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Ryan Loyd

Ryan Loyd
Credit Dan Skinner / Texas Public Radio
News Reporter

Ryan Loyd is Texas Public Radio's city beat and political reporter who brings more than a decade of news experience back to his hometown.

Ryan began reporting at KGNB radio in New Braunfels, followed by KTSA. He worked in television news in Joplin, MO, San Antonio, Sherman, Texas, and Austin.

Since joining TPR in October 2011, Ryan has covered stories of local, state and national interest including the 2012 Democratic National Convention, where San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro delivered the keynote address.

Ryan especially enjoys reporting on in-depth issues like the Eagle Ford Shale oil and natural gas boom, the ongoing conversation into redeveloping Alamo Plaza, the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland sex scandal, and numerous city issues. Ryan is a regular contributor to NPR News.

For his coverage in 2012, Ryan won a Michael E. DeBakey Journalism award for his feature on a story about Canine PTSD, which ran locally and on NPR's "All Things Considered." The story explored the possibilities that combat dogs exhibit symptoms of a post-traumatic stress disorder, similar to the same disorder human soldiers experience.

The Michael E. DeBakey Journalism Award honors professional journalists whose reporting has enhanced public understanding of how the humane and responsible use of animal models leads to medical and scientific discoveries. Loyd accepted the award May 14 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

He also won the Reporting on Open Government award from the Society of Professional Journalists, Ft. Worth Chapter, for his stories relating to the sex scandal at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The stories contributed to the Air Force's increased transparency to the media and to the public. 

In 2011 he won first place in the Ft. Worth Society of Professional Journalist's First Amendment Awards in the Green News category for his work on an environmental story while in Austin. He won a second place Associated Press Broadcasters award for beat reporting for his coverage of San Antonio city government at TPR.

Ryan is trying to become a more avid cyclist, but in the meantime he chases around a vibrant pre-schooler and a red-nosed dog with his wife, Sarah.

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City Council
9:12 am
Fri April 12, 2013

Council Postpones Library Vote To Consider Bigger Ethical Issue

Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
Councilwoman Elisa Chan speaks to Councilman Reed Williams during a December city council meeting.
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The San Antonio City Council followed the lead of District 1 Councilman Diego Bernal Thursday to hold off on a vote about a proposed library branch on the city’s north side.

The 10 members and Mayor Julián Castro initially voted to approve the project at its April 4 meeting, but District 9 Councilwoman Elisa Chan, who represents the district where the library is proposed, asked for the item to be brought back to council. This time she recused herself from the process.

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San Antonio Tourism
5:04 pm
Thu April 11, 2013

Bexar County Congressmen Introduce Mission Expansion Bill

Credit Eileen Pace / TPR
The newly-restored Mission San Juan.
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As the Texas legislature takes up the possibility of forming a commission to look at what it would take to transform the area around the Alamo, U.S. congressional leaders are also making strides toward the future integrity of the Missions.

State Rep. Mike Villarreal is attempting to create the Alamo Museum District Commission, a group that would study how to honor the Alamo as a national treasure.

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Texas Drought
4:11 pm
Thu April 11, 2013

SAWS Program Will Help Homeowners Make Drought-Friendly Yard Changes

Credit Eileen Pace / TPR
Lavender is a low-water use plant and is good for San Antonio landscapes.
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The San Antonio Water System board just approved a program that will help customers transform portions of their landscape to save water.

Though past landscape programs have required customers to make purchases up front to get a rebate, the new program issues a coupon before the purchase, giving households a discount on approved plants and a required amount of mulch at a local nursery.

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City Government
1:23 pm
Thu April 11, 2013

Updated: Chan Recuses Herself From New Vote On Northside Library Location

Elisa Chan
Credit Ryan Loyd / TPR
Chan motioned for a new vote on Thursday without her participation.
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(Updated: 4/10/13 1:20 p.m.) Following some discussion, city council has postponed the vote on the library location until May.

District 1 Councilman Diego Bernal admonished city staffers, who knew the library location was next to Chan's business.

Chan gave an emotional statement before the council before leaving the dais so the rest of city council could discuss and decide on the issue.

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Southside Business
11:35 am
Wed April 10, 2013

Brooks City Base Chooses CEO Finalist To Lead Development

Credit Courtesy Nexolon
Artist rendering of the Nexolon solar panel plant.
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The Brooks Development Authority board voted to enter into contract negotiations for its next chief executive officer, but leaders are not ready to divulge his or her identity.

Manny Pelaez, chairman of the Brooks Development Authority, said the board interviewed 402 viable candidates out of the 6,000 applicants.

Last week the field of applicants for the next CEO of Brooks was narrowed to only five, and Wednesday the board chose one to take Brooks into the future.

