Real Estate Photographer in San Antonio, TX

SAN ANTONIO - The store that does more has donated a major amount of money to support those in need across Texas.

On Saturday, H-E-B announced that it had committed $5 million to supporting Texas food banks and set aside an additional $1 million to support Meals on Wheels.

This comes as a halt in federal funding for the programs amid the government shutdown raging on, with no end in sight.

"The $5 million gift will be distributed among food banks in the Feeding Texas network, which will support their efforts to combat food insecurity, a growing issue that impacts families across the Lone Star State," said the release from H-E-B. "For Meals on Wheels Texas, the $1 million gift will support their efforts to provide nutrition services to homebound seniors."

The $1 million gift to Meals on Wheels will support efforts to help homebound seniors and disabled individuals. According to Feeding Texas, 13.6 percent of seniors are at risk of hunger.

“At H-E-B, we are passionate about taking care of Texans,” said Winell Herron, H-E-B Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs. “We are proud of our longstanding partnership with these incredible organizations that work year-round to support those in need.”

Every day, the organization delivers more than 100,000 meals, helping Texas seniors live independently without worrying where their next meal will come from.

“On behalf of Meals On Wheels Texas and the many individuals we serve, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to H-E-B for their generous support," said Olivia Burdick, Board President, Meals on Wheels Texas & CEO, The Center in Boerne. Your commitment to caring for our communities ensures that this vital service can continue reaching our most vulnerable neighbors – especially in these challenging times.”

This comes after San Antonio Meals on Wheels announced a reduction in service due to a significant reduction in funding, which would have left many of the most vulnerable without regular access to food.

Other groups have also stepped up to the plate, with Bill Miller BBQ donating $192,000 to save Meals on Wheels for San Antonio seniors.

In Texas, the emergence of a new H-E-B receives near the same level of excitement as a federal holiday. For those in San Antonio in particular, there will be plenty of reasons to celebrate in the coming months.

Two new stores known for doing more are heading to the city and its surrounding area. Though they are both still considered works in progress, their emergence signals a continued expansion of the company's footprint. It comes after the Manor and UT San Antonio communities, which were buzzing with anticipation over the last year, received new markets.

New H-E-B sets sights on San Antonio's Far Westside

The locally-based grocer has plans for a $29 million location along the intersection of Culebra Road and Highway 211. A Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) filing says it will be 126,986 square feet, which is fairly larger than that of one off North Loop 1604.

It will include an H-E-B fuel, carwash, curbside pick-up, and a beloved True Texas BBQ restaurant, according to the company's website.

Why may the company have chosen this spot? The property is roughly two miles from Northside ISD's Harlan and Sotomayor High Schools, meaning there's steady traffic flow daily. It's also near growing subdivisions off FM 471, a location sought after for its greenery and relative distance from San Antonio's urban center.

Folks in this area have a bit more patience to practice before H-E-B plants roots in the neighborhood. Construction started in August of last year, according to the TDLR filing, and was expected to be complete by early next month.

However, a company spokesperson told MySA on Friday, October 24, that neither a rendering nor an opening date was readily available. All TDLR filings are subject to change without notice.

For now, residents can visit the company's location at Highway 211 and Potranco Road, which is nine miles north of the upcoming store.

New H-E-B heads North of San Antonio

Seventeen miles north of the Alamo City, the excitement continues. Just outside of Loop 1604 and East I-10, construction crews have begun working on a multimillion-dollar market in Schertz, a company spokesperson confirmed to MySA on Friday, October 24.

"We should have more details to share in the coming months," the official said. "As for the completion date, there’s nothing firm yet."

Details of this grocery barreling into the area were first revealed in a TDLR report filed in February of this year. It outlined the blueprint to a 125,434 square foot store that will cost investors $21.2 million to build.

