BARS

If you’re anything like me, you love to travel. And after being inside for more than two years, I am absolutely ready to get back out there and visit some of my favorite cities.

Residents and bar owners in the Tobin Hill community have been looking for a way to find a peaceful compromise on crime and noise issues plaguing the neighborhood for some time.

In a city with multiple college campuses, the use of fake IDs is expected but security at some bars are seeing them more frequently and more believable fakes.

Sri Lankan health authorities have begun vaccinating children aged 12 to 15, as the island nation’s top medical specialists warned of a wave of COVID-19 infections in the coming weeks driven by the omicron variant

The arrests were made on a plane in Amsterdam's airport before the take-off on Sunday, police say.

San Antonio police were called to the venue, located in the 3000 block of NE Loop 410, after a large, oversold crowd showed up to see Grupo Firme, a Latin music group with a large international following.

(Photo by Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)SAN ANTONIO – More than a year into the coronavirus pandemic, Bexar County restaurants and bars are finally starting to see more of the hustle and bustle they were used to seeing. AdNirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff issued their “Stay Home, Work Safe” orders by March 23, 2020, effectively closing all non-essential businesses. Wolff didn’t allow Bexar County bars to open until he consulted with the TABC and the COVID-19 task force. Bexar County bars and restaurants saw a 46% decrease in alcohol sales between January and October of 2020 compared to 2019, according to data from the Texas Comptroller’s Office. It is now time to open Texas 100%.”

In this photo supplied by the South African Police Services (SAPS), gold bars weighing 73.5 kilograms (162 pounds) are photographed at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. Police are investigating a possible international gold smuggling syndicate after three suspects were arrested with the gold bars in their carry-on luggage. (South African Police Services via AP)JOHANNESBURG – South African police are investigating a possible international gold smuggling syndicate after three suspects were arrested at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg with gold bars weighing 73.5 kilograms (162 pounds) in their carry-on luggage. “Upon questioning of the suspects and further inspection of their hand luggage, officials discovered the gold bars and some foreign currency,” said police spokeswoman Col. Athlenda Mathe.

In the midst of a pandemic that has crippled bars and nightlife, live music and performance venues have been hit particularly hard. The effort to get these businesses aid has become a rallying cry.

BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – Bexar County bars are being ordered to close again as of 11 p.m. Thursday. A new executive order from Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff states that all bars and similar establishments that hold a TABC permit, and are not defined as a restaurant, must close until further notice. Wolff wrote a letter to TABC officials Tuesday to notify them that he is choosing to opt Bexar County out of Gov. In Bexar County, bars were allowed to reopen Oct. 20. Most of the more than 3,000 bars in Bexar County reopened as restaurants while the order to keep bars closed remained in effect, according to a previous KSAT report.

Aided by the NBA regular season and big concerts scheduled in San Antonio, Bexar County bars and restaurants posted more than $67 million in alcohol sales in March 2019, according to the comptroller’s office. The alcohol sales figures provided by the comptroller’s office show a 46% drop between January and October of 2020 compared to 2019, showing the pandemic’s impact on local restaurants, bars, venues, hotels and resorts. From January until October of 2019, alcohol sales totaled $565,451,795. Over that same period in 2020, the numbers show sales at $303,852,813. On Monday, Hegar said the deficit appears to be improving due to more Texans spending money, boosting sales tax revenue.

HOUSTON – A Central Texas county has closed its bars after area hospitalizations for COVID-19 exceeded a state mandated limit. McLennan County Judge Scott Felton on Sunday closed bars and reduced capacity to 50% at stores, restaurants and other businesses. In an email, the TABC said it is investigating the Houston night club after last week’s incident. The TABC has received about 3,000 requests from bars seeking reclassification as restaurants in Texas and about 2,800 have been approved. “TABC takes the safety of Texas businesses and their customers extremely seriously,” the agency said Monday in an email.

