The latest episode of Pickup Lines features Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez, an Antonian High School graduate, former state representative and former San Antonio city councilmember.

Bexar County leaders are voicing concerns on the controversial Guajolote Ranch development proposed for northwest Bexar County.

Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez joined the KSAT Q&A to discuss the November vote for funding of a new Spurs arena.

University Health and Bexar County are launching their sixth annual series of free drive-thru flu vaccination events as part of their community immunization partnership.

When Bexar County voters head to the polls in November, their decision on whether to help fund a new Spurs arena could carry larger consequences for the project.

The town halls will be held over the next three weeks and each feature a representative from a different precinct.

Voting rights advocates worry that legislation approved by House and Senate committees could make it harder to get more people on the rolls.

A grant agreement partnership between Bexar County and Haven for Hope is expected to utilize funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to address “critical infrastructure” needs at the facility, according to a county news release.

The Bexar County Commissioners Court plan to host four budget town halls this month as it prepares to finalize the fiscal year 2024-25 budget.

Bexar County Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert is calling for a citizen-led investigation into what he says are inequities in the county budget.

Individual registration is required for the free flu shot events

Northwest Bexar County residents living in the Davis Ranch community often use Beverly Hills Drive as a shortcut to FM 1560, but that’s no longer allowed.

Though jail staffing was just one aspect of the review by American Correctional Consultants, it remains one of the primary focuses for commissioners, who approve millions of dollars for forced overtime at the jail every year.

The west side of downtown San Antonio is undergoing a transformation that is expected to revitalize the area.

The Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Bexar County has overwhelmingly voted in favor of a new five-year collective bargaining agreement with Bexar County, according to a news release.

Bexar County Commissioners agreed to allocate up to $1.3 million toward COVID-19 testing. The money goes toward two nonprofits operating testing around the county.

On Tuesday, Bexar County commissioners approved over $3.3 million in funding for the courts to handle a spike in domestic violence cases that has caused a significant backlog.

As the local leaders push for more COVID-19 vaccinations, a billboard spreading an anti-vaccine message is on display on the North Side of San Antonio.

Commissioners voted 3-1, with one abstention, to cut the tax rate for the county’s portion of property tax bills from $0.301097 to $0.299999 for every $100 of valuation. That equates to somewhere between a $3 to $4 savings a year for the average homeowner, staff said.

Bexar County and San Antonio leaders are seeing a surge in hospitalizations and more people getting tested amid an increase of COVID-19 cases in our area and across the state.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said 995,047 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 741,238 are fully vaccinated.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg said 928,327 people have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 647,489 are fully vaccinated in Bexar County.

Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez said Thursday evening that 1,000 teens are being housed at the Freeman Coliseum’s Expo Center.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 524,642 first-dose COVID-19 vaccines have been administered. He said 294,158 people are fully vaccinated.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar Commissioner Justin Rodriguez updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in the daily briefing Wednesday night. Nirenberg reported 202,981 total COVID-19 cases and 3,073 total deaths in Bexar County, an increase of 132 new cases as of Wednesday. Nirenberg said 428,643 people have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 239,595 are fully vaccinated in Bexar County. RELATED: Metro Health to make 30,000 COVID-19 vaccine appointments available ThursdayAdRodriguez says the state will allow all adults to be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday. Dr. Anita Kurian, assistant director of Metro Health, and Nirenberg say the area needs more vaccines to meet the local demand.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Thursday night. Nirenberg reported 199,431 total COVID-19 cases and 2,861 total deaths in Bexar County, an increase of 366 new cases as of Thursday. Nirenberg said more than 319,000 people have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, and more than 184,000 are fully vaccinated. AdOfficials encourage people to sign up for vaccine text alerts to find out when appointments will open up again. See below for details:City of San Antonio sets up COVID-19 vaccine text alert system.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported 404 new COVID-19 cases and 4 new deaths during today's briefing

