ALAMO PLAZA

Opinion: How the hall's 10,000 square feet of interior exhibition space will be used in the long term is a mystery.

Gov. Greg Abbott appeared at Alamo Plaza Thursday to sign seven pieces of legislation related to firearms, including so-called constitutional carry.

San Antonio police have made an arrest in connection with a weekend shooing near Alamo Plaza.

A woman hospitalized after shot in legs, man grazed, police reported.

Gunfire near Alamo Plaza overnight ended with multiple people shot and one suspect in custody, according to San Antonio police.

The yet-to-be-designed Alamo museum will be housed in historic buildings by the Alamo Plaza, county commissioners heard Tuesday.

City Council members approved a revised ground lease and operating agreement for the Alamo Plan in a 10-1 vote on Thursday

SAN ANTONIO – Plans to redevelop the Alamo Plaza must move forward with a new design and leadership team, according to an announcement by San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “The position that Councilman Trevino has taken, which is that the Cenotaph can’t move -- then the Alamo Plan is dead, is not tenable. Last September, the Texas Historical Commission voted to deny the Cenotaph’s relocation, which the Alamo Trust said was necessary to make way for a museum. According to Viagran, her family lineage goes back to the Alamo with a member among the defenders. Any changes must be approved by the city council and the Alamo Trust and the General Land Office of the state.

SAN ANTONIO – Tejano heroes of the Texas Revolution were honored on Feb. 27 with a range of events for Tejano Day at the Alamo. “Tejanos at the Alamo” is a new addition to the annual Battle of the Alamo Commemoration lineup. The Alamo featured in-person activities throughout the day on Saturday to demonstrate Tejano life in the 1830s. There was also a virtual event, “The Alamo Addresses: Tejanos of the Texas Revolution” at 10 a.m., which you can watch in the video player above. “It’s important for people to know that this is a bigger story,” Alamo curator Ernesto Rodriguez said.

SAN ANTONIO – A man accused of defacing the Alamo Cenotaph last year has been formally charged in an indictment by a Bexar County grand jury. Noah Benjamin Escamilla, who was 25 years old when the alleged crime was committed on May 29, 2020, is accused of causing between $2,500 and $30,000 worth of damage to the Cenotaph, according to the Bexar County District Attorney’s office. This case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Trial Division in the 290th District Court. Graffiti found in multiple places downtown, including cenotaph in Alamo PlazaThe Cenotaph was just one of several structures marked with graffitied messages against white supremacy and police on the same night. The indictment is just for the graffiti found on the Cenotaph.

SAN ANTONIO – Bracing for a possibly turbulent election night, city officials have decided to install temporary barriers around the Alamo “as a security precaution.”The barrier will be added around the perimeter of the Alamo Plaza until the end of the week, according to a tweet from The Alamo. The Alamo will still be free and open to the public during its regular operating hours. Temporary Fencing Going Up In Alamo Plaza Tomorrow As A Security PrecautionStarting tomorrow, the City of San Antonio will add temporary fencing around the perimeter of Alamo Plaza as a security precaution for the rest of this week. In June, temporary fencing was added around the plaza due to nights of protests. More than 300 polling locations, including schools, libraries, churches, city halls and community centers, will be open.

SAN ANTONIO – BREAKING NEWS UPDATE:By a 12-2 vote, the Texas Historical Commission voted down the idea of moving the Alamo Cenotaph. ORIGINAL STORY:A decision on the relocation of the Alamo Cenotaph is expected to reach a vote as the modern-day battle over the plaza renovation rages on. The Texas Historical Commission on Tuesday is expected to discuss and vote on the empty tomb honoring the Alamo Defenders. Opponents of the Alamo Master Plan have continued to fire shots at the redesign, specifically Lt. Gov. 122, have argued the relocation of the cenotaph would be too far from the Alamo Mission building.

