Colby Howell

Things are looking up for Texas State Football, both figuratively and physically. Not only have the 2008 Southland champs been picked to defend their title this year, but they will now be playing under the shadows of a newly-renovated Bobcat Stadium. Colby Howell has more.

The upgrades at the stadium include the addition of air-conditioned luxury suites for many high-profile season ticket holders. There are also new boxes for the media to use. The project will be finished in time for the Texas State's first home game of the season. Senior Ryan Whittington says the transformation has now given the stadium a much larger, taller stature than before.
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Texas State hopes to move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision. For the past few years, the school has labeled the move as the drive to FBS. The upgraded stadium is designed to boost attendance, which will be necessary before the Bobcats can make the jump to FBS. But many are skeptical it will. But some are skeptical…
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Texas State's home opener in the renovated stadium will be against the Angelo State Rams on September 5th. For Bobcat Update, I'm Colby Howell.

Adam Swank

Texas State University has several beautification projects underway. Adam Swank has the story.

Residents of the university-owned Clear Springs Apartments are excited about some of the renovations at the complex.

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Residents at Clear Springs saw a small spike in rent as a result of the renovation to the aging complex's exterior this summer.

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Clear Springs, which is located on the San Marcos River and within walking distance of campus, is also getting two new signs. Former resident Ansel Hildebrand says the improvements were long overdue.

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Construction workers beautified the exterior of the Lampasas Honors building last spring and are now working to improve the sculpture garden next to Flowers Hall. While beautification projects can be controversial when other improvements around campus are needed, Hildebrand says they're still important.

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With new baseball fields, a renovated stadium, and lots of new greenery, Texas State is working hard for a new image. For Bobcat Update, I'm Adam Swank.

Timothy Ladusky

Texas State has reopened its doors for another fall semester. Timothy Ladusky has more on this Bobcat Update

As fall two-thousand and nine begins, Texas State welcomes new and returning students.
Senior Jacklyn Ingram remembers what it was like being a freshman on her first day

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The quad was once again full of organizations trying to recruit new members and new students trying to find where all their classes are. The Texas State tram service is again busy shuttling students to and from commuter parking lots and apartment complexes.

Cafeterias on campus have opened their doors to hundreds of hungry students who live on campus. A student living on campus is required to buy a meal plan. Freshman and sophomores have also started to get acquainted with their new homes. A lot of upperclassmen have fond memories of dorm life Senior Rena Iglehart shares some of those memories

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Reporting for Bobcat Update I'm Timothy Ladusky.

Ashley Flores

Blazing sun, dry weather and lack of shade makes for a very sweaty student. Ashley Flores has more on the impact of the hot weather on Texas State.

Classes have resumed at Texas State, students walk with their backpacks on shoulder, glasses on, water bottle in hand and… sweat down their back. The sun relentlessly beams down on students, which makes walking to class almost unbearable.

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The National Weather Service reported a cool high of 99 today, decent when compared to previous 105-degree days.

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Shorts, t-shirts and improvised helps some people stay cool in this climate.

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Overexposure to the sun could lead to dehydration or even heat exhaustion. According to medicinenet.com the warning signs for heat exhaustion are heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness or dizziness. So remember to stay hydrated, put your shades on and grab a makeshift fan because more hot days are ahead. For Bobcat Update, I'm Ashley Flores

Matt Petmecky

The Bobcats deliver Prairie View A-and-M an 18-to-6 loss at Bobcat Field. Early in the game, the Panthers kept it close, taking a 6-to-5 lead in the top of the 6^th inning. But the Bobcats took control following homeruns by Spenser Dennis and Lance Loftin. Pitcher Bryant Rutledge was credited with his first win of the season. The Bobcats are now 25-and-10 for the year. They'll return to action Friday against the Northwestern State Demons.

Mary Dichard

Many Americans are voicing their concerns about the Obama administration's economic bailout plan. Protests were staged in several cities yesterday, including one in San Marcos. Bobcat Update's Mary Dichard tells us more.

Texas State students and San Marcos residents exercised their first amendment right to assemble yesterday at the Tax Day Tea Party. The nationwide protests were named after the Boston Tea Party that occurred more than 200 years ago. University students marched from the campus to the Hays County Courthouse where they met with some city residents to oppose President Obama's spending policies.

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The activists also voiced their disdain for the Federal Reserve. They want more transparency in government and are worried that inflation is ahead.

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Kristen Dudding

The month of April is Cancer Awareness Month and with summer approaching, people need to be aware of the dangers of sun exposure. U-V Rays, which come from the sun, are known for causing skin aging and wrinkling, and also contribute to skin cancers. Here are a few ways to help prevent skin cancer. When you are out in the sun, cover up as much as possible. Wearing a hat and sunglasses is an easy way to block out UV rays. Even if you are covered up, it is important to wear a sunscreen of at least fifteen S-P-F. Most sunscreens need to be reapplied every two hours, and even more often if you are swimming. The Student Health Center has free sunscreen samples that can be picked up there or at the Outdoor Center located at Sewell Park. For more information on skin cancer prevention, visit the Student Health Center or skin cancer dot org.

Matthew Champion

Texas State dormitory residents are refilling their wallets this week. University President Denise Trauth approved a refund to all the residents affected by the week-long hot water outage earlier this month. The refunds amount to one week of monthly dorm room rates and vary by residence hall. 14 of the university's 18 dorms were affected by the outage. Texas State representatives said more than two million dollars has been spent on two new water boilers and both should be up and running by May.

Lindsay Skaggs

This is National Student Employment Week, and Texas State is recognizing its workers for their efforts.
The students occupy jobs all across campus. You can find them at places like The Alkek Library, computer labs, dining halls and the writing center. Some students tutor fellow students at the SLAC center. Today, the 2009 Student Employee of the Year will be announced. Many students depend on their campus jobs to help pay for tuition and living expenses while attending the university.

