Texas — A Driscoll Middle School teacher got the VIP treatment from the San Antonio Spurs for his positive impact on students Zain Glover was presented with the NBA Scholastic Coach of the Year Award during a special visit by representatives from the San Antonio Spurs on May 5 recipients of this award demonstrate traits like integrity and success while teaching values such as teamwork "It's not just about teaching students the skills on the field or the court but in the community and things that can help them achieve success in the future," Glover said Glover is currently in his 11th year as a teacher and coach at Driscoll Middle School where he serves as Athletic and AVID Site Coordinator For the latest local news updates, click here, or download the KRIS 6 News App. Catch all the KRIS 6 News stories and more on our YouTube page This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy high school seniors across Corpus Christi will walk across the graduation stage the fresh high school graduates and their families will be thinking about the future They’ll be hoping that the past 13 years and the accolades and credits earned will all be worth it to help them find a good job either now or after a few more years of higher education And what opportunities exist in Corpus Christi “A good job is one that pays well,” Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corp Culbertson specifically pointed to jobs that pay around $80,000 annually A job might meet that baseline even with a lower base salary rate if it offers overtime hours A good job should offer opportunities for advancement as well as training to help employees earn promotions A good job is “one that provides folks with something that they love to do and they’re passionate about,” said Kelly Miller president at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi “Some folks want to make a whole lot of money and that’s their main driver,” Miller said “Other people want to make enough to sustain a lifestyle they want but they also want to do something like participate in giving back to the community.”  Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend connects jobseekers with opportunities President Kenneth Treviño said that context matters when defining a good job “A good job can be just offering stability to somebody,” Treviño said “It can be entry level with a path forward into training.”  Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni said that in the Corpus Christi area many good jobs are blue-collar industrial jobs particularly in the petrochemical industry and other heavy industries “That’s something we need to recognize,” Zanoni said “Some folks don’t like that because of the impacts that some of these products might have on the environment but I think those are decent jobs in our community.”  many of the jobs take a high level of technical skill There are many jobs in the engineering sector Federal wage data shows that engineering occupations have some of the highest wages in Corpus Christi along with medical doctors and management positions in a variety of sectors “I think a lot of young kids that are here in our community look to that (industrial) sector as a potential for employment especially as they get into their early 20s and beyond and start to have families,” Zanoni said According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2024 the occupation with the highest median annual wage in Corpus Christi is physician Other high-wage occupations at the top of the list locally include chief executives and managers high-wage occupations in which the wage is higher than $100,0000 include dentists some with the highest levels of employment in the city include lawyers and medical and health services managers Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend also publishes data on the local labor market, available online at workforcesolutionscb.org/labor-market-intelligence the organization reported 11,000 job openings in the Coastal Bend with an unemployment rate of 4.3% Employment grew over the last year in sectors like education and health services and leisure and hospitality According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual median wage for the Corpus Christi metropolitan area was $43,770 as of May 2024 That means that half of the employees in the area made less than $43,770 and half made more Ten percent of employees had an annual wage of less than $23,040 Another way of looking at pay is to focus on data on household income. The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey has estimates on household income data dated to 2023 the median household income in Corpus Christi was estimated at $65,138 for non-Hispanic white households though the margin of error for this estimate is much larger the average weekly wage rose in the Coastal Bend by $46 to $1,069 compared to last year What does it cost to live in Corpus Christi The data indicates that though some Corpus Christi residents are earning enough to meet basic needs or to afford housing without spending too much of their income Wealth and the sense of security that can come with a higher income are not evenly distributed Differences exist based on race and ethnicity One in five Corpus Christi residents under the age of 65 does not have health insurance The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Living Wage Calculator estimates the earnings a full-time worker needs to cover the costs of their family’s basic needs According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a living wage for a single adult with no children in Corpus Christi is $20.32 per hour each would need to earn about $14.21 hourly The living wage threshold increases if more children are living in a household a single parent with one child would need to earn about $70,970 annually while two working parents with two children would need to bring home a combined annual income of $96,096 These living wage estimates don’t account for savings meaning that for an individual or family to feel comfortable with their lifestyle Another estimate of how much an individual must earn is based on housing costs. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates the wage a full-time worker needs to earn to afford a two-bedroom rental without spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs the hourly wage needed for a full-time worker to afford a two-bedroom rental ranges from about $22 to about $31 per hour depending on neighborhood in the Corpus Christi Westside 78405 ZIP code about $18 hourly is needed to afford a one-bedroom while about $22 hourly is needed for a two-bedroom about $25 hourly is needed for a one-bedroom and about $31 hourly is needed for a two-bedroom Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend estimates that across the region a livable wage ranges from $18 to $22 per hour depending on family size and lifestyle Industrial growth doesn’t happen on its own New and expanded enterprises are often supported by economic development agreements and tax abatement agreements with local government entities offered with the understanding that businesses will contribute to the local economy and create jobs The city of Corpus Christi offers economic incentives including through the Type B sales tax program development agreements and tax increment reinvestment zones Industrial district agreements also protect companies from annexation and city requirements in exchange for a payment in lieu of taxes But the city of Corpus Christi doesn’t have "clear direction” when it comes to when and how to offer these incentives “We need to work with the City Council to do what other cities in Texas do which is identify what jobs do we want in our community,” Zanoni said the city and the City Council doesn’t have an approved set of policies that says ‘These are the jobs we want in our city.’”  