Bexar County judge, San Antonio mayor issue nightly curfew for Thanksgiving weekendThe curfew was announced Wednesday and starts at 10 p.m. Thursday. However, she said with the curfew now in effect, she fears her business will continue to suffer. Don Marsh, owner of Bar 1919 off South Alamo, said the holiday weekend is crucial in the bar industry. I mean, these are easy money days for the bar business,” he said. Answers to frequently asked questions about Bexar County’s Thanksgiving curfewAnswers to frequently asked questions about Bexar County’s Thanksgiving curfew

“If it lasts for more than two months, this place is probably going to be gone,” Yumol said. According to the TABC, an establishment must have a kitchen, food truck or a designated area where food is prepared. Some bar owners told KSAT they had spent thousands of dollars upgrading plumbing, kitchen equipment, adding staff and creating a menu. Yumol also lacks the staff, and he is frustrated the TABC loophole doesn’t help neighborhood bars like his. “I’m going to be shut down again, and we’re going to have to work second jobs instead, and I’m still going to be angry about this,” he said.

SAN ANTONIO – The COVID-19 Community Response Coalition (CRC) on Tuesday offered Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff recommendations for bars if the community positivity rate is equal to or exceeds 10% for two consecutive weeks. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported Monday that the area’s positivity rate increased 1% percent since last week and is now at 9.4%. If the positivity rate continues to increase at that pace, bars could be closed again as early as the first week of December. The county says there are currently 2,009 bars and restaurants with alcohol permits that are allowed to open under Texas Gov. The CRC says since the county is already close to reaching a 10% community positivity rate, taking action sooner would slow down the spread.

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio family is facing financial and health issues while fighting to keep their dream business alive. Lindsey and Harvey Shiran were able to reopen their bar, Callaghan’s Icehouse, last Friday, but the couple said COVID-19 has impacted them in more than one way. Lindsey and Harvey Shiran opened the bar located on Fredericksburg Road in February. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the couple to close their bar’s doors to close after a month. Her husband’s health is improving and she believes business and life will one day get back to normal.

SAN ANTONIO – Management at Cooter Browns Saloon say they are shutting their doors after they have exhausted all other options during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was not an easy decision, but after weighing all of our options, it made the most sense,” Cooters said on Facebook. We do not have the ‘deep pockets’ that Santikos does, and it is not secret that Santikos does not have the best reputation when it comes to their tenants,” Cooters said on Facebook. “God willing, this is not the last that you have seen of Cooters…just the last for now,” Cooters said on Facebook. Related: ‘We just couldn’t do it anymore’: Doors close for good at some Bexar County bars

SAN ANTONIO – Some Bexar County bars are back open for business. Judge Nelson Wolff issued an executive order, which allowed hundreds of bars to reopen under additional health and safety protocols. The judge said 425 bars out of nearly 3,000 in the county have remained closed, but only 25 will reopen. I think it was a rough calculation of 25% will never open” he said during Thursday’s daily briefing. RELATED: Bars allowed to reopen in Bexar County

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County bar and restaurant owners who have suffered during the coronavirus pandemic could get a boost from a new grant. On Tuesday morning, the Commissioners Court will hear details about the Bexar County Restaurant and Beverage COVID-19 grant program, which includes about $3 million in grants. If the court approves the grant program, business owners will be able to apply for up to $25,000 starting Monday. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff last week announced he would allow bars to reopen under the recommendation of a city and county COVID-19 task force. About 10 bar owners have contacted his office to inquire about reopening, he said.

How safe is it to reopen bars? Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff announced that local bars will be able to reopen soon at 50% capacity. So as long as we are mindful of public health guidance, we’ll be able to do this safely. That’s still the public health guidance, whether it’s bars or schools. I think it’s the right thing to do to follow the public health guidance,” he said.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff announced that local bars can reopen at 50% capacity. The judge accepted seven of those recommendations, which will go into effect once bars reopen. Greg Abbott issued an order earlier this month that allowed county judges to open bars, provided a county’s COVID-19 hospitalizations make up less than 15% of hospital capacity. When bars do reopen, they must stop serving drinks by 11 p.m. under the governor’s order, which Marsh said is peak business hours for most bars. Related: When will bars reopen in Bexar and 13 surrounding counties?

