At parental rights event, Gov. Greg Abbott sheds light on how he’d implement “school choice” policy
For the first time, Abbott makes it clear which policy he supports. Bills that would allow parents to get state money to send their kids to schools outside of the state’s public education system have been floated previously, but top lawmakers believe the policies will pass this session.
Corpus Christi sold its water to Exxon, gambling on desalination. So far, it is losing the bet.
Concerns over ecological damage to Corpus Christi Bay have delayed plans to convert sea water to drinking water for years in this booming Gulf Coast city, where environmentalists see water supply as a “chokehold” to block new fossil fuel infrastructure.
Trump to hold rally in South Texas two days before early voting
The former president will stage a rally Saturday in Robstown, west of Corpus Christi. Gov. Greg Abbott said he can’t attend, but Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton, who are both running for reelection, will be speakers.
EPA reverses course, rejects permit for massive oil exporting project offshore from Corpus Christi
During the Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency exempted a proposed oil export terminal off the Texas coast from air pollution requirements. This week it rejected the permit because of pollution concerns.
The Karankawa were said to be extinct. Now they’re reviving their culture — and fighting to protect their ancestors’ land.
Historians long thought the Karankawa people had disappeared. But now a group of descendants is fighting to protect a coastal area — where thousands of Karankawa artifacts were found — from an encroaching oil export facility.
Honorable discharge: Officer accused of groping handcuffed woman bounced between departments despite trail of misconduct
A South Texas police officer with a history of misconduct was accused of groping a San Antonio-area woman during an August 2019 drug arrest on the same day he was notified of an impending suspension for an unrelated parking dispute with a resident.
Mother, daughter who were kidnapped in Corpus Christi found safe, suspect in custody, police say
A mother and her 1-year-old daughter who police say were kidnapped in Corpus Christi this week have been located.The Corpus Christi Police Department said Thursday morning that Jezabel, 18, and Zaylee Zamora are safe.
Smithson Valley baseball defeats Los Fresnos, returns to UIL State tournament
After yet another rain delay forced the final innings to be postponed until Friday afternoon, Smithson Valley baseball survived another rally to defeat Los Fresnos in their one-game Regional Final playoff at Cabaniss Field.
Smithson Valley baseball gets sendoff prior to Regional Final against Los Fresnos
The Smithson Valley baseball team was shown a lot of love by their hometown community, as they officially left on a chartered bus headed for Corpus Christi to take on Los Fresnos in a one-game Regional Final playoff on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Padre Island National Seashore had more visitors in 2020 than previous years
Padre Island National Seashore had more visitors in 2020 than in the previous two years, according to park officials. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, or maybe because of it, the national park near Corpus Christi had 617,704 visitors. The month of May saw a particularly large increase from previous years with 97,368 visitors in 2020 compared to 54,426 visitors in 2019. “At a time when access to nature became necessary for families to safely recreate, Padre Island National Seashore was able to provide a critical service to the local community and South Texas,” said park superintendent Eric Brunnemann in a press release. AdThe Padre Island National Seashore also closed after Hurricane Hanna in July of 2020 and ahead of Tropical Storm Beta in September.
South Texas bird food supply impacted by February winter storm
It was evident that Winter Storm Uri took a toll on South Texas plants. “They flock down here to be able to see the birds that we have to offer here in Texas,” Brown said. Brown said to make sure to clean out hummingbird feeders every two to three days. Bird droppings and other contaminants around and on feeders can spread infectious bird diseases. “The key is to keep the feeders clean, keep the area around the feeders clean, and fully shut down feeding if dead or sick birds are found at the feeder,” said TPWD Ornithologist Cliff Shackelford.