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Thursday night. Nirenberg reported 186,346 total COVID-19 cases and 2,387 total deaths in Bexar County, an increase of 902 new cases as of Thursday. Twenty-two new deaths were reported today. Nirenberg said the deaths happened over the span of 14 days. City officials also reported that 791 patients are hospitalized, 316 are in the intensive care unit and 182 are on ventilators.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Thursday night. Nirenberg reported 178,662 total COVID-19 cases and 2,186 total deaths in Bexar County, an increase of 860 new cases as of Thursday. Five new deaths were reported today. City officials also reported that 1,081 patients are hospitalized, 374 are in the intensive care unit and 223 are on ventilators. Nirenberg said the city will be on alert for any reports of large gatherings during the Super Bowl this Sunday.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Thursday night. Nirenberg reported 166,022 total COVID-19 cases and 2,027 total deaths in Bexar County, an increase of 1,752 new cases as of Thursday. RELATED: Had the 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine in San Antonio? Nirenberg said mayors in Texas and across the U.S. are pushing for more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government. Nirenberg also said the Fiesta Commission is meeting with health officials this week, and leaders are anticipating an announcement next week.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported an increase of 2,507 new COVID-19 cases and 17 new deaths.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported an increase of 1,170 new COVID-19 cases and nine new deaths.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Thursday night. Nirenberg reported 99,142 total COVID-19 cases and 1,440 total deaths in Bexar County, an increase of 1,606 new cases as of Thursday. No new deaths were reported today. City officials also reported that 837 patients are hospitalized, 272 are in the intensive care unit and 134 are on ventilators. There were 104 admissions to the hospital within the last 24 hours.

For Barbara Silva and her family, the incentive to donate plasma is personal. Her mother, brother, husband, and three children all contracted Covid-19 after her mother was hospitalized with cancer. With Covid-19 case numbers on the rise, the need for plasma is increasing and county commissioners know that. Rodriguez says keep proof of your donations if you want to be compensated when the program launches early next year. RELATED: Bexar County planning to pay COVID-19 survivors for plasma

SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s Note: Watch the entire briefing in the video player above. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Thursday night. Nirenberg reported 66,909 total COVID-19 cases and 1,268 total deaths in Bexar County, as of Thursday, an increase of 195 new cases. He also said there are 42 COVID-19 patients from El Paso in San Antonio hospitals as the border city experiences a surge in cases. Rodriguez said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff is self-quarantining after coming into contact with a county employee who tested positive for COVID-19.

Nirenberg reported 64,767 total COVID-19 cases and 1,247 total deaths in Bexar County, as of Monday, an increase of 151 new cases. Nirenberg said the COVID-19 positivity rate has jumped to 6.9%, up from 5.8% last week. The goal is to have a positivity rate under 5%. The county’s COVID-19 risk level is now “moderate." The school risk level is also “moderate.”COVID-19 Risk Level 10/26/20 (COSA/Bexar County)

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County Commissioners approved a $4 million grant program on Tuesday aimed specifically at the area’s hard-hit bar and restaurant industry. The program, which will be administered by LiftFund, includes $3.75 million for grants of up to $25,000. The money will go to Bexar County bars and restaurants that have not already received help through previous city and county grant programs. So this round is to help make up for that,” said Deborah Carter, director of economic and community development for Bexar County. A county spokeswoman said Tuesday that Judge Nelson Wolff has submitted the necessary paperwork to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to allow bars to reopen in Bexar County, but it had not yet been approved.

SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s Note: Watch the entire briefing in the video player above. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Friday night. Nirenberg reported 59,514 total COVID-19 cases and 1,172 total deaths in Bexar County, as of Friday, an increase of 191 new cases. City officials also reported that 193 patients are hospitalized, 84 are in the intensive care unit and 37 are on ventilators. There are 12% of staffed beds available and 73% of ventilators available.

SAN ANTONIO – Many of those in line outside the Bexar County Elections Office dropping off their mail-in ballots have been seniors, many of which are mobility-impaired. Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez, who represents Precinct Two, said he had wanted to give those voters more options. “But, I couldn’t get everything done that we wanted to.”He said for instance, having several drop-off locations instead of one at the Bexar County Elections Office would have been helpful. He also strongly urges seniors and mobility-impaired voters, if possible, to take advantage of extended early voting from October 13-30, or request a mail-in ballot before October 23. Rodriguez said, “I think there’s hopefully some lessons learned here and we can improve moving forward.”RELATED: Here’s how, where to vote early in Bexar County

SAN ANTONIO – Early voting kicks off Tuesday in Bexar County, and preparations are underway at one of four mega voting centers throughout the area. Crews were setting up hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes stations, plexiglass, and voting machines inside the AT&T Center on Thursday morning. Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez says the county expects a historic turnout during this election season. Officials say voting machines will be wiped down between uses, pencils or other items will be provided to those who want to avoid touching screens and voting machines will be six feet apart. Early voting runs Oct. 13-30, and Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

SAN ANTONIO – Do you need to get your flu shot? Bexar County Precinct 2 Commissioner Justin Rodriguez is partnering with KSAT Community partner University Health System to host a drive-thru flu shot drive on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nelson Wolff Stadium. Medical professionals from University Health System will set up in the Nelson Wolff Stadium parking lot to administer flu shots, with participants receiving their shot in their own vehicle. This event is possible through additional support from the City of San Antonio, the San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Public Works, the Bexar County Office of Emergency Management and University Health System. KSAT Community operates in partnership with University Health System, Energy Transfer and Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union.

SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s Note: Watch the entire briefing in the video player above. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Thursday night. Nirenberg reported 57,936 total COVID-19 cases and 1,138 total deaths in Bexar County, as of Thursday, an increase of 104 new cases. City officials also reported that 205 patients are hospitalized, 76 are in the intensive care unit and 36 are on ventilators. There are 13% of staffed beds available and 73% of ventilators available.

SAN ANTONIO – Editor’s Note: Watch the entire briefing in the video player above. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Thursday night. Nirenberg reported 50,425 total COVID-19 cases and 1,040 total deaths in Bexar County, as of Thursday, an increase of 141 new cases. City officials also reported that 214 patients are hospitalized, 100 are in the intensive care unit and 43 are on ventilators. Rodriguez said 1,300 out of 3,500 available appointments for the county’s flu shot drive next week have been filled.

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County leaders officially announced Wednesday that the AT&T Center will serve as a voting site during the upcoming election cycle, including early voting days from Oct. 13-30 and Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3. This will be the first time the AT&T Center has been utilized for voting in a general election. That coupled with the pandemic, we’ve never had a general election or a significant election in a COVID-19 environment.”Rodriguez said last week there would be no shortage of personal protective equipment inside the arena for voters and election workers. The AT&T Center was one of four proposed mega voting sites in Bexar County. With the AT&T Center and Spurs officially on board, Rodriguez has said the county hopes to reach more underserved communities.

Vote by mailTexas is one of just six states that has not opened up mail-in voting for all voters amid the pandemic. “Then we’ll send them the ballot and we’re paying for the postage for them to send their actual ballot back in. Mega voting centersCome election day, for the first time ever, the AT&T Center will be used as a polling place. Rodriguez said mega voting centers like this can make for a safer and more efficient process. The county hopes to create at least four mega votings centers across the city to accommodate each side of town.

SAN ANTONIO – If you’ve recovered from Covid-19, you could get paid to help others heal from the virus. A new initiative in Bexar County is underway, aimed at getting people who have Covid-19 antibodies to donate their plasma, which in turn could save lives of people suffering from severe cases. Through her five donations, Caporale estimates her plasma has been transfused into 15 very sick patients. “Only hundreds of the 40,000 have actually donated plasma,” Rodriguez said. RELATED: ‘It saved my life’: COVID-19 survivors reflect on importance of convalescent plasma donations

San Antonio – The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting all areas of life, including the upcoming November election. In Bexar County, commissioners are planning to discuss early voting locations next week that will be safe for residents and allow for social distancing. William “Frankie” Trynoski graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio and has voted there before. This year, mega sites like the AT&T center or senior centers are also being considered. It’s set for Sept. 15th at the AT&T Center.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Thursday night. Nirenberg reported 47,956 total COVID-19 cases and 990 total deaths in Bexar County, as of Thursday, an increase of 69 new cases. Nine new deaths were reported today. The deaths happened between Sept. 1 and Sept. 9, Nirenberg said. Rodriguez reminded people that the final day to register to vote in Bexar County is Oct. 5.

SAN ANTONIO The AT&T Center will have a different look this fall. But Spurs Sports and Entertainment and Bexar County, which owns the AT&T Center, had already been discussing the use of the arena for election purposes for months. That includes an agreement to use Our Lady of the Lake University on the West Side as an early voting site for the first time. The AT&T Center is expected to be available throughout early voting which runs from Oct. 13-30. With the AT&T Center and Spurs on board, Rodriguez said the county hopes to reach more underserved communities.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez, along with Metro Health Medical Director Dr. Junda Woo, updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Thursday night. Here are a few of the highlights:Nirenberg reported 45,811 total COVID-19 cases and 767 total deaths in Bexar County, as of Thursday, an increase of 189 new cases. Rodriguez said the Bexar County Commissioners Court is working to make voting safer and more accessible amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Rodriguez said commissioners are exploring mega voting sites to maximize social distancing, 24-hour polling locations during early voting and increased curbside or drive-thru options. Greg Abbott increased the early voting period , giving people more opportunities to cast their ballot before Election Day.

