Category: San Antonio News

New Braunfels police say speed likely played a factor in a deadly single-car crash along Interstate 35 on Thursday night.

The driver crashed his 2004 Honda Civic just before 10 p.m. in the 600 block of North Business I-35.

Police said the driver failed to negotiate a curve from the southbound I-35 frontage road, drove into the grassy median and rolled his vehicle over several times, police said. He was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

NBPD identified the man as s31-year old Jarlen Droutsas Giacona of Austin.

No other vehicles were involved and no one else was injured.

Read also:

Authorities ID woman found dead in driveway northeast of downtown

In response to the question, “Can you ever have too many taco joints?” most San Antonians would offer up a resounding, full-mouthed, “I can’t talk now; I’m eating this taco.” Sure, we’ve got more than our fair share of taquerias, so many, in fact, that we’re known to many as a taco town, and even scored a shoutout from Texas Monthly, which recently penned an article about San Antonio’s taco trail, pronouncing we’ve got the…

A man has been arrested in connection with the assaults of at least two young women at San Antonio-area Target stores, records show.

Patrick Donovan McLaughlin, 23, was charged with two counts of assault-bodily injury in the attacks that took place on Aug. 17 and Sept. 12, according to records with the Bexar County Jail.

In the first incident, a teenage girl was in the cosmetics department of the Target store located in the 18200 block of Blanco Road, near Loop 1604 in Stone Oak, when the suspect approached her.

The suspect struck and grabbed the girl’s buttocks and ran off, an arrest warrant affidavit states. The girl reported the incident to her mother and Target employees.

A similar incident happened to a young woman at the same store on Sept. 12.

In that incident, McLaughlin also grabbed her wallet and pulled down his beanie to hide his face as he ran away from her, police said.

The woman chased after the suspect and yelled for help, but he was not located.

Investigators were able to see video surveillance and images of the suspect, and Target employees said he may be involved in similar incidents at area stores.

The affidavit states that Target stores in the San Antonio area were made aware of the suspect and the attacks.

On Sept. 16, employees at the store in the 22800 block of U.S. Highway 281 N., near TPC Parkway, noticed the man and confronted him.

He argued with the employees and left the store, but employees were able to take a picture of his vehicle and license plate.

Records show he was booked into the Bexar County Jail on Thursday. He was also wanted on a separate charge of engaging in organized criminal activity.

His bond is set at $79,000.

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25 people arrested after massive drug bust in San Antonio area, officials sayMan stabbed, woman detained following domestic dispute, police say

Hey everyone, welcome back, unless you’re new here — then welcome for the first time. I can be awkward both in person and via the written word, so I’ve got that going for me.

Anyway, February is always associated with Valentine’s Day but that had me wondering where the holiday came from. So I did some digging and found out that the origins of the day are somewhat mysterious but that’s probably due to the fact that it became tradition well over 1,000 years ago.

History.com has a good explainer that includes the same facts I’ve read on other websites about the origin of Valentine’s Day, and like with many holidays — it’s got some pagan ties.

So one theory is that the Christian church was trying to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia, which is a fertility festival that takes place in mid-February.

Another theory is that the holiday commemorates a Catholic Saint. There are at least three saints named Valentine or Valentinus — including a priest in 3rd century Rome who would marry soldiers in secret after Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men. (Apparently, he thought it made them better soldiers? Weird.) Turns out Claudius found out and beheaded ol’ Valentine.

Claudius also beheaded Saint Valentine of Terni for helping Christians escape Roman prisons around the same time. That Valentine is thought to have written a love letter to the jailer’s daughter while he was in prison that he signed, “From your Valentine.”

I just thought that was an interesting rabbit hole I went down and I’m glad you came with me.

