Category: San Antonio News

San Antonio City Hall glowed blue and yellow Friday night in support of Ukraine.

Across the world, Russian military forces attacked cities throughout Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv.

“Our hearts break for our Ukrainian residents as they watch these horrors unfold,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg on Twitter.

🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/Gcv1ogwF0s

— Mayor Ron | Get vax’d! 💪 (@Ron_Nirenberg) February 26, 2022

On Thursday, Ukrainian families living in San Antonio rallied for their loved ones. The families met on the steps of San Fernando Cathedral in downtown, blocks away from City Hall, to speak out on the Russian invasion.

They prayed and pleaded for peace in their home country.

“Nobody in Ukraine wants war. Nobody wants to see their sons, brothers and dads die,” said Ukrainian native Anna Stamps.

→ Read more: San Antonio woman chronicles her escape from Ukraine

According to the Associated Press, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked to evacuate Kyiv on Friday night at the behest of the U.S. government but turned down the offer.

Zelenskyy said in response: “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,” according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation, who described Zelenskyy as upbeat.

Invading Russian forces closed in on Ukraine’s capital on Saturday, in an apparent encircling movement after a barrage of airstrikes on cities and military bases around the country.

Kyiv officials are warning residents that street fighting is underway against Russian forces, and they are urging people to seek shelter.

The warning issued Saturday advised residents to remain in shelters, to avoid going near windows or on balconies, and to take precautions against being hit by debris or bullets.

Read more about the Ukraine-Russia crisis on KSAT’s world news section.

Susie and Sam Kotara have been trying to find a way to repurpose an old Campbellton school without much success. They were determined to make sure a good property wouldn’t be wasted by the lack of an interested buyer.

“I’m not gonna see that building die; things that aren’t used fall apart,” Sam said.

So the couple set out to find an organization in need that could quickly put the building to use.

“We all have things we don’t need and are just sitting there. There’s someone else that can use it, can do something with it,” Susie said.

After connecting with Vet Strong, they were lead to donate the property and building to the American GI Forum, a nonprofit that provides housing, mental health and other services to area veterans.

Sergio Dickerson, GI Forum president and CEO, says the possibilities for the property of about three acres are endless for their organization.

“Our desire is to provide a retreat location for veterans to come and improve their condition, give them a home for the future,” he said.

But he says there’s also opportunity for the space to be used by other veteran non-profits to collaborate.

“If I provide the property free of charge to them, they provide the services and I get the biggest bang for my buck and the vets, the most important people, get all those services for free,” he said of their ability to help more veterans.

The Kotara family hopes the facility being used will also bring more people and business to a once booming town.

“I wanted to see something good happen in Campbellton. It’s an old community,” he said.

The old school was used during the oil boom in the area. Martin Llamas, a veteran and resident of the town, says he’s really excited to hear about the project.

“It makes me feel good; give the veterans something to do, including me,” Llamas said.

In his teens, he helped with the building of the building, being paid a dollar an hour for cleaning bricks being used. He says he’ll gladly welcome veterans to his town.

“Maybe I can sit at the door and greet the people, welcome them to the big city of Campbellton,” he laughed.

American GI Forum estimates they will need about $1 million for the renovation. The preparation of the building should get underway in a couple of months, with the hope of having veterans use the building by the summer.

Some donations have already started to come in.

Anyone who would like to help or donate can follow the link.

A rise in child and adolescent mental health conditions is being blamed on the pandemic.

In 2021, a national emergency was declared for children’s mental health by several pediatric health organizations.

A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows a troubling trend that more young people are experiencing and needing treatment for mental health conditions.

“It’s a big, big jump. So we want to look at things such as stress,” said Anne Esquivel, founder and CEO of Mind Works.

Esquivel specializes in working with kids ages 3 to 17. She has seen the increase firsthand.

“We added one location in 2020, 2021 and now 2022. We opened up our biggest location in order to be able to meet the needs of the children in San Antonio,” Esquivel said.

CDC data shows the number of young adolescent women dealing with eating disorders has doubled and those coping with tic disorders have tripled during the pandemic.

Depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders are also rising.

