Category: San Antonio News

It’s well known that risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer can be passed down from parents to their kids, but what about some other health conditions?

You have their eyes, smile and even their mannerisms, but what other things can be passed down from your parents?

“If you have had a mom and a sister with an aneurysm, so two first degree relatives with an aneurysm, you just doubled your odds of having an aneurysm,” Ricardo Hanel, MD, and neurosurgeon said.

An aneurysm is a silent ticking time bomb that typically does not present any symptoms until it’s too late.

“Even for those that get to the hospital. Many of those don’t survive,” Hanel said.

That’s why doctors are looking at family history to find ways to provide low-cost screening for those at high risk.

Another condition that could be passed down is celiac disease. People with a first-degree relative with the disease have a one in ten risk of getting it.

Colon polyps are another thing that can be passed down. These polyps can increase your risk for colorectal cancer. One in three people who have colorectal cancer knows a family member who had it, according to the American Cancer Society.

The recommended age to start screenings for colorectal cancer is 50, but if you have a family history of colon polyps or colorectal cancer you may want to start your screening earlier.

Depression may also be in your genes. If you have two or more people on the same side of your family with it, your risk increases.

But just because a condition is in your genes does not mean you are doomed to get it.

In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, those who are high-risk of getting heart disease were able to cut their risk by 50 percent following healthy habits, such as not smoking, exercising and eating a healthy diet.

A man in his mid-20s was found dead near his car outside a Northwest Side apartment complex on Thursday morning, according to San Antonio police.

SAPD Chief William McManus said officers received a call for shots fired before 8 a.m. at the Eckert Heights Apartments in the 4800 block of Gus Eckert, near Fredericksburg Road.

When officers arrived, they found the man fatally shot in his upper extremity. He has not been identified by police, and McManus said he lived alone at the apartment complex.

Details about the homicide are unknown at this time, but McManus said it appeared that the man was trying to get into his vehicle.

Witnesses said they saw a man in a blue hoodie running from the scene.

It is unclear if the victim and shooter knew each other, McManus said.

“Hopefully we’ll know more later on as we develop this,” he added.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Read also:

1 driver dead, 1 hospitalized after head-on vehicle crash on NE Side, police saySAPD targets micro hot spots for high crime areas

Can’t fight that Fiesta feeling — it’s time to party, San Antonio!

I’m not from here but I went to my first Fiesta about 10 years ago and fell in love. The city comes alive and people are just happy — can’t be too sad with all that good food.

That’s why I’m so excited that Fiesta is making a comeback this year and getting back to its roots with a full lineup of events and a return to springtime dates, which means better weather for some of your favorite events.

This year Fiesta will take place from March 31 to April 10.

KSAT already has a list of the major Fiesta parades and when they will take place, including the events that will be televised on KSAT 12 and livestreamed online and on the KSAT app.

Last year, many events were canceled outright and others were postponed until June, in swelteringly hot under a Texas summer sun.

This year, make sure you check the weather forecast from the KSAT meteorologists before you head out and dress accordingly. (Say hi to Adam Caskey, too, if you see him wandering around with the Cañón de Caskeyrón.)

This year will also mark the return of Fiesta favorites like the Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau parades, which haven’t been seen on the streets of San Antonio since 2019.

There will be roughly 100 Fiesta events this year based on the official Fiesta calendar — double the number of events that took place in 2021.

That’s great news for Fiesta fans and also for the city, since Fiesta is the largest annual event in San Antonio and generates more than $340 million in economic impact for the community.

An economic impact study from the University of Texas at San Antonio found that roughly 2.5 million people attend Fiesta and thousands of jobs are created annually for the event.

Find more news on KSAT’s Fiesta page. Sign up for our free Fiesta newsletter.

Here are links to the complete list of day-of events for San Antonio’s party-with-a-purpose:

March 31 – Fiesta Fiesta, Fiesta CarnivalApril 1 – Oyster Bake, Taste of New OrleansApril 2 – Flotilla Fiesta, Chanclas Y Cervezas, El Rey FidoApril 3 – Chili Queens Chili Cook-Off, Fiesta Ole, Day in Old Mexico and CharreadaApril 4 – Texas Cavaliers River Parade, Pilgrimage to the AlamoApril 5 – NIOSA begins, Ford Mariachi Festival, CornyationApril 6 – Fiesta Gartenfest, Cornyation, NIOSA, Fiesta GartenfestApril 7 – 10th Street River Festival, Fiesta Gartenfest, PACfest, NIOSA, CornyationApril 8 – Battle of Flowers Parade, NIOSA, Fiesta GartenfestApril 9 – Fiesta Flambeau, King William FairApril 10 – Day in Old Mexico & Charreada, Deco Fiesta