Now that you’re feeling festive after your unofficial history lesson, here’s what’s going on in the San Antonio area in February:

San Antonio Spurs – The Spurs will be playing three home games in February. The first home game is Feb. 1.Tool – It hasn’t been “10,000 Days” since Tool last visited San Antonio, but Maynard James Keenan and company are finally coming to the AT&T Center on Feb. 2.Jamie Kennedy – Comedian Jamie Kennedy will be at LOL San Antonio Feb. 4 – 6. You might also recognize him from some of his acting roles like the “Scream” film series. Tickets are on sale now.Mollie B with Squeezebox and Ted Lange – This collaboration of award-winning musicians plays polka-style music and has won numerous awards. Check them out at Krause’s Biergarten on Feb. 4.Natural Bridge Caverns – This trail run even starts in the belly of a cave. You can run through caves in the even with features a 5K, 10K and half marathon through the private property of Natural Bridge Caverns on Feb. 6.Disney Princess – This concert features stars who sing classic Disney songs and share their exclusive, hilarious and heartfelt behind-the-scenes stories from their time portraying princesses on the stage and screen. The concert takes place on Feb. 8 at the Tobin Center.San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo – The rodeo will be held at the AT&T Center and Freeman Coliseum fairgrounds Feb. 10-27. Several country stars and a Norteño legend are set to make appearances for next year’s rodeo.

Russell Peters – Funnyman Russell Peters is bringing his “Act Your Age World Tour” to San Antonio on Feb. 11 at the Majestic Theater.San Antonio Coffee Festival – It’s back! Returning for the 9th year, this celebration of coffee will let you taste roasts from around the world at Travis Park on Feb. 12.Ada Vox Valentine’s Concert – American Idol Top Finalist and Queen of the Universe Runner-up Ada Vox will be performing on Feb. 12 at Kain Na-Filipino CuisineQuinceañera Expo San Antonio February 13th – Quinceaneras Magazine is hosting this expo for people looking for vendors for Quinceaneras, Latino brides and sweet sixteen parties. The expo will take place Feb. 13 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.Il Divo – Following the tragic passing of Il Divo’s Carlos Marin, the remaining members of Il Divo will perform at the Tobin Center on Feb. 14.Theory of a Deadman – The band is making a stop on its “Say Nothing Tour 2022″ at the Tobin Center on Feb. 21.Gladys Knight – The “Empress of Soul” will be performing at the Tobin Center on Feb. 23.Van Gogh San Antonio – The opportunity to walk through the artwork of famed artist Vincent van Gogh was supposed to take place in November 2021 in San Antonio but dates were pushed to February 24.San Antonio Home and Garden Show – Take a look around this marketplace at the Alamodome if you need some inspiration or help with an upcoming home improvement or yard renovation project.Trail Rides – This isn’t exactly an event but did you know you can go on trail rides at Bit and Bridle Stables? The ranch out in Harper offers options for people of all skill levels and rodeo season might be a great reason to book your first ride.

Free

SeaWorld San Antonio – Kids and teachers can get free admission to SeaWorld San Antonio for the 2022 season. The offer ends Feb. 28, according to SeaWorld’s website, and allows access to the park through Jan. 2, 2023.McNay Art Museum – Enjoy a free screening of the musical “In the Heights” on the front lawn of the McNay Museum on Feb. 3.First Friday – First Friday is San Antonio’s longest-running artwalk and Feb. 4 is the first Friday of the month. It’s a free family event anchored at the Blue Star Arts Complex.Fishing- February is the last month that rainbow trout will be stocked in lakes across Texas as part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Good luck anglers!

Black History Month

Black History Month is observed annually in the month of February. The origins of the celebration date back to 1915 but it wasn’t until 1976 that then-president Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month. He called on the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history,” according to History.com.

Conscious Conversations – On Feb. 1 you can head to Hemisfair for a reading of “Race Cars” by Jenny Devenny. Admission is free and listeners can enjoy fun activities following the reading. Registration is encouraged.

Soul Food Celebration – This is the second annual Soul Food Celebration put on by the Black History Month Commission. This year’s theme is “Chaos or Community” based on a book by Martin Luther King Jr. There will be live entertainment and tickets start at $25 for the Feb. 12 event.

Black History River Tour – The San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum is hosting this 100-minute tour that will take guests on a journey through time. “Learn about the impact of African Americans in the center core of San Antonio,” the event listing states. The tour takes place Feb. 13.

Black History For Children Book Exhibit – Encourage the development of good reading habits and learn about Black history at this 7th annual Black History For Children Book Exhibit at Carver Library. The event takes place on Feb. 26.

