Following a Jan. 9 bomb and active shooter threat to Leander High School that activated a campus lockdown, Leander ISD officials discussed its emergency communication protocols and reunification process with Community Impact.

Some context: According to the Leander Police Department, LHS received the threat through a phone call at 1:25 p.m. LPD and Leander ISD police department officials immediately responded and began investigating the threat, triggering the campus’s lockdown. Once the campus was cleared and no suspicious items were located, LISD staff took over for its reunification procedures.

What they’re saying: District officials said LISD's reunification process follows a standard protocol outlined by the Texas School Safety Center, and emergency communications are sent through email, text or voice message. 

What you need to know: District officials encourage families to ensure contact information is current in the district’s student information system so they receive messages promptly, monitor official LISD communications including ParentSquare, email and text notifications, follow updates from the lead investigative agency and avoid arriving at the campus.

Waterloo Ice House has served the Austin community since its opening in 1976 and is celebrating the occasion with a collaboration featuring Austin Beerworks.

The details: The two local businesses are coming together to create a custom 50th anniversary Golden Ale that will be available at all four Waterloo Ice House locations throughout 2026. A news release sharing the announcement described the ale as light and balanced with a floral aroma and a hint of hops. 

The ale is the first celebration of the business’s golden year. Community members can stay updated on celebration announcements throughout the year by checking out the business’s Instagram account.

• 8600 Burnet Road, Austin; 6203 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin; 9600 S. I-35, Austin; 9600 Escarpment Blvd., Austin

St. Edward’s University and H-E-B have collaborated to create the first Tiny Forest in Austin and Central Texas to help improve canopy cover in communities throughout Austin.

How it works: On Jan. 17, H-E-B team members, community volunteers, university students, faculty and staff joined together to plant 54 square meters with 164 trees and shrubs.

The project uses the Miyawaki Method, an approach that enables trees to grow 10 times faster and seclude 10 times more carbon than traditional tree planting methods. Through this method, the trees planted at the event are expected to reach full maturity within the community’s lifetime, as stated in a news release.

Get involved: Community members can directly help the Tiny Forest project by participating in a fringe mantel planting in the fall or reaching out to [email protected] for information about how to plant a tiny forest in their community.

• St. Edward's University, 3001 S. Congress Ave., Austin

A far-reaching winter storm is expected to bring below-freezing temperatures, wintry precipitation and “dangerous ice” to Texas beginning Jan. 23, according to the National Weather Service. As residents brace for days of potentially hazardous conditions, state leaders said Jan. 22 that the Texas power grid “has never been stronger” and will withstand the storm.

What's happening: Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 134 of Texas’ 254 counties, telling reporters that the northern two-thirds of the state—from San Antonio to the Panhandle—will be impacted by the storm.

Officials said they do not expect a repeat of the widespread power outages that occurred during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, emphasizing that changes have been made in recent years to harden the grid against extreme weather. The governor said some Texans could see “local, isolated” outages due to fallen tree branches or ice on power lines.

"The severity of it is not quite as great... as Winter Storm Uri," Abbott said. "That said, people would be making a mistake if they don't take it serious."