Darling Ingredients officials updated the Bastrop County Commissioners Court on Feb. 23 about upgraded operations at the company’s Bastrop facility, where some residents have complained of foul odors.

What we know: Located between Bastrop County Animal Services and Camp Swift, the facility collects and recycles food industry waste to produce animal feed ingredients, biofuels and other byproducts.

“We fully recognize, as a neighbor and a partner in this community, that for some period of time, Darling Ingredients was not doing a good job,” said Amy McBee, a community and government affairs representative with Darling Ingredients. “We apologize for that. We’re here to do better. We want to be a good partner in our community.”

What they're saying: Precinct 4 Commissioner David Glass addressed Kenton Betz, the regional vice president for Darling Ingredients.

“Apparently, you heard the constituents and you’ve addressed it,” Glass said. “The odors have been much, much better. I think we’d all agree. So thank you for that and listening to us and coming here and making the investment to improve your system.”

Renegade Crawfish Company in Smithville has adjusted its hours of operation, as crawfish season starts to hit its stride.

The details: Hours of operation for the family-owned business are now as follows:

• 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Thursday
• 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m. on Fridays
• 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturdays

• 270 Hwy. 95, Smithville

From a commercial retail center to a gas station and more, here are five of the most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Courtside in Austin: Quantum 71 will build a 26,331-square-foot restaurant and a 4,128-square-foot pickleball building.

2. Base Power in Austin: The Austin-based energy supplier will finish out a shell building for manufacturing and warehouse uses.

3. Winding Oak Commercial Development in Leander: Zoomers Investment Group will construct a commercial retail center, which will feature a 4,000-square-foot quick-serve restaurant, 19,543 square feet of retail space and a two-story 16,400-square-foot office and retail building.

4. AAA Storage and Business Park in Austin: The self-storage business will construct an 85,000-square-foot facility and business park.

5. Smart Stop in Georgetown: Central Texas-based Smart Stop will open a convenience store and fuel station that spans 6,000 square feet.

The focus of a national initiative to build climate resilience at the local level in Central Texas will focus on three specific climate hazards, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions announced in February.

What you need to know: The Feb. 18 announcement states that the triple threat of extreme heat, wildfires and flooding in the area will be the focus of the Climate Resilient Communities Accelerator hub in the area.

This comes after months of meetings with area leaders, assessments of area disasters and other information-gathering.

What they're saying: This accelerator program will be the first through the CCES to include flooding, according to the news release.  

"Although the harmful impacts of any of these hazards alone can be very significant, the compounding impacts when they overlap can be devastating," the release states. "Extreme heat can amplify wildfire risk, and heavy rainfall immediately following wildfire can increase erosion and flooding due to soil and vegetation changes."