Watch Fiesta coverage on KSAT

Here’s when all the major Fiesta parades will take place in 2022 and when you can watch them on KSAT 12, KSAT Plus (our free streaming app) and on KSAT.com:

Fiesta Fiesta from Hemisfair – 8-10 p.m. on March 31 — KSAT 12 and all digital platformsTexas Cavaliers River Parade – 7-9 p.m. on April 4 — KSAT 12 and all digital platforms“SA Live” River Parade Afterparty – 9-10 p.m. — KSAT 12 and all digital platformsBattle of Flowers Band Festival at Alamo Stadium — livestreamed on KSAT.com and KSAT Plus at 7 p.m. on April 7Battle of Flowers Parade – 9 a.m.-noon on April 8 — KSAT 12 and all digital platformsKing William Fair Parade – 9 a.m. on April 9 — livestreamed on KSAT.com and KSAT PlusBattle of Flowers Band Festival – 2 p.m. on April 9 — KSAT 12 and all digital platformsFiesta Flambeau Night Parade pre-party – 6 p.m. on April 9 — KSAT 12 and all digital platformsFiesta Flambeau Night Parade – 7-10 p.m. on April 9 — KSAT 12 and all digital platforms

The first Battle of Flowers Parade took place in 1891 by a group of San Antonio citizens who were looking to honor the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. Fiesta has been celebrated every year since, except 1918 during World War I, 1942-1945 during World War II and 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Parking

VIA Park & Ride offers hassle-free transit to major Fiesta events at a cost of $2.50 for a one-way ticket. Discounts are available for children, seniors and students. Via will list the service times and locations on the website as soon as they are available.

Here is a map to some of the main parking garages downtown if you’d prefer to drive.

Porch Parade

Families around San Antonio are already getting into the Fiesta spirit for the 2022 Fiesta Porch Parade.

The Battle of Flowers Association and the Fiesta Flambeau Parade Association, Inc, are once again collaborating on a safe, virtual event designed to encourage and support the spirit of celebration by holding a city-wide decorating competition for residences, schools, and businesses.

Is your porch decked out in Fiesta fun? Take a picture of your porch and submit it to KSAT.com. The contest kicked off on Feb. 28 and judging begins March 18.

Need some inspiration? Click Here for some photos of last year’s entries.

Full details on the porch parade can be found here — including a list of pretty awesome prizes.

Fiesta Foodies

Want to know how much Fiesta-goers are chowing down during the 11-day festival? Here’s the breakdown of food consumed, according to the Fiesta Commission:

32,000 Chicken-on-a-Sticks25,000 Tortillas15,000 Oysters at Oyster Bake5,000 Tamales3,000 Turkey Legs

Here’s what the Conservation Society says the “Night in Old San Antonio” crowd consumes during an average year:

17,000 pounds of beef11,000 pounds of chicken3,000 turkey legs1,000 pounds of guacamole

Pro Tip: Cash is king at Fiesta events and many events are cash-only. ATMs are sometimes available but lines get long and eating chicken-on-a-stick is more fun than standing in line to get cash.

See you guys out there!!

Mary Claire Patton, KSAT Digital Journalist

San Antonio police are investigating a crash involving an 18-wheeler that killed one person and injured another on the city’s Southeast Side early Thursday morning.

The crash occurred around 12:20 a.m. on Interstate 37 South, between Highway 181 and Donop Road.

According to police, a Nissan Rogue carrying a driver and a passenger had a collision with an 18-wheeler, sending the big rig into the northbound lanes and the SUV into the median.

Police said one of the people in the Nissan Rogue was pronounced dead and the other was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in critical condition. The name of the person killed has not been released.

SAPD said the highway was shut down in both directions as emergency crews worked. They have since reopened.

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

The exact cause of the crash is not currently known.

One person is dead and two other people are hospitalized following a West Side house fire overnight, the San Antonio Fire Department said.

The fire was reported just before midnight at a home in the 5100 block of Grovehill Street, not far from Benrus Boulevard and Culebra Road.

Firefighters said they arrived to find both heavy smoke and fire coming from the front left room of the home. The fire spread and managed to make its way all the way up to the attic, fire officials said.

SAFD said a neighbor had gone into the house and rescued both a 94-year-old woman and a 76-year-old woman before firefighters arrived. After venting the smoke out a secondary search found the 68-year-old man deceased, fire officials said.

The cause of the fire is not currently known. A fire investigation and arson team has since been called out.

The two women rescued from the home were taken by EMS to University Hospital, both for possible smoke inhalation.

Damage to the home is described as being “severe”.

