San Antonio’s demographics almost seem tailor-made to put people at risk for the worst outcomes of COVID-19. It’s a city that’s long struggled with generational poverty, where people of color make up the majority and certain underlying health conditions, most notably diabetes, are higher than the national and state averages. Data collected by states during…
Locals have a chance to help preserve San Antonio’s cultura by participating in a livestreamed fundraiser this weekend. “¡Viva! A Live Streamathon Supporting the Arts & Artists in San Antonio” is a virtual event assembled by Texas Public Radio, Luminaria Artist Foundation, the Lonesome Rose, NowCastSA and Nelco Media aimed at helping artists get back…
Mother’s Day is days away, but there’s no reason to fear if you haven’t planned out the perfect meal yet. Since there’s no better gift to a mother than making her feel like you’ve actually got your shit together, we compiled a list of take-home meal kits from San Antonio restaurants that are likely to…
San Antonio-based filmmaker Daniel Tucker will see his new thriller Nothing But the Blood hit VOD and store shelves on August 4, 2020. The film was acquired for national distribution by Gravitas Ventures, a company that has released a number of projects over the last 15 years, including Lost Transmission starring Simon Pegg (Shaun of…
As heard roaring around town, the San Antonio Zoo opened up their doors last weekend for what was planned to be a one-time Drive Thru Zoo experience. However, many locals missed out on the festivities when the tour sold out within a mere two hours. In order to give everyone a unique opportunity to see…
San Antonio’s nationally recognized H-E-B grocery chain is again stepping up for the community, this time ensuring new graduates can celebrate their achievements even if the pandemic has delayed big events. The company’s “Texas-Sized Graduation” will provide a virtual graduation ceremony for high school and college graduates on Wednesday, May 20, via YouTube Live. The…
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and it couldn’t come at a more confusing time. On hand, businesses are reopening with new social distancing protocols. On the other, San Antonio continues to see a worrisome increase in COVID-19 cases. That leaves many of us wondering how to give our Mom the celebration she deserves while tiptoeing…
This week, Operation B.R.A.V.E. (Bexar county Response And Victory in end ing the Epidemic) announced the launch of “How Low Can You Go?”, an innovative bi-lingual media campaign aimed at promoting HIV treatment as a powerful tool for HIV prevention. When people with HIV take their HIV medications as prescribed, they can keep the amount…
When it comes to sharing toilet paper, many San Antonians can’t seem to spare a square. That’s according to a poll that took a deep look at the hottest commodity since Hurricane Harvey’s gas panic. The survey, developed in a partnership between Bexar Facts, KSAT-12 and the Rivard Report, asked San Antonians about their personal toilet paper…
Days after enacting a plan to re-open Texas’ nonessential businesses on May 1, a leaked recording appears to reveal Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledging the order would lead to more COVID-19 infections. The recording, provided by the group Progress Texas, is purported to be audio of a May 1 call between Abbott and Texas lawmakers about…
GQ Magazine released its list of Best New Restaurants this week, following writer Brett Martin’s pre-COVID-19 journey across the nation to find what’s new and exciting on America’s culinary frontier. The result was a list of 16 unique and varied concepts that includes San Antonio’s West Side hotspot the Jerk Shack. Owned by Cornelius Massey…
A few months ago, Texas appeared to be Donald Trump’s state to lose. Now, a new poll suggests that without a massive campaign effort, he may in fact lose the Lone Star State. A Dallas Morning News/University of Texas at Tyler poll shows Trump and Democratic opponent Joe Biden in a dead heat in the…
For the fifth year, chef Steve McHugh of Cured at the Pearl has been named a James Beard Foundation finalist. In past years, Texas has been a part of the Best Chef: Southwest category, which also covered Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Oklahoma. This time, he was nominated in the newly created Best Chef: Texas category.…
Nine weeks ago, Folklores Coffee House chef and owner Tatu Herrera began delivering fresh produce and groceries to elderly people in San Antonio. What began with a project to feed a dozen households has since grown exponentially. Last week, he delivered food to more than four thousand elderly citizens. In support of Herrera’s efforts, the…
Say it ain’t so! In an interview with ESPN’s The Undefeated, former San Antonio Spur Tony Parker revealed yesterday that two of his family members — his father-in-law and sister-in-law — contracted COVID-19 in France. Fortunately, both family members have since recovered. “We were worried the first two or three weeks to make sure they…
Last week, Noodle Tree chef and owner Mike Nguyen spoke to the Current about his decision not to reopen his dining room due to concerns about customer safety and his own health. Over the weekend, CNN anchor Erin Burnett also spoke to Nguyen, allowing him to share his story with the nation. “You’re battling cancer yourself,…
Joining the company of his good buddy President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has been sued in federal court for banning a critic from his Twitter feed. In the suit, Tod Beardsley, research director for cybersecurity company Rapid7, maintains that the Texas GOP senator engaged in “viewpoint-based discrimination and censorship” on a public political…
