Outdoor burning is allowed again in unincorporated Bastrop County nearly 90 days after County Judge Gregory Klaus issued a disaster declaration and emergency order banning it.

The gist: During an April 13 Bastrop County Commissioners meeting, Emergency Management Coordinator James Altgelt explained that recent rainfall helped lower the risk for wildfires.

Something to note: Though the ban is lifted, officials emphasized that residents should remain cautious when burning outdoors.
 

The details: The region’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which is used to measure wildfire potential, dropped significantly since Klaus issued the ban Jan. 16—bottoming out April 15 to just above the increased risk level of 400.

The KBDI scale ranges from 0-800, and the Texas A&M Forest Service officials said any level above 400 indicates an increased potential for wildfires.

For reference, the KBDI on Sept. 4, 2011, the day the Bastrop County Complex Fire ignited, was 789.

Work is progressing on Bastrop's first Chuy's, which will bring its signature dishes to a 75-acre mixed-use development called Sendero.

Sendero’s first business, First Watch, opened March 16 with breakfast, brunch and lunch options.

On the menu: Chuy’s offers traditional Tex-Mex options like fajitas, tacos, enchiladas and burritos.

Other choices include house specialties like the Elvis Presley Memorial Combo, which includes three enchiladas with different fillings and sauces, a crispy taco, chips and queso.

Learn more: Founded in Austin in 1982, Chuy’s restaurants were acquired by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants in the summer of 2024.

Darden’s portfolio includes brands such as Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse—the latter of which opened in the Burleson Crossing East shopping center in February.

• Opening May 18
• Sendero, 909 Hwy. 71, Bastrop

With Earth Day coming up, local nonprofits and city departments are offering opportunities for residents to volunteer, learn and celebrate with their communities. 

Keep Austin Beautiful Day
As part of its annual Earth Day tradition, Keep Austin Beautiful is hosting over a hundred volunteer events focused on beautification and litter removal across the city. Volunteers can find opportunities across each of Austin’s City Council districts.

• April 18, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Free
• Various locations

• April 26, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• Lakeline Park, 1510 Alexis Drive, Cedar Park

• April 22, 5-7 p.m.
• Admission $3-$8
• Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin

Texas is home to the nation’s fastest-growing data center market, with one January report projecting that the state will see a 142% increase in its share of the data center industry by the end of 2028.

During a wide-ranging Texas House hearing April 9, lawmakers questioned data center developers, energy companies and state grid officials about the amount of water the large facilities use; how they impact noise levels and air quality; and whether residents can expect higher costs when data centers come to their communities.

What they're saying: “Water is a really scarce resource in this state, and so we have to have a clear picture of what these facilities use on the water side,” said Thomas Gleeson, chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

More details: Data centers use water to cool their computer servers and prevent overheating. The facilities have historically used a water-intensive process known as "evaporative cooling," but data center executives said April 9 that they have transitioned to “closed-loop” systems where water is continuously reused.