Category: San Antonio News

Each new year, technology seems to amaze us more than the last. So, what are the newest and biggest tech trends that will impact Americans in 2022?

We use it to communicate… work… even shop! Technology is a part of life, and it’s improving every day.

Innovative tech inventions in 2022 could change the way you live.

Experts say be prepared for more artificial intelligence devices. Smart cars are being designed to use facial recognition algorithms to alert drivers if they’re getting tired.

And smart toilets may help diagnose gastrointestinal issues by using computer vision to analyze stool samples!

And what about smart grocery carts? Some food chains are experimenting with carts that have a built-in scale and camera so you can scan, bag, and pay as you shop.

We could also see more nanosatellites. Over the next few years, Space-x plans to deploy up to 42,000 satellites to create an internet connection anywhere on the planet.

And don’t be shocked if your pizza next year is delivered by a driver-less car. One Domino’s store in Houston is using driver-less delivery cars. GPS monitoring allows customers to track their pizza from store to home. Kroger, Amazon and FedEx are also testing out the autonomous vehicles.

Another innovation you’re likely to see in 2022 is new pricing technology. Electronic shelf labels can help stores stay up to date as prices change quickly.

Algorithms are also being designed to provide personalized shopping experiences. For example, only certain customers would receive promotions for specific items.

Valuation-based Loan Made Possible for Forward-thi

A photographer and avid abandoned explorationist visited the now-shuttered Splashtown in San Antonio in December and snapped photos during his visit.

Robbie Brown, a paranormal investigator who makes short documentaries called Unknown Ventures, visited the old water park in December after it permanently closed and said it looked like a scene from “The Walking Dead.”

“Walking through the park was a thrill. It’s something I do when I have free time,” Brown told KSAT 12. “Getting to see a place that I have been and my kids have been, run down and about to be demolished can get you in the feels. It was a beautiful mess.”

San Antonio City Council approved a zoning change in October that would allow for a car dealership to be built on the old Splashtown property.

Bobby Cavender told council members at the time that the Cavender family is looking to buy the property because the owner of Splashtown “has decided to retire.”

Splashtown originally opened in San Antonio as Waterpark USA in 1985 before it changed hands in 1991 and again in 2006 when President/General Manager Keith D. Kinney bought out other shareholders to become the sole owner.

Brown said one of the most interesting things he saw when he visited the abandoned park were the slides, which he described as “run down,” and the lazy river, which was “completely empty full of debris.”

Brown, who said he visited Splashtown as a child, said it “was a great experience and good memories” of his time at Splashtown.

A completion date for the full demolition of the water park has not been made public but Brown captured video footage of some of the rides having already been removed.

Cavender has previously said the new dealership would bring more jobs to the area, including jobs for graduates of St. Philips and other technical schools in San Antonio.

You can see a video of the abandoned park from Brown on YouTube.

San Antonio police are looking for two people who shot a man during a robbery at a Northwest side car wash early Tuesday morning.

The victim suffered a non life-threatening wound to his leg.

Police found him around 5:30 a.m. at a gas station in the 3000 block of Fredericksburg Road.

They say he told them he was washing his pickup at a nearby car wash, in the 2700 block of Fredericksburg, when two men in a white SUV approached him and demanded his property, including his truck.

The victim told police he refused and the men shot him.

He was able to run to a the gas station and call for help.

The victim, who police say is about 40 years old, was taken to a hospital by ambulance.

Police say the shooters were last seen heading south on Fredericksburg Road in their white SUV.

Officers were not able to obtain any further description of them.

San Antonio police and Crime Stoppers are looking for the people involved in an aggravated assault at a Northwest Side apartment complex back in early December.

The incident occurred Dec. 5 around 2:50 a.m. at The Reserve San Antonio apartment complex in the 13900 block of Babcock Road, not far from UTSA Boulevard and Loop 1604.

According to police, the victim, a 19-year-old, had a get together at his apartment and several un-invited people showed up. That’s when, police say, the victim and his roommate lost control of a party and attempted to kick people out.

Police said the victim was attacked by several males and females and was stabbed multiple times. Two of the suspects in cell phone footage have since been arrested, police said.

SAPD said they are still looking for more people involved in the incident.

Anyone with any knowledge is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (210) 224-STOP.

Tips can also be texted to CRIMES (274637) or by visiting the Crime Stoppers website.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

Two people were hospitalized following a four-vehicle crash on Loop 1604 early Tuesday morning, San Antonio police said.