San Antonio Bexar County Commissioners want to institute more options, if possible, to make voting easier and safer for Bexar County voters in October and November, but the elections administrator says not all of those ideas may be possible. Callanen told reporters the Bexar County Elections Department is thrilled about the mega centers, and it already has agreements to use the AT&T Center in Precinct 4 and the Alzafar Shrine Auditorium in Precinct 3. However, Callanen indicated to reporters that other ideas - a 24-hour early voting location and drop-boxes for mail-in ballots - likely wouldnt pan out. Those voters could only cast their ballot at the Bexar County Elections Department, which is the main Early Voting site and is only open during office hours. Were talking about maybe one day each week of Early Vote, having one center open for 24 hours, Rodriguez told reporters.

SAN ANTONIO Precinct 2 Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez is proposing a plan that would make voting in the upcoming election possibly safer. The plan includes early voting sites open 24/7 and mega voting locations. Have you spaced on the upcoming election? We would make sure to utilize proper spacing, such as in the AT&T Center, he said. He also mentioned how the county would utilize the $3 million it set aside for the elections from the Federal Cares Act.

SAN ANTONIO In a unanimous vote Thursday, Bexar County Commissioners agreed to pay $11,969 to the members of two grand juries that amounts to an additional $65 dollars per week for each juror. Though some have called it hazard pay, commissioners have now labeled it as supplemental pay.' The juries, who had been serving when the pandemic hit and a moratorium was ordered on jury service in mid-March, agreed to serve an additional two-month term. I think it was justified in the sense that these people went above and beyond, Precinct 2 Commissioner Justin Rodriguez said as he discussed the supplemental pay. RELATED: Bexar County courtrooms soon to have new look

SAN ANTONIO An inmate is in critical condition at an area hospital and a second inmate faces a felony assault charge after an attack at the Bexar County Jail Monday. BCSO officials have not released the name of the injured inmate or the names of other inmates possibly involved in the alleged attack. The incident comes less than 14 months after a Bexar County Jail inmate was charged in the death of a fellow inmate. In May 2019, Shandrick Buckley was charged with capital murder after investigators said he stomped to death Alexander Wise. Doctor finds inmate accused in jailhouse killing competent to stand trial for murdersBuckley, who, like Rodriguez, was being held on a murder charge at the time of the jailhouse attack, was found competent to stand trial last August.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and other local officials updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Thursday night. Here are a few of the highlights:Nirenberg reported 17,679 total COVID-19 cases and 165 total deaths in Bexar County , as of Thursday, an increase of 954 new cases. Six of those deaths were current, and 13 of them occurred over the past three weeks. The older deaths were reported after the medical examiner conducted post-mortem COVID-19 tests on cadavers of people who had symptoms related to the virus. Track daily spikes in COVID-19 cases in San Antonio, Bexar CountyMORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE FROM KSAT:

SAN ANTONIO If COVID-19 hospitalization trends continue in Bexar County, it wont be long before officials activate a makeshift hospital at the Freeman Coliseum. 2 Commissioner Justin Rodriguez toured the potential hospital last week, calling it a surreal experience.It brought home the importance of the severity of the situation that were in, Rodriguez said. Adding beds in hospital cafeteria better than creating makeshift hospital, STRAC director saysThe commissioner posted pictures of the site on Twitter, telling his followers that nows the time to follow social distancing guidelines. This is not something you want to see and the last thing a family member would want is to be in a makeshift hospital room in an expo, Rodriguez said. Medical experts recommend people stay at home amid the pandemic, practice good hygiene and wear a mask in public.

SAN ANTONIO – Election results will begin to populate on this page when early voting results are released at 7 p.m. (CST) on March 3 and we’ll have an election night livestream on KSAT.com. You can find additional election results by scrolling to the bottom of this page. For more election coverage, go to our Vote 2020 page or sign up for our free election newsletter.

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County now has an additional $7.1 million for mental health programs. Bexar County Precinct 2 Commissioner Justin Rodriguez and University Health System CEO George Hernandez made the announcement Friday at a news conference. These funds will be used in coordination with existing initiatives, such as pre-trial diversion, specialty courts and will target critical needs in providing much needed services for children with special needs, expand access for pre-crisis adult services, address domestic violence, provide for the homeless, and our veterans in need. Funds will also provide respite care, urgent care, and increased medical access.

SAN ANTONIO – The opioid epidemic is a growing problem across the nation, and now Bexar County is expanding a treatment program for those who are addicted. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, along with Pct 2. Commissioner Justin Rodriguez and TJ Mayes, chairman of the Bexar County Opioid Task Force, announced an expansion of the county’s mental health program. The medication-assisted treatment pilot program will help people who battled opioid addiction behind bars and are reentering the community while under the supervision of a judge. The Bexar County Task Force is also getting approval for a syringe services program.