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City Council Elections
4:42 pm
Tue April 9, 2013

Taylor And Challengers Express Desire To Solve Problems For East Side

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Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
Dist. 2 Councilwoman Ivy Taylor is running for her third term on the San Antonio City Council.
Credit Courtesy: Hector Medina
Small business owner Hector Medina says he wants to preserve the history of District 2.
Credit Courtesy Norris Tyrone Darden
Norris Tyrone Darden is an educator who is taking a leave of absence from his job at the George Gervin Academy to focus on his campaign
Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
Candidate Antonio Diaz is vying for the District 2 seat on the San Antonio City Council
Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
Ivy Taylor's campaign signs can be seen throughout District 2.
Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
Norris Tyrone Darden is challenging incumbent Ivy Taylor for her seat.
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San Antonio’s East Side has long been in the spotlight for gun violence and concerns over safety. In late 2011, a series of shootings sparked community meetings, and in response District 2 Councilwoman Ivy Taylor dedicated time for community forums.

Residents like Jessica Evans called for increased police presence.

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City Council Elections
1:39 pm
Mon April 8, 2013

LGBT Group Endorses Candidates For City Election, Castro May Get Another Chance

Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro told the nation he supports marriage equality at the Democratic National Convention in Sept. 2012.
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The Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio are the only Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender organization of their kind in Bexar County to screen and endorse candidates for public office.

For endorsement consideration, candidates must fill out a questionnaire on issues like non-discrimination and during its recent review of candidates for the San Antonio City Council, 22 of the 39 candidates completed their questionnaires.

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West Side Revitalization
5:15 pm
Fri April 5, 2013

Old City Service Center On West Side Approved For Redevelopment

Credit Ryan Loyd / TPR
Urban revitalization continues on the West Side, with projects like the Birdsong Peanut Factory delopment, and this new project.
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The City Council has voted to sell land it no longer needs so that it can be redeveloped into shops and businesses.

The location of the land is on South Zarzamora, where the service center that houses public works, fire and solid waste departments will close this summer. A new service center, currently under construction, will open up at West Commerce and Callaghan Road.

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Pre-K 4 SA Implementation
3:57 pm
Wed April 3, 2013

Feeding The Body And Mind At Pre-K 4 SA Learning Centers

Credit Ryan Loyd / TPR
The garden and playground outside the northwest learning center is currently piled with dirt while the building is under construction.
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A Pre-K 4 SA committee has voted to begin looking for vendors that will provide food services to the two model education centers, and city staffers want to erase the stereotype of traditional school lunches.

Deputy City Manager Peter Zanoni said there will be four food opportunities a day: breakfast, lunch, a snack, and a late snack for extended day students.

"We're going to step away from that because we're not happy with the food from school districts at this point," Zanoni said.

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Pre-K 4 SA Implementation
7:13 pm
Tue April 2, 2013

A First Glimpse At Pre-K 4 SA Model Education Centers

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Credit Ryan Loyd / TPR
One of two Pre-K 4 SA model education centers, located at Brooks City Base, will house all administrative offices for the program.
Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
The southside model education center is being built from the ground up.
Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
Construction inside the southside model education center could be completed a month before classes begin in August.
Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
A back wall and track area outside the southside model education center.
Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
Project manager Chuck Smith stands outside the southside model education center, located at Brooks City Base, near where the playground will be constructed.
Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
Deputy City Manager Peter Zanoni deboards the charter bus with Pre-K 4 SA board member Pamela Ray. The board toured the south and northwest side model education centers for the Pre-K 4 SA program Tues., April 2.
Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
The old Southwest Airlines call center on Medical Drive will serve as the northwest model education center.
Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
The Southwest Airlines logo is still imprinted with the famous airline's logo at the northwest model education center site.
Credit Ryan Loyd / Texas Public Radio
Project manager Chuck Smith gives the Pre-K 4 SA board a tour of a classroom inside the northwest side model education center.
Credit Ryan Loyd / TPR
The outdoor playground and garden area at the northwest model education center is piled with dirt while construction takes place.
Credit Ryan Loyd / TPR
The address for the northwest model education center hangs on a sign just outside the center.
Credit Frederick Gonzales / City of San Antonio Photographer
Pre-K 4 SA president and CEO, Elaine Mendoza, answers questions about safety and security outside the northwest model education center.
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Policies and curriculum development have been underway for weeks. But for first time, the board members of San Antonio’s new early education measure, called Pre-K 4 SA, got to see some tangible proof their work is in motion.

Board member Bob Bevard, an appointee of District 8 Councilman Reed Williams, strolled through the northwest side model education center, a former Southwest Airlines calling center, on Tuesday and said, “This is cool.”

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