City of San AntonioThe Alamo CenotaphBrace yourself for more monumental meltdowns.The Texas Historical Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday whether to shift the Alamo Cenotaph — erected in 1936 to honor those who died defending the site from the Mexican army — some 500 feet from its current location.Moving and refurbishing the deteriorating cenotaph is part of a $450 million redevelopment of the historic site and its surrounding plaza. A bandstand was disassembled and removed in May to make way for the monument's relocation.Controversy continues to swirl around Alamo Plaza overhaul, which has drawn criticism from Republican elected officials and threats of civil disobedience from self-appointed defenders of Texas liberty.The THC meeting will begin at 9 a.m. via Zoom, according to an agenda posted on the commission's website . For those interested in making public comment, online registration closes at 8 p.m. Monday.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has issued a temporary curfew for the downtown business district and Alamo Plaza that will last until June 7, according to a news release. The curfew for the downtown business district is between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. nightly. The Alamo installing temporary fencing to ‘secure’ landmark during protestsThe mayor's curfew order includes all public spaces and streets within the downtown business district. The release also included the following information about the curfew:"During the hours of the temporary curfew all persons must not travel on any public street or in any public place within the designated area of San Antonio’s Downtown Business District. "A violation of the temporary curfew is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 180 days in jail."

SAN ANTONIO – For the fifth consecutive day, protesters took to the streets of downtown San Antonio protesting racial inequality and the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. "No trouble tonight, whatsoever,” San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said. Among those participating in Wednesday’s protest were San Antonio Spurs players Lonnie Walker and Bryn Forbes and former Spur Sean Elliott. A group of police dressed in riot gear were at Alamo Plaza to prevent anyone from entering the grounds surrounding the shrine. Alamo Plaza will close nightly between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to the city.

SAN ANTONIO Temporary fencing has been placed at Alamo Plaza as protests continue in San Antonio. Alamo Plaza, which has been closed off during nightly curfews, will now have the blockades to secure The Alamo, according to its Twitter account. There will be access points for pedestrians on Alamo and Houston streets, The Alamos Twitter account said Wednesday. A fence has been placed in Alamo Plaza in an effort to prevent any destruction during protests in San Antonio. City officials announced Tuesday the Alamo Plaza will be closed from 8:30 p.m.-6 a.m. daily until Sunday.

SAN ANTONIO Several officials are weighing in after a group that was protesting Tuesday night faced off with San Antonio police officers near Alamo Plaza. But a few hours after the curfew kicked in at the Alamo Plaza at 8:30 p.m., an incident occurred that ended with officers opening fire on a crowd with wooden and rubber projectiles. When questioned early Wednesday morning about the incident by a local reporter, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said that he would seek more information about the projectiles. San Antonio Police Officers Association President Mike Helle said he believes the mayor hadnt received the full story and that "officers acted appropriately with the circumstances they were facing.Several San Antonio journalists have suffered minor injuries during the first four days of protests, including some from KSAT. According to booking records, at least eight people were arrested on Tuesday -- six teenagers and one man in his 20 -- all from San Antonio.

SAN ANTONIO What started as a peaceful protest in downtown San Antonio Tuesday night quickly erupted into disarray after police officers shot projectiles into a crowd. As he has his back to police officers, officers can be seen opening fire and protestors are seen running away. Streets of downtown San Antonio are now full of tear gas. The majority of the people taken into custody by San Antonio police were booked on charges related to evading arrest, according to booking records. Hundreds gather for fourth day of protests in San Antonio over George Floyds death

SAN ANTONIO Mayor Ron Nirenberg said he is inquiring about projectiles that were used by police on protesters and media members Tuesday night at the Alamo. For the fourth day in San Antonio, people marched through downtown protesting racial inequality and the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Spectrum San Antonio reporter Lena Blietz said she was hit in the leg while covering the protests. https://t.co/TCEEexVEXZ Mayor Ron Nirenberg (@Ron_Nirenberg) June 3, 2020Several journalists in San Antonio have suffered minor injuries in the four days of the protests, including from KSAT. READ MORE PROTEST COVERAGE FROM SAN ANTONIO:

