From a film studio groundbreaking to a new virtual learning option for Bastrop ISD families and more, here are the five Bastrop stories readers clicked on most in April.

1. 204 Texas breaks ground on film studio: The project experienced several delays due to infrastructure issues and permitting. It was previously on track to open in 2025, as reported by Community Impact in July 2024.

2. EdgeConneX plans second data center: Plans for a second campus are in the works and officials said it could be “one of the largest in the United States, if not the globe.”

3. City development code replaced: Leaders said the shift was needed after the B3 Code proved difficult to use.

4. BISD to launch virtual academy: Applications are open to students in and outside of the district. 

5. Mural planned for South End District in Bastrop: An open call for artists is out as part of a South End District mural project.

Bastrop Medicine Shop owner and pharmacist Omar Fuentes and his team are moving from their spot at 1110 Main St., next to the Bastrop Post Office, to a larger one just a few blocks east.

In a nutshell: Fuentes said the new spot will give him room to offer additional products and services and more convenient parking.

"It's really nice, and we're putting a lot of love into it," he said.

What they offer: The locally owned, full-service pharmacy offers a range of options, such as:

• Compounding for human and pet medications

• Immunizations, no appointment needed

• Free delivery within a 5-mile radius

• Long-term care, where Bastrop Medicine Shop collaborates with staff at long-term care facilities for patient medications

• Med-Sync, a free service that allows patients to pick up all of their medications on the same day each month

• Prescriptions for humans and pets

• Supplements for humans and pets

Fuentes said he accepts all major insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid.

• Relocating May 18

• 1001 Chestnut St., Ste. A, Bastrop

A 2023 Texas law allowing state and local police to arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally is scheduled to take effect May 15.

The overview: Texas legislators passed Senate Bill 4, a state immigration enforcement law, in late 2023. The law was originally set to take effect in March 2024, but has been tied up in court for more than two years.

For the first time, the law would allow Texas police to arrest migrants they suspect crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization and allow judges to order migrants’ removal if they are found guilty of illegal entry.

The background: SB 4 had been largely blocked by a series of court rulings since early 2024. A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit against SB 4 April 24, and a separate lawsuit was filed May 4.

On May 13, U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra—who previously deemed SB 4 unconstitutional—heard arguments in the secondary lawsuit, although he did not issue a ruling before press time May 13.