Eileen Pace

Economists have long been aware that retail spending by Mexican nationals shopping in the U.S. adds significant dollars to local economies, but a new study seeks to expand those numbers for a broader view of the impact of Mexican dollars on  San Antonio.

Ted Siebert, an internationally renowned sand sculptor, is leading a design team in building three massive artworks at the San Antonio Botanical Garden using 24 tons of sand.

The designs will include the Alamo and the Moy Grand Hibiscus flower.

The Moy Hibiscus was first produced at the Botanical Garden in a cross-breed experiment by Dr. Ying Doon Moy, whose colleagues eventually got the hibiscus planted along roads in China.

The closed section of the Riverwalk on Museum Reach has been re-opened to the public. When the F.I.S.H. art installation was damaged in Monday’s windstorms, the San Antonio River Authority had to close the section of trails under the I-35 overpass.

On Tuesday crews cleaned up fallen debris from the broken F.I.S.H. and partially re-opening of one side of the river.

Wednesday, SARA re-opened the east bank of the River, noting that it may have to be closed again temporarily when repairs get underway.

Bexar County Commissioners adopted a resolution Tuesday supporting Medicaid expansion for Texas residents, but commissioners know they have some convincing to do in Austin.

Local leaders are sending a message to lawmakers -- and the governor.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff has been spending time in the state capital this year trying to convince lawmakers to stop referring to Medicaid expansion as "optional."

Joint Base San Antonio has been working with its civilian workers to communicate the military’s instructions if sequestration kicks in this Friday.

A 20 percent across-the-board cut includes furloughs of federal employees at all military bases across the country.

That’s the bad news. The good news is the furloughs are part-time.

Joint Base San Antonio Spokesman Brent Boller said the sequester will cut $1.2 trillion from government spending, and about half of that will be cuts in Department of Defense spending.

The William B. Travis “Victory or Death” letter from the Battle of the Alamo is back in San Antonio. The letter will be on exhibit at the Alamo for 13 days -- the same length of time the fortress was under siege -- and then will be returned to the state archives.

Under the watchful eyes of dozens of police officers, state troopers carried the letter into the Alamo before an audience of hundreds.

The fourth-generation great-nephew of Col. William B. Travis read a transcript of his uncle’s letter as it was carried past the crowd and into the Alamo shrine.

Trinity University is unveiling its first-ever wine release, a custom blend that brings an extra benefit to the school.

Winemaker Adam Lee is a Trinity alumnus now living in California's Sonoma County. He’s back in San Antonio to market his wines from the Siduri Winery to vendors across Central Texas -- and to kick off the wine he made specifically for his alma mater.

Lee said the idea came from a conversation with Trinity’s President, Dennis Ahlburg.