This category is for general business news stories local to San Antonio.
Employers across a range of fields were already suffering from a dearth of workers. Omicron has made it significantly worse.
The transition from foster care to adulthood can be terrifying and even dangerous, sometimes leading to homelessness, trafficking, or unplanned pregnancy.
It’s a crucial time when foster youth desperately need support, and it’s not always available.
Growing up in and out of foster care since age six, enrolling in college was a big deal for 21-year-old Heidi Leal.
As she did, smiling by her side was Lauren Jones, her mentor from the THRU Project, an organization bridging the gap between foster care and adulthood.
“These years right now are going set her up for the rest of her life, so I try to make it as helpful as I can,” Jones said.
Leal said Jones has helped ease the stress of becoming independent.
“She helped me go to college, she’s teaching me banking accounts, she taught me how to bake, cook,” Leal said.
They have a blast together: painting, working out, dressing up for Halloween.
They both wanted to share about their special friendship to encourage others to offer their time and skills to foster youth.
The THRU project currently supports 160 youth that have mentors, but they have 15 more about to join and no one available to mentor them.
Staff members say finding mentors is no easy task during a pandemic.
“It’s been really difficult. We’ve even lost a couple mentors because of the pandemic as well. It is hard to go out there (and) recruit,” said THRU Project Lead Program Coordinator Alexis Lara.
Leal wants people to know her life is changed forever because of her mentorship.
“I feel like I’m not alone because I have people that support me and are there for me,” Leal said.
To mentor, you have to be over 24, take a two-hour training class with the THRU Project, a trauma-informed care training for the Department of Family and Protective Services, and undergo a background check. They ask that you remain a mentor for at least one year.
If you’re interested in volunteering, contact the THRU Project on their website or call (210) 852-0220.
A hard worker and dedicated father — that’s how Quinton Smith is being remember by his loved ones.
As the balloons took flight, Dominique Smith held her youngest son. She’s a mother of four and now, a widow.
“I don’t know…it just doesn’t feel real. It just doesn’t feel the same anymore. I feel like I’m in a different world I guess,” Dominique, Quinton’s widow, said.
Her husband, 28-year-old Quinton, was killed last Sunday when he left a hookah lounge on West Avenue near Edgebrook Lane around 3 a.m.
“That was my heart,” Dominique said through tears.
San Antonio police said Quinton was walking to his car when a light-colored SUV drove down West Avenue and someone inside allegedly shot him twice in the leg.
“Doctor came in and said they tried to do all they could to revive him but he lost a lot of blood,” Verlinda Smith, Quinton’s mother, said
He died from his injury at University Hospital.
“It’s like somebody just ripped my heart out…you know,” Verlinda said.
Tommy Stringfellow has been friends with Quinton since the Smith family evacuated Hurricane Katrina.
“Little brother, 17 years. Like blood couldn’t make us thicker,” Stringfellow said.
He doesn’t understand how this could have happened to the man he strived to be like.
“Especially looking at his kids, and knowing that the person that he was, you know what I’m saying, just worked hard and take care of his family, you know what I’m saying. And I looked up to him a lot and I’m just like confused,” Stringfellow said.
Other friends theorize whoever shot Quinton made a mistake.
“I want to know, you know. I want justice. I want them to do their time because that’s not fair that my kids got to live on without him,” Dominique said.
Dominique is asking for answers because at this point, no one has been arrested in this shooting.
Man dead after being shot while leaving hookah lounge on NW Side, officials say
A man is in critical condition after being shot during a robbery outside of a South Side brewery, according to San Antonio police.
The shooting happened around 8:15 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot of Freetail Brewing Co. in the 2000 block of S. Presa Street.
Police said the man, in his mid-30s, and his girlfriend were leaving the brewery and were heading toward their truck when a black sedan pulled up close to them.
Three men got out of the vehicle and demanded money, according to SAPD. The couple had an expensive camera on hand, and the men took it from them, police said.
However, as the men took the camera, one of them pulled a gun and shot the boyfriend in the head, according to SAPD.
He was taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center by EMS and is in critical condition.
The three men then left the scene in a vehicle, heading northbound on Presa. Police are still searching for them.
We’ll bring more updates as they become available.
Two people are in custody after an incident involving a gun inside a West Side Catholic church that caused parishioners to flee the building during morning services, according to the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
The incident happened during the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass at St. Timothy Catholic Church in the 1500 block of Saltillo St.
Officials with the Archdiocese of San Antonio said a young man appeared to be “acting strangely” in the foyer of the church. He was dropped off by a van that had another person waiting inside.
