News

After a year-long flood control project had roads torn up along Sixmile Creek, Bexar County has re-opened the South Flores Bridge. With seven low-water crossings, the poor drainage around the area was a threat to nearby homes and properties during heavy rains.

Attorneys for Staff Sgt. Craig LeBlanc at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland initiated a vigorous defense Wednesday, but the military judge denied the motion for a directed verdict on LeBlanc’s aggravated sexual assault charge.

The defense said the government had not proven the alleged victim was in fear of losing her military career. But the government successfully argued that the environment in which LeBlanc placed the woman conveyed fear: The room was almost completely dark and he was sitting in a chair, patting his leg to get the woman to sit on his lap.

The problem of homelessness is massive and complex and it seems impossible to find a solution that’s going to solve the problem for one and all.

San Antonio is working on dealing with the issue with Haven for Hope by providing shelter, counseling and help with finding work, but for some of the homeless, they are finding the road back from living on the street by lacing up a pair of shoes and running.

While President Barack Obama covered a lot of territory in last night’s State-of-the-Union, one topic that’s being scrutinized is immigration reform. 

It took President Obama almost exactly an hour to deliver the annual address and 2 minutes and 18 seconds of it was dedicated to immigration reform.

“And right now, leaders from the business, labor, law enforcement, and faith communities all agree that the time has come to pass comprehensive immigration reform,” he said.  

A round of applause

While President Barack Obama did not mention San Antonio or Mayor Julián Castro by name, he did talk about early education initiatives during his State of the Union address Tuesday night.

For a moment in the president's address, it seemed like one of Mayor Castro’s Pre-K 4 SA campaign rallies.

Obama: "Study after study shows that the sooner a child begins learning, the better he or she does down the road. But today, fewer than 3 in 10 four year-olds are enrolled in a high-quality preschool program.”

Navy recruiter Juan Jose Pena has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a female enlistee. 

The 28-year-old sailor, who worked in a Navy recruiting office on Broadway, was arrested by Alamo Heights police Monday for allegedly getting drunk with a Navy enlistee and sexually assaulting her in the recruiting office.

Police told the San Antonio Express-News that Juan Jose Pena was arrested at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Monday. The enlistee’s cousin reportedly witnessed the assault.

With a signature, an oath and a check for $100, Mayor Julián Castro officially became a candidate for mayor.

At his Feb. 2 rally, he told supporters that he recognized he’s the first San Antonio mayor to have the opportunity to run for a third term. Expanded term limits in 2009 now allows Castro and each of the council members to run for four two-year terms.

Sheriff Susan Pamerleau returned to county commissioners Tuesday to give them a promised update on her progress to correct staffing and overtime issues at the Bexar County Jail. 

The new sheriff told commissioners she is working with the county manager to create a multi-pronged approach to the problem.

Testimony got underway Tuesday in the court-martial of a former military training instructor who is alleged to have sexually assaulted one trainee and had sexual relationships with two others.

Those are the most serious of 12 charges leveled against Staff Sgt. Craig LeBlanc, the latest military training instructor to go to trial in the growing sex scandal at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

In a trial before the court, LeBlanc pled guilty to nine of the 12 charges, including having sex with one trainee from Lackland and a technical trainee from Fort Sam Houston.

It was one year ago this week that the city began offering free parking on Tuesdays in city garages. While the city may be losing a small amount of revenue, officials believe the economic impact has offset any losses.

"It’s really for the residents and the small businesses," said District one City Councilman Diego Bernal, whose district encompasses much of downtown. "This is a way for us to help return the city to the residents of San Antonio so they can share it equally with tourists."