Let’s Rodeo San Antonio

The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo will be held February 10-27 at the AT&T Center/Freeman Coliseum fairgrounds and tickets are already on sale.

The entertainment lineup for 2022 includes some country music heavy hitters like Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Lady A, Little Big Town and Ludacris.

You can try your hand at scoring a family four-pack of tickets to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo to see Toby Keith on opening night with KSAT. <<<< The contest form is in that link. 🤠

For the second year in a row, the Cowboy Breakfast will not be a public event (you’ll have to make your own tacos at home and just use your imagination.) Event organizers are planning to serve breakfast for San Antonio’s first responders at this year’s Cowboy Breakfast.

You can also tune in to KSAT on Feb. 5 for the Cattle Drive and Western Heritage Parade. The parade is free and runs through the streets of downtown San Antonio.

Trending

Here’s what has been trending recently on KSAT:

Take a video tour of Tony Parker’s house, currently on sale for $19.5 millionCracker Barrel ordered to pay man $9 million after he was served commercial-grade bleach instead of water, reports sayMidwest grocery chain won’t enter Texas market citing H-E-B dominance23 new laws go into effect on Jan. 1 in TexasHemp compounds prevent COVID-19 from entering human cells, study findsTexas is getting another huge indoor water park, reports sayWhataburger debuts new ketchup, announces return of 3 fan favoritesTexas YouTuber Adalia Rose dies at 15 after battle with rare genetic condition, family confirms

Do you have any ideas or know about any events going on in the area. You can reach me at mpatton@ksat.com.

-Mary Claire Patton, KSAT Digital Journalist

One of the largest financial services companies in the world is moving into a unique suburban mixed-use development.

The Kerrville Fold Festival is set to return for its 50th year this spring.

From May 26 to June 12 the festival will rock the streets of downtown Kerrville.

Early bird discounts are available through Feb. 28, according to the festival website, and advance tickets will be available for purchase from March 1 to May 25.

A partial entertainment lineup for the festival has already been released. Performers include:

Michael Martin MurpheyKathleen EdwardsDarrell ScottEliza GilkysonDavid Ramirez (full band)KyshonaRon Artis IIThe DeerMikaela DavisThe Guthrie GirlsDarden SmithSusan GibsonWalt Wilkins

“We want to assure you that we continue to take the health and well-being of our community, artists, volunteers and vendors very seriously,” said festival organizers. “At this time we are not announcing any specific protocols or restrictions because it seems everything changes so quickly. We will finalize plans and guidelines and announce those late in April.”

Organizers said if plans change due to the pandemic, COVID-related refunds will be issued.

More Things To Do headlines:

Wish lanterns on sale for San Antonio Botanical Garden event600 free trees to be given away at drive thru Jammin’ Jams eventGot tickets for Immersive Van Gogh San Antonio? Organizers say an update is coming soon

A woman found dead in a driveway just northeast of downtown San Antonio on Saturday has been identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Victoria Stampley, 42, died of a gunshot wound and her manner of death is listed as a homicide, the office said.

A passerby discovered the woman’s body in front of someone else’s home around 7 a.m. in the 200 block of Post Avenue, near Broadway.

Neighbors said they heard gunshots just hours before the woman was found.

The shooting is still under investigation.

More on KSAT:

Man stabbed, woman detained following domestic dispute, police say

A man is in the hospital and a woman has been detained following a stabbing late Thursday night, San Antonio police said.

The incident occurred around 9:50 p.m. in the 200 block of Victor Street, not far from the San Antonio Botanical Garden.

According to police, the man was stabbed by the woman during a domestic dispute. It is unclear exactly what the argument was about.

The wounded man was taken by EMS to University Hospital, in stable condition.

SAPD said they took the woman into custody as a result of the stabbing. She will likely be charged with aggravated assault of a deadly weapon, police said.

The San Antonio Police Department, the San Antonio Fire Department and EMS all answered the call.

Earlier this month, U.S. health officials said Americans should wear N95 or KN95 masks like the ones used by health care workers to slow the spread of the coronavirus instead of cloth masks, which are less effective. Specifically, the CDC recommends people 2 years and older wear a mask over their nose and mouth in public indoor spaces.

