🌱 Local ALS Patient Hits The Screens At SXSW + Consolidating Schools

Good morning, San Antonio! Elaine Thompson here in your inbox this morning to tell you everything you need to know that's going on around town. In this issue, you'll find news about...

• School district stocking up on opioid overdose medicine.
• Consolidation of classrooms amid budget crisis and low enrollment.
• Local ALS patient who appears in film featured at SXSW in Austin.

But first, today's weather:

Warm with variable clouds. High: 84 Low: 68.

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Here are the top stories today in San Antonio:

1. Northeast Independent School District (NEISD) received a grant to stock up on a supply of Narcan, a "life-saving drug to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose." The district hopes to never have to use it, but also received positive feedback from parents who would prefer the option is there to save lives, should it be necessary. The school district's police officers and medical staff will receive training this week on how to use Narcan. WOAI has the full scoop.
2. Harlandale ISD board is looking to consolidate classrooms amid a $12 million budget deficit and decline in student enrollment. In addition to consolidation, "The other option HISD says is available to them is to 'declare financial exigency,' or urgent financial need, and reduce staff." If this proposal goes through, after consolidating and combining classrooms, the unused ones will be repurposed for other things, like special education, STEM/GT, bilingual and the SOSA center. Read more at mySA.
3. Local ALS patient Juan Reyes will be featured in a new ALS advocacy foundation film at SXSW, this Sunday. "He’s a local ALS patient who travels nationwide, advocating for ALS research, treatments." Reyes' nonprofit, I AM ALS, has helped fund important research and also lobbied to change laws within a short span of three years. One of those laws was the "Act for ALS bill, which allows access to experimental treatments for people who do not qualify for clinical trials, which is about 80% of patients." To learn more about how Reyes' is advocating for himself and others, visit KSAT San Antonio.

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Today in San Antonio:

• Exhibition - A Legacy in Clay: The Ceramics of Tonalá, Mexico at San Antonio Museum of Art (10 AM)
• Growing Up WILD: All Kinds of Bees! at Friedrich Wilderness Park (10 AM)
• International Women's Day with Sarah Centeno at Hard Rock Cafe (5 PM)
• Wednesday Wine Tasting at Copa Wine Bar (5 PM)
• International Women's Day at Southside Craft Soda (6 PM)

From my notebook:

• St. Patrick's Day tradition at the Riverwalk: "The San Antonio River is getting the green treatment this month in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. On Friday, March 17, the river along the downtown stretch of the River Walk will be dyed green from 1-3 p.m." (KSAT San Antonio)
• What's brewing in the city? "The Pearl-area complex, located 875 East Ashby Place, will house five separate restaurants — Hook, Amelia Tapas & Wine, Lunatique, Creme Coffee and Easy Baby — all set to open by late May, the San Antonio Business Journal reports." (San Antonio Current)
• Shooting at apartment complex: A "woman was grazed by gunfire on the neck while running away from suspect," at Northwest Side apartments. She is currently in stable condition with any further updates to come from FOX 29.

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next update.

— Elaine Thompson

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming San Antonio Patch newsletter? Contact me at sanantonio@patch.com