NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
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TXST PUSHES FOR R1 STATUS
MSA PRESIDENT ON RAMADAN AT TXST
NEW PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTS TXST ATHLETICS
TUESDAY March 4, 2025
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 24
Some SMTX businesses thrive amidst recent closures
By Lesdy Hernandez News Reporter
As San Marcos sees a wave of business closures, experts weigh in on a question: What does it take to build and sustain a successful business in this city? Hastings Books, Torchy’s Tacos, Planet K, Half-Prices Books and Orangetheory Fitness are only some of the businesses that have closed in San Marcos in the past three years. Earth Burger, which was located on East Hopkins Street, announced its closure in January 2024 after six years of operating in San Marcos. In a Feb. 1, 2024 interview with The Star, Ellen Evans, director of Community Love at Earth Burger, said the decision was influenced by the need to adapt to the evolving market dynamic in San Marcos and to open up the market for future franchises.
“It was time for us to take a look at where our strengths are and where we were putting our efforts in and focusing more on our corporate stores here in San Antonio,” Evans said. According to Page Michel, president and CEO of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce, with San Marcos being a high-growth region, local businesses are experiencing supply chain issues, increases in inflated prices and difficulty finding enough employees. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Consumer Price Index (CPI), overall food prices are expected to rise in 2025, and restaurant purchases increased by 0.2% in January 2025, marking a 3.4% increase compared to January 2024.
BLAKE LESCHBER | MANAGING EDITOR
SEE ECONOMY PAGE 3
Customers Alliyah Harris (Left) and Danielle Machado (Right) have a conversation while waiting for their food, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, at The Root Cellar. The Root Cellar stopped serving lunch and dinner on Feb. 16 to make a more efficient workflow.
UPD to address staff shortage By Ryan Claycamp
Assistant News Editor
KATHERINE REA | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Award winning finger style guitarist Edgar Cruz performs fingerstyle arrangements of classic songs, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at the Texas State Music Building Recital Hall. Cruz performed with his brother Mark Cruz who is a guitar professor at Texas State.
Strings and stories: Edgar Cruz reflects on life through guitar performance By Cassandra Tamez Life & Arts Contributor
Classical, Latin rock, pop, jazz, easy listening, country blues and original material were all part of Edgar Cruz’s performance, reflecting on his life’s journey on Feb. 24. Brother of Mark Cruz, professor of instruction at the school of music, Edgar began playing the guitarron to accompany his father, an accomplished Mariachi musician. He credits his father with inspiring him because of his skill in playing technically challenging solo guitar pieces. His introductory song “La Bamba” paid tribute to his father, who was born and raised in Mexico and moved to Oklahoma City in the 1950s to assist Edgar’s uncle
in establishing a Mexican restaurant. Edgar portrayed his father as a mariachi guitar player who utilized his versatility and skill to entertain restaurant patrons of all backgrounds. “If there was a grandmother, he’d play ‘Over the Rainbow,’” