Category: San Antonio News

Highlights and reaction from the UIL Class 6A State swimming and diving championships in Austin, as Johnson junior Jada Scott claims her first individual title, Clark senior Lane Stallworth finishes second overall in the boys 1 meter diving competition, fellow Cougar Evan Croley reaches the podium in the 100 yard Freestyle and Churchill’s Carli Cronk grabs bronze in the 200 yard Freestyle.

For full results, click here!

MORE HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING COVERAGE

WATCH: Alamo Heights’ Foote dominates 5A meet, sets two state records

RECAP: Croley rolls to big wins in Region VII-6A meet

Highlights and reaction from the UIL Class 5A State swimming and diving championships in Austin, as Alamo Heights senior Connor Foote breaks a pair of state records and strikes gold in two individual events, while the Boerne Champion girls win another relay title for the second straight season.

For full results, click here!

FULL CLASS 6A RECAP COMING SOON!

Families and advocates against child abuse gathered at a West Side park Saturday evening to call for changes to reporting and investigating alleged abuse.

”James, Mercedes, Danilo, Dominic and King are just a few of the many names of children who’ve died in Bexar County from child abuse, but it’s time to come together as a community and start holding people and organizations accountable,” Jasmine Anderson, founder of KJ’s Angels, said in front of the crowd tonight.

#STARTINGSOON A gathering with families of two children killed. A crowed is gathered here at Westwood Village Park to remember #MerecedesLosoya and #JamesChairez and to talk about how this could have been prevented. @ksatnews pic.twitter.com/dl1AsdrkAq

— Leigh Waldman (@LeighWaldman) February 20, 2022

An unmistakable message by Anderson — more needs to be done to save children.

At Westwood Village Park, advocates against child abuse and families of alleged abuse victims made their voices heard.

”We feel like we’re trying, you know whether we call the police department or we call CPS, and it feels like we’re not being heard,” Mariesol Benavidez, James Chairez’ great aunt said.

Almost a year after his body was found, Benavidez is advocating for her great nephew.

In April 2021, James’ body was found in a bag at his mother D’Lanny Chairez’s trailer on the West Side.

D’Lanny is currently in jail facing a tampering with evidence charge.

Benavidez said she called SAPD and Child Protective Services multiple times about James’ welfare.

“Something has to be changed because obviously these phone calls are not working out,” Benavidez said.

Emily Losoya said the same. She’s Mercedes Losoya’s great aunt.

The 5-year-old died after alleged abuse on February 7th. Her mother Katrina Mendoza and mom’s boyfriend, Jose Ruiz, are both in jail facing one count of injury to a child – serious bodily injury.

”I feel like they could have saved Mercedes’ life just like they could have saved other kids lives,” Losoya said.

Both great aunts meeting for the first time Saturday night, bonding over love for children taken too soon.

“I love her for loving him the way I loved Mercedes’, you know,” Losoya said.

Losoya said don’t just say something if you see something — do something.

If you see child abuse happening, you can reach the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services by calling 1-800-252-5400.

More on KSAT:

Child safety advocate calls for action from community following deaths of two children, parents arrested

San Antonio police are asking for the public’s help in locating a vehicle that was stolen with a 7-month-old girl inside.

The vehicle, a 2005 gold Chevy Malibu Maxx, was taken around 8 p.m. Saturday in the 1000 block of SE Military Drive.

Police said the vehicle has paper plates with a black strip that reads “Chevy” on the lower portion of its doors. One of the vehicle’s headlights may also be brighter than the other.

The child was last seen in a rear-facing car seat, in the backseat of the vehicle, according to SAPD.

Anyone with more information on the vehicle or the child’s whereabouts is urged to call 911.

Two skydivers in the Houston area are in critical condition after their parachute failed to deploy during a tandem jump, according to the Waller County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident happened around 12:02 p.m. Saturday and was reported by Skydive Houston, located at 15599 Plane View Drive.

According to a report from KSAT’s sister station, KPRC, a male instructor and a female passenger were injured in the incident and were flown by Life Flight helicopter to Memorial Hermann. Both are in critical condition.

The incident is still under investigation by the WCSO and further details are limited.

More on KSAT:

Man hospitalized after family disturbance leads to shooting on SW Side, officials say

It won’t be long before summer is here and the heat waves settle back in Texas.

In just a few months, schools will close for summer and when they do, the San Pedro Springs Park will be ready to receive families for some outdoor fun in the sun.

“We’ve just recently completed our 2017 bond improvement here at the park, so we are super excited to have people come out and enjoy and discover the new improvements to the park,” said Connie Swann, marketing manager with SA Parks and Recreation.

San Pedro Springs is the second oldest public park in the country. The 46-acre recreational grounds now feature new and improved parking areas, new lighting, a completed walking trail, and over a hundred new trees, plantings, and irrigations systems.

“I’m very happy and it’s really, really nice right now compared to the way it was before,” a District 1 resident said.

The renovations were a collaborative effort between the city’s public works department, parks and recreation, and District 1 Councilman Mario Bravo as part of the voter-approved 2017-2022 bond program.

The total budget for this project was $1.8 million.

San Antonio Parks and Recreation says this is just the first of several beautification efforts across the city.

They will also be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate improvements made to MLK park on the city’s East Side this weekend.

More on KSAT:

Texas trail takes visitors through an old abandoned zoo

San Antonio police have temporarily closed the Finesilver Curve in downtown, at I-35 and I-10, and traffic is backed up in the area.