Weeks after lifting purchasing limits on items including toilet paper, acetaminophen and baby wipes, H-E-B is once again revising its product purchase limit policy. This time, it’s reining in meat purchases. The new limits allow each shopper to purchase a total of five packages of fresh beef, ground beef, chicken, pork or turkey. To clarify,…
Brent Boller, a longtime news anchor at San Antonio’s Texas Public Radio, died Monday after a struggle with cancer. The 63-year-old Boller’s voice carried an instantly recognizable radio resonance. Before joining TPR, he anchored AM talk station KTSA’s morning drive time through much of the 2000s. A former Air Force captain, he also did a stint…
Want a side of fries with that shake? A Big Red shake, that is! Famed local restaurant Burger Boy has named what could be considered San Antonio’s version of the Starbucks “pink drink” their shake of the month for May. The Big Red Shake, which debuted back in March 2017, is exactly what it sounds…
When Twang released pickle beer salt earlier this year, adding a pucker-inducing ending to an iced cold brew, it was apparent the San Antonio food brand aimed to expand its presence in the bar and beverage markets. Now, the company has launched Twang Reserve Rimming Salt Blends in both pickle and michelada flavors. This time, its lip-smacking powders…
A woman was hit and killed by a pickup truck on Austin Highway late Sunday night, authorities told KSAT. The woman, 53, was walking on the 1750 block of Austin Highway where she was struck by a 1996 black Ford Ranger that was traveling northeast. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The San Antonio…
Five years after a deadly listeria outbreak made national news, Blue Bell Creameries L.P. has agreed to plead guilty to charges that it shipped contaminated products to 23 states, including Texas, according to federal prosecutors. The Brenham-based company also will pay $19.35 million in fines, forfeitures and settlements related the case – the second largest-ever…
How much would you pony up to hang with Spurs legends David Robinson and Tim Duncan and Coach Gregg Popovich? One fan was willing to part ways with $120,000. That was the winning bid in an All-In Challenge charity auction for the honor, according to the Bleacher Report sports site. The proceeds benefitted Feeding America, Meals…
“As you know the restaurant industry has been hit hard by the effects of COVID-19 not only in our San Antonio community but nationwide,” read a March 25 post on Eastside Kitchenette’s Facebook page. “It is with a heavy heart that we have come to the tough decision to suspend all services at Eastside Kitchenette…
Still trying to decide how to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? SA restaurants have got you covered. We rounded up some party pack options appear ready to take your Cinco de Mayo to the next level, whether you plan to don actual pants and throw a porch party with your roomies or just hang out on…
Shopping secondhand can have its pitfalls, but ghosts aren’t generally one of them. To that, a seller on Seguin’s Facebook marketplace says, “Hold my beer.” The listing for an “old baby carriage” popped up on Facebook Sunday and was immediately spotted by eagle-eyed Twitter users, who called it out for what it clearly was: haunted…
Arts funding may be drying up, but the Luminaria Artist Foundation is still supporting our city’s creators. On Friday, Luminaria announced its 2020 grant awardees, a selection of local artists across multiple disciplines, each of whom will receive $10,000 to go toward creating new work. This year’s recipients are choreographer Violeta De León Davila, author and…
A consortium of San Antonio scientists has landed $200,000 in funding to develop a vaccine to combat COVID-19. Researchers from the University of Texas at San Antonio, UT Health San Antonio, Southwest Research Institute and Texas Biomedical Research Institute secured the grant, which will fund research based on how a prototype vaccine for the respiratory illness…
For any healthcare workers and first responders who happen to be bikers, Caliente Harley-Davidson wants to say “thank you.” To do so, they are offering free scheduled maintenance services to all – doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers, EMS technicians and others – who are putting their health at risk every day during the pandemic. “Our healthcare…
Stumped on what to get mom this year? Look no further than the Briscoe Western Art Museum, y’all. This year, the museum is offering Mother’s Day membership specials including western gift shop items, available through contactless, curbside pick-up. Each designed to give moms a retreat to the West, all three levels of the gift packages are…
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton fired off a letter Friday threatening to prosecute election officials who advise voters who normally wouldn’t qualify for a mail-in ballot that they may submit one because of the pandemic. The letter is in direct conflict with a ruling two weeks ago by a state district judge which states that Texans concerned…
When the coronavirus pandemic began, school custodian Crystal Watts was working five days a week, mopping floors, wiping desks and disinfecting every surface that was touched. She didn’t get a mask. Olivia Hill, a day care teacher, was given the choice to stop working when a child at the facility tested positive for the new…
Itching to get out of the house … for a good cause? A longtime Alamo City gaming staple has been reimagined by the Westside Development Corporation (WDC), Centro San Antonio and San Antonio Growth for the Eastside (SAGE) to help support locally owned small businesses, particularly those hit hard by the pandemic. The groups are…
