By Edmond Ortiz The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) has unveiled its newest downtown academic facility that university officials said will further boost the local talent pipeline, and help to further foster collaboration and innovation. What you should know An April 6 ribbon-cutting was held for San Pedro II, a 180,000-square-foot…
By Edmond Ortiz San Antonio-based nonprofit Soldiers’ Angels held a March 31 ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate the opening of a larger national headquarters. What is happening According to a news release, the new, bigger home office in the north central side of town affords Soldiers’ Angels an opportunity to grow a permanent…
By Edmond Ortiz Sarah Dietz and Raquel Gutierrez are headed to a runoff election to vie for the vacant Schertz City Council Place 6 seat, the result of a special April 4 election. According to Guadalupe County elections data after the polls closed April 4, Dietz, a realtor and former local teacher, had collected 45%…
By Edmond Ortiz A San Antonio public housing agency is moving forward with a controversial plan that is not sitting well with at least one City Council member. In other recent San Antonio news, council is opting to wait to talk more about the mayor’s proposed voting commission, and a city panel approved conceptual plans…
By Edmond Ortiz The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) has unveiled its newest downtown academic facility that university officials said will further boost the local talent pipeline, and help to further foster collaboration and innovation. What you should know An April 6 ribbon-cutting was held for San Pedro II, a 180,000-square-foot…
By Edmond Ortiz San Antonio-based nonprofit Soldiers’ Angels held a March 31 ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate the opening of a larger national headquarters. What is happening According to a news release, the new, bigger home office in the north central side of town affords Soldiers’ Angels an opportunity to grow a permanent…
By Edmond Ortiz Sarah Dietz and Raquel Gutierrez are headed to a runoff election to vie for the vacant Schertz City Council Place 6 seat, the result of a special April 4 election. According to Guadalupe County elections data after the polls closed April 4, Dietz, a realtor and former local teacher, had collected 45%…
By Edmond Ortiz A San Antonio public housing agency is moving forward with a controversial plan that is not sitting well with at least one City Council member. In other recent San Antonio news, council is opting to wait to talk more about the mayor’s proposed voting commission, and a city panel approved conceptual plans…
By Edmond Ortiz While San Antonio rolls out a key street improvement measure at Brooks, the city is also authorizing other infrastructure projects on the Northwest Side and just north of Terrell Hills. Also, San Antonians are invited to two public forums to offer ideas to rename Cesar Chavez Boulevard. Elsewhere, New Braunfels officials are…
Below is a list of select events taking place in the San Antonio area. Have a local event you would like Focus On San Antonio to promote? Email all the details to eortiz@journalist.com. WELLNESS Each Saturday Wellness at The Tobin is a weekly series of fitness and exercise classes designed to nurture the body and…
By Edmond Ortiz April means it is Fiesta season in San Antonio. But within San Antonio’s bioscience and healthcare communities, April also marks the return of an event designed to highlight industry capabilities, achievements and collaboration opportunities present locally and around the region. What is happening Biofest Days, organized by the nonprofit BioMedSA, has evolved…
By Edmond Ortiz Schertz voters will again head to the polls April 4, facing their second special City Council election in less than three months. What you should know Four residents are running to fill the vacant Place 6 council seat and replace Allison Heyward, who resigned to mount an ultimately unsuccessful bid in the…
By Edmond Ortiz The company that plans to remake the former Lone Star Brewery site wants to know what community members want to see at the future redevelopment. What is happening Executives from Southstar, the New Braunfels-based firm that finished the acquisition of the 32-acre property in January, held a meeting March 30 with more…
By Edmond Ortiz Methodist Healthcare held a March 30 ribbon cutting to launch the Methodist Healthcare Critical Care and Specialty Teams, a medical transport service line devoted to providing comprehensive care during internal and interfacility transfers. What you should know According to a press release, the new service includes four critical care ambulances, ground or…