Texas to find, vaccinate homebound seniors against COVID-19
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas officials are taking a page from Corpus Christi’s playbook and stepping up efforts to vaccinate seniors against COVID-19. Greg Abbott announced the Save Our Seniors initiative at a news conference in Corpus Christi on Thursday, saying that more than 1,100 National Guard troops will be deployed to help communities identify homebound seniors and vaccinate them against the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo says the city’s fire department has administered 2,000 vaccines in the past month to homebound seniors identified by the city’s Meals on Wheels program and that 144 have been vaccinated fully. The vaccinations came as state health officials reported 7,011 new coronavirus cases and 305 new deaths from COVID-19, the illness the coronavirus causes. The newly reported cases and deaths pushed the number of confirmed Texas cases reported during the pandemic to 2,621,181 and the state’s pandemic death toll to almost 42,285, according to statistics compiled by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Padre Island National Seashore officials ready to release hundreds of sea turtles on Tuesday
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Padre Island National Seashore staffers on Tuesday will begin to release hundreds of sea turtles who were “cold-stunned” during the winter storm. “As part of an ongoing rescue effort, hundreds of sea turtles were brought to Padre Island National Seashore, primarily from the Laguna Madre, where waters are relatively shallow and heavily influenced by cold air temperatures,” officials said in a statement. More cold stunned sea turtles are being found today as people head out to enjoy the nice weather. AdStaffers, volunteers and area partners have spent days patrolling inshore waters in and near Padre Island National Seashore on foot and in boats. AdRelated: Thousands of cold-stunned sea turtles being rescued in Texas
These fishing spots on the South Texas coast will be temporarily closed due to freezing weather
Bob Hall Pier is closed until further notice due to construction. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will temporarily close some saltwater fishing spots along the coast — including some on Padre Island and near Rockport, Fulton and Aransas Pass — due to freezing weather. The 21 fishing sites will close at midnight on Monday and stay closed until 11:59 p.m., TPWD said in a news release on Saturday. During that time, fishing will be off-limits in these areas in an effort to protect the wildlife and resources. You can get the very latest forecast anytime by bookmarking our weather page and downloading the KSAT Weather Authority App - available for both Apple and Android devices.
Up for the task: Younger Texans are helping older family members get COVID-19 vaccine
Jackie Tidwell made it her mission to get her grandfather, retired Cmdr. David Gallegos Jr., in Corpus Christi vaccinated for COVID-19. Jackie Tidwell is among a growing number of adult children and grandchildren helping older family members get access to the COVID-19 vaccine. But, after attempting to navigate the local sign-up portal, ultimately all it took was a phone call to get retired Cmdr. David Gallegos Jr. — whom Tidwell adoringly calls “Pops” — the information he needed to get his first dose.
SeaWorld San Antonio staff members rescue 13 endangered green sea turtles in Corpus Christi
CORPUS CHRISTI- Texas – SeaWorld San Antonio animal care specialists rescued 13 endangered green sea turtles on the upper Laguna Madre in Corpus Christi. “The SeaWorld Rescue team actively monitors both air and water temperatures along the Texas coast, which determines when they will aid in the search or rescue,” Cureau said. “Once it was determined that the temperatures had dropped significantly and the chance for cold-stunned turtles was significant, three members of the SeaWorld Animal Rescue were deployed. According to SeaWorld San Antonio, the group has successfully rescued turtles, dolphins, manatees and even terrestrial animals like opossum, since 2013. Related: VIDEO: 2 male penguins raise foster chick of different species at SeaWorld San Antonio
Hill Country contractor charged with theft now accused of felony family violence
Wolfe was arrested and charged with multiple felonies in Gillespie County in August 2019, months after the Defenders uncovered issues with his now-shuttered construction company. Hill Country contractor arrested months after Defenders exposed himHe is awaiting trial for theft of property between $150,000 and $300,000, a second-degree felony, misapplication of fiduciary property over $300,000, a first-degree felony, and two third-degree felony counts of exploitation of the elderly. Multiple former clients of Wolfe told the Defenders he took payments for work and then abandoned the projects before they were completed. A sergeant with the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office told the Defenders in 2019 that he was, at one point, working seven criminal cases against Wolfe. The state attorney general’s office eventually took over the case because it had the resources to properly handle it, Gillespie County officials said.