The crash occurred around 1 a.m. on Loop 1604 westbound, not far from Bitters Road on the city’s far North Side.

According to police, it is not exactly clear what prompted the four-vehicle collision. Police did say, however, speed may have played a factor in the crash. Two people were taken to the hospital by EMS, with minor injuries.

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

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, police said.

Read more on our Vote 2022 page.

It’s a new year and a big one for elections.

In Texas, the primary elections happen March 1 and the general election will take place Nov. 2.

The midterm will see many elected positions up for grabs nationally, statewide and right here in Bexar County.

This article will give you a look at who’s running locally for elected positions in the criminal justice system, including for Bexar County district attorney, criminal district judge, civil district judge and county court judge.

Find out which precinct you live in here.

District Attorney

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Joe GonzalesRepublican candidates: Meredith Chacon, Marc LaHood

144th Criminal District Court

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Michael MeryRepublican candidates: Lorina I. Rummel

186th Criminal District Court

Democratic candidates: Kristina EscalonaRepublican candidates: Daphne Previti Austin

187th Criminal District Court

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Stephanie Boyd, Veronica LegarretaRepublican candidates: Walden Shelton Jr.

226th Criminal District Court

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Velia Meza, Demetrio Duarte Jr.Republican candidates: (no candidates)

227th Criminal District Court

Democratic candidates: Christine Del PradoRepublican candidates: Incumbent Kevin O’Connell

290th Criminal District Court

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Jennifer PeñaRepublican candidates: (no candidates)

437th Criminal District Court

Democratic candidates: Joel Perez, Scott SimpsonRepublican candidates: Judge Melissa Skinner

45th Civil District Court

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Mary Lou Alvarez, Maria Dinorah DiazRepublican candidates: Patricia Jay

150th Civil District Court

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Monique DiazRepublican candidates: Scott Bradney

224th Civil District Court

Democratic candidates: Milton Irving Fagin, Marisa FloresRepublican candidates: Incumbent Judge Cathleen Cathy Stryker

225th Civil District Court

Democratic candidates: Shannon Roberta Salmon, Christine Vasquez HortickRepublican candidates: Renee Yanta

285th Civil District Court

Democratic candidates: Nadine Melissa Nieto, Lisa Uresti-DasherRepublican candidates: Mark Thompson

288th Civil District Court

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Cynthia Marie ChapaRepublican candidates: Art Rossi

289th Juvenile Court

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Carlos Quezada, Rose SosaRepublican candidates: (no candidates)

436th Juvenile Court

Democratic candidates: William “Cruz” ShawRepublican candidates: (no candidates)

Bexar County Court 1

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Helen Petry Stowe, Rene MunozRepublican candidates: Bob Behrens

Bexar County Court 2

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Grace Uzomba, Maria Teresa Garcia, Melissa SaenzRepublican candidates: Jason Wolff

Bexar County Court 3

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge David RodriguezRepublican candidates: (no candidates)

Bexar County Court 4

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Alfredo XimenezRepublican candidates: Jason Garrahan

Bexar County Court 5

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge John Longoria, Andrea ArevalosRepublican candidates: (no candidates)

Bexar County Court 6

Democratic candidates: Erica DominquezRepublican candidates: Brandon Jackson

Bexar County Court 7

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Michael De Leon, Melanie LiraRepublican candidates: Adam LaHood

Bexar County Court 8

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Mary Roman, Lauren D. ZamoraRepublican candidates: Ashley Foster

Bexar County Court 9

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Gloria Saldaña, Jessica A. GonzalezRepublican candidates: (no candidates)

Bexar County Court 10

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge J. Frank Davis, Cesar GarciaRepublican candidates: Jamie Mathis

Bexar County Court 11

Democratic candidates: Erica PeñaRepublican candidates: Incumbent Judge Tommy Stolhandske

Bexar County Court 12

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Yolanda Huff, Oscar SalinasRepublican candidates: Suzanne Kramer

Bexar County Court 13

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez, Michael “Mike” VillarrealRepublican candidates: Charles E. Gold

Bexar County Court 14

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Carlo Rodriguez KeyRepublican candidates: Susan Skinner

Bexar County Court 15

Democratic candidates: Incumbent Judge Melissa VaraRepublican candidates: Robert RC Pate

Again the primary election takes place March 1, and the mid-term election is on Nov. 8.

Click here to see who’s running in your district.