By Edmond Ortiz A handful of City Council members joined local LGBTQ community members March 29 to celebrate the installation of rainbow sidewalks along a key Tobin Hill neighborhood street. The Pride-themed sidewalks replace rainbow crosswalks that the city was forced to remove to comply with an order from the governor. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked…
By Edmond Ortiz The city has launched newly added elements at the San Antonio International Airport designed to make some operations in the airport’s original terminal building more efficient. What you should happen Officials with the city, the aviation department and special guests gathered March 27 to celebrate the opening of a Terminal A ground…
By Edmond Ortiz A city commission is gearing up to examine renderings for the San Antonio Missions’ planned downtown stadium, and for complementary new development that project partners say will help to reinvigorate the western part of the central business district. What is happening The Missions, the local minor league affiliate of the San Diego…
By Edmond Ortiz University Health is partnering with Texas A&M University to train and retain more physicians toward caring for a growing regional population. What you should know Officials from Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine in College Station and University Health gathered March 26 at Texas A&M University San Antonio to…
By Edmond Ortiz The Orchestra San Antonio’s March 27 lunchtime show at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts marks the organization’s expansion of music educational support for area youth. What is happening The Orchestra San Antonio’s (TOSA) Youth Concert Series debuts with a noon concert that is free and open to the community. But…
Below is a list of select events taking place in the San Antonio area. Have a local event you would like Focus On San Antonio to promote? Email all the details to eortiz@journalist.com. MUSIC March 28 Greater San Antonio Community Bands Association presents a community band festival, featuring performances from groups such as San Antonio…
By Edmond Ortiz Kirby City Council will meet at 7 p.m. April 6 to mull whether to oust first-term member Susan Street for allegedly violating part of the city charter. What you should know Council met March 25 to weigh removing Street based upon the findings of an investigation conducted by City Manager Brian Rowland….
By Edmond Ortiz Johnny Rodriguez’s powers and duties as Balcones Heights mayor are temporarily limited while the city investigates employee complaints against the city’s top elected leader. The move follows a tumultuous March 23 City Council meeting involving multiple heated exchanges among Rodriguez, the city attorney, and several council members. What you should know City…
By Edmond Ortiz Residents and employees in San Antonio’s centermost school district remain critical of the school board’s decisions this week to close a West Side school, and to let a Colorado-based charter education organization take over three other West Side campuses. What is happening The San Antonio Independent School District board voted 5-2 March…
By Edmond Ortiz An Austin-grown brewery and restaurant opening a San Antonio locale headlines this edition of Light Bites. Also, one burger-centric eatery opens a North Side spot while another provides an update for its upcoming North Side location. Additionally, recent launches include a Boerne cafe, and a New Braunfels Irish bar, while a Southtown…
By Edmond Ortiz Bicyclists and hiking enthusiasts now have new destinations at north San Antonio parks where they can enjoy their hobbies What you should know The city’s parks and recreation and public works departments held a March 18 ceremony to formally open The Grove, a new mountain bike flow trail at McAllister Park. Located…
By Edmond Ortiz Separate investigations of two Judson Independent School District trustees are allowed to proceed although the scope of one inquiry is being officially modified. What is happening Following a lengthy closed session in a March 19 special meeting, Judson ISD board voted 4-3 to uphold an investigation of allegations that board President Monica…
By Edmond Ortiz Jessica Hannah, who most recently served on the Converse Economic Development Corp. board, is now the newest member of Converse City Council. Council voted 3-2 March 17 to appoint Hannah to Place 4 seat, replacing Sylvia Meyer, who recently departed the council after serving little more than three years. However, local leaders…
Below is a list of select events taking place in the San Antonio area. Have a local event you would like Focus On San Antonio to promote? Email all the details to eortiz@journalist.com. MUSIC March 21 A spring equinox celebratory concert will be held at the Cave Without a Name, featuring Rudi and the Rudiments….