New COVID-19 variant case reported in Nueces County, officials say
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The new COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.7, which originated in the United Kingdom, has been identified in Nueces County, according to Dr. Srikanth Ramachandruni, a local health official. Once he returned home, the man was diagnosed with the new COVID-19 variant, Ramachandruni said. Officials say they feel confident that they can contain the spread of the new variant, given that the man has been isolated since he was informed. The state has since allocated 4,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Nueces County area, according to officials. Related: Texas sees 1st case of new variant amid push for more shots
2 out of hospital after Corpus Christi petroleum facility fire
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Two of the seven workers injured when a storage tank at a petroleum facility in Texas exploded after catching fire have been released from the hospital, while the remaining five are hospitalized in stable condition, officials said Sunday. Corpus Christi Fire Department Deputy Chief Richie Quintero said Sunday that the cause of the explosion remains under investigation. The seven employees of Shelton Services Inc. were cleaning an aboveground storage tank at Magellan Midstream Partners' Corpus Christi petroleum facility when the fire happened Saturday, Shelton Services said. Shelton Services said Sunday that two of the employees were released from a Corpus Christi hospital on Saturday while five others are in stable condition at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Mark Calhoun, operations manager for Magellan Midstream Partners, has said the Magellan plant has 60 storage tanks and a small refinery that was not affected by the blast.
7 injured in oil storage tank explosion at Magellan plant in Corpus Christi, firefighters say
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Seven people were injured in an oil storage tank explosion at the Magellan plant in Corpus Christi, according to the Corpus Christi Fire Department. The explosion happened just after 10 a.m. at the Magellan oil refinery, located in the 1800 block of Poth Lane. You can watch the city’s press briefing below:Emergency Press Briefing The City of Corpus Christi and Nueces County are hosting a joint news conference to brief the public on the Magellan Explosion near Poth Lane and Gibson Street. 99Emergency Press Briefing Posted by City of Corpus Christi - Government on Saturday, December 5, 2020Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement on the incident and said the state is aiding Corpus Christi officials in their emergency response efforts. You can read the full statement below:“The State of Texas is working closely with Magellan and Corpus Christi officials to aid in the emergency response efforts and to provide immediate help to those injured in the explosion.
Watch the full trailer for ‘Selena: The Series’ coming to Netflix in December
In the words of the Queen of Tejano herself -- “we never thought we’d get this far but we’re here.”Netflix officially dropped the full “Selena: The Series” trailer on Monday and fans are excited. The series will air Dec. 4 on the streaming platform and actress Christian Serratos plays Selena Quintanilla Perez whose life was tragically cut short on March 31, 1995, in Corpus Christi. Selena, just 23-years-old, was murdered by Yolanda Saldivar, the founder of the Selena fan club. Selena was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, near Houston, and became the first Latino singer to debut at No. According to Netflix, “'Selena: The Series' explores her journey from singing small gigs to becoming the most successful female Latin artist of all time — and the years of hard work and sacrifice the Quintanilla family navigated together.”The comments on the YouTube trailer were overwhelmingly positive.
Woman, 19, charged with kidnapping 3 children in Corpus Christi, police say
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 19-year-old woman is charged with kidnapping after Corpus Christi police say she left a Walmart store with three children that weren’t hers. Authorities were dispatched to a Walmart store, located in the 4100 block of S. Staples, around 6 p.m. Saturday. Helen Alvarez is charged with kidnapping three children in Corpus Christi. (Credit: Corpus Christi police) (Corpus Christi Police Department)Around 9:15 p.m., police said they spotted Alvarez and the three children walking near SPID and Ennis Joslin. RELATED: 3 missing children, 19-year-old woman found safe in Corpus Christi, police say
3 missing children, 19-year-old woman found safe in Corpus Christi, police say
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Update:Three children and a 19-year-old woman that were reported missing in Corpus Christi have been found safe, according to Corpus Christi police. Original:The Corpus Christi Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating three missing children and a 19-year-old woman. A 2-year-old male, 2-year-old female and a 4-year-old female were reported missing to police at 5 p.m., Saturday, according to CCPD’s Facebook page. Corpus Christi Police Department needs your help to locate the whereabouts of 3 missing children. Neighbors in the area are urged to check their doorbell or surveillance cameras for any sightings of the missing children.