The local developers behind a $56.1 million, 292-unit mixed-used project in the Lone Star District have now partnered with the San Antonio Housing Trust, a nonprofit entity tied to the city that’s able to grant a full property tax exemption to the builders it partners with. Since 2016, Rajeev Puri and James Schuepbach have been…
Developers hoping to rejuvenate the Lone Star Brewery after its 1996 closure have been stymied by hurdles ranging from bankruptcies to environmental issues. Now, Lone Star Development and GrayStreet Acquisitions, a subsidiary of the development company GrayStreet Partners, hope to begin a new chapter for 32-acre property in a deal set to finalize today, according…
San Antonio’s Roshii has dropped a brand spankin’ new single. On the heels of their first album Boats, which came out in April, Roshii has just released their newest track: “Greener Grass.” The single offers more of the Roshii you know and love with a fresh sound that lives up to its title. “This song…
As part of their recently launched Wanderer Series Relief Project, William Chris Vineyards (WCV) has released a new wine benefitting the Texas hospitality industry. “Our industry, our country and our world is hurting right now, emotionally, physically and financially,” said William Chris Vineyards Co-owner Chris Brundrett. “As a company, we’re fighting to stay afloat, and…
San Antonio restaurants are taking advantage of Governor Abbott’s order to gradually reopen Texas economy, posting their limited menus, reduced hours and social distancing efforts online. “As we navigate this new reality, we seek our community’s partnership. Pearl supports all its partners and the decisions they make on when and how to reopen their businesses,”…
While life during a pandemic hasn’t been fun for anyone, San Antonio’s undocumented population faces unique challenges during the crisis. Some of those people are essential workers but don’t necessarily receive that designation from the authorities. Nor are they even recognized as such by much of the community. Some in the community may not even…
Bored at home? Now’s as good a time as any to cultivate a green thumb. To emphasize CDC messaging for U.S. residents to continue to shelter in place, a coalition of greenhouse growers and interior plantscapers launched a social media initiative they’re calling #StayPlanted. They’re encouraging people to place plants in their windows and share…
Pride San Antonio, organizers of the Pride Bigger Than Texas Festival and Parade, announced on May 1 that both events, slated for June 27, will be replaced by a virtual celebration instead. A statement sent to Out In SA from James Poindexter, board secretary of Pride S.A. says, “The Board of Directors of Pride San…
A man was shot and killed during an apparent drug deal on the East Side Thursday morning, according to San Antonio police. SAPD was called to the scene at a Super 8 motel on the 300 block of Roland Road around 9 a.m. When they arrived they found the victim’s body in the the parking…
Despite his assurances that Texas is beating back COVID-19, Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to reopen businesses Friday comes a day after the state reported its highest daily death toll from the disease. A total of 50 Texans died Thursday from COVID-19-related deaths. The same day, another 1,033 people tested positive, one of its highest single-day…
It’s been 20 years since San Antonio filmmaker Duane Graves first sat in the director’s chair, calling the shots on the documentary Up Syndrome. The 2000 film tells the story of Rene Moreno, Graves’ childhood friend who was born with Down syndrome. Even after two decades, the independent film still resonates with people, he said.…
In March, online music distributor Bandcamp waived its revenue share in an effort to help independent artists impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. After a whopping $4.3 million went straight into the pockets of Bandcamp’s artists, the website intends to give a repeat performance. Today — as well as on June 5 and July 3 —…
CBD gummies have been giving America a sweet tooth it didn’t know it had. Old and young, CBD gummies have come one of the most popular method for ingesting CBD, with many forgoing the ‘medical feeling’ of a tincture, while also avoiding other traditional ways of taking cannabis, such as smoking. As the most familiar…
If you’re confused about what to look for when buying CBD oil, CBD gummies or any other CBD products, you’re not alone. A lack of regulation within the CBD industry has made the whole market a bit like the Wild West. CBD sits in a gray area of legality, and consequently the FDA does little…
The San Antonio Current is community. Call me old school, but the first thing I do when arriving in a new city is to pick up a paper copy of the local equivalent of the Current. That’s because alternative newspapers are the pulse of a city, and I love to thumb through the pages, reading…
Dorćol Distilling + Brewing Co. is teaming up with Homegrown Chef, the group behind a food-based San Antonio web series, to offer Sunday takeaway brunch. The partnership’s Sunday Funday event this weekend will include a menu created by chef Edward Villarreal, formerly of Hotel Havana, Boiler House and Biga on the Banks. The collaborative to-go menu will offer…
The Twin Liquors chain has rolled out online ordering for in-store pickup or delivery at its 90-plus Texas stores. Previously, only 12 locations offered online transactions, but the Austin-based company has been busy over the past five weeks, revising its business model to support the expansion. “During these unprecedented times, Twin Liquors is working diligently…
Grab the tissues, because some San Antonio young musicians found a way to persevere and inspire even while the coronavirus has shut down live events. Roan Forest Elementary’s Sonido musical group gathered 101 current and past performers for an online cover of the late Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.” The virtual rendition was posted on Facebook…
