Parents should stop using Leachco Podster, Podster Plush, Bummzie, and Podster Playtime Infant Loungers because they pose a suffocation risk, the Consumer Product Safety Commission warns.

The warning comes after reports of two infant deaths — a four-month-old boy and a 17-day-old newborn.

Approximately 180,000 Podsters have been sold.

The CPSC had asked the company to recall the products, a move Leachco rejected, claiming its products are safe when used as directed.

“Leachco has always had clear warnings on the product and its packaging not to place it in a bed or crib or use it for unsupervised sleep,” the company states on its website.

This new warning comes months after the Boppy Company recalled 3.3 million infant loungers that were linked to eight reported deaths.

Safety advocates have been warning parents never to let infants sleep on lounging pads or nursing pillows. They say babies can easily roll over into the soft pillow and block their airway. When they are unable to move their bodies, they can suffocate.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says babies should be put to sleep on their backs on a firm, flat surface such as a crib or bassinet.

The CPSC had asked Leachco to recall the products, but the company has failed to do so, and the agency can’t force companies to recall products without taking them to court. The agency issued this warning but said it would continue to investigate the Podsters and consider other actions.

In a statement on the Leachco website, the company rejects the CPSC claims and says its products are safe when used as directed. “Leachco has always had clear warnings on the product and its packaging not to place it in a bed or crib or use it for unsupervised sleep,” the statement says. “The CPSC is wrongly telling consumers to stop using the Podster altogether instead of explaining that no lounger should be used in a crib or bed and no lounger is safe for unsupervised sleep. The loss of an infant is truly tragic and families who suffered that loss have our deepest sympathies.”

The CPSC’s warning comes several months after the Boppy Company recalled about 3.3 million infant loungers because the products were tied to a reported eight deaths. It also comes more than a year after the CPSC warned caregivers to never let infants sleep on lounging pads, which are meant for babies to sit or lie on while awake and supervised, or nursing pillows, which are meant to make breastfeeding more comfortable. The reason for the warning: When babies are left unattended or sleeping on these padded products, they may roll over or their heads may fall in a way that can block their airway and cause suffocation.

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Hundreds of cars lined up for a mega food distribution event outside Gus Stadium Friday morning hosted by the San Antonio Food Bank.

The event was able to happen thanks to fundraising from the Leadership San Antonio Alumni Association.

“Food insecurity is an ongoing thing, and so it was a way for us to to really show our leadership skills and be a part of a solution to a problem,” Denise Hernandez, with the Leadership San Antonio Alumni Association said.

Leadership San Antonio is a program that brings people from different industries together and helps build leadership skills and helps give back to the community.

“It’s special to get the donation. But it’s even more special to know that we’re in good hands when it comes to our future leaders,” said Eric Cooper, president and CEO of San Antonio Food Bank.

The group collected 600 pounds of food and more than $43,000 for the San Antonio Food Bank and former Spurs great Tim Duncan matched the amount.

“For every dollar we take in, we can create about seven meals,” Cooper said.

The San Antonio Food Bank says one in six people in Texas are living in food insecure homes.

“As we got past November and December, there was a lot of attention on the food bank and the need. But as we head into January, the need is still here,” Cooper said.

As the City of San Antonio and Bexar County continues to respond to the rising surge of new COVID-19 cases being reported daily, as well as an increase in demand for testing and an increase in hospitalizations, city and county officials will provide an update on efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus to help keep residents safe.

You can watch a livestream of the event, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., in the video player above.

The following officials are scheduled to provide remarks at the news conference:

San Antonio Mayor Ron NirenbergBexar County Judge Nelson WolffMetro Health Director Claude A. JacobMetro Health Medical Director Dr. Junda WooEric Epley, CEO of South Texas Regional Advisory Council

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As Burns put it, the past two years at Houston Methodist have been a blur of action, communication and resilience in the face of an enormous strain on the nation’s health system.

Rock star Meat Loaf, a native of Texas known for his theatrical style and hits such as “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” died on Thursday, January 20. According to a statement on his Facebook page, the singer — born Marvin Lee Aday — died on Thursday night. He was 74. A cause of death was not provided. “Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight surrounded by his wife,…

The Dallas-based carrier’s schedule reductions are hitting some markets harder than others

A giant in the local development industry has opened an office in Corpus Christi.

Get more election news on KSAT’s Vote 2022 page. See the Republican ballot here.

The 2022 Primary Election in Texas will take place on March 1. Early voting begins on Feb. 14. The voter registration deadline is Jan. 31.

Several consequential nominations for federal, state and county offices are up for grabs, including Congress, Texas governor, Bexar County Judge and district attorney.

The following list of candidates was provided by the Bexar County Elections Department. The candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot. See the full sample ballot at the bottom of the article.

