Mayor Kirk Watson tells Axios the city should move forward with obtaining license plate readers, which police say could have helped more quickly track down three suspects tied to a citywide shooting spree.

Why it matters: The shootings have reignited debate over whether concerns about privacy still outweigh public safety arguments for bringing back the technology.

Catch up quick: Police on Sunday detained three teenage suspects who they say shot four people across 12 crime scenes, prompting a 24-hour search and a shelter-in-place order across South Austin.

State of play: Manor police used license plate reader technology to identify the suspects' stolen vehicle just before 3:30pm Sunday, about 45 minutes after the department received Austin's "be on the lookout" request.

• Two suspects fled on foot after the car was stopped by police. They were detained soon after, while the third person who fled was found later that evening.
• Austin Police chief Lisa Davis said license plate readers "could have helped" investigators more quickly locate the suspects while they were in Austin.

Flashback: Austin ended its contract with Flock Safety, a license plate reader technology provider, last June over privacy concerns.

• Flock's technology allows police to automatically compare scanned license plate data against criminal databases, alerting them to stolen vehicles, Amber Alerts or cars associated with wanted suspects.

What they're saying: Watson tells Axios that the council's February passage of the TRUST Act, which regulates how law enforcement can use surveillance technology, allows them to move forward with approving license plate readers.

• "We need to give our law enforcement professionals the tools they need to make sure people are safe," Watson says.
• "We must also make sure that as we move forward, we find balance between protecting the privacy of our residents with the need and desire of our residents to feel and be safe."

The other side: City Council Member Mike Siegel, who opposes Flock's program, says he remains "open to technologies that don't create new vulnerabilities for our neighbors and constituents."

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Austin FC, struggling through the first half of the season, yesterday fired head coach Nico Estévez and sporting director Rodolfo Borrell.

Why it matters: The firings, ahead of a long midseason break for the World Cup, mark an inflection point as the squad aims to shake itself out of mediocrity.

The latest: Assistant coach Davy Arnaud has been appointed interim head coach ahead of the club's next match against St. Louis City SC on Saturday.

State of play: With a record of three wins, six losses and five draws, Austin is in 13th place out of 15 teams in the Western Conference.

• The Verde and Black lost 2-1 on Saturday to Sporting Kansas City — last place in the conference — and 5-0 last Wednesday to San Diego FC, the worst loss in franchise history.

Flashback: Estévez took over after the 2024 season from Josh Wolff, the team's first-ever coach.

• The club spent big during the last two offseasons to bring in players with proven offensive prowess, but wins didn't come easily. Estévez finished with a 16-19-13 record.

What they're saying: "We believe this team can compete for a playoff position, and given our results thus far, a change is necessary to achieve our goals of qualifying for the playoffs this year and becoming a consistent winner in this league," Austin FC CEO and owner Anthony Precourt said in a statement.

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🗺️ New data shows many Austinites leaving Travis County aren't moving far, with nearby Central Texas counties capturing much of the city's exodus. (Austin American-Statesman)

💨 The U.S. Defense Department paused issuing routine federal permits for dozens of wind projects in Texas, citing national security concerns. (Texas Tribune)

🌮 Cuantos Tacos will move into brick and mortar at 808 Justin Lane by the first quarter of 2027 after seven years of operating from a food truck. (Austin Business Journal 🔒)

👋 Nicole here, with a decor idea.

Catch up quick: I met my now-husband while I was working at the Austin American-Statesman, and he immediately became a loyal print subscriber.

• He saved every newspaper with my byline in his desk drawers, and even hauled the papers to our new place when we moved in together.

What's happening: Last month, he surprised me by showing up at our front door with a Statesman newspaper stand that he nabbed for free on Facebook Marketplace.

The intrigue: It turns out that — like all retro things at the moment — newspaper boxes are making a comeback.

• TikTok creators are garnering thousands of likes for transforming newspaper boxes into free art exchange boxes or unique home decor.
• And refurbished newsstands are selling for over $400 on Etsy.

❤️ The bottom line: Now, my newspapers have a place to live, and it makes me smile every time I look at it.

Emma, Olivia, Liam and Noah are still the most popular baby names in the state, per the Social Security Administration.

The big picture: The U.S. fertility rate dipped to a historic low last year, declining 1% compared to 2024 and almost 20% compared to 20 years ago.

The intrigue: Emma came out on top last year, after flip-flopping with Olivia for the most popular girl name in Texas for several years.

• Liam dethroned Noah in 2018 and remains the most popular boy name in Texas.

Zoom out: While Liam and Olivia have been the country's top baby names for seven years in a row, Kasai and Klarity were considered the fastest-risers of last year.

• Other novel spellings climbing the ranks: Neithan and Madisson.