Authorities did say this is now the seventh fatal fire of 2022 in only the third month of the year, as compared to last year when there were a total of 10 for the whole year.

One driver is dead and another is hospitalized following a head-on vehicle crash on the city’s Northeast Side early Thursday morning, San Antonio police said.

The crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. on FM 78 near Lakeview Drive, not far from Rittiman Road and North Foster Road.

According to police, a male driver in a small sedan was traveling on the wrong side of the road on FM 78 when he crashed head-on into another car.

Police said the male driver was pronounced dead at the scene. His name and age have not been released.

The female driver of the other vehicle was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center, with non life-threatening injuries.

At this time, the cause of the crash is not currently known. SAPD did not say if alcohol was a role.

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.

Three new billboards in Bexar County are calling out the Sheriff’s office, stating the department is understaffed.

The billboards were put up by the Bexar County Deputies Association, and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar says the signs are both false and misleading.

The billboards read: “Only one deputy assigned to patrol all of Alamo Ranch”, and “Only 3 DWI deputies for all of Bexar County”, along with one off of I-35 and O’Connor Road which states, “Only one deputy assigned to this area at night”.

Sheriff Javier Salazar said he wasn’t a fan of the move. He said not only is the information not correct, it could also attract criminals to the areas in question, if they think they are easy targets.

“That is actually false. Aside from our patrol staffing, we also have specialized units — our streets crimes unit, our gang unit, our DWI traffic units that are out and about. Our warrant teams, and are our SCORE unit is out and about,” Salazar said.

When asked where he got the information for the billboards, Bexar County Deputies Association President Jeremy Payne said he couldn’t reveal his sources.

KSAT12 spoke to residents who drove by the signs for the first time. They had lots of concerns and questions about the claims.

“We want to feel protected. One deputy for a whole area, like that just seems well under serviced,” Shawn Grubbs said.

Another resident, Jayden Stevenson, also shared his concerns.

“You need more patrols in the area to help secure the citizens,” he said.

According to Salazar, the Alamo Ranch area has four patrolling deputies and there are currently three designated DWI deputies in the county. All patrolling deputies can enforce DWI laws. And as for the night shift near IH-35 and O’Connor, he said that is primarily patrolled by SAPD.

“If they would like to assist with our recruiting efforts, maybe they can take the money they’re wasting on senseless billboards and help us with our recruitment efforts,” Salazar said.

Payne said the issue isn’t hiring, but retaining employees.

“The problem we have at the Sheriff’s office is once they come work for the sheriff, they don’t want to stay and I don’t know why that is,” Payne said.

Crowds of people are trying to navigate their next steps after escaping Ukraine. That includes a San Antonio couple who traveled to Europe to help their family.

Natalia Bryant kept in touch with her parents Leonid and Teitiana Shumeiko as tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated into an invasion.

Her mother and father raised a family in Kyiv and were determined to stay, despite the chaos. They even spent a week in a bunker, lined with jars of food. The room had just enough space to sleep.

Natalia said her father was proud to know five generations of families grow up in the house he called home. She understood her father’s sense of pride, but was concerned for her parents’ health and urged them to cross into Poland.

“We had a real long fight with them leaving. But, when he heard that people made it, they started doing it. And, as soon I hear they went to the railway station, we got tickets and we flew,” Natalia said.

Natalia and her husband Tim booked two tickets from San Antonio to Poland. They say tickets were $4,000 each.

“Ultimately, it’s like people’s lives are much more important. At the same time, it’s like, at some point it is going to catch up. You know, there’s a financial toll,” Tim said.

As Tim and Natalia made their way overseas, Natalia’s parents were faced with waiting in line to cross the Ukrainian border in freezing temperatures.

“They were standing like seven hours in a row,” Natalia said.

Compared to other people’s wait times, that was considered to be quick.

“Some people standing there, like nine, 16 hours. On the street, people with kids, old people,” Natalia said.

At one point Natalia said her father grew so nervous he almost decided to go back home. Luckily, some of Natalia’s friends and her own mother calmed his fears as they waited in line. And eventually they were able to cross. They only had the clothes they were wearing, and a few bags with belongings.

People in Poland were ready to help once her parents crossed the border with Ukraine.

“Polish busses already pick you up, put you in a warm place, give you warm clothes, give you everything,” she said.

When Tim, Natalia and her parents finally met up, there was a sense of relief.

You almost feel guilty because like, you know, they’re sitting there. We came and got them. (But) there’s still hundreds of people there,” Tim said.

