Austin Burnett

Sports Director

Odessa

As a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University Austin Burnett learned how to cover a variety of stress-filled sporting events. As the Sports Director at CBS 7, Austin #localizes sports at all costs and loves giving athletes and coaches a platform to tell their stories.

Education

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU, Sports Journalism, 2019

Local

Midland Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy offers free training to local law enforcement officers

Updated: Jul. 6, 2020 at 1:24 AM CDT

By Austin Burnett

Midland BJJ offers free training to law enforcement officers every day to teach them how to defend themselves in a physical altercation.

Sports

MLB cancels Midland RockHounds season due to COVID-19

Updated: Jul. 2, 2020 at 2:44 PM CDT

By Austin Burnett

Major League Baseball cancels Midland RockHounds 2020 season

News

Midland High alum Daviin Davis lives out his dream to play professional basketball

Updated: Jun. 28, 2020 at 12:41 AM CDT

By Austin Burnett

Midland High Alum Daviin Davis plays professional basketball overseas to fulfill lifelong dream.

State

Texas hits 5,000 new virus cases for first time

Updated: Jun. 23, 2020 at 1:58 PM CDT

By Austin Burnett

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says Texas has surpassed 5,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time.

News

Midland celebrates Juneteenth

Updated: Jun. 22, 2020 at 1:49 AM CDT

By Austin Burnett

Midland residents celebrate Juneteenth.

Sports

Lee junior Chase Shores commits to Oklahoma State University to play baseball

Updated: Jun. 19, 2020 at 7:44 PM CDT

By Austin Burnett

Chase Shores is a junior at Lee High School who plays baseball for the Lee Rebels and is now committed to play for Oklahoma State University after tweeting video of himself throwing bullpen.

Sports

Lee junior Chase Shores commits to Oklahoma State University

Updated: Jun. 19, 2020 at 6:33 PM CDT

By Austin Burnett

Oklahoma State offers Lee baseball player scholarship after posting pitching video on Twitter

Sports

UIL lifts broadcast ban for 2020 high school football season

Updated: Jun. 18, 2020 at 5:35 PM CDT

By Austin Burnett

The University Interscholastic League announced today that they will allow live broadcasts during high school football games this fall.

Latest News

State

Texas bars and distilleries rip Gov. Greg Abbott for leaving them out of “unacceptable” reopening plan

Updated: 1 hours ago

By Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff

As Gov. Greg Abbott outlined his latest reopening plan this week, bar owner Greg Barrineau watched in disbelief. Abbott, who announced that Texas restaurants could expand dine-in service to 75% capacity, said bars must remain closed.

Local

Community holds balloon vigil for Evan Hill

Updated: 11 hours ago

By Stephanie Douglas

Community holds balloon vigil for Evan Hill

Local

MISD host 13th annual recovery walk

Updated: Sep. 20, 2020 at 8:36 AM CDT

By Stephanie Douglas

Midland ISD staff and volunteers went door-to-door to re-enroll students

Local

Three dead in fatal car crash in North Odessa

Updated: Sep. 19, 2020 at 12:21 PM CDT

By Joshua Skinner

Odessa Police say an F-150 was struck by a GMC Terrain after running a stop sign.

State

Amber Alert issued for 1-month-old Texas boy

Updated: Sep. 18, 2020 at 9:50 PM CDT

By William Russell

An Amber Alert has been issued for a 1-month-old boy from Wells, Texas.

Latest News

Local

Topgolf Swing Suites trying to get back into the swing of things

Updated: Sep. 18, 2020 at 9:27 PM CDT

By Shane Battis

The venue opened up for a free showcase to show Odessans they’re open and ready for business.

Local

VFW posts struggle to help veterans as their bars remain closed

Updated: Sep. 18, 2020 at 9:25 PM CDT

By Shane Battis

VFW members say they don’t have the funds to provide their usual services or the space to offer sanctuary.

Local

Jenna Quinn’s law passes in U.S. Senate, on the way to House

Updated: Sep. 18, 2020 at 9:09 PM CDT

By Shane Battis

The bill would provide training for educators so they can recognize signs of child sex abuse.

Local

Inmate tests positive for COVID-19 at Midland County Jail

Updated: Sep. 18, 2020 at 9:07 PM CDT

By William Russell

An inmate at the Midland County Jail has tested positive for COVID-19.

Crime

One person killed in officer-involved shooting in West Odessa

Updated: Sep. 18, 2020 at 6:08 PM CDT

By William Russell

Authorities are on the scene of an officer-involved shooting in West Odessa on Friday afternoon.

Local

Midland Mayor Patrick Payton: “The Tall City is open for business”

Updated: Sep. 17, 2020 at 6:00 PM CDT

By William Russell

Midland Mayor Patrick Payton held a news conference on Thursday where he shared his support for local businesses struggling during the pandemic and stated that Midland is open for business.