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – The doors to the Old Ice House, a decades-old neighborhood spot in New Braunfels, welcomed it’s first customers in roughly seven months Wednesday afternoon. “It’s been tough, especially with adjusting to making way less money,” said Jennifer Hitchens, a bartender at the Old Ice House. During the shutdown, many bar owners applied for restaurant licenses to be able to operate at limited capacity. But Jack Alves, who has been manager at Old Ice House for 30 years, said that wasn’t an option for them because they don’t have a kitchen. Bexar County initially decided not to reopen, but County Judge Nelson Wolff on Wednesday night approved the reopening as early as next week.

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff plans to follow the recommendation of a city and county COVID-19 task force to reopen bars, he announced Wednesday evening during the nightly briefing. A subcommittee of the COVID-19 Community Response Coalition issued a memo Wednesday recommending the reopening of bars in Bexar County, as long as 75% of the bars commit to additional safety measures. Wolff said Wednesday evening that most of the 3,000 bars in the county had already reclassified as a restaurant, and that his order will allow the remaining 425 bars to reopen. The coalition’s Policy and Health Alerts Workgroup reviewed the order before making the recommendation to Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. “The current order from the Governor does not provide enough tools to assure a safe reopening of bars,” according to the memo.

SEGUIN, Texas – Happy Hour is coming back to some bars in Guadalupe County. According to a news release, Guadalupe County officials have decided to opt in to allow bars in the county to reopen. Bars will be allowed to reopen in Guadalupe County if the following conditions are met:Each bar or similar establishment shall complete, sign, and submit a Bar Registration form to Guadalupe County for approval. Bars or similar establishments within Guadalupe County seeking approval to open can obtain a form on the Guadalupe County Website. Guadalupe County is the second county in the San Antonio area in the past two days to announce it will opt in.

Comal County Judge Sherman Krause has decided to opt in to allow bars in the county to reopen, a news release said Monday. County judges must approve the decision to reopen bars. Comal County officials consulted with health officials, mayors, TABC and law enforcement to develop a strategy to reopen bars and similar establishments. The strategy included the development of an Open Safe Plan that bar owners are asked to complete and submit to the county for approval. Comal County’s Open Safe Plan can be viewed below:

Greg Abbott said Texas counties could allow bars to reopen, only one of the state’s 10 most-populous counties — Denton — has decided to take him up on the offer. “Therefore, following the doctors’ advice, I won't be opening bars at this time.”The same path was followed by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. But Denton County announced Wednesday that bars would be opening in the North Texas county. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said he would continue consulting with health authorities before deciding whether to opt in. Among the undecided Texas counties, their own health indicators and how reopening bars could affect progress amid the pandemic are top concerns.

AUSTIN – BREAKING NEWS UPDATE:Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said Wednesday night that he has decided not to allow the reopening of bars in Bexar County. Greg Abbott issued an order allowing bars and similar establishments to open at 50% capacity in regions with low COVID-19 hospitalizations. ORIGINAL STORY:Governor Greg Abbott has issued an order allowing bars and similar establishments to open at 50% capacity in regions with low COVID-19 hospitalizations. Issuing Executive Order to Open Bars in Qualifying Counties Opening bars and similar establishments to 50% capacity in regions with low #COVID19 hospitalizations. To ensure bars open safely, these openings will be done in conjunction with county officials.

Greg Abbott said he “will be announcing more openings soon” as the state shows signs of recovery from the novel coronavirus. “The hospitalizations, number of new positive cases, and positivity rate remain contained,” Abbott said. The hospitalizations, number of new positive cases, and positivity rate remain contained. Texas bars were ordered to close mid-March and allowed to reopen at 25% capacity on May 22 and then 50% capacity on June 3. In September, Abbott expanded capacity for most businesses, but fell short of opening bars.