The city is a funder of the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corp. along with other local governments and entities The economic development corporation is specifically focused on several industrial sectors New areas of focus include pharmaceutical and nuclear components of manufacturing aviation maintenance repair and operations This is based on the characteristics of the local workforce and community infrastructure and assets the economic development corporation isn’t going after “heavy water users,” though Culbertson spoke positively about plans to address water shortages The focus has shifted to manufacturers that use less water and power The economic development corporation’s compliance program conducts audits for local taxing entities to determine if companies that receive incentives are meeting job and capital expenditure requirements “That’s an important thing that people need to know,” Culbertson said “They hear about these programs and they go it’s corporate welfare,’ but they need to know that every year our office goes out and goes to these companies and we ensure that they created the jobs that they said they were going to create.”  But there are times when an incentivized business enterprise hasn’t gone as planned M&G Resins secured tax abatements from Nueces County and Del Mar College on the condition that the company build a new plastics plant to employ 200 full-time employees by 2022 But the company filed for bankruptcy five years later Corpus Christi Polymers LLC bought M&G Resins’ assets and in 2021 secured an amendment continuing the tax agreement under the new owners and giving it two additional years to fulfill the agreement Nueces County negotiated another three-year extension approved by the Nueces County Commissioners Court in February The company now has until 2027 to complete the facility and ensure the jobs the company paid $3 million in lieu of taxes Can community-level improvements encourage growth  The city has put a lot of work into infrastructure to make Corpus Christi a better place to live and a more attractive location for companies to invest in “A city needs to be constantly reinventing itself to keep the population that they have but also attract new population,” Zanoni said A factor that Zanoni believes can have an impact on job growth is education “The city needs to spend more time focusing on education and skilled training Corpus Christi is home to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi which offers industry certificates and associate degrees as well as bachelor’s degrees in nursing and organizational management Zanoni complimented the two institutions but noted that other cities like San Antonio have more higher education institutions Local public schools have invested in programs that teach career skills and offer students the chance to earn industry certifications the Texas Education Agency raised the expectations for college career and military readiness outcomes in the public school accountability system In Corpus Christi Independent School District and surrounding school districts students have been earning industry certifications in fields like welding and phlebotomy and racking up college credits Some have even earned associate degrees while still in high school as well as Del Mar College President Mark Escamilla said that the university and college base programs and curriculums on the needs of students and employers An individual’s career goals evolve over the course of their life but then they realize that they can advance or earn a higher wage with more education This is why Del Mar College has developed “stackable credentials,” whereby a student can build upon an industry certificate to earn an associate degree and eventually a bachelor’s degree they can come back to build on what they’ve already accomplished to reach further goals “I’ve talked to so many community members and leaders of all different aspects but when they started developing their work ethic putting their experience and work credentials together over time “That evolutionary process is what led them to all kinds of leadership roles.”  A head start in life: How students can work toward degrees in Corpus Christi high schools Here's how Del Mar College is eliminating tuition and fees for some full-time students There's a doctor shortage in Corpus Christi and Texas. Here's what that means for patients Powered by ATC Online LLP Neighbors west of Highway 281 are receiving a few showers this morning but for most other neighborhoods will be more likely during the early afternoon Expect humid conditions to also be more apparent into the afternoon Temperatures will warm to the low to middle 80s with mostly cloudy skies Tuesday will be even hotter with actual temps in the upper 80s feeling like the triple digits for some neighborhoods our next best chance for a good downpour looks to arrive Tuesday night and into early Wednesday morning This will continue into early Thursday as a weak cold front passes through the Coastal Bend Dry conditions will be back in the time for the weekend Temperatures will be slightly warmer than normal for this time of year The Lone Star Brahmas lead the series against the Corpus Christi IceRays after a 1-0 win after drama in overtime on Friday with the next two matchups on May 3rd and May 4th The teams play again for Game 2 on Saturday SAN ANTONIO - The Missions snapped Corpus Christi's three-game win streak with a 4-1 victory Saturday night before 4,178 fans at Wolff Stadium The lone Hooks marker came in the first as Pascanel Ferreras smoked a triple over the head of rehabbing Padres centerfielder Jackson Merrill. Zach Cole was the next hitter and smacked a single into right for a 1-0 Hooks lead Cole has hit safely in four of the last five games First up to bat, Ferreras hits a triple! pic.twitter.com/C3Ji05kxqQ Jackson Nezuh began his fourth Double-A start by holding San Antonio to two singles over four scoreless innings. The Missions rallied in the fifth, sending eight men to bat to score three runs. Joshua Mears began the barrage with a long homer to left to lead off the frame Alimber Santa struck out four and dispatched six of the seven Missions he faced in a scoreless sixth and seventh blanking foes in seven of nine outings on the year came claim the six-game series with a triumph in the Sunday afternoon finale The Caller-Times Student of the Week poll is open Participating Coastal Bend educators nominated high school students who they say have shown outstanding academic achievement and community service The Caller-Times will announce the winner and the runner-up after the poll closes May 8 visit the poll at the end of the nominees list Catalina Villarreal has been a member of the Calallen High School Wildcat Marching Band for the past seven years She is a "true leader in the organization and is so helpful to others," according to her nomination from Calallen High School Catalina is also a member of the Calallen FCCLA club where she focuses on doing good deeds for others Catalina participated in numerous community service projects including collecting items for a local dog shelter Cataline plans to attend the AVEDA School of Cosmetology to become an esthetician Calli Cordell