INSIDER
Bexar County hires engineering firm to identify most dangerous roads
Read full article: Bexar County hires engineering firm to identify most dangerous roadsBexar County Commissioners voted to approve a contract with WSP USA Inc. to take a look at the TxDOT data and other sources of information to identify the most dangerous and deadly roads in unincorporated parts of the county.
Bexar County residents can provide feedback on proposed county budget at town halls
Read full article: Bexar County residents can provide feedback on proposed county budget at town hallsThe Bexar County Commissioners Court plan to host four budget town halls this month as it prepares to finalize the fiscal year 2024-25 budget.
Promised economic boom on the East Side still not realized, community members say
Read full article: Promised economic boom on the East Side still not realized, community members sayMany community members say the economic development promises made when the San Antonio Spurs moved to a new arena on the East Side have not been fulfilled.
Bexar County buys former golf course for $4.5 million for 160-acre park
Read full article: Bexar County buys former golf course for $4.5 million for 160-acre parkBexar County Commissioners on Tuesday approved the purchase of nearly 160 acres of land for a new county park on the county’s northeast side.
Bexar County commissioner proposes investigation to look into what he says are budget inequities
Read full article: Bexar County commissioner proposes investigation to look into what he says are budget inequitiesBexar County Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert is calling for a citizen-led investigation into what he says are inequities in the county budget.
Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert attends ‘powerful’ Juneteenth celebration at White House
Read full article: Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert attends ‘powerful’ Juneteenth celebration at White HouseThe White House hosted their first-ever Juneteenth celebration this week. County Commissioner Tommy Calvert was in attendance.
Nuisance property could put a damper on Easter for East Side church
Read full article: Nuisance property could put a damper on Easter for East Side churchBexar County commissioners are looking for solutions to ease the issues people who live next to nuisance properties have to deal with. It's an issue that was brought to light by an East Side church.
Proposed bill would require more deputies to be hired for outer regions of Bexar County
Read full article: Proposed bill would require more deputies to be hired for outer regions of Bexar CountyA proposed bill hopes to combat crime happening in the outer regions of Bexar County by adding more deputies, but taxpayers would pay the price.
Commissioners approve 51 early voting locations, push for more election day sites
Read full article: Commissioners approve 51 early voting locations, push for more election day sitesWith the midterm elections roughly two months away, Bexar County commissioners want the elections department to provide dozens more Election Day polling locations.
Wolff expects county will advance major multihospital expansion
Read full article: Wolff expects county will advance major multihospital expansionOne of the planned hospitals is earmarked for a site near the Retama Park Racetrack in nearby Selma. The other would be built next to the Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus on the city’s South Side.
Proposed downtown Link development clears key hurdle
Read full article: Proposed downtown Link development clears key hurdleWhat’s proposed is a linear parklike corridor stretching from the San Antonio River at Convent Park near the planned Dream San Antonio hotel westward toward San Pedro Creek and rising up at Camaron Street
Spurs get approval to play 4 home-away-from-home games in ‘22-’23 season
Read full article: Spurs get approval to play 4 home-away-from-home games in ‘22-’23 seasonThe court’s 4-1 vote confirmed the official language for the idea the commissioners initially approved on May 3 in a 3-2 vote. Spurs Sports & Entertainment wants to play one of the team's 2022-2023 games in Mexico City, two at the Moody Center in Austin, and another at the Alamodome, its former home court.
BCSO pushes back against 10-day deadline to release body camera video
Read full article: BCSO pushes back against 10-day deadline to release body camera videoBexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said he won’t be able to meet the 10-day deadline set by county commissioners yet when it comes to releasing body camera video.
Bexar County commissioner fears new precinct boundaries could bring new opponent
Read full article: Bexar County commissioner fears new precinct boundaries could bring new opponentA seemingly routine county redistricting process turned contentious as Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert accused Precinct 1 Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores of possibly putting a political opponent into his district. Calvert is up for re-election in the March 2022 primary.
