Bastrop is now home to the largest medical cannabis facility in Texas.

The details: Texas Original, which relocated its headquarters to Bastrop, expanded from a 7,700- to a 75,000-square-foot facility where the cannabis is sungrown, according to a news release.

Zooming in: Nico Richardson, CEO of Texas Original, called the facility “the future of medical cannabis in Texas.”

Notable quote: “Our expanded operations in Bastrop allow us to serve even more patients across the state, and with the quality expected from Texas Original,” he said in a statement. “As legislative changes under House Bill 46 create opportunities for more Texans to access medical cannabis, we’re ready to meet that need.”

The Lower Colorado River Authority is preparing for approximately $1.2 million in improvements to facilities at Lake Bastrop South Shore Park. 

The details: The project—scheduled to begin on July 1 and be completed by June 30, 2027—will upgrade the day-use and waterfront restroom buildings by demolishing the existing facilities and rebuilding them, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. 

What else? LCRA projects are funded by the revenue generated through transmitting electricity and selling water, according to LCRA officials.

“We do not receive state appropriations or have the ability to levy taxes,” LCRA said in a statement.

• 375 S. Shore Road, Bastrop

Austin’s light rail project, known as Project Connect, hit a major federal milestone that positions the multibillion-dollar initiative for on-time construction.

The details: The Federal Transit Administration awarded the project a “Medium-High” rating in its FY 2026-27 funding recommendations—the highest given in this year’s large-project review.

ATP CEO Greg Canally said the rating is a “key step,” signaling strong viability as the project seeks $4.1 billion in federal funding, or roughly half its total cost.

A closer look: The federal ranking criteria include an assessment of the project’s plans for land use and economic development.

ATP has partnered with the city to advance land use policies that support transit-oriented development.

Recent local changes, including eliminating parking minimums and creating new TOD zoning overlays, are helping shape mixed-use, walkable districts along the future line.

Of note: ATP and the city are also overhauling the permitting process to reduce delays, aiming to cut review times from years to months.

Utility agreements, risk planning and preconstruction work are underway as ATP targets a 2027 construction start and 2033 opening.

City and state officials gathered Dec. 12 to mark Southwest Airlines' planned expansion at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, a day after City Council signed off on a $5.5 million economic incentive deal with the airline.

What's happening: Southwest will add 2,000 local jobs and establish a new crew base at the airport by mid-2027 through the expansion that's also expected to support thousands more related jobs throughout the community.

Some context: The initiative comes amid ABIA's own facility expansion project, including a second concourse, where Southwest is expected to lease a majority of the new gates to be added.

What else? In addition to Austin's local incentive deal approved Dec. 11, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Texas will be contributing $14 million to the project at ABIA.