SAN ANTONIO A protest turned into chaos and confusion on Tuesday night after shots were heard as demonstrators and San Antonio police officers faced off near Alamo Plaza. A San Antonio resident, who asked to be identified as Ty, shared video of the incident with KSAT, which can be seen above. RELATED: San Antonio mayor questions police use of projectiles on protesters, media at AlamoIn the video, Tys friend could be seen telling demonstrators to put up their hands. The San Antonio Police Department has not released an official statement on the events of the evening. The majority of the people taken into custody by San Antonio police were booked on charges related to evading arrest, according to booking records.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio city officials have decided to extend the closure of Alamo Plaza to vehicular and pedestrian traffic from 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through 6 a.m. Sunday daily, as a precautionary measure to minimize the possibility of civil unrest and damage to structures, a news release said. Alamo Plaza will be open during the day outside of the closure period. City officials will determine later this week if any closures beyond the weekend are necessary. The San Antonio Police Department will increase staffing in the downtown area to prevent any potential disturbances. Related Stories:Peaceful protest ends, agitators create chaos; leave three San Antonio officers injured SaturdayWATCH: After massive peaceful protest in San Antonio hijacked by ‘agitators,’ community turns out to clean upPeaceful protest held in New Braunfels in wake of George Floyd’s death

SAN ANTONIO – Alamo Plaza will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic beginning at 7 p.m. Monday through 6 a.m. Tuesday, as a precautionary measure to minimize the possibility of civil unrest and damage to structures, a news release said. This is the second consecutive night Alamo Plaza will be closed to the public. It was closed Sunday night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. followed by a curfew in the downtown business district from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The curfew was part of an amendment to the emergency declaration drafted after peaceful demonstrations intended to bring attention to police brutality were followed by violent riots Saturday night. Related Stories:Alamo Plaza, grounds close at 6 p.m. Sunday in effort to prevent more violent protests, vandalismWeekend violence in downtown San Antonio results in anything but business as usual Monday morningQ&A: Black downtown business owners weigh in on protests in San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO – At least six people were arrested and formally charged overnight after a peaceful downtown San Antonio protest against police brutality and the killing of George Floyd morphed into destruction and violence, forcing city officials to issue a disaster declaration and curfew. People taken into custody by San Antonio police were booked on a wide range of criminal charges, according to booking records. Photos show evolution of San Antonio protest over police brutality, George Floyd’s killingAttendees in downtown San Antonio Saturday carried signs that read “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice, No Peace" as speakers led the crowd in “We can’t breathe” chants. City officials then issued a curfew for downtown San Antonio from 11:30 p.m. Saturday night to 6 a.m. Sunday. The actions of a few do not represent the majority of those who came out to peacefully demonstrate,” San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said during the late-night press conference.

SAN ANTONIO – Graffiti spray-painted on the Cenotaph on the grounds of The Alamo has some people seeing red. Graffiti found in multiple places downtown, including cenotaph in Alamo PlazaThe words there seemed to condemn white supremacy, capitalism and The Alamo, itself. The red paint caught his attention hours later as he paid a visit to a nearby post office. Police also found red paint spelling out an anti-policy brutality message on the sidewalk at Travis Park. As we condemn this vandalism, we salute the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) for its swift action to investigate.

Spray-painted messages on Alamo’s Cenotaph have people seeing redPublished: May 29, 2020, 12:32 pmGraffiti spray-painted on the Cenotaph on the grounds of The Alamo has some people seeing red.

Graffiti found in multiple places downtown, including cenotaph in Alamo PlazaPublished: May 29, 2020, 7:52 amA famous marble memorial at the Alamo has streaks of red paint after police say a tagger left a mark there on the cenotaph and in several other places downtown overnight.