Urban farm on East Side provides fresh produce to families across Bexar County
Read full article: Urban farm on East Side provides fresh produce to families across Bexar CountyMany families across Bexar County will have fresh produce just in time for the holiday season, thanks to an urban farm on the East Side that is helping fight food insecurity.
7 people detained, 65 machines seized in illegal gambling operations on Northeast Side, BCSO says
Read full article: 7 people detained, 65 machines seized in illegal gambling operations on Northeast Side, BCSO saysSeven people were detained and 65 gambling machines were seized in connection with two illegal gambling operations on the Northeast Side, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.
Bexar County commissioner worried about ‘public relations fallout’ in boxer’s robbery case, records show
Read full article: Bexar County commissioner worried about ‘public relations fallout’ in boxer’s robbery case, records showBexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert went all the way to the top of county law enforcement in an attempt to discuss the case of a world champion boxer charged with robbery hours before that suspect turned himself in to authorities in San Antonio late last month, records obtained by the KSAT 12 Defenders reveal.
COVID-19 Briefing, May 27: 1 million+ first-dose vaccines administered in Bexar County, mayor says
Read full article: COVID-19 Briefing, May 27: 1 million+ first-dose vaccines administered in Bexar County, mayor saysSan Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said 1,035,582 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 804,762 are fully vaccinated.
SA COVID-19 Briefing, April 15: 710K first-dose vaccines administered, more than 417K fully vaccinated, mayor says
Read full article: SA COVID-19 Briefing, April 15: 710K first-dose vaccines administered, more than 417K fully vaccinated, mayor saysMayor Ron Nirenberg reported 710,896 first-dose COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, and 417,650 people are fully vaccinated.
Bexar County Commissioners consider COVID-19 testing for SA Stock Show and Rodeo
Read full article: Bexar County Commissioners consider COVID-19 testing for SA Stock Show and RodeoSAN ANTONIO – Bexar County commissioners are considering paying to test San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo attendees for COVID-19, but rodeo organizers aren’t interested. Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert raised the idea of testing rodeo attendees with the county footing the bill during Tuesday’s Bexar County Commissioners Court meeting. The commissioners are next scheduled to meet on Feb. 9 -- two days before the start of the rodeo. However, Sides said rapid testing for entry was “not only financially but logistically a challenge for us. The Rodeo is a County event in a County facility, so operational decisions are up to the County.”
Bexar County commissioner shares his experience with COVID-19, encourages others to stay vigilant
Read full article: Bexar County commissioner shares his experience with COVID-19, encourages others to stay vigilantSAN ANTONIO – After testing positive for COVID-19, Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert is sharing his experience to warn others to remain vigilant during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I tasted it and I noticed I couldn’t taste it and I was very disappointed. “When I couldn’t taste my shrimp, I got some caramel popcorn and couldn’t taste that,” Calvert said. It was just a little congestion, occasional runny nose, but it wasn’t constant.”Despite having a negative test, Calvert said he still wanted to be on the safe side. My advice is don’t ever let your guard down.”Related: Commissioner Calvert tests positive for COVID-19 days after appearing in Commissioners Court
Commissioner Calvert tests positive for COVID-19 days after appearing in Commissioners Court
Read full article: Commissioner Calvert tests positive for COVID-19 days after appearing in Commissioners CourtSAN ANTONIO – Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert on Monday confirmed he tested positive for COVID-19, just days after appearing at last week’s Commissioners Court meeting. Calvert said via telephone Monday he tested positive Friday and has reached out to other county leaders and staff with whom he came into contact. Calvert said a friend who visited him on Jan. 1 contacted him two days later and said she had tested positive for the virus. Jan. 14, two days after Calvert took part in the public meeting, he could no longer taste food, Calvert said via telephone. The following day Calvert took another COVID test and this time it came back positive.
