SUMMARY: The San Antonio City Council is set to vote on whether to allocate an additional $100,000 to the controversial Reproductive Justice Fund, originally designed to help cover travel costs for women seeking abortions. Although nearly half a million dollars in contracts were approved, none funded travel expenses, prompting renewed calls for more financial support. Some groups, like Beat AIDS Coalition Trust, are cautious about applying again, seeking legal assurances regarding abortion-related funding. Advocates emphasize the urgent need for funding, citing a crisis in Texas where women struggle to access abortion care amid ongoing legal challenges and restrictions.

The San Antonio City Council will vote Thursday morning on whether to put another $100,000 into a controversial health fund.

Source

SUMMARY: Rep. Alonzo Knox from New Orleans has introduced a bill to exempt tips from state income tax for Louisiana workers, aiming to provide tax relief to those in the hospitality industry, which supports 72,000 jobs in New Orleans. Many workers rely on tips, and Knox’s proposal would allow them to deduct tip income from their taxes. However, some experts, like Yon Mohler from Invest Louisiana, warn that this could reduce state revenue during challenging economic times and suggest implementing a meaningful state minimum wage instead. Knox anticipates bipartisan support for the bill, which targets individuals earning less than $65,000 annually.

Lawmakers are due back in Baton Rouge on April 14 for the start of this year’s regular session.

Source

SUMMARY: A recent shootout at a San Antonio cell phone repair shop left two men dead, causing alarm among local residents. The incident involved 47-year-old Kenneth Mcnite Jr., who fatally shot employee Cody Bell, 35, before being killed by another worker. This violence adds to community fears following the unsolved murder of 28-year-old Maria Delles Labrador nearby. Residents express worry about safety, with some feeling the need to carry firearms for protection, particularly due to the proximity of violence to local establishments, including children’s swimming classes. The area is increasingly perceived as dangerous by locals.

A shooting at a cell phone repair shop on the far Northwest Side Tuesday afternoon is adding to concerns that people who live in the area already had.

Source