The portion of Fair Oaks Ranch south of Dietz Elkhorn Road is planned to have a new emergency water service line, allowing the San Antonio Water System to provide resources in the case of a city utility emergency. City Council on Dec. 4 approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to move forward with an interconnect agreement.

The overview: The project was originally planned near the intersection of I-10 and Fair Oaks Parkway but was deemed infeasible. Revisions shifted the alignment between Fair Oaks Parkway and Leslie Pfeiffer Drive, near the Frost Bank property and the upcoming Cinco De Mayo restaurant property.

Around 700 feet of 3- and 6-inch lines will be replaced with 12-inch lines capable of bringing in approximately 1,000 gallons per minute. The estimated cost is $393,030, and the current budget is $382,340. Staff said the cost could come more in line with the budget, since the total cost includes a contingency. Current plans are to begin construction in May and finish in June.

On Dec. 5, Methodist Hospital Texsan held a 15th anniversary celebration.

The details: During the celebration, Methodist Texsan CEO Esther Kwon said that over 15 years, the hospital grew from a staff of 320 and the single specialization of heart care, to more than 600 employees and eight key services.

Methodist Texsan offers cardiovascular care, electrophysiology, orthopedic care, spine care, emergency care, critical care, pulmonary care, surgery and inpatient physical rehabilitation. 

• 6700 I-10, San Antonio

Learn more about North San Antonio's newest restaurants,  businesses and more with this roundup of updates from across the community.

In the news
Wayback Burgers
The burger joint chain reopened under new ownership, serving up specialty hamburgers, fries and other comfort food entrees.

• 1723 N. Loop 1604 E., Ste. 108, San Antonio

• 14357 Blanco Road, San Antonio

• 9911 I-10, San Antonio

• 9630 Huebner Road, San Antonio

Texas can use its newly redrawn congressional map in the 2026 elections, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Dec. 4.

The background: State lawmakers approved the new congressional boundaries this summer, after President Donald Trump asked them to produce a new map in an attempt to help Republicans maintain a narrow majority in the U.S. House, Community Impact previously reported. Texas Republicans have said they hoped the map would help the GOP secure 30 of Texas’ 38 congressional seats, up from 25 Republican-held seats today.

What's happening: The Supreme Court's ruling overturns a Nov. 18 injunction from an El Paso federal court, which deemed Texas’ redistricting plan "racially gerrymandered” and directed officials to use a 2021 congressional map instead.

“The District Court improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign, causing much confusion and upsetting the delicate federal-state balance in elections,” the Supreme Court said in the unsigned Dec. 4 order.

The order comes just four days before the Dec. 8 deadline for Texas candidates to file to run in the March primary elections.