Apr 3-16, 2024
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Cover Story
At Your Service: Is San Antonio keeping up with residents’ basic needs?
The city’s most recent community satisfaction survey shows residents are content with services, but some say their neighborhoods remain neglected.
State district judge recommends overturning Melissa Lucio’s death sentence
In a rare joint statement, the district attorney and the defense agreed that prosecutors withheld evidence that could point to a Rio Grande Valley woman’s innocence in the death of her toddler.
San Antonio U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales kicks ass of ‘AK Guy’ in campaign fundraising
During the first quarter, Gonzales raised more than double the amount of runoff challenger Brandon Herrera.
Live Music in San Antonio This Week: Adam Ant, Bad Religion, Red Bull Batalla and more
The Chaparral Music and Heritage Fest also will celebrate Western swing.
Pure Country BBQ to take over Boerne’s Dog & Pony space
The barbecue restaurant is set to open May 3, according to its owners.
It’s chicken on a stick season! Fiesta San Antonio returns for its 2024 citywide bash
This year, Fiesta runs April 18-28.
Protesting got way harder in Texas because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision
Organizers of mass protests in Texas and two other states can now be held finally liable for the behavior of attendees.
Rapper Future, Metro Boomin’ heading to San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center in August
Tickets for the show go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.
Touring psych stalwarts Sugar Candy Mountain playing San Antonio on Thursday
The California-based band is kicking off a Texas mini-tour with a show at Tandem Coffee.
Person contracts bird flu from Texas dairy cows infected with the virus
This is the first time the virus has been detected in cattle in the United States, the Texas Department of State Health Services said.
Latin pop superstar Shakira coming to San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center in November
The Colombian singer’s stop in the Alamo City is part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour.
Federal judge fines Texas child welfare agency $100K per day for foster care failures
It is the third time the state has been found in contempt over foster care conditions since 2011.
Colin Allred outraises rival Ted Cruz in first quarter
The Allred campaign’s $9.5 million haul also exceeded what Beto O’Rourke raised during a comparable period as he took on Cruz.
Erik Cantu, girlfriend sue City of San Antonio in federal court over police shooting
Cantu is seeking an unspecified sum for past and future medical bills as well as mental anguish and court costs.
Whiskey Riot event to bring more than 200 whiskies to San Antonio Saturday, May 18
The booze-focused fest will take place at Freeman Expo Hall.
San Antonio’s Birria Kings closing up shop April 28
The mobile kitchen took to social media Monday to share the news, and thank fans for their support.
Texas’ Garrison Brothers Distillery to release 2024 Lady Bird bourbon May 11
For every bottle sold, the distillery donates $5 to environmental conservation nonprofit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
City of San Antonio will give away free trees and plants on Earth Day
The city’s Earth Day 2024 celebration will take place April 20 at Woodlawn Lake Park.
San Antonio Pastor John Hagee says he’ll lobby Congress to back Israeli attacks on Iran
The pastor has said the U.S. must back Israel to bring about the second coming of Christ, and he’s repeatedly called for strikes on Iran.
As climate change intensifies wildfire risk, prescribed burns prove their worth in the heat-stressed Panhandle
Officials say a prescribed burn stopped the Windy Deuce Fire from entering neighborhoods. But the practice has faced opposition from some landowners.
Popular Salad and Go concept expanding its San Antonio footprint
The latest location will bring San Antonio’s count to six stores.
A South Texas candidate sues his town for records he says will prove his opponent’s corruption
Rio Grande City officials called Ediel Barrera’s requests ‘vague or ambiguous.’
Far-right activist Jonathan Stickland starts new group, months after white supremacist scandal
The former lawmaker registered ‘RaTmasTeR Holdings’ along with Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi. The name is a nod to Stickland’s alias as an infamous internet troll.
San Antonio restaurateurs tease new diner concept for Little Em’s Oyster Bar space
Beau’s Tiny Diner is the new concept slated for the space that now houses Little Em’s.
