During a Wednesday afternoon protest at the University of Texas at San Antonio calling for a Gaza ceasefire, organizers were forced to halt chants several times due, saying school administrators imposed rules limiting their speech. During the three hour demonstration, organizers stopped the approximately 150 participant from chanting in Arabic and using slogans that explicitly mention Israel. Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) member Tori Ramirez said a UTSA administrator warned she and other organizers shortly before the event got underway that terms including "Zionism" and "Israe ..read more

New homegrown burger spot Smash'd has begun serving inside the former home of Pearl-area casual concepts Hello Paradise and Summer Camp, the business' owners revealed in social media posts. Smash'd opened quietly at 520 E. Grayson St. about two weeks ago under the leadership of Brandon Peterson, known for his work at now-shuttered south-of-downtown barbecue joint Bandit BBQ. Tiki-inspired Hello Paradise and casual burger-and-coney Summer Camp both tried to operate from the largely outdoor location, but neither lasted long ..read more

Electric vehicle startup DeLorean Motors Reimagined confirmed in a Tuesday email to customers that it's still in business even though it quietly shuttered its Port San Antonio headquarters late last year. In its message, the company — which aims to bring back the iconic '80s sports car featured in the Back to the Future film franchise with an electric motor — said its officials also are aware that non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, sold to depositors for the cars are inaccessible. Company brass is working to resolve the issue, they added ..read more

The Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival has unveiled plans for its 2024 iteration, including a new look and enhanced experiences, organizers said Wednesday. Slated for Oct. 25-26, the event will take over the sprawling Marktplatz on Fredericksburg's Main Street, hosting more than 25 culinary booths along with 38 wineries, breweries and distilleries. The gathering also will offer specialty activations including a curated Sundry Shop and Sparkling Wine Garden ..read more

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Law enforcement officers on Wednesday handcuffed and removed at least 10 people participating in a student protest on the University of Texas at Austin campus in support of Palestine amid the Israel-Hamas war ..read more

U.S. Rep. Ted Cruz's podcast deal with iHeartMedia, which has drawn fire form both campaign finance watchdogs and political rivals, also may face scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service, the Houston Chronicle reports. Tax experts told the Texas Republican's hometown newspaper that he may be required to report income from his podcast distribution contract on tax documents — even if he's not personally collecting cash for creating the shows. "It's still going to be his income, because he's the one who 'earned it,'" Georgetown University tax law scholar Brian Galle told the Chronicle ..read more

San Antonio's News4SA is facing online backlash after an unidentified person commented in a video clip from the NBC affiliate that getting footage of a dead body being pulled from a local lake might improve ratings. The incident happened last Wednesday while rescuers were searching for 19-year-old Roiner Alejandro Rojas Pereira, who disappeared earlier this month while tubing in Canyon Lake. On April 14, Pereira separated from his tube and drifted toward a water intake near the lake's dam, the Express-News reports. His body was found over the weekend, according to the daily ..read more

San Antonio-raised drag performer Jorgeous is among the eight queens competing on Season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, according to details released Tuesday by streaming service Paramount+. As with past seasons, the show's competitors are drawn from the ranks of RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni. Jorgeous — who's now based in Nashville but got her start performing at bars in her native San Antonio — was billed for her Season 14 debut as a "Tex-Mex Latina showgirl" who "might be small but packs a big punch ..read more

Actor Lukas Haas was only 9 years old when he made a big-screen splash opposite Harrison Ford in the 1985 crime thriller Witness. Nearly 40 years later, the former Austin resident is still working as an actor in Hollywood ..read more

San Antonio tapas spot Toro Kitchen & Bar will collaborate with the Trade Commission of Spain and California wine bar Canela to present an interactive dinner Wednesday, May 8. The Corks & Forks dinner will highlight Protected Designations of Origin ingredients, which feature characteristics specific to their geographical environment, Spanish government officials said. The protected designation of origin (PDO) is a type of geographical indication aimed at preserving the designations of origin of food-related products ..read more