Caldwell/Hays Examiner

05/11/2026

BREAKING: FCC Approves KZSM License for New Tower and Boosted Signal

San Marcos' non-commercial FM radio & streaming station achieves historic milestone in mission to serve the community...

Following a successful multi-year "Power the Tower" fundraising campaign and partnership with the American Red Cross, the station has received its first-ever broadcast license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The license authorized KZSM to move its transmitter from its downtown location to a higher-elevation site, increasing the station's reach to thousands of additional listeners across Hays County.

The transition – from a temporary permit with limited broadcast range to a regular license – allows the station to cover the city with full authorized power.

"This is a transformative moment for community radio in San Marcos," said KZSM board president Jeremy Garrett. "These station upgrades aren't just about better sound. Our diverse range of local programming — from music and culture to vital public affairs — is now available to a broader audience."

The station now provides better reception in the city's growing business and residential areas, and neighboring portions of Caldwell and Guadalupe Counties.

The tower relocation was made possible in part by the American Red Cross Community Adaptation Program. Recognizing KZSM's role as an all-volunteer asset in emergency resilience, the Red Cross supported the engineering and equipment costs to complete the tower move and obtain full FCC authorization.

KZSM is committed to forwarding all Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages to listeners. In contrast, most other stations meet only minimal EAS requirements, but do not voluntarily relay all life-saving EAS alerts, warnings and notifications from local and state emergency managers to the public.

Additional support was received from VTX1, provider of fiber and wireless Internet and telephone service; and attendee donors at KZSM events including the San Marcos Music Awards and our free music performances at the Square.

(Info provided by a press release sent by KZSM.org True Community Radio in San Marcos TX – congrats, fellow mediamakers from the Examiner crew!)

05/11/2026

BREAKING: Fired Texas State Professor Dr. Idris Robinson Celebrates Major Federal Court Victory in Free Speech Case

Popular philosophy instructor enjoys a huge win for the 1st Amendment following today’s federal court ruling in his favor...

Ruling from the bench, U.S. District Court Judge Alan Albright granted a preliminary injunction ordering Texas State University to reinstate Dr. Robinson with pay and university affiliation for one year or until the conclusion of his trial, whichever comes first. A written order will follow today’s hearing. The ruling signals the strength of Dr. Robinson’s case.

Professor Robinson was represented at the hearing by attorney Samantha Harris of Allen Harris PLLC and attorney JT Morris of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).

According to notes taken during the hearing, Judge Albright stated, "Given that the state really hasn't made an effort to argue that the speech that the plaintiff gave [wasn't] in some role or another a motivating factor - and I don't know that they could, given the fact that he was suspended immediately after the speech and told that it was because he exercised his right to First Amendment - I'm going to order that the university maintain his employment contract for one year or until the case resolves, whichever is sooner.”

“This is an enormous victory for Dr. Robinson and anyone else who cares about protecting free speech and dissent in Texas,” said a spokesperson for the Texas State Employees Union. “Preliminary injunctions are not granted lightly. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of the constitutional violations alleged and the weakness of the university’s defense.”

The ruling comes amid growing concerns over political retaliation, censorship, and suppression of dissenting voices at Texas State University. The union believes the implications of this decision will extend far beyond Dr. Robinson’s case, with implications for Dr. Tom Alter, Dr. Saeed Moshfegh, and others who have been silenced by public universities in Texas. The court’s willingness to intervene at this early stage sends a powerful message to universities across Texas and across the country that violations of First Amendment protections will not stand up in court.

“This decision will have ramifications for other ongoing free speech cases, and today’s ruling is a big step in the right direction,” the union spokesperson said. “But the broader fight for free speech and worker power in higher education continues.”

(The above is adapted from a press release sent by Texas State Employees Union (CWA Local 6186); old photo from Semiotext(e))

05/08/2026

BREAKING: Hays Co D.A. Drops Charges against Gerardo Reyes, his daughter reports, four days ahead of his immigration hearing

05/08/2026

ANALYSIS: Will the Hays County D.A.'s Office Drop Charges Against Gerardo & Esteban Reyes?

All eyes are on county prosecutors in light of vast public concern for the San Antonio family whose lives have been upended after San Marcos PD sent their beloved breadwinner into ICE custody – from a traffic stop prompted by false information of a crime that never transpired.

