Real Estate Photographer in Seguin, TX

As one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Seguin, Texas, has been pumping the gas on tech modernization to keep pace with its rapid population expansion.

With a more than 30 percent population increase over five years, from under 30,000 in 2020 to around 40,000 today, accelerated growth isn’t just transforming the city’s economic outlook — it’s reshaping the digital landscape. To keep pace, the city’s IT team has modified its approach to data security, redefining emerging technologies not as obstacles, but as powerful security assets, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI).

One of the most impactful cybersecurity enhancements in Seguin has been its implementation of Mimecast CyberGraph, an AI-driven tool that blocks malicious email banners and prevents tracker-based intrusions.

Last year, the system scanned 1.2 million emails, deploying 9,000 critical alerts and 26 high-risk banners to protect over 500 end users at the city, according to Shane McDaniel, Seguin chief information officer (CIO). It also blocked 6.7 million trackers embedded in incoming emails, significantly reducing hacking attempts. Nearly one-quarter of all emails the city receives daily — roughly 24.8 percent, McDaniel said, had some security issue. And one particular risk seems to outweigh the rest, he said.

“We’ve seen 462 direct impersonation attempts targeting employees, most of which were aimed at diverting their direct deposits,” McDaniel said.

The system also detected 215 malware threats, while monitoring 56,855 email URL clicks. It blocked 95 hazardous links to phishing schemes, and sandboxed 168,722 compromised attachments, the CIO said, preventing malicious files from breaking into city systems.

This is simply a reality in local government, McDaniel said. Agencies must assume malicious actors are trying to get in and implement technology that can stop them before they cause harm.

The city will soon be utilizing Cohesity to safeguard against ransomware and data loss. The platform enables advanced data backups internally and externally, and will be integrated with Nutanix, Seguin’s incoming on-premise data processing system, housed in city data centers. Both, the CIO said, will be implemented over the next eight weeks.

“What Cohesity does is take your data backups — think servers, files and databases — and allows you to store them securely onsite or offsite,” he explained. “If a ransomware attack hits, you can shut everything down and restore from a clean backup in minutes.”

After the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency identified vulnerabilities in Seguin’s older backup system, the city’s IT department knew rapid changes had to be completed. Cohesity’s technology, McDaniel said, very much checks that box for its next audit.

Seguin used funding from the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program to bring the project to life, securing two separate cybersecurity grants from it, including $70,000 for Cohesity’s implementation.

“A lot of local governments don’t have the funding or the resources,” McDaniel said. “So, while we have to pick and choose our battles carefully as far as our budgeting goes, we're very fortunate here in the city of Seguin to have a healthy budget and a heavy industry, so we have access to funding that allows us to implement these necessary solutions.”

Ashley Silver

Ashley Silver is a staff writer for Government Technology. She holds an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Montevallo and a graduate degree in public relations from Kent State University. Silver is also a published author with a wide range of experience in editing, communications and public relations.

TLU Sports Information & Sports Marketing Bryce Hayes

For Immediate Release

SEGUIN, Texas — The No. 14 Texas Lutheran softball team opened the 2025 season with a pair of run-rule shutouts (8-0, 9-0) of Texas A&M – San Antonio on Opening Day at Ed Kruse Stadium.

The Bulldogs (2-0) 8-0 win over the Jaguars (1-5) marked their seventh season-opening win over the last eight seasons as the program improved to 16-9 in season openers since becoming an NCAA institution.

TLU’s pitching staff spun 11.0 scoreless innings over the course of opening day with four different pitchers making appearances. Katelyn Howard (Waller/Hempstead) threw 5.0 shutout frames to earn the win in game one, allowing just one hit and one walk. Freshman Jordyn Joy (Kerrville/Tivy) won her TLU debut in the nightcap, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings and limiting the Jaguars to three hits with five strikeouts. The staff held the Jaguars to a .118 batting average, scattering four hits – all singles – and two walks while striking out five.

The Texas Lutheran lineup struck early in their first run-rule victory of the season, including four runs on a grand slam off the bat of junior Serena Gonzalez (Corpus Christi/Foy H. Moody). With the home run, Gonzalez moves into a tie with Laura Hernandez (12, 2021-23) for a tie for fifth all-time in program history with 12 career home runs.

TLU added three more runs in the fourth inning, starting with an infield RBI single from Linzee Leal (Corpus Christi/Mary Carroll) that following a Jaguars error led to two runs scoring. Caelee Clark (Montgomery/Lake Creek) followed with an RBI single to score Leal, pushing the Bulldog lead to 7-0.

Howard didn’t need much help as she stymied the Jaguars over her 5.0 innings of work. In just her second career start, the right-hander allowed just two base runners on a single and a walk.

Ainsley Davis (Rockwall/Jesuit (OR)) posted a scoreless sixth inning, navigating around a one-out walk. Caelee Clark would walk it off with a sacrifice fly to score Hanna Homra (Troy, TN/Obion County).

