OPINION
COMMUNITY CAN STILL DRIVE CHANGE THROUGH ACTION PAGE 4
LIFE & ARTS
SPORTS
EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS BLACK HISTORY AT TEXAS STATE
BASEBALL PREPARES FOR I-35 RIVALRY SHOWDOWN
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TUESDAY
February 24, 2026 VOLUME 115 ISSUE 22
Celebrating 115 years of Journalism Excellence
Records shows sheriff’s interest in jail agreement with ICE
CITY
CITY
City Council votes to deny Francis Harris Lane data center project
By Ryan Claycamp News Editor
speaking at the public hearing, going until 1 a.m. before council members spoke until after 2:30 a.m. “I have never seen a group of people as fired up and moved on a single subject my entire career,” Randall Terrell, San Marcos resident, said. “I have been waiting for it for decades. We are at a moment of history that transcends this council meeting.”
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office released a batch of internal files to The University Star about ongoing deliberations toward an agreement with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The deliberations for an agreement with ICE are legally mandated by SB 8, a 2025 law requiring sheriff’s offices in counties with more than 100,000 residents to sign a 287(g) agreement. Under the law, the Hays County Sheriff’s office has until Dec. 1, 2026 to reach a finalized agreement. The county initially sent a letter to the Office of the Attorney General on Jan. 29 seeking to block the release of all files related to 287(g). However, the county retracted the letter on Feb. 4 after being asked to comment on their decision not to release any files.
SEE GOVERNMENT PAGE 2
SEE IMMIGRATION PAGE 3
LAUREN TOURISH | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Demonstrators stand on the side of East Hopkins Street, protesting against the proposed data center, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at San Marcos City Hall. Over 130 local residents spoke at the City Council meeting with more demonstrating outside.
After an over 8-hour meeting with 130-plus public comments, San Marcos City Council voted to deny the rezoning request of the data center on Francis Harris Lane. The motion to deny passed in a 5-2 vote, in the early morning of Feb. 18, with council members Matthew Mendoza and Lorenzo Gonzalez voting against. John Maberry, a managing partner at Highlander Real
Estate Partners and leading agent on the data center, can refile an application to the city council in six months. Before and during the council meeting, SMPD Police Chief Stan Standridge estimated at least 300 attendees at the meeting. Most of the attendees were there to demonstrate against the data center. Attendees played music on speakers while dancing around, and children played on the front lawn of City Hall. 125 people signed up for citizen comment with 96 speaking there and 42
BASEBALL
FEATURE
By Blake Leschber Editor-in-Chief
Cats v. Dogs: Strutters to travel to Washington, TXST takes D.C. for Independence Day parade series over future Pac-12 opponent By Ayden Oredson Assistant Sports Editor
Coming off a thrashing defeat to the Baylor Bears in Waco last Tuesday, the Texas State Bobcats (5-2) returned home to get a glimpse of future Pac-12 action as the Gonzaga Bulldogs (2-4) came into San Marcos. The Bobcats started the same MEG BOLES | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR weekend rotation as their opening The Texas State Strutters perform at the halftime show during the I-35 Rivalry Game between Texas State and UTSA, Saturseries against Niagara, consisting of day, Sept. 6, 2025, at the Alamodome. The Strutters first performed in 1960 and are set to perform in Washington, D.C. for graduate student Kyle Froehlich on the America 250 Celebration. Friday, freshman Nolan Moore on Saturday and junior Jesus Tovar in the By Rae Knight Independence and those who have Celebrations contacted her to invite rubber match on Sunday. Life and Arts Contributor fought for the country since. the Strutters to perform. Here’s how the weekend unfolded: The Strutters were selected to “It was really exciting to have Each summer, invited bands, drill represent Texas in the parade, which someone reach out to us specifically Friday: W, 8-6 teams, military and specialty units will travel along the National Mall to be able to represent Texas,” Lloyd Texas State continued to ride and decorated floats march through to the WWII Memorial, where they said. “It was really ironic because I the hot hand of Sun Belt Conference the nation’s capital for the National will participate in a wreath-laying was about to go to D.C., so it was fun Pitcher of the Week recipient Froehlich, Independence Day Parade. This ceremony honoring veterans. The to be able to be in the city and just who started the game fine as the summer, the TXST Strutters will join Strutters will then perform at the imagine the Strutters there.” Bobcats struck the first blow in the first the celebration. Lincoln Memorial at 2 Lincoln inning of action off a lead-off home This year, the July 4 parade Memorial Circle NW. run from senior utility player Rashawn honors the 250th anniversary of Strutters’ Director Selena Galloway and sophomore shortstop the signing of the Declaration of Lloyd said a company called Music SEE STRUTTERS PAGE 6 Dawson Park’s RBI single. The Bulldogs, however, countered COUNTY in the fourth with a five-run inning that chased Froehlich out and forced Texas State to utilize their bullpen. While the Bobcats remained By Madison Winzer conduct the county’s first water challenges, with projections from the within reach, especially after another News Contributor analysis since 2011. The study began Texas Demographic Center showing Park single and fellow sophomore on Jan. 20 and is expected to take the county’s population increasing second basemen Brady Boles’ double The Hays County Commissioners about 11 months to complete, costing from about 157,000 residents in 2015 brought home two more runs to make Court approved a professional services up to $542,360. The study will to more than 255,000 in 2023 and is it 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth, the bats agreement to launch a countywide evaluate water supply, wastewater projected to surpass 400,000 by 2045. didn’t fully awaken until the bottom of water study to assess conditions and management and flood risks. the eighth. plan sustainability efforts. Rapid population growth remains SEE SERIES PAGE 7 HDR Engineering Inc. will one of Hays County’s biggest water SEE WATER PAGE 3
County approves first water study in 15 years