“All of the different types of behavioral and psychological issues that manifest with children when they are under stress,” Esquivel said.

Stress for things like virtual learning, not being able to socialize with their peers and being homebound.

Unfortunately, there’s been a rise in self-harm and suicide.

“We look at that. And what is it tied to? It’s tied to depression, anxiety, loneliness,” Esquivel said.

For parents, Esquivel says to look for behavior changes in your kids. Are they sleeping more or less? Are there any attitude shifts?

It’s important to talk with your children and ask them how they are and if there are any thoughts of self-harm.

“Adults need to ask and be interested, need to be empathic and to really believe their children when they’re being told these things,” Esquivel said.

After they listen, parents need to act.

While all of Esquivel’s offices have waiting lists to be seen, don’t let that deter you.

Esquivel says there are nonprofits in our area that can help. One of those is the Clarity Child Guidance Center, which specializes in kids ages 3 to 17 and can help regardless of a family’s financial situation.

The Southwest Side will soon be home to an innovation center and arena that is already attracting major shows and entertainment. On Friday, KSAT 12 got a construction tour at the new Tech Port Center and Arena at Port San Antonio.

The 180,000 square-foot facility will transform into a world-class tech hub and entertainment venue in less than two months, the first of its kind in San Antonio. The estimated $70 million project is set to be completed in early April.

Aside from the arena, the center will have several features and innovative spaces.

“We have the first land gaming center for the kids and adults built from the ground up. We have the Capital Factory, the SAMSAT Museum,” said Eric Blockie, general manager of Tech Port Center and Arena.

With a focus on esports, the gaming center will feature 60 individual stations, monitors and broadcast capabilities on par with other major cities. Blockie said the center gives new opportunities in digital growth for youth in the area.

“That has the highest speed internet, the best computers and they can compete with anybody on the North Side of San Antonio, Los Angeles, Las Vegas or New York,” said Blockie.

The campus hub will be the new 3,100-seat arena that will host live entertainment such as concerts, robotics competitions, esports tournaments and possibly live sporting events. Other amenities include retractable seating, a VIP area and suites.

“The arena has 7.1 surround sound. We have a 60-foot wide video wall. We have lights. We have the world’s largest Tesla display,” said Blockie.

The Tesla display is the first installation of permanent Tesla Coils in any arena. They are integrated with the sound and lighting systems as part of the event production. The monitors and screens can also be configured in any direction based on the needs of the event or performer.

The arena has multiple concerts lined up this spring, beginning with the Smashing Pumpkins on May 2. The center will be open every day and is free to the public, even on days when there is not a concert or live entertainment inside the arena. Blockie said the venue is a digital and lifestyle playground with endless opportunities.

“What we’re here to do is spur innovation,” said Blockie. “We want people to come here every day. We want the South Side to embrace it. We want the West Side to embrace it. All of San Antonio can come.”

RELATED: What’s the state of esports in San Antonio? KSAT Explains

The border may be hours away, but its issues extend to San Antonio, which a federal agent says can serve as a hub for human smuggling operations coming out of the border.

With three high-profile human smuggling cases in Bexar County in as many weeks, KSAT sat down on Friday with Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Jeffrey Ryan.

READ MORE

Feb. 1 – Tip from concerned citizen leads to discovery of human smuggling operation in southwest Bexar County

Feb. 11 – San Antonio police chase, catch more than 20 people in human smuggling case

Feb. 18 – Feds charge 7 in SW Bexar County human smuggling bust

“With (I-10) going East and West, and I-35 going North or South, you have kind of the perfect melting pot for organizations to use this as a staging point to either leave part of the load here – to relocate folks with their families here – or to separate them and take part to Houston, part to Dallas, part to further interior. It is very much so, I think, a transient location here where we’re just a hub for the next level of things to happen,” Ryan said.

The types of smuggling operations run the gamut.

“You have some mom and pops, all the way up to very sophisticated organizations. And then you have some that are strictly moving people, and then you have others that are opportunists and they’re moving whatever they can through whatever means possible,” Ryan said.

Similarly, while he says the use of tractor trailers is “huge” right now, smugglers in the area will also use small, passenger cars.