By Edmond Ortiz City officials are considering changing the name of Cesar Chavez Boulevard in light of recent reported accusations that the late United Farm Workers founder groomed and sexually abused multiple girls who were part of the Latino civil rights movement. District 5 City Councilmember Teri Castillo submitted a memo March 18, asking city…
By Edmond Ortiz Local organizations responsible for promoting New Braunfels as a tourist destination will soon have a new source of funds for their marketing efforts. What is happening New Braunfels City Council voted unanimously March 9 to approve and validate petitions that support the creation of a local Tourism Public Improvement District. Once established,…
By Edmond Ortiz The state recently provided $5 million towards a $65.7 million project designed to reduce congestion at southwest San Antonio railroad crossing. What you should know The Texas Transportation Commission voted Feb. 26 to approve five grants, totaling $160.4 million, for five rail crossing separation projects around the state. The money, sourced from…
By Edmond Ortiz Fair Oaks Ranch officials will begin a phased expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, where construction will be partially funded by adjustments in customers’ wastewater service fees. What is happening City Council voted March 5 to pass a resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement with San Antonio-based Pesado Construction Co….
Below is a list of select events taking place in the San Antonio area. Have a local event you would like Focus On San Antonio to promote? Email all the details to eortiz@journalist.com. CINEMA March 13 A free screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film “The Birds” will be held on Will’s Plaza at the Tobin…
By Edmond Ortiz The latest openings in San Antonio’s bar and culinary community include a new sandwich shop in Leon Valley, a Windcrest buffet restaurant, a revived rock music-driven bar on the South Side, a downtown honky tonk, a brunch-focused Stone Oak-area spot, and a new Hemisfair hotel. Elsewhere, the Pearl area is getting a…
By Edmond Ortiz The San Antonio Spurs and a number of local educators and musicians are participating at this year’s South by Southwest conference in Austin. The education-centric portion of the event, called SXSW EDU, runs March 9-11 and includes a range of presentations, panel discussions and special events concentrated on the state of education….
By Edmond Ortiz A independent bookshop in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, a workspace complex on the Southeast Side, and a Toyota pickup truck axle assembly plant are among the newly opened businesses and ventures in the San Antonio area. Elsewhere, a new owner took over a STEM skills/coding provider in Cibolo, a stretch fitness center…
By Edmond Ortiz This edition of Transit Tracker features updates on projects affecting Blanco Road at Loop 1604 on the North Side, and South Alamo Street in the heart of downtown. Elsewhere, Balcones Heights started a final phase of improvements on Crestview Drive, an electric vehicle charging station opens in Windcrest, and Converse’s effort to…
Below is a list of select events taking place in the San Antonio area. Have a local event you would like Focus On San Antonio to promote? Email all the details to eortiz@journalist.com. MUSIC March 12-15 Tejano Music Awards Fan Fair affords Tejano music fans a chance to enjoy live performances by many musical artists,…
By Edmond Ortiz Acknowledging that they cannot keep the federal government from setting up migrant detention centers inside city limits, San Antonio’s elected leaders said March 5 they hope to impose policy and code changes to protect local residents while such structures are operational. What is happening City Council voted 8-2 to pass a resolution…
By Edmond Ortiz San Antonio is moving forward with two separate recreational projects meant to boost a East Side neighborhood and Woodlawn Park area. Meanwhile, Boerne officials said they are making progress with the Northside Community Park improvement initiative. East San Antonio San Antonio City Council approved a March 5 meeting consent agenda item that…
By Edmond Ortiz A former San Antonio mayor upsetting Bexar County’s top elected leader was one of the key outcomes in the local March 3 Democratic and Republican primaries. What you should know According to Bexar County Elections Department, 22% of the county’s registered voters cast a ballot in this year’s Democratic or Republican party…
By Edmond Ortiz Boerne Independent School District is one of only 15 Texas public school districts that are opting into a new state law that seeks to offer time for students and employees to pray on campus. What you should know More than 1,200 Texas public school districts and charters had until March 1 to…
By Edmond Ortiz Texas voters will head to the polls March 3 as state Democrats and Republicans determine which candidates of theirs they would like to see advance to the Nov. 3 general midterm elections. Locally, GOP and Democratic primary voters will consider several contested races for San Antonio-area Congressional and state legislative posts as…
