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 90 and a low of 64.
The tropics: There is no significant tropical activity in the Gulf or Caribbean regions. The Atlantic hurricane season ends on Nov. 30.
Election 2024: Early voting is underway. It ends on Nov. 1. The ballot includes the presidential ticket as well as several statewide and local races. There are nearly 50 polling locations open across Bexar County, including libraries, community centers, and universities.
Hours for early voting in Bexar County:
- Mon., Oct. 21, thru Fri., Oct. 25: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Sat., Oct. 26: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Sun., Oct. 27: 12 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Mon., Oct. 28 thru Fri., Nov. 1: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Texas House District 121 incumbent Republican endorses Democrat for seat
Republican Steve Allison has a voting record in the state house of being a solid conservative. But in the race to fill the seat he lost in the March GOP primary to Marc LaHood, he’s publicly backing Democrat Laurel Jordan Swift.
He told TPR's "The Source" on Wednesday that his endorsement came after careful examination of both candidates and their policies, namely Swift’s opposition to Governor Greg Abbott’s school voucher program.
Allison also endorsed Democratic Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.
However, Allison said he will still vote for former president Donald Trump.
SAWS upgrades customers to smart water meters
San Antonio Water System has now replaced 300,000 water meters with new smart meters that can more closely monitor water usage for its customers. The city owned utility plans to replace all meters by the end of 2025 — more than 610,000 in all.
The AMI meters enable SAWS to track customers' water usage hour by hour instead of taking a manual monthly reading
SAWS says the meters will allow them to see if a customer is violating watering restrictions. Customers will receive a phone call, an email and a text message if there is continuous usage of five gallons per hour or more over a 24 hour period.
Fines for violating restrictions can be as high as $500.
Eagle Pass ex-detective gets 10 years in prison for role in human smuggling
Hazel Eileen Diaz, a former Eagle Pass police detective, was sentenced in a Del Rio federal court on Wednesday to 10 years in prison for her role in operating human smuggling stash houses.
She was found to have rented out multiple properties she owned in Eagle Pass to assist in harboring undocumented noncitizens between September 2020 and August 2021.
The investigation revealed that nearly 200 migrants were smuggled by her organization.
Following her prison time, Diaz will serve three years of supervised release. She's been ordered to also pay a $10,000 fine and money judgment of $237,000, as well as forfeit three properties and a truck.
According to the FBI, corruption among law enforcement at and along Ports of Entry have contributed to the nation's issues with both human trafficking and drug smuggling.
Councilmember asks city to address cluster mailbox thefts
San Antonio Councilmember Marina Alderete Gavito submitted a policy proposal Wednesday to address the increasing number of cluster mailbox thefts.
She said mail theft compromises personal information.
Her Council Consideration Request called for the city to look into utilizing's CPS Energy's All Night Security Lighting program to assist homeowner associations.
Alderete Gavito also recommended creating a task force of multiple agencies to address the issue.
Navajo-owned Dine Development Corporation will move to Tech Port San Antonio
Dine Development Corporation (DDC) is launching its new operation at technology accelerator Capitol Factory within the Boeing Center at Tech Port.
DDC is an IT, engineering, professional and environmental solutions provider.
The new office aims to expand DDC’s footprint within the Department of Defense.
DDC plans to have about 75 team members working at the new Tech Port operation.
Arboretum San Antonio unveil design concepts
Arboretum San Antonio, the 188-acre Southeast Side non-profit, released three design concepts this week.
The Arboretum’s Kate Edwards said they want community input. “Those three designs are called Community Crossroads, Wild San Antonio and The Testing Grounds," she explained, "And what we're asking the public to do is to not pick one concept necessarily, but to tell us what they like about each of the concepts and what they don't like about the concept.”
She’s asking people to visit arboretumsa.org and study the three concepts. “And the idea is that once we've heard from our community about these three different directions that our team ... will come back with a fourth and final concept, and that's what we will showcase and reveal in April of 2025, and that fourth concept will become our final master plan.”
Edwards added that the Arboretum may open next year.