is known for her "flair for the creative" and "steadfast commitment" to academic excellence according to her nomination from Flour Bluff High School She is a "crucial" member of the school yearbook staff Calli is considering a future in sonography or cosmetology reflecting her interest in both health sciences and beauty "She is always willing to go the extra mile and her heart is huge," teacher Amy Brandewie said "She is leading our yearbook staff with grace and steadiness." Attending a Corpus Christi ISD high school graduation? Know when and where to go. Here's why a Hicks Elementary School student was recognized for kindness Flour Bluff student wins Caller-Times Student of the Week poll (This story was updated to add new information.) The Corpus Christi Police Department arrested a London High School staff member accused of having an improper relationship with a student on May 2 according to a news release published online by the Corpus Christi Police Department Spence was first taken to the City Detention Center before being booked into the Nueces County Jail May 3 the investigation is still active as of May 2 Spence was a paraprofessional at London High School London Independent School District Superintendent Bill Chapman wrote that the district conducted an investigation into an inappropriate relationship between a student and a staff member The district alerted law enforcement and terminated the employee "The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority and we will continue to take necessary actions in cooperation with local law enforcement to protect our students," Chapman said in the letter To protect the privacy of the student involved the district is "limited in the details" it can share According to arrest documents provided by the Nueces County District Clerk's Office the school district received an anonymous email on April 26 about a teacher and a student having a relationship The school district investigated the accusation and contacted police The student informed the school district and police that a sexual relationship had occurred Evidence included text messages between the two What is a good job? Here’s how Corpus Christi fares in job opportunities and pay Summer camps 2025: Here's where children can have fun this summer in Corpus Christi area All 5 Releases Texas — Detectives seized 125 gambling devices and more than $12,000 in cash during a raid at a game room on South Staples Street Four people were arrested Thursday when police dismantled an illegal gambling operation on Corpus Christi's south side Detectives with the Corpus Christi Police Department's Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division served a search warrant at the Pure Game Room on the 5800 block of South Staples Street shortly after 2:00 pm The search warrant was the conclusion of a months-long investigation into the business that uncovered evidence of illegal gambling detectives found and seized 125 pieces of gambling equipment and over $12,000 in cash were arrested and charged with gambling promotion violation of the Nueces County Game Room Ordinance and engaging in organized criminal activity was charged with gambling promotion and engaging in organized criminal activity Engaging in organized criminal activity is a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in jail and a maximum $10,000 fine while the other charges are class A misdemeanors Thirteen adult patrons inside the game room were cited for gambling and additional charges and arrests are likely The Corpus Christi Police Department reminds citizens that game rooms that pay out cash rewards are engaging in illegal gambling Patrons and managers of these establishments may face criminal charges For the latest local news updates, click here, or download the KRIS 6 News App. is the Neighborhood News reporter for San Patricio County alongside Victoria Balderama Tx — Neighbors on Padre Island are spending their Saturday morning in the dark after widespread power outages Traffic lights were down and businesses turned customers away over 4,000 customers are experiencing the early morning loss of power residents reported the power went out at approximately 3 a.m only to go out once again shortly after 6 a.m faced difficulties Saturday morning while the lights were out We were selling only cold brews in the morning," Reppart told KRIS 6 News Reppart wants to assure neighbors that Kilates Coffee would reopen as soon as power is restored Then it came back on briefly and went right back down." Reuter expressed the challenge of staying informed without charged devices an issue echoed by many affected residents Reuter also remarked on the difficulty of receiving updates during such situations emphasizing the need for a more effective communication system from the city Some areas of the island have had power restored but crews are still actively working to restore the rest KRIS 6 News reached out to AEP Texas for more information regarding the cause of the outage but have not yet heard back from their team We will update our reporting as we learn more and the school bonds that could determine your district's future are coming in as polls across the Coastal Bend close The results below are the projected winners based on the unofficial results in each respective race: BISHOP CISD (100% votes counted)Board of Trustees - Place 2 AGUA DULCE ISD (100% votes counted)School Trustee Proposition A: The issuance of bonds in the amount of $15,000,000 for school facilities and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds is your neighborhood reporter for Flour Bluff and the South Side Texas — A Corpus Christi elementary student is getting big recognition for her big heart Londyn Delbosque from Gloria Hicks Elementary was selected as the "Kindest Kid in America" through a program designed to combat bullying and promote kindness in schools The recognition came as a surprise to her mother they picked her and it was exciting," Celeste said Londyn shows kindness in simple but meaningful ways."I tell my teachers that I love them," Londyn said Her parents say their daughter doesn't let anything stop her from showing kindness to everyone she meets including challenges she faces with Down syndrome It makes me feel like we're doing something right despite her having Down syndrome and some of the obstacles she faces she puts that aside and she's still kind to others," Celeste said The Kindest Kid in America program was created by Jessie Hansen in 2024 Hansen was inspired to start the initiative after experiencing bullying as a child believing kindness can help end bullying and school violence."I knew that kindness was the thing that changed me when I was a bully and I was getting bullied and it was so hard they need real psychology to help them," Hansen said co-authored by Corpus Christi junior high student Leilani Flores "If everybody in the world would just be kind and there was no violence in the world That's why everybody says nobody's perfect because they're not kind," Flores said Londyn's story demonstrates how one act of kindness can spark many more Her book is now available, for more information click here. Veronica "Ronnie" Flores-Herrera is the Real-Time Desk Manager for KRIS 6 News The Emmy-nominated journalist has been covering news in the Coastal Bend since 1997 New information is being released in the investigation into a London High School staff member accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student KRIS 6 News has obtained the arrest affidavit in the case It