North San Antonio

Stay informed about the latest local news in North San Antonio, including government, transportation, business and development updates affecting your community.

Government
Hollywood Park City Council met Aug. 16 to discuss improving rules and requirements regarding new council members and addressing empty council positions. (Courtesy Google Streets)
10:36 AM CDT

Hollywood Park shoring up protocols for new City Council members, vacancies

City updating orientation manual for new, appointed council members

Education
School children entering a school bus.
4:56 PM Jul 21, 2022 CDT

'No service zones' in Comal ISD a response to lack of bus drivers

The decision is partly meant to prevent the rolling cancellations of routes experienced during the last school year.

Health Care
Dr. Rafael Veraza is the new chief executive officer of San Antonio-based Vascular Perfusion Solutions. (Courtesy Vascular Perfusion Solutions)

2 San Antonio medical ventures welcome new CEO, surgeon

A new CEO leads Vascular Perfusion Solutions in San Antonio, and an oral/maxillofacial practice welcomed a surgeon.

Government
Power lines in front of a sunset.

ERCOT selects Pablo Vegas as new CEO 16 months after previous leader fired

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state’s power grid, has been without a permanent leader for 16 months, after its former CEO was fired in the aftermath of the February 2021 winter storm. The new CEO will join ERCOT in October.

Education
School boards provide local governance of their school districts and can only take action by a majority vote at public meetings. (Courtesy Adobe Stock)

How local school boards function in Texas, how to get involved

School boards provide local governance of their school districts and can only take action by a majority vote at public meetings.

Business
Tech Bloc, a local advocacy group for San Antonio's tech industry, is accepting applications for TechFuel, a $100,000 startup pitch competition. Winners will be announced in an event this fall. (Courtesy Tech Bloc)

San Antonio tech advocacy group accepting applications for pitch competition

Tech Bloc is receiving applications through Sept. 25.

Education
Exterior of the Texas Education Agency building at sunset.

For the first time in three years, TEA releases A-F ratings for Texas schools

This year, 25% of school districts improved on their letter grades from 2019. The Texas Education Agency typically releases accountability ratings annually, but the procedure was paused during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Environment
San Antonio Water System officials said there will be no changes anytime soon in local water use limits despite the Edwards Aquifer Authority going up to Stage 4 restrictions. (Courtesy Pexels)

Edwards Aquifer Authority enacts Stage 4 water restrictions; no change for San Antonio Water System patrons

The Edwards Aquifer Authority declared Stage 4 water restrictions on Aug. 13, citing further decrease in Comal Springs water levels.

People
An American flag and the Texas flag on a flagpole.

Texas ranks 45th in the nation for overall child well-being, new data shows

A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation indicates that Texas children are struggling with mental health and educational proficiency.

Dining
Shavano Park-area brewery Freetail Brewing Co. collaborated with JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa to create Hill Country Honey Blonde, sourcing honey produced by bees maintained on the North Side resort property. (Courtesy JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa)

North San Antonio resort, brewpub collaborate to create new beer

Honey sourced at a north San Antonio resort property is an ingredient in local brewpub's new ale.

Event Calendar
San Antonio will be offering 12 town halls to get public input on the city's fiscal year 2022-23 budget process. (Courtesy city of San Antonio)

Eight things to do in San Antonio, Aug. 12-18

Featured events include school year kickoff celebrations.

Government
San Antonio District 10 Council Member Clayton Perry speaks out on the city’s proposed fiscal year 2022-23 budget at the Aug. 11 council meeting. (Courtesy city of San Antonio)

Proposed San Antonio budget contains $50M return to CPS Energy customers

Some city leaders feel the CPS Energy surplus should be used on other city priorities.

Government
Bexar County is allocating $25 million in federal pandemic relief funds to support private/public collaborative efforts toward expanding affordable internet service. Local nonprofit SA Digital Connects, a key community player in such efforts, said they and partner organizations and agencies will now focus on improving digital infrastructure, access and literacy in the most underserved county precincts, shaded in dark green here. (Courtesy SA Digital Connects)

Bexar County budgets $25M in federal funds for efforts to shrink the local digital divide

The money will help to support new internet infrastructure and access in unconnected areas.

