Local news and fun, every day 6am.
Featured
austonia newsletter
Most viewed

Four hipsters are the new target of Leatherface in the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” reboot. (Netflix/Legendary)
The horrors of the 1974 classic “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” are being resurrected in a sequel via Netflix, with Austin-based director David Blue Garcia pitting Leatherface against young hipsters, his newest prey.
The Bulgarian-shot film stars Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Nell Hudson and Jacob Latimore, playing a modern-day group of friends who venture too far away from the city and into the jaws of Leatherface, played by Mark Burnham, and his cannibal family. The movie, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” is set to be released on Feb. 18, 2022.
Netflix's official synopsis: “Melody (Yarkin), her teenage sister Lila (Fisher), and their friends Dante (Latimore) and Ruth (Hudson), head to the remote town of Harlow, Texas to start an idealistic new business venture. But their dream soon turns into a waking nightmare when they accidentally disrupt the home of Leatherface, the deranged serial killer whose blood-soaked legacy continues to haunt the area’s residents—including Sally Hardesty (Olwen Fouéré), the sole survivor of his infamous 1973 massacre who’s hell-bent on seeking revenge.”
Confirmed: Leatherface is canonically the same character in the new movie. (Netflix/Legendary)
Be prepared for horrifying sights that build on the original. (Bryanston Distributing Company)
“Me and my business partner Dante (Latimore) are these young hip people that come to this ghost town in Texas and try to get other people to come there and make it the next hip place to be,” Yarkin told Entertainment Weekly. “Our fatal flaw is that we ignore the history that came before us.”
The thriller has some horror veterans returning to the set: written and produced by director of 2013’s “Evil Dead” Fede Álvarez and screenwriter Rodo Sayagues, and produced by Kim Henkel, who was a co-writer on the original film.
The new version picks up years after the original, with Leatherface in hiding and “trying to be a good person,” according to Álvarez.
“These people arriving in this town are going to awaken the giant,” Álvarez said.
The movie may not follow all of the host of other sequels made to connect with “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” and producers said that the franchise is a bit messy in terms of continuity, but it does tie directly to the original. Some of the movie may be up to your own interpretation!
- Spotted: Ben Affleck is filming in Downtown Austin - austonia ›
- Ben Affleck, Alice Braga film thriller 'Hypnotic' in Austin - austonia ›
- A trip worth the drive—11 unique places to visit in central Texas ... ›
- 7 scary films shot in Austin to see in October - austonia ›
- Netflix's "The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On" shot in Austin - austonia ›
Popular
(The White House/Instagram)
President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law on Tuesday, a move that the White House says will unlock hundreds of billions more in semiconductor investment across the country.
Part of that investment could make waves in Central Texas, where semiconductor companies have laid the groundwork for more plants and jobs as a global shortage of semiconductors continues.
For example, Samsung already had a $17 billion semiconductor factory in Taylor on the way. Then in July, documents filed with the state showed that the tech giant is considering 11 chipmaking facilities in the Austin area that it’d build over the next two decades. The proposed $192.1 billion investment would bring more than 10,000 jobs.
\u201cThe CHIPS Act will supercharge our efforts to make semiconductors here in America. It will make cars, appliances, and computers cheaper and lower the costs of everyday goods. And, it will create high-paying manufacturing jobs across the country.\u201d— Joe Biden (@Joe Biden) 1659828240
Micron Technology is another giant that could make a multi-billion regional investment.
At the start of the year, Micron Technology was reportedly considering a new plant in neighboring Caldwell and Williamson counties, though California, North Carolina and Arizona were also being reviewed as potential sites for the plant.
On Tuesday, Micron announced plans to invest $40 billion between now and 2030 for chip manufacturing in the U.S.
In a public video statement, CEO Sanjay Mehrotra noted how semiconductors are essential to many tools that are a part of everyday life such as computers, smartphones and cars.
“Today is a proud moment for the global Micron team and a strong step forward for American high tech manufacturing leadership,” Mehrotra said. The company said specific plans for the investment will be made available in the coming weeks.
