Category: San Antonio News

The Boerne city manager named the city’s new police chief on Tuesday.

Steve Perez, who was serving as interim assistant police chief, was promoted to the position. He is the department’s sixth police chief since the city created the position in 1953 and the city’s first Hispanic police chief, city officials said.

The former chief, Jim Kohler, retired in October.

According to a press release, Perez was born and raised in San Antonio and began his law enforcement career in 1998 after a 4-year stint in the Army.

After one year with the Alamo Community Colleges District Department, he became a Boerne police officer.

“Since joining the City more than 20 years ago, Steve has continued to excel and grow within our department,” said Boerne City Manager Ben Thatcher. “Starting as an officer, before becoming a sergeant, lieutenant, captain and assistant chief, Steve has seen the evolution of our department and community policing. He has established himself as a leader and mentor within our organization.”

Perez was chosen after a month-long department assessment led by an executive recruiting firm. The firm interviewed every department supervisor, several community partners as well as city staff members and City Council members.

“Steve has a lot of support among our officers and civilian staff, as well as across the community,” Interim Police Chief Jeff Page said. “He will be instrumental in creating Boerne’s Police Department of tomorrow. It was clear to everyone from the feedback gathered that he is the best person to lead this department and that we did not need to seek outside applicants for the position.”

Perez will take over as police chief on Feb. 26 when Interim Police Chief Jeff Page retires.

“Boerne is a wonderful city with a great sense of pride in our law enforcement officers. This strong partnership is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of our officers,” Perez said. “I am excited to continue to help instill that trust within our community and workplace as we exemplify our City values of service, excellence, integrity, respect, and collaboration.”

More facts about Perez:

Perez has been married for more than 21 years to his wife, Kathleen.Perez and his wife have two sons, Diego and Max.Perez is a graduate of Texas A&M University – San Antonio with a BA in Criminology, as well as Texas A&M University – College Station with a Master of Public Service Administration and Certificate in Public Management.Perez was a member of the FBI National Academy, Class 257.Perez received the Life Saving Awards in 2004 and 2010.Perez received two Meritorious Conduct Awards in 2020.Perez has received several Letters of Commendation.Perez was Boerne Police Department’s Officer of the Year in 2003.

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Hey, San Antonio, don your best cowboy hat and spurs, lasso your sidekick, and get ready to have a bucking good time. The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo rides into town Thursday, February 10 for more than two weeks of steer- wrestling, barrel-racing, bull-riding glory and live-music entertainment at the AT&T Center and Freeman Coliseum. The rip-roaring event kicks off in less than 10 days and will feature an impressive collection of tournament-style competitive…

The center city property will be one of only two in Texas under the Otis Hotel brand.

Furnishing or redecorating your home? Refreshing your wardrobe? Say goodbye to evenings lost to scrolling through countless websites and social media accounts. Attic.city, a curated search engine that focuses on indie businesses, has launched in Texas. It makes finding just the right coffee table or the perfect handbag so much easier. Attic Austin-San Antonio includes thousands of furniture, home decor, and clothing/fashion products from over 75 independent stores, with everything from artisan-made coffee mugs to…

When the move is complete, Exxon will be the largest publicly traded company headquartered in Houston.

The new leadership comes amid other changes the group is making after its former CEO departed.

Whataburger is Whatasizing the love this February.

The San Antonio-based burger chain released its new WhataWedding collection just in time for Valentine’s Day.

The collection includes three short-sleeved T-shirts with “WhataBride,” “WhataGroom” and “WhataWedding” designs.

It also has “Just Married” table tents available solo or in a set of five.

The shirts are $25, a single tent is $3.99 and a pack of five tents is $10.99. The items are available for purchase now.

“The new line is a perfect collection of gifts for Valentine’s Day, but will be available to purchase all year long for any time you say ‘I Do,’” a news release states.

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Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing this week in San Antonio and the surrounding areas with parts of the Hill Country likely to get down into the teens.

The forecast from the KSAT 12 meteorologists currently indicates that this weather will not be as extreme as last February’s winter storm but our viewing area will still be below freezing for 18-36 hours.

Many Texans may be concerned with how to winterize their homes to protect against the cold weather.

Here are some tips to help prepare for the freezing temperatures:

Pipes – Insulating your pipes will help keep them warm and reduce the chance that they will freeze. Foam or fiberglass insulation sleeves work great. You can use insulation materials from local hardware stores or towels as a temporary option. Towels aren’t recommended for long terms use as they hold moisture and could eventually cause rust issues.Pets – If it’s too cold for you, it’s likely too cold for your pets. Do not leave pets outside in freezing temperatures. Also, keep in mind, it is illegal to leave a dog outside without adequate shelter.Plants – Covering your plants or bringing them indoors will help keep them healthy. Freezing temperatures tend to kill off flowery plants. Watering plants ahead of freezing weather is also a good way to help protect them.Faucets – SAWS recommends leaving cabinet doors open under the kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow warmer room air to circulate over the pipes. The utility company says letting faucets drip slowly to keep water flowing through pipes is not ideal, but it can help.

SAWS suggests knowing how to turn off the water supply to your house to help you avoid water damage from leaking pipes, dripping water heaters, frozen pipes or other causes.

CPS Energy also has an entire page of resources and tips for preparing for winter weather.

As a safety tip, CPS Energy officials say you should “never use a generator, camp stove, charcoal grill, gasoline heater, or propane heater indoors. These items can start accidental fires, cause electric shock, and cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.”

Only a light icing is possible in parts of the Hill Country and north of 1604 on Thursday morning.

“By the time it’s cold enough in San Antonio for ice, most precipitation should be out of the area,” said KSAT meteorologist Sarah Spivey.

If you do encounter icy roads or anticipate traveling in freezing conditions, the Texas Department of Public Safety offers the following tips:

Avoid unnecessary travel if possible, monitor local weather broadcasts, and follow up-to-the-minute weather conditions.Avoid traveling when sleet, freezing rain or snow is predicted, and monitor road conditions by visiting Drive Texas or calling (800) 452-9292.Ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas.If you must drive in inclement weather, allow extra time to reach your destination. Share your travel plans with a friend or family member so someone knows the route you’re taking.Be aware that ice accumulates on bridges and overpasses before drivers may see it on roads, so approach them more slowly in winter weather.On icy roads, drive slowly and increase the distance between your vehicle and others, as you may need additional room to stop.Watch for downed trees and power lines. If a stop light is out, treat the intersection as a four-way stop.Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained before any trip — check fluid and antifreeze levels before driving.

A Connecticut home mortgage lender and servicer has moved into San Antonio – launching its sixth Texas office.

A $5 million facility that will train cybersecurity workers is coming to Port San Antonio. The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute, or CyManII, is establishing the Texas Manufacturing x Transformation Hub, also known as the TxMx Hub, at Port San Antonio. The hub hopes to train 1 million workers by 2026 in sectors like aerospace, hardware, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and auto manufacturing. Port San Antonio is providing the 14,500-square-foot facility…