CBS Austin and Austin American-Statesman agree with us that the sworn affidavit by officer Jaciel Cortina, justifying the arrest, does not match video shot by Gerardo Reyes as he and his teen son were taken to jail.

Now we learn the City has placed Cortina on leave, while Chief Standridge investigates potential misconduct that resulted in the needless destruction of a family.

Today, at the invitation of Gerardo's daughter Lupe, we joined her family, other nonprofits and community members as she delivered over 200 petition signatures to the D.A.'s office to urge they drop the charges.

Will the county end this cruel prosecution?

05/08/2026

BREAKING: One Day after City of San Marcos Comms Officials Alerted Police Chief to Examiner's Reporting on Officer's Dishonesty, Jaciel Cortina was Placed on Administrative Leave

Open records reveal that Chief Stan Standridge launched an internal investigation – exploring potential police misconduct in the unnecessary arrest of a father who was then transferred to ICE – not even 24 hours after being made aware of the Examiner's claim that Cortina lied in his sworn statement...

CBS Austin and Austin American-Statesman have now both affirmed the Examiner's observation that Cortina's affidavit contradicts footage Gerardo Reyes filmed of his arrest.

05/08/2026

This Saturday in Lockhart: The Retired Nurses Group of Caldwell Co Annual Community Health Fair!

On May 9, the Lockhart Courthouse Square will be transformed into a beautiful community-centered celebration of health, service, and community - rooted in celebrating the healthcare heroes in our communities

The event honors the dedicated retired nurses of Caldwell County as well as provides free health services including blood pressure checks, diabetes education, nutrition guidance, senior services, mental health resources, and a blood drive.

There will also be games, rides, prizes, and live music for all to enjoy along with some great local food.

Whether you attend to cheer on the nurses, take care of your health, or enjoy a fun morning with neighbors, this is a day all about community care.

The event will be from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. at Courthouse Square in downtown Lockhart on Saturday, May 9 and entry is free!

05/07/2026

Are you signed up for our free, weekly e-newsletter?

Tomorrow we unpack the Defund Public Schools movement afoot in Texas. Last school year, in our Caldwell/Hays bi-county region, $35 million was funneled from our public schools instead to charter campuses, for the benefit of not quite 4,000 kids...

Local schoolteacher Tanya Lloyd also tells us, "Teachers warned the proposed voucher system was a scam designed to benefit wealthy, predominantly white families whose children were already enrolled in private schools – the latest data from the Texas Comptroller’s office proves we were right."

Join our free, weekly e-newsletter here: eepurl.com/i5oY7A

05/05/2026

BREAKING: New Poetry Collection by Juania Sueños, Lit Section Editor for the Examiner, Chosen for La Treintena

The acclaimed list of recommendations annually crafted by The Latinx Project at New York University – uplifting new, stellar literary works – selected "topography of a border/line bird" in their Top 30 for 2026...

The review praises the book's "eccentrically q***r punk sensibility that cuts through the collection" while celebrating its "radical verbal and political energy and imagination..."

https://www.latinxproject.nyu.edu/intervenxions/la-treintena-2026

05/05/2026

"Injustice Delayed is Injustice Denied": Colossal Turnout Inundates Data Center Town Hall in Caldwell County on Sunday

A few hundreds residents gathered at Two Wishes Ranch to talk risks – and possibilities for resistance, by slowing down the process – to enormously consumptive facilities that seek to power an eerie AI future on the backs of local taxpayers...

Every table in the packed-house forum contained a detailed refutation to County Judge Hoppy Haden's insistence that "his hands are tied"...

Panelists outlined the threat of an imminent "heat island" that will result from allowing construction of one of the nation's largest data centers between Uhland and Lockhart, as well as public-health and ecological harms and a painful rise in ordinary residents' electricity bills...

Thank you to the Caldwell Data Center Action Team for organizing the forum – which doubly served as a release party for our May edition, featuring a cover story on DCAT and fightback to dangers of the data-center takeover!

05/02/2026

BREAKING: Lockhart State Park is nearly doubling in size: "the addition to the southeast ... is about 148 acres and contains a portion of the Clear Fork of Plum Creek and native blackland prairie – a rare plant community found only in Texas. The northeastern property adds an additional 40 acres. Both formerly family ranches, the properties provide valuable wildlife habitat and feature a mixture of shrubland and riparian woodlands."

News Release, April 20, 2026: Lockhart State Park Grows by Almost 190 Acres with New Acquisition