Lauren Kendrick

Alkek Library is featuring a new collection on the seventh floor.  It's called Viva Mexico and is part of the Wittliff Collections. Viva Mexico showcases more than 100 artifacts related to Mexican culture and history. There are also many photographs on display that are related to the Mexican revolution. Of all the photographs, the most iconic are those of Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata.  The Viva Mexico exhibit is free of charge and will be on display until July 31st.

Nathan Seltzer

San Marcos residents who missed out on the state's appliance rebate program can still get one through the city. Nathan Seltzer has more in this Bobcat Update.


The state’s program offering rebates to residents who upgraded to energy efficient appliances ran into problems ... from  a crashed website to disconnected phone numbers, and its small pool of funds was quickly exhausted. The city wants its rebate program to avoid such mistakes.
[Jan Klein... :10...]
[Seltzer (standup)... :07...]
Through the city program, residents can get cash back if they recycle their old appliances and upgrade to more efficient models. Kyle Hahn, president of Green Guy Recycling, says it’s a great move for the environment and your wallet.
[Hahn... :12]
The amount of the rebates is based on the efficiency of the appliance -- the more efficient the appliance, the higher the rebate. Wesley Fincher, with Best Buy, says there are a lot of options out there.
[Fincher... :05]
For residents who want to upgrade, this rebate could knock down the price significantly, while helping the environment by making sure your old appliance doesn’t wind up in a landfill. For Bobcate Update, I’m Nathan Seltzer.

Jennifer Alvarez

SU→With summer right around the corner, students are gearing up with plans to work, travel, and play. We asked these Bobcats what they have in store for this summer.
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SU→So whether you’re working hard at a job or studying in summer school, make sure you take time to enjoy the summer heat with all your friends. For Bobcat Update, I’m Jennifer Alvarez.

Lara Crouch

The Texas State Theater Department will be performing the romantic comedy The Servant of Two Masters through this weekend.  The play is about a gluttonous servant who is hired by two people. The servant juggles both jobs -- running errands around Venice without letting one master find out about the other. What the servant doesn't know is that his two masters are lost lovers searching for one another. You can catch the play at 7:30 nightly through Saturday or on Sunday at 2 p.m.  The performances will be on the theater main stage. 

Lauren Murphy

Texas State’s Aquarena Center will be receiving a makeover this fall to help return it back to its natural beauty. Lauren Murphy has more in this Bobcat Update.


The Aquarena Center once was an amusement park with rides and shows that became a popular destination for San Marcos residents and out of town visitors.  Since Texas State University acquired the complex in 1994, the goal has been to restore Spring Lake back to its original environment.
Texas State has partnered with the U-S Army Corps of Engineers to remove former attractions that have deteriorated over time.  The submarine theater, overhead tramway, gift shop, and the visitors’ center will be demolished and replaced with new buildings by 2012.
Spring Lake boat tour guides are anticipating the upcoming changes, and Aquarena Center employee Shelby Stewart is eager to see the renovations.
SB Shelby Stewart
The approved plan is scheduled to begin this fall. The Aqua Center's focus will remain the same.
SB Shelby Stewart
Old buildings will be torn down and in some cases replaced, and hiking trails will be added.
SB Lauren Murphy

Whitney Paul

San Marcos has seen extremely high levels of pollen this spring. But will all the rain we’ve seen wash the allergens away? Whitney Paul has this Bobcat Update.


High pollen levels are affecting people who suffer from seasonal allergies. Spring allergies are a result of pollen from trees, which can start pollinating anytime from January to April, depending on the climate and location.
Oak, for instance, hit record levels this month.
SB (Student)
Professionals say an extended amount of rain could temporarily knock the pollen out, however, a light drizzle could increase the pollination.
Airborne pollen is usually the main cause of allergic reactions. At times, pollen levels could dip in San Marcos, but allergens can still blow in from neighboring cities.
SB (Microbiologist)
(Stand up) April is the month of showers, but we can be sure that once the rain goes away, the pollen is likely to be back again. For Bobcat Update, I’m Whitney Paul.

Alex Hering

The Associated Student Government wants to drive you home...if you've spent a night on the town. Alex Hering has more in this Bobcat Update.
As night falls, this sleepy town turns into a popular watering hole ...- nat pop -... Where drunk driving can be a problem... But A-S-G wants to change that with a program that will provide safe transport to the square and back.
Sb: Chris Covo
Covo says the program, which could start as early as next year, would cost nearly *800,000* [This seems very high] per year and be funded by local alcohol vendors, apartment complexes, Texas State University, city funds and a possible ten-dollar student fee.
*Jake Thompson* said drinking and driving has become accepted and all too common practice downtown.
Sb: student on bus
Some students, like *student name*, says he would object to paying the proposed ten-dollar fee, because he doesnt drink alcohol.
Sb: student opposed
standup: A-S-G piloted the program this weekend.  There were several small charter buses on duty taking folks to and from the bars downtown.  And Covo says it was a *huge* success. For Bobcat Update, I'm Alex Hering.