The goal is to bring Natalia’s parents back to San Antonio, but they are running into several challenges. Tim contacted several U.S. Embassies about obtaining a visa, but only received a few responses. When Natalia’s parents were finally able to fill out an application, Tim says they were advised the processing time could take anywhere between two to three months.

Natalia said her Ukrainian parent’s biometric passports run out after 90 days. “After that, they have no place to go back.”

Time isn’t the only challenge. Tim and Natalia are also expecting to face more financial hurdles. The family is renting rooms to stay in and buying food to keep them going. Since they’re expecting a long wait, they’re hoping to raise money to help with future expenses.

Tim said Ukrainians can apply for asylum, but that would mean giving up their passport to apply.

“So as soon as you apply for asylum, If you have family that you’re trying to get connected with in the U.S., you’re stuck,” Tim said.

Tim wants the visa process to be expedited in the emergency situation. He’s even called on San Antonio to help make that happen.

“The biggest thing that we say is just, contact your representatives. Contact your congressman. There needs to be something done,” he said.

San Antonio Police are working to reduce crime by focusing more resources on areas they have identified as micro hot spots—geographic areas which consist of about 500-meter grids.

The 21 areas identified had five or more violent crimes reported between October and December 2021. Those crimes included murder, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, robbery and deadly conduct with a firearm.

Councilwoman and Public Safety Chair Melissa Cabello Havrda said the efforts to reduce crime is involving every city agency that can help, including code compliance, DART and park police officers.

“We’ve seen in this last couple of weeks that innocent bystanders are getting killed,” Havrda said. “My response to that is that it worries me too. I live in these neighborhoods, my family lives in these neighborhoods, and I just I’m concerned for the people that aren’t engaging in risky behavior.”

Liz Hanks, Texas Chapter leader of Moms Demand Action, said crime is on the rise across the state and the nation. She explained that there’s no one answer to solving the problem, but it’s going to take a teamwork approach.

“It’s not just policing, it could be policing, plus these other interventions that are going to get us over the hump of this really bad crime wave we have right now,” she said.

She strongly supports grassroots groups like Stand Up SA and Big Mamma’s Safe House working within the community to reduce crime. She said these types of programs along with other intervention efforts work, but it takes time and consistent funding.

She said it also has to do with a change in how weapons are viewed.

“We find that it’s just become a very cavalier attitude now toward firearms. And that’s how you end up with so many children being shot all around the state,” Hanks said.

SAPD is expected to update the Public Safety Committee on how the micro hot spot program is doing during the next public meeting

The rising gas prices are having an impact on local Meals on Wheels, and it’s adding on to problems already left behind by the pandemic.

March has always been an exciting time for the Meals on Wheels organization in San Antonio.

“March is March for Meals. It’s National Meals on Wheels month. It celebrates the signing of a portion of the Older Americans Act that helps to finance Meals on Wheels,” said Forrest Myane, chief strategy and development officer for Meals on Wheels San Antonio.

This year is significant because it’s the 50th anniversary.

‘We’re also asking people to come volunteer,” Myane said.

Myane said the organization relies on volunteers. Many of them dropped off during the pandemic, so they reduced the number of delivery days.

“We moved from serving our clients Monday through Friday — every single day seeing them to only seeing them twice a week,” she said.

Three hundred volunteers a day are needed to deliver meals five days a week. But getting that many people ready to put their own money in the tank is another battle.

“We have about a half that. We have about one 150 a day right now,” Myane said.

With gas prices rising daily, Myane said it’s hard to incentivize volunteers.

There’s another side to this issue.

“The more it costs us to fill up our vehicles, the more it costs us overall to deliver these meals,” she said.

The customer is shielded from the cost. Right now, the organization pays about $5 a meal for delivery.

“It’s probably running up about 10% to 20% higher per meal between all of those factors. So it is kind of a crunch time right now,” Myane said.

On top of everything, Meals on Wheels San Antonio is serving more people across their eight counties than they ever have before because of the pandemic.

“We serve between 4,000 and 4,500 people every week,” Myane said.

She said one thing won’t change despite the challenges they face.

“If we don’t have enough volunteers show up that day, we all go deliver meals regardless of what our job is. So the meals will get out,” she said.

Myane said businesses or other organizations can donate or volunteer to run a delivery site for a day or two.

If you want to volunteer, even once a month, that can help. To volunteer, you need to be at least 18 years old or older, have a valid driver’s license, and be able to pass a background check.

Tonight on the #NightBeat @_MealsOnWheels is feeling the effects of the rising gas prices. Add that on top of a volunteer shortage, the organization is now asking for help so they can get back to delivering meals 5 days a week. @ksatnews pic.twitter.com/NES4yG8atf

— Leigh Waldman (@LeighWaldman) March 10, 2022