SAN ANTONIO – Cacey Kovacs, owner of Hill Country Distillers in Comfort, Texas, said customers have been very understanding about the business’s need to push sales of food, souvenirs and even tokens. But for the regulars, there’s only so much merchandise the business can push. A recent survey by the Texas Restaurant Association revealed 50% of restaurant operators believe their business will not be open in six months if they don’t get some government relief. So bars have to continue to push the merchandise, food sales and whatever else they can to make it. “Please, please, support local, support small businesses because they need it badly,” Kovacs said.

Greg Abbott outlined his latest reopening plan this week, bar owner Greg Barrineau watched in disbelief. Abbott, who announced that Texas restaurants could expand dine-in service to 75% capacity, said bars must remain closed. It could leave 30% of Texas bars and 39% of distilleries permanently closed within six months, industry leaders said. After shutting down dine-in service in March, as officials across the globe have done this year, Abbott eventually opened restaurants and then bars this spring. When Abbott ordered bars closed again, he expressed regret at allowing them to reopen so quickly.

Greg Abbott would allow bars like his to reopen to some extent. Instead, the Abbott announced Thursday that bars would remain closed until there’s a way for them to reopen safely. He said he and other bar owners had seen the flattening of the curve in COVID-19 cases as an encouraging sign. “I don’t understand how you can open up Texas Stadium to 30,000 people. How can you have other large businesses open ... and then still shut down our industry for five months?” Martindale said.

SAN ANTONIO – In most of Texas, businesses can now increase their capacity as the state has begun slowing the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Starting Monday, businesses including restaurants, gyms, retail stores, museums and offices can increase their capacity to 75%, up from 50%, Abbott said during his news conference. Other businesses, like movie theaters, bowling alleys, water parks and amusement parks must remain at 50% capacity, however. In regions where COVID-19 hospitalizations make up more than 15% of admissions, businesses there must remain in the current stage of 50% capacity. Bars that have recategorized as restaurants can increase their capacity like other businesses.

Greg Abbott is expected to deliver an update to the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday. A news conference is slated to begin at noon at the Texas State Capitol, and it will be livestreamed in this article. The governor’s latest public update comes a day after Texas health officials reported more than 3,400 new COVID-19 cases and 135 new deaths on Wednesday. The state’s dashboard states the COVID-19 positivity rate fell below 10% on Sept. 1. San Antonio has reported 50,284 total COVID-19 cases and 1,022 total deaths.

San Antonio – The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has been making changes to the requirements necessary to receive a Food and Beverage Certificate to help more bar owners meet those requirements. Bar owners like Tony Keogh, of Main Street Bar, is adapting to keep their businesses alive. The latest TABC amendment eliminates the need for the business to have a commercial kitchen. The certificate from TABC to be able to reopen will cost about $800, money Keogh says he really cannot afford. Related: Emergency TABC amendment relaxes requirements for Texas bars to reopen as restaurants

SAN ANTONIO A new amendment approved by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Tuesday is opening a new path for bars to reopen as restaurants. The amendment to Rule 33.5 will allow bars to more easily qualify for a food and beverage certificate by removing certain requirements that make obtaining the certificate difficult. Texas bars were closed in mid-March, allowed to reopen at 25% capacity on May 22, got the go-ahead to increase capacity to 50% on June 3, and then on June 26, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order to reclose all bars with roughly 3 hours notice. Emergency rules adopted under Government Code 2001.034 may be effective for not longer than 120 days and may be renewed for not longer than 60 days.Read the full amendment below:

SAN ANTONIO – A special team led by San Antonio Code Enforcement will be monitoring bars and restaurants across the city on Thursday night. City of San Antonio Development Services Director Michael Shannon said the team was assembled due to issues brought to light by violations at The Well bar on the Northwest Side over the weekend. And we need to really go out and find those.”Recently, changes by the state allowed some bars to reopen as restaurants with a special certificate. Since March, according to online city data, of the roughly 90 encounters where citations were issued, 17 involved a restaurant or bar. A spokesperson says the sheriff’s office’s efforts are to inform businesses about the requirements made by the city and county.