SAN ANTONIO – A famous marble memorial at the Alamo has streaks of red paint after police say a tagger left a mark there on the cenotaph and in several other places downtown overnight. Officers were called around midnight to the Alamo Plaza after receiving reports of someone having written anti-white supremacy messages. When police arrived, they found graffiti on the cenotaph and more graffiti in the 100 block of Losoya, on the side of a parking structure that belongs to the Hyatt hotel. Another site is on a sidewalk at Travis Park, officials said. A third message, visibly seen on a Travis Park sidewalk, is just four letters, a known acronym for the hate of police officers.

Sipping on a frozen drink, Nichols said the two planned to visit the Alamo and make their way along the River Walk. Normally, this is a busy time for hotels and tourist attractions, but the coronavirus pandemic has greatly diminished this years numbers, several tourism industry experts said. She projected that, because of the coronavirus, the people who are out visiting attractions are more likely to be locals. Maggie Thompson, executive director of the San Antonio River Walk Association, estimated between 60 percent and 70 percent of River Walk businesses are now open. There are roughly 15,000 hotel rooms downtown and 40,000 city-wide, according to 2018 data from the San Antonio Visitor Alliance.

SAN ANTONIO – Within an hour, an Alamo Plaza icon was gone. The hat of the famous bandstand in front of the Menger Hotel was removed Friday morning and hauled to its relocation site. Last week, crews began dismantling the city-owned bandstand — a gathering place for both locals and tourists — as the city plans to restore and redesign the plaza. A camera showing updates on construction on Alamo Plaza will be shown online. The relocation of the bandstand is in line with a plan to redesign and restore the Alamo Plaza, which has garnered controversy in recent years.

Starting this week, crews will begin dismantling the city-owned bandstand in front of the Menger Hotel. A camera showing updates on construction on Alamo Plaza will be shown online. The roof consists of two separate parts: the upper top roof, or hat, and the surrounding lower canopy, according to The Alamo’s website. But since its erection in 1976, it has seen excessive water damage, The Alamo’s website states. The relocation of the bandstand is in line with a plan to redesign and restore the Alamo Plaza, which has garnered controversy in recent years.

More than 150 protesters clustered under the shade of three trees at the base of the Alamo Plaza Cenotaph on Saturday afternoon amid a global pandemic with stay-at-home orders in place around Texas. Brandon Burkhart, the president of This is Texas Freedom Force (TITFF), organized the Saturday event after members of his organization witnessed construction at Alamo Plaza continuing in recent weeks. Before the event, Burkhart encouraged attendees to wear masks and remain six feet away from one another during the program. Protesters gather at Alamo Plaza. Several speakers named the men individually, blaming them for the decisions that shaped the Alamo Plaza plan.

Family of homeless man shot in Alamo Plaza says victim suffers from mental illnessPublished: March 22, 2020, 10:12 pmThe wife and sister of a homeless man who was shot three times in Alamo Plaza Saturday afternoon are speaking out against gun violence while raising awareness for mental health.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police are investigating a shooting in Alamo Plaza that happened just after noon on Saturday. Police said a driver shot a panhandler after the man kicked his car. The driver, in his 60s, told police he was stopped at a light when a man approached his car and tried to panhandle for money. The driver told police he ignored the man when he first banged on his window, but after the man kicked his car, the driver pulled out his gun, rolled down the window and fired three shots at the man’s chest, police said. The panhandler, believed to be in his early 30s, was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in critical condition.

For much of its history, Alamo Plaza was the most vibrant of San Antonios three central plazas. Alamo Plaza, on the other hand, thrived beginning not long after the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. It may be hard for contemporary Texans to understand, but in the wake of the battle, San Antonians considered Alamo Plaza to be at least as important as the remnants of the mission/fortress. San Antonio maintained a balance between honoring the men who died at the Alamo and keeping the plaza as a living urban space. So state politicians Dan Patrick being a powerful example will hew to the myth.