“Everything varies. Everything’s on the table when it comes to smuggling,” Ryan said.

Peggy Jefferson may be 6,000 miles away from Ukraine, but she’s feeling the ripple effects at the gas pump.

“I got three (gallons) for $10 and something,” she said.

San Antonio gas prices on Friday averaged $3.14 a gallon, the highest in seven and a half years. Prices rose an average eight cents in the past week, but prices spiked at some stations as soon as Russia invaded Ukraine.

“Since yesterday, this here went up 20 cents,” said Ronnie Pullin. “It’s crazy.”

What it is is a global market.

“Unfortunately, we are kind of tied at the hip to the global market, and anything that can affect any oil-producing country overseas can affect us here at home,” said Patrick DeHaan, chief analyst for GasBuddy.com.

Russia is the world’s second largest producer of crude.

Oil briefly spiked Thursday to more than $100 per barrel, but by Friday, it has slipped a bit.

With uncertainty about what will happen with Russia and Ukraine, DeHaan says we can expect volatility in the market.

“The concern is that Russia could somehow slow down oil exports if they wanted to inflict a lot of damage to the U.S. economy and the global economy,” he said.

Even without Russia, prices at the pump are poised to climb just as they do every spring with the switch to cleaner, costlier blends and refineries undergoing maintenance. It’s also when demand for gas surges as people enjoy the warm weather months.

For people like Duane Washington, it’s all too much.

“The food and gas is starting to make a difference,” he said. “I’m going to have to make some decisions. Let’s hope it doesn’t go over four bucks.”

While DeHaan does anticipate the national average will flirt with the $4 mark, he does not think Texas will get that expensive.

Drivers may not be able to control the price of gas, but they do have some control over their costs. To save on gas, shop around. Apps like GasBuddy, AAA, and Waze can help drivers locate the lowest prices.

Avoiding speeding and jack-rabbit starts can conserve fuel. And, it’s wise to check tire pressure especially after cold temperatures. Low tires create drag and waste fuel.

More on KSAT:

Texas oil and gas producers to see short-term profits after Russia invades Ukraine

An alleged drunk driver was tased and taken into custody after acting “erratic and combative” toward Bexar County deputies following a rollover accident, officials said.

The incident happened around 1 p.m. Friday on I-35 and Shepherd Road in Southwest Bexar County.

Deputies said the driver’s pickup truck was found rolled over in the area. When they tried to help the driver, the situation escalated.

The driver was believed to be intoxicated, and when deputies tried to detain them, a struggle ensued. This led to a deputy tasing the driver to get them to comply, according to the BCSO.

Authorities said the driver was arrested for suspicion of DWI.

The scuffle resulted in minor injuries for the driver, and they were taken to University Hospital out of precaution.

No other injuries were reported, and no other vehicles were involved in the rollover. The investigation continues.

More on KSAT:

Former SAPD officer arrested more than 1 year after being indefinitely suspended for opening fire on fleeing juveniles, sources say

The 252-unit community will be a first of its kind for the Alamo City firm

As school shootings have proliferated in the 21st century, so too has art trying to grapple with them. Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine approached the scourge from a documentary perspective, but many fiction films have followed, including 2021’s Mass. The latest to tackle the tough subject matter is the new film The Desperate Hour. Naomi Watts stars as Amy Carr, a widowed mother of two who’s still grieving her husband a year after his death….

Hello parents, teachers and students!

As we head ever so closer to both Spring Break and STARR, we had quite the roller coaster of weather this past week. One day temperatures are near the 90s, and the next, it’s long coats and mittens! 🧤Who’d have thought? Well, no matter what, you can always stay on top of the latest weather news with KSAT.com.

An elementary school in Somerset ISD was recently named among five finalists for the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Founders’ Award — and it was the only Texas school to make the list. Well done!

NIET announced Somerset Elementary School earned $10,000 for its selection as a finalist, and it is now in contention for a $50,000 grand prize.

A press release said the school was chosen because it focuses on real-time needs of students and teachers and it cultivates a culture of collaboration, among many other factors. The winner will be announced on March 10 at the NIET National Conference in Dallas. Congratulations!