reveals the school district learned about the relationship through an anonymous email sent to the district on Saturday The sender stated they overheard Amy Spence tell someone she was in a "romantic relationship" with a high school senior Detectives spoke with London ISD's Assistant Superintendent Alex Salazar on Tuesday Salazar said he hadn't called police on Monday because they had asked the person who sent the email for more details The district was waiting to give that person more time before calling the police Salazar also said he was investigating a separate incident involving a male teacher and they had enough evidence to terminate him he informed them that Amy Spence was having an inappropriate relationship with a student they brought in the student who admitted that "he had been in a sexual relationship with Spence" He also showed administrators text messages between him and Spence the student told administrators Spence began pursuing him around Aug He stated that during an intersession date she took the student to her home where they had sexual intercourse Spence was in the Nueces County Jail where she's being held on a $100,000 bond The Corpus Christi Police Department arrested 49-year-old Amy Spence at her home on Nile Drive at 1:30 p.m According to the Corpus Christi Police Department Pence was taken to the City Detention Center and charged with improper relationship between educator and student A London High School staff member has been fired and is under investigation for having an inappropriate relationship with a high school student Bill Chapman sent a letter notifying parents of the investigation on Friday It states the district took immediate action The letter states due to the nature of the investigation and to protect the privacy of the student involved the school district is limited in the details it can share Public Information Officer Kim Womack told KRIS 6 News the district is working with the Corpus Christi Police Department and the relationship in question was isolated to one student The district doesn't believe there are other victims Texas — Thirteen Corpus Christi police officers were honored today for their dedicated service as they retired from the force A ceremony was held at CCPD's Training Academy on Yorktown to recognize their contributions to law enforcement Among those retiring was Assistant Chief Mark Schauer who dedicated more than 40 years to law enforcement after first joining CCPD in 1982 Schauer expressed gratitude to the community that gave him an opportunity when he needed it most a truly a blessed community for me when I came here I was homeless when I got this job when I interviewed for the police department when they told me I was hired The Assistant Chief emphasized the importance of serving the community "This is a community that I think we take for granted We take for granted the beautiful view of the ocean and everything but the best part of my career really has been serving kids and I tried any chance I could to get back to serve children We have to take care of our kids so to get into that this kind of work Schauer shared that he intends to remain physically and professionally active "I ran a marathon on Sunday in Oklahoma City but I've been an adjunct professor at the university at A&M for quite a while and I'm teaching there I want to enjoy life and enjoy my kids and do some traveling and keep in good shape," Schauer said Schauer made it clear that Corpus Christi will remain his home citing the city's natural beauty as one of its greatest assets I would never go back to Chicago and I mean I'm 15 minutes from the beach to go sit on the beach and I'm 15 minutes from a beautiful view that's just as good as any view in the country on the on the Corpus Christi Bay or on the but every chance I got to go to work every day I'd go up and down Ocean Drive I run it probably 2 to 3 times in the morning Schauer acknowledged there are aspects of his career he already misses I miss the camaraderie and seeing them all the time and them listening to some really bad jokes and I miss the interaction with the public We have a great number of people in in my career so we have a really good community," Schauer said CCPD will be honoring the following employees: Typically held on Armed Forces Day annually the 48th annual Beach to Bay Relay Marathon is set for May 31 The marathon was pushed back two weeks due to scheduling conflicts with the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi which is featured in one of the legs during the relay The 26.2-mile course will begin on North Padre Island cross the Laguna Madre along the JFK Causeway then travel through the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and finish on Shoreline Boulevard Registration is open until May 15 at beachtobayrelay.com John Alden Butterfield as a way for runners to gather and honor the nation’s military personnel Here's what you need to know to if you are a runner or will be cheering them on Race packets must be picked up between 9 a.m May 30 at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's Dugan Wellness Center finisher's medals (guaranteed only for those who entered before the early deadline) a chip scoring device that will be placed in your bib race bibs (red bibs must be worn by the runner running the sixth leg) detailed race information and a relay baton it is recommended to make alternate arrangements to pick them up Team captains may authorize someone on your team a family member or a friend to pick up your packet may be made at the Information and Change table It is the only opportunity to make said changes What are the rules for the marathon?Teams of six may only have each runner run one leg of the relay.Runners may not run on more than one team.All members of each team eligible for awards are subject to verification by race officials prior to the awards ceremony.The sixth-leg runner must wear the red race bib as that has the chip scoring device.The race director and/or race official may disqualify anyone for not adhering to the rules.Each leg must be completely finished or the team will be disqualified.Runners are not permitted to run with a baby stroller or pets.No alcoholic beverages are allowed at Water's Edge Park prior to the race Beer will be on hand at during the After Race Party.Runners of the fourth leg must remember to adhere to all rules and regulations as they are running through a government facility Do not veer from the race course.Parents of minors and providers of people with disabilities wishing to run the race alongside may do so as long as they acquire a parent bib in order to pass the security check-point.Beach to Bay courses close promptly at 1 p.m All teams must complete the relay before this time in order to get finisher medals and refreshments as they are available.What are the legs of the marathon?Leg 1 = 3.46 miles In partnership with the city of Corpus Christi and the Texas Department of Transportation buses will be made available free to runners to travel to North Padre Island and back Where can I watch?Spectators are recommended to watch the marathon at the end of the race at Water's Edge Park in downtown Corpus Christi Viewing anywhere else along the relay can end with spectators stuck in traffic for quite some time but it is advised to arrive earlier to avoid traffic and find parking Parking will be provided at Church of the Good Shepherd and First United Methodist Church along with a smaller lot at IBC Bank in downtown Corpus Christi Signs and individuals will direct people into