Vanessa Gerlich

The Texas State Powerlifting Club is facing hardships as they prepare for national competition. Vanessa Gerlich has more on the story.. 

The Powerlifting Club isn't letting the Coronavirus diminish its hopes for winning big at nationals. Due to safety concerns, the national competition is being postponed from April until the end of summer. Club member Miles Jesuran says the date change greatly inconveniences those training to compete.
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The annual meet will be hosted by Penn State, and earning a national title could persuade more Texas State students to support for the Powerlifting Club.
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Christian Godinez

Texas State is working on initiatives to promote a greener campus, and students will play a key role in how the university becomes more eco-conscious. Bobcat Update's Christian Godinez has the story.

You are sure to spot some recycling bins on campus. Many students do their part on the basics of recycling, but the Office of Sustainability wants students to know there are other ways they can make the campus more eco-friendly.
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While recycling is one way to help, an organization called Bobcat Blend partners with Texas State's food provider, Chartwells, to work on ways of collecting consumer waste. Doing so can create compost and add more green areas to the campus.
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Students are encouraged to foster new ways of creating a greener environment. Many believe adopting more eco-friendly habits will bring positive changes.
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Mikal Henley

The Democratic Party is much closer now to having selected a nominee to run against President Trump this fall. Joe Biden leads in the delegate count, but so far Bernie Sanders is still a contender. Biden was the party's choice statewide earlier this month when voters went to the polls for Super Tuesday, but Sanders carried Hays County where many Texas State students live. We asked some Bobcats recently what they think of the presidential campaign.

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Jake Norrie

Texas State students, Look up to the skies! You might see Bobcats flying around. It's possible now, with the opening of Leading Edge Helicopter Tours. Rides on the copters can be purchased for as low as 20 dollars. Bobcat Update's Jake Norrie took flight to tell us this story.

Helicopter Pilot Joshua Renner says the San Marcos area is perfect for flying.
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A few months ago Leading Edge branched out to Central Texas from its headquarters in Florida. Tours vary -- depending on what you want to see. The helicopters fly over the sights from San Marcos to Canyon Lake.
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Leading Edge Helicopter Tours is set up for business just south of the San Marcos Premium Outlets near Interstate 35. For Bobcat Update, I'm Jake Norrie.

Ethan Hunt

A new sports team is now in San Marcos with hopes of attracting locals to soccer competition. Ethan Hunt has the story.

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River Town F-C wants to create a fan base in San Marcos. River Town F-C is a semi-professional club, which includes some local talent on its roster. Santos Guerrero says he hopes the community will support it.
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River Town F-C was founded by Josh Weeden, an Army veteran, who played semi-professional soccer himself. Weeden says he loves the game.
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River Town F-C will play its home games at Rattler Stadium, next to San Marcos High. For Bobcat Update, I'm Ethan Hunt.

Hope Kronke

The Texas State e-Sports Team is gaining momentum as well as increased popularity on campus. The club has some big plans. Bobcat Update's Hope Kronke tell us more.

After only two semesters, the e-Sports team has gained recognition as an official Texas State sports club. Micah Cavender, president and founder of the team, says the future seems bright for the fledgling organization.
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You can follow the e-Sports team on its Discord channel or on Twitter. For Bobcat Update, I'm Hope Kronke.

Andrew Zimmel

Texas State has several opportunities for students to receive scholarships, but many Bobcats simply don't know how or where to apply. As a result, thousands of dollars are not being claimed. Bobcat Update's Andrew Zimmel has more:

Every year student government is given 255-thousand dollars for scholarships, but in 2019 much of it was left untapped. The money didn't just disappear because unclaimed funds can be carried over to the following year. That's why student government is now poised to distribute 293-thousand dollars.
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One of the reasons for the surplus was a lack of engagement between students and student government. Many students are unaware of how to apply for scholarships or where to look.
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Constunce Brantley

Many students struggle to find affordable textbook options each semester. Bobcat Update's Constunce Brantley has the story:

Many college courses require textbooks to be used in class, and while some students are able to pay, others choose NOT to. They try to manage WITHOUT one.
Depending on the major, many professors encourage students to buy textbooks. But Texas State student Keyara Prudhomme says marketing majors discover the books are often very expensive.
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Texas State student LeAnn Little says she was able to get her textbook using groupme.
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Students are always looking for alternatives, which may include studying in a group, sharing documents or finding books on reserve.
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Guarionex Molina Martinez

Women's History is celebrated during March. Bobcat Update's Guarionex Molina asked some students whom they considered female role models:

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Geneva Gano is a professor at Texas State who lectures about the contributions of women writers in the Southwest. Dr. Gano says some writers have been activists.
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There's a lot of information online if you'd like to know more about women's history month. For Bobcat Update, I'm Guarionex Molina.

Ryan Huntington

Texas State's Career Closet offers professional clothing attire to help students prepare for internship and job interviews. Bobcat Update's Ryan Huntington has the story.