Express News, MySA staffers opt not to join union
The San Antonio News Guild blamed ‘union-busting tactics’ for the loss.
Gen Zers in San Antonio will spend nearly $130,000 in rent by age 30, study finds
On average, Gen Zers will spend more on rent during their 20s than Millennials did, the study found.
Dog & Pony Grill, Tre Trattoria: San Antonio’s biggest food stories of the week
El Sabrosito and Ming’s also made this week’s top Current food news.
San Antonio franchise of Dirty Dough cookie chain asks for help keeping the lights on
‘We need to sell 500 cookies to keep our doors open,’ a Thursday Facebook post read.
Water scarcity and clean energy collide in South Texas
A high-tech chemical company has purchased the last available water in the Nueces River to make hydrogen and ammonia for export.
New Braunfels craft cocktail spot to host Bloody Mary Festival this Sunday
The Reserve on 1863’s Bloody Mary Fest will feature multiple iterations of the popular brunch sipper.
Councilman Marc Whyte wants San Antonio to adopt a zero-based budget
Whyte admits that the process will be ‘time intensive,’ but he argues it will eliminate unnecessary city spending.
San Antonio nightspot Bentley’s on Broadway closed for remodeling
The owners didn’t say how long the renovations will take.
Ted Cruz, Charles Barkley: The top 10 headlines in San Antonio this week
Cruz is facing blowback over a controversial distribution deal for his podcast that critics say allows him to skirt campaign finance laws.
San Antonio can continue with tree removal at Brackenridge Park, court rules
Thursday’s ruling is just the latest battle in an ongoing war between the city and environmental groups over restoration of the park.
With an eye on Amarillo courthouse, U.S. senators push to stop federal judge shopping
Judge shopping has made a federal courthouse in Amarillo with a Trump-appointed judge a destination for conservative litigants challenging Biden administration policies.
Op-Ed abuse: U.S. newspapers replace democratic discourse with political bias
When established reporters and purported experts voice their views as authoritative, their opinions are often perceived as news rather than opinion.
Head of commission hearing complaint against Ted Cruz once worked for the senator
One of the groups that filed the complaint over Cruz’s controversial podcast deal said the Federal Election Commission chairman has a conflict of interest.
San Antonio Taiwanese comfort food spot Wei Chow has closed
‘We’ve faced so many staffing and operating issues that have taken a toll on us mentally and physically,’ the owners said in a social media post.
Austin nightclub Barbarella plans April 18-20 opening bash for San Antonio location
The club is known for its inclusive TuezGayz events and nights themed around the ’80s, Y2K and more.
San Antonio mayoral candidates say reproductive fund shouldn’t pay for abortion travel
City Council will vote this fall on the rules governing use of the city’s Reproductive Justice Fund.
Report ranks San Antonio area’s Schlitterbahn among nation’s top water parks
Schlitterbahn got high praise for its affordability and positive customer reviews.
Following earlier cuts, San Antonio-based USAA axes 220 more jobs
Last summer, the financial services firm reported its first annual loss in a century.
Video of man confusing San Antonio’s Tower of the Americas with UFO goes viral
The tower’s stem was shrouded by fog, which led to confusion for the apparently intoxicated man.
South Texas groups trying to stop state’s land swap with SpaceX
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is negotiating a land trade involving part of Boca Chica State Park.
Carlos Alvarez, the San Antonio beer importer behind Shiner’s success, has died
Alvarez, who also built Corona into one of the top imported beers, was known for his millions in contributions to UTSA and the arts.
Aerosmith’s farewell tour is back on and rocking into San Antonio this November
Aerosmith’s farewell tour was postponed last year after lead singer Steven Tyler fractured his larynx.
South Texas judge declares disaster due to water shortage – and it’s not even summer yet
Hidalgo County’s emergency declaration comes days after state lawmakers accused Mexico of failing to abide by the 1944 Water Treaty.
San Antonio restaurant El Sabrosito temporarily closes after being hit by vehicle
‘Our team is working diligently to get inspectors in and restore the building to its operational state,’ the business said in an online post.