various lots Most lots will charge a fee of $5 per car to park The fee is a donation that goes to the groups providing parking RELATED COVERAGEMore: Looking for fun things to do in the Corpus Christi area in May 2025? Check out our list. More: Seven Corpus Christi organizations share tips to protect the environment John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Bluesky @johnpoliva.bsky.social Consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx — Years of grief and unanswered questions are finally coming to an end for dozens of families across the Coastal Bend who were left without headstones for their loved ones. After our extensive coverage of Corpus Christi Memorial the monument company at the center of the controversy many are finally receiving what they paid for — at no additional cost a headstone and monument business that had operated for decades abruptly shut down after at least 60 customers alleged they paid for headstones they never received The company’s closure led to the arrest of its owner The building remained shuttered — until local real estate investor Richard Shelton purchased the property “When we got inside and started looking at all the stones like they had already been processed,” Shelton told KRIS 6 News Word quickly spread that the gates to Corpus Christi Memorial were open again and families still searching for answers began showing up “It was one person after another,” Shelton said “Once we opened the gates and started having conversations we realized this was much bigger than we thought Shelton began posting photos of the headstones to social media encouraging families to come claim them — free of charge Shelton also reached out to local funeral homes and cemeteries to help track down people who may still be missing headstones Some stones could even be modified to suit a new family’s needs more expensive — and the family will get it for free All they have to do is pay for the engraving,” a funeral director who visited the site said says his goal was simple: to do the right thing “To promote that there’s goodness out there,” he said “And to show we can create abundance outside of ourselves.” If you believe your loved one’s headstone may be among those recovered is your neighborhood reporter San Patricio and Aransas County Texas — May.2nd at buc days is dedicated to the military and their families They get a behind the scenes experience at the professional bull riding.  "We're waiting to get autographs with cowboys and I'm so excited,” Noah Ramirez said.  At his young age Noah appreciates the cowboy lifestyle Noah and his parents got tickets to PBR from the United Service Organizations a non-profit supporting military and their families "I just care about actual cowboys because they have the rope and they rangel bulls horses and anything they can get their ropes around,” Ramirez said.  Ruben Ramirez served in the Navy for over 20 years he can do fun things like this with his little boy "It’s my first time at Buc Days but not for Noah,” Ramirez said.  his family and others a part of the military I finished my service last year and she is about to wrap up,” Scott Carroll said “I'm in my last few months being in the military so we're taking advantage of all these military events,” Rachel Gardner said.  They had the opportunity to meet PBR’s cowboys It's how the buccaneer commission says thank you for your service May.3rd.  The rodeo kicks off May It's hot and humid with a slight breeze through the early evening hours The leading edge of the cold front that will usher in strong and potentially severe storms will move across the Coastal Bend from about 8 p.m and lightning are possible within any severe storms that could develop After the cold front moves through the area our rain activity will be on pause until more isolated showers pop in later Saturday morning and afternoon some severeTemperature: Low 69ºFWinds: SE/NE 10-20 mph clearing laterTemperature: High 82ºFWinds: ENE 10-20 mph Saturday night: Cloudy and quietTemperature: Low 65ºFWinds: NE 10-15 mph Have a good evening and stay tuned to the KRIS 6 Weather team as we track the storms Texas — Neighbors gathered to celebrate the inaugural Cinco de Mayo Fiesta hosted by Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi and Mother Teresa Shelter on Saturday the director of development for the organizations shared her enthusiasm about the event's success "We were just so excited to see so many people eager to come and be a part of it learn a little bit more about what it is that we do and all of our programs and just having fun together this morning," she said The event aimed to benefit the ministry and life enrichment for people with special abilities program Attendees were introduced to the services provided by Catholic Charities She emphasized the community's involvement noting that some program participants showcased their talents through dance The entertainment continued with 12 different craft vendors food vendors (LA Street Dogs and Sassy Snow Cones) balloon animals courtesy of Magic the Clown and resource tables available to provide information on the services offered Pugh expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the day's success naming Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi "Next year we just hope to continue to make this bigger and to grow the event and have more people out here and just continue to grow awareness about our programs," she said Catholic Charities aims for the event to be a community fiesta where families can gather and enjoy fun activities together the organization's next big event is the annual Celebration of Charity Gala The views expressed here are the author's own Rosé Soirée will present how to make a floral arrangement from your garden with herbs May 3 is election day for several local races in the Coastal Bend Not all cities or school districts are having elections this May But there are several races on the ballot for cities and school districts in Nueces Agua Dulce and Bishop are holding elections Flour Bluff Independent School District has three bond propositions on the ballot Proposition A is to authorize $110,835,550 in bonds for school safety Proposition B is to authorize $67,254,960 in bonds for career and technical education Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and fine arts facilities as well as for physical education indoor and outdoor spaces Proposition C is to authorize $15.4 million for athletic stadium renovations and safety improvements at Hornet Stadium Agua Dulce Independent School District has a school board race and a bond proposition on the ballot Proposition A would authorize $15 million in bonds for school facilities Bishop Consolidated Independent School District has three school board races on the ballot Sample ballots are available on the Nueces County Elections Department website. The main early voting location in Nueces County is the Nueces County Courthouse at 901 Leopard St Early voting and election day voting locations in Nueces County: Only registered voters who live in these districts may vote at these locations Curbside voting is also available for voters who are physically unable to enter the polling place without personal assistance or injuring their health Mathis and Odem and school districts in Aransas Pass Gregory-Portland Independent School District has four bond propositions on the ballot. Proposition A would authorize $75 million in bonds for school facilities and buses Proposition B would authorize $50 million for athletic facilities