Housing & Real Estate
Using federal COVID-19 relief funds, Bexar County is establishing a $20 million spending framework to buoy public-private partnerships toward increasing affordable housing countywide. (Courtesy Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio)

Bexar County allocates $20M in federal funds for affordable housing

Using federal COVID-19 relief funds, Bexar County is establishing a $20 million spending framework to buoy public-private partnerships toward increasing affordable housing countywide.

Public Safety
U.S. Army personnel conducted drills involving simulated gunfire and controlled explosions in and around the Alamodome, seen here during Fiesta 2022, on Monday night, Aug. 8, San Antonio city officials said. The Army will continue nightly downtown-area exercises through Aug. 12. (Courtesy Google Streets)

City of San Antonio: First night of US Army training a success

Nightly military drills will continue in the downtown area through Aug. 12.

Education
A male student looks forward in a classroom.

Record percentage of Texas teachers considering quitting, survey shows

Texas educators reported declines in support from parents and state leaders during the pandemic, according to the Texas State Teachers Association.

Public Safety
The San Antonio Police Department said U.S. Army personnel will conduct a training exercise Aug. 8 in the downtown San Antonio area and near east side neighborhoods. (Courtesy Joint Base San Antonio)

US Army set to carry out training exercise in downtown San Antonio

An Army exercise will include simulated gunfire and controlled explosions.

Education
North East, Northside, Comal and other San Antonio-area independent school districts are warning of possible delays and are introducing temporary measures in response to local school bus driver shortages. (Courtesy North East ISD)

North San Antonio school districts cope with bus driver shortages

District officials warn of possible delays along some school bus routes.

Health Care
Building behind trees reads 'Texas Department of State Health Services'

Texas health department accepting grant applications to expand access to health care

The grant will help health centers that serve underserved and uninsured Texans in areas with limited resources.

Government
The city of San Antonio will accept online applications from eligible local homeowners needing assistance with rehabilitation of their home. The city’s $1.2 billion voter-approved bond contains funds to help with home rehabilitation. (Courtesy city of San Antonio)

Applications for San Antonio’s home rehabilitation program can be submitted Aug. 8-Sept. 19

Eligible homeowners may receive help with various home repairs.

Event Calendar
The city of San Antonio’s Centro de Artes Gallery in downtown near Market Square will host two new exhibits from artist Elizabeth Montelongo, pictured, and Leila Hernández, beginning Aug. 9. (Courtesy city of San Antonio/Glasstire)

8 things to do in San Antonio Aug. 6-10

Back-to-school events highlight a slate of local activities scheduled during the first weekend of August in San Antonio.

Dining
Eleanor 1909, which specializes in Philly cheesesteaks, will take over the kitchen at Weathered Souls Brewing Co. on Aug. 9, becoming the Hill Country Village-area craft brewery's newest food provider. (Courtesy Weathered Souls Brewing Co.)

10 culinary business updates in North San Antonio

Recent openings include a new coffee shop and a Detroit-style pizza eatery.

Government
The city of Hill Country Village is considering a possible bond election toward building a new City Hall on Bitters Road or replacing the existing municipal complex at 116 Aspen Lane. This is one of two possible options featuring a reconfiguration of city government offices and functions in a larger, more modern municipal complex at the Aspen Lane site. (Courtesy City of Hill Country Village)

Hill Country Village residents have their say in first City Hall bond meeting

Two more town halls are scheduled in August.

Health Care
Fruits and vegetables on shelves in a grocery store.

Texas extends emergency SNAP benefits through August

Texas will provide over $305.5 million in emergency benefits this month, which is expected to help 1.5 million households.

Health Care
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is responding to the monkeypox outbreak by receiving 1,000 doses of Jynneos monkeypox vaccine and preparing it for immediate disbursement to local known at-risk patients. (Courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

San Antonio public health authority receives 1K monkeypox doses

San Antonio's public health authority is immediately disbursing 720 doses to cover known local at-risk patients as a new monkeypox outbreak hits Texas.