Charles Barkley warns San Antonio folks to prepare for his arrival for 2025 Final Four
‘San Antonio, guess who’s coming to town?’ Barkley quipped during a now-viral Instagram clip in which he bites into a churro.
San Antonio favorite Guillermo’s makes ‘strategic decision’ to declare bankruptcy
Company president William Garza said he doesn’t plan to close either Guillermo’s location during the business’ reorganization.
Manny Pelaez’s run for San Antonio mayor draws online jab from council colleague
Fellow councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez was among the detractors trolling Pelaez online.
Live Music in San Antonio This Week: Black Country, New Road, KRTUFest and more
Classic rocker Dave Mason, who’s played with Traffic, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and more, is also performing a show.
Boerne’s Dog & Pony Grill will close at the end of April
The owners said they were unable to renew the lease with their landlord.
In latest wild twist, Texas Nationalist Movement declares support for breakup of Mexico
TNM President Daniel Miller said the only way Texas can secure its border is if Northern Mexican states also secede.
FatHead Pizza now open in downtown San Antonio’s former Kimura space
The new pizzeria’s owners include Dan Ward, a longtime local restauranteur most recently connected to Italian favorite Piatti.
San Antonio favorite Ming’s opens new La Cantera location
The space seats 150 guests and is serving up familiar Ming’s menu items such as steamed bao buns, noodles and rice bowls.
Texas Public Policy Foundation’s long love affair with Ken Paxton
Uncovering the attorney general’s close ties to Texas’ right-wing think tank and its large network of uber-wealthy donors and special interests.
San Antonio university student arrested for painting ‘anti-Israel’ message on campus
UTSA officials declined to elaborate on the content of the message.
San Antonio Book Festival returns to Central Library and UTSA Southwest Campus on April 13
More than 60 talks, interviews and presentations for various ages are scheduled at the free event.
Animals at San Antonio Zoo display strange behavior during Monday’s eclipse
Whooping cranes began to dance and flamingos huddled together as the sun disappeared from the afternoon sky.
San Antonio Spurs will face off Friday with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets
Jokic was masterful against the Spurs in Austin last month, knocking down 31 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
San Antonio Councilman Manny Pelaez launches mayoral campaign
The District 8 councilman has been widely expected to enter the race to replace outgoing Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
Ted Cruz faces complaint to feds about podcast raising money for his reelection
A pair of government watchdogs say the Texas Republican appears to be using his podcast’s syndication deal to skirt federal campaign finance laws.
San Antonio favorite Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias brings arena tour to Frost Bank Center Saturday
He’s back on the Don’t Worry, Be Fluffy tour and ready to hit up Garcia’s, reportedly his favorite SA Tex-Mex joint.
OPERA San Antonio showcases swashbuckling operetta The Pirates of Penzance this week
The Gilbert & Sullivan operetta has enamored audiences since 1879 with its comedic renditions of seafaring, swashbuckling and smitten first love.
San Diego-based Barrio Dogg now serving ‘Chicano comfort food’ in San Antonio’s Southtown
Barrio Dogg, which originated as a food cart made from a converted 1964 Chevy Impala, is known for specialty hot dogs mounded with spicy toppings.
Woo Ri TeaHouse now serving Korean food, boba on San Antonio’s Broadway corridor
In addition to a variety of teas, the new cafe offers Korean staples such as bibimbap and kimchi fried rice.
Republican National Committee closes minority outreach center in San Antonio
In 2022, RNC officials said the San Antonio center and two others nearer the border were part of a multi-million-dollar bid to woo South Texas Latinx voters.
Arizona-based Italian restaurant chain The Sicilian Butcher expanding into San Antonio
The concept from chef and restaurateur Joey Maggiore is known for its bruschetta boards and five-foot charcuterie boards.
Whistleblowers say Elon Musk’s Boring Co. putting workers’ lives at risk
OSHA fined the Texas billionaire’s tunneling company for safety violations in Nevada, but the agency’s regulators in the Lone Star State never opened a case into the business, the Express-News reports.
