INSIDER
Ken Paxton adds Dallas to list of cities he's sued over marijuana decriminalization
Read full article: Ken Paxton adds Dallas to list of cities he's sued over marijuana decriminalizationDallas is the sixth Texas city the attorney general has sued this year over marijuana decriminalization measures that he says conflicts with state law.
Texas State University condemns demonstrators who brought offensive signs to campus
Read full article: Texas State University condemns demonstrators who brought offensive signs to campusThe university is exploring potential legal responses after two men came on campus the day after the election with misogynistic and homophobic signs.
Thousands of soldiers fence off a Salvadoran neighborhood in pursuit of gang remnants
Read full article: Thousands of soldiers fence off a Salvadoran neighborhood in pursuit of gang remnantsMore than 2,000 soldiers and 500 police officers surrounded a dense neighborhood on the outskirts of El Salvador’s capital in an effort to quash the remnants of gangs the president said were trying to set up shop in the area.
Marijuana decriminalization measures in San Marcos, Austin get early court wins
Read full article: Marijuana decriminalization measures in San Marcos, Austin get early court winsThree other cities have passed similar measures but the Texas AG and others question whether they can be enforced because of conflicts with state law.
Texas State released from contract to host debate, as Biden and Trump sidestep tradition
Read full article: Texas State released from contract to host debate, as Biden and Trump sidestep traditionTexas State was slated to be the first Texas university to host a presidential debate before the leading candidates sidestepped the traditional debate schedule
Gov. Greg Abbott jumps out of plane with 106-year-old World War II vet
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott jumps out of plane with 106-year-old World War II vetAbbott visited the San Marcos area to go skydiving with Al Blaschke, a 106-year-old World War II veteran who has already broken records for his own aerial feats.
Texas State University will host first 2024 presidential debate
Read full article: Texas State University will host first 2024 presidential debateThe debate, scheduled for Sept. 16, 2024, will be the first of four for the general election. The San Marcos school would be the first Texas university to hold a presidential debate, Texas State officials said.
Texas officials name suspect arrested and charged in arson that killed 5 in San Marcos in 2018
Read full article: Texas officials name suspect arrested and charged in arson that killed 5 in San Marcos in 2018A man has been charged with intentionally causing a fire five years ago which killed five people and displaced 200 others in San Marcos, Texas.
Authorities make arrest in San Marcos apartment complex fire that killed 5
Read full article: Authorities make arrest in San Marcos apartment complex fire that killed 5Authorities say an arrest has been made in a 2018 housing complex fire that was intentionally set and killed five people in San Marcos, Texas.
Texas Senate gives first OK to school library bill meant to keep “harmful” materials off shelves
Read full article: Texas Senate gives first OK to school library bill meant to keep “harmful” materials off shelvesProponents of the bill say it will keep inappropriate material away from kids. Some librarians are concerned about the logistical challenges it could bring.
TribCast: Takeaways from Gov. Greg Abbott’s State of the State speech
Read full article: TribCast: Takeaways from Gov. Greg Abbott’s State of the State speechIn this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Texas Tribune politics reporters James Barragán and Patrick Svitek about Abbott’s prime-time address.
Voters in five Texas cities approved decriminalizing marijuana. Now city officials are standing in the way.
Read full article: Voters in five Texas cities approved decriminalizing marijuana. Now city officials are standing in the way.Some local leaders say they worry the changes violate state law, while residents who supported decriminalizing marijuana say the pushback disrespects democracy.
Five Texas cities vote to decriminalize having small amounts of marijuana
Read full article: Five Texas cities vote to decriminalize having small amounts of marijuanaVoters in Denton, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin and Harker Heights overwhelmingly supported the local ballot propositions to decriminalize low-level possession. These moves followed Austin voters’ similar decision in May.
Harry Styles 101: This Texas university is offering a course based on rising pop star coming next year
Read full article: Harry Styles 101: This Texas university is offering a course based on rising pop star coming next yearIf you ever wondered about the true meaning of “Watermelon Sugar,” you might want to sign up for this class.