Proposition C would authorize $20 million for technology Proposition D would authorize $60 million for visual and performing arts facilities The city of Aransas Pass is electing a new mayor and two new City Council members Also on the ballot are six propositions to amend the city charter Aransas Pass Independent School District is electing four school board members The city of Ingleside is electing three council members Also on the ballot are 13 propositions to amend the city charter Ingleside Independent School District is electing two school board members and two bond propositions Proposition A is to authorize $44.9 million in bonds for new school buses and school facilities with priority given to additional elementary classrooms middle school and high school physical education facilities and safety and security Proposition B would authorize $5 million in bonds for a refund The city of Mathis is electing a mayor and two City Council members Mathis Independent School District is electing four school board members The city of Odem is electing a mayor and five council members The city also has a sales tax proposition on the ballot Odem-Edroy Independent School District is electing four school board members Sinton Independent School District is electing three school board members Taft Independent School District is electing two school board members To view San Patricio County election ballots, visit sanpatriciocountytx.gov The Aransas Pass early voting schedule is: Aransas Pass early voting and election day voting is located at the Lightning Whelk Room at the Aransas Pass Civic Center at 700 W Early voting and election day voting for Ingleside and Ingleside ISD is located at the Ingleside Humble Community Center at 2821 Main St Mathis and Mathis ISD early voting and election day voting is at Mathis City Hall Annex at 401 E Odem and Odem-Edroy ISD early and election day voting is at Planter's Co-op Meeting Room at 200 N The Gregory-Portland ISD early voting schedule is: Voting is located at Portland Community Center at 2000 Billy G is held at San Patricio County Elections Office at 410 W Election day voting will be held at San Patricio County Fairgrounds at 219 W The town of Fulton and Rockport-Fulton Independent School District are holding elections The town of Fulton is electing three aldermen Rockport-Fulton ISD is electing three school board members at the Elections and Voter Registration Office at 602 E More information is available at aransascountytx.gov Flour Bluff ISD invites community to see district facilities ahead of May bond election Ingleside ISD calls for nearly $50 million bond election Group of volunteers hopes to save Aransas National Wildlife Refuge from DOGE budget cuts The Chemours Company has been recognized by the U.S Better Plants Initiative with the 2025 Better Project Award for its innovative project at the Corpus Christi manufacturing site This award highlights Chemours's advanced analytical and processing approach to enable steam condensate return which significantly increased energy and water efficiency Chemours initiated a project to return condensed steam (condensate) back to the steam cogeneration operations Given the water-stressed conditions in South Texas The project aimed to ensure the quality of the condensate through advanced analytical equipment and monitoring enabling safe return to the cogeneration unit and achieving significant financial and energy savings The project began with the installation of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyzers to monitor condensate return quality These analyzers provided real-time measurements of condensate quality validated against manually collected samples additional transmitters were installed in late 2023 allowing Chemours to significantly increase the amount of condensate returned and ultimately reused the condensate return increased by nearly 40%—from 17.6% to 57.5%—translating to an annual savings of over 70 million gallons of water and $520,000 The initiative also resulted in substantial energy savings a reduction of over 7,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) annually The initiative serves as a proof-of-concept that can be replicated across other facilities Chemours's success at the Corpus Christi site underscores its dedication to environmental stewardship and operational excellence By leveraging advanced technology and fostering strong partnerships Chemours is paving the way for a more sustainable future For more information about Chemours and its sustainability initiatives, visit chemours.com/sustainability The Chemours CompanyThe Chemours CompanyAbout The Chemours Company More from The Chemours Company The city of Corpus Christi is in the process of improving its Animal Care Services department guided by a consulting firm's assessment that recommended a range of changes to its facilities public engagement and other areas of animal care As cultural norms about stray animals have changed cities have shifted their policies for populations of stray dogs and feral cats away from trapping and euthanasia toward live release or placement programs that encourage people to spay Animal Care Services became a stand-alone department in 2023 after years of being housed by other city departments the shelter has evolved from a short-term facility for animal control toward a modern full-service animal care system offering both public safety and animal welfare about 85% of animals the city brings to the shelter are "live release," meaning the animals leave the shelter alive by being adopted returned to their owners or transferred to other shelters houses 118 dog kennels and 39 cat kennels in three separate buildings It is open seven days a week to provide intake the aging facility has been poorly maintained The kennel buildings are not air-conditioned There isn’t enough space for a growing animal population or employees “It was built at a time when adoption and live releases was not an issue Updated policies and a forward-looking plan are needed to build the department from the ground up he requested an assessment of Animal Care Services from Citygate Associates a California-based company specializing in local government and animal care services The City Council will learn the results of the report in a workshop on May 8 The evaluation involves “benchmarking ACS against national best practices” to identify 170 improvement strategies that aim to modernize the department across five key areas — policy including a new air-conditioned kennel building at the shelter and 18 cat cages as well as streamlining the intake process for animals working with community-based rescue partners to help people adopt and foster animals and developing social media a website and marketing to engage the public and spread awareness about the benefits of animal care It also recommends that the shelter’s hours be extended that a veterinary program be developed to quickly care for injured and sick animals that in-house spay and neuter surgeries be increased and that the release of unaltered animals be minimized “It’s unprecedented in that finally in this city’s history we have a roadmap and work plan for how we’re going to make this department .. The city has completed 12 of the report’s recommendations The goal is to complete 65 of them by the end of fiscal year 2025 on Sept 30 and address the other 105 recommendations through the city’s five-year phased implementation plan to ensure improvement over time Twenty-eight of the recommendations require formal City Council consideration