Austin, TX
Burglar fires paintball, BB guns at South Austin collectibles store: APD
AUSTIN, Texas – The Austin Police Department is looking for a person who attempted to break into a South Austin collectibles store with a paintball gun and a BB gun last week.
What they’re saying:
APD says that just before 3 a.m. on June 11, a person attempted to burglarize Space Goblins Collectibles on W. William Cannon Drive.
The suspect shot one of the store’s exterior cameras with a paintball gun, then shot out the store’s front windows with a BB gun.
The suspect then entered and tried to break through a wall to gain entry to the retail side of the store.
No injuries were reported.
What you can do:
Anyone with information is encouraged to talk to the APD Commercial Burglary Unit at 512-974-6941 or by email.
The Source: Information in this report comes from the Austin Police Department
AUSTIN, Texas — Overnight storms that dumped 2 to 6 inches of rain across Central Texas resulted in the closure of more than 90 low-water crossings Monday morning.
Closures were heavily concentrated along Brushy Creek and its tributaries in Round Rock, Cedar Park and the Hutto area, with multiple crossings shut down on Spicewood Springs Road in northwest Austin.
Hays County roads also saw widespread closures, particularly along York Creek Road, Satterwhite Road and Bunton Lane south of Goforth Road. Additional closures were reported in Williamson County near Jarrell and Thrall, and in San Marcos near the San Marcos River.
CBS Austin crews observed flooding firsthand at Bunton Lane and Twin Estates in Kyle, where multiple sections of the road were impassable, as well as at the intersection of Parmer Lane and Cameron Road in northeast Travis County, where several crossings remained closed through the morning hours.
ALSO | Driver rescued after trying to cross flooded road in Travis County
Barton Creek near Lost Creek Trail also experienced elevated water levels. (Photo: CBS Austin)
In all, 93 low-water crossings were listed as closed on ATXFloods.com as of Monday morning, spanning Travis, Williamson, Hays, Burnet and Bastrop counties.
Meteorologist Avery Tomasco said dozens of crossings were likely to remain closed for most of the day as creeks, streams and rivers continued moving overnight rainfall downstream.
Officials urged drivers not to attempt to go around flood barricades or travel through flowing water.
“Turn around, don’t drown,” authorities said.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas freshman closer Sam Cozart is the best reliever in the country.
Cozart was named the Stopper of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association on Friday, becoming the fourth Longhorn to win it and the second freshman in the award’s 21-year history. The other freshman to win it was former Longhorn Corey Knebel in 2011.
Going into play at the Men’s College World Series, Cozart racked up nine saves with a 6-0 record and 1.65 ERA in 22 appearances. He has struck out 71 batters with 12 walks in 49 innings.
Cozart joins J. Brent Cox, Chance Ruffin and Knebel as Longhorns to win the award. Cox won it in 2005, and Ruffin won in 2010. Texas has more Stopper of the Year award winners than any program.
Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson was named the Dick Howser trophy winner for national player of the year, and West Virginia’s Steve Sabins was named the Mike Martin National Coach of the Year. Cozart was also named the National Freshman Pitcher of the Year by the NCBWA.
Texas is on the ropes in Omaha at the Men’s College World Series after a 7-1 loss Saturday to Georgia. The Longhorns face Alabama at 1 p.m. Monday in an elimination game, and to make the championship series, Texas will have to win five games in four days.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas has quietly become a pipeline for some of the world’s top soccer referees, a connection that will come into sharper focus as the FIFA World Cup returns to the United States in 2026, with Dallas and Houston set to host multiple matches.
From Austin to Brownsville, officials with ties to the Lone Star State have risen through the ranks of Major League Soccer and onto the sport’s biggest stages, including the men’s and women’s World Cups.
What we know:
Ismail Elfath is a Moroccan-born referee who immigrated to the United States as a teenager. Now based in Austin, Elfath has been an MLS referee since 2012 and joined FIFA’s international list in 2016. The University of Texas graduate had an an unconventional path to officiating.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – FEBRUARY 21: Referee Ismail Elfath during the first half of a MLS game between St. Louis City SC and Charlotte FC at Energizer Park on February 21, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Gett
In an interview with Pflugerville Football Club (PFC), Elfath said he became a referee when a complaint to a match official turned into an invitation to try the role himself.
Elfath has since built a résumé that includes officiating at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he refereed two group-stage matches and a Round of 16 game, and served as a fourth official for the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France.
He also has twice been named MLS Referee of the Year.
Referee Ismail Elfath gestures during the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 final match between Toluca and Tigres UANL at Nemesio Diez Stadium on May 30, 2026 in Toluca, Mexico. (Manuel Velasquez / Getty Images)
Dig deeper:
Armando Villarreal’s journey began in South Texas, where he started officiating youth games in Brownsville at age 18. He worked his way through the U.S. Soccer system and made his MLS debut in 2012, later earning a spot on FIFA’s international referees list in 2015.
KANSAS CITY, KS – APRIL 7: Referee Armando Villarreal gives a signal during a game between Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on April 7, 2024 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Villarreal has officiated multiple high-profile matches, including MLS Cup finals and CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments, and was selected as a video assistant referee for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Like players, referees are evaluated on performance, with each assignment carrying weight in determining future opportunities.
Local perspective:
In addition, American assistant referee Brooke Mayo represents a newer generation of officials reaching the global stage. Mayo grew up in Garland, Texas and began refereeing soccer at age 13.
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 16: Referee Brooke Mayo before a game between Brazil and Japan at Exploria Stadium on February 16, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Erin Chang/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
She was selected to officiate the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final between Spain and England. Mayo received the assignment after a culmination of years of work climbing through domestic and international ranks.
Mayo’s presence alongside officials like Elfath and Villarreal underscores the growing Texas footprint in FIFA officiating.
Big picture view:
That presence comes as North Texas prepares to host one of the largest shares of matches in the expanded 2026 World Cup. The convergence of elite officiating talent and two major host cities highlight Texas’ increasing influence in the global game, not just through players and fans.
The Source: Information in this story came from FIFA and FOX Local research.
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