Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis gives an update on a shooting at Lakeline Mall in Cedar Park. Davis says a shot was fired at the mall’s food court, but no one was hit and no one was injured. The mall was placed on lockdown for a time.

Extreme Makeover is back on TV and the first home they’re featuring is located in the Austin area! 

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition gives teams five days to build a new home for a family in need. This season, the biggest home renovation show to ever exist, adds Clea Shearer and Joanna Templin of The Home Edit as hosts. Like the original, the reboot series will showcase heartwarming stories and mind-blowing builds for families who give back to their communities.

The first episode of the season features a home in Hutto. You may remember the renovation as it actually took place in 2023. The public was invited to the reveal that happened in September of that year.

Shearer told KVUE, “’It’s the most incredible experience I’ve ever had. We started the build at 5 p.m. There is a house already up [16 hours later]!”

To make it work, the show’s creators teamed up with the City of Hutto and builder Taylor Morrison. 

“We did put together a 94-hour schedule,” said April Whitaker, division president for Taylor Morrison. “And these guys are doing it! We’re right on time.”

You can see the big reveal on the series premiere of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition at 8 p.m. on KVUE, or stream the next day on Hulu.

Featured photo: Disney/Ryan Green

Austin James Beatty, age 21, of Alto, Texas passed away on December 30th 2024 surrounded by his family after a brave 4 ½  year battle against Osteosarcoma.

Austin was born on April 25th 2003 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He graduated High School from Springs Studio for Academic Excellence in 2021 and played football at Falcon High School in Colorado. He played positions at corner, safety, and kicker wearing his #19. He loved football and the Denver Broncos was his favorite team. He also loved driving his Corvette and racing autocross.

He moved to Alto, Texas with his family in 2023. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, driving his side by side, and swinging on the porch with his dogs Bubba and Blu. Austin loved his family and we loved him. He enjoyed each day to its fullest with his family. He enjoyed a sweet friendship with his sister KiKi and enjoyed his adventures with her.

Austin had a way of making people smile and he knew how to live in the moment. He always believed “Tough times don’t last but tough people do” and he was one of the toughest people we have ever met. The greatest gift and legacy he leaves us with is to love with all of your heart and live every minute to the fullest.

Austin is survived by his father Eric Beatty, his mother Christine Beatty, and his younger sister Kimberly (KiKi) Beatty; his paternal grandparents James and Chyrle Beatty; his maternal grandparents John and Carol Bartelson; his uncle Jim Bartelson, his uncle John and aunt Delinda Beatty; and cousins Curtis and Christopher Beatty; and many extended family and dear friends who love him.

Laird Funeral Home in Nacogdoches, Texas will be handling the funeral arrangements for Austin on Saturday January 4th 2025 with a private visitation at 1:00 p.m. for his family and friends, followed by a 3:00 p.m. service at the Old Palestine Church Cemetery in Alto, Texas.

If you wish to make a donation on behalf of Austin please consider donating to the following charities who supported Austin throughout his journey.

The Giving to Little Hands Foundation where Austin is the Ambassador.

Home

The Austin Worbington Scholarship Fund.

https://scicolorado.org/scholarship-fund/

Make A Wish Colorado

https://wish.org/colorado

To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Austin James Beatty, please visit our floral store.