Under the Radar Athletes: Bax Townsend, Jake Darling, and Blessed Adewumi
Read full article: Under the Radar Athletes: Bax Townsend, Jake Darling, and Blessed AdewumiOn this weeks episode of VYPE’s Recruit Spotlight, we featured 3 athletes in our Under the Radar segment: class of 2023 QB/S Bax Townsend of Lubbock Christian, class of 2023 DE/LB/TE Jake Darling of San Marcos and class of 2024 Offensive Tackle Blessed Adewumi of Cy-Fair
Glow-in-the-dark Texas river: Experience the magic of nighttime on the water in a crystal clear kayak
Read full article: Glow-in-the-dark Texas river: Experience the magic of nighttime on the water in a crystal clear kayakThere are some things that exist in Texas that you can’t believe truly exist here.
TribCast: Texas braces for the next winter storm and a new COVID-19 variant
Read full article: TribCast: Texas braces for the next winter storm and a new COVID-19 variantIn this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Mitchell, James and Karen about the status of the power grid and the pandemic heading into winter.
Analysis: 2022 primary elections in Texas merit a severe weather alert
Read full article: Analysis: 2022 primary elections in Texas merit a severe weather alertNext year’s primary elections start a year after a winter storm knocked out power across Texas — and the government response to that disaster could be on voters’ minds.
Lawsuit: Texas city refused escort to protect Biden bus
Read full article: Lawsuit: Texas city refused escort to protect Biden busAn updated federal lawsuit alleges that police officials in San Marcos, Texas, refused to provide an escort for a Joe Biden campaign bus when it was surrounded by supporters of then-President Donald Trump on an interstate in October 2020.
Delta variant, lax mask policies delay Plano family’s return to school
Read full article: Delta variant, lax mask policies delay Plano family’s return to schoolParents remain divided over whether to require masks in the classroom. For Carmen Campbell, there’s just too much uncertainty right now to feel comfortable sending her son back. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.
After the omicron surge in early 2022, COVID-19 cases declined in Texas schools
Read full article: After the omicron surge in early 2022, COVID-19 cases declined in Texas schoolsStudent and staff COVID-19 cases declined after districts reported their highest levels in January since the pandemic began. But the data is incomplete and likely an undercount.
A Texas school district doesn’t require masks. The state is suing the district anyway.
Read full article: A Texas school district doesn’t require masks. The state is suing the district anyway.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued nine more school districts over their masking rules. One says it doesn’t mandate them. Another says it doesn’t enforce mask-wearing at Paxton’s request.
Texas State University president to retire at end of school year after 20 years
Read full article: Texas State University president to retire at end of school year after 20 yearsPresident Denise Trauth oversaw years of growth at Texas State as it became a Hispanic Serving Institution, a Texas Emerging Research University and underwent the most construction projects since the university's founding.
Wendy Davis, others sue law enforcement and Trump supporters over “Trump Train” harassing Biden bus in Texas
Read full article: Wendy Davis, others sue law enforcement and Trump supporters over “Trump Train” harassing Biden bus in TexasThe plaintiffs argue the Trump supporters engaged in political intimidation when they surrounded the Biden campaign bus in October, in violation of the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, and that police "turned a blind eye to the attack."
Body found in San Marcos in search for Texas State student reported missing in early May, police say
Read full article: Body found in San Marcos in search for Texas State student reported missing in early May, police sayA body was found during the search for a Texas State student who went missing earlier this month, according to the San Marcos Police Department.
Gov. Greg. Abbott says no public schools or government entities will be allowed to require masks
Read full article: Gov. Greg. Abbott says no public schools or government entities will be allowed to require masksThe governor issued an executive order Tuesday banning government entities in Texas — like cities and counties — from requiring masks to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Texas Republican Briscoe Cain blindsides fellow lawmakers in push for House version of new voting restrictions
Read full article: Texas Republican Briscoe Cain blindsides fellow lawmakers in push for House version of new voting restrictionsCollier paces Texas women in win over NCAA 1st-timer Bradley
Read full article: Collier paces Texas women in win over NCAA 1st-timer Bradley6 seed Texas, and had an emphatic response on the court to some derisive chants from the stands. Collier had 23 points and 15 rebounds for the Longhorns in an 81-62 win over Bradley in the first round of the women's NCAA Tournament on Monday night. And when some chants of “overrated!” were directed in the fourth quarter at the 6-foot-5 junior projected to be the No. After a layup, Warren missed a 3-pointer and Petree had another layup before a fast-break 3-pointer following a turnover by Warren. UP NEXTThe Longhorns play their second-round game on Wednesday against third-seeded UCLA or 14th-seeded Wyoming, who played later Monday night.
Texas power crisis prompts Texas House panel to advance several bills, including one requiring plants to prep for extreme weather
Read full article: Texas power crisis prompts Texas House panel to advance several bills, including one requiring plants to prep for extreme weatherSeveral bills responding to Texas’ February power outages — including one mandating that power plants prepare facilities for extreme weather and another reforming the Electric Reliability Council of Texas board — were advanced by the Texas House State Affairs Committee on Thursday. The bill to mandate weatherization of power plants, House Bill 11, would give authority to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which regulates the electric industry, to develop and enforce standards to prepare power plants for extreme weather. AdThe power outages last month began largely due to power plants tripping offline in extreme cold temperatures — most plants in Texas are not built to withstand such conditions. House Bill 12 would direct a study and implementation of a statewide emergency alert system for power outages. The body would maintain records of facilities critical to maintaining fuel service to power plants during emergencies.
Many Texans have died because of the winter storm. Just how many won’t be known for weeks or months.
Read full article: Many Texans have died because of the winter storm. Just how many won’t be known for weeks or months.An emergency response vehicle drives through a San Marcos neighborhood on Monday as a massive winter storm swept through the state. Less than 24 hours later, as temperatures plunged to near single digits and homes across the state lost power, the boy died. Across Texas, deaths related to the winter storm continued to mount this week amid freezing temperatures, widespread power outages and a scarcity of clean water. And it could be weeks or months before the true magnitude is known. We may have preliminary information in weeks, not days,” said Chris Van Deusen, a Texas Department of State Health Services spokesperson.
Republican Texas lawmakers reviving push to end in-state tuition for undocumented college students
Read full article: Republican Texas lawmakers reviving push to end in-state tuition for undocumented college studentsTwo state lawmakers want to prevent undocumented college students from being able to pay in-state tuition rates. Two freshman Republican state representatives want to stop undocumented immigrants from being able to pay in-state tuition at Texas’ public universities, they announced Friday. In 2001, Texas became the first state to allow undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition. In his statement, Cason called in-state tuition rates for undocumented students “handouts” from the Legislature that frustrate Texans whose property taxes are rising. AdThis is not the first time Texas GOP lawmakers have sought to repeal the 2001 law that allows undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition.
Texas State football player shot, killed in San Marcos, police say
Read full article: Texas State football player shot, killed in San Marcos, police saySAN MARCOS, Texas – A Texas State Football player was shot and killed Tuesday night at an apartment complex in San Marcos, according to reports. Two people were charged with capital murder for the shooting death of Khambrail Winters, 20. RIP.”The Alief Taylor Football program is deeply saddened by the passing of our former DB and TX State DB Khambrail Winters. RIP pic.twitter.com/ZnOiFePxs0 — Alief Taylor Football (@AliefTaylor_FB) November 25, 2020The Houstonian was currently a sophomore defensive back for Texas State and was named as an honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference in 2019. Texas State head football coach Jake Spavital released the following statement to KXAN News:Our Texas State University football team is deeply saddened by the death of our team member, and friend, Khambrail Winters.
Texas High School Coaches Association announces partnership with the Jones Family & Dallas Cowboys
Read full article: Texas High School Coaches Association announces partnership with the Jones Family & Dallas Cowboys"The Texas High School Coaches Association is very excited to announce our partnership with the Dallas Cowboys. "High school football in Texas represents passion, heritage and tradition," said Charlotte Jones, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer. "It spans generations of families in communities that reach from Texarkana to El Paso, and the Dallas Cowboys are proud to join the Texas High School Coaches Association in recognizing the 100 years of high school football in Texas. About the Texas High School Coaches Association: The Texas High School Coaches' Association (THSCA) is the principal advocate and leadership organization forTexas high school coaches. Our mission statement is simply this: To help and serve our Texas high school coaches as they work to help and serve our student athletes.
Democrats say San Marcos officials didn’t respond to “Trump Train” that harassed Biden bus
Read full article: Democrats say San Marcos officials didn’t respond to “Trump Train” that harassed Biden busTexas Democrats say San Marcos police should've done more to assist people on a Biden campaign bus after a caravan of Trump supporters followed it on Interstate 35, leading the Biden camp to cancel multiple campaign events Friday. But San Marcos police never made it to the scene. The campaign had decided to cancel the San Marcos event and drive straight through to Austin because of the caravan behind the bus. The Biden campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment. When asked whether San Marcos police should have alerted the Hays County sheriff’s office of the event, Lt. Dennis Gutierrez said no.
