🌱 UTSA Contributed $2.5 Billion To Economy + Church Check Stolen

Good morning, neighbors! Elaine Thompson here, your host of the San Antonio Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening locally. Today you'll find these stories and more:

• A woman was arrested for severely spanking a child.
• Big donation check to church, fraudulently cashed.
• University contributes billions to city economy.

But first, today's weather:

Sunshine and patchy clouds. High: 80 Low: 61.

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Here are the top stories today in San Antonio:

1. Melanie Beth Bernal, 32, was taken into custody and charged with injury to a child with intent. When questioned by authorities, Bernal said that she spanked the boy with a belt for "acting up." An investigator said the child had “severe bruising on both butt cheeks and both upper thighs that were in a pattern of a belt in downward diagonal pattern.” The child told relatives what happened when the family members noticed the severe bruising. KSAT San Antonio has more details.
2. Jared Alexander Mauldin, 22, fraudulently cashed a $95,000 check meant as a donation for church. Originally, a woman went through Chase Bank to issue a $95,000 check to a church but the church never received that donation. Mauldin used his name in the "pay to the order of" section of the check and cashed it at a credit union. Neither the donor nor the church gave Mauldin permission to cash the funds and they want to press charges. It's unknown how Mauldin got his hands on the check. Check with KSAT San Antonio for more information.
3. Did you know that UTSA contributed $2.5 billion to the San Antonio economy in 2021? UTSA is considered a "Tier One" research university. The college's expenditures come from international students' living expenses, construction projects, and creating jobs. UTSA's status as a Tier One university "enabled the university to secure more funding for innovative research and expand its advising services to business owners and entrepreneurs in South Texas." Learn more at UTSA.

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Today in San Antonio:

• Craft Swap Collecting at Encino Library (All-day)
• Deep in the Heart at Tobin Center for Performing Arts (10 AM)
• Military Job Fair at Sam Houston Community Center (11 AM)
• Honest & Open Parent Education (HOPE) *Virtual* (6 PM)
• Art Song: Rooted in Ruth at The Ecumenical Center (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Selena lovers, unite! "For those who want to remember the singer's life this Sunday, Slab Cinema is holding a free screening of the 1997 hit biopic 'Selena.' It will take place in the public space in front of the Pearl's Full Goods Building, 1100 Springs Plaza." (San Antonio Current)
• Police looking for perpetrators: "San Antonio police and Crime Stoppers are looking for several men responsible for the beating of a 26-year-old man outside a Northwest Side bar back in September of last year." (KSAT San Antonio)
• For the foodies: "The top 10 neighborhood restaurants in San Antonio serve the soul of the city," check them all out at CultureMap San Antonio.

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Featured events:

• “The Ins and Outs of Personal Injury Law: A Zoom Meeting for San Antonio, TX Residents” (April 15)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (April 24)
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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Elaine Thompson

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