Gold Sponsors

Additional Sponsors

Howie Hsieh began meal prepping while serving as a pilot in the United States Air Force.

“We had 12-14 hour days sometimes, and we needed to be fit to fight. Meal prepping was the solution,” Hsieh said.

Some details: Hsieh’s last duty station was at Universal City’s Randolph Air Force Base, and when he was relieved from his pilot duties, he thought it would be a good idea to continue meal prepping, inspiring him to open a Clean Eatz in San Antonio’s Stone Oak area at 158 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 106.

He wanted to open another Clean Eatz in Universal City because it’s where his last base was.

“I thought it would be good to be back where I started,” Hsieh said. “Also, there is a lot of growth happening in this part of town.”

Quote of note: “Healthy eating can be fun, it can be tasty and it can be affordable,” Hsieh said.

After a five-hour special board meeting Jan. 10, the Judson ISD board of trustees has placed Superintendent Milton “Rob” Fields III on paid administrative leave pending an investigation of reported concerns.

Lacey Gosh, the district’s assistant superintendent of support services, is now serving as interim superintendent, according to a Jan. 10 statement from the district.

The original motion was made by trustee Lesley Lee, and seconded by board Vice President Amanda Poteet. Trustee José Macias Jr. countered Lee’s motion and requested to postpone any discussion in order for the board to talk to legal counsel. That motion was seconded by trustee Suzanne Kenoyer.

Some details: Kenoyer motioned to move the discussion into executive session, and the motion was seconded by Macias, who also said he wanted the board to consult with the district’s attorney. The board needed a 4-3 vote in favor to go into closed session. Kenoyer’s motion to go into closed session failed 4-3, with board President Monica Ryan, Poteet, and trustees Lee and Stephanie Jones dissenting.

To combat chronic absenteeism, the San Antonio City Council entered into a $150,000 funding agreement between the city and VIA Metropolitan Transit on Jan. 15 to launch a pilot program that provides middle school and high school students with VIA bus passes for a semester.

The gist: According to city documents, the pilot program will cover the costs of VIA semester bus passes at $28.50 per student, providing free transportation to more than 5,200 students ages 12-18.

To apply for free bus passes, students must complete a form available on VIAinfo.net or at VIA’s transit centers and obtain signatures from their educational institution.

VIA will oversee the program as part of its current bus fare program, which currently provides semester bus passes for students for $28.50 a semester. The pilot program will begin retroactively Dec. 20, 2025, and end once all funding has been used.

This Hill Country-born jewelry chain is continuing to expand in the San Antonio area with the opening of a new retail center.

In case you missed it: James Avery Artisan Jewelry officially opened a new store in North San Antonio on Jan. 17, according to a news release from the company.

It’s located at 13440 San Pedro Ave., just off of Hwy. 281 and inside the Courtyard Plaza shopping center that borders Bitters Road.

“Even as we grow outside of the Lone Star state, we’re continuously seeking ways to support and invest in locations close to home,” said Karina Dolgin, the company’s chief product and revenue officer. “This highly traveled area in San Antonio offers our guests a convenient location to discover new pieces, personalize their jewelry and tell their stories.”

More details: Founded in 1954 in Kerrville, James Avery offers fine, handcrafted jewelry in both sterling silver and 14K gold, according to the news release.

• 13440 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio

Eight Republican candidates are running to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate during the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The big picture: Republican incumbent John Cornyn is seeking a fifth term as Texas' senior senator. Each state has two U.S. senators—Cornyn currently serves alongside Republican Ted Cruz.

Seven Republican candidates are challenging Cornyn for the Republican nomination: John O. Adefope, Anna Bender, Virgil John Bierschwale, Sara Canady, Wesley Hunt, Gulrez “Gus” Khan and Ken Paxton.

If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the Republican primary, a runoff election will be held between the two top vote-getters on May 26.

Looking ahead: The winning Republican candidate will face the winner of the Democratic nomination in November; the winner of that election will be sworn in to the U.S. Senate in January 2027.

Three Democratic candidates are running to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate during the upcoming March 3 primary election.

The overview: Jasmine Crockett, Ahmad R. Hassan and James Talarico are competing for the Democratic nomination for a six-year term in the U.S. Senate.

The details: Each state has two U.S. senators, with Ted Cruz and John Cornyn currently representing Texas. Cornyn, whose seat is up for election, is running for reelection in an eight-way Republican primary.

The winning Democratic candidate will face the winner of the Republican nomination in November; the winner of that election will be sworn in to the U.S. Senate in January 2027.