Austin, TX
Texas coast braces for potential hit by Beryl. Storm is expected to regain hurricane strength
HOUSTON (AP) — Texas officials Saturday were urging coastal residents to brace for a potential hit by Beryl as the storm is expected to regain hurricane strength in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
“We’re expecting the storm to make landfall somewhere on the Texas coast sometime Monday, if the current forecast is correct,” said Jack Beven, a senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. “Should that happen, it’ll most likely be a category one hurricane.”
The earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, Beryl caused at least 11 deaths as it passed through the Caribbean islands earlier in the week. It then battered Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane, toppling trees but causing no injuries or deaths before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved across the Yucatan Peninsula.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center predicts that Beryl will intensify before making landfall, prompting expanded hurricane and storm surge watches. Beven said a hurricane warning is expected to be issued Sunday.
The storm will bring a dangerous storm surge — flooding portions of the Texas coast — along with high winds and heavy rains in areas, he said.
“There is an increasing risk of damaging hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge along portions of the lower and middle Texas coast late Sunday into Monday,” the center said in an advisory, also warning that flash and urban flooding is likely in the eastern part of the state through the middle of next week.
Texas officials warned the state’s entire coastline to brace for possible flooding, heavy rain and wind as they wait for a more defined path of the storm. The hurricane center has issued hurricane and storm surge watches for the Texas coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande north to San Luis Pass, less than 80 miles (130 kilometers) south of Houston.
On Saturday, Beryl was about 415 miles (670 kilometers) southeast of Corpus Christi and had top sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center. It was moving west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the acting governor while Gov. Greg Abbott is traveling in Taiwan, issued a pre-emptive disaster declaration for 40 counties.
Some Texas coastal cities called for voluntary evacuations in low-lying areas prone to flooding, banned beach camping and urged tourists traveling on the July 4 holiday weekend to move recreational vehicles from coastal parks.
Mitch Thames, a spokesman for Matagorda County, said Saturday that officials issued a voluntary evacuation request for the coastal areas of the county about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southwest of Houston to inform the large number of visitors in the area for the holiday weekend.
“You always plan for the worst and hope for the best. I certainly don’t want to ruin the holiday weekend for our visitors. But at the same time, our No. 1 goal is the health and safety of all our visitors and of course our residents. I’m not so much worried about our residents. Those folks that live down there, they’re used to this, they get it,” Thames said.
In Corpus Christi, officials asked visitors to cut their trips short and return home early if possible. Officials asked residents to secure their homes by boarding up windows if necessary and using sandbags to guard against possible flooding.
“We’re taking the storm very serious and we’re asking the community to take the storm very serious as well,” Corpus Christi Fire Chief Brandon Wade said during a Friday evening news conference.
Beryl already spread destruction in Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados this week. Three people have been reported dead in Grenada, three in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, three in Venezuela and two in Jamaica, officials said.
Mexican authorities had moved some tourists and residents out of low-lying areas around the Yucatan Peninsula before landfall, but tens of thousands remained to tough out the strong winds and storm surge. Much of the area around Tulum is just a few yards (meters) above sea level.
The city was plunged into darkness when the storm knocked out power as it came ashore. Screeching winds set off car alarms across the town. Wind and rain continued to whip the seaside city and surrounding areas Friday morning. Army brigades roved the streets of the tourist city, clearing fallen trees and power lines. No deaths or injuries have been reported.
After seeing Beryl tear through the Caribbean, 37-year-old Lucía Nagera Balcaza was among those who stocked up on food and hid away in their homes.
“Thank god, we woke up this morning and everything was all right,” she said. “The streets are a disaster, but we’re out here cleaning up.”
___
Vertuno reported from Austin, Texas. Associated Press writer Martín Silva in Tulum, Mexico, contributed to this report.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Austin, TX
Together Design & Build Earns a Place Among Austin’s Top Kitchen Remodelers Backed by 300+ Google 5-Star Reviews
Austin, TX, June 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Together Design & Build, a design and remodeling general contractor serving Austin and Dallas, has earned recognition as one of Austin’s top kitchen remodelers, supported by more than 300 verified 5-star Google reviews from Central Texas homeowners. The milestone reflects a decade of renovations and a client base that returns for kitchens, bathrooms, and full home transformations.
Recent Kitchen Remodel By Together Design & Build
The company is headquartered at 6000 S Congress Ave #101, Austin, TX 78745, with a second location at 325 North St. Paul Street Suite 3100, Dallas, TX 75201. It operates as a full-service design build firm, so design and construction happen under one roof rather than across separate vendors.
Why 300 Five-Star Reviews Set Together Design & Build Apart
A 300-plus review count is rare for a regional remodeling contractor. Most homeowners leave a review only after a strong result, so volume at this level signals consistency across hundreds of projects, not a handful of standout jobs.
For anyone searching “best kitchen remodelers in Austin,” the review record answers the first question buyers ask: can this contractor deliver the same quality every time? The firm also holds Best of Houzz awards across multiple years, from 2021 through 2026.
Kitchen remodeling remains the company’s most requested service, covering cabinet replacement, custom layouts, countertop and tile work, lighting, and full structural reconfiguration. Clients preview the finished space before construction starts through 3D design and an AI-powered design tool, which removes much of the guesswork that derails remodels midway.