San Antonio Some Bexar County bars are beginning to reopen under a new classification, thanks to some changes by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Bars with full kitchens now have two options: They can apply for a Food & Beverage Certificate or submit an Alcohol Sales Reporting Affidavit. If you operate as a restaurant, you have to be willing to serve food for your entire opening hours, Porter said. You cant serve food from, you know, 8 to 9 p.m., then serve alcohol the rest of the time. City of San Antonio officials said they are aware of the reclassification of these bars to restaurants and there are concerns.

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread at a significant rate across Texas, the future is still unclear for two major industries in the Lone Star State bars and college football. Greg Abbott took questions on both topics during a COVID-19 briefing held Tuesday in Beaumont. When (patrons) become intoxicated, they lose the discipline that they need to maintain the practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Abbott said. Many of the major football conferences appear to be leaning toward postponement or cancellation, even though college football players have expressed their desires to play in the upcoming season. Though Abbott has not had a discussion with university athletic directors since conferences began canceling football season, he said the health, safety and careers of the athletes should come first.

SAN ANTONIO The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission announced Friday that their biggest challenge is handling businesses that are failing to comply with the Governor Abbotts executive order and remain open, forcing the commission to continue revoking alcohol licenses. Before Abbotts order went into effect, bars in the state were able to operate at 50% capacity. The biggest challenge I see lies with industry members who choose to operate in violation of the governors executive order. Not everyone who wants to be in this industry qualifies to do so under the strict requirements imposed by the Alcoholic Beverage Code. According to Nettles, TABC agents will be out in communities across Texas this weekend, just like every other weekend, enforcing the law.

SAN ANTONIO San Antonio area bar owners are pleading for relief from the state amid mounting bills after Gov. San Antonio bar owner in financial bind amid COVID-19 pandemicGreg Barrineau, the owner of Drink Texas, said bar owners have been struggling to pay their rent, mortgages and personal bills because of the lack of revenue. Bar owners are desperate and struggling to survive, Barrineau said. The bar owners are pleading the governor to take quick action, or they will sink. We will practice all the safety measures and everything that any restaurant bar does.

SAN ANTONIO In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Thats why Im in it, the people, said Rob Martindale, owner and operator of Big Hops. Rob Martindale started Big Hops eight years ago with a small budget and a big passion: beer. 5 charts explain COVID-19 surge in San AntonioMartindale uses his spots to help local breweries or at least he did when he was open. Its going to make a change, so itll take a while to get back on our feet, Martindale said.

SAN ANTONIO – Back-and-forth bar and restaurant closures have led to a push for change from the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA). In June, Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order which forced Texas bars to close after a surge in COVID-19 cases. “I just had a huge food order come, and he gave us exactly three hours,” he said. The Texas Restaurant Association is showing support for businesses like Specia’s. Specia said Highlanders qualifies as a restaurant, but he is not sure if his business will return.

Thats the new advice experts are recommending for the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are scheduled to be updated later this year for the first time in five years. The guidelines now say men should limit themselves to two drinks a day, and that women should limit themselves to one. In a report released Wednesday, a committee of experts noted there isnt adequate evidence to support different alcohol recommendations for men and women, and that research supports tightening the limit for men. With alcohol, Naimi said two drinks a day was associated with a increased risk of death compared with one drink a day. Many Americans already exceed the current advice on alcohol limits, Naimi noted.

Des Moines Public Schools custodian Tracy Harris cleans chairs in a classroom at Brubaker Elementary School, Wednesday, July 8, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa. Getting children back to school safely could mean keeping high-risk spots like bars and gyms closed. That's the latest thinking from some public health experts. But getting children back to school safely could mean keeping high-risk spots like bars and gyms closed. Public health experts hope the conversation can stay focused on the mechanics of opening schools.

