Category: San Antonio News

Hundreds of pounds of trash were removed from a Comal County cave in an effort to keep the drinking water quality high in San Antonio.

The Bexar Grotto regularly cleans caves and showed KSAT what they found during a cave cleaning.

“A lot of the rainwater washes into these caves and then eventually get to our drinking water eventually. So we want, we don’t want all or the trash to be the part of the filtration system. Some of them have like gasoline or gas so those are really toxic, like toxic waste,” said Dr. Mio Kintano with Bexar Grotto.

The majority of trash was rusted cans and glass bottles, but there were more hazardous items like a bottle of toilet bowl cleaner. The bottle was labeled poisonous with a skull and cross-bones.

Dr Kintano explained that rainwater enters the caves and then flows to the Edwards Aquifer. The Edwards Aquifer is San Antonio’s main source of drinking water.

When there is trash, the water flows through the waste before recharging the aquifer. The more hazardous the trash, the higher the risk.

However, San Antonio’s drinking water quality is high. To keep it that way, Dr. Kintano says the cleanings need to continue. That means removing new trash and old trash that has been in the caves for generations.

Back in the day, it was common practice to use these caves as dumpsters. Dr. Kintano said it was an out of sight, out of mind mentality.

Through cave conservation awareness, that has changed. Some private landowners even call the Bexar Grotto to get help cleaning caves on their property.

The Bexar Grotto does cave cleanings every few months when new caves are found and when private landowners give them permission to come on their property.

If you want to help, you can visit https://caves.org/grotto/bexargrotto/

In San Antonio, there are abundant resources for victims of domestic violence, but in rural areas, that’s a different story. Those differences were highlighted on Sunday in Pearsall after a woman was shot and killed by her ex-partner.

“The laughs, the struggles, the arguments between sisters. The fights, everything,” Marisa Gonzales and Monica Ortega said. “Nobody can take that away from us. And now all we have is memories.”

They reminisced about their baby sister, 36-year-old Melissa Escobar.

“He shot her first in the cheek, and she didn’t take it, didn’t take her down, then he shot her. He shot in the shoulder blade. It didn’t take her down. The third charge shot was between her breasts,” Ortega said.

Escobar was shot and killed Sunday in Pearsall, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, Fabian Garza.

Garza then led police on a chase and in several standoffs before taking his own life.

“All the time that she was with him, it was nothing but abuse,” Gonzales said.

Escobar’s story, though tragic, is not unique.

“It happens everywhere. It doesn’t discriminate,” said Elda Garcia, executive director of Southwest Family Life Center (SFLC).

SFLC is a nonprofit organization that provides resources for rural domestic violence survivors.

“We’re still struggling to meet the needs of our clients,” Garcia said.

They serve the areas of Medina, Kinney, Uvalde, Real and Frio counties with only eight employees.

KSAT asked Garcia if there were enough resources. She shook her head and said, “No, there’s not.”

In Pearsall, where Escobar was killed, there’s an outreach office but no women’s or domestic violence shelter. The nearest is in Hondo.

“Law enforcement companies or agencies. They do the best that they can with the resources that they have,” Garcia said.

Garcia says the organization has received additional funding to help more victims during the pandemic.

“But after that, we’ll just have to wait and see,” she said.

A candlelight vigil was held in Pearsall on Wednesday night. Escobar’s loved ones wished she could have been saved from her abuser.

“My sister suffered a lot. She suffered a lot and in the hands of this man who she thought loved her,” Gonzales said.

In 2020, the Texas Council on Family Violence put out a report that showed there was a 23% increase in the lives lost by domestic violence. Since 2016, the five counties the SFLC covers have always had a name included on that list.

While they don’t have the resources San Antonio has, Garcia says they are there to answer questions on calls and provide as much help as possible. The number for their 24/7 hotline is (830)426-5972.

The City of Pearsall provided a list of resources survivors of domestic violence can use:

Southwest Family Centers located at 650 E.E. San Antonio, Pearsall, Texas, 78061.VineLink, “the nation’s leading victim notification network. It allows survivors, victims of crime, and other concerned citizens to access timely and reliable information about offenders or criminal cases in U.S. jails and prisons.” Their number is 1-877-894-8463National Hotline for Sexual Assaults can be reached at 1(512)474-7190.Dial 211 to reach the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.Texas Youth Hotline, call or text 24/7, 1-800-898-YOUTH (6884).