‘Crazy looking' sea hares are common on the Texas coast, but this is why you rarely see them
While they’re common in the Laguna Madre these “pretty cool” sea hares aren’t seen every day by beachgoers or anglers. It's a seahare, a type of sea slug that @TPWDfish found in the Laguna Madre pic.twitter.com/Hir2ONb93L — TX Parks & Wildlife (@TPWDnews) October 1, 2020There’s no doubt they’re “crazy looking,” but sea hares don’t cause harm. “The reason we come across sea hares in our work is due to the type of sampling method we use (a bag seine),” she said. “I have received multiple videos and photos of sea hares from our biologists in the field over the years. According to the Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, sea hares stick to calm, shallow waters with a large amount of algae.
Well repairs off Padre Island coast halted due to approaching storm
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Repairs to a leaking gas well just off the Texas coast have been halted because of Tropical Storm Beta, according to the city of Corpus Christi. “Due to deteriorating weather conditions, offshore repairs are temporarily on hold on the Magellan E&P owned natural gas platform located near Bob Hall Pier on North Padre Island,” according to a news release from the city late Friday. There were no injuries and the city said air monitors have detected not contamination. The city said onshore work on the repairs will continue and offshore work will resume when National Weather Service forecasts indicates winds at the platform are 15 mph (24 kph) or less and waves are lower than six feet. Repairs to the well were delayed a week ago when the city said additional equipment was needed to replace a leaking valve and additional elements of the wellhead also needed repairs before the replacement could be completed.
Heavy Rainfall Threat With Beta Has Diminished As The Center Has Become Less Determinant In The Pressure And Wind Fields
Location 60 miles NNE of Birmingham Alabama Wind 10 mph Heading NE at 10 mph Pressure 29.83 Coordinates 86.3W, 34.3NDiscussionAt 400 AM CDT (0900 UTC), the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Beta was located near latitude 34.3 North, longitude 86.3 West. The post-tropical cyclone is moving toward the northeast near 10 mph (17 km/h) until it becomes indistinguishable within the background wind and pressure field by mid-afternoon Friday. Maximum sustained winds are near 10 mph (20 km/h) with higher gusts. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1010 mb (29.83 inches). Tropics Satellite at 3:39 Friday Night, September 25thWatches and WarningsThere are no watches or warnings in effect.
Woman catches 9-foot tiger shark near Bob Hall Pier in Corpus Christi
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Large shark catches off the Texas coast are more common than you might think. One of the most recent anglers to land a big fish is Josie Silva who caught a 9-foot tiger shark south of Bob Hall Pier in Corpus Christi on Labor Day. Silva said her shark catch was part of Texas Shark Rodeo which is a catch-photo-release team-oriented, shark-fishing tournament with an emphasis on tagging and collecting data for the conservation of sharks. “Our team is the Team 3rd Coast Beach Bums. The rod I used I made myself the week before,” Silva said.
Funeral services for fallen Bexar County Sheriff deputy Noah Calderon held Friday morning
SAN ANTONIO – Noah Calderon, a Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputy who died in a crash near Corpus Christi last month, will be laid to rest on Friday. The services for Calderon, who was the youngest deputy ever hired by BCSO, began with a public viewing at the Miracle Center. An 18-wheeler collided with their vehicle, which was also carrying Calderon’s younger brother, who was injured and airlifted to a San Antonio hospital. The San Patricio County Sheriff’s Office said it appears the 18-wheeler may have failed to yield to a stop sign. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office invites you to the funeral services for Fallen Deputy Noah Calderon who lost his life... Posted by Bexar County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, September 1, 2020Related links:
Repair to well off Padre Island taking longer than expected
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Repairs to a natural gas well off the Texas coast that started leaking last week will take longer than expected, officials said. But the City of Corpus Christi said in a Tuesday evening news release that the company handling the repairs needs additional equipment to replace a leaking valve. In this image released by the U.S. Coast Guard, natural gas is release from an oil platform approximately three miles offshore of Corpus Christi, Texas, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP) (U.S. Coast Guard via AP)The city said additional elements of the wellhead also need to be repaired before the replacement can be completed. Last month, four people were killed when a dredging vessel in the Port of Corpus Christi hit a submerged propane pipeline, causing an explosion.