The Top 20 Stories That Impacted Central Texas In 2019

Staff report

Another year has come and gone. As everyone looks to the new year and the opportunities ahead, the I-35 Corridor looks back at the end of a decade. 

The year 2019 had its fair share of big state and local news that left its mark on the community whether it was stories of courage, generosity, tragedy or change.

Among the stories on the Top 20 list cover local policies and the local criminal justice system, state border issues and ways to diversify and spread out recreational use of local natural resources. 

Here’s a look back at the top 20 most popular Corridor News stories in 2019.

#20      Published on 10/29/2019      Views: 4,848

San Marcos City Manager Announces Reorganization For Community Services Operations

City Manager Bert Lumbreras announced the new Directors and Assistant Director for the Parks and Recreation and General Services Departments as a result of a recent reorganization of the City’s Community Services Operations on Monday. “Following the retirements of several key staff in the Community Services Department, I took the opportunity to reorganize our operations to better utilize resources…” •  Read More

#19      Published on 7/10/2019      Views: 4,868

Tijuana Law Enforcement Finds Illegal Immigrant Males Buying Children To Improve Border Entry Chances

Migrants in Tijuana, Baja California, are growing more fearful as groups of men approach them offering money in exchange for children. According to shelter directors, migrants and Tijuana Law Enforcement, the men are offering to purchase children from “vulnerable single mothers” to help improve their chances of entering the United States safely… • Read Morelank” radius=”9″ outer_border_color=”#” icon_color=”#”]Read more[/button]

#18      Published on 2/28/2019      Views: 5,179

Texas Border CBP Seize 12 Million In Drugs, Arrest MS13 Gang Member Child Sex Offender And Rescues Woman In Labor

Below you will find the latest information available for reported drug smuggling, human trafficking and illegal crossings that have occurred on the Texas border and ports. It has been published by many news outlets around the country that the criminal activity on our Texas-Mexico border has… • Read More

#17      Published on 10/14/2019      Views: 5,224

ULI Releases Report For Activating The San Marcos Riverfront

The Urban Land Institute released a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) report regarding land use along the San Marcos River in August. The City of San Marcos, the Greater San Marcos Partnership and Texas State University partnered with the Austin District Council of Urban Land Institute in Fall 2018 to examine land use along the San Marcos River… • Read More

#16      Published on 8/13/2019      Views: 5,609

San Marcos Man Sentenced To 90 Years For Committing Long-Term Sexual Abuse Against Two

On August 8, 2019, Mario Ruiz, age 34, was sentenced to 90 years in prison for committing long-term sexual abuse against two young children. Ruiz’ sentence arises from his conviction at trial on June 25, 2019, when a Hays County jury found him guilty after hearing evidence that Ruiz sexually abused his… • Read More

#15      Published on 10/2/2019      Views: 6,062

Former Kyle Resident Convicted, Sentenced To Life For Domestic Violence Murder

After a seven day trial that began on September 23, 2019, former Kyle, TX, resident, James Craig Keen, age 52, was convicted of murdering his estranged girlfriend and was sentenced to life in prison. Keen murdered Erin Wright, age 39, on March 26, 2016, in his Kyle, TX home by shooting her in the kitchen after an argument… • Read More

#14      Published on 8/24/2019      Views: 6,113

San-Marcos CISD Announces New Policy For Lunch-Breakfast Program For All Campuses

The San Marcos CISD Child Nutrition Services and all of its campuses announced Friday a change to its policy for serving meals to children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 2019-2020 school year… • Read More

#13      Published on 11/12/2019      Views: 6,728

San Marcos City Council Approves Purchase Sale Agreement For Sportsplex

Last week, the San Marcos City Council approved a purchase and sale agreement with Pursuant Ventures Development, LLC, to improve 30 acres with a multi-use Sportsplex facility. The City of San Marcos is proposing to enter into a public-private partnership with San Marcos Baseball… • Read More

#12      Published on 10/25/2019       Views: 8,627

Hays County Early Voting Locations Sample Ballot And Your Election Day Polling Places All In One Place

Early voting starts on Monday, October 21 and runs through November 1 and voters are going to see some major changes this election season. Voters can find all early voting locations, election day polling locations as well as the sample ballots for each precinct and precinct maps below… • Read More

