News

After a toll-free trial run, State Highway 130 has begun charging motorists to use the Seguin-to-Austin 85 mile-per-hour highway. Texas Uniting for Reform and Freedom (TURF) is urging drivers to boycott the fastest highway in the United States.

With the $13 one-way toll now in effect on SH 130, going to Austin from Seguin and back could cost you almost half a tank of gas.

District 26 State Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D) said minors who have been kidnapped and made to do things against their will should not be punished further by the justice system, even though they have technically engaged in conduct that violates prostitution laws.

After the Republican losses on Election Day it has been noticed that the GOP has a critical problem winning Latino votes. Some are wondering if George Bush might fix that problem – that’s George P. Bush.

George P. Bush is the nephew of former President George W. Bush and son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. His mother is a Mexican immigrant and he is fluent in Spanish.

The Deputy Commander for the Joint Base San Antonio network of installations said the city and military are connected in ways that cannot be counted. A recently released study showed the military had an economic impact of $27.7 billion in 2011.

Leaders say it’s only the statistical side of the equation, and when examining the social side of the issue, Dr. Steve Nivin of the SABÉR Research Institute, who studied the fiscal impact, said the overall impact seems immeasurable.

Center City, a city department with the goal of developing and revitalizing neighborhoods, businesses and cultural resources in the Inner City Reinvestment Zone, is taking a hard look at West Commerce Street.

Director Lori Houston said it’s an area that was once full of life, but now lacks shops, restaurants and other businesses to cater to a myriad of people.

For the first time in 50 years there wasn’t a Gonzalez listed on the ballot for Congressional District 20 of Texas.

Gonzalez is done with politics, but he isn’t done with being a congressman – not until his replacement, Democrat Joaquín Castro, is sworn in as his replacement in district 20.

Gonzalez has a prediction about the looming  sequestration, or fiscal cliff, that could force automatic austere spending cuts to the federal budget: “Fiscal Cliff - It’s not going to happen.”

Bexar County employees have completed the first phase of uploading court records to the Internet. The county's database is now available for anyone to search for court documents filed with the district clerk or the county clerk’s offices.

City Council passed an ordinance in 2005 seeking to regulate sexually-oriented businesses, but an injunction fell into place that prevented the city from enforcing the new rules. The injunction was lifted in 2010, but sexually-oriented businesses have continued to operate with very few regulations being enforced.

District 6 Councilman Ray Lopez is looking to change all that with his ordinance that strengthens the language as to what constitutes a sexually-oriented business.