According to Google Maps, traffic is slowly moving through the area Saturday and is backed up significantly.

Drivers are urged to find alternate routes for the time being as officers work the scene. Details on what led to the closure are limited at this time.

We have a crew on scene working to learn more and will bring more updates as they become available.

A Houston man is charged with stalking after San Antonio police said he harassed an insurance claims adjuster and slashed her car tires, according to an arrest affidavit.

Jeffrey Maddox, 37, was charged in the incident after a USAA insurance claims filed a complaint with SAPD.

According to an arrest affidavit, Maddox’s wife was involved in a car accident and the other driver involved was insured through USAA. Maddox emailed the adjuster multiple times about the claim, which led to USAA transferring the claim due to his emails becoming more threatening, police said.

On Nov. 3, the woman emailed Maddox, telling him to no longer email her due to his “verbal abuse on the phone and hostility through email correspondence,” an affidavit states.

Maddox was able to find the woman on social media and police said he continued to email personal information about her that he had found.

On Nov. 12, the woman had four of her tires from two different cars slashed by a sharp object.

The woman was able to capture Maddox on her home security cameras damaging her property. Police said they were able to match Maddox’s driver’s license as the same license caught on camera.

Police also obtained a search warrant for Maddox’s cell phone data, which pinged his cell phone on different cell towers located between Houston, where Maddox resides, and San Antonio on the day the crime was committed.

The affidavit said at the approximate time that the crime occurred, Maddox’s cell phone pinged multiple times on a cell tower 12.3 miles away from the woman’s home.

Maddox is charged with felony stalking and has since been released from the Bexar County Jail on a $15,000 bond, records show.

More on KSAT:

Man arrested on arson charges after setting large grass fire in southern Bexar County, fire marshal saysToddler in critical condition after being shot in head at Southeast Side home, police say

Put your limes and shakers away because this Tuesday is National Margarita Day and restaurants around San Antonio will be celebrating with special deals.

Whether you like salt, sugar, or maybe even Tajin on the rim, check out these spots for a margarita special on 02/22/2022.

Aldacos: $8 La Patrona Margarita (Patron Silver, Brandy Presidente) and $8 Palomas by Cazadores Tequila.Ambler at Hotel Contessa: will offer four unique twists on the traditional margarita for $8 during happy hour in the restaurant’s bar lounge between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The cocktails include Fire in the Sky – Casamigos Blanco tequila, orange liqueur, smoked paprika, and bell peppers, Knocking on Desert’s Door – Desert Door Sotol, Chareau, prickly pear and citrus, garnished with lime and mint, Misty Step – Del Maguey Vida mezcal, Santa Teresa 1976 rum, benedictine, pineapple and bitters, Oaxaca Old Fashioned – Corralejo Reposado tequila, Del Maguey Vida mezcal, and Ambler bitters.Chili’s: $3 House Margs, our $5 Marg of the Month, $6 famous Presidentes & $7 Premium Margaritas all-day.Chuy’s: For $2 extra, make any regular House Rocks or Frozen ‘Rita a Grande and keep the commemorative cup. Or, add a $1 Floater to top off your favorite margarita with an extra pour of tequila.Costa Pacifica: Costa Pacifica will have an all-day happy hour Monday and Tuesday (February 22 and February 23). For the entire week, one-liter cantaritos and frozen margaritas of any flavor will be available at half the price ($12.50 value).Fish City Grill: Frozen Gold Margaritas, $6, Prickly Pear Margaritas, $6.50, Spicy Silver Margaritas, $7 Perfect Patrón Margaritas, $9.50.Margaritaville: $4.99 traditional margaritas.Rosario’s 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: $1 off select Patron specialty margaritas all day such as the Rosario’s Handshaken Margarita, Jalapeno Margarita, Watermelon Mint Margarita, and Mexican Martini. Happy Hour specials from 3 pm-6 pm. $5 House Frozen or On The Rocks Margaritas.Rosario’s 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Happy hour specials from 4 pm-7 pm. $6.25 House Frozen or On The Rocks Margaritas, $6.75 Swirl Margaritas.The Rustic: $2 food and drink specials all day, including tequila shots, house margaritas (12-ounce, frozen or on the rocks), Dos Equis, and house-made tamales.Taco Cabana: $2 margaritas.

More on KSAT:

Colorful 10-foot sculpture debuts at Market Square in downtown San AntonioPixar-themed putt-putt course is popping up in downtown San Antonio this spring

A Corpus Christi mother is giving thanks to area Starbucks employees for keeping an extra close eye on her daughter and making sure she was safe during an unexpected confrontation.

Brandy Roberson took to social media early Friday, saying her 18-year-old daughter visited Starbucks alone on Staples and SPID when she was confronted by a man she didn’t know.

The man approached her and started talking to her out of the blue. A barista noticed the encounter and handed her “an extra hot chocolate someone forgot to pick up,” according to Roberson.

The drink was more than just a kind gesture, as the barista penned a discreet message to check and see if the girl was safe.

“Are you okay? Do you want us to intervene? If you do, take the lid off the cup,” the message reads.

Roberson said her daughter felt safe and didn’t remove the lid, but she let the baristas know.

“She said the whole team was watching over her the rest of the time she was there,” Roberson said in the post. “Thank you to the team at Starbucks…”

The story on Roberson’s social media has since gone viral, with millions of likes and shares and hundreds of comments.

We’ve reached out to the Starbucks store for further comment and are waiting to hear back.