It's headed for a relatively undeveloped spot near Converse and Copperfield Elementary Schools, which are based within the Judson Independent School District. The town isn't completely without its share of happenings, though. Just fourteen minutes away from this property, a 72-acre mixed-use project is coming to life. It's set to host Portillo's, Dave's Hot Chicken, and CAVA.

One H-E-B Plus currently exists at 17460 I-35 North, placing the new market closer to residents on the southern side of Schertz. An estimated completion date for the store is listed as November 30, 2026.

SAN ANTONIO - Businesses and non-profits are buckling down in hopes that this weekend's storms stay calm.

State and local officials are keeping an eye on those skies, saying they're ready for whatever happens.

Local businesses, Haven for Hope and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) are carrying the water in different ways. They say everyone doing their part is the best way to ensure safety.

It's an all-hands-on-deck effort as emergency crews across the state get into gear -- preparing for whatever the skies bring Friday night.

"With this being an overnight threat for large portions of the hill country, and for the San Antonio area, we want to make sure that people are paying attention to what those road conditions might look like," TDEM's Media and Communications Chief, Wes Rapaport said.

Deadly flooding swept through both San Antonio and the hill country this summer.

"Real sad man. People lost their lives right around the corner from us," said Terrell King.

He and his wife Kimara own 'Momma Luvs Soul Food & Caribbean'. Beitel Creek lies just behind the restaurant. The couple said they've never seen anything like it.

"it just gives you perspective," Kimara said. "I think that gave a lot of people a reality check, like, you can't mess with nature."

The hope they never have to again.

"I also feel sad for those that have to be out there," Terrell said. "There's a lot of homeless people within this area. Just gotta pray, man and hope it don't get like last time."

Haven for Hope will have outreach teams on the ground warning homeless groups in the area about this weekend's storms. TDEM is already working around the clock.

"Should the storm threat, as it passes through the state, reach a point where local officials have requests for state assistance, we've got resources staged and ready to jump in," Rapaport said.

He encourages everyone to have an emergency plan in their back pocket as agencies carry forward hard lessons learned over the summer.

"We need local officials to do their piece, and we need the public, the citizens of Texas, to do their piece," Rapaport said. "Bottom line here is the state of Texas is doing our part to ensure that Texans stay safe here over this weekend."

TDEM said they have helicopters, swift water rescue teams, and other resources on standby for Friday night -- reminding drivers to keep a close eye on the roads if they have to be out.

A strong line of thunderstorms swept through Texas overnight, bringing heavy rain, hail, and strong winds to millions of people across the state. The wet weather isn’t over yet, either, as another round of strong to severe storms is expected to form on Saturday, with East Texas under the greatest risk.

In San Antonio, lingering thunderstorms are possible Saturday morning, some of which could produce heavy rainfall and urban flooding. We also have a slight chance of storms redeveloping by the afternoon. Here’s a look at what you can expect.

San Antonio forecast

Early morning (4 a.m. to 9 a.m.): Strong thunderstorms are expected to be ongoing around the San Antonio metro area between 4 and 6 a.m. Saturday, with some lingering scattered storms possible through 9 a.m.

The entire region is under a flood watch throughout the morning, continuing until 1 p.m. Multiple inches of rain could cause urban flooding, as well as flooding along rivers, creeks, and streams. Travel is not recommended on Saturday morning. If you must travel, do not drive over flooded roadways.

Midday (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.): A dry period is expected for the San Antonio metro area, as storms move off to the east. Some sunshine might peek through between clouds as temperatures climb into the low 80s by the afternoon. Prepare for humid, muggy air, though, as indicated by dew point temperatures hovering near 70 degrees.

Afternoon and evening (2 p.m. to midnight): Several thunderstorms are expected to redevelop over Central Texas by the afternoon, and they’ll move southeast toward Houston by nightfall. Much of this activity is expected to stay north and east of San Antonio, but there will still be a 30% chance of additional storms in the Alamo City through the afternoon and evening.

