Category: San Antonio News

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Friday formally requested more federal support in Bexar County and other major metropolitan areas as COVID-19 cases soar throughout the state.

Abbott requested support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, asking for more medical personnel and a larger monoclonal antibody allocation. He also asked for federally-funded testing sites in Bexar, Cameron, Dallas, Harris, Hidalgo and Tarrant counties as people struggle to find at-home tests while cases go up.

“Detecting COVID-19 and preventing COVID-related hospitalizations are critical to our fight against this virus,” Abbott said. “While the Biden administration has cut supplies of monoclonal antibody treatments and testing kits when they are needed most, the State of Texas is urging the federal government to step up in this fight and provide the resources necessary to help protect Texans. Testing sites, additional medical staff, and continued shipments of therapeutics from the federal government will help us continue to save lives and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

As the omicron variant spreads, monoclonal antibody centers saw their supplies “exhausted” in major Texas cities. Only one monoclonal treatment, sotrovimab, has proven effective against the variant.

Though Abbott has hammered the Biden administration on its coronavirus policies, he has banned local cities and counties from implementing their own mitigation strategies, including vaccine and mask mandates that could help curb infections.

Metro Health’s COVID-19 website reported 733 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, bringing the total number of new cases to 2,942 so far this week. That includes 957 new cases Monday, 828 on Tuesday, and 424 on Wednesday.

Read more:

Jury trials in Bexar County canceled in early 2022 as omicron variant surgesCity, county leaders warn of new COVID-19 spike, stress on healthcare systemUniversity Health urges people to use ERs only in true emergencies, skip New Year’s Eve parties due to omicron surge

City and county leaders held a press conference Friday to warn the community about a new spike in COVID-19 infections that’s expected to get worse.

“We’re facing stress on our healthcare system,” said University Health Chief Medical Officer Bryan Alsip.

COVID hospitalizations in Bexar County have increased by more than 75% from just one week ago. On Dec. 24, there were 198 people who had been admitted to a local hospital with COVID-19. As of yesterday, that number had jumped to 352.

Limiting ER visits

Alsip encouraged people who may be experiencing mild-to-moderate COVID-like symptoms to manage their symptoms at home so emergency room doctors can manage the most critically ill patients.

“Emergency facilities are not the place to seek COVID testing,” Alsip said.

Instead, Alsip said, people should utilize one of the community testing facilities or contact their primary care providers for testing or treatments. Several at-home treatments have recently gained FDA approval in addition to the monoclonal therapies that are available.

Alsip said that even though omicron seems to be relatively mild clinically compared to previous COVID strains, the sheer number is exacerbating staffing challenges.

Nurses and other hospital workers are already working overtime and now, many are also getting sick.

Wolff said the county has 411 nurses imported from other areas and will need to request more to make sure hospitals have enough staffing to handle the increasing caseloads.

Vaccine best defense against serious COVID symptoms

Omicron appears to be the most contagious strain yet, with a small number of sick people able to infect a large number of others, Alsip said.

“Never before during this two-year pandemic have I had so many family members and so many friends come down with COVID,” said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. “It is spreading and it’s spreading fast and I think it will probably get a lot worse before it gets better.”

“If you have an unvaccinated friend, try to talk them into getting it or stay the hell away from them,” Wolff said.

While vaccinated people are still getting the virus, it’s been proven effective to protect people against serious illness.

“Roughly eight out of 10 patients in the hospital yesterday for COVID were unvaccinated,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “That should tell you something.”

San Antonio and Bexar County residents are vaccinated at a higher rate than the state average with more than 70% of people over the age of five fully vaccinated.

Local health officials said they’re recommending that everyone wear a mask in public regardless of vaccination status and urged people to take precautions when celebrating the New Year.

Find a vaccination site here.

Test shortages

Both Wolff and Nirenberg addressed the shortage of rapid test kits.

“A lot of the drug stores are running out of the COVID tests,” Wolff said. “President Biden has said we’re going to get 500,000 test kits, he really needs to move a heck of a lot faster.”

The mayor said the city still has plenty of curative tests — though community testing sites are closed until Monday.

Find a testing site here.