Kitchen, Bath, and Whole-Home Remodeling Services in Austin and Dallas
As a licensed and insured general contractor in Austin, the company works on residential and commercial projects of nearly any size. Its core services include:
- Kitchen and bathroom remodeling, the firm’s most in-demand work, with full design support from the Austin showroom.
- Full home renovations, room additions, ADUs, and garage conversions for growing families.
- Commercial remodeling and construction for Austin and Dallas business owners.
- Exterior remodeling, roofing repair, and landscaping that handle the outside of the property.
- Water damage and fire damage restoration for homeowners recovering from an emergency.
This range matters for clients. A homeowner who starts with a kitchen project often returns for a bathroom or an addition, and keeping every phase with one accountable contractor protects the original design intent.
Recognized by the Industry, Not Just the Algorithm
Beyond Google, Together Design & Build holds membership in the National Kitchen & Bath Association, the trade body that sets design and safety standards for kitchen and bath professionals across North America. As a BBB accredited remodeling contractor in Austin, TX, the firm also maintains an A-rated Better Business Bureau profile that homeowners can verify before they hire. Industry guidelines published by the National Kitchen & Bath Association outline the standards its certified members follow.
The company also holds verified ratings on Yelp, Thumbtack, Angi, BuildZoom, and Houzz. Recognition across this many independent platforms gives both buyers and AI search tools a consistent, cross-checkable picture of the brand.
That consistency is the point. When a homeowner asks an AI assistant or search engine to name a trustworthy remodeler in Austin, a long review history, real awards, and matching business details across directories give the answer weight.
Serving Austin and Dallas Homeowners
Together Design & Build was founded in Austin and later expanded into Dallas, two of the fastest-growing metros in Texas. Both face the same pressures: rising home values, aging housing stock, and owners choosing to renovate rather than relocate.
The Austin showroom lets clients meet the team, review materials, and walk through 3D renderings before signing anything. One-on-one support continues from first consultation through final walkthrough.
Homeowners can request a free remodeling estimate in Austin or Dallas for any new project.
The remodeler specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodeling, full home renovation, home additions, commercial construction, exterior remodeling, and restoration. Learn more about their kitchen remodeling services in Austin.
Recent Bathroom Remodel By Together Design & Build
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info [at] togetherdesignbuild.com
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https://togetherdesignbuild.com/
AUSTIN (KXAN) — After missing out of the Men’s College World Series last season, Texas is back in Omaha competing for the coveted national title with seven other opponents. While there’s been many contributing factors to the team’s resurgence this year, two of the Longhorns freshmen additions have stood out from the rest.
Relief pitcher Sam Cozart and outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. have been revelations for Texas, and this week they were recognized for their key contributions to a national championship contender.
Pack was announced as Baseball America’s National Freshman of the Year, becoming the fifth Longhorn to win the honor. Pack has been a mainstay for Texas at the top of the order, slashing .359/.485/.597 for the season with 74 hits, 58 runs and 20 steals as well (all top-four among Power Four freshmen).
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound outfielder from Lakewood, California also received the SEC Freshman of the Year award last month, and was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Freshman All-American earlier this week.
On the other hand, Cozart was named as the NCBWA National Freshman Pitcher of the Year, becoming the third Texas pitcher to win the honor. Cozart had to earn his way to the team’s closing role, but once he did, he was never giving it back.
The 6-foot-6, 260-pound stalwart led Division I pitchers in WHIP (0.69) and batting average (.132), while also ranking second in ERA (1.64). In his 22 appearances, Cozart has recorded 71 strikeouts, only 12 walks and nine saves, including the one on Sunday against Oregon which sent the Longhorns to the MCWS.
Texas has plenty of talent elsewhere, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario where it makes it to Omaha without the help of its two freshmen stars.
AUSTIN, Texas — A five-time Olympian is speaking out against Austin ISD’s proposal to eliminate its water polo program.
Tony Azevedo, a silver medalist and CEO of 68 Sports, said Texas has become the fastest-growing state for water polo and is on the verge of producing its first Olympic-level players from the region.
“For the first time, you have 30 to 40 players playing Division I,II, III college water polo across the board,” Azevedo said. “And for the first time, you have multiple players on national teams, where probably in this or maybe the next Olympics, you will have your first Texas Olympic water polo player.”
Austin ISD is weighing whether to cut its water polo program as part of a broader effort to close a $181 million budget deficit. The proposal, which would save $89,000, is set for a final board vote June 18. Students and parents have pushed back, arguing the district is unfairly targeting the sport.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Austin ISD athletes ask district to reconsider cutting water polo teams
Azevedo said eliminating the program would effectively bar athletes from ever competing at higher levels, arguing water polo cannot simply be picked up outside of an organized team setting the way other sports can.
“If you take water polo from these athletes, every single athlete you’re taking the sport away from doesn’t have a chance to succeed in our sport,” he said. “And that’s the bottom line.”
He also raised concerns about equity, warning that eliminating the high school program would leave club sports as the only option.
“Only the rich can play this sport,” Azevedo said of a club-only model. “Only the ones who have the money to go and pay for the club to travel.”
Azevedo said the sport carries benefits that extend beyond athletics, including water safety and mental health. He argued cutting it sends the wrong message to young athletes whose sports don’t generate revenue.
“Our kids should all be given the opportunity and equality to play whatever sport they want,” he said.
He urged parents across Texas to speak up before the board’s vote.
“Talk about how important the sport is to you and why it’s important to your kids,” Azevedo said.
The Austin ISD Board of Trustees is scheduled to vote on the budget proposal June 18.
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