The Texas Medical Association has released a COVID-19 risk chart to give guidance on which establishments, events and spaces are considered low, medium and high risk for contracting the virus. Bexar County surpasses 15,000 COVID-19 casesIt ranks bars, religious services, large concerts, movie theaters, gyms and amusement parks as the places with the highest risk of getting infected. Those establishments, with the exception of bars, are allowed to stay open in Texas despite the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Abbott and local officials have taken a tougher stance on social distancing in recent weeks as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise. Texas has recorded 200,557 virus cases and 2,655 deaths as of Monday.

SAN ANTONIO Open, closed, open, closed - such is the way for Texas bars, which were reclosed Friday at noon after Gov. Abbotts order reclosed bars and establishments whose receipts consist of 51% or more of alcohol sales. Greg Abbott expresses regret over reopening Texas bars during coronavirusBut those back-and-forth closures have left many who depend on the bar industry for income concerned about how theyre going to make ends meet. KSAT spoke with several people in the bar industry around San Antonio who shared their experience navigating the bar closures in an industry that is rapidly changing amid the coronavirus pandemic. With no direct clue who to blame or how to go about it, it seems the easy target bars, said Humphrey.

Greg Abbott on Friday took a tougher stance on curbing the coronavirus pandemic by further scaling back reopenings. Also under the new orders, rafting and tubing businesses must close and outdoor gatherings of 100 or more must be approved by local governments. Fridays order was issued at Texas specifically major cities are continuing to see a spike in COVID-19 cases. At this time, it is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars. The 638 new COVID-19 cases in Bexar County brings the areas tally to 8,452 cases.

SAN ANTONIO One San Antonio bar is among 17 that have had their alcohol permits suspended as of Monday by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for allegedly violating COVID-19 health protocols. Burnhouse, located off North Loop 1604 East, was shut down on Monday, according to the TABC. These violations represent a very small number of the 3,500 licensed businesses inspected by TABC since the beginning of May, TABC Chairman Kevin J. Lilly said. The first violation will result in up to a 30-day license suspension, and the second will result in up to a 60-day suspension, TABC said. RELATED: Some San Antonio bar owners decide to shut down amid second wave of COVID-19 infectionsThe standards for operating bars in Texas were drafted by Governor Greg Abbotts Strike Force to Open Texas.

A dozen Texas bars have had their alcohol permits suspended as of Sunday by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for allegedly violating health protocols that can help slow the spread of COVID-19. Protecting the health and safety of Texans during this pandemic is our top priority, Nettles said in a statement. We warned businesses (that) TABC will have no tolerance for breaking the rules, and now, some bars are paying the price. The first violation will result in up to a 30-day license suspension, and the second will result in up to a 60-day suspension, TABC said. RELATED: Some San Antonio bar owners decide to shut down amid second wave of COVID-19 infectionsThe standards for operating bars in Texas were drafted by Governor Greg Abbotts Strike Force to Open Texas.

Five Texas bars have had their alcohol permits suspended by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for allegedly violating health protocols that can help slow the spread of COVID-19. Protecting the health and safety of Texans during this pandemic is our top priority, Nettles said in a statement. We warned businesses (that) TABC will have no tolerance for breaking the rules, and now, some bars are paying the price. The first violation will result in up to a 30-day license suspension, and the second will result in up to a 60-day suspension, TABC said. Related: Some San Antonio bar owners decide to shut down amid second wave of COVID-19 infectionsThe standards for operating bars in Texas were drafted by Governor Greg Abbotts Strike Force to Open Texas.

“I freaked out,” said Prince, who plans to quarantine for two weeks and get tested if COVID-19 symptoms arise. Also Tuesday, the state reported that at least 2,000 Texans have died from the COVID-19 disease caused by the new coronavirus. "They still have to be practiced because COVID-19 hasn't suddenly magically left the state of Texas," he said. More than 680,000 workers in the restaurant industry have lost their jobs during the pandemic, according to the Texas Restaurant Association. Disclosure: Steve Adler, a former Texas Tribune board chairman; Texas A&M University; and the Texas Restaurant Association have been financial supporters of the Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