Jessica Peters

McCarty Lane is getting a six-point-five (M) million dollar make-over. Jessica Peters has more in this Bobcat Update.

A groundbreaking ceremony this week kicked off the construction on McCarty Lane outside the Embassy Suites Hotel.
Mayor Susan Narvaiz said the improvements will benefit the community.
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Hays County Precinct 3 Commissioner Will Conley is pleased to finally get the project underway.
SB (Conley- 50-60 years…)
The City and Hays County officials are excited about the expansion, but not all the citizens of San Marcos are as satisfied. Jason Perez owns a home on McCarty Lane.
SB (Perez- why is doesn’t like it)
Perez is losing about 12 feet of his front yard, a few trees, flower bushes and his brick and rod iron fence.
SB (Perez- knows it is necessary)
The city is rebuilding and covering the cost of reconstructing Perez’s fence. The city will also help other residents affected by the construction.
When the roadwork is complete, McCarty will be an urban four-lane roadway.
The project will be conducted in two phases. For phase one, the city will make improvements near the Embassy Suites Hotel and will connect the road leading to the San Marcos High School.
SB (Mayor- travel to the High School)
The City of San Marcos and Hays County are partnering on phase two of the project, which involves the eastern part of Loop 110.  The loop will connect Interstate 35 to Highway 123. Officials hope work on phase two can start early next year.
While construction is underway, officials suggest that drivers find alternative routes in the area. For Bobcat Update, I‘m Jessica Peters.

Rebecca Eller

Texas State is participating in cancer awareness month. On Tuesday, the university sponsored a community health fair at the L-B-J student center ballroom. Rebecca Eller has more in this Bobcat Update.

The health fair was one of several information sessions the university has held this month. The fair included several medical students and vendors who informed students on how to avoid cancer.
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The event featured information for screening and early detection on all forms of cancer. There were also sign-ups to be an organ donor, and free Gardasil shots were offered to women. 
Nutrition Sophomore Carianna Salcivar says she thinks the fair is good for students.
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STAND UP

Lauren Kendrick

Lambda Alpha Epsilon, a criminal justice fraternity, is teaming up with the Texas State police officers association and the university police department to raise money for the Hays County food bank.  Lambda Alpha Epsilon has set up a food drive in the quad asking for non-perishable foods.  Some of the items included on the wish list are cereal, rice, beans, soups, pasta, and canned vegetables. If you don’t have any canned foods to donate, monetary donations will also be accepted. A ten-dollar donation will buy 83 pounds of food, which is enough to help a family of four for a whole week.

Jacqueline Baylon

Downtown San Marcos may be getting a facelift, and citizens and community leaders recently got their first full glimpse of how it might look. Jacqueline Baylon has more in this Bobcat Update.

For four days, City officials, business leaders and residents gathered to form a “charrette” where plans on revamping the downtown area took place.
The charrette was brought together so the city could work with a team of consultants to draft key components of a code to guide development and redevelopment in the downtown area.
SB: Mayor
Among the ideas presented was an proposed alignment of the city's zoning code with community goals. Images to illustrate the transformation were available throughout the meetings.
SB: Project Manager
Residents were encouraged to be a part of the process, which will guide downtown’s growth.
Stand Up: The mayor says she hopes the redevelopment will begin as soon as a new code is adopted. 
For Bobcat Update, I'm Jacqueline Baylon.

Megan Turney

The Japanese Language and Culture Club of Texas State hosted its annual Sakura Festival Monday night.  Megan Turney has more in this Bobcat Update.

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That’s Japanese for “Welcome to the Sakura Festival!” The Sakura Festival is a Japanese tradition that celebrates the arrival of Spring.
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Guests at the festival were treated to dinner, traditional Japanese dancing, and martial arts exhibitions. Several booths were set up around the L-B-J Ballroom to celebrate various facets of Japanese culture, including fashion, anime, and the delicate art of origami. Takeshi Shen, a member of the J-L-C, said that the festival helps introduce American students to Japanese culture.
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Performances showcased the talents of many Japanese Language and Culture Club members, including Eriko Maruyama, who performed three original songs. Other performances included a traditional Japanese fan dance, a not-so-traditional break-dancing routine, and a Disco “Para Para” routine, a popular form of choreographed dancing in Japan.
STAND UP

Evan Dennis

The Wonderworld Drive expansion project is nearing completion. Evan Dennis has more in this Bobcat Update.

The 48 (m) million dollar project to connect Wonder World Drive with Ranch Road 12 is in its final stages of construction. J-C Evans Construction has been working on the project since December of 2008. Project manager Michael Jackson says the project was designed to be environmentally friendly.
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Along the way other obstacles have slowed the construction progress.
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The three-point-two mile limited access parkway will be four lanes wide and feature ten-foot shoulders for use by bikers and pedestrians.
SU: Dennis

Tim Leeland

Student internships are extremely important in today’s competitive job market.  Tim Leeland has more....

