How to deep-clean your greasy, grimy stovetop

Many of us did a lot of cooking and baking over the holidays, and we have a greasy, grimy stovetop and oven to prove it! You can give your hardworking range the postholiday, deep-clean treatment with these tips from the experts at Consumer Reports.

Over time, leaving spills on your range can start to affect performance. On a gas range, it can clog the burners, which makes them tough to light and produces uneven flames in some cases. And on glass smoothtops, sugar-based spills, like chocolate or tomato sauce, that sit too long can damage the surface.

The cleaning pros at CR have a simple, yet helpful, tip—hot, soapy water is your friend. For gas ranges, you can use dish soap and water as your solution to clean everything from surfaces to grates to burner covers. Just remove, soak, and scrub.

If the grates and covers are really rough, slip them into a plastic bag or another sealable container, along with ¼ cup of ammonia, which will break down the stains and make the grates easier to clean.

Sometimes burner ports can get clogged, so clean them with a paper clip or a safety pin. Don’t use wooden toothpicks or other materials that can break inside the ports.

You also want to avoid using steel wool or abrasive cleaners on a cooktop, and that’s especially true for glass cooktops. Instead, use a soft sponge or a wet paper towel to wipe away spills and stains. To remove heavy, burned-on residue on smoothtops, use a razor blade or a glass scraper made for this purpose. Carefully hold the blade at a 45-degree angle to avoid scratching the smoothtop.

Finally, don’t forget your cooktop’s controls. Many of them can be removed and cleaned with hot, soapy water.

When it comes to cleaning the inside of your oven, if you don’t have the time for a lengthy self-cleaning cycle, use a scrub pad and soapy water to clean it out.

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2 injured in shooting on East Side, SAPD Chief McManus says

Two people are injured after a possible botched drug deal led to a shooting Wednesday afternoon on the city’s East Side, according to San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.

Police received multiple calls for a shooting around 1 p.m. in the 1300 block of Rigsby Avenue.

McManus said someone in a car with six people inside it opened fire on a black Toyota Camry that was in a parking lot. The driver of the Camry fled but, the car followed him.

Moments later, gunfire was exchanged, and that’s when one of the six people in the car was shot. That person was dropped off at a local hospital in critical condition, McManus said.

A second person at an apartment complex nearby was struck by a bullet that went through a wall while he was in bed. He was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition.

The driver of the Camry is in custody. Police do not have a description of the other suspects at this time.

McManus said the shooting could have been the result of a drug deal gone bad. He said officers found at least three different calibers of bullets, and at least three people had guns.

“Arguments, altercations, domestic (violence) — people are just real quick to pull one of the money guns that are out here,” McManus said.

McManus said these details are preliminary and are subject to change.

More on KSAT:

Woman killed in crash involving SUV, dump truck on Hwy 90 in West Bexar County2 Texas mothers arrested after children found ‘covered in filth, infested with lice,’ court records show

Bexar County candidates featured in San Antonio Bar Association, NOWCastSA forum

Get more election news on KSAT’s Vote 2022 page.

Candidates running for Bexar County elected offices will take part in a forum hosted by the San Antonio Bar Association and NOWCastSA.

The political forum will be held Thursday at 5:30 p.m. It will be livestreamed in this article.

Thursday’s forum will include candidates from both parties running for county judge, Pct. 4 commissioner, district attorney, district clerk and county clerk.

Candidates will use the forum as an opportunity to educate voters on their views ahead of the primary election.

Early voting begins on Feb. 14. Election Day is March 1.

To check your voter registration status in Bexar County, click here. To find out which precinct you live in, click here.

See the full Republican ballot here and Democratic ballot in Bexar County here.

Read more on our Vote 2022 page:

Everything to know about voting in the 2022 Texas Primary Election on March 1What’s changed, how to vote by mail or absentee ballot in Bexar County for March 1 primary election

Bexar County judicial candidates featured in San Antonio Bar Association, NOWCastSA forum

Get more election news on KSAT’s Vote 2022 page.

Candidates running for Bexar County judicial offices will take part in a forum hosted by the San Antonio Bar Association and NOWCastSA.

The political forum will be held Friday at 5:30 p.m. It will be livestreamed in this article.

Candidates will use the forum as an opportunity to educate voters on their views ahead of the primary election.

Early voting begins on Feb. 14. Election Day is March 1.

To check your voter registration status in Bexar County, click here. To find out which precinct you live in, click here.

See the full Republican ballot here and Democratic ballot in Bexar County here.

Read more on our Vote 2022 page:

Everything to know about voting in the 2022 Texas Primary Election on March 1What’s changed, how to vote by mail or absentee ballot in Bexar County for March 1 primary election

1 person killed in fire in west Bexar County

One person died in a house fire Wednesday morning in west Bexar County, officials said.

Firefighters were called out to the 9800 block of Misty Plain Drive around 6:50 a.m. – but they didn’t find the victim in their initial search.

“They noticed heavy smoke coming from the house behind me and they requested assistance from other districts,” said Tom Peine, assistant public information officer for Bexar County. “They did a preliminary search of the residence and did not did not find anybody. However, later, a more thorough search, which is protocol, was conducted, and during that more thorough search, they did find a body of a deceased person.”

Neighbors said the person who lived at the home did collect a lot of objects, and firefighters said that may have made it more difficult for the firefighters.

“I was being told from the folks who were actually inside, and they said what they found appeared cluttered, and it gave them trouble entering the house, so they had to force entry, which in these types of scenarios always makes the firefighting effort itself, difficult,” Peine said.

He said the initial response conducted by firefighters followed standard operating procedure.

“They go in, they want to look, is anybody inside the house. Because the firefighters want to make sure that everybody is safe, can get out. Somebody may be unconscious, so they conduct their firefighting efforts, and then they look for people inside the house or pets. Then afterwards, once the fire is extinguished, they do another search. And then comes another very thorough search,” Peine said.

The name of the victim has not been released but Peine said, “There’s a homeowner who is currently unaccounted for.”

Investigators are working to figure out what exactly happened.

“We’re currently we have deputies with a fire marshal’s office here. We’re conducting the investigation,” Peine said.

Also on KSAT.com:

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T. Boone Pickens’ Texas Panhandle ranch chops asking price by $50M

In hopes of attracting potential buyers, the owner of the late T. Boone Pickens’ enormous Texas Panhandle ranch has slashed the asking price by $50 million more than four years after it went on the market. The 64,672-acre Mesa Vista Ranch, located about 55 miles northeast of Amarillo, hit the market at $250 million in November 2017. In January 2020, four months after the death of the legendary Texas oil tycoon at age 91, the…

Maps: Texas Burn Bans by County and statewide Drought Monitor

This article provides two frequently updating maps: statewide Burn Ban by County in Texas and statewide Drought Monitor. Find specific weather conditions wherever you are in the KSAT Weather Authority mobile app or on KSAT’s Weather page.

Burn Bans in Texas

Burn bans are enacted at the county level based on local drought, wind and other conditions, and the threat of wildfire. When enacted, they prohibit or restrict outdoor burning for public safety, including campfires, controlled burns, etc.

All 254 county governments in Texas actively decide when they will allow outdoor fires.

The map below is maintained by the Texas A&M Forest Service and is updated daily as a public service. Always check your local county judge or county website for the most up-to-date information. Please email burnban@tfs.tamu.edu if you notice a discrepancy.

Drought Monitor in Texas

The U.S. Drought Monitor is updated weekly.

Below are the impacts frequently associated with each stage of drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor:

D0

Producers begin supplemental feeding for livestockPlanting is postponed; forage germination is stunted; hay cutting is reducedGrass fires increaseSurface water levels decline

D1

Dryland crops are stuntedEarly cattle sales beginWildfire frequency increasesStock tanks, creeks, streams are low; voluntary water restrictions are requested

D2

Pasture conditions are very poorSoil is hard, hindering planting; crop yields decreaseWildfire danger is severe; burn bans are implementedWildlife moves into populated areasHydroelectric power is compromised; well water use increases; mandatory water restrictions are implemented

D3

Soil has large cracks; soil moisture is very low; dust and sand storms occurRow and forage crops fail to germinate; decreased yields for irrigated crops and very large yield reduction for dryland crops are reportedNeed for supplemental feed, nutrients, protein, and water for livestock increases; herds are soldIncreased risk of large wildfires is notedMany sectors experience financial burdenSevere fish, plant, and wildlife loss reportedWater sanitation is a concern; reservoir levels drop significantly; surface water is nearly dry; river flow is very low; salinity increases in bays and estuaries

D4

Exceptional and widespread crop loss is reported; rangeland is dead; producers are not planting fieldsCulling continues; producers wean calves early and liquidate herds due to importation of hay and water expensesSeafood, forestry, tourism, and agriculture sectors report significant financial lossExtreme sensitivity to fire danger; firework restrictions are implementedWidespread tree mortality is reported; most wildlife species’ health and population are sufferingDevastating algae blooms occur; water quality is very poorExceptional water shortages are noted across surface water sources; water table is decliningBoat ramps are closed; obstacles are exposed in water bodies; water levels are at or near historic lows

All Texas Counties are shown in the maps above, including Anderson, Andrews, Angelina, Aransas, Archer, Armstrong, Atascosa, Austin, Bailey, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Borden, Bosque, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brewster, Briscoe, Brooks, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Callahan, Cameron, Camp, Carson, Cass, Castro, Chambers, Cherokee, Childress, Clay, Cochran, Coke, Coleman, Collin, Collingsworth, Colorado, Comal, Comanche, Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crane, Crockett, Crosby, Culberson, Dallam, Dallas, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Delta, Denton, DeWitt, Dickens, Dimmit, Donley, Duval, Eastland, Ector, Edwards, Ellis, El Paso, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Gaines, Galveston, Garza, Gillespie, Glasscock, Goliad, Gonzales, Gray, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hale, Hall, Hamilton, Hansford, Hardeman, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hartley, Haskell, Hays, Hemphill, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hockley, Hood, Hopkins, Houston, Howard, Hudspeth, Hunt, Hutchinson, Irion, Jack, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Johnson, Jones, Karnes, Kaufman, Kendall, Kenedy, Kent, Kerr, Kimble, King, Kinney, Kleberg, Knox, Lamar, Lamb, Lampasas, La Salle, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Lipscomb, Live Oak, Llano, Loving, Lubbock, Lynn, McCulloch, McLennan, McMullen, Madison, Marion, Martin, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, Medina, Menard, Midland, Milam, Mills, Mitchell, Montague, Montgomery, Moore, Morris, Motley, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nolan, Nueces, Ochiltree, Oldham, Orange, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parker, Parmer, Pecos, Polk, Potter, Presidio, Rains, Randall, Reagan, Real, Red River, Reeves, Refugio, Roberts, Robertson, Rockwall, Runnels, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, San Saba, Schleicher, Scurry, Shackelford, Shelby, Sherman, Smith, Somervell, Starr, Stephens, Sterling, Stonewall, Sutton, Swisher, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Terry, Throckmorton, Titus, Tom Green, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Ward, Washington, Webb, Wharton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson, Winkler, Wise, Wood, Yoakum, Young, Zapata, Zavala Counties.