Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Bexar County mourns Judge Michele Garcia and prepares for a special election

Also check out New Year's Eve Firework Countdown on the San Antonio Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Tuesday December 30th Patch AM
Tuesday December 30th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

What's up San Antonio! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Bexar County mourns Judge Michele Garcia and prepares for a special election
  • Why Pearl favorite Cured is closing after 13 influential years
  • Where San Antonio’s biggest 2025 crime cases are headed next year

Also on today's calendar: Gary Owen: Back 2 Basics Tour and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in San Antoniofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: The world champion tongue twister just got arrested! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in San Antoniofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Tuesday: Variable cloudiness, with a high of 59 and low of 40 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 64, low: 42.
  • Thursday: Nice with periods of sun, with a high of 71 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Judge Sakai remembers Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Michele Garcia as public servant who left 'a profound impact' (kens5.com) — Bexar County leaders are mourning Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Michele Garcia, who died of cervical cancer days after Christmas, and preparing for a special election to fill her seat. Garcia, who rose from intern to judge, is remembered for her service to northeast Bexar County, while a donation in her honor will go to UT Health San Antonio’s Mays Cancer Center.
   

2. Acclaimed San Antonio restaurant Cured to close this January after 13 years (sacurrent.com) — One of Pearl’s signature restaurants, Cured, will serve its final meals on Sunday, Jan. 4, ending a 13-year run that helped elevate San Antonio’s national food reputation. Chef Steve McHugh is closing the acclaimed spot while thanking locals for their support and reflecting on how the restaurant marked both his cancer recovery and the district’s transformation.
   

3. What's next in San Antonio's highest-profile crime cases (mysanantonio.com) — Several of San Antonio’s most painful 2025 crime cases are heading into crucial court phases in early January, from the killing of actor Jonathan Joss to a deadly I-35 bus crash and the Las Palapas founder’s slaying. The article recaps what happened in each case, who’s charged, and when key hearings are scheduled, helping residents understand where these high-profile investigations stand.
   

4. Pearl favorites, longtime establishments among 2025 San Antonio restaurant closure announcements (ksat.com) — San Antonio diners are losing a long list of beloved spots this year, from Pearl favorites like Cured and Full Goods Diner to neighborhood staples such as Good Time Charlie’s, Oscar’s Taco House, and several Taco Cabana locations. The roundup details when each restaurant closed or will close, why some owners made the decision, and how construction, leases, and corporate shifts are reshaping the city’s dining landscape.
   

5. USPS previews 2026 lowrider stamps celebrating Chicano culture (kens5.com) — San Antonio car enthusiasts will soon see their culture reflected in a new 2026 USPS “Lowriders” stamp series celebrating Chicano custom car artistry. The stamps, featuring five iconic vehicles, highlight Mexican American cultural contributions and resonate strongly with San Antonio’s vibrant lowrider community and heritage.
   

📸 Around San Antonio

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in San Antonio

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 San Antonio Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making San Antonio PatchAM possible:

  • Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
    Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Public Invited to Celebrate WWII Aviator’s 101st Birthday Dream Flight on Dec. 30 —Wendy Dalessandro Read on Patch
  • Suggestions?
    There's a homeless veteran/senior, Lee, who bounces around from Whataburger on Brook Hollow to Starbucks on Bitters and 281 (used to be next to Black… (Nextdoor Heritage Oaks)
  • Just wanted to give an update on Timberland he’s back to his old self after breaking out and get a quick taste of freedom in these streets… and a quick thank you to that special neighbor that returned him.
    Not sure if it’s safe to mention a name but ma’am you know who you are if you’re reading this but my family thanks you for bringing back home and for… (Nextdoor Lynwood Village)
  • Whataburger posted a job opening for Restaurant Porter - Unit 285 in San Antonio. Apply here.
  • AEG posted a job opening for Warehouse Porter- Alamodome in San Antonio. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near San Antonio here.

Ok San Antonio! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I hear they’re giving him a really tough sentence.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from San Antonio