Bastrop County Judge Gregory Klaus issued a disaster declaration and an emergency order prohibiting outdoor burning on Jan. 16. 

The burn ban will remain in effect until midnight Jan. 23, according to Bastrop County officials.

The details: Bastrop County cited several factors that spurred the disaster declaration, including:

• A lack of rainfall for an extended period of time
• Dry conditions posing a risk of large, dangerous and fast-moving wildfires
• Meteorologists not forecasting a change in the dry conditions in the near future

Two Republican candidates are running for Bastrop County judge in the upcoming March primaries.

The overview: Gregory Klaus and Donald Loucks will compete for the Republican nomination. The winning Republican candidate will face Democratic candidate Dock Jackson—who has no challenger in the March primaries—in November. The winner of that election will begin serving Bastrop County in January 2027.

What you need to know: Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

Check out the top six trending stories in the Austin area for Jan. 12-15. 

1. Round Rock council gives initial go-ahead for speed limit reduction on Greenlawn Boulevard

2. LongHorn Steakhouse saddles up for Bastrop opening

3. Tunnels complete for Lake Travis deep-water intake project

4. Updates on 8 current and future transportation projects in Georgetown

5. Check out 13 of Leander’s latest launches, leavings and local leaps

6. From Thai food to beer: Check out 6 business updates in Dripping Springs

Plans for a pair of new amenity decks and public pathways around I-35 in Central Austin have been finalized, as the city works to complete design and financing strategies for its overall "cap and stitch" program tied to the state's ongoing highway expansion.

Austin City Council finalized a framework last spring for the local initiative to build out a series of amenity decks, including larger caps downtown and smaller stitches to the north. A final outline for the stitches between 41st and 43rd streets and the Red Line rail was completed this winter.

After a public open house and council reviews in the fall, city staff recommended "Option B"—one of four possibilities—for the northern stitches. The project would cover nearly 2.5 acres, with foundational roadway elements and future caps costing an estimated $69 million.

All four options were graded based on factors like transportation connectivity, safety, economic opportunity and project costs. Staff reported their chosen plan offered the best mobility and cost benefits.

Five Republican candidates are running for a six-year term on the Texas Railroad Commission in the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The big picture: Katherine Culbert, Hawk Dunlap, Bo French, James "Jim" Matlock and Jim Wright are vying for the Republican nomination for a seat on the railroad commission. The winning Republican candidate will face Jon Rosenthal in November, and the winner of that election will begin serving on the commission in January 2027.

Rosenthal, a state representative and oilfield mechanical engineer, is running uncontested in the Democratic primary. Community Impact runs candidate Q&As for contested races only.

The context: The railroad commission regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry, according to its website, while the state's railroads are under the control of the Texas Department of Transportation and the federal government.