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A horrific tragedy four years ago has been turned into a platform for love and education.

Erin Rios Castro was murdered by her on-and-off-again boyfriend on her 19th birthday. During Teen Dating Violence Awareness month, her family honors her by serving others.

“I’ve always said if it could happen to her, it could happen to anyone. She’d speak up for herself and someone else that needed it. Fearless, you know? She was spicy!” said Erin’s mom, Rena Castro.

In September 2018, Erin Castro and Joshua Garcia got into an argument. Police said Garcia stabbed her before running her over with his car so she wouldn’t call the police.

In June 2021, Garcia was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder. He will serve that consecutively with another 20-year sentence for hitting Erin with a car back in 2016. She survived that assault.

“It starts out nice. It’s a grooming process, I believe,” Rena Castro said. “Before Erin knew it, she was almost brainwashed. She wasn’t the same Erin. The old Erin wouldn’t have let somebody treat her the way she was being treated towards the end.”

That’s why Rena Castro set aside her pain to create the Erin Rios Castro Foundation, where her family visits schools to teach teens about dating violence and healthy relationships.

“You have a voice. Use it and love yourself, and know that you’re worth it. You’re not alone. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Get help,” Rena said.

They instruct parents and students to look for verbal abuse, such as the following:

ThreatsIncessant callingConstant accusations of cheatingDegrading/negative commentsTwisting partner’s words

They also want people to understand emotional abuse signs:

Isolation from family/friendsIntense jealousy/rageBody shamingTaking personal itemsConstant Interrogations

The foundation also gives out scholarships to teens who have been affected by domestic violence.

“Affected in any way. That can be yourself affected, or a loved one, maybe you’ve seen your parents or your neighbors, or your aunt, uncle, cousin, friend,” Rena Castro said.

This Saturday is the annual 5K event that funds those scholarships, and Rena hopes the public will turn out to support the cause.

“We all want to help the next generation and the next group of girls. I see Erin in so many of the girls I talk to, and it breaks my heart, and I want them to break that chain, Rena said.

The 3rd annual Erin Rios Castro Foundation 5K will be at Woodlawn Lake Park on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. Packet pick-up begins at 8:00 a.m., and the race starts at 9:00 a.m. on that day.

There will be community leaders, games, prizes and resource booths.

To apply for the scholarship, you can find the application on the foundation website.

Anyone who is suffering abuse or knows someone who needs help can find a list of resources on KSAT’s Domestic Violence page.

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Staff, parents and students at Gallardo Elementary are breathing a sigh of relief after a large brush fire Tuesday got a little too close for comfort.

About 30 San Antonio Fire Department units were dispatched to Highway 281 Tuesday afternoon near Mission Grande and Del Lago Parkway.

At first, school staff thought the fire was far down the road until they could see smoke and flames from the campus.

“It is scary, and even seeing like what could have happened at any wrong move, that fire could have been here,” Principal Lebon James said.

While most of the students had gone home for the day, there were about 50 students and many staff members at the school. Those staff members scrambled to get everyone evacuated and home safely.

“It wasn’t just about our students, it was about the entire Gallardo community and to see everyone step and take those coordinated efforts really show what it means to be a supportive environment for our students,” James said.

The fire was eventually extinguished but the charred remnants near the parking lot are evidence of just how close it got.

As the smell of smoke still lingers inside the halls, the staff hopes there are no new fires or flare-ups as the risk for potential fires remains high.

“It’s making sure that all safety protocols are implemented 100%, but then we provide additional safety measures to ensure everyone’s well-being,” James said.

Related:

Firefighters battle large grass fire in south Bexar County

Everyone knows that too much sodium isn’t good for you. The problem is that salt makes so many foods taste better. But why is that, and are there healthier ways to flavor our food? Consumer Reports reveals why we like salt so much, what kinds are better for us, and which seasonings you can use instead.

There are a couple of reasons why we crave salt. Salt, or sodium chloride, is a flavor enhancer that can boost the intensity of a dish. It not only can enhance sweetness but also mask tastes, like bitterness. But with so many varieties of salt on the market today, are they all the same when it comes to sodium levels? Not exactly.

The density of the crystals makes a difference. For example, a quarter teaspoon of fine table salt has more sodium than a quarter teaspoon of coarse salt or flaked salt. So cut back on sodium by using the same amount of coarse salt when your recipe calls for fine.