Severe storms: The highest chance of severe storms are expected from Austin eastward toward Houston, Beaumont and Lufkin. The National Weather Service has placed this area under a level 2 of 5 risk of severe weather, as sdddeveral storms may be capable of delivering large hail and damaging winds. Storms are expected to exit the state by the overnight hours.

Sunday and Monday: Warm and quiet weather is expected to return to San Antonio briefly. On Sunday, after a cool start with low temps in the mid-60s, you can expect temperatures to reach the mid- to upper 80s under bright, sunny skies.

Monday is expected to be the warmest day of the week as San Antonio afternoon temps rise to around 90 degrees, more than 10 degrees above normal for late October. Skies will stay sunny with no chance of rain across the region.

Cold front incoming

Weather models are now showing with more confidence that a significant cold front is likely to move through San Antonio on Tuesday. Afternoon temps will trcend lower, but they’ll stay warm on Tuesday, topping out in the mid-80s.

A true taste of fall is expected to arrive by Wednesday morning, though, as predawn temps are likely to fall into the 50s for the first time since spring. High temperatures on Wednesday are expected to be very comfortable, hovering in the mid-70s under bright sunshine. This front will bring very dry air into the area, keeping rain chances at near zero.

Morning temperatures are expected to fall into the lower 50s on Thursday and Friday, and a few spots near San Antonio could even briefly dip into the upper 40s. Parts of the Hill Country may fall into the mid-40s by early Thursday.

Anthony Franze is a native Texan and very passionate about covering any weather that is thrown at him. He can be reached at anthony.franze@express-news.net.

Anthony earned a degree in Meteorology from Valparaiso University in 2017. He has worked as a broadcast meteorologist for six years, one at NBC Montana and the next five at NewsWest 9 in Midland before joining the Express-News in July 2023.

In his free time, Anthony enjoys watching sports, checking out local restaurants and breweries, and getting outside whenever the heat allows for it. If you have any story ideas, questions about the weather or restaurant suggestions, drop him a line.

Texas regulators on Wednesday approved a permit for a controversial northwest Bexar County wastewater facility that’s expected to pump an average of a million gallons of treated sewage daily into the Helotes Creek watershed.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality unanimously approved the permit sought by Florida-based developer Lennar Corp. with little discussion, saying it met “all applicable requirements.”

Opponents of the wastewater project, tied to Lennar’s Guajolote Ranch development, have waged a months-long fight against the permit, arguing the wastewater’s introduction into the watershed will endanger San Antonio’s drinking water and residents’ ability to swim and fish in Helotes Creek.

In an emailed statement, project opponents said they plan to file for a rehearing, which would trigger a new process that could push back a final verdict another 55 days. Should TCEQ reapprove the project, opponents would have another 30 days to appeal in Travis County district court.

“We are, of course, extremely disappointed in the commissioners’ decision, as we’d hoped that under new leadership they would chart a new course that truly abides by their own stated mission ‘to protect our state’s public health and natural resources consistent with sustainable economic development,’ ” Randy Neumann, chair of the steering committee of the Scenic Loop-Helotes Creek Alliance, said in the statement. “This decision does nothing of the sort.”

A 2020 study funded by the City of San Antonio found that any wastewater system from a large-scale residential development that released into the Helotes Creek watershed would “significantly degrade the watershed and the quality of water recharging the Edwards Aquifer.”

Roughly 2.5 million people depend on the Edwards Aquifer, which provides more than half of the Alamo City’s drinking water.

Bexar County commissioners, San Antonio City Council or other state entities still could shut down the project by rejecting a special funding mechanism Lennar seeks to fund the water plant, Neumann said in the statement. That mechanism, called a Public Improvement District, would pay for the project using assessments against area property owners.

However, “if the 2.5 million residents across Central Texas who depend on the Edwards Aquifer ultimately don’t get the remedy they deserve, our message will be, ‘See you in court,’” he added.