Taking an afternoon drive with the family is about to get wild. The San Antonio Zoo is launching a new experience called Drive Thru Zoo this weekend. Patrons will be able to take a educational audio tour of the zoo in the safety of their own vehicles as they learn about its history and the…
Texas-based restaurant group Landry Inc. will reopen dining rooms at all 130 of its Texas restaurants Friday. Its San Antonio locations include Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Brickhouse Tavern + Tap, Joe’s Crab Shack, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Rainforest Café, Saltgrass Steak House and Chart House, inside the Tower of The Americas. Landry’s move should come as…
Local artist and all around badass Ethel Shipton’s latest project is making a huge impact. Inspired by the long-running phenomenon of “little free libraries,” Shipton, a Blue Star Contemporary Berlin Residency veteran, created “For the Taking” boxes, where people can drop off or receive nonperishable food items for free. One little food library box is…
Trinity University’s Chamber Singers didn’t get to perform their final concert this year, but that didn’t stop them from making something beautiful. Like many musicians — students and professionals alike — the choral ensemble at the San Antonio liberal arts school found a way collaborate virtually while sheltering in place. On Monday, the university posted a…
Another 254,199 Texans filed new claims for unemployment last week. That brings the total number of Texans filing claims to over 1.5 million in the six weeks since state and local stay-at-home mandates began shuttering businesses across Texas, causing some companies to cut workers’ hours, lay off employees or furlough staffers. Last week’s claims are…
Turns out you need a thick skin to run a presidential campaign for a mercurial reality-TV star. Faced with plunging polling numbers, President Donald Trump blew up at campaign manager Brad Parscale on the phone Friday, yelling at the former San Antonio-based web designer and threatening to sue him, according to a CNN report citing…
With 300 years in existence, it’s a safe San Antonio has plenty of fascinating history yet to be unearthed. One local arts organization has made of a mission of digging up and sharing those cultural valuables. URBAN-15’s Hidden Histories is a monthly online series featuring archived interviews, performances, films and discussions that focus on the community and…
Music festivals may be a bust this year, but a San Antonio radio station has got our backs. On Saturday, SA’s Energy 94.1 — “San Antonio’s #2 Hit Music Station,” according to its Facebook page — is bringing a music fest to the web with a livestream showcasing independent artists from around the world. The…
Alamo Colleges District is responding to the pandemic by waiving summer tuition for all currently enrolled students, so long as they have a 2.0 GPA. Thanks to Alamo Colleges’ Keep Learning Plan, students who took classes in this spring can earn up to nine free credit hours while part-time students can earn up to six.…
Citing the health risks of the COVID-19 pandemic, six Texans filed suit in a San Antonio federal court Wednesday to overthrow state rules that limit eligibility for mail-in voting to those over the age of 65. The lawsuit maintains that the state’s election code violates constitutional protections against age discrimination for voters. Under current rules, Texans…
You can now find meals from Tre Trattoria, Range and Two Bros. BBQ Market at select H-E-B locations as San Antonio chef Jason Dady joins the list of restaurateurs offering heat-and-eat meals through the grocery chain. San Antonio-based H-E-B expanded its Meal Simple line early this month to include full meals from popular local spots…
Bexar County isn’t the only county lockup with a coronavirus problem. State records show that the number of Texas jail inmates diagnosed with COVID-19 has increased by 216% over the past nine days. The alarming trend was first reported by the criminal justice blog Grits for Breakfast. As of Tuesday, 569 county jail inmates and…
Not just content with having a song prominently placed on the Showtime series Billions, SA space cowboy Garrett T. Capps is now a finalist for the Shiner Showcase, a music contest sponsored by the iconic Texas beer brand. The alt-country performer is pitted against Nashville’s Wilson Brothers Band in the Showcase finals to decide who…
Southside families found relief Monday, when the Southside’s Pica Pica Plaza parking lot transformed into a Lots of Love food distribution center. The initiative is a partnership between the San Antonio Food Bank and Pica Pica Plaza Ownership Group, which owns and manages the shopping center, and Flip’z Entertainment, an indoor activity park located there.…
After snapping up $15 million in federal loans intended to help small employers, the parent company of San Antonio-born Taco Cabana now says it’s returning the money. In a securities filing, Dallas-based Fiesta Restaurant Group said it’s repaying $15 million in low-interest loans provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank. The $661 million restaurant group borrowed the…
San Antonio music fans need not cast their nets outside the city limits if they’re hungry for new music. Hard-edged prog rockers Donella Drive have dropped a brand spanking new video for a single released earlier this year, fittingly titled “Uncertainty of Now.” Following up on its Bloomer EP, Donella Drive filmed the video with the…
Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement this week allowing restaurants to reopen Friday following the expiration of the statewide stay-at-home order has raised eyebrows on both sides of the discussion. But few, if any, San Antonio restaurateurs have more personal insight into the health implications of the order than Mike Nguyen, chef-owner of Noodle Tree, on the city’s…
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include information on Santikos Entertainment’s plan to reopen three of its theaters. None of the movie theater chains operating in San Antonio will reopen Friday, when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to reopen the state goes into effect. Abbott announced on Monday that certain businesses, including movie…
Bar industry professionals were unusually quiet on social media after Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that Texas retailers, restaurants, movie theaters and malls can open May 1, so long as they operate at 25% or less capacity. A second round of openings, which would include bars, beauty salons and gyms would be coming in May, the…
Whataburger will pay $180,000 to settle a suit from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over claims the general manager of a Florida outlet repeatedly told an underling to “hire white, and not black, applicants.” When the employee complained, she was told upper management wanted the workforce at the Tallahassee store to “reflect the customer base…
When Gov. Greg Abbott unveiled his plan to reopen retail businesses and restaurants across the state, media coverage was largely tempered with caution, some with a healthy dose of skepticism. Not so for San Antonio Fox affiliate KABB-TV. “Let’s go the MALL everybody,” the station posted on its Facebook page without irony as it linked…
Musical Bridges Around the World isn’t going to let a little quarantine stop it from putting on the remainder of its planned season. While the original plan to host Italy’s Duo Baldo in concert at San Fernando Cathedral is a wash, the SA-based performing arts nonprofit figured out a way to stream a virtual performance…
When protein-rich donations to the San Antonio Food Bank began to dwindle earlier this month, GoodHeart Brand Specialty Foods wasted no time developing a plan to serve the community. “We immediately decided to turn on one of our lines, once a week, solely to feed these families. I basically called up the Food Bank and…
Craving some live music? Well, you can plant your booty on the sofa once again for the Aztec Theatre’s benefit concert series Couch Sessions Vol. II this Friday evening. The second iteration features a shorter lineup than the inaugural concert, but the lineup is still stacked, featuring Phonolux, Andria Rose, Bombasta and another open-format set…
Bexar County voters, on a 2-to-1 margin, are more worried about social distancing rules ending too early than too late, according to a Bexar Facts poll released Tuesday. According to the survey, 56% of likely Bexar voters said they’re more worried that social distancing measures will be removed too quickly. Just 28% said they’re more…
I’m writing this on April 9, better known among aficionados as National Gin and Tonic Day. Just for the record, the international celebration of the classic drink is in October, and, no, don’t ask me why it deserves its own day here or abroad. For now, just catch up by having several. In looking at…
There’s a good chance your youngsters are hankering for wider pastures during the COVID-19 quarantine. If that’s the case, they may enjoy watching John Erickson read from his Hank the Cowdog series from his ranch in Roberts County at the tip of the Texas panhandle. The outdoor spread seems like a perfect setting to experience…
Around 50 residents of a north-of-downtown apartment complex were locked out Monday in what local officials are calling a violation of a local moratorium on evictions during the coronavirus pandemic. Residents at the Olmos Club Apartments on the 800 block of Basse Road returned home to find themselves locked out of their units, Bexar County…
Just in time for summertime shenanigans, Dorćol Distilling + Brewing unveiled a new size joining their lineup: the Short Supply Tall Boy. Available for pre-order today, the inaugural run of Short Supply Tall Boys will pour 16 ounces of the HighWheel Wheat-A-Colada, Dorćol’s 5.2% ABV tribute to the piña colada. “Britt, our bartender, and I…
The plans Gov. Greg Abbott laid out in a Monday afternoon press conference to reopen the Texas economy left a sour taste in local chefs’ mouths. Interviews with a half dozen Alamo City restaurant owners this afternoon revealed a range of mixed feelings about the plan to allow businesses to resume operations as early as…
San Antonio clothing designers have been killing it in the mask game, and another designer has joined the fray. Due to the pandemic, the Aesthetik’s Stacy Williams halted her Spring/Summer production to make double-layer cotton face masks to donate to healthcare and other workers on the front line of the crisis. Since she began production in March,…
Texas retailers, restaurants, movie theaters and malls will be able to open May 1, so long as they operate at 25% or less capacity, Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday at a press conference detailing plans to jumpstart the state’s economy. Those same businesses would be able to expand to 50% capacity on May 18, provided…
First responders and healthcare workers have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, and San Antonians have been doing their best to show appreciation for all that they do. Now, megacorp McDonald’s is getting in on the action, too — by offering free fast food meals to the heroes at the frontlines. From now…