And what about the many alternatives that can add flavor with less sodium? CR wanted to determine how the products worked as a salt swap to see if we could tell the difference and if they were better or worse compared with regular salt.

CR’s taste-testing team tried six different products on plain foods like rice, scrambled eggs, and popcorn so the difference would stand out. Here are the tastiest of the bunch.

The tasters said Morton Lite Salt 50% Less Sodium (1160 mg per teaspoon) tasted most like the real thing. In rice and eggs it was hard to tell the difference, but it gave popcorn a slightly bitter taste. Because low-sodium salts contain added potassium, people with kidney disease should talk with their doctor before trying them.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) products add a savory flavor to foods. CR tasters said Accent seasoning (480 mg of sodium per teaspoon) tasted more brothy than salty, and liked it on popcorn. But it gave a slightly metallic flavor to rice and eggs.

Nutritional yeast can be used as a sodium swap with veggies, soups and salads. Tasters tried Bob’s Red Mill Large Flake Nutritional Yeast (2 mg of sodium per teaspoon) and found it had a cheesy umami flavor. On eggs, tasters preferred it to MSG.

Any way you shake it, when it comes to sodium, less is always more. CR suggests checking labels when you shop and going for low-sodium versions of the foods you like. Try these substitutes, or control your salt intake by adding a little at a time.

The next generation of physicians promises to have a greater representation of African Americans, according to Chiquita Collins, Ph.D. and the chief diversity officer for the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio.

“As a nation, the number of black or African American first-year students increased by 21%,” Collins said, also speaking as the chair of the group on diversity and inclusion for the American Association of Medical Colleges.

The Long School of Medicine reflects that trend in its student applications, Collins said.

She said while overall applications to the medical school rose 20% last year, those from African Americans jumped 40%.

Already ranked among the nation’s top 50 medical schools, Collins said U.S. News and World Reports also recognized the Long School of Medicine as one of the best in terms of diversity.

“Our medical school ranks 16th in the nation and first in Texas,” Collins said.

African Americans also represented 7.9% of its total enrollment in 2021-22, up from 6.6% the year before, she said.

“That’s highly, highly encouraging,” said Ifeanyi Anyaoha, a third-year medical student from Dallas.

“I’d never seen too many black doctors growing up,” Anyaoha said. “I thought that was kind of odd and figured maybe that needed to change.”

Yet, he said it was his white primary care physician specializing in internal medicine who inspired him to follow in her footsteps.

“She was their friend and their doctor, and that was so meaningful to me,” Anyaoha said.

However, he said, like so many others applying to medical school, “One of the greatest barriers to entry is the cost.”

He said thankfully, the state of Texas has a system where students can apply to 10 different medical schools with one application, “But the fee is minimal compared to applying to schools within the United States outside of Texas.”

Collins said the Long School of Medicine understands by offering merit scholarships and other assistance.

“We offer opportunities to kind of offset the burden of loans that students often have to incur to attend medical school,” she said. “So there are many possibilities and opportunities.”

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A San Antonio woman who admitted to stealing more than $660,000 from a Windcrest church was sentenced to 7 years in prison, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office said.

Lavelle Wilson pleaded guilty on Feb. 4 to theft and misapplication of fiduciary property from the New Creation Christian Fellowship church.

Wilson was the executive assistant to Bishop David Copeland when the theft was discovered and had worked for the church more than 30 years, the DA’s Office said.

Officials Wilson was in charge of two bank accounts linked to the church. The church’s executive committee conducted a review of the financial reports and expenses in 2019, according to the DA’s Office.

Wilson refused to turn over the financial statements, and the committee requested them from the bank. The DA’s Office said it was then that they discovered she had been taking money since 2014.

Officials say Wilson stole $667,542 from the church to pay for a trip to Hawaii, shopping sprees, upscale dining experiences, fast food, personal loan payments and cellphone payments. She also took cash from the church’s account for unknown expenses.

“New Creation Christian Fellowship trusted this defendant to help them do some good for our community. Her violation of that trust hurt this community,” said District Attorney Joe Gonzales. “Now that she has accepted responsibility for her crime, I know the church and its members can focus on their faith and service to our community.”

Wilson, who has no criminal history, has not paid any restitution. She is waiting to be transferred from the Bexar County Jail to a state facility.