Pixar-themed putt-putt course is popping up in downtown San Antonio this spring

Families, your next is adventure is out there — on a putt-putt course coming to downtown San Antonio.

Pixar Putt, an outdoor putt-putt course dedicated to all things Disney’s Pixar, will be temporarily popping up at 125 N. Flores St., near Legacy Park, the Tobin Center announced.

The pop-up, put on by Rockefeller Productions, includes interactive holes inspired by the stories, themes and characters of the films. The putt-putt course will be open from April 1-May 15.

Some of the films showcased include “Toy Story,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Finding Nemo,” “Coco,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Wall-E,” and “Inside Out.” So how cool is that? See ya’ll there!

Hours will be 4-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 3-11 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

KSAT Kids Student Spotlight

And new this week we’re highlighting 12-year-old Nathan Adelstein, who says that to him, chess is more than a hobby. The game of tactical gambit has become his passion, after starting at just 6-years-old.

“I like the thinking processes, the mental, I like that you have to think through your moves and that’s the part that caught my eye,” Adelstein said.

While also being incredibly talented, Nathan is hosting a chess tournament in March to raise money for cancer research and prevention.

“I’ve decided that I can help the people that I care and love by doing something I enjoy, because two people from my family have caught cancer,” Adelstein said.

Nathan’s Tournament Fundraiser will have both rated and unrated options to play and will take place in 16550 block of Huebner Road on March 20 from noon to 6 p.m. You can register by clicking here.

Do you know of a student, classroom or school that is doing amazing work and deserves to be featured in KSAT Kids? Nominate someone by emailing ksatkids@ksat.com.

☄️Kids wanna know: What makes space so exciting? How do astronauts get to space?

Have you ever been outside and looked to the stars and just wondered, “What’s out there?”

Well, space exploration is the use of astronomy and space technology to explore outer space. Astronomers use telescopes to see the stars and beyond. Astronauts actually go to space during human spaceflight.

In this week’s KSAT Kids edition of “Kids Wanna Know,” elementary students interviewed Erik von Ancken, an anchor and space reporter for WKMG, KSAT12′s sister station in Orlando, which is near the Space Coast in Florida.

Von Ancken is covering the next phase of America’s space program: the design, construction and test flight of the deep-space Orion capsule. During their interview, students asked about both rocket launches and the space program. Watch the extended interview and view the “shorts” for more information.

🌨Kaiti’s Science Lab makes snowstorms in a jar at Rose Garden Elementary

Meteorologist Kaiti Blake and David Sears went to Rose Garden Elementary in Schertz for another live science experiment.

Kaiti and David – along with a class full of fourth graders – made snowstorms in a jar. The activity is courtesy of onelittleproject.com.

If you’re a teacher or administrator and would like Kaiti to visit your school, email Kaiti at: kblake@ksat.com.

Parents and guardians: upload a video of your child performing the activity by clicking here. Send it in and you might see it on GMSA @ 9 a.m.!

KSAT 12′s Educator of the Month Contest

And lastly, do you know someone or have a favorite teacher or educator who goes above and beyond in the classroom?

As a husband of a teacher, I know educators deserve more recognition.

To that end, KSAT 12 has launched the Educator of the Month Contest for our K-12 educators within the KSAT 12 viewing area. From November 2021 to May 2022, KSAT 12 management and Firstmark Credit Union will determine which educators will receive the lucky title of Educator of the Month based on your nominations!

One educator will be selected each month throughout the contest and will receive a $500 Visa gift card presented by Firstmark Credit Union and receive a trophy that says “Educator of the Month” with the educator’s name. To nominate an educator, click here.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Ben Spicer

If you’re not subscribed to this newsletter or want to share it with a teacher or friend, sign up here.

Do you have an idea for a lesson or feedback? Email me at Bspicer@ksat.com with new content, lessons, story ideas or tips!

Related Links

San Antonio Roasted Corn Festival returns in MarchKids and screen time: How much is too much?Spring Meadows Elementary boutique collecting clothes, items to help families in needBriscoe Elementary students working with architects to create workspaces around their schoolH-E-B releases new ice cream flavor in honor of Texas teachersChelsea Clinton to launch children’s book series this fall

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