There are more student internships now than ever [[according to whom?]]  Having an internship can provide students with valuable work experience and can make a difference later when searching for paid employment.
SB:  Chuck Kaufman
But most internships are unpaid, which makes it difficult for many students who need money to pay the bills.
SB:  Jeremy
In the early ‘90s an estimated nine percent of students became interns.  Today, the number is closer to 80 percent.
SB:  Chuck Kaufman:
Internship coordinators like Chuck Kaufmann and Career Services Division at Texas State can help students find internships that fit the busy schedules of students:
SB:  Greg Hill:
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Rebecca Eller

The Center for the Studies of Latino Media and Markets is hosting its first international Spanish documentary festival.  The festival is called Puntos de Vista and is being held today in the L-B-J Student Center Ballroom. It's divided into six sessions and will last until six this evening. Sixteen students entered their works in the festival. The content of the films range from drug use in Columbia to spirituality in Mexico. Close to eleven-thousand votes were cast to determine a top-prize winner.

Tim Leeland

The nation is experiencing economic recovery, but gas prices will rise this summer. San Marcos regular-grade gas prices are in the  two sixty range, but the Energy Information Administration  predicts that the national average may be around three dollars per gallon.  This is a significant rise from last summer’s average of  slightly more than two-forty.  The E-I-A also predicts that the country will consume point-five percent more gasoline than last summer.  But within the next year, automakers like Chevrolet and Nissan will be rolling out electric cars to ease the pain of high gas prices.

Caitlin Irwin

The San Marcos Fire Marshall's Department is cracking down on keeping pets out of the pool areas. Caitlin Irwin has more in this Bobcat Update.
With the weather warming up, city officials have begun informing apartment complexes that the health and safety code states that no pets are allowed in pool areas. Those who break the rule could be fined and the pool could be shut down for the rest of the year.
Apartment leasing agent Anastacia Sigel says pets in the pool area are a sanitation risk.
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San Marcos has other outlets for those who want to go be active with their pets. Located on Charles Austin Drive is a Dog Park fenced off with a side for large dogs, and a side for small dogs. One couple brought their husky Aston for the first time and said he loved being able to run around.
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The San Marcos River is always an option. There are leash laws for dogs but that doesn’t prevent owner Megan Purvis from bringing her chocolate lab Twix to the river a few times a week.
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(Stand Up) The pool is a great place to cool down as it starts to warm up but please for everyones health and safety, leave your pets at home. For Bobcat Update, I'm Caitlin Irwin.

Rebecca Eller

Veterans participating in the second annual Ride to Recovery bicycle tour rolled into town Tuesday afternoon for their first stop on a six-day journey across Texas. More than 100 veterans and their supporters converged on the Embassy Suites in San Marcos. The participating veterans have turned to cycling to boost their fundraising efforts to aid their rehabilitation and recovery programs. When the ride is finished in Arlington, Texas, next week, the veterans will have covered 350 miles.  

Kara Bell

The theater department at Texas State has reason to celebrate. At a recent Kennedy Center Theater Festival, Texas State earned 15 awards – the most ever in a single year for the program. Students were recognized for their work on Macbeth and Batboy as well as their technical designs. They will be going to Washington D.C. later this month to showcase their work.
Three students were named finalists for their acting. Ashley Rhodes, Tyler Wallach and Ben Mayne each won the Irene Ryan acting award.

Joe Doyle

Solar energy may become a component of an environmental initiative at Texas State. Joe Doyle has more in this Bobcat Update.
Before he leaves office, Associated Student Government President Chris Covo hopes to spearhead a solar energy project at Texas State. The project would be part of next fall's sustainability theme. Covo says, if implemented, the project would be more for educational purposes rather than utilities savings because there's a high price tag associated with solar energy.
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Vice President of Facilities Juan Guerra has been working with Covo and Austin-based energy company Helio Volt to accomplish the task. Guerra says that the company could provide the necessary equipment in a matter of weeks after plans are completed.
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Standup

April Adams

Spring has arrived and with it comes warmer temperatures.  But before you head out for some fun in the sun,  you should be aware of possible consequences. April Adams tells us more in this Bobcat Update...
Many people are enjoying outdoor activities and soaking up the sun.  Although sunshine can be good for you, too much exposure can lead to skin cancer. Biochemist Professor Kevin Lewis was diagnosed with skin cancer after many years of prolonged sun exposure.
(SB Kevin Lewis, Biochemist Professor)
Lewis says ultraviolet rays that penetrate the skin cause severe damage.
(SB Kevin Lewis)
STAND-UP: As many people know, using sunscreen with S-P-F 15 and beyond is a great product to use for protection from the sun.
San Marcos resident Frisbee Dan knows how important it is to protect his skin when he's out in the sun.
(SB Frisbee Dan, San Marcos resident)
 It's not possible to completely avoid sunlight, but taking steps to protect your skin from too much sun exposure can greatly reduce your risk of getting skin cancer. For Bobcat Update, I'm April Adams.