Bexar County hires ombudsperson following string of complaints from employees
Read full article: Bexar County hires ombudsperson following string of complaints from employeesSAN ANTONIO – Bexar County officials have hired an ombudsperson following a string of internal and federal employment complaints against management, the KSAT 12 Defenders have confirmed. Allison Highley was hired October 28 and will be under the direction of County Manager David Smith. (KSAT)The latest, filed earlier this month by a longtime county employee, accuses Smith-Dean of retaliation, according to multiple sources. County officials have claimed Millan was reassigned because she was uniquely qualified to help several county agencies manage COVID-19-related expenditures. Memo: Bexar County Manager David Smith directed employees to receive absolutionA third employee accused Smith-Dean late last year of harassment and bullying as part of an internal complaint.
KSAT Community: University Health to host flu shot drive Saturday
Read full article: KSAT Community: University Health to host flu shot drive SaturdaySAN ANTONIO – Do you need your flu shot? With flu season quickly approaching, University Health and Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert will host a flu shot drive on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Freeman Coliseum, 3210 East Houston Street. Additional details:Individual registrations must be submitted for each person receiving a flu shot. To register for the flu shot drive on Nov. 14, click here. KSAT Community operates in partnership with University Health, Energy Transfer and Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union.
How a local Texas politician helped a serial entrepreneur use COVID-19 to boost his business
Read full article: How a local Texas politician helped a serial entrepreneur use COVID-19 to boost his businessThe leaders worked, sometimes vigorously, to persuade their local governments to buy COVID-19 tests from a company Hayungs was hoping to partner with. Calvert, meanwhile, did not disclose that he once held an unpaid position on the advisory board of Hayungs’ company, MRG Medical. Villalobos, the Hays County chief of staff, said in a statement that Republicans were blocking access to COVID-19 tests. “Approved to Re-Vamp / Re-Brand Hays County Indigent Healthcare Program.”The county commissioners had not approved him to do anything. He did so without input from key Hays County medical leaders or approval from his fellow commissioners, as county rules require.
Commissioners Wolff and Calvert clash amid claims of discrepancies at veteran services office Wolff oversees
Read full article: Commissioners Wolff and Calvert clash amid claims of discrepancies at veteran services office Wolff overseesSAN ANTONIO Two Bexar County commissioners are butting heads, but over what depends on which one you ask. Precinct 3 County Commissioner Kevin Wolff sent a memo to the entire Bexar County Commissioners Court on Aug. 24, blasting Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert. In his memo, Wolff claims Calvert ultimately wants to eliminate the County Manager organization of government. And it was a pretty insane tirade.Instead, Calvert believes Wolffs message was driven by something else -- scrutiny of the Bexar County Military and Veterans Service Center, which Wolff oversees. Wolff is in his final term on the commissioners court after deciding not to seek reelection.
Bexar County handing out free Plexiglass kits to small businesses around San Antonio
Read full article: Bexar County handing out free Plexiglass kits to small businesses around San AntonioSAN ANTONIO Bexar County is distributing free Pelixglass kits to small, local businesses as they reopen during the coronavirus pandemic. The kits were handed out Monday morning at the Freeman Coliseum in order to assist small businesses reopen safely, according to a news release. For small businesses that missed the event, county officials said there will be additional distributions on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday in other precincts. All small businesses in the county qualify for the kits but they must pre-register and bring a confirmation email, according to a news release. Small businesses can also request additional essential items, including personal protective equipment, via Bexar Countys Small Business and Entrepreneurship Departments webpage.
San Antonio’s plan to move COVID-19 patients from area nursing homes to 2 facilities slammed by county commissioner
Read full article: San Antonio’s plan to move COVID-19 patients from area nursing homes to 2 facilities slammed by county commissionerSAN ANTONIO – San Antonio city officials on Friday announced a plan to potentially house COVID-19 patients from nursing homes in the region at two long-term care facilities in an effort to try mitigate the spread of the virus. City officials confirmed patients from both locations have already been moved to other facilities in the area to make room for potential patients. The expo hall late last month was prepped as an alternative care center if San Antonio hospitals become full. The Texas Tribune reported Friday that 13% of nursing home facilities in the state have at least one resident with COVID-19. Nursing home with 70+ COVID-19 patients fined $68,000, cited for 28 violations in 2019