With more than 5,500 acres tied to planned or potential data center development in Cedar Creek, over 100 residents packed into Bastrop’s Hampton Inn and Suites July 22 to press for transparency and local guardrails.

The overview: Organized by the League of Independent Voters of Texas and co-sponsored by the Bastrop County Republican Club, Bastrop County Democratic Party, and Texas Forward Party, residents asked questions, and local and state leaders offered information and advice on data centers and their potential effects.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller was a guest speaker and reiterated his call for a one-year statewide moratorium on new projects to allow time to develop regulations, warning that data center growth was outpacing state oversight.

What's next: Organizers urged residents to attend a July 27 Bastrop County Commissioners meeting at 9 a.m., where officials will hold a public hearing on proposed tax-abatement guidelines.

Stay in the know with what's happening around Bastrop, including a vendor market, fundraisers, a health fair, a month's worth of free live music and more.

August
1. Bastrop County Health Fair (Aug. 8): Explore local health resources, preventive care, free CPR training and more.

2. Soul Circuit: Juneteenth Rodeos in Texas (Aug. 10-Sept. 19): Learn about African American rodeos and Black cowboy heritage.

3. Main Street Market-Bastrop (Aug. 22-23): Shop for gifts, home decor, jewelry, artisan food and more.

4. Rainwater Harvesting 101 Workshop (Aug. 22): Learn how to capture, store and use rainwater.

5. Abbey Lights Up COTA Gala (Aug. 22): Support medically fragile children through dinner, auctions and entertainment.

September
6. Bastrop Live (September): Enjoy live performances at businesses and venues throughout Bastrop.

7. PFLAG Austin Bastrop support group (Sept. 1): Join a confidential gathering for LGBTQ+ people, family, friends and allies.

8. “Disney’s Newsies” (Sept. 4-27): See Bastrop Opera House’s musical inspired by the 1899 newsboys’ strike.

East Austin's transportation network continues evolving with major Capital Metro and I-35 projects planned and underway.

What's happening: Construction continues on multiple I-35 Capital Express Central projects, including the Riverside Drive bridge reconstruction, the MLK Jr. Boulevard bridge widening and drainage tunnel work, which are bringing road closures, traffic shifts and pedestrian detours.

What's next: Capital Metro's Red Line improvements along East Fifth Street are scheduled to begin in early 2027, while the downtown segment of the I-35 Capital Express Central Project is expected to break ground that same year.