Texas voters have to wear masks while voting despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s exemption, federal judge rules
Read full article: Texas voters have to wear masks while voting despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s exemption, federal judge rulesVoters cast their ballots at the Performing Arts Center at Texas State University in San Marcos. Texas voters should be required to wear face masks when casting ballots during the pandemic, a federal district judge ruled Tuesday, invalidating an exemption for polling places that Gov. Greg Abbott had included in his statewide mask mandate. The argument for a mask mandate at the polls was first raised in a much broader lawsuit filed against Abbott and the Texas secretary of state in July by Mi Familia Vota, the Texas NAACP and two Texas voters. “Under these conditions, Black and Latino voters must choose between not voting or risking their lives or the lives of their loved ones to vote.
TribCast: What high early voting turnout means for Texas
Read full article: TribCast: What high early voting turnout means for TexasEarly voters cast their ballots at the Performing Arts Center at Texas State University in San Marcos on Monday. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune(Audio unavailable. Click here to listen on texastribune.org.) In this week's episode, Matthew speaks with Alex, Cassi and Patrick about the state of politics in Texas less than two weeks before Election Day.
Texas State coach, accused of racist comments, resigns
Read full article: Texas State coach, accused of racist comments, resignsSAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State coach Danny Kaspar has resigned three months after a former player accused him of making racist remarks. Athletic director Larry Teis announced Tuesday that he’s accepted Kaspar's resignation and that assistant coach Terrence Johnson will take over the program for the upcoming season. In June, former guard Jaylen Shead tweeted that Kaspar disparaged players with racist comments in practices. Shead transferred to Washington State last year. Texas State launched an investigation into the allegations.
VYPE High School Spotlight (9/20): San Marcos' Walsh, 4A Rankings & Austin Area Sports Update
Read full article: VYPE High School Spotlight (9/20): San Marcos' Walsh, 4A Rankings & Austin Area Sports UpdateVYPE High School Spotlight airs on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m on Talk 1370 AM and Majic 95.5 HD2 in the Austin area and Central Texas, and anywhere in the world on https://talk1370.radio.com/shows/vype-high-school-spotlight and the RADIO.COM app. Want to have a question answered on air or have a topic covered on a future episode? In segment two, Thomas interviews new San Marcos athletic director and head football coach John Walsh. They discuss Walsh's departure from Denton Guyer, why he couldn't pass up the San Marcos opportunity, the expectation of San Marcos athletics during the 2020-2021 school year, his love of San Marcos barbecue, and more. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.
Analysis: Those arent just COVID-19 numbers. Theyre Texans.
Read full article: Analysis: Those arent just COVID-19 numbers. Theyre Texans.Ironwood Saloon owner Elizabeth McNiel and her husband, Ryan, shut down their bar in Sabinal because of COVID-19 mandates. Grant Tran, a senior at Texas State University in San Marcos, where classes started this week. Or Adolfo Fito Alvarado Jr., a chaplain at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg killed by COVID-19 last month. The decisions about whether to keep schools open affect about 5.5 million kids, or roughly 1 in every 6 Texans. We read stories about public and private efforts to help, to spend money, to make the good numbers rise and the bad numbers fall.
Texas State University welcomed students back in person Monday. Campus was a ghost town.
Read full article: Texas State University welcomed students back in person Monday. Campus was a ghost town.Students walked through The Quad on Monday, the first day of the fall semester at Texas State University in San Marcos. At 9:45 a.m. Monday, Texas State University looked like a ghost town. By lunchtime at Texas State, campus was still quiet. Social distancing markers at the LBJ Student Center at Texas State University in San Marcos on Monday. Disclosure: Texas State University, Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
San Marcos' Phillips Remains A Rattler In College Commitment
Read full article: San Marcos' Phillips Remains A Rattler In College CommitmentFor San Marcos senior Faith Phillips, she found one for our future college basketball career at St. Mary's University. Most of my family does live in San Marcos, so it definitely is a plus that they will get to see me play." She helped San Marcos win 20 games during the 2019-2020 girls basketball season and her play against region teams earned her a UIL 26-6A first-team all-district honor. "I think last season has ignited a fire in every single member of the Lady Rattler program," said Phillips. San Marcos remains a UIL 26-6A member for the next two school years, but faces a new Austin area slate of district opponents.