Photo by Kate NuelleThe first floor of the Kress Building, located at 315 East Houston street, is in the process of becoming a civil rights history institute that will aim to tell the story of black members of the San Antonio community and their struggle for civil rights. He has been looking into the civil rights history of the Alamo Plaza and the role it plays in the larger civil rights movement. As I was doing a study I figured out that there was a larger story of civil rights. Latimore said that in order to understand the desegregation of the lunch counters in 1960, his research extends further back than the civil rights era. My study really begins in the World War 2 era and looks at the military, the role of the military, the role of the emerging civil rights movement.

Photo by Kate NuelleThe first floor of the Kress Building, located at 315 East Houston street, is in the process of becoming a civil rights history institute that will aim to tell the story of black members of the San Antonio community and their struggle for civil rights. He has been looking into the civil rights history of the Alamo Plaza and the role it plays in the larger civil rights movement. As I was doing a study I figured out that there was a larger story of civil rights. Latimore said that in order to understand the desegregation of the lunch counters in 1960, his research extends further back than the civil rights era. My study really begins in the World War 2 era and looks at the military, the role of the military, the role of the emerging civil rights movement.

The event Saturday drew high-profile sponsors, including Bexar County, H-E-B, San Antonio Public Libraries, and the World Monuments Fund. The Historic Woolworth Building in Alamo Plaza. His research helped lead to the creation of the San Antonio African American Community Archives and Museum. During his talk, Fly showed a photo of Alamo Plaza in 1921 that had people of many races and styles of dress that connote different classes, all gathered together to see an event in Alamo Plaza. The context for the 1836 battle cannot be separated from the history of San Antonio, he said.

Few social conservatives in Texas can equal Ken Mercer, San Antonios elected representative on the State Board of Education, when it comes to embracing disinformation and fake news as fact. That was most recently evident in a Jan. 20 commentary titled First the Christmas Tree, then the Cenotaph, and now a Statue to Santa Anna that Mercer published on the right-wing Education Views website. Its a ridiculous falsehood promoted by the wackier elements of nativist, open carry Texans who have gathered in San Antonio to protest the removal of the Confederate soldier monument in Travis Park and, more recently, redevelopment plans for the Alamo Plaza, which include moving the Cenotaph. Better to hope the former state representatives recently announced plans to retire after a long tenure on the SBOE are true. He and others on the states school board have consistently stood more for promoting their extreme political views than elevating the quality of public education in Texas.

Few social conservatives in Texas can equal Ken Mercer, District 5s elected representative on the State Board of Education, when it comes to embracing disinformation and fake news as fact. Mercer is a former Republican state representative elected in 2006 to the SBOE to represent a district that includes the northern and eastern portions of Bexar County. Better to hope the former state representatives recently announced plans to retire after a long tenure on the SBOE are true. He and others on the states school board have consistently stood more for promoting their extreme political views than elevating the quality of public education in Texas. This article has been updated to clarify that Mercer is the State Board of Education member for District 5, which includes the northern and eastern portions of Bexar County.

San Antonio – Dozens of demonstrators took to Alamo Plaza on Friday in an attempt to protest the planned relocation of the Cenotaph. The monument, which was commissioned in 1936, 100 years after the Texas Revolution, bears the name of fallen Alamo defenders. Its relocation to a spot a few hundred feet south is part of a larger plan by officials to redesign Alamo Plaza. Brandon Burkhart, the president of This Is Texas Freedom Force, which organized the demonstration, said the demonstrators planned to be out for 24 hours. Why not let Texans vote on it?

Dozens of activists gathered near the Alamo Cenotaph on Friday to plan their defense of the sculpture that is slated to be repaired and moved as part of the overhaul of Alamo Plaza. The Cenotaph is 60 feet high, 12 feet wide, and 40 feet long comprised of heavy marble slabs fixed to a steel interior. Scott Ball / Rivard ReportCenotaph relocation is one of several changes coming to Alamo Plaza as part of the estimated $350-$450 million Alamo Master Plan, which calls for a world-class museum, new entry points to the plaza, and protection and preservation of the Alamo mission and Long Barrack. Controversy still surrounds the relocation of the Cenotaph and closing off the plaza to casual foot traffic. Archeological work taking place in and around the plaza has revealed human remains and artifacts dating back hundreds of years.