It’s a familiar sight after Christmas break — masked kids waiting to get picked up by their parents.

“My daughter I have, she’s 11, and she’s in the sixth grade,” Norbert Martinez said as he waited to pick up his daughter from William P Hobby Middle School.

What’s not familiar is a missing teacher on the first day back.

“One of her teachers got infected with the COVID, so they had to transfer her and the rest of the students to another class,” Martinez said of his daughter’s class.

That teacher is one of 1,260 staff members at Northside ISD who called out sick. Not all of the call-outs are COVID-related, however.

Of those call-outs, 926 required substitutes to fill the position.

ALSO ON KSAT.COM: Bexar County COVID-19 risk level ‘severe’ amid 3,800+ case surge, officials say

Nicole Johnson’s little girls go to Colonies North Elementary School, another Northside ISD school. Both Constance, a kindergartener, and Taraji, a fourth-grader, noticed kids absent.

These absences are coming as vaccination rates in children remain low.

According to data by the Mayo Clinic, 10.6% of kids aged 5 to 11 in Texas are fully vaccinated. That percentage goes up to 52.5% for 12 to 17-year-olds.

Dr. John Fitch, a local pediatrician, hopes the number of children getting vaccinated goes up amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in Bexar County.

“We’re giving it to our own kids, which means we feel comfortable with the safety of it,” Fitch said.

Doctors say boosters are vitally important when it comes to the omicron variant.

For kids too young for the shot, Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist with UT Health San Antonio, said masks are key to staying healthy.

“Like a KN95 or an N95 mask, or at the very least, a surgical mask. Plain old facecloth covering — it’s just not going to cut it,” Berggren said.

As it stands now, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson limit shots to those 18 and older.

Pfizer’s first two shots are approved for children as young as 5. But when it comes to Pfizer’s booster, only those 16 and older are approved.

The FDA wants that lowered to 12 years old, but the final decision is with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“They need these boosters. They need these vaccinations. And the more kids they get vaccinated, the better it is for everybody,” Martinez said.

University Health says it will start offering the Pfizer booster for those 12 and up whenever the CDC makes its recommendation. The same rules apply, and children will need a parent or guardian to give written permission. Click here for more information.

ALSO ON KSAT.COM

University Health urges people to use ERs only in true emergencies‘When in doubt, get tested’: Mountain cedar season coincides with latest COVID-19 surgeWhere to get tested for COVID-19 in San Antonio, Bexar County

The new South San Independent School District interim superintendent says his plan is to improve the district in various ways amid poor academic performance and other constraints it’s facing.

Last year, South San ISD Superintendent Marc Puig was placed on paid administrative leave at the end of the fall semester. Henry Yzaguirre was hired as interim superintendent in December 2021.

Yzaguirre said he is familiar with the district, having worked for it before.

“This is actually my third time coming to the district, so I know the dynamics. I know the needs,” he said.

Yzaguirre started the job at a time when the district has been facing an investigation by the Texas Education Agency. A state monitor was put in place at the start of the semester, and the board of trustees launched an investigation after Puig made comments to a board member before a closed board meeting dealing with staff hiring.

Yzaguirre says his focus is on fixing the district’s low morale, poor academic performance, dropping enrollment and financial constraints.

“We definitely have a need for some stability for unification. But, again, my role here is to hopefully bring that together, to focus on why we are here, to focus on our kids and our campuses,” he said.

Enrollment has declined by more than 1,400 students in the past three years, costing the district more than $9.3 million in state funding.

Puig is still receiving payment as part of his contract while the investigation gets underway. And Yzaguirre is getting paid nearly $900 a day, and his contract ends June 30, 2022.

Puig could not be reached for comment prior to publishing this story.

The San Antonio-based chain Bill Miller Bar-B-Q will be temporarily closing their dining rooms this week due to a staffing shortage.

According to a Facebook post, the barbeque spot will close all dining rooms in the San Antonio, Austin, and surrounding areas.

Bill Miller officials say the closing will allow their restaurants to provide “the same Bill Miller service you know and love.”

Guests can still order food through the drive-thru, curbside, or delivery services.

The Corpus Christi locations and the Laguna Madre Seafood Company dining rooms will remain open until further notice.

The barbecue chain says it plans to reopen dining rooms on Jan 10.

More on KSAT:

Bexar County COVID-19 risk level ‘severe’ amid 3,800+ case surge, officials sayState deploys 441 mostly nurses to 28-county Bexar County region