The man walked into the foyer, made the Sign of the Cross and gestured that he had a weapon, according to archdiocese officials. Two witnesses were in the foyer — an usher and a representative from Rightway Imaging, who was at the church to conduct health screenings for parishioners.
The healthcare worker went into the sanctuary and yelled to the priest and the congregation that there was a man with a gun in the foyer, officials said.
Parishioners quickly exited the building, as did the man with the gun. However, before the man got back into the van, he showed the weapon and pointed it briefly toward the church before leaving the scene, officials said.
It’s unknown if any shots were fired or if there were any injuries.
Authorities arrested the man and the other person inside of the van soon two blocks away from the parish, according to the Archdiocese. It’s unclear what charges the two people are facing.
Security remained at the parish for its 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. mass services.
“Gratitude and prayers are offered for the quick thinking individuals and law enforcement that this situation was resolved in a peaceful manner with no harm. The security and safety of our parishioners and church personnel is paramount for the archdiocese,” the Archdiocese of San Antonio said in a statement.
KSAT has reached out to San Antonio police for further details but is still awaiting a statement.
One of the nation’s most decorated and accomplished Tuskegee Airmen, Brig. Gen. Charles E. McGee, has died at the age of 102, according to officials.
Details surrounding his death are limited at this time, though Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III confirmed McGee’s passing on Twitter Sunday afternoon.
“While I am saddened by his loss, I’m also incredibly grateful for his sacrifice, his legacy, and his character. Rest in peace, General,” Austin tweeted.
Today, we lost an American hero. Charles McGee, Brigadier General and one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airman, passed at the age of 102. While I am saddened by his loss, I’m also incredibly grateful for his sacrifice, his legacy, and his character. Rest in peace, General. pic.twitter.com/3GLNbfRHs7
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) January 16, 2022
McGee was honored last month on his 102nd birthday in San Antonio by the 99th Flying Training Squadron, the only active duty Tuskegee Squadron in the U.S. Air Force, now at JBSA Randolph.
One of the T-1AJayhawks used by the squadron was even named in his honor.
According to a previous KSAT report, McGee graduated from flight training in 1943, becoming one of the U.S. Army Air Corps’ famed Tuskegee Airmen, the nation’s first African-American military aviators.
This is a developing story and we’ll bring more updates as they become available.
If you’ve been scrolling on social media lately, chances are you’ve played or at the very least, have heard of the game, “Wordle.”
This new daily word game is free to play online and is accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
In case you’re a first-time player, the premise of the game is fairly simple — all you have to do is guess the five-letter word of the day. The downside — there aren’t any hints or clues.
Each player gets six tries to guess the word, and for each attempt, “Wordle” will let you know how close you are to the answer by changing the color of the letters.
Incorrect letters will show up gray. Correct letters that are in the correct placement will turn green, and letters that are correct but in the wrong place in the word will turn yellow.
It may sound easy, but considering how many words are in the English language that are just five letters, it can be overwhelming.
Don’t worry — we have some tips that can help you become more victorious at this mind-bending game. Check these out.
You know your vowels — A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y. Your best bet in guessing the word is probably going to be the process of elimination with vowels.
According to a Trusted Reviews report, you should start with a “vowel heavy” word, such as “adieu,” “audio,” “louie,” etc.
There’s a limited number of these “vowel heavy” words, but if you start with these, you’ll hopefully be able to get a solid foundation and be able to edge closer to crafting the daily word.
And if you get the vowel letters in the correct place right off the bat, you’re golden.
In case you’re wondering, the answer is yes, you CAN use a letter more than once in a word.
Although it’s probably not the best idea to double up on letters in the beginning of a match, if you are stumped or have four of the five letters figured out, it may be worth trying.
If you are stuck at the beginning of a match, don’t worry. These starter words may help you.
According to a report from Polygon, one analysis suggests trying words that include some of the most commonly-used letters in the English language, such as “E,” “T,” “S,” etc. Words such as “ratio,” “irate,” “stain,” or “stare” could also help you build your word foundation.
Or, when in doubt, you could also try starting with a word that begins with “S.” According to Polygon, there are more words in the English language that start with “S” than any other letters.
If you’ve guessed some of the letters correctly but have been staring at your screen for 10 minutes or more, consider this.
Try laying out your guessed letters by adding “X” as a placeholder where the unknown letters are.
This could help untangle your thoughts and help you better visualize the answer.
And, if it’s any consolation, you can’t submit the word unless you hit “Enter” so don’t worry about accidentally losing a guess.
Yes, you read that right. Every player will see the same puzzle each day.
So if you are able to successfully guess a daily word, although it’s tempting to brag, maybe hold off on spilling the beans. You don’t want to give away the answer.
If you’re ready to try your hand at “Wordle,” visit the website here.