COVID spike at BCSO

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar also spoke during Friday’s press conference saying he’s seen a recent spike in cases among inmates and BCSO employees. In late November, the jail had only one inmate with COVID and only a handful of deputies with the virus, now there are 38 cases among inmates and 50 cases among BCSO employees. Salazar said there are more than 90 employees under quarantine and nearly all of the exposures happened outside the jail.

Watch Friday’s press conference:

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In-person jury trials scheduled in the first two weeks of January will be postponed due to the surge of coronavirus infections in Bexar County, officials confirmed on Friday.

The decision was announced by administrative Judge Ron Rangel, who oversees operations at the courthouse.

“After consulting with public health officials and out of concern for the health and safety of all who enter Bexar County courthouses, I’ve decided to suspend all in-person jury trials for the first two weeks of January,” Rangel told KSAT 12 News. “We wish all members of our community a safe Happy New Year.”

Civil courts will also continue with their current COVID-19 protocols through Feb. 1, officials confirmed. Previously, civil courts were set to implement looser protocols starting Jan. 4.

The announcement comes shortly after city and county leaders held a press conference Friday morning, urging residents to take all precautions to prevent the spread of the virus as the omicron variant surges.

“As we prepare to celebrate the New Year, we ask that Bexar County residents exercise caution to avoid infection from the coronavirus and help prevent spreading it to others,” Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said. “All of us must be on guard now that omicron is the dominant variant in the community.”

As coronavirus cases surge across the country because of the fast-spreading omicron variant, Bexar County is also seeing a spike in new cases.

Metro Health’s COVID-19 website reported 733 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, bringing the total number of new cases to 2,942 so far this week. That includes 957 new cases Monday, 828 on Tuesday, and 424 on Wednesday.

Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist with UT Health San Antonio, joined the KSAT Q&A on Thursday to discuss the latest rise in omicron COVID-19 cases and what people should do before seeking help at an emergency room.

“We’re seeing surges, and the positivity rate at the university is as high as we’ve ever seen it, with 31.5% of the people being tested coming back positive. So this is largely omicron at this point,” Berggren told anchor Stephania Jimenez during the Q&A on Thursday’s 6 O’Clock News. “And people have gotten the message that Omicron is highly infectious, more infectious than delta, but less lethal, and that is true.”

There are 352 patients in area hospitals, with 70 in the ICU and 30 on ventilators, according to Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council hospital data on the Metro Health COVID-19 website. There are 10% of staffed beds available and 67% of ventilators available in our area hospitals.

Read more:

University Health urges people to use ERs only in true emergencies, skip New Year’s Eve parties due to omicron surge

Metro Health officials warning residents to celebrate NYE safely as COVID-19 cases rise

An 18-year-old has been arrested following a shooting and standoff at a home on the city’s West Side Thursday afternoon, San Antonio police said.

Officers were called around 4:40 p.m. to a home in 3000 block of Desert Morning Street, not far from Culebra Road after receiving word of shots fired.

According to police, the teen shot another 18-year-old for “disrespecting” the suspect’s deceased friend.

Police said the victim fled the home to a safe location where he called for help. He was taken by EMS to University Hospital, with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

SAPD said when they arrived, the suspect was still inside the home and refused to let two other individuals inside the house leave.

The San Antonio Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit, along with their Special Operations Unit and hostage negotiators assisted during the standoff.

SAPD said the suspect eventually surrendered without incident. No other injuries were reported.

One person is dead following a vehicle crash on the city’s far West Side early Friday morning, San Antonio police said.

The crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. in the 400 block of Lakeside Parkway, not far from Loop 410 and Highway 151.

According to police, the driver of a sport utility vehicle had just left a party and rolled his vehicle, crashing into a utility pole. The man in his 40s was pronounced dead at the scene.

SAPD said a passenger inside the SUV had only a scratch as a result of the crash. No other vehicles were involved.

At this time, the cause of the crash is not currently known. Police said alcohol may have played a factor.

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

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

The 87th Texas Legislature passed hundreds of bills in 2021. While most went into effect in September, there are 23 more bills that become law in Texas on January 1, 2022.

The new laws range from an exemption on homestead taxes for 100% disabled veterans to a requirement on large cities to hold an election before reducing or reallocating funding for law enforcement agencies.