By Edmond Ortiz New Braunfels officials are exploring how best local residents and downtown merchants could benefit more from the city’s fledgling managed downtown parking program. A parking system overview Council was briefed Feb. 23 on the city’s 6-month-old downtown managed parking program, which has gotten mixed reviews from New Braunfels residents and affected business…
By Edmond Ortiz Eight San Antonio City Council members voted Feb. 27 to officially censure Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones for violating the city’s code of conduct and workplace anti-harassment policy. What you should know The reprimand comes less than one month after a widely reported Feb. 5 argument between Jones and District 1 Councilmember Sukh…
By Edmond Ortiz The city of Boerne is partnering with onr architectural company on two separate projects that will yield a new municipal animal shelter and a new police dispatch area. New animal shelter Boerne City Council on Feb. 24 passed consent agenda items covering the two projects. Council authorized city staff to execute a…
By Edmond Ortiz A decision by San Antonio’s mass transit agency to not pursue a free-fare program highlights this round of news briefs. Elsewhere, Selma is getting ready to build a fire and police emergency training complex, and Leon Valley has both finalized a location for a public veterans’ monument, and opted to continue a…
By Edmond Ortiz Judson Independent School District will be closing Franz and Rolling Meadows elementary schools and Park Village Blended Learning Academy after the end of the current academic year. What you should know The Judson ISD school board voted 5-2 on Feb. 24 to approve administrators’ proposal to shutter those campuses; the vote comes…
By Edmond Ortiz Eligible Converse residents interested in joining the City Council have until 5 p.m. March 9 to apply for a vacant council position. Sylvia Meyer, who had been elected to Place 4 council seat in 2022 and re-elected in 2024, recently departed her council post. Whomever is appointed to replace Meyer will fill…
By Edmond Ortiz Construction crews overseeing two North Side freeway projects were set to begin months-long closures Feb. 23. Loop 1604 Contractors are closing the westbound Loop 1604 entrance ramp from O’Connor Road as part of the ongoing freeway expansion and improvement project. This ramp closure is scheduled to last through June. According to the…
By Edmond Ortiz Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones will face a censure vote Feb. 27 from City Council for allegedly violating the city’s code of conduct. Following a two-hour closed session discussion Feb. 23, the council proceeded to schedule the censure vote. That meeting begins at 10 a.m. Five council members sent a memo to city…
By Edmond Ortiz This edition of Light Bites is highlighted by La Foccacia’s owner deciding not to retire, and the owner of Luce Ristorante deciding to hang up his apron for good. Elsewhere, the far West Side has a new hot chicken eatery and a new bar with food options. Additionally, renowned local chef is…
Feb. 13 marked the end of the filing period for the May 2 local elections, and more than one dozen San Antonio-area cities and school districts will have contested races. Local government entities such as New Braunfels and the Alamo Heights Independent School District will have multiple contests while voters in Kirby, Shavano Park, the…
Below is a list of select events taking place in the San Antonio area. Have a local event you would like Focus On San Antonio to promote? Email all the details to eortiz@journalist.com. MUSIC Feb. 20 The String Queens, a trio that performs an array of music, from 1700s classic compositions through popular contemporary tunes,…
By Edmond Ortiz The launches of a Midtown bookstore, healthcare clinics in Stone Oak, Live Oak and the South Side, boutiques in Garden Ridge and Leon Valley, and nonprofits in Boerne and New Braunfels are among the newest businesses and organizations to open in the San Antonio area. This new edition of Business Briefs also…
By Edmond Ortiz A contest between San Antonio’s previous mayor and the current Bexar County judge is among the San Antonio-area county races that are featured in local Democratic and Republican primaries, which are set for March 3. More than 12,000 Bexar County voters participated in the first day of early voting, Feb. 17, ahead…
By Edmond Ortiz Voters in 11 San Antonio-area state legislative districts began casting votes Feb. 17 ahead of the March 3 Democratic and Republican primaries. State Senate District 19 Democratic incumbent Roland Gutierrez has no challenger in his effort to continue representing a state Senate district that covers east, south and far West San Antonio,…
By Edmond Ortiz The Judson Independent School District board, in separate votes Feb. 16, chose to close Judson Middle School and opted to pick a new interim superintendent, but the meeting included more heated exchanges between trustees and the removal of one board member from the session. School closure The Judson ISD board has recently…