We are seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases in Bexar County and across the country. So, what does the latest COVID-19 forecast look like and what does it mean for parents and local families?
Dr. Robert Leverence, chief medical officer for UT Health San Antonio Physicians Practice, joined Leading SA Sunday to explain what the county is seeing with in the current COVID-19 surge and what could come next.
“Well, as we’ve come to learn, these COVID surges, they tend to be coupled with holidays. We’re not surprised that we’re seeing one once again after Christmas and New Year’s, so we appear to be peaking out, although we may not quite have reached it yet, so we’re still bracing for the worst of it,” Dr. Leverence said.
There is the notion that COVID-19 may become an endemic and more predictable.
“That’s where we hope to get to with this pandemic is to evolve into an endemic situation. That’s where you have a low-level activity of an infection in a predictable way, probably similar to how we view the flu, that we can predict that each year we’re going to have a surge, we’re going to get our vaccinations beforehand and it doesn’t disrupt our lives to the degree that we’re seeing with COVID right now,” Dr. Leverence said.
Dr. Leverence also discussed booster shots. Many immunocompromised individuals will be getting their fourth shot soon, but the shots may be far from over.
“For many immunization programs, boosters are a regular part. Again, whether it’s the flu shot, which we get annually, which is a type of booster, or the tetanus shot which you get every 10 years, we suspect the same thing is in store for that a COVID vaccination. The frequency of these boosters really unclear at this time. It depends how this all ends up unfolding as we hopefully soon enter into an endemic state. But yeah, I think COVID boosters are certainly in our future,” Dr. Leverence said.
While there is a possibility of more variants to come, the vaccine has proven effective, Dr. Leverence said.
“I’m optimistic about it. Clearly, so far, every variant has been susceptible to the vaccines. Also, now we have a real game-changer — a one-two punch, as you will. And that’s the new antivirals, which is sort of like an antibiotic for this COVID virus. And so I feel that we are moving in the in the right direction. We will eventually get off of this roller coaster. It’s just not happening as quick as we’d like,” Dr. Leverence said.
You can watch the full interview with Dr. Leverence in the video player above.
ORLANDO, FLA. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Metabolism, it’s the process of your body converting food into energy. The older we get, the slower the metabolism, right?
Well, a new study suggests the mid-life spread may be more of a lifestyle problem than a metabolism one. What do you really know about your metabolism?
A new study out of the University of Aberdeen is throwing the metabolism world upside down. In fact, it shows that metabolism peaks at the age of one, and slowly declines until the age of 20.
But then, for the next 40 years, your metabolism doesn’t change at all. But then it takes a nosedive declining each year after the age of 60.
So, what causes us to gain weight as we age? Some experts believe it’s due to a more sedentary lifestyle and the foods we eat. For a boost in your metabolism, eating protein can help and even cause you to burn an extra 150 to 200 calories a day.
If you’re thirsty, green tea can increase metabolic functions by four to five percent. Weight training regularly can increase your metabolic rate from 6.8 to 7.8 percent. And you can even increase your metabolism when you sleep.
Turn the temperature down between 60 and 67 degrees before bed. This helps you keep the good fats that maintain your body temperature and burn other fats.
Another surprise from the study… there was no metabolic surge during either puberty or pregnancy and no slow down around menopause.
Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-58186710 https://www.redbookmag.com/body/health-fitness/advice/a40/speed-metabolism-yl/
Contributor(s) to this news report include: Danielle Gober, Producer; Robert Walko, Videographer and Editor. To receive a free weekly email on Smart Living from Ivanhoe, sign up at: http://www.ivanhoe.com/ftk
Editor’s note: This story was published through a partnership between KSAT and the San Antonio Business Journal.
After announcing its upcoming debut in North Texas, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bojangles’ Inc. is on track to push further south into the Lone Star State and open new locations in Austin and San Antonio.
In a press release, the fried chicken giant — currently operating in 14 states — said it will partner with San Antonio-based Copacetic Group LLC to open locations on the northeast side of the city in the coming years.
Copacetic Group was one of five Texas-based groups to partner with the chain as franchisees, signing multi-unit agreements.
Lash Foods LLC will open franchise locations in the northern region of Houston, while SAT Restaurant Group LLC and Zenith USA Investments LLC in greater Dallas-Ft. Worth and TXBO Group Inc. will open restaurants in Collin County, bringing the first stores to cities including Plano, Allen and McKinney.
The company didn’t provide a timeline for its Alamo City debut but announced it has committed to bring 50 corporate-owned and franchised stores to the greater Austin, DFW, Houston and San Antonio markets.
Click here to read the full story in the San Antonio Business Journal.
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