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The Bastrop Public Health Department reported that more than 1,200 unique users have registered to use its Behavioral Health 360 program that launched in late September.

The details: The tool, secured through a licensing agreement with the CredibleMind platform, allows the public free access to expert-reviewed resources for user mental health and well-being improvement; interactive assessments; and mental health and well-being topic write-ups, according to county documents.

“It has gone really well since its launch,” said Donna Nichols, Bastrop Public Health Department director. “There were 439 unique users in the first two weeks, which was phenomenal. We’ve been pleased thus far.”

Zooming in: Nichols highlighted that those age 18 and younger are among the Bastrop County residents utilizing the Behavioral Health 360 program the most.

Some background: Bastrop County Commissioners Court authorized the licensing agreement with the CredibleMind platform for its Behavioral Health 360 program during a meeting July 28.

A request for proposal committee will help review and score 11 vendor submissions for roof repairs to the Bastrop County Courthouse.

The details: The RFP committee, which the Bastrop County Commissioners Court approved during a Jan. 29 meeting, will be composed of several Bastrop County staff and officials, including:

• A representative from the auditor’s office
• Audrey Loya, administrative assistant inventory specialist
• Bastrop County Judge Gregory Klaus
• Precinct 2 Commissioner Clara Beckett
• Shawn Harris, director of general services
• Tan-Li Sun, director of engineering and development

Bastrop ISD's academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year will be familiar to parents and students.

What you need to know: Trustees approved the academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year Jan. 20, choosing a calendar that starts around the same time as the 2025-26 school year and ends before June 1.

The calendar model approved was Option A. This version of the calendar received just over 50% of the vote from community members, staff said. 

Zooming in: The following are key details and considerations district staff shared about the 2026-27 school calendar:

• Spring break is consistent with those of Austin Community College and The University of Texas.
• There is at least one staff holiday per month.
• Staff winter break is two weeks and one day.
• There are 17 total development or preparation days for staff.
• The second semester will have more instructional days to account for mandated testing.

Check out six upcoming, ongoing or completed transportation projects across the Austin metro, including toll roads in North Austin and Cedar Park, various lane expansions and improvements for cyclists and pedestrians.

Upcoming: New Hope Drive expansion
The traffic changes come as the city is working to expand New Hope Drive from four to six lanes and open an innovative intersection design at New Hope Drive and 183A Toll.
Update: The project is in the design phase.

• Timeline: expected completion summer 2027
• Cost: $1.8 million
• Funding source: 2022 transportation bond

• Timeline: total project completion expected in 2026
• Cost: $612 million
• Funding source: federal funding, sale of roll revenue bonds, Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act funds

Four Republican candidates are running for Texas lieutenant governor—the second-in-command to the governor—in the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The big picture: Republican incumbent Dan Patrick is seeking a fourth term in the lieutenant governor's office. The lieutenant governor leads the Texas Senate and can exercise the powers of the governor if the governor dies, resigns, is removed from office or is absent from the state, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

Patrick is challenged by three Republican candidates: Timothy Mabry, Perla Muñoz Hopkins and Esala Wueschner. 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.

Stay tuned: 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.

Three Democratic candidates are running for Texas lieutenant governor—the second-in-command to the governor—in the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The overview: Vikki Goodwin, Courtney Head and Marcos Vélez are seeking the Democratic nomination for Texas lieutenant governor. The lieutenant governor leads the Texas Senate and can exercise the powers of the governor if the governor dies, resigns, is removed from office or is absent from the state, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

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 winner of the Republican nomination in November, and the winner of that election will be sworn in for a four-year term in January 2027.