primarily related to budget allocations for 22 new or reclassified staff positions and six facility upgrades The city’s adopted budget for 2025 includes $5.57 million for ACS — an increase of about $2 million from the last several years There are currently 57 budgeted full-time positions within the department 11 animal care officers and four live release coordinators Forty-seven of the total budgeted positions are filled The report recommends that ACS add 15 additional staff positions which would amount to about $1 million annually Rehabilitation of the existing kennel buildings would cost between $25 million and $30 million and would most likely be sourced from the next bond initiative A public engagement campaign would cost about $2 million At a City Council meeting on April 29, the city manager noted a $7 million budget deficit in the new fiscal year that could affect some city services While he is asking all city departments to develop budget reduction proposals to evaluate and select programs to balance the budget he will not ask that of the ACS department animal care officers and dispatchers would be top priorities The department aims to continue improving animal welfare and public safety by increasing adoption and live release at the shelter to provide more kennel space Working with local and national rescue partners and nonprofit organizations that provide low-cost spaying and neutering services will help the city department provide affordable access for low-income pet owners and a targeted approach to reduce animal overpopulation Zanoni said he also sees an opportunity in the report’s recommendations for proactive programs such as off-site adoptions or community events and free pet microchipping during scheduled hours More: City of Corpus Christi may need to make $7 million in cuts this year. What will it mean? More: Corpus Christi animal care agency rescues 55 cats from North Padre Island home TX—Nueces Bay Boulevard will be closed between Up River Road and Leopard Street beginning Monday This closure is part of ongoing improvements to water lines along this section and is expected to last through Monday Nueces Bay Boulevard between Leopard Street and Highway 37 Frontage Road remains closed with two-way travel on the southbound lanes The full scope of the project is expected to be completed by July 2025 A detailed map is attached to represent the road work and traffic flow adjustments visually and motorists traveling through this area must follow the posted detour signs to navigate the construction zone Detours will be marked to ensure minimal disruption and maintain traffic flow The City of Corpus Christi is committed to projects that maintain or improve streets and infrastructure for every city resident For more information, media representatives can contact Beth Becerra, Public Information Officer, at 361-826-1693 or by email at elizabethb3@cctexas.com Call 311311 Website Landline Callers: 361-826-CITY (2489) Subscribe to receive the latest information from the City of Corpus Christi Subscribe Sunrise Anchors Bryan and Michelle Hofmann here We hope you had a great weekend and are ready for a week filled with new opportunities We’re bringing you the stories that matter most today—from federal student loan changes to what’s next for the Harbor Bridge The Department of Education is officially restarting federal student loan collections today ending a pandemic-era pause that’s been in place for nearly five years This includes borrowers who are in default Officials are urging anyone behind on payments to take action now—whether that means starting a payment plan the government may instruct non-federal employers to withhold part of an employee’s wages to recover delinquent debt If you were planning to attend the Harbor Bridge ribbon cutting this weekend TxDOT has postponed the ceremony due to ongoing construction issues—specifically with drainage systems but we’ll keep you updated right here on KRIS 6 City Council will get a closer look at the Inner Harbor Desalination Plant project on Tuesday The update will include the current state of development as well as a more detailed timeline outlining what’s next for the project Stay tuned for updates as councilmembers weigh in Vector Control crews are fanning out across the Coastal Bend this week to tackle mosquitoes Spraying began today in Calallen and the Northwest Side and will continue throughout the week keep windows closed and pets indoors while trucks pass through your area McDonald Library is temporarily closed due to a damaged chiller system that sent indoor temps soaring near 90 degrees last week City officials are aiming to reopen the library by Wednesday readers can head to the La Retama Central Library or the Anita & W.T We’re heading into the final week of Buc Days You can grab an all-you-can-ride wristband for $30 Entertainment begins early with The Chainlinks at 5:30 on the Buckin’ Marlin Stage followed by Michael Presas at the Beer and Wine Garden at 6 and Grupo Extraño wrapping up the night at 7:45 so don’t miss out!That’s a wrap for us today!Whether you're digging into your repayment plan or soaking up the final week of Buc Days—thanks for spending part of your morning with us We’ll catch you again tomorrow with more updates from around the Coastal Bend TX – The Brownlee Boulevard and Ayers Street intersection will be closed from Saturday May 17 as part of the ongoing Brownlee Boulevard reconstruction project This work will allow the contractor to connect the 42-inch storm sewer system with improved piping and infrastructure significantly improving drainage in the area The full project is expected to be completed by the spring of 2026 For more information, media representatives can contact Beth Becerra, Public Information Officer, at 361-826-1693 or by email at elizabethb3@cctexas.com It’s shaping up to be a lively weekend in the Coastal Bend with a lineup of events offering something for everyone several events are channeling the Force for a good cause Buc Days Returns with Crawfish and Carnival Fun no Coastal Bend weekend would be complete without Buc Days This year’s festivities include carnival rides live local entertainment on multiple stages “You can’t get that kind of entertainment value anywhere.” And don’t miss Crawfish for a Cause at the American Bank Center on Saturday starting at noon Dig into some crawfish while supporting the Wesley Community Center and Junior League of Corpus Christi Click here for a full look at all the Buc Days festivities. graduated from TAMUCC in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Myra and the KRIS 6 Digital Team recently won an Edward Murrow Award in May 2024 Tx — The City of Coprus Christi has introduced an AI-powered tool on their website to help citizens obtain information quickly and easily Ask Cece will provide residents with city services around the clock via an easy-to-use web chat and text messaging platform "This new service helps residents quickly find information simplifying the way they access city services Ask Cece combines advanced generative AI and machine learning to handle a wide range of resident needs," stated city officials in a press release Residents will receive information in 75 languages creating an inclusive and accessible community Residents can access Ask Cece’s web chat from the City’s website, www.corpuschristitx.gov by clicking the chat icon in the bottom right corner of their screen "They’ll be welcomed with a friendly message ready to assist them in navigating city resources and submitting