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SAN ANTONIO – The city’s Historic and Design Review Commission approved the first phase of the Alamo Plaza redesign Wednesday after it was tabled two weeks ago. The commission voted 7-4 to approve a new location for the Cenotaph. The commission had tabled the item two weeks ago because of concerns over a pending lawsuit between a local indigenous group and the state and city. I’m all for that,” said Forrest Byas, a supporter of the redesign plan. San Antonio will soon see tangible elements restored and taking shape as the plaza follows the master plan.” District 1 Councilman Roberto TrevinoTo see a copy of the Alamo Plaza redesign that was approved by the city, click here.

The City of San Antonios Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) voted 7-4 Wednesday to implement phase one of the massive redevelopment of Alamo Plaza, a plan that includes relocating the Alamo Cenotaph as well as street, landscaping, and hardscaping improvements. Plans to dismantle, restore, and relocate the Cenotaph was approved by the HDRC, Planning Commission, and City Council in October 2018. HDRCs vote also approved the removal of the Lady Bird Fountain, built in 1974, and a 1976 bandstand in Alamo Plaza, changes intended to help make the area more in keeping with its historical environment. The massive Alamo Plaza overhaul developed by the City, GLO, nonprofit Alamo Trust, and Alamo Citizens Advisory Committee through a series of public meetings calls for the Cenotaph to be repaired and moved about 500 feet south of its current location so the monument wont block views of the church. The estimated $350 million to $450 million plan is slated to be largely funded through private donations that would be raised by the Alamo Trust.

San Antonio – The city’s Historic and Design Review Commission tabled an item involving the first phase of the Alamo Plaza redesign this week, which includes the relocation of the Cenotaph. Tap Pilam believes the Alamo site is a cemetery where American Indians are buried, so it should be officially recognized as such. “The plan includes reclaiming the site, closing Alamo Street, closing portions of Crockett Street. The HDRC is scheduled to meet on December 18 to discuss the Alamo plan once again. Click here to learn more about the Alamo Plan.

Tourism advocacy in San Antonio has a new face and a new name its leaders say heralds a fresh start and a focus on local issues. The San Antonio Area Tourism Council, which has represented the regions travel and tourism industry since 1995, is now called the San Antonio Visitor Alliance. Though the Visitor Alliance has not joined a lawsuit filed by a coalition of local business groups to stop the sick leave law from being implemented, he said, it supports legal action. The citys poorly thought-out, one-size-fits-all approach is not going to work well.Were the only entity that looks out for every single segment of the tourism industry, Phillips said. Thats a niche that the Visitor Alliance fills that no one else is doing.The rebranding comes just two months after the group installed a new president and CEO, Sharon Aguillen, who succeeds longtime leader Marco Barros.

SAN ANTONIO - New rules on using scooters downtown went into effect on Monday, restricting where people can use them. Riding scooters on sidewalks in San Antonio is now prohibited, thanks to a measure that was approved by City Council just last month. In addition to sidewalks, scooters also have been banned from both Alamo Plaza and the Riverwalk. The San Antonio Fire Department said they have responded to 173 scooter-related accidents since it began tracking medical calls for such incidents in late September, with nearly 100 people being to the hospital. Copyright 2019 by KSAT - All rights reserved.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio's largest free fitness event is expected to draw big crowds this weekend. Síclovía turns city streets into a safe place for families to play, ride bikes and take part in exercise classes. The modern day event in Colombia features 70 miles of car-free streets. A 3rd-annual 5K run/walk will be held before Síclovía at 8 a.m. at Alamo Plaza. The team with the largest number of registrants to finish the race will receive free Síclovía prizes.