The Bastrop Area Cruisers’ 20th annual Heroes & Hot Rods car show will bring hot rods and classic cars to downtown Bastrop while honoring local veterans Nov. 13-14.

Event details: The two-day event will feature about 400 hot rods and other classic cars, along with a Veterans Day tribute and march open to veterans and active-duty service members.

What to expect: Use the interactive map in Community Impact's story to explore when and where each event will happen, along with related road closures.

Why it matters: Registration fees will go to local veterans organizations and automotive technician scholarships.

• Nov. 13 (cruise-in), 5-9 p.m.; Nov. 14, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (car show)

• Free (spectators)

• Main Street, downtown Bastrop

A coffee truck in Dale, a wine bar in Bastrop and a winery in Smithville have something in common: Each was launched by a U.S. Army veteran in 2026.

Here’s a look at the three businesses and the veterans behind them.

1. Jaguar Brew Coffee: Former Army specialist Jorge Jimenez opened the coffee truck in Dale in April, serving handcrafted espresso drinks, matcha and pastries.

2. Pluto’s Wine Bar: Former Army specialist John Formica opened the downtown Bastrop establishment in January, offering curated wines, chef-driven dishes and educational tastings.

3. Frontier Cellars: Retired Army Capt. Lance Bondy opened a Smithville winery in March, featuring Texas-grown wines and small bites.

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Ongoing projects

Kohlers Crossing water line project

Project: Crews will install a 24-inch water transmission line in Kyle from the FM 1626 tanks on the north side of the bridge over the train tracks to the water well at the corner of Benner Road and Kohlers Crossing.

Update: The right lane of westbound traffic on Kohlers Crossing between FM 1626 and Benner Road was closed on Sept. 21. The lane closure is expected to last through December.

• Timeline: August 2026-April 2027

• Cost: $6.4 million-$7 million

• Funding source: 2025 Certificates of Obligation Bonds

Completed projects

Wyoming Springs Drive extension

Project: The project includes construction of a four-lane divided roadway in Round Rock with shared-use paths, extending over Brushy Creek from Creek Bend Boulevard to Old Settlers Boulevard.

Update: The roadway opened to traffic Oct. 22.

• Timeline: November 2024-October 2026

• Cost: $29.7 million

• Funding sources: city of Round Rock, Williamson County

Austinites can now fly directly to Anchorage, Alaska. The new nonstop destination from Alaska Airlines will begin service from Austin to Anchorage on June 12 and will operate once weekly on Saturdays through Aug. 7.

The details: This is the latest domestic expansion for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, announced on Oct. 27. The new destination is also the only nonstop connection between Central Texas and the state of Alaska.

Zooming in: Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city and a gateway to the Kenai Peninsula, offering travelers access to Alaska’s state and national parks, outdoor adventures and Denali, according to a news release.

Democrats saw decisive wins up and down the ballot in Texas and across the nation in the Nov. 3 election, flipping the Lone Star State to Democratic control for the first time in a generation.

The big picture: Texas has had a Republican governor, state Senate and state House since 2003. Next year, the state will be led by a Democratic governor, with a Democratic lieutenant governor presiding over the Senate and House lawmakers likely electing a Democrat to lead the chamber—however, the senators themselves will remain majority-Republican.

More details: How much power Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin will have over the Texas Senate is largely up to senators, who will approve the chamber's new rules when the legislature convenes in January.

What they're saying: Sam Hooper, a legislative attorney and consultant, said he was "hopeful" that the election results would lead to "a more collegial Senate" and cooperation among lawmakers of both political parties.

The majority-Republican Senate and majority-Democrat House will have to find a balance, as bills cannot become law without approval from both chambers.