requests Ask Cece can easily escalate requests to city staff for personalized support if further assistance is needed during the interaction," added city officials For more information on Ask Cece, visit CorpusChristiTX.gov Box Score SAN ANTONIO - The Hooks were denied a series win Sunday afternoon as the Missions rallied for a pair of ninth-inning runs to claim the finale Alex Santos II was near perfect in his second start of the season striking out three against one hit in three frames Jose Gonzalez, playing in his fourth Double-A game, helped to open the scoring with a lead-off single in the third. Gonzalez advanced thanks to a throwing error and a groundout, and then scampered home on Pascanel Ferreras' line-drive single to right San Antonio surged ahead courtesy of a three-run fourth. Devin Ortiz delivered the big blow with a two-out Joey Mancini bounced back by blanking the Missions in the fifth who struck out four without issuing a walk retired the first two in the eighth before exiting the contest Meanwhile, the Hooks rallied with a three-spot of their own as John Garcia and Gonzalez clubbed consecutive doubles to start the fifth. Two batters later, Luis Castro made it 4-3 Corpus Christi with a two-run single into left San Antonio's two-run ninth was staged by a pair of inning-opening singles and a Corpus Christi error. Moisés Gómez won the game with his second sacrifice fly of the afternoon More acreage near Northside neighborhoods may be on its way to becoming industrial Should the Corpus Christi City Council approve the Planning Commission’s recommendation about 7 acres of property in the Washington-Coles area will be rezoned to allow for light industry It would accommodate the Port of Corpus Christi Authority’s plans to join the parcels with connecting properties owned by the agency to develop a roughly 40-acre laydown yard would be adjacent to the Hillcrest neighborhood Nearly 30 people made the journey to City Hall for a Planning Commission meeting on April 30 to speak against designating the property — currently zoned as neighborhood commercial and multifamily development — for heavy industry zoning which had been the original request by port officials had been identified for other kinds of redevelopment — and more industrial activity would hurt the nearby subdivision where people still live The biggest issue is encroachment by heavy industry as well as a property where city officials are seeking to construct a desalination plant a representative of the Hillcrest Residents Association I am locked in in this particular neighborhood,” he said we’re being eaten up bit by bit by the city allowing zoning changes,” he said The propertiesThe majority of the parcels were purchased by the port as part of a voluntary acquisition and relocation program offered to residents in the area according to a city staff report on the requested rezoning The program is part of an agreement that was required to resolve a civil rights complaint that alleged the Harbor Bridge’s construction would disproportionately impact residents of Northside neighborhoods where the new route would follow It was a key piece in moving forward with construction of the now nearly-complete Harbor Bridge Granting industrial rezoning of the 7 acres would allow the port “to consolidate the development site into a unified 40+-acre laydown yard,” a staff report shows Officials are considering using the acreage for a laydown yard “When we conveyed right of way for the Harbor Bridge project we lost operational space within that footprint,” he said “So what we’re trying to do with this project is just make up for what we lost — improve overall cargo efficiency in and out of the port.” Potential storage on site could include wind blades and military cargo A staff report attributes a statement to port officials that “the laydown yard will serve military operations particularly for rolling stock movements.” It’s an “activity that often attracts spectators,” according to the statement “The proximity of public parks will provide an accessible vantage point for residents to observe military cargo operations.” all that cargo goes to the Hooks parking lot,” Esquivel said The neighborhoodMaps show that in some cases the perimeter of the area where the laydown yard is proposed would be less than a quarter mile to residences and churches The city is required to send out notifications to owners of property within 200 feet of the site Most who came to voice their opposition to the rezoning did not report falling in that category but contended that impacts would extend beyond that measurement “Put yourself in our place,” said resident Monna Lytle “I know this is not about Hillcrest; it’s about the rezoning city officials wrote that the rezoning was “well-suited for the intended uses permitted under the proposed zoning district.” “The proposed amendment aligns with existing zoning regulations and neighboring land uses ensuring compatibility with the character of surrounding areas,” it states “The rezoning will not negatively impact adjacent properties Staff has taken into consideration that this is an area in transition.” Both city and port officials have said they do not intend to invoke eminent domain in the neighborhoods actions like the rezoning are “essentially a subterfuge (to) exercise that authority.” “I think the problem is if you look at a hyper-technical distance from where the residences are to where this proposed change is — you’re going to create the circumstance where it’s basically a functional eminent domain even if not a legal eminent domain,” he said While the port had initially requested a rezoning for heavy industry the Planning Commission ultimately voted to recommend rejection of the heavy industry rezoning and instead adopt a recommendation for a light industrial rezoning The commission may make recommendations to the City Council but the City Council has the final decision A vote on the rezoning could come before the council in June While not what port officials had preliminarily requested rezoning the tracts as light industrial would allow what they have identified as the intended purpose The primary distinction between a heavy industry and light industry zoning is manufacturing goods Light industry zoning permits uses such as open storage but not development of facilities such as hydrogen plants Esquivel said the port does not plan on locating crude oil storage on the property Planning Commissioner Michael Miller said that although he did not think it would be detrimental to have a screened laydown site at the property the original request for heavy industrial zoning could allow for many other developments Recommending a light industry rezoning in lieu of a heavy industry rezoning would be a compromise Planning Commissioner Cynthia Salazar Garza voiced concerns about the potential for chemicals on the property and commissioners and the port “need to do the best to our ability for the benefit of Corpus Christi “We need to do everything in our power to be able to make sure that we balance it and take care of it,” she said “because we do hold on to these economic strengths that (Corpus Christi) holds with these amenities.” More: Why does Corpus Christi have a new Harbor Bridge? Here are your questions answered. More: Here's what the city, neighborhood agreed to for Harbor Bridge parks plans More: A neighborhood's message to the city of Corpus Christi: 'Hillcrest will not yield.' More: Northside group opposes eminent domain; local officials say they haven't considered it yet