Bastrop ISD families have until May 15 to apply for the district’s new Virtual Learning Academy—a pilot program launching this fall for the 2026-27 school year with fully virtual and hybrid options.

In a nutshell: The academy will serve students in grades 6-8 with enrollment limited to 200 students, according to previous Community Impact reporting; though officials said that could change depending on interest.

A closer look: The program is open to students in and outside of the district, including students who are currently homeschooled, enrolled online elsewhere or just looking for another public school option.

How it works: The model allows students to complete coursework on a flexible schedule; however, students will still have to meet weekly expectations and deadlines.

Officials rebranded the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce to the Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce on April 14.

The details: The new name also comes with a new look as chamber officials updated the entity’s branding to include a nod to their recently earned five-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—an honor just 154 out of more than 7,000 chambers in the United States hold.

What it means: President and CEO Becki Womble said in a news release ​​​​​​the name better reflects the work she and her team are already doing, as well as plans to increase the chamber's presence throughout the region.

“The future of our communities will not be built in one city at a time,” Womble said. “It will be built regionally.”

Notable quote: “There are some moments in an organization’s history that feel bigger than a logo,” Womble said. “This is one of those moments.” 

• 927 Main St., Bastrop

For the first time in over a decade, there is no incumbent in the Texas attorney general's race as Republican Ken Paxton runs for U.S. Senate. Candidates on both sides of the aisle will compete in runoff elections May 26 after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primaries.

State Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski are vying for the Democratic nomination.

The overview: In a three-way primary race, Johnson secured 48% of the vote while Jaworski received 26% of the vote. The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face the Republican nominee and potential third-party candidates in November.

The context: The attorney general serves as Texas' top lawyer, defending the state in court, filing consumer protection lawsuits and issuing opinions interpreting state law. The agency also enforces Texas' child support laws, investigates human trafficking cases and manages access to public records.

At the polls: Texans can vote early from May 18-22 and runoff election day is May 26.