SAN ANTONIO — 2024 is shaping up to be a big year in the United States and around the world. Many big things will be happening this year in San Antonio and the surrounding areas as well.
From another solar eclipse to a high-profile trials to school closures, we have rounded up eight stories to watch for in the new year.
Solar Eclipse in April
The Texas Hill Country and parts of the San Antonio area will be packed with people in April as the U.S. experiences its last total solar eclipse for decades. Nearly four and a half minutes of daytime darkness will overtake some Hill Country communities during the astronomical phenomenon—the longest period of eclipse anywhere in the country.
The city of Kerrville is getting ahead of the rush by organizing the Kerrville Eclipse festival on April 8. The festival will take place at Louise Hays Park, will be free to attend, and is expected to feature speakers from the science world, live music and children's activities. It's also one of three locations in the country where NASA representatives will livestream the eclipse from.
SAISD schools to close
After months of heated debate and emotions, the board of trustees of San Antonio's urban school district made the difficult decision in November to close 15 neighborhood schools this year as part of a "rightsizing" plan.
Families whose kids attended one of the schools set to close in 2024 have until February 15 to decide on a new school. Their options include attending the assigned school in their zone, transfering to a traditional neighborhood school, or applying for choice schools. Families from the closed campuses are being given priority for SAISD Choice Schools.
Stephen Clare trial
The trial for Stephen Clare, the man accused of killing his baby girl in a vicious attack last year, has been scheduled for early 2024.
11-month old Willow Clare was killed back in April of 2023. Stephen Clare, 50, was charged with her death and indicted by a grand jury back in June. He was also charged with attacking and injuring the baby's mother and sister.
In the 437th District Court in October, the judge reset the start of his trial for 90 days – or January 8 – to allow for more time for discovery, or evidence-gathering process, to be completed. The judge also said additional records were needed before the trial could officially get underway.
James Brennand trial
Former SAPD Officer James Brennand is at the center of a police use-of-force case going to trial in January. Former SAPD Officer James Brennand is facing charges of attempted murder for shooting Erik Cantu in a McDonald's parking lot in October of 2022.
Cantu was hit, and spent several weeks in the hospital.
Brennand is charged with aggravated assault by a public servant. He is awaiting trial and his next appearance in the 437th District Court is set for January 26.
Political showdown
In 2024, voters will head to polls to pick the president as well as many down-ballot state and local races. One of those races with major San Antonio impact is the candidacy of State Sen. Roland Gutierrez (D-Texas), who is hoping to defeat Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in the race for Texas senator. Gutierrez, whose state senate district includes Uvalde, has been an outspoken advocate of gun legislation in the wake of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary that shook the Uvalde community.
Sen. Cruz is running for a third term after he was first elected to the Senate in 2012. In his last political race in 2018, he faced former Congressman Beto O'Rourke in an unusually close margin of victory for this solidly red state.
Before potentially facing Cruz in November, Gutierrez will face U.S. Rep. Collin Allred in the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024.
If the potential matchup with Gutierrez happens, it is sure to bring the hot button issue of gun rights into the mainstream of the conversation as the race unfolds.
Tower Life Building
Construction begins in 2024 on converting the iconic Tower Life building into residential units. The building was acquired in 2022 by Alamo Capital Advisors from a local ownership group that owned the building for nearly 80 years. The investment group plans to revive the building with 234 new residences and a restaurant on the ground level. The building has struggled to keep office tenants in recent years due to a shift toward remote work.
What is unique about this project is that the developer is reserving half the units for low-income families.
There is no word yet on when the apartments will be move-in ready.
The Pearl Stable Hall and new grocery store
The Pearl Brewery has exploded in popularity in recent years and its expansion continues in the new year with two major new features.
The Pearl Stable Hall concert venue will open in January with many shows already on the calendar. The new music venue will kick off the year with performances from Rob Baird and Angel White on January 13. Later in the month, Flaco Jiminez will perform with Los Texmaniacs on January 27.
In addition to that, an upscale grocery store is set to open at the Pearl in 2024. Pullman Market will be a sprawling 40,000 square foot "culinary experience" with four restaurants, quick, casual concepts, an artisan butcher, a fish market, and seasonal bakery, among other features. It is set to open in the spring of 2024.
Guadalupe Theater renovations
The curtains have closed at the Historic Guadalupe Theater on San Antonio’s west side, at least, during 2024. After the Holiday Saxophones show on December 22, the venue closed to undergo huge renovations.
The renovation will take one and a half to two years and will preserve and restore architectural elements of the exterior, increase the size of the lobby, create more of a barrier between the theater and lobby area, and improve seating as well as sound and lighting systems.
"There have been no upgrades since [1978]. There has been no improvement in the space and the equipment," Executive Director Christina Ballí told KENS 5. "We still have equipment in here from 1981 and lights from 1981 that sometimes we have technicians come out here to fix them and they have never even seen a light like that."
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