This is TPR's roundup of the latest headlines and news developments. It provides a succinct and clear summary of the stories TPR is following.
Today's weather: Expect a high today of 96 and a low of 65, and then prepare for fall weather to finally arrive in San Antonio.
The tropics: The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a new system over the mid Atlantic. So far it poses no threat to the United States. Further development is expected by next week, however. The Atlantic hurricane season ends on Nov. 30.
Election 2024 voter guides: Charter amendments on council pay, term lengths, ethics revisions
Roberson looks to hearings to decide fate
Two hearings this week could decide the fate of Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson, who is scheduled to be executed on Thursday. In 2002, he was convicted of murdering his daughter based on Shaken Baby Syndrome. That's a child abuse theory that has since been discredited and has led to many wrongful convictions across the country.
Last Friday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals refused to stop Roberson's execution — even though it overturned the conviction of a Dallas man on a similar shaken baby syndrome case days earlier.
Roberson has a hearing in Anderson County Court today on a motion to vacate his execution warrant and recuse the judge who set his execution date. On Wednesday, the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee will hold a special meeting to discuss the case.
A group of 84 bipartisan Texas House lawmakers have called on the state's Board of Pardon and Paroles and Gov. Greg Abbott to grant Roberson clemency, something rarely done in Texas.
U.S. Senate race may be one of costliest in the nation
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Congressman Colin Allred are counting down the hours until they meet for their sole debate of the 2024 election tonight. By the time it’s finished, their Senate contest could be one of the most expensive in the nation.
Allred raised more than $30 million in the third quarter of 2024, topping Ted Cruz’s total of more than $21 million over the same period. Together, the two candidates have raised at least $132 million over the course of the contest.
That dwarfs the nearly $90 million Cruz and former Congressman Beto O’Rourke raised in their contest six years ago.
Holt Truck Centers expands with latest deal
San Antonio-based Holt Truck Centers announced that it has acquired Kyrish Truck Centers, a Houston-based company.
The deal makes Holt the third largest dealership of International Motors trucks in the nation. The price tag of Holt's acquisition was not disclosed.
The deal expands Holt's total number of truck centers in the U.S. to 35. The Holt Truck Centers sell other truck brands, outside of the International Brand, as well as buses and used highway trucks.
It also offers repairs for big rigs, buses and RV's.
Construction on more affordable homes near Lackland begins
Community leaders broke ground Monday on a new housing community with 288 affordable homes.
The $74 million dollar Palladium Apartments near JBSA-Lackland is being built using local, state, and federal resources.
The 231 homes are considered affordable to families earning 60% of the Area Median Income or less, and 44 homes are deeply affordable.
This is the sixth multi-family development to break ground supported by the 2022 Housing Bond in San Antonio.
Resource fair for veterans on Friday
The City of San Antonio is hosting a resource fair on Friday to support veterans, active-duty service members and their families.
The resource fair will provide information on services like mental health support, housing assistance, and employment resources — all meant to help veterans transition into civilian life.
The event is hosted by San Antonio District 6 Councilmember Melissa Cabello Havrda, in collaboration with Bexar County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores and the filmmakers of American Sons.
The film highlights the video diary of Marine JV Villareal, who was killed while on a tour in Afghanistan. There will be a screening of the film at the event, which will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. this Friday at the Palmetto Center for the Arts at Northwest Vista College.
Luminaria planned for St. Paul Square this Saturday
Luminaria was the brainchild 16 years ago of former Mayor Phil Hardberger, who had seen nighttime art festivals in Madrid and Paris that inspired him.
These last 16 years have seen Luminarias at various ends of downtown. This year’s footprint puts the festival on the East Side
The event begins at 6 p.m. and ends at midnight. Parking will be available.
The unseasonably hot weather is turning a little cooler this week, just in time for Saturday night’s festival, with a slight chance for light rain.
Houston Public Media's Andrew Schneider contributed to this report.