Nearly 6,300 Texas companies received PPP loans of more than $1 million
Read full article: Nearly 6,300 Texas companies received PPP loans of more than $1 millionEddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneNearly 6,300 Texas-based companies received loans from the federal government valued at more than $1 million this spring, representing a major injection of government money into the state as the federal government was straining to keep the economy afloat. Within that sum, nearly 400 Texas companies received loans within the range of $5 million to $10 million, according to data the Trump administration released Monday. In total, the federal government disclosed the names of 52,150 Texas businesses and nonprofits that received the loans. Nearly 46,000 of those loans went to businesses or organizations that received less than $1 million. That language defined a small business as any company that has fewer than 500 employees at any one location.
Analysis: In some places in Texas, sales tax revenues have risen during the pandemic
Read full article: Analysis: In some places in Texas, sales tax revenues have risen during the pandemicThe latest state sales tax distribution to cities based on Aprils taxable sales was down 11.1%. At the same time, the sales tax allocation to San Marcos rose 51% for the same period. Some local governments will be taking bigger hits in sales tax revenue than others, and a few are prospering because of changes in shoppers habits. Round Rock gets the local Dell taxes from online sales even if the buyer is in Fort Stockton. San Marcos gets the Best Buy local taxes even if the buyer is in Corpus Christi.
Texas State University staff member no longer with school after allegedly saying protesters are a bunch of monkeys
Read full article: Texas State University staff member no longer with school after allegedly saying protesters are a bunch of monkeysSAN MARCOS, Texas Texas State University officials confirmed Wednesday that an employee no longer works at the university after she allegedly called Black Lives Matter protesters a bunch of monkeys." In her comments, Brassell posted racial slurs and threatened to spread COVID-19 if she attends a demonstration, The University Star, Texas States school newspaper, reported. This woman who works at #txst feels comfortable enough to throw out racial slurs and threaten to spread COVID on fb. This woman who works at [Texas State] feels comfortable enough to throw out racial slurs and threaten to spread COVID on Facebook, she wrote. Texas State does not condone these posts and do not reflect Texas States values, the university said in a statement Wednesday.
‘Scrambling for understanding’: Church hosts vigil for Sugar Land family found dead
Read full article: ‘Scrambling for understanding’: Church hosts vigil for Sugar Land family found deadSUGAR LAND, Texas – The senior pastor of the church attended by a Sugar Land man who was found dead in San Marcos said Wednesday that he’s in shock, hours before the church held a vigil honoring the family. Authorities said that when they went to Logan’s Evening Light Drive home to inform his family, officers found the bodies of Logan’s wife and son. Kelley said the loss of the Logan family is being felt throughout all of Fort Bend County. Kelley said the Logan family last attended church on Saturday. “She needs prayers, she needs love and she needs our thoughts," said Christine Meeker.
One-tank trips: 5 places to visit in San Marcos
Read full article: One-tank trips: 5 places to visit in San MarcosSan Marcos, TexasDistance from Downtown Houston to San Marcos: 166 milesSan Marcos is conveniently nestled in the heart of all major Texas cities as it is about 32 miles outside of Austin, 50 miles outside of San Antonio, 166 miles outside of Houston and 224 miles outside of Dallas. While there are plenty of spots to enjoy and stay in San Marcos, travelers can also use San Marcos as a day-trip and enjoy the remainder of a long weekend less than an hour away in Austin. Between San Marcos Premium Outlets and Tanger Outlet Factory Center, the outlets have over 350 stores in the area. If you are looking for more of an outdoor experience for the whole family, head over to the San Marcos River. If you happen to be driving through San Marcos and need a quick break and lunch spot, be sure to check out The Root Cellar Caf.
The Eyes of Texas podcast: Why there's a Body Farm in San Marcos
Read full article: The Eyes of Texas podcast: Why there's a Body Farm in San Marcos"We get about 70 to 80 donations per year," Dr. Daniel Wescott, professor, Department of Anthropology, and director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University, said. Mother Nature takes over from there: students enrolled in the Forensic Anthropology program study the corpses as they decompose. WARNING: Skeletal remains can be seen in many of the photographsPHOTOS of the Body Farm in San MarcosFull Screen 1 / 26 Skeletal remains at Freeman Center. Vultures, for instance, have the ability to reduce a recently expired corpse to its skeleton within five to six hours, according to Dr. Daniel Wescott, director, Forensic Anthropology Center, Texas State University. SUBSCRIBE NOW:Apple iTunesGoogle PlaySpotifyStitcherMore about Episode 6 of Season 1:To learn more about the Forensic Anthropology Center and why it was created, visit the Texas State University website here.