\u201cToday, we announced plans to invest $40 billion in the U.S. through the end of the decade to build leading-edge memory #manufacturing. Our investment will create 40k American jobs and strengthen U.S. supply chains. Watch this space! #jobs #innovation https://t.co/WPePuDVJs6\u201d— Micron Technology (@Micron Technology) 1660050842
Recently, the city has made efforts to train Austin residents for the kind of roles companies like Micron and Samsung would try to fill. A couple of months ago, the city announced a “hire local” plan with Workforce Solutions to help people in fields like manufacturing and information technology get training to move up in their careers.
The bipartisan bill includes $52 billion in semiconductor subsidies. Nationwide, these incentives could create thousands of jobs and multiple fabs, the Semiconductor Industry Association estimates. Some of that could happen in the Austin area from companies looking to expand.
NXP Semiconductors is weighing a $2.6 billion expansion and Infineon Technologies is looking at a $700 million expansion. Respectively, those two could add 800 and 100 jobs.
Central Texas has a reputation as a major hub for semiconductors, and the competition with other areas could ramp up in the coming years as others like Qualcomm and Intel consider new facilities. Dallas-based Texas Instruments also celebrated the passing of the CHIPS Act.
“TI has an exciting manufacturing investment roadmap and these provisions will be meaningful to the development of our 300-mm water fabs in Texas and Utah,” the company said in a Tuesday Twitter post.
- Global chip shortage drives demand for used cars in Austin - austonia ›
- Austin's semiconductor industry could help address global chip ... ›
- Micron may bring chipmaking plant to Central Texas - austonia ›
- Semiconductors - austonia ›
- More Samsung expansion could be in Austin's future, report says ... ›
- Chipmaker Infineon considers $700M expansion of Austin site ... ›
- Samsung chooses Austin-outskirt Taylor for $17 billion chip plant ... ›
- Austin's nickname 'Silicon Hills' may be here to stay - austonia ›
- Samsung is considering building a $10B chip plant in Austin - austonia ›
(Compass)
It’s slowly but surely becoming easier to buy a house in Austin.
According to the Austin Board of Realtors, the median house price in the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area is $537,475 as of July. Take a look at what that price range can get you.
This two-story brick home is the biggest on the list, with four bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms across 2,156 square feet in Round Rock. Characterized by its sky-high ceilings, large windows and newly updated fixtures, the home has a spacious backyard with mature trees, a wooden deck, a lounge area and close proximity to a nearby greenbelt.
This listing is held by Drew Griffin with Compass.
This recently updated three-bedroom, two-bathroom home was built in 1983 but fits in perfectly with the design standards of today. On top of newly-updated floors, roof and windows, this home comes complete with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, a spacious open floor plan and plenty of natural light. The biggest gem of this house is its vaulted and covered back patio, which gives way to a large backyard on a corner lot. At 1,280 square feet, the home is just a few minutes away from The Domain and Q2 Stadium.
This listing is held by Jennifer Buterick and Nicole Marburger with Compass.
Another retro find, this 2,098-square foot home has character to go around and is looking for a caretaker who will love it as much as the last. With four bedrooms and two bathrooms, the house has plenty of room for a home office and is colorfully painted throughout, including bright blue kitchen cabinets. On a third of an acre, this home comes with 12 fruiting trees in the backyard, solar panels, rain-catching barrels and a converted garage with living space.
This listing is held by Niki Duncan with Compass.
This three-bedroom, two-bathroom South Austin home has a wide-open floor plan and sparkling white interiors. The vaulted ceiling in the living room gives height to the room while the fireplace will keep you warm. An airy master suite comes with double pedestal sinks and two walk-in closets, so you don’t have to worry about sharing space with your partner. Enjoy the Texas weather with a private yard, screened-in porch, and fire pit.
This listing is held by Michelle Hendrix and Khani Zulu with Compass.
A retro-on-the-outside, single-story home was built in 1973 but has been given a full modern update on the inside. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,676-square foot home is situated on a half acre of land, complete with an above-ground pool and covered porch to keep you shady during the oppressive heat. Inside, you’ll walk directly into an open living and dining area, which features a floor-to-ceiling tiled fireplace, that leads to the breakfast nook, and kitchen with mosaic-tiled backsplash and a built-in wine rack.
This listing is held by Derek Peterson with Compass.