Seva, or selfless service, is a core tenet of the Sikh faith, and the Sikh community of San Antonio has shown up in a huge way. Organizers from the Sikh Dharamsal of San Antonio, a local gurdwara — or Sikh house of worship — originally set out to raise $75,000 in virtual donations for the…
President Donald Trump gave false or misleading information in nearly a quarter of the remarks he’s made during daily White House briefings on the coronavirus, according to a new analysis by the Washington Post. In the wake of a the president’s erroneous and dangerous suggestion last week that injecting disinfectants into humans might cure the…
Threadgill’s is dead. Long live Threadgill’s. The historic Austin venue known for its Southern comfort food and role in launching Janis Joplin’s career is no more. Last week, Threadgill’s announced that the temporary closure it had made due to the pandemic would now be permanent. “We’re very sad to announce that Threadgill’s is closing,” the…
A 38-year-old woman, who recently lost a custody battle, shot and killed both of her children and her mother before taking her own life, KSAT reports. The children’s father showed up at the mother’s Northside apartment complex Monday morning, looked through the blinds and discovered the bodies, the station reported, citing police on the scene. The…
People didn’t stop knocking boots during quarantine. Actually, the numbers suggest the exact opposite. And that may be one reason why sex-shop chain Hustler Hollywood announced it’s now offering curbside service for lingerie, sex toys and naughty novelties at its Northwest San Antonio boutique. Also in play, of course, is Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent…
On a late Monday afternoon, Monica Alcántara pops onto my computer screen from her home office. Over the past two years, the first-term chairwoman of the Bexar County Democratic Party has been at the center of a tumultuous political scene. On one hand, she’s been the controversial house-cleaning successor to former party head Manuel Medina.…
We’re living in strange and uncertain times, and the San Antonio music scene is feeling it. With empty bars and desolate venues, it’s unclear how soon the business of presenting live music will get back to normal. “How is the local scene going to look? It’s an absolute 100% chance it’ll change, and you don’t…
A new poll found that 35% of Latino households already experienced a job loss during the coronavirus crisis, while 65% reported having a hard time buying or finding necessities such as food, household supplies or medicine. The poll, conducted by Latino Decisions in partnership with the Latino-focused health network SOMOS, purports to the first in-depth…
Only 23% of Texas registered voters approve of the job Congress is doing, which is an improvement over the 18% who approved in February. Most — 56% — disapprove. The feelings are bipartisan, too: 53% of Democrats and 57% of Republicans disapprove of the job Congress is doing. The state’s two Republican U.S. senators do…
When the daily email from state health officials lands in his inbox, Kimble County Judge Delbert Roberts skips straight to the K’s: Will today be the day, he wonders, that his community will join the majority of Texas counties by marking its first case of the coronavirus? Even though he’s so far made it to…
It’s no secret that the shutdown of live music in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic decimated independent venues and the artists who play their stages. The carnage continues this week as those venues and artists mark a month of being out of the spotlight. And while buying music and merch like T-shirts, koozies and…
When we’re feeling bored or possibly even lonely, we often turn to social media to see what our friends are up to. Social media outlets like Facebook and Instagram allow us to carefully curate the image we want to put forward to our friends, and usually, that’s a positive spin on our lives. “Perfect” Friends…
If it’s done nothing else of any use to anyone, at least the coronavirus has caused people to get creative. With a worldwide lack of personal protective equipment leaving even medical professionals — let alone average Joes — vulnerable to catching the virus, people have been coming up with increasingly interesting ways of keeping themselves…
San Antonio police officers have shot a man who they say opened fire on them when they responded to burglary call. The man, Michael D. Hogan, 52, was hit twice and is in stable condition in a local hospital, San Antonio Police Department William McManus told KSAT News. According to police, officers were responding to…
It’s been a difficult couple of months for sports fans, with not much to watch or talk about as sports leagues put their 2020 seasons on hold. This has led people to come up with unique ways to get their sports fix at home. And it seems we have a friendly rivalry brewing — pun…
Restaurant Gwendolyn owner and chef Michael Sohocki is sending out a simple call to action to the San Antonio community: let’s support our local medical heroes. Sohocki, who also owns Kimura Ramen and Il Forno, hopes to kill two proverbial birds with one stone by launching a meal program to feed local medical personnel with meals prepared…
Stickers are a permanent — well, semi-permanent — commitment during ordinary times, but a local company’s new designs may leave a mark on San Antonio history. Influenced by information posters from the 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic, the duo behind San Antonio- and Waco-based DeuxSouth Creative is selling sticker packs to raise money for charities from…
On the heels of a major statewide expansion and the creation of a grocery delivery service for seniors, San Antonio-based grocer H-E-B and Favor Delivery have unveiled a new express delivery option. This new service allows shoppers to have essentials delivered to their doors within two hours from every H-E-B, Joe V’s and Central Market…