MORE: The races to watch in Bexar County for 2022 elections

Democratic Primary Candidates:

U.S. Representative, District 20

Joaquin Castro

U.S. Representative, District 21

Coy Gee Branscum IIClaudia Andreana ZapataCherif GacisDavid Anderson JrScott William SturmRicardo Villarreal

U.S. Representative, District 23

John LiraPriscilla Golden

U.S. Representative, District 28

Jessica CisnerosTannya Judith BenavidesHenry Cuellar

U.S. Representative, District 35

Greg CasarCarla-Joy SiscoRebecca ViagranEddie Rodriguez

Governor

Rich WakelandInocencio (Inno) BarrientezBeto O’RourkeJoy DiazMichael Cooper

Lieutenant Governor

Michelle BeckleyMike CollierCarla Brailey

Attorney General

Rochelle Mercedes GarzaMike FieldsJoe JaworskiS. “TBone” RaynorLee Merritt

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Angel Luis VegaTim MahoneyJanet T. Dudding

Commissioner of the General Land Office

Jinny SuhSandragrace MartinezMichael LangeJay Kleberg

Commissioner of Agriculture

Susan HaysEd Ireson

Railroad Commissioner

Luke Warford

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3

Erin A. Nowell

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 5

Amanda Reichek

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 9

Julia Maldonado

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5

Dana Huffman

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6

Robert Johnson

Member, State Board of Education, District 1

Melissa N. OrtegaLaura MarquezOmar Yanar

Member, State Board of Education, District 3

Marisa B. Perez-Diaz

State Senator, District 19

Roland Gutierrez

State Senator, District 21

Judith Zaffirini

State Senator, District 25

Robert Walsh

State Senator, District 26

José Menéndez

State Representative, District 116

Trey Martinez Fischer

State Representative, District 117

Philip Cortez

State Representative, District 118

Frank Ramirez

State Representative, District 119

Elizabeth “Liz” Campos

State Representative, District 120

Barbara Gervin-Hawkins

State Representative, District 121

Becca Moyer DefeliceGabrien Gregory

State Representative, District 122

Angi Aramburu

State Representative, District 123

Diego Bernal

State Representative, District 124

Gerald Brian LopezJosey GarciaSteven Gilmore

State Representative, District 125

Eric Michael GarzaRay Lopez

Justice, 4th Court of Appeals District, Place 6

Irene Rios

Justice, 4th Court of Appeals District, Place 7 (Unexpired Term)

Rebecca “Beckie” Palomo

District Judge, 45th Judicial District

Mary Lou AlvarezMaria Dinorah Diaz

District Judge, 144th Judicial District

Michael Mery

District Judge, 150th Judicial District

Monique Diaz

District Judge, 186th Judicial District

Kristina Escalona

District Judge, 187th Judicial District

Stephanie R. BoydVeronica I. Legarreta

District Judge, 224th Judicial District

Marisa FloresMilton Irving Fagin

District Judge, 225th Judicial District

Shannon Roberta SalmónChristine Vasquez Hortick

District Judge, 226th Judicial District

Velia J. MezaDemetrio Duarte Jr.

District Judge, 227th Judicial District

Christine Del Prado

District Judge, 285th Judicial District

Nadine Melissa NietoLisa Uresti-Dasher

District Judge, 288th Judicial District

Cynthia Marie Chapa

District Judge, 289th Judicial District

Rose SosaCarlos Quezada

District Judge, 290th Judicial District

Jennifer Peña

District Judge, 436th Judicial District

William “Cruz” Shaw

District Judge, 437th Judicial District

Joel PerezScott Simpson

Criminal District Attorney

Joe Gonzales

County Judge

Gerardo (Gerard) PonceIna MinjarezIvalis Meza GonzalezPeter Sakai

Judge, County Court at Law No. 1

Helen Petry StoweRene Muñoz

Judge, County Court at Law No. 2

Melissa SaenzMaria Teresa GarciaGrace M. Uzomba

Judge, County Court at Law No. 3

David J. Rodriguez

Judge, County Court at Law No. 4

Alfredo Ximenez

Judge, County Court at Law No. 5

Andrea ArevalosJohn A. Longoria

Judge, County Court at Law No. 6

Erica Dominguez

Judge, County Court at Law No. 7

Melanie LiraMichael De Leon

Judge, County Court at Law No. 8

Mary RomanLauren D. Zamora

Judge, County Court at Law No. 9

Gloria SaldañaJessica A. Gonzalez

Judge, County Court at Law No. 10

Cesar GarciaJ. Frank Davis

Judge, County Court at Law No. 11

Erica Peña

Judge, County Court at Law No. 12

Yolanda HuffOscar Salinas

Judge, County Court at Law No. 13

Michael “Mike” VillarrealRosie Speedlin Gonzalez

Judge, County Court at Law No. 14

Carlo Rodriguez Key

Judge, County Court at Law No. 15

Melissa Vara

Judge, County Probate Court No. 1

Oscar Kazen

Judge, County Probate Court No. 2

Veronica Vasquez

District Clerk

Gloria A. MartinezDeEtt DreschChristine “Chris” CastilloErasmo RAZ HernandezJessica Zapata BogardusMary Angie GarciaRaul DavilaEduardo “Eddie” Pichardo

County Clerk

Lucy Adame-ClarkRachel Garcia Cavazos

County Commissioner, Precinct No. 2

Justin Rodriguez

County Commissioner, Precinct No. 4

Tommy Calvert

Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 1, Place 1

Robert “Bobby” TejedaSylvia M. Ruiz

Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 3, Place 1

Paul Talamantez Jr.

Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 4, Place 1

Yolanda Acuña UrestiMichele GarciaRogelio “Roger” Lopez Jr.

County Chair

Monica Ramirez AlcantaraIrma G. Barron

You can view the full sample ballot below:

Democratic Party March Primary Sample Ballot by David Ibanez on Scribd

Unless something drastic happens, it appears the median sale price of homes in the San Antonio area will stay above $300,000 for good. In December, the median sale price of a home in the region climbed to its highest amount ever — $311,000. That’s according to a new report from the San Antonio Board of Realtors. The area surpassed the $300,000 mark in October (median price of $305,400) and remained above that level in November…

Voting by mail, or absentee voting, has become a hot-button issue amid the COVID-19 pandemic and a heated political landscape.

After a national controversy over mail ballots in the 2020 election, the Texas Legislature made sweeping changes to the state’s election laws.

Those changes — Senate Bill 1 — were signed into law last year by Gov. Greg Abbott after a high-profile fight between political parties at the Texas Legislature.

The legislation makes several changes to the election process in Texas, including some rules for voters hoping to cast their ballot by mail for the 2022 Texas midterms.

For the March 1 primary, the last day to submit an application for a ballot by mail is Feb. 18. But before you fill out that application, there are some things you need to know about the process.

Here are the main changes under SB 1 when it comes to mail or absentee voting:

There is a NEW application for 2022. The old applications will not be accepted.An application must be submitted in writing and signed in ink — electronic signatures, photocopied signatures or signatures in pencil are NOT allowed.Election officials may not distribute mail-in ballots or an application for a mail-in ballot to anyone who did not submit a request for an application.Early voting applications must include the applicant’s driver’s license number or Department of Public Safety issued personal identification number. An applicant without a driver’s license or DPS PIN must declare that and include the last four digits of their social security number. If a voter uses a different number on the application and ballot, the ballot will be rejected.

Bexar County voters who are interested in voting by mail must submit this application to the Bexar County Elections Department. The applications must be received — not postmarked — no later than 11 days before Election Day, or Feb. 18.

Because of the changes to the application process this year, you may want to send your application in well before the Feb. 18 deadline. That way, if your application is rejected because it wasn’t filled out according to the new rules, you have time to submit a corrected one.

As of mid-January, Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacquelyn Callanen said that her office has had to reject about a third of the applications so far — more than 325 — because people did not use the new application or include their driver’s license or ID number.

“It’s disturbing that our senior citizens who have relished and embraced voting by mail are now having to jump through some hoops, and it’s upsetting when we have to send a rejection letter [when] we can see they’ve voted with us by mail for years,” Callanen told the Texas Tribune.

If you have questions about the application process, call 210-335-0362.

Keep reading for what you need to know about mail-in voting.

Who can vote by mail?

U.S. Armed Forces and Merchant Marines, their dependents and U.S. citizens who live abroad can vote early by mail. For more information, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program website.

Mail/absentee ballot voting is also available to elderly voters and voters with physical disabilities.

You may be eligible to vote by mail if you are:

Going to be away from your county on Election Day and during early votingOut-of-state college students who still claim a Texas address as their primary residenceSick or disabled65 years of age or older on Election DayConfined in jail, but eligible to vote

You must apply to vote by mail each year in Texas. So if you hope to vote by mail in the March primary, you must submit the new application.

How do I vote by mail?

When county elections officers determine you are eligible to vote by mail based on your application, they will send you a blank absentee ballot electronically or by mail.

After filling out the ballot and signing across the sealed flap of the envelope (the signature must match your signature on the ballot and application), Bexar County voters must mail their absentee ballots to this address:

Bexar County Elections (Early Voting Clerk)

1103 S. Frio St., Suite 200

San Antonio, TX 78207-6328

Click here to find out where to submit your application for ballot by mail in other Texas counties.

Absentee/mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots from overseas voters must be received by the 5th day after Election Day. Ballots from members of the armed forces must be received by the 6th day after Election Day. Members of the military and other overseas voters can track the status of their ballot online.

Hand-delivery of mail ballots is only allowed on Election Day. In Bexar County, those hand-delivered ballots must go to the elections office at 1103 S. Frio St., Suite 200. They will not be accepted at polling places and voters will need to present a valid ID.

The ballots must contain a signature across the sealed flap and voters will be asked to sign a roster when they turn their ballots in.

Not sure if you’re registered to vote in the March 1 election? Click here to check.

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