As bars and restaurants have begun reopening, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is warning all operators that they must follow the states protocols or they face license suspension. San Antonio River Walk reopens after being closed due to COVID-19 pandemicIt is essential that bars and restaurants follow the public safety checklist developed by the governors Strike Force to Open Texas, TABC Executive Director Bentley Nettles said. There is nothing more important than the health and safety of Texans as we reopen, and there are consequences for businesses that do not follow the rules. Hills & Dales Ice House to close amid COVID-19 concernsA first offense will result in a 30-day license suspension, according to TABC, and a second will result in a 60-day suspension. Click here to find all TABC resources for businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

SAN ANTONIO Bar owners across Texas have been anxiously awaiting for the day theyll be able to reopen their doors, and that day is Friday. Governor Greg Abbott made the announcement Monday that on May 22, bars can open at 25% occupancy. At the Backyard on Broadway, they are prepping for their own reopening. Also reopening on Friday are bowling alleys, bingo halls, zoos and aquariums. Bars, bowling alleys, summer sports camps, child care services allowed to reopen in Texas with restrictions

SAN ANTONIO Texas Governor Greg Abbott allowed the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to waive late fees for license and permit renewals, he announced Wednesday. After the 30-day grace period, late fees still wont be applied. The waiver applies to renewals with an expiration date on or after March 13, 2020, according to the news release. As we continue to safely and strategically open the state of Texas, we want to ensure financial barriers are removed for businesses that plan to open up to the public, said Governor Abbott. They can only allow 25% occupancy and have to maintain social distancing practices.

SAN ANTONIO Bars are officially allowed to open back up for business in Texas starting Friday, May 22 but they may only operate at 25% capacity for in-person service. The capacity limit will be based on the listed occupancy for the establishment, according to Gov. Abbotts Strike Force to Open Texas. Bars and other similar establishments with a permit from TABC that are not considered restaurants are all included in the businesses allowed to start reopening. Restaurants, previously allowed to operate at 25% capacity, will be allowed to increase to 50% of the total listed occupancy inside the establishment starting Friday.

SAN ANTONIO The Texas Bar and Nightclub Association encouraged bars across the state to turn on their lights and turn up their music Friday night. The initiative was called Turn Up the Lights, which aimed to show the community that they were ready to reopen. I think the biggest question everybody has is when are we coming back, said bar owner Sergio Acosta. Bar owners across Texas are just at their wits end. When is enough, enough? said bar owner Braunda Smith.

SAN ANTONIO Two San Antonio bar owners estimate that nearly a third of local bars and nightclubs will never reopen, even when the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted. Shes optimistic that her business will survive, but says she knows many other bar owners are not as fortunate. Were seeing small businesses going into a record amount of debt trying to stay open.Bars in San Antonio were forced to close when San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg issued an emergency declaration on March 18. He said his 30% estimate on bar closures could be worse if bars cannot reopen for another month or two. We have submitted a plan to the governor through the Texas Restaurant Association called The Texas Bar Promise and a safety plan through the Texas Bar and Nightclub Alliance.

SAN ANTONIO Some San Antonio bars will turn on their lights on Friday night but they wont be for customers. Theyre participating in an initiative by the Texas Bar and Nightclub Alliance called Turn up the Lights" which encourages bar owners and employees to turn on their lights and music from 6 to 10 p.m. to show community members that theyre still there and are eager to reopen. "We just really look forward to safely serving our friends again like we have the past 10 years.Martindale and Newman spoke to Steve Spriester Thursday about a statewide plan to open bars safely. Until the crisis is over, KSAT News is stepping in to try and separate the facts from the fiction surrounding the new coronavirus. Facts can fight fear, and in times like this KSAT wants to do more, because you should expect it.

According to The Washington Post, bar and restaurant owners are meeting with security officials to put measures in place against a Paris-style terror attack. CBS News senior national security analyst Juan Zarate joins CBSN with insight.

81-year-old behind bars for pet violation An 81-year-old great-grandmother spent two nights in a Maryland detention center for a minor pet violation committed nearly a year ago. As WJZ's GiGi Barnett reports, the senior citizen says her punishment doesn't fit the crime.