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 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…
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. 13 “Isn’t It Romantic” Valentine’s parlor concert has noted local singer Ken Slavin, accompanied by Barry Brake on piano, performing…
By Edmond Ortiz Bexar County leaders have approved agreements to activate grant-funded projects in three small cities. Bexar County commissioners meeting Feb. 3 passed a consent agenda that included infrastructure agreements concerning three separate initiatives, with each involving a Community Development Block Grant. One agreement supports a $118,540 CDBG, which will help to fund repairs…
By Edmond Ortiz City leaders gathered Feb. 3 for the ground-breaking ceremony on San Antonio Animal Care Services’ veterinary hospital. According to local officials, the 17,000-square-foot facility will be nearly six times larger than SAACS’ current 3,000-square-foot clinic, allowing staff to provide more critical pet care. Development of the new veterinary hospital at the SAACS…
