 square feet, SpaceX plans to add 1 million square feet to the facility—which will feature space for printed circuit boards, a semiconductor failure analysis lab and advanced packaging for panel level packaging—over the next three years.
Alpha School showcases expedited student learning through artificial intelligence alongside state, federal leaders
Austin-based private school Alpha School is aiming to expedite learning for more students using artificial intelligence at new academies opening across the country.
What happened: On Sept. 9, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Alpha School in Austin alongside Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath. Alpha School co-founder MacKenzie Price highlighted how the school is using AI to personalize and improve students’ education.
What they're saying:“It's the most exciting thing I've seen in education in a long time,” McMahon said about Alpha School. “I'm incredibly enthusiastic about this.”
How it works: Students complete their academic learning in two hours each day using an AI platform known as 2 Hour Learning. Price said the Alpha School model enables students to learn twice as fast as they would in a traditional school setting.
The update: Alpha School opened several new academies across the United States this school year, including a K-3 school in Plano and K-8 school in Fort Worth. The company is planning to open an academy in Houston this winter.
Cellphone ban, library materials: 8 new Texas laws impacting public schools
When Texas students returned to school in August, some substantial changes awaited them.
The overview:
House Bill 2 increases state funding for public schools by $8.4 billion.
House Bill 1481 prohibits students from using cellphones and other personal communication devices throughout the school day.
Senate Bill 12 requires parental consent for students to receive "medical, psychiatric and psychological treatment" on campus.
Senate Bill 13 gives parents and school boards more oversight of library materials.
House Bill 6 gives teachers more discretion to remove repeatedly disruptive or violent students from class.
Senate Bill 10 requires most schools to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
Senate Bill 11 allows districts to set aside time for students and staff to pray or read religious texts at school.
Senate Bill 965 codifies school employees' rights to "engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty."
The context: The sweeping changes come after lawmakers passed what state leaders have called “transformative” education laws during this year’s regular legislative session, which ended June 2.
