Austin, TX
Light displays across Central Texas celebrate holiday season
Holiday lights across Central Texas
People and places across Central Texas are embracing a beloved sight of the season: holiday light displays.
AUSTIN, Texas – The holiday festivities are in full swing across Central Texas and from tree lighting celebrations to annual light shows, several cities are spreading the holiday cheer.
A tree lighting countdown and photos with Santa, followed by Christmas carols, marked the start of the Christmas holiday season at Dell Children’s Medical Center.
“This is our ninth year with the support of Trail of Lights. Here at Dell Children’s, they bring the trail to our patients and families in our Healing Garden, and they create a beautiful trail with lights that patients can come out to,” said Robyn Moyer, child life and expressive therapies director at Dell Children’s.
According to the staff, the tree will remain in place 24/7 through the first week of January.
“It gives the families an opportunity to be a family and have those holiday traditions even when they are here in the hospital,” said Moyer.
MORE HOLIDAY NEWS
While dozens of patients were joined by their families for the tree lighting in Austin, thousands are expected in Marble Falls this year for the Walkway of Lights.
“Last year we had over 44,000 visitors come through and we are expecting more,” said Chamber of Commerce board member Mitzi Birdsong.
It is the 34th year of the light show in Marble Falls. The festivities started in November and will last through Jan. 4. The Walkway of Lights is open from 6-10 p.m.
“We have over 300 sculptures and this year we are charging two dollars per person. That is to make the event even better and greater for our community,” said Birdsong.
More lights are illuminating the sky for the Christmas holiday in the Hill Country.
The 35th season of lights spectacular displays close to 2 million Christmas lights in the historic square of Main Street, Memorial Park, and PEC headquarters in Johnson City. It is open from 5:45 p.m. until midnight through January 5th.
On Saturday, Dec. 7, there will be a 30th annual tree lighting, sing-along and stroll at the capitol in Austin from 3-8 p.m.
The Source: Information in this report comes from reporting by FOX 7 Austin’s Tan Radford.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man walking his dog with his son was fatally shot by a neighbor Friday evening in Northwest Austin, police said.
Billy Carlisle, 41, was shot at the intersection of Gardenridge Hollow and Wallace Drive at approximately 6:06 p.m. May 8. Austin-Travis County EMS attempted lifesaving measures, but Carlisle was pronounced dead at 6:45 p.m.
Hunter Buchmeyer, 36, was taken into custody in connection with the shooting.
According to APD, Carlisle was walking his dog with his son when he and Buchmeyer, also walking his dog, got into a verbal altercation. The two neighbors had “prior history,” APD said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | APD investigating deadly shooting in NW Austin; suspect in custody
The dispute escalated to the point that Buchmeyer called 911 to report the altercation before shooting Carlisle. According to police, Buchmeyer yelled at someone to “get back” before the call disconnected.
Buchmeyer remained at the scene and attempted CPR on Carlisle before officers arrived.
No charges have been filed. APD said the investigation remains open.
The case is being investigated as Austin’s 23rd homicide of 2026.
Anyone with information is asked to contact APD at 512-974-TIPS or submit an anonymous tip through Capital Area Crime Stoppers at austincrimestoppers.org or 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for information leading to an arrest.
There was a significant reduction in the number of antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island in 2025, according to a national Jewish advocacy group.
According to the Anti-Defamation League’s latest Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, there were 26 antisemitic incidents in the state last year. That’s down from the 52 incidents counted by the group in 2024.
Samantha Joseph, New England regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, says a big reason for the reduction is a steep decline in antisemitism on college campuses.
“It shows that campus administrators are taking their responsibilities very seriously to provide a safe environment for all of their students,” said Joseph.
Brown University had over $500 million in federal funding frozen by the Trump administration last year following investigations into alleged antisemitism on campus. The funding was restored after Brown reached a settlement with the administration.
The reduction in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island reflects a wider trend in New England as a whole. According to the ADL’s report, there were 400 antisemitic incidents in the region in 2025, compared to 638 the previous year.
While she’s pleased about the overall drop in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island, Joseph says a number of concerning trends continue to persist. In particular, the state is still seeing more anti-Jewish incidents than it did prior to the October 7 attacks on Israel that launched the Gaza War in 2023.
Joseph is also concerned about the violent nature of local incidents of antisemitism.
“Even though overall incidents are down, assaults are up and assaults with a deadly weapon are up significantly,” said Joseph. “Our communities remain concerned for their safety, and our work is far from done.”
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday evening as a cold front arrives in Central Texas. KXAN’s First Warning Weather Team will keep you updated on the weather coverage.
Risks to be aware of are damaging wind gusts that could reach as high as 60 to 75 mph and large hail up to quarter size.
Weather Resources:
Live Updates:
5:22 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued for all counties except for Milam County.
3:51 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Mason, San Saba, and Lampasas County until 9:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.: The primary risk for Sunday’s severe weather is damaging wind gusts which could cause power outages.
3:26 p.m.: Storms will likely move toward the I-35 corridor around 6 p.m. Most of the storms will enter the Hill Country around 6 p.m. and the Austin metro counties after 8 p.m.
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