One allows nonprofit organizations that are providing housing and related services to people experiencing homelessness to claim property tax exemptions on multiple locations, instead of just a single campus. Another provides an extension from six to 10 years of the tax exemption for places of worship that are expanding or constructing a new facility.

Here’s a look at all 23 with descriptions provided by the Texas Legislature:

HB 115

Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain property owned by a charitable organization and used in providing housing and related services to certain homeless individuals.

HB 531

Relating to notice requirements for a leased dwelling located in a floodplain.

HB 1197

Relating to the period for which certain land owned by a religious organization for the purpose of expanding a place of religious worship or constructing a new place of religious worship may be exempted from ad valorem taxation.

HB 1445

Relating to the applicability of the sales and use tax to medical or dental billing services.

HB 1689

Relating to credit for reinsurance governed by certain covered agreements and ceded to certain assuming insurers.

HB 2237

Relating to mechanic’s, contractor’s, or materialman’s liens.

HB 2535

Relating to the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of real property that includes certain improvements used for the noncommercial production of food for personal consumption.

HB 2730

Relating to the acquisition of real property by an entity with eminent domain authority and the regulation of easement or right-of-way agents.

HB 3131

Relating to the information required to be included in the certificate of formation of a filing entity.

HB 3777

Relating to eligible costs and expenses for purposes of the franchise tax credit for the certified rehabilitation of certified historic structures.

HB 3788

Relating to the training and education of appraisal review board members.

HB 3961

Relating to required posting of information regarding the office of the state long-term care ombudsman on certain long-term care facilities’ Internet websites.

HB 3971

Relating to the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of residential real property located in a designated historic district.

HB 4638

Relating to the creation of certain municipal management districts; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

SB 23

Relating to an election to approve a reduction or reallocation of funding or resources for certain county law enforcement agencies.

SB 41

Relating to the consolidation and allocation of state civil court costs; increasing certain civil court costs; authorizing fees.

SB 43

Relating to residential mortgage loans, including the financing of residential real estate purchases by means of a wrap mortgage loan; providing licensing and registration requirements; authorizing an administrative penalty.

SB 794

Relating to eligibility for the exemption from ad valorem taxation of the residence homestead of a totally disabled veteran.

SB 855

Relating to the electronic dissemination of commercial recordings or audiovisual works.

SB 911

Relating to the regulation of restaurants and third-party food delivery services, including the issuance of certain alcoholic beverage certificates to restaurants.

SB 1280

Relating to certain provisions of The Securities Act for which a person offering or selling a security may be held liable to a person buying the security.

SB 1449

Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of income-producing tangible personal property having a value of less than a certain amount.

SB 1524

Relating to a sales and use tax refund pilot program for certain persons who employ apprentices.

Read more on KSAT’s Texas Legislature section:

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Sister Pauline Fierro, CCVI, was one of three Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word who helped bring educational opportunities to the underserved West Side community in San Antonio.

When Sister Pauline was 22 years old, she entered the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. In 1915, she got a strong calling to serve the community around San Francisco de Espada Mission, said Sister Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI.

“In southwest San Antonio, she’d seen that people did not have equal educational opportunities or housing opportunities or medical opportunities,” Sister Martha Ann said.

With no water or proper space, Sister Pauline and three other sisters started the school with two to three grades in each class.

“Most of the children in this area didn’t even get to the eighth grade at that time,” Sister Martha Ann said.

Fierro also went on to help establish the Guadalupe Community Center and taught the first religious vacation school in the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

“Sister Pauline was a compassionate, caring person, an excellent educational leader,” Sister Martha Ann said.

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Our streak of record-challenging warmth continues into the first day of 2022, but get ready for weather whiplash Saturday night.

At that point, our temperature is expected to drop a whopping 50 degrees in only about 12 hours. It may sound crazy, but we’re anticipating a balmy 83 degrees at 5 p.m. Saturday, then only 32 degrees by 5 a.m. Sunday.