Austin-based nonprofit Texas Health Action opened Kind Clinic San Antonio in March to provide sexual health and gender-affirming services to the LGBTQ+ community. Because the launch occurred at the same time as the coronavirus crisis intensified, Kind Clinic SA instituted specialty safety protocols. Its established Bexar County patients also were already utilizing the organization’s remote…
After President Donald Trump suggested Thursday that disinfectants could offer an internal treatment for the coronavirus, the South Texas Poison Center warned that such chemicals are dangerous and potentially deadly. “I’m not familiar with any calls we’re receiving about it right now, but I’m betting they will come,” said Dr. Shawn Varney, the center’s medical…
During quarantine, artists are going live on a variety of platforms, be it your favorite musician playing acoustic guitar or your cousin DJing in your aunt’s garage. The options can seem overwhelming. If you’re looking to lighten the mood right now — and who isn’t? — plenty of Texas comedians are looking to make you laugh…
A TikTok video starring employees of San Antonio-based grocery chain H-E-B received a celebrity spotlight Sunday from actor and producer John Krasinski (The Office, A Quiet Place). On his YouTube show Some Good News, Krasinski featured the viral video made by the employees of an H-E-B in Huntsville, Texas. The video depicts a scene familiar…
A s COVID-19 ravages the land, many of us are living in a mashup of Groundhog Day and Outbreak. Music can be an escape from reality, a voyage to an astral plane where an LP may have as much world-building as Dune or Watership Down. Appreciating albums with that kind of depth demands repeated listens,…
Nobody will accuse Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of sitting on the sidelines during the pandemic. After Gov. Greg Abbott banned abortions to free up resources for fighting COVID-19 — never mind that they’re largely done in specialized clinics and don’t require much protective gear — Paxton quickly swooped in to beat his chest. Any provider who…
City council has approved $25 million in emergency assistance to help residents pay for food, housing and other necessities as the prolonged coronavirus shutdown continues to decimate their livelihoods. On Thursday, council voted to increase the size of a proposed $16 million program to $25 million, allowing eligible residents to request money to cover housing,…
In my 15 years in the food industry, I have served customers by waiting tables, making coffee, decorating deserts, serving counters, delivering sandwiches and stocking shelves. Whether in a warehouse, kitchen or racing through downtown delivering sandwiches on my bicycle, one universal objective summed up all of my food service jobs: the customers’ needs come…
There are few health supplements as popular these days as CBD. CBD is short for cannabidiol — one of the active ingredients in the hemp plant. It’s the primary constituent responsible for the anti-inflammatory, analgesic (painkilling), and anti-anxiety benefits of the cannabis plant. It’s completely non-psychoactive and has an incredibly high degree of safety. A…
San Antonio’s Briscoe Western Art Museum has launched a new way to help us savor a little home on the range while we shelter at home. The museum’s Beyond the Briscoe online weekly newsletter aims to offer a little something for everyone via exclusive interviews with Western artists, weekly Lego “Build the West” challenges, historic trivia, Lil…
With the pandemic making masks this season’s must-have accessory, it was inevitable that high-end versions of face coverings would enter the market. But local designer Leighton Whittington is putting a twist on the concept. Whittington’s Leighton W. Couture is now selling masks for $15-$20 online, as well as a $35 limited-edition mask featuring a gold-and-blue…
Fiesta events may be postponed, but you can’t stop the San Antonio Humane Society from bringing pets to the party. In honor of the 17-year-old tradition of crowning El Rey Fido in an official Fiesta fundraising event, the SAHS will livestream a Fiesta-style parade featuring adoptable pets, flamboyant costumes and papier mâché details. Animal lovers…
Drummer and vocalist Kyle Keener, a longtime mainstay of the Alamo City jazz scene, died Tuesday after a battle with cancer, according to a post by Rachel Latremore on the GoFundMe raising money for his family. As a member of the group Small World, Keener performed with guitarist Polly Harrison for nearly five decades, primarily…
Given the scope of the coronavirus pandemic, San Antonio arts groups were expecting budget cuts. But the city’s recent decision to slash arts spending through the end of the year opened deep and painful wounds. On Wednesday, April 8, the city furloughed 270 municipal employees and canceled the remainder of this year’s funding for local…
When life hands a catering company lemons, you can bet they make more than lemonade. Fork and Garden, a San Antonio-based catering and events company, has taken those lemons and added other fruits and veggies, chilled proteins, starches, herbs and recipes to provide San Antonio home cooks with more opportunities to create fresh, innovative meals from…
Rather than advertise the tastiness of its own takeaway food, Chester’s Hamburgers decided it had a more important message to share with San Antonio: “Don’t Buy Chinese. Buy American.” At a time when racist attacks targeting people of Asian descent are at an all-time high — stoked in large part by racist messaging from the…