But it’s not always easy to find N95 masks and they can be expensive, especially if your circumstances require you to wear one every day. You also have to be sure you’re buying a legitimate N95 or KN95 mask. The CDC has warned there are a lot of counterfeit masks on the market.

You can check the authenticity of your N95 mask on the CDC’s alphabetical list of NIOSH-approved respirators or by checking the TC approval number on the certified equipment list. For KN95 masks, use this FDA list to find KN95 masks made in China, and this list for KN95 masks made in other countries.

Some good mask news, though — the Biden administration is making 400 million N95 masks available for free to U.S. residents. They will soon be available for pickup at pharmacies and community health centers across the country, including in San Antonio. (We have reached out to multiple pharmacies and will provide more information when they receive shipments.)

The N95 masks filter at least 95% of airborne particles and provide a higher level of protection, especially in crowded indoor spaces.

Can you reuse a N95 or KN95 mask?

N95 masks were made for one-time use. But given the difficulty in obtaining them and the expense of buying new ones, many are wondering if it’s safe to re-use them.

The short answer is, according to health experts — yes, you can reuse them if you take some precautions.

The CDC has outlined some guidelines about reusing masks in emergency situations. It’s directed at medical professionals, but some of the advice can also be applied for home use.

Here’s the bottom line — if you plan to reuse your mask, you need to have at least five and rotate them daily.

After you wear a mask, you can store it in a breathable paper bag (like a lunch sack) for a minimum of five days before wearing it again. Putting it in a bag for five days will give some time for pathogens to die off, the CDC says.

Be sure to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after you remove your mask because you should treat it as if it is contaminated.

If you wait five days between wears, you should be able to wear that mask again, but no more than five times total. That’s because the mask only works if it fits snuggly to your face and the more you wear a mask, the looser it becomes.

Or as the CDC puts it:

“The number of times that an FFR can be reused will likely be limited by its fit because the tethering straps can become weaker or stretched after each donning. Each time an N95 FFR is donned or doffed, the integrity of the straps may be impacted. Repeated donning and doffing will result in the straps no longer being able to generate enough force to create a tight seal with the face. The resulting poor seal will allow unfiltered air to enter the N95 FFR and into the wearer’s breathing zone.”

Can you clean an N95 or KN95 mask?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) found that N95 masks could be cleaned using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, vaporous hydrogen peroxide and moist heat.

We reported at the beginning of the pandemic that University Health found success using a hydrogen peroxide process already used to decontaminate other medical equipment to clean masks.

But since most of us at home don’t have access to that kind of technology, we have fewer options.

Researchers have found that N95 masks could be sterilized using an Instant Pot, rice cooker or any other electric cooker. If you’re interested in trying it, click here for a how-to. (Never put your mask in the microwave!)

Note that even if you clean your N95 mask, the CDC still recommends that it be worn no more than five times.

What about cloth masks and disposable surgical masks?

While N95 masks are the most effective masks for stopping the spread of COVID-19, the CDC still says any mask is better than no mask.

Your next best option to an N95 mask is a disposable surgical mask. Those are meant for one-time-only use and should be disposed of properly after each wearing.

If you only have a cloth mask, it’s recommended that you wash it after every use.

Click here for information on the different kinds of masks from the FDA.

Watch: Metro Health Medical Director, Dr. Junda Woo explains how to extend the life of your N95 mask:

Also on KSAT:

Can kids be harmed wearing masks to protect against COVID?San Antonio doctor gives pros, cons of commonly used masks used during COVID-19Track the latest COVID-19 numbers in San Antonio and surrounding areasWhere to get a COVID-19 vaccine in San AntonioWhere to get a COVID-19 test in San Antonio

Beaumont police are searching for a missing 69-year-old man last seen Wednesday morning, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Clyde Freeman was last seen in the 1300 block of Euclid Street in Beaumont at 11:09 a.m. Wednesday. He wore a gray sweatshirt, black T-shirt, blue jeans, and black shoes with white soles.

Freeman is 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 165 pounds, and has gray hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Beaumont Police Department at 409-832-1234.

ACTIVE SILVER ALERT for Clyde Freeman from Beaumont, TX, on 01/27/2022 pic.twitter.com/UScoAa2ZKY

— Texas Alerts (@TX_Alerts) January 28, 2022