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Today’s weather: An expected high today of 92 and a low of 63. Clear skies, warm days and cooler nights are ahead for the rest of the week and weekend. Cooler daytime weather returns this time next week.
The tropics: The National Hurricane Center is now tracking Tropical Storm Helene as it moves north toward Georgia. NPR is following the story. here. The rest of the Gulf of Mexico is quiet for now. There is two systems in the atlantic – Hurricane Isaac and Tropical Storm Joyce, but they do not pose any threat to the United States. The Atlantic hurricane season ends on November 30.
Election 2024: In Texas, early voting begins Monday, October 21. If you are one of the thousands of people who recently moved to the state, be sure to register before October 7. Learn more here.
Southwest Airlines sues San Antonio over lease agreement
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines filed a lawsuit Thursday against the city of San Antonio over disputes over a long-term lease with San Antonio International Airport.
The City Council approved operating agreements and terminal leases with seven airlines earlier this month. Southwest refused to sign due to disagreements with its terminal assignment.
The lawsuit calls the negotiation process “illegal” and asks the city to delay the new lease taking effect on October 1.
City officials have pledged $100 million for improvements at Terminal A, where Southwest resides.
Voters’ views on abortion may influence their decisions on Election Day
Many Texas Republicans and Democrats say abortion is on the ballot this election. How voters view the abortion issue could decide who they vote for in some of the state’s most competitive races, such as Texas House District 118 in south San Antonio.
At least one Texas woman may have already died due to Texas’ strict abortion ban. According to the New Yorker, Yeniifer Alvarez-Estrada Glick died from complications from her pregnancy in 2022 after she was turned away in an emergency room.
Kristian Carranza, the Democratic challenger for House District 118, said Texas’ abortion ban is hurting women even if they want to be mothers. “Women are dying,” she said. “Women are forced to carry the babies of their rapists. And they are forced to flee the state to receive emergency medical care and that is unacceptable.”
Republican John Luján said he is pro-life and believed the abortion ban has an exception to protect the life of the mother. “If the mother’s life is in danger,” he said, “I understand that the law says that can be taken into account, and if not, how do we clarify and solve it?”
San Antonio’s south House district is seen as one of the most competitive races in Texas.
Trial for fatal shooting of former SAPD officers delayed due to judge’s recusal
The judge overseeing the murder trial of the former SAPD officers who shot and killed Melissa Perez last year has been ordered recused. The trial, which was scheduled to begin this week, will now be delayed by weeks or months.
Two former officers are charged with murder and a third is charged with aggravated assault by a public servant. Officers shot Perez during an apparent mental health crisis last June.
Patrick Ballantyne, one of the defense attorneys, said he filed the motion because of Judge Stephanie Boyd’s behavior toward one of the attorneys after he filed a complaint against her last year. He also highlighted the way she handled legal proceedings in court.
The lead prosecutor also testified to his concern that if Boyd remained on the case, his conduct could result in a overturned conviction.
Boyd said judicial ethics prevented him from commenting on specific details, but that he treated everyone in his courtroom fairly.
SAWS explains the disconnection policy to the City Council
San Antonio Water System explained its disconnection policy before a San Antonio City Council committee this week.
Their disconnections made headlines in June when SAWS disconnected several apartment complexes that had been in default for nearly two years, cutting off water to tenants who were not responsible for the property’s delinquency.
Ward 9 Councilman John Courage said the city and SAWS should consider other avenues to obtain these payments without punishing tenants who are not at fault.
SAWS staff said they do not currently have that authority through the city ordinance that regulates them.
Courage said they should investigate what changes would be necessary to achieve this.
After SAWS disconnected the three occupied apartment complexes, everyone paid and came back online within two hours.
Congressional team explores solutions to immigration reform
A new congressional group tasked with finding solutions to immigration reform introduced its first resolution this week.
Texas Congressman Greg Casar led the Global Caucus on Migration to present a legislative roadmap analyzing the root causes of migration from Latin America to the United States.
“Immigration does not begin at the border,” he said. “It starts in people’s countries of origin. We can welcome people here and we can recognize our failures that are pushing people to leave their homes. That’s what the American people want. “They want the truth and they deserve a plan.”
The resolution called for reforms to economic sanctions, firearms trafficking, and greater collaboration to build climate resilience.
Historically, congressional action on immigration reform has stalled amid partisan gridlock over competing priorities on border security and pathways to citizenship.
Part of the city’s Broadway Street begins to be paved
San Antonio’s Lower Broadway construction project is entering its last major milestone before completion.
Final paving operations are expected to begin Monday.
Paving will be done in three to four block increments beginning at the north end of the project at Broadway and Roy Smith and heading south toward Houston Street.
Drivers will be detoured to North Alamo St. and Avenue B. Paving should be completed by mid-October.
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