Here’s what you can expect this weekend and Monday:

FRIDAY

Morning fog leading to afternoon sunshineHumidLow 60s in the morning, then low 80s by the afternoon (record: 83 degrees)

SATURDAY

Brief morning fog, then a sunny dayLow to mid-80s in the afternoon (record: 83 degrees)Humidity drops around noonBreezy — West wind at 10-20 mphA warm evening before the cold front arrives

SATURDAY NIGHT

Cold front arrives around 11 p.m. (give or take)It will become windy — north gusts of 35-40 mphTemperatures to fall fast

SUNDAY MORNING

First official freeze likely in San AntonioLow of 32 degreesFeels like 20 degrees when accounting for the gusty windVery dry air

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Sunny and coolHigh of 53 degreesNot as windy

MONDAY

Upper 20s in the morningMid-50s in the afternoonSunny with very low humidity

Thereafter, temperatures will briefly warm into the 60s and 70s ahead of our next cold front, which is expected to arrive on Thursday.

An 18-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged with one count of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after a shooting on the Northwest Side, according to San Antonio police.

Shortly before noon, officers were called to an apartment complex in the 7100 block of Wurzbach after receiving reports of the shooting.

Officers arrived and found a man at the apartment complex suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, according to Officer Nick Soliz. The man was taken to University Hospital in critical condition, where he later died.

Soliz said the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Jordan Eaton, was not apprehended at the scene. Officers were able to gather information where the shooting took place and through surveillance video to identify the suspect, Soliz said.

Eaton went to a local police substation and turned himself in, according to Soliz.

Both the victim and suspect are residents of the apartment complex. Police have not released a motive for the shooting.

The identity of the victim remains unknown.

Read more:

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While families across Bexar County are stocking up to light up the sky on New Year’s Eve with fireworks, authorities are amping up patrol and warning the community how quickly things can go wrong.

In a news conference, John Ortega, deputy fire marshal for Bexar County, said a professional fireworks show is the safest option. The most dangerous option, according to Ortega, is homemade fireworks.

“You can’t control the quantity and the quality of the pyrotechnic mixture inside of the fireworks devices themselves,” Ortega said. “So, there’s the risk of death and serious injury when you’re dealing with these types of devices.”

For those who prefer to buy and ignite their own fireworks, Ortega said to look for those with a stamp.

“They will have a stamp on there that reads 1.4 G,” Ortega said. “That means they’re appropriate for use by the general public.”

The 1.4 G fireworks found can be purchased from licensed vendors across Bexar County.

“Those are the folks that are operating within the legal guidelines of how fireworks are permitted to be sold,” Ortega said. “And that goes a long way in ensuring the safety of the product and of the manner that they’re stored and dispensed out to the general public.”

Starky Dávila helps run one of the fireworks stands in the far West Side.

“It’s eye candy for the little ones,” Dávila said. “I think (manufactures) focus big on packaging.”

In addition to the traditional sparklers and Roman candle fireworks, customers can choose from fireworks in the form of a Pokemón ball, ice cream cone, birthday cake, popcorn bag and more.

“(They) attract eyes, for sure,” Dávila said. “When walking up, (those are) first things people (and) kids notice.”

Dávila said most kid-friendly options have a base and can usually be found on the bottom row of firework stands.

“(Firework manufacturers will) put stands on the bottom to secure its position (and) make sure it doesn’t tip over,” Dávila said.

Ortega warns that even sparklers can be dangerous.

“There are always injuries, unfortunately, with children that are using sparklers,” Ortega said. “It’s important to remember that sparklers get up to an excess of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. (They) can cause serious burn injuries.”

Authorities want to also remind the community to keep combustibles away and be mindful of what area they choose to ignite their fireworks.

“We always want you to keep a bucket or a water hose in close proximity to be able to extinguish any fires that might arise from using the fireworks,” Ortega said.

Additional firework safety warnings, according to Bexar County Fire Marshal Office, include the following:

Must have written consent to discharge fireworks within 600 feet of a church, school, university or hospitalDo not ignite or discharge fireworks from a moving vehicle or toward a moving vehicleDo not ignite or discharge fireworks within 100 feet of a fireworks stand or a gas stationCannot ignite fireworks in a manner that is going to be hazardous to somebody else’s propertyIndividuals are responsible for property damage or injuries that result from fireworks ignited

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