Editor’s note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of San Antonio’s restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news. Openings and closings One of the original tenants of the Pearl’s Bottling Department is calling it a day. After a five-year run, Fletcher’s Hamburgers, chef Sergio Remolina’s upscale take on fast food, will shutter on March 21. It’s not all…

Here comes spring, and with it spring break, wildflowers, and plenty of outdoor adventures. Fredericksburg has so many nature activities, you’ll find it a challenge to fit them all into one trip. The area has everything from bats (and millions of them) to 300 species of birds, plus hiking or rock climbing at Enchanted Rock, bicycling, and horseback riding. Fredericksburg is also an International Dark Sky Community, meaning that the area’s night skies produce an…

“Middle management is ready for a rebrand.” That’s how one expert describes the situation as hybrid workplaces shake up the business world.

Grow Disrupt, an organization aimed at helping small businesses thrive in the Alamo City, is making some strategic business recommendations regarding hiring processes.

One of their recommendations is to incorporate a new and sustainable hiring process — whether that be a two-week or three-month process — in an effort to avoid a drawn-out hiring.

Stephanie Scheller, a small business consultant with Grow Disrupt, said a straightforward and quick onboarding system is the way to go in a competitive hiring market.

“So, I think a lot of times companies feel like a long, drawn-out process is going to net them someone who desperately wants to work there. And in fact, the opposite issue tends to happen — especially in today’s hiring world,” Scheller said.

A lengthy hiring process can snuff the excitement out of someone who was otherwise motivated to work for you.

“So, by the time they end up truly employed, they are tired of all the shenanigans and the run-around that they’ve received,” Scheller said.

Scheller added that the days of a four- to five-week hiring period are over.

“You may be able to get away with that if you’re someone like Google, who is known for not only having incredible pay but having really good work-life balance and having amazing amenities and benefits. They can get away with a really long process,” Scheller said.

Instead, here’s what Sheller said you should do. First, figure out how many interviews you want and establish the quickest way of getting applicants from point A to point B.

“Then get that in place so that it’s passed off. Put all the notes in a single central location so everyone can see them and review them. The final decision maker can then make that decision just based on those notes. So, you can get someone from a prospective employee to actual employee quickly and keep them excited about working for you,” Scheller said.

Another problem area is that a lot of small businesses don’t have a hiring process at all, Scheller said.

She said an applicant’s first experience with your company is during that initial interview, so the idea is to have a quick, effective, and efficient hiring system.

Also on KSAT.com:

San Antonio job seekers hopeful as Biden admin eyes salary history banHere’s what permanent daylight saving time would mean for San Antonio and South Central TexasHow to cushion the financial hit from sky-high gas prices

A trio of teens accused of beating a man to death in January is still behind bars and awaiting indictment, but court records detail the charges their facing.

Alejandro Trevino, 18, and Christian Trevino, 17, along with family friend Juan Eduardo Melendez, 18, are accused of beating 42-year-old Gabriel Quintanilla and leaving him to die in a field in McAllen at the beginning of the year.

“There is nothing new to report,” Pharr chief of police Andy Harvey said after KSAT reached out via email Wednesday morning.

However, Hidalgo County court records show there have been updates on some of the charges and bond amounts for Melendez and the Trevino brothers.

The records show that Melendez now has a smuggling-of-persons charge in addition to organized criminal activity, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of marijuana charges. His murder charge has also been upgraded to a capital murder charge. Melendez’s bonds exceed $1.5 million.

Christian, originally charged in January with aggravated assault, murder and engaging in organized criminal activity has also had his murder charge upgraded to capital murder. His bond amounts originally exceeded $1 million but now court records show his total bond amount is $150,000.

Harvey said the decision for the capital murder charge, as opposed to just a regular murder charge, was due to the fact that Quintanilla was kidnapped and he also had his jewelry stolen before he was dumped in the field.

Alejandro has not had any changes to his charges, which are engaging in organized criminal activity and aggravated assault, but his bond also appears to have been lowered, based on court records, from $1 million to $150,000.

During a news conference in January, Harvey said the Trevino brothers and Melendez beat Quintanilla several times over the course of one night after the Trevinos’ younger half-sister made an outcry about being inappropriately touched by Quintanilla at an RV park.

Quintanilla was the stepfather of Alejandro and Christian and the biological father of the 9-year-old girl.

“When brothers (Alejandro) and Christian Trevino found out, they became enraged and confronted Gabriel Quintanilla at the residence. A physical fight ensued between the three and the victim, Quintanilla, left the location on foot,” according to a news release from the Pharr Police Department.

Harvey explained during the news conference that after Quintanilla left the RV park, Christian followed him down the street and another fight broke out. Christian is alleged to have had brass knuckles during this assault, Harvey said.

Harvey said Alejandro and Melendez then drove up to the fight, got out of their vehicle, and began assaulting Quintanilla as well.

“So there’s three against one,” Harvey said. After that, the three teens left in the vehicle, dropped Alejandro off at the RV park and Christian and Melendez went to Melendez’s house to exchange vehicles.

“They picked up a white F-150 and they decide to go back and look for Quintanilla to see if they can find him again. Well, they did,” Harvey said.

A third assault occurred after Christian and Melendez found Quintanilla and Harvey said that the attack left Quintanilla “unconscious or close to it.”

“They then decide to pick him up, kidnap him, put him in the back of the F-150, in the bed and drive off to somewhere in south McAllen,” Harvey said.

Police believe Quintanilla died after he was dumped in the field. His body was discovered by a farmer.

Harvey said during the course of the murder investigation, Pharr police learned that Quintanilla had a warrant for continuous sexual abuse of a child and assault family violence at the time of his death.