Lisa Freeman

Texas State's most famous alum would be proud of his alma mater – that, according to his daughters who were on campus last night. President Lyndon Johnson graduated from what was then Southwest Texas State University 79 years ago. In this Bobcat Update, Lisa Freeman tells us about how he is remembered.
Lynda Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson closed out this year's common experience theme "civic responsibility and the Legacy of L-B-J" by giving a lecture named in his honor. The lecture was the final event in a yearlong celebration of Johnson's birth 100 years ago.
Both Robb and Johnson spoke about how proud their father was of saying that he came from this great university in the hill country, and that he would be pleased that Texas State continues to grow and still has that feeling of one big university family.
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President Johnson was a graduate of the class of 1930 and was the 36th president of the United States. He returned to the campus November 8, 1965 to sign the Higher Education Act, one of the most important pieces of legislation enacted during his presidency. His final visit to Southwest Texas State came six days before he died on January 22nd 1973, to speak to political science students. For Bobcat Update I'm Lisa Freeman

Kara Marshall

Students and locals have another reason to visit the river this spring. Forbes-dot-com has named San Marcos as one of the top ten whitewater spots in America. Sewell and Rio Vista Parks are popular kayak destinations. Other favorites cited by Forbes are Boise Idaho, Charlotte North Carolina, and Durango Colorado. If you're interested in picking up a paddle, the university's student recreation center is offering a Kayak Clinic on April 24th. Contact the front desk for registration fees and more information.

Katie Lombardi

The San Marcos Fire Rescue team wants you to be aware of some basic safety tips. Katie Lombardi has more in this Bobcat Update...

The team is dedicated to ensuring the safety of San Marcos residents and their homes. Battalion Chief Rick Rowell says prevention is the key.
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You and your family should develop a plan in case a fire occurs in your home. The first steps are to exit the dwelling and then dial 9-1-1. Fire officials say do NOT attempt to go back into the house to retrieve belongings. Wait for the fire department to arrive.
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Some basic tips to remember include checking your smoke detector to make sure it works properly and keeping a fire extinguisher handy. Also, remember to never leave the kitchen unattended while cooking and be cautious when lighting candles. For Bobcat Update, I'm Katie Lombardi.

Alysha Mendez

Texas State University is making sure that un-eaten food is not wasted food. And, as Alysha Mendez tells us in this Bobcat Update, table scraps will be used to keep sports fields and garden beds greener.
(Stand-up) Bobcat Blend is a composting pilot program that will turn this leftover food (holding tray of food) into fertilizer for the university.
Senior Jason Sanders, founder of the program, says students will not only have access to trash and recycling bins, but also compost bins.
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Sophomore Oscar Cabrera says he thinks Bobcat Blend is a great idea.
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By the end of this semester, about a dozen waste stations will be introduced to the L-B-J Lair Food Court.
Bobcat Blend hopes to add these organic recycling bins to every dining hall on campus.
For Bobcat Update, I'm Alysha Mendez.

Jorrell Rodriguez

Carrying a cell phone with you is a convenient way to stay in touch with friends and family, but be careful someone unknown to you may be listening to your conversations as well. Cellphone spyware programs allow hackers to tap into peoples' cell phones, read their text messages and keep track of their every move via satellite. To protect yourself from being hacked, make sure your phone isn't lying around where anyone can get it. Also, install a password to keep others from accessing your personal files.

Ben Wempe

Texas State's Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization is working hard to develop life-long skills in the business world. The C-E-O Grill 'N Go and Bobcat Opoly are fundraisers set up in the quad that operate as businesses. Students learn how to take inventory, hire workers, and they receive valuable selling experience. All profits that they make are used to send members to a national competition in Chicago. Anyone interested in becoming a member of C-E-O can find more information at the group's website.

Brandon Simmons

School is not out yet but summer plans are already being made. Brandon Simmons has more with this Bobcat Update.
Many Texas State students are anxious for summer break to begin.
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For the more adventurous, there are opportunities to take their summer courses overseas. Freshman Andie Cruz is excited about going to Spain to study.
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The economic recession may affect some activities this summer.
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Andrew Salazar

Texas State University is upping the ante on recycling. A new pilot program is in the works for the LBJ student center. If enacted, the program would promote the recycling of bottles, cans, paper and organic waste. The organic waste would be turned into compost and kept at an off-campus facility and be used to fertilize campus flowerbeds and sports fields. As of now one hundred percent of the trash from LBJ goes to landfills.

Megan Schwarz

With another semester of final exams and end of the year projects quickly approaching, stress levels among Texas State students are increasing. The university's counseling center today offered a workshop called Transforming Stress. The program was designed to provide an entertaining way to relieve stress. For more information about how to cope effectively with the pressures of being a student, contact the counseling center.

Ben Wempe

Texas State is renovating Bobcat Stadium with hopes that the football team will move up to the F-B-S level. The stadium enhancements began in January and will be completed in August of this year. 268 premium seats in 15 suites and 436 premium club seats will be added above the press box, which is also being renovated along with upgrading infrastructure. The total cost of the project is expected to be more than 17 (m)million dollars.

Mitchell Devonport

The Texas State baseball team faces Southeastern Louisiana tomorrow night in San Marcos, the first of a three-game series between the two. The teams are both ten-and-five in league play and will be battling for first place in the Southland Conference. Thursday's game will be the second of a six-game homestand for the Bobcats. The first game was played last night as Texas State trounced the Houston Baptist Huskies 18-to-four. The Bobcats controlled the entire game with 17 hits and two three-run home runs.