AUSTIN-The Downtown Austin Alliance has 190 murals in place at eight construction sites around the state capitol. The beautification effort has been made possible by students, who have designed the four-foot-square murals.

AUSTIN-A $24.4-million expansion nears its close at the Children's Hospital of Austin. The 32,000-sf Children's Health Plaza will open in early 2001, capping the Paige Sutherland Paige-designed campus.

AUSTIN-Vignette Corp. executives are mum about details for a proposed world headquarters in the state capital's CBD. Plans may be hushed, but one thing's a certainty: Vignette wants to be the Downtown's centerpiece.

AUSTIN-Extended StayAmerica has opened its 37th hotel in Texas and fifth in Austin, where plans are afoot for a sixth facility. And, says a company spokeswoman, more hotels are on the way.

AUSTIN-It's still not a done deal, but Vignette is promising more details will be available Tuesday on a proposed world headquarters in the state capital. Two 25- to 30-story structures and a parking garage are being eyed for the Central Business District.

AUSTIN-Depreciation, amortization and increased costs for selling, general and administrative segments puts USOL Holdings at a $13-million year-to-date net loss. On a positive note, revenues have jumped 86% for the nine-month accounting, a positive sign for the cost of doing business.