#11      Published on 11/12/2019      Views: 9,092

Local Republican Organizes Rally In Response To San Marcos City Council’s Member Comments

On Saturday, local republicans held a rally in San Marcos to show support for President Donald Trump. Martha Doss, a local republican and naturalized citizen said she organized the event in less than two weeks in response to “nasty” comments made by a local city council member on twitter… • Read More

#10      Published on 4/4/2018     2019 Views: 9,996

#1 Most Read in 2018

Gary Job Corps Management Firm Loses Contract Under Investigation For Health, Safety Issues

ResCare has been brought in on an interim basis to Gary Job Corps; they are interviewing Management and Training Corporation employees to potentially continue staffing the facility. It is unknown how long the interim period is. The employees will continue receiving normal pay through April 30… • Read More

#9       Published on 8/5/2019     Views: 10,220

Hays County Judge Recommends Dissolving Full Department Rise In Property Taxes In 2020 Budget

Last week, the Hays County Judge released his recommended budget for the Fiscal Year 2020, which includes at least five personnel changes and a proposed tax rate. On Tuesday, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra gave commissioners a brief presentation highlighting a few items from his recommended budget… • Read More

#8       Published on 8/13/2019      Views: 10,568

Hays County Commissioner Requests Investigation By The Texas Rangers Into Tampering Of Government Document

The Hays County Commissioners Court’s regular meeting opened Tuesday morning with a discussion on why an item was pulled from the agenda without court approval. Hays County Judge, Ruben Becerra, removed an item regarding the Hays County Voting Center locations from the agenda on… • Read More

#7       Published on 6/7/2019      Views: 12,511

Wimberley Karate Instructor Sentenced To Life Plus 20 Years In Child Sex Abuse And Pornography Case

After a two-week trial, Richard Griffin, age 65, of Wimberley, Texas, was convicted by a Hays County jury of Continuous Trafficking of a Person and sixty-three counts of Possession of Child Pornography and sentenced to life in prison plus… • Read More

#6      Published on 2/22/2019      Views: 13,387

SMPD Issues Arrest Warrant For SMCISD Teacher For Inappropriate Relationship With Student

On Feb. 22, the City of San Marcos announced an arrest warrant had been issued for a San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District San Marcos High School teacher for… • Read More

#5      Published on 2/26/2019      Views: 14,078

City Of San Marcos Could Soon Evict Tenant For Non-Payment Of Lease And Property Taxes

The City of San Marcos could evict one of its tenants in the upcoming months for defaulting on their lease payments and property taxes. Several properties along the Union Pacific Railroad in San Marcos are city-owned property currently being leased to local businesses… • Read More

#4      Published on 9/24/2019      Views: 16,328

San Marcos Fire Marshal Calls For Mandatory Evacuation Of Vie Lofts

In response to safety concerns about building stability and means of egress, the San Marcos Fire Marshal issued a mandatory evacuation order for Vie Lofts at 817 Chestnut St. today, Friday, Sept. 20. City staff, along with apartment personnel, are going door-to-door to notify residents… • Read More

#3      Published on 12/30/2019      Views: 18,116

The Texas Suburbs Are Slipping Away From The GOP These Women For Trump Want To Win Them Back

An audible groan erupted in the lounge area of Houston’s Gulf Coast Distillers in late October when high-profile Trump campaign operative Mica Mosbacher invoked the idea of a Democratic presidency. Mosbacher encouraged the audience of roughly 50 GOP women… • Read More

#2      Published on 11/24/2019      Views: 18,328

San Marcos PD Investigates Sexual Assault Of GJCC Student By Former Employee

The San Marcos Police Department is investigating the sexual assault of a Gary Job Corps student, which occurred last week. On Thursday, Willie George Thomas, IV was arrested on sexual assault charges after the 19-year-old Gary student called police and reported he had been sexually assaulted… • Read More

#1      Published on 11/28/2018      Views: 22,898

Former San Marcos High School Teacher Wanted For Sexual Assault

The San Marcos Police Department has issued arrest warrants for a former member of the San Marcos High School faculty after receiving reports of an improper sexual relationship with a student. On November 28, 2018, a female victim came forward with a report of a sexual assault occurring in 2008… • Read More