Eclipse fever hits Texas towns as residents and officials prepare for a crush of visitors
Llano residents are told to stock up on groceries. A Sulphur Springs church is renting its parking spots. And everyone’s watching the weather forecast ahead of Monday’s eclipse.
Solar eclipse tourism could bring up to $603 million to Texas economy, UTSA prof says
Based on economic data from other states, Texas can expect around $300 of spending per eclipse tourist.
How Texas teens lost the one program that allowed birth control without parental consent
Federal Title X clinics do not require parental consent for birth control — except in Texas, where a lawsuit upended the longstanding program.
Aterciopelados pay tribute to the album that put Colombia on the rock en español map
To date, Aterciopelados’ El Dorado has sold more than 600,000 copies, and the band will pay tribute to the release with a Friday, April 12, show in San Antonio.
Bad Takes: Dante’s Inferno has it right about liars and cons like Donald Trump
Those guilty of fraud end up on one of the lowest rings of Hell in Dante’s masterwork, yet many in the U.S. make excuses for the crime’s worst perpetrators.
Herding Cats: How one local woman is fighting to tame San Antonio’s stray problem
More than 150 formerly stray cats live at Bear Den Cat sanctuary outside of San Antonio.
Texas Supreme Court justice implies Democrats will cheat in 2024 election
Justice John Devine’s comments at a conservative event are the latest to prompt concerns about his impartiality as a jurist.
New attraction to open at SeaWorld San Antonio’s water park this weekend
The Tikitapu Splash Zone will feature three giant dumping buckets, four unique water slides and more than 100 new water play elements.
San Antonio ranked among best markets for first-time homebuyers – again
San Antonio came in as the No. 7 best market for first-time homebuyers, just behind Austin.
Poetry collection Texas, Being offers exploration of ‘brutal and beautiful’ state
The collection’s title borrows from a poem that San Antonio-based editor Jenny Browne wrote when she moved to this ‘brutal and beautiful state.’
San Antonio chef Jason Dady launches Boerne branch of Tre Trattoria brand
Pizza is the focus of this new Dady restaurant located on Boerne’s Main Street across from the plaza.
San Antonio’s Arrosta reopens as ‘romantic Mediterranean seafood restaurant’
New menu offerings include house-made seafood pasta dishes and seasonal iced shellfish, including lobster, shrimp, crab and scallops.
San Antonio’s beloved Noodle Tree closes to make way for two new concepts
Upcoming concepts Breeky and Momo Yakitori will focus on Korean-inspired breakfast sandwiches and yakitori, respectively.
Jim’s Restaurant, Pat Molak: San Antonio’s biggest food stories of the week
Attaboy and Mixtli also made this week’s top Current food news.
Advertiser leaves Ted Cruz’s podcast after learning money goes toward super PAC
BP America, which is based in Cruz’s hometown of Houston, said it was never informed its ad buys would benefit a super PAC working for Cruz’s reelection.
Serial Killer Speculation, Wemby Sneakers: The top 10 headlines in San Antonio this week
People read up on Wemby’s new sneakers and a fine he faces for tossing a basketball to a fan during game time.
San Antonio official calls firefighters’ request for 33% pay bump ‘unrealistic’
The city and fire union have until December to reach a new contract.
Developer plans 200-foot-high Ferris wheel in downtown San Antonio
Located two blocks from the Alamo, the Grandismo development will also include miniature golf, a carousel and a food hall.
El Paso-based Noodles & Dumplings to open Northeast San Antonio location
In addition to hand-pulled noodles and steamed dumplings, the chain offers regional Chinese and American Chinese fare such as kung pao chicken and mapo tofu.
Memorial service for beloved San Antonio ventriloquist Nacho Estrada taking place this weekend
The Saturday service will be livestreamed on YouTube.
99 Cents Only closing all 371 locations, including Texas stores, after 40 years
The shutdown includes at least five San Antonio stores.