Serena Gonzalez finished 1-for-3 with a grand slam while Clark finished 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. TLU, fresh off rewriting the record book for stolen bases a season ago, stole eight bases in game one led by two each from Clark and Leal.

Jordyn Joy made her Bulldog debut in game two and tossed a three-hit gem, going 4.0 scoreless innings. The southpaw struck out five with no walks.

Texas Lutheran’s patented stellar defense shined behind Joy, providing a handful of highlight plays to squash A&M – San Antonio threats. In the first inning, Bella Rodriguez (Pearland/Pearland) caught a runner stealing at second. Caelee Clark made a stellar grab of her own on a line drive up the middle.

Faith Hernandez (Dinuba, CA/Dinuba), who made her return to the lineup after a two-year absence, opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-RBI single to left field. A pair of fielder’s choices in the second allowed two more Bulldogs runs to score to double the TLU lead to 4-0. TLU would truly break the game open in the third inning with five runs on four hits. An RBI single from freshman Chesley Swisher (Cypress/Bridgeland) got the inning started before Joy helped herself with a two-RBI single to left field. Annie Kay (Sinton/Sinton) reached on an RBI fielder’s choice that scored Kayla Ramirez (Kingsville/Santa Gertrudis Academy) before an RBI single from Serena Gonzalez would score Kay to bring the game to its final score of 9-0.

Freshman Kezia Alvear (Kyle/Hays) took the ball in the fifth inning and closed things out with a scoreless inning of her own.

TLU returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 8 with a doubleheader against Howard Payne at Ed Kruse Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2 & 4 PM with all games broadcast on TLU+. All streaming and live stats links will be available on tlubulldogs.com.

For more information on Texas Lutheran softball, follow the Bulldogs on Facebook (@txlutheransoftball), Twitter (@TLUsoftball), and Instagram (@tlu_softball) and as always you can find updates on all Texas Lutheran athletics on tlubulldogs.com and all official TLU social media channels (@tluathletics on Twitter, @tlu_athletics on Instagram and TikTok, and @tlubulldogs on Facebook).

(Seguin) — Seguin’s retail sector continues to grow. Some recently announced stores are moving forward with their plans to build in Seguin.

Hobby Lobby is building a $5.28 million store. The 55,000 sq. ft. store will be part of the new Seguin Crossing shopping center. The new shopping center will be built along the Interstate 10 Frontage Road and Jay Road, which is an area near the Starbucks located east of State Highway 123 Bypass. The joint venture is being developed by Collett & Associates and the Alexander Family. The city of Seguin, the Seguin Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and Guadalupe County all worked together to also make that project possible.

Seguin Crossing is also expected to house an Academy Sports + Outdoors, Five Below, James Avery, and more. Academy has a plan to build a 62,500 sq. ft. store, which represents about a $7 million investment in new construction. Five Below shows plans that it will invest nearly $1 million in its new Seguin location.

The latest details from from filings with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation. The TDLR website also shows several other retail projects on tap for the city, including Kentucky Fried Chicken, a second O’Reilly Auto Parts, and a third McDonald’s that would be part of a convenience store being built along Highway 46 and Three Oaks Road.

The city has been aggressively pursuing retailers for years, and those efforts are paying off. Several other national retailers have also recently set up shop in Seguin, including Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less, Boot Barn and Harbor Freight.

More are likely to come as the city continues to grow, but other reports about stores coming to the proposed Town Center project on I-10 west of Highway 46 — appear to be premature. New Quest announced years ago it’s plans to develop the shopping center. It continues to market the development. Those marketing brochures show what potentially could happen at that location, but officials say that doesn’t mean that those stores are coming. It just represents the potential for the project at this time.

Along with the retail growth, the city of Seguin is also experiencing significant growth in its housing sector. Several new subdivision are going up around the city, including the recent announcement of the Walnut Springs subdivision. The neighborhood would be the city’s first master-planned community. It calls for the construction of more than 1,100 new homes, at various price points. It will also include a number of new amenities that will benefit the entire community, including park space and land for a new fire station. The city recently approved Public Improvement District (PID) with the developer Bitter Blue. The clock is now ticking on that project, and the city says they expect work to be started within the next two years.

City Attorney Mark Kennedy walked the council through the adoption of the PID on Tuesday night, it includes language that would dissolve it if the developer doesn’t move in time.

“So, the first item involves two agreements, or a resolution and an agreement. There’s a resolution to create the Public Improvement District, the petition for which you received in December or last month. And then there’s a corresponding dissolution agreement that we’re asking you authorize tonight, if you create the PID. The dissolution agreement would be an agreement currently and presently to dissolve the created PID if nothing is done within two years of its creation — effectively, two years from tonight. That is not something we’re expecting. We’re expecting this to proceed,” said Kennedy.

City leaders say the growth in the city largely aligns with what people have said the wanted in Seguin, and also reflects the city’s comprehensive, downtown and economic development master plans.