Local News:

The city of San Antonio was once again under a winter weather advisory due to an arctic cold front. Many roads in Bexar County, including parts of Loop 1604, remained closed on Thursday due to ice. Several power outages were also reported throughout the city. Freezing temperatures were predicted to continue through the weekend. 

The Texas Department of Transportation voted to keep a 2.2 mile stretch of roadway between I-35 and Burr Road, commonly referred to as Broadway, a part of the state highway system. The decision, which drew criticism from Mayor Ron Nirenberg, means that the city of San Antonio will no longer be able to go forward with redevelopment plans to make the corridor safer for pedestrians and bikers. TPR reports that the redevelopment plan, which was funded by a 2017 voter-approved bond package, included reducing vehicle lanes and adding bike lanes. 

Protestors gathered at Brackenridge Park on Wednesday, Feb. 2, to protest the city’s plan to cut down heritage oak trees, which serve as a habitat for migratory birds, to repair a wall along the bank of the San Antonio River. Councilman Jalen McKee Rodriguez, who represents the district where Brackenridge Park is located, announced via Twitter that a request for the tree removal at the park had been withdrawn.

Coronavirus:

Following the Biden administration’s announcement to distribute 400 million free N95 masks to Americans in light of updated CDC guidelines, local CVS and Walgreens, as well as pharmacies at HEB and Walmart, will be participating in the distribution. Each individual can get up to three masks. 

As of Monday, Feb. 7, San Antonio’s COVID-19 risk level continues to be severe. The city reported 1,475 new cases, making the total cases in the city 509,104. The city reported 24 new deaths.