The Source

The new Texas State Highway 130 toll road extension is now open and charging motorists to enjoy it’s privatized asphalt while pushing their speedometers to 85 mph. It’s the fastest stretch of legal driving in the nation.

Also known as the Pickle Parkway, it’s the first public-private partnership highway in Texas, but according to opponents the partnership allows the private company to shoulder very little risk, and instead puts taxpayers on the line to pay for such risks as uncollected tolls.

Pro Toll Road:

San Antonians are heading to the polls to vote for candidates in a number of races and the Pre-K 4 SA proposal – to raise the sales tax one eighth of a cent to pay for a full day pre-kindergarten program that proponents say will help turn around the city’s dropout problem.

Mayor Julián Castro is the biggest supporter for Pre-K for SA and says it’s not a silver bullet, but a big step in the right direction.

Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff opposes the proposal  because it raises taxes and he says there are too many unanswered questions.

Republican Francisco "Quico" Canseco is mounting his first defense of the seat he won two years ago from Ciro Rodriguez. The Democrats want to put this massive district back in the blue column, and State Representative Pete Gallego of Alpine is their nominee.

The 23rd Congressional District is seen as Republican-leaning and is massive – starting in San Antonio and reaching all the way west just shy of El Paso, stretching hundreds of miles along the Texas-Mexico border.

Incumbent John Garza and challenger Philip Cortez are divided on the role and effectiveness of education in their district. Cortez says that quality public education is the key to getting the district's residents on the road to success, and Garza says that state programs do not work and a voucher system would be the best way to make education stronger.

Following the primaries, Tea Party favorite Dr. Donna Campbell and Democrat John Courage emerged as the contenders for the Texas Senate District 25 seat.

The primary knocked longtime Senator Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, out of the running, along with challenger, former Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones.

Perhaps one of the only issues Campbell and Courage agree upon is opposition to toll roads, but they have vastly different views on health care, education, and energy.

So how does a physician plan to serve full time in the Senate?

As Republican candidate Susan Narvaiz points out, both of the top candidates in the newly created Congressional District 35 race are newcomers being that District 35 is newly created; although Congressman Lloyd Doggett, who currently represents Texas' 25th District, has been in the political arena for quite some time.

Congressman Charlie Gonzalez is retiring from the seat that represents central San Antonio – and now there’s a race to determine who will claim the post. Republican small businessman David Rosa is facing off against Democrat State Rep. Joaquín Castro.

This race is being called a David and Goliath match up, as GOP delegate and political behind-the-scenes man Rosa goes up against the Castro camp, but the voters will decide who will win the open seat.

With population shifts revealed by the latest census numbers, it was time to re-draw city council districts. David Mendez is the man charged with drawing the new boundaries and making sure everyone has equal representation in San Antonio. The race for Bexar County Sheriff features Democrat incumbent Amadeo Ortiz and Republican Retired Air Force General Susan Pamerleau.

Bill Moll, who today is KLRN’s president and CEO, was the first person to speak on the carrier wave half a century ago. He has a lot to think about since that first broadcast, and reflects on the past and future of KLRN – including what would happen to public broadcasting if the CPB federal funds are cut off.

Democratic National Convention - Mayor Julián Castro

Tuesday night San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro stepped into the national spotlight by delivering the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. The prime time spot at the convention has turned Castro into a national political figure and has spurred talk that he’ll soon seek a statewide elected office. However, Texas has not elected a democrat to a statewide office since 1997.