The McNay embraces maximalism with the De La Torre Brothers exhibition ‘Upward Mobility’
Nodding to everything from pre-Columbian deities and Colonialism to horror classics and modern-day monsters, the brothers’ wide-ranging projects boast narratives as stacked as the objects themselves.
Texas GOP donor Tim Dunn told former House speaker only Christians should be in leadership
San Antonio Republican Joe Straus, who’s Jewish, said Dunn told him only Christians should serve in House leadership posts.
San Pedro Playhouse and Classic Theatre offer a San Antonio-style take on Shakespeare
Debuting April 9, Midsummer Sueño puts a South Texas twist on A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
San Antonio may be lousy spot to view eclipse due to cloud cover
Some Texas H-E-Bs are selling eclipse-themed cakes so folks can eat away their sorrow.
Bad Takes: Sylvia Gonzalez’s Supreme Court fight with Castle Hills is one worth waging
The grandmother arrested by the San Antonio suburb is fighting to ensure she and others can criticize government officials without fear of retribution.
Assclown Alert: Poisoning public discourse with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones
Alex Jones and InfoWars have contributed to the world’s dangerous glut of misinformation.
Bipartisan group of South Texas lawmakers accuse Mexico of violating Water Treaty
The state lawmakers blamed Mexico for the recent closure of a Rio Grande Valley sugar mill that employed 500 people.
These beer and food pairings from San Antonio brewpubs are worth raising a glass to
This rundown of great food-and-beer pairings from area taprooms includes some suggested by local beer pros.
San Antonio’s Attaboy, Mixtli named James Beard Foundation Award finalists
The annual James Beard Awards are the food industry’s equivalent of the Oscars.
Phoenix-based Postino opening second wine café near San Antonio’s Pearl complex
The new location will begin serving later this spring.
Another longtime San Antonio Jim’s location is closing down
The pending closure of the chain’s San Pedro and Hildebrand restaurant comes shortly after it shuttered a nearby location on Broadway.
Former cop who did Uvalde’s Robb Elementary audit had no active-shooter training
The City of Uvalde reportedly paid former Austin officer Jesse Prado $100,000 for a controversial report in which he cleared local police of wrongdoing.
Sweet Talk: Oscar nominee Amy Ryan discusses role in new Apple TV+ private detective series Sugar
Along with her critically acclaimed role in Gone Baby Gone, some of Ryan’s most memorable movies include Capote, Bridge of Spies and Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).
Report: Texas distillery tourism generates more than $831 million for state
Distilleries also generate $42.5 million in total state and local tax revenues, according to the analysis.
Texas prisons among the nation’s deadliest, study finds
Nearly 8,100 Texas inmates died while incarcerated between 2001 and 2019, according to researchers.
UTSA to move Institute of Texan Cultures from current downtown San Antonio site
The relocation would free up the nearly 14-acre site for development of an arena for the San Antonio Spurs.
The Book of Mormon coming to San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre April 5-7
After a successful eight-show run in 2015, the musical will return to the Alamo City for a one-weekend stint.
Skywatch: These San Antonio-area bars, restaurants and landmarks will offer free eclipse viewing
These Alamo city spots aren’t charging a dime for the amazing sight.
Not Just a Phaze: Phazez/Changez Reunion will celebrate 1980s club that brought goth to San Antonio
While only open from 1986 to 1989, the club left an indelible mark on the city’s music scene.
Totality Tunes: Central Texas music festivals celebrate the coming eclipse
If you plan to celebrate April 8’s once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse with music, there’s no shortage of events dotting Central Texas that offer just that opportunity.
Comedian Hasan Minhaj brings Off With His Head tour to San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre
Minhaj makes a point not only to incorporate stories about his Muslim identity and Indian American culture but also comment on the political landscape that underpins it all.
Live Music in San Antonio This Week: STRFKR, Meshell Ndegeocello, Movements and more
Alex Maas, frontman for Austin’s The Black Angels, will also be in town to perform a solo set.
