United States
Hi! My name is Peyton Till, I am located in the Austin metropolitan area, and am an undergrad student majoring in journalism and political science. I am currently writing as a reporter for Texas State University's student-run newspaper, The University Star.
The San Marcos City Council Place 3 represents residents indecisions on local ordinances, budgets and city policies, alongside five other council members and the mayor. Early voting begins Oct. 19 to Oct. 30, ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Alyssa Garza is the current council member in Place 3 and is running for reelection.
In its Sept. 1 meeting, Hays County Commissioners Court proclaimed September as Suicide Awareness Month and voted to approve inclusion in the budget for a $4.5 million 10-year contract with Axon, formerly TASER, with Hays County Sheriff's Department (HCSO). According to the proclamation, Suicide Awareness Month is a time to start conversation, destigmatize suicide and mental...
Federal student loan changes took effect on July 1 as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which was signed into law last year. In a May 6 press release from the Department of Education, the final rule change includes four main provisions: the elimination of the Graduate PLUS program, establishing annual and aggregate loan limits for graduate and...
The city of San Marcos announced the five winning projects of the participatory budget on August 3, a new initiative that gives residents the choice on how the city allocates $200,000 for community resources. The city announced on its Facebook page that 103 ideas, 140 project concepts and 117 votes had been submitted by community members.
Nearly 30 San Marcos community members attended a vigil to honor two men who were killed by law enforcement over the past month. Mano Amiga, an immigrant advocacy organization, hosted a vigil at the Hays County Historic Courthouse in San Marcos on July 12 for Thomas Anthony Hawkins, a 25-year-old man who was shot and killed...
Nearly a dozen older residents faced eviction after Brookdale San Marcos South, an assisted living facility, was purchased by Gemstone Senior Living, causing residents on a Medicaid program to lose housing. Gemstone Senior Living, an assisted living and memory care facility for older residents, left 11 residents of Brookdale South San Marcos vulnerable and faced...
Alvin Ord's, a local sandwich chain widely regarded as a San Marcos staple since opening in 1978, remains closed after employees walked out and resigned, alleging years of verbal abuse and threats by the minority owner. Employees announced the walkout in an April 10 Instagram post after an April 6 meeting with majority owner Bill Martin.
The SAVE Act is awaiting a Senate vote, leading Texas State students to demonstrate against the bill, urging it not to pass. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) is a federal bill that aims to ensure only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections. The act will prohibit online registration and mail-in ballots and...
The Department of Defense awarded the anthropology department a grant, which allowed 11 graduate and doctoral students to fly to France, in hopes of uncovering and returning home the remains of four missing crewmen from a crashed B-17 World War II flight. The department received a $280,000 grant from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA),...
Due to ongoing budget cuts and a worsening drought, Hays County is facing an increase risk of wildfires. The Hays County Office of Emergency Management (HOEM), and Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) faces budget cuts impacting their ability to tend to disaster relief, mitigation and recovery within the county.
At its Feb. 3 meeting, the San Marcos City Council held a public hearing over the proposed rezoning designation of a piece of land which would allow the construction of the Highlander SM-1 Data Center. Over 20 constituents spoke out against the rezoning of a nearly 200-acre plot of land located on the western side...
The San Marcos City Council decided against the renewal of the current contract with Flock Safety and the use of License Plate Reader (LPR) cameras at their Dec. 2 meeting. Flock License Plate Reader cameras, or LPRs, utilize an automated, cloud-connected camera system and artificial intelligence to track license plates and vehicle details to provide...
At the Nov. 18 meeting, San Marcos City Council approved funding for the Human Services Grant Board (HSGB). City council members approved the funding unanimously, allowing the allocation of $750,000 from the City's General Fund and additional funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The allocation of these funds will provide financial relief to non-profit...
The Department of Housing and Residential Life (DHRL) announced changes for Fall 2026 residency guidelines at Bobcat Village, an off-campus apartment complex, that will impact upperclassmen on Nov. 5. The changes mean the upperclassmen will have to find off-campus housing, or reenter the lottery to be placed in off-campus university-owned housing.
Federal funding cuts to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) resulted in the removal of databases, impacting student and professor access. The TSLAC TexShare program allows Texas libraries to share print and electronic media along with resource and staff knowledge, which is included in the Alkek Library.