For many students, purchasing professional clothing can be a financial burden. The Career Closet, located on the 5thfloor of L-B-J, is the perfect solution for students in need of outfits they can wear for job interviews.
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Students should prepare in advance for interviews by visiting the Career Closet and making sure they have clothes that fit well and are appropriate for the job they're seeking. Generally, students check out an outfit for one week at a time, but if a student knows that they will need the outfit longer, the Career Closet is happy to extend the rental, as long as the student makes prior arrangements.
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If you or your family have professional clothes sitting in storage, you could help future students prepare for career opportunities by donating them to the Career Closet. For Bobcat Update, I'm Ryan Huntington.

Emily Martin

With Spring Break approaching, Texas State University is making preparations to keep the campus safe. Bobcat Update's Emily Martin tells us more.

Many students will likely either go home or on vacation for spring break. When they leave, they think about what to do with their valuables.
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While students living off-campus can stay in town for the break, on-campus students are not allowed to stay in their dorms unless they have made special accommodations
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Residential Assistant Timia Cobb says there are safety measures in place to protect residence halls.
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Cobb also recommends being cautious about who's allowed in the dorms.
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Pearce O'Neal

Austin city officials have cancelled South By Southwest festival amid growing concerns of coronavirus.  The news comes just a few days after an announcement was made saying cancelling the festival wouldn't make it safer.  Bobcat Update's Pearce O'Neal has the story. 

South by Southwest has been cancelled for the first time in 34 years due to coronavirus fears. Austin city officials made the decision this past Friday, a week before the event was set to begin. The festival draws in thousands of visitors and volunteers from all over, including Texas State students and faculty.  South by Southwest Street Team Leader Dale Blasingame (BLA-ZIN-GAME) says he is disappointed with the outcome.  

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As of now, there have been no cases of coronavirus in Travis County, but the cancellation is being taken as a proactive measure. Biology Lecturer Michael Wilson says the risk of contracting coronavirus is higher when large groups of people interact in close proximity. 

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South By Southwest brought in 356-(m)million dollars for the Austin economy last year. The cancellation could be potentially devastating for local businesses.

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 Officials are looking into rescheduling or providing a virtual experience.  It is undetermined if attendees and vendors will receive refunds. For Bobcat Update, I'm Pearce O'Neal. 

Krista Andrews

San Marcos is considering a proposal that would combine Texas State's shuttle service with the city's bus system. Bobcat Update's Krista Andrews has the story.

San Marcos is growing in population and so is its need for convenient public transportation. In response, the city is developing a five-year transit plan that would merge Bobcat Shuttle and San Marcos Transit into one unified system. That sounds like a good idea to some people if it also means the city increases the number of buses in service.

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Others say the change could benefit Texas State students in the long run. 

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If adopted, the transit plan would include shared bus stops, more routes and longer service hours. According to city officials, action on the proposed bus changes is several months away. For Bobcat Update, I'm Krista Andrews.

Marcel Negrete

Fraternities and sororities at Texas State offer students many benefits and opportunities, but the actions of a few of these organizations have reflected poorly on their members and the university. Bobcat Update's Marcel Negrete reports on what's being done to hold Greek organizations accountable.
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Even after closing or suspending a Greek organization, the aftermath of an incident can have longstanding effects on the way that outsiders see Greek culture. One Texas State student says that news media and movies often fall short of illustrating what being in a sorority is like.
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Breaking down the negative stigmas of Greek culture is no easy task, but Assistant Dean of Students Bob Dudolski is confident that Texas State is moving in the right direction.
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Texas State continues to work alongside Greek organizations to ensure that all students have access to a positive and rewarding experience when joining a fraternity or sorority. For Bobcat Update, I’m Marcel Negrete.

Bradley Barnes

As more information on the Coronavirus is released, there are concerns about how far the disease will spread. Officials at Texas State University are aware of the situation and have taken measures to ensure the safety of the campus community. Bradley Barnes has the story...

Texas State President Denise Trauth has issued a statement concerning the school's plans on how to deal with the spread of the Coronavirus. In the email, President Trauth offers assurances because there are no active or documented cases of the virus on campus, but she notes that it's critical for the university to be prepared as the situation evolves.
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The president's email contains a link to a webpage put together by the Student Health Center. The webpage has  information on class schedules, health and safety tips, and facts about the virus.
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Though there haven't been any reported cases of the virus on campus, Texas State has canceled some of its school-sponsored study-abroad trips. Students who signed up for studies in China, Italy, and Japan are no longer able to go under the new travel restrictions.
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President Trauth says that there will be periodic updates on the spread of the virus. In the meantime, the Student Health Center recommends standard hygienic precautions, like frequent hand-washing with soap and water or hand sanitizer, and staying home when you're sick. For Bobcat Update, I'm Bradley Barnes.