By Edmond Ortiz Early voting begins Feb. 17 for the March 3 primaries, and 41 Democrats and Republicans are eyeing four San Antonio-area Congressional seats, two of which are considered by political observers as being wide open for the taking. U.S. Representative, District 21 Republican Chip Roy is running for the GOP nomination in a…
By Edmond Ortiz Voters in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District will go to the polls May 2 to decide the fate of the district’s proposed $295.6 million bond. What you should know The school board voted unanimously Feb. 12 to call a May 2 election, where district voters will be asked to consider three…
By Edmond Ortiz Trustees of a Northeast Side school district used a special Valentine’s Day meeting to authorize internal investigations into two school board members. What you should know The Judson Independent School District board unanimously approved beginning a formal investigation into two employees’ complaints filed against trustee Jose Macias. The board also voted 4-3…
By Edmond Ortiz A majority of San Antonio’s elected leaders said they want to pursue ways to help protect local residents as the federal government ramps up local immigration law enforcement actions, but some city officials said there is only so much the city can legally do. What is happening City Council voted 9-2 on…
By Edmond Ortiz Alamo Heights officials have green-lit planned improvements for two notable downtown commercial buildings, and receive an update on the local school district’s redevelopment program. City Council took action Feb. 9 on these issues, including passing a consent agenda addressing designs for upgrades and repairs at the former La Madeleine French Bakery and…
By Edmond Ortiz The newest slate of news briefs are highlighted by an internal investigation of San Antonio’s mayor for alleged misconduct, Castle Hills revising rules covering short-term rentals, and a Northeast Side school district preparing to call for campus consolidations. San Antonio mayor under fire San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is being investigated…
By Edmond Ortiz February is a busy month for local fans of live theater. From a high school musical and a children’s play about taco-loving dragons to community theater offerings and adaptations of major productions, there is something for everyone this month across the San Antonio-area. Overtime Theater Overtime Theater is offering performances of “Acts…
By Edmond Ortiz Schertz city officials and Schertz Fire Department staff gathered Feb. 5 to ceremonially mark the launch of construction of a fourth fire station. Schertz Fire Station No. 4 will be located at 17355 Wiederstein Road. San Antonio-based Marksmen General Contractors is overseeing development of a 16,000-square-foot, $8.8 million facility, where construction is…
By Edmond Ortiz This new edition of Light Bites includes new culinary ventures in Stone Oak and New Braunfels, local charities receiving donations from a downtown brewery/coffee spot and a Pearl district eatery, and the temporary closure of a Castle Hills restaurant. Additionally, a downtown hotel announces its upcoming culinary offerings, and a West Side…
By Edmond Ortiz This round of news briefs includes the firing of a Northeast Side school district leader, San Antonio City Council rebuffing a developer’s key request for a proposed massive residential community. Also, a new flyover ramp at a major North Side freeway intersection has opened to traffic while closures affect traffic in two…
By Edmond Ortiz Elected leaders of the Judson Independent School District remain the target of community criticism and even litigation while they prepare to vote to possibly fire their superintendent. Special meeting scheduled The JISD board will have a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 4 where trustees are due to have a closed session…
By Edmond Ortiz The launch of development of a South Side police substation, the advancement of Brackenridge Park improvements, and the painting of rainbow sidewalks at local Planned Parenthood facilities highlight the latest bits of news from around San Antonio. Also, members of a Northeast Side school district are petitioning for the removal of their…
By Edmond Ortiz Representatives for a Florida-based company still face overwhelming opposition – at least at the local level – in their efforts to build a 3,000-home, master-planned community in northwest Bexar County. Despite opposition from environmental organizations, grassroots groups and area elected officials, representatives for Lennar Corp. say they still have the legal authority…
By Edmond Ortiz The city of San Antonio is officially providing money for a pilot program designed to reduce student absenteeism by underwriting bus passes for middle and high schoolers who otherwise may have trouble getting to school. What you should know The City Council voted Jan. 15 to approve the District 7 council office’s…
By Edmond Ortiz San Antonio city staff sat with City Council Jan. 14 to brief the elected leaders on the latest developments and next steps regarding the envisioned construction of a new downtown sports and entertainment district, and the building of a new San Antonio Missions stadium. Project Marvel plans Ben Gorzell, the city’s chief…
By Edmond Ortiz The San Antonio Independent School District is starting 2026 by beginning an improvement project at one campus, and considering the closure of another school. Proposed closure of Carvajal Elementary The school board is due to meet Jan. 20 to formally consider shuttering Carvajal Elementary School after the end of the current academic…
By Edmond Ortiz Eligible residents in 18 cities and nine public education districts across the San Antonio area have through Feb. 13 to file for a city council or school board seat that will be on the May 2 local election ballot. The May 2 election filing period started Jan. 14 in the following cities…
By Edmond Ortiz Early voting begins Jan. 13 for a runoff election to fill Schertz’s vacant Place 7 City Council seat. What you should know John Carbon and Dr. Robert Sheridan, the two top vote-getters in the city’s Dec. 20 special election, advanced to the Jan. 31 runoff. None of the five candidates in the…
By Edmond Ortiz Many Judson Independent School District residents say they are angered and confused by the school board’s decision to suspend the district’s superintendent. What you should know A special board meeting on Jan. 10 started with an agenda item calling for trustees to consider Superintendent Milton Fields’ employment status and duties. Five hours…
By Edmond Ortiz Food truck operators have a new spot on the Northeast Side to set up shop and feed area residents. What you should know The Universal City City Council voted 4-2 on Jan. 6 to approve the development of a mobile food truck park at 1980 Universal City Blvd. The approved agreement with…
Below is a list of select events taking place in the San Antonio area. Have a local event you would like Focus On San Antonio to promote? Email all the details to eortiz@journalist.com MUSIC Jan. 11 Tuesday Music Club will have a Founders’ Day event, celebrating the club’s 125th anniversary and 75th anniversary of the…
By Edmond Ortiz While population explosion across the San Antonio area continues, so does the growth of commercial and residential developments around the tri-county region. Below is an update on nearly 20 select residential, commercial and mixed-use projects that are in various phases of ongoing development in and around San Antonio. The projects range from…
By Edmond Ortiz The city plans to formally dedicate a new mural designed to celebrate San Antonio’s East Side and its people. A public dedication ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 16 where the city’s arts and culture department will help to fully reveal a 600-foot-long mural, called “Heirlooms: East Side Pride,” on the…
By Edmond Ortiz The city looks to keep installing rainbow-colored sidewalks along a segment of North Main Avenue in efforts to replace rainbow street crosswalks, whose removal were ordered by state officials. However, for some city and community leaders, controversy remains on how local officials let go any further debate around the rainbow crosswalks and…
By Edmond Ortiz Grocery chain H-E-B is kicking off the new year by opening its newest far West Side store. A grand opening took place at 6 a.m. Jan. 7 for the retailer’s nearly 127,000-square-foot store at 15489 Culebra Road near Texas 211. The company began construction on the $29 million store in August 2024…
Below is a list of select events taking place in the San Antonio area. Have a local event you would like Focus On San Antonio to promote? Email all the details to eortiz@journalist.com MUSIC Jan. 3 Texas A&M Singing Cadets will be in concert at the Alamo Heights United Methodist Church to benefit the San…
By Edmond Ortiz San Antonio city officials hope that 2026 will see more local businesses take advantage of a federally funded program designed to boost the number of available registered apprentices. What is happening Representatives with the city’s workforce development office have said they want to shine a light on their Registered Apprenticeship Program, where…
By Edmond Ortiz Two renowned Pearl restaurants, a longtime Live Oak comfort food spot and a near-East Side brewery/distiller are among the well-publicized closures to strike the San Antonio area culinary scene at the end of 2025. Meanwhile, several chains recently opened new local storefronts in San Antonio, Converse, Schertz and New Braunfels. Elsewhere, Tejano…
Below is a list of select events taking place in the San Antonio area. Have a local event you would like Focus On San Antonio to promote? Email all the details to eortiz@journalist.com STAGE Dec. 29 and 30 “Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet” brings to life Tchaikovsky’s classic holiday ballet with help from whimsical puppets and…
By Edmond Ortiz Heading into 2026, opponents of a controversial residential development proposed for northwest Bexar County are gearing up for a legal fight against the massive community. What is happening Scenic Loop Helotes Creek Alliance, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance and the city of Grey Forest plan to appeal by the end of January the…