Texas has suspended the controversial abortion ban it enacted during the coronavirus crisis. Clinics resumed offering the procedure Wednesday, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office said in a legal filing there was no legal basis for upholding the controversial ban announced last month by Gov. Greg Abbott, the Texas Tribune reports. Abortion providers and Texas officials…
As social distancing keeps us away from hair salons and barber shops, many are resorting to alternative grooming approaches — some more successful than others. One person who might be unwilling to take on the Dr. Richard Kimble sink shave challenge is U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro. The San Antonio Democrat started sporting closely trimmed facial hair…
Add Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the list of Southern governors champing at the bit to reopen his state’s economy before the coronavirus pandemic is in full retreat. During radio appearances Wednesday, the Republican governor hinted that he could unveil plans by the end of the week about reopening businesses such as restaurants, retail stores…
Thirsty for a few cold ones? Need beer for your weekly Dungeons & Dragons game on Zoom? Want to help out local breweries? If the answer is yes to any or all of those questions, look no further than this weekend’s Great Texas Beer Run. The Texas Craft Brew Guild is hosting a weekend-long event…
Cloud Roofing Company owner Kenneth Wayne Cloud, 67, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of sexual assault, jail records show. According to KSAT, a woman told police that Cloud assaulted her on Monday when she went to the business for a job interview. During the interview, Cloud offered her a free 20-minute massage, which she accepted.…
[Introduction] CBD is popular for its wide range of health benefits — from fighting chronic pain and inflammation to promoting sleep and relaxation. One of the best ways to use this supplement is to buy CBD-infused gummy candies. They cut the natural “grassy” flavor of the hemp with a sweet, chewy, and delicious gummy flavor.…
Even though Governor Greg Abbott recently announced phase 1 of his plan to “reopen” Texas, some small businesses have already adjusted focus to stay afloat during the COVID-19 crisis. San Antonio’s Alamo Distilling has joined the ranks of local distilleries that switched gears to assist with the growing need for hand sanitizer. To create a…
With Fiesta San Antonio postponed until November, the organizers of Fiesta Cornyation are cooking up a special livestream fundraiser on April 23 for those who don’t want to wait until the fall to partake of what is billed as “the raunchiest, cheapest event of Fiesta.” “Ruling as fake royalty means I can throw any damn…
Editor’s Note: This is the latest in a series of weekly essays from San Antonio readers who support our recently launched SA Current Press Club fundraising initiative. Alternative newspapers are punk rock. They cover life’s essentials — art, politics, music and tacos — independently, letting their writers express a voice and a point of view. Is that…
Good news, everyone! Texas grocery giant H-E-B has announced it’s extending the temporary operating hours of its stores. When the coronavirus crisis first shook the state, H-E-B stores reduced their daily hours from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. to allow workers to better restock and keep up with panic buying. Now, calmer shopping seems to have prevailed. Starting Monday,…
In a now all-too-familiar scenario, Whataburger president Ed Nelson faces the task of ensuring long-term survival for Texas’ iconic fast food brand. On April 6, the San Antonio-based company made public a difficult decision to reduce its corporate workforce by layoffs and furloughs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials have not released details on how…
This week, St. Mary’s Strip hotspot the Squeezebox will sell “NIGHT IN OLD SQZBOX” party packs to revelers bummed about Fiesta being pushed off until November. Each of the kits comes with a six-pack of beer plus a Fiesta food favorite selected by the customer, including chicken on a stick, gorditas and footlong corndogs by Berna’s…
Texans living in more than 8,800 rental properties can now find out if they are protected from eviction proceedings and financial penalties for not paying housing costs as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on the economy. The National Low Income Housing Coalition launched a new searchable database that lets people check whether a federal moratorium…
Trust NBA great Dennis Rodman to bring the controversy. In an interview with ESPN, “The Worm” said the San Antonio Spurs traded him to the Chicago Bulls in 1995 for “pretty much nobody.” Well, not exactly nobody. That trade actually involved Will Perdue, who spent five seasons with the Spurs and helped the team win the…
Downtown San Antonio got redecorated in grisly fashion last night — with blood. According to a KSAT report, police aided a 23-year old man stabbed multiple times in the abdomen. The victim was found at a bus stop near East Commerce and Navarro streets by a woman around 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday. The man said…
The owner of San Antonio institution Taco Cabana was among dozens of large, publicly traded companies receiving taxpayer-backed loans from a coronavirus relief fund created to protect small businesses, the Associated Press reports. According to a filing made with federal securities regulators, Dallas-based Fiesta Restaurant Group, Taco Cabana’s corporate parent, received a $10 million low-interest…
Editor’s Note: The following is Current Events, a column of opinion and analysis. With businesses shuttered and unemployment hitting levels unseen since the Great Depression, Texas is in desperate need of tax revenue. Make no mistake, political watchers warn, cuts to state services are coming. They will be deep. They will be painful. “When you’re…