That warrant involved an unrelated case with a different victim that Harvey said Pharr police were made aware of in May of 2019.

Harvey said the victim in the unrelated case was allegedly victimized between 2014 and 2016.

“Detectives gathered enough information to get a warrant, which they did, and the detectives went out to look for Quintanilla at that time and were unable to find him,” said Harvey. “They searched… and he was being elusive… we did not find him.”

Pharr police were unaware of any history of abuse between Quintanilla and his biological daughter. Harvey described that as an ongoing investigation.

No charges have been filed against the mother of the 9-year-old girl. Harvey said during the press conference that detectives were still looking into whether or not she knew about the alleged abuse of her daughter.

Related:

Texas brothers beat stepfather to death for sexually abusing their sister, reports sayPetition to Gov. Abbott seeks to free Texas brothers accused of killing stepfather for sexually abusing their sister

San Antonio police say they have made one arrest in a crime that appears to be plaguing people all across the area.

They caught up with the man in a Northeast Side neighborhood early Wednesday morning after receiving a call about someone in the process of committing car burglaries.

RELATED: Man accused of car burglary on NE Side injured while trying to flee, police say

“It’s a very big issue in and around the city. Huge,” said Sgt. Mario Ramirez with SAPD.

A resident told KSAT 12 News off-camera that the man had been rifling through his truck and one other vehicle in his driveway.

He says after he activated his truck alarm, the suspect took off.

Police say someone in that house caught the man and held him until officers arrived.

“He was resisting to the point where (officers) were afraid of him running off again,” Ramirez said. “When they brought him back, to try to avoid him taking off again, they took him down.”

The encounter left the suspect with a cut and bump on his head.

Both he and the officers were checked out at the scene by paramedics, and photographed by crime scene investigators.

Police later took the suspect to a hospital.

Ramirez says while no one else was hurt, he does not recommend that people confront criminals who may be armed.

“Whether it be a knife or a gun, we don’t want them to find out the hard way,” he said. “If at all possible, try to get us the best description as possible and direction of flight.”

A better option, police say, is to put your fingers to work by calling them.

This number and others in this story have experts doing double-takes: In the Austin metro, the median sales price reached $499,995 in February, according to the Austin Board of Realtors. Due to the lag time in reporting, it’s likely that number has already surpassed $500,000. Click through for more on the latest stats, plus what Realtors expect for the 2022 housing market.

San Antonio is garnering some flattery for a fact locals embrace: It’s one of the best cities to settle down in in the country. Wesbsite Niche.com’s new ranking of the best U.S. cities to live in puts the San Antonio metro area at the No. 101 spot with an overall grade of A-minus, and gives a shoutout to one local community as one of the best neighborhoods to live in. “San Antonio is in Bexar…

If you’re planning on taking a hike in Texas this year you might get lucky enough to run into a cute pairing — a man and his cat.

Craig Lawson Jr. posted photos of a recent hike he took with his five-month-old tabby cat Xaylor to the Backpacking and Hiking Texas Facebook page.

“First time hiking Palo Duro Canyon, probably my favorite hike I’ve done so far in Texas with my cat,” said Lawson.

The post didn’t exactly go viral but it did garner more than 1,000 reactions and generate some interest for people who were naturally curious about the hiking kitty.

Lawson told KSAT via email that he’s had Xaylor since she was 4-weeks-old and that he always thought cats were natural explorers.

“When I got her I just figured she’ll like hiking and I was not wrong,” said Lawson. “Two weeks after I got her I was taking her to parks teaching her and getting her use to everything.”

Lawson said he takes necessities like water, food, snacks, toys and an extra-long leash and cat carrier on hikes to make sure she’s comfortable.

Xaylor never uses the carrier, but Lawson said he brings it just in case she gets tired.

“If the hike is too dangerous or does not allow animals on the trail, she stays home but if she can hike it, best believe she’s coming,” Lawson quipped.

“Every hike we go to when a biker rides by or somebody’s walking by, she gets shy and tries to hide behind a bush or run and hop on my shoulders,” Lawson said.

For reference, Palo Duro Canyon allows animals in the park as long as they are on a leash. If you plan on taking your animal on a hike, make sure you’re properly equipped to handle your pet’s needs and start slow as you introduce your pet to a new activity.

Lawson offered tips for anyone who might want to try his kitty hike hobby and suggested putting your cat in a leash or harness to introduce them to the idea before you take them anywhere.

“Let them play with it for a couple of days to get used to it. Once they are comfortable enough… start taking them to small local parks that have trails,” said Lawson. “Let them just do whatever they want but try getting them to follow you walking once they sniff the trail out.”

Other animal headlines:

Ouch! Keep an eye out for redheaded centipedesAmazing photos: Snake says nope when bird tries to eat it at Brazos Bend State ParkSan Antonio Zoo mourning loss of beloved Asian elephant named Karen

San Antonio police have arrested a man accused of breaking into cars on the city’s Northeast Side early Wednesday morning.

The incident occurred around 4:40 a.m. in the 4200 block of Chestnut Hill, not far from Interstate 35 and Rittiman Road.

According to police, they received a call about a car burglary and a homeowner confronting and detaining a suspect. That’s when, police say, officers arrived and tried to take the man into custody, but instead, he tried to flee.

Police said the officers eventually caught up with the man and tackled him, taking him down hard enough that he hit his head.

The suspect, a man who is in his late teens or early 20s, was checked out by paramedics and taken to an area hospital after his head started to swell. Crime scene investigators took photos of the man and his injuries.

At this time, police did not say how many cars were burglarized. The man, however, was carrying a backpack of items that didn’t belong to him which may have been taken from the cars, police said.

The suspect’s name has not been released. A list of charges was not provided.