San Antonio Morning News: West Bexar Shooting, Spurs Arena Debate and Rising Utility Costs
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
San Antonio begins Wednesday confronting two heartbreaking criminal investigations while city leaders debate decisions that could shape household expenses, public services and downtown development for years.
An 11-year-old boy has died following what authorities describe as an unprovoked shooting in West Bexar County. Separately, the medical examiner has identified remains found near Concepcion Park as those of a missing seven-month-old girl.
Beyond public safety, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones appears to lack enough City Council support to place San Antonio’s proposed contribution to a new Spurs arena before voters. SAWS is again pursuing a multiyear rate increase, while Gov. Greg Abbott is proposing an end to the exclusive service model used by CPS Energy.
Families are also preparing for changes to school meal programs as the first day of school approaches.
Eleven-Year-Old Dies Following West Bexar County Shooting
An 11-year-old boy has died after he and his 20-year-old brother were shot Tuesday evening while sitting inside a vehicle outside their family’s home.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner identified the child as Maliki Perales. His older brother remained hospitalized following the shooting.
Authorities said the brothers were backing out of a driveway in the 9800 block of Acadian Drive, near U.S. Highway 90 and Loop 1604, when a 38-year-old neighbor allegedly crossed the street and opened fire without warning.
Deputies arrested the suspect shortly afterward and recovered a handgun that had reportedly been discarded in a drainage area. Investigators believe the victims were selected randomly and that the suspect may have been experiencing a mental health crisis.
The man is expected to face a murder charge in addition to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His identity had not been released early Wednesday.
Remains Identified as Missing Infant Ozana Cisneros
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that skeletal remains found near Concepcion Park belong to seven-month-old Ozana Cisneros.
The remains were discovered July 10, hours after the child’s 19-year-old mother, Maximina Cisneros, was rescued from a vacant home near the park.
Ozana had last been seen by relatives on June 10 at a home near Roosevelt Avenue and Lowell Street. A statewide Amber Alert was later issued before being discontinued July 13.
The medical examiner had not released the child’s cause or manner of death as of Tuesday evening. San Antonio police said the investigation remains active, and no arrest has been made in connection with Ozana’s death.
The mother’s boyfriend was arrested during the earlier investigation on an outstanding warrant and an additional firearm-related charge, but authorities have not announced that he has been charged in the infant’s death.
Mayor Appears to Lack Votes for Another Spurs Arena Referendum
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is pushing for San Antonio voters to decide whether the city should contribute as much as $489 million toward a proposed $1.3 billion downtown Spurs arena.
However, at least six council members who responded to KSAT said they oppose placing the question on the November ballot. Jones would need support from at least five of the 10 other council members before the August 17 election-order deadline.
Under the current proposal, Spurs Sports & Entertainment would contribute at least $500 million, the city would provide up to $489 million and Bexar County would provide as much as $311 million. County voters previously approved the county’s portion, which is backed by hotel and rental-car taxes.
Jones argues that city residents deserve a direct vote because the project has changed and represents a generational commitment. Opponents argue that another vote would consume money and time without addressing San Antonio’s projected budget shortfall.
The city must still negotiate a final agreement with the Spurs. Team CEO R.C. Buford defended the plan this week, saying previous commitments should be honored and the development should move forward.
SAWS Advances Revised Rate-Increase Plan
The San Antonio Water System board has voted to send a revised rate proposal back to City Council.
The plan would permit water and sewer rates to increase by as much as 30 percent over four years, beginning in 2027. If the maximum increases are approved, the average residential bill could rise from approximately $56.68 per month to $73.61 by 2030.
Because the proposed increases were delayed, SAWS says it must cut its capital-improvement plan from $3.2 billion to $2.6 billion. The reductions include fewer water-main replacements, postponed sewer projects and a delayed expansion of the aquifer-storage system.
SAWS had planned to replace 77 miles of aging water mains but now expects to replace approximately 40 miles under the revised plan.
City Council approval is still required. Council members have requested greater transparency regarding water losses, infrastructure spending and how the cuts would affect individual districts.
Abbott Proposes Opening CPS Energy Territory to Competition
Gov. Greg Abbott says he will ask the Texas Legislature to end exclusive municipal electric-service territories in cities including San Antonio and Austin.
The proposal would allow CPS Energy customers to choose among retail electricity providers, similar to residents in deregulated markets such as Houston and Dallas.
Abbott’s office estimates that San Antonio residential customers could save an average of 13 percent, while some businesses could save approximately 20 percent. Those projections have not yet been independently demonstrated through an enacted local plan.
CPS Energy opposes the proposal and says its combined electric and gas rates are already among the lowest in Texas. The utility also contributes hundreds of millions of dollars annually to San Antonio’s general fund, supporting city services and programs.
Any change would require state legislation. The next regular session of the Texas Legislature begins in January 2027, meaning no immediate change is coming to customers’ bills or service providers.
School Meal Changes Could Affect Thousands of Families
Changes to federal eligibility rules mean some San Antonio-area campuses will no longer automatically provide free meals to every student.
The largest reported local effect is in North East Independent School District, where at least 30 campuses lost eligibility under the federal Community Eligibility Provision.
The program allows qualifying schools to serve free meals without requiring each family to submit an individual application. Changes connected to SNAP enrollment reduced the number of campuses meeting the eligibility threshold.
Parents whose schools are no longer covered may need to complete a free or reduced-price meal application. Families are being encouraged to check directly with their district before classes begin because meal policies differ by campus and school system.
Churchill Student and Father Released From ICE Detention
A 16-year-old Churchill High School student and her father have been released from the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, according to U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro.
Emely Charloth Suaza Chambo was reportedly detained July 12 while traveling to a San Antonio church. Castro said immigration officials instructed her father, Fernando Suaza Ortiz, to retrieve her or she could be transferred out of state. The father was then detained when he arrived.
Castro said the two have returned to their family. ICE had not provided KSAT with additional details explaining the detention or release.
CoreCivic, the private company operating the facility, has said it provides detainees with healthcare, education, meals and legal-service access. Castro and other lawmakers have raised concerns about conditions inside the center.
Federal Investigation Finds Labor Violations at La Panadería
A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found child-labor, minimum-wage and overtime violations involving three La Panadería Bakery Café locations.
The agency said the violations included employing a 13-year-old, allowing a 15-year-old to work prohibited overnight hours, failing to pay one employee for two overnight shifts and improperly calculating overtime for workers employed at multiple locations.
The businesses paid a combined $45,000 in back wages and penalties, including more than $25,000 in child-labor penalties.
La Panadería said the matters date to 2024 and have been resolved. The company disputed parts of the federal account, saying the children accompanied parents to work without management’s knowledge and were not on its payroll. It also said it has strengthened internal policies, training and compliance procedures.
Residents Will Have Opportunities to Question the City Budget
San Antonio will hold a series of public town halls after City Manager Erik Walsh presents the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget to City Council on August 13.
Meetings will take place across council districts from August 17 through August 25, with a youth-focused town hall scheduled for August 22 at the San Antonio Food Bank.
The city is working on a two-year strategy to address a projected $158 million budget gap. The general fund pays for police, fire protection, parks, public health, animal services and routine street maintenance.
City Council is scheduled to vote on the budget September 17, before the new fiscal year begins October 1.
San Antonio Weather: Hot, Humid and Mostly Dry
San Antonio is expected to reach approximately 98 degrees Wednesday, with a low near 77. Humidity could make the afternoon feel hotter than the measured air temperature.
Thursday could reach 100 degrees, followed by another high near 98 on Friday. A spotty afternoon thunderstorm is possible Friday, but widespread rainfall is not currently expected.
San Antonio has recorded only 0.13 inches of rain since July 17, and forecasts favor below-average rainfall through much of August.
What to Watch Next
Authorities are expected to release additional information about the West Bexar County shooting, including the suspect’s identity and formal charges.
The investigation into Ozana Cisneros’ death remains open, with her cause and manner of death still pending.
At City Hall, attention will turn toward the August 13 budget presentation, the August 17 arena-ballot deadline and City Council’s future consideration of the SAWS rate proposal.
Families should also verify school meal eligibility before the first day of classes rather than assuming last year’s coverage remains in place.
Refocused Perspective
The morning’s stories reveal a city balancing grief with growth.
San Antonio is debating billion-dollar investments and the future of its utilities while families are confronting violence, food insecurity and changes to essential services.
Big projects may help define a skyline, but a city’s character is revealed closer to the ground: whether children are safe, whether families can afford water and electricity, and whether residents are genuinely heard before permanent decisions are made.
Progress should not merely look impressive from a distance. It should improve daily life on every block.
Sources and Full Links
- News 4 San Antonio: Eleven-year-old dies after West Bexar County shooting
https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/livetwo-hospitalized-in-critical-condition-after-west-bexar-county-shooting-suspect-held - KSAT: Initial West Bexar County shooting report
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/08/05/bcso-to-provide-details-on-shooting-on-far-west-side/ - News 4 San Antonio: Remains identified as Ozana Cisneros
https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/medical-examiner-identifies-concepcion-park-remains-as-missing-infant-ozana-cisneros - KSAT: Mayor lacks votes for another Spurs arena ballot question
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/08/05/mayor-jones-lacks-votes-to-get-second-spurs-arena-vote-onto-november-ballot/ - San Antonio Express-News: Spurs CEO defends arena agreement
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/spurs-rc-buford-arena-gina-ortiz-jones-22374116.php - San Antonio Express-News: SAWS advances revised rate proposal
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/san-antonio-water-system-rate-hike-increase-22371749.php - KSAT: Governor proposes opening CPS Energy service area to competition
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/08/04/gov-abbott-set-to-announce-plan-to-break-energy-monopolies-in-cities-like-san-antonio-in-effort-to-make-energy-cheaper/ - KSAT: San Antonio school meal program changes
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/08/04/san-antonio-school-meal-program-changes-what-parents-need-to-know-before-first-day/ - KSAT: Churchill student and father released from Dilley facility
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/08/04/churchill-high-school-student-father-released-from-ice-facility-in-dilley-us-rep-castro-says/ - KSAT: Labor violations found at three La Panadería locations
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/08/04/feds-uncover-child-labor-minimum-wage-violations-at-3-la-panaderia-locations-in-san-antonio/ - City of San Antonio: Proposed budget town-hall schedule
https://www.sa.gov/Directory/News-Releases/Residents-Invited-to-Town-Halls-for-City%E2%80%99s-Proposed-Budget - San Antonio Express-News: South Texas heat and rainfall outlook
https://www.expressnews.com/san-antonio-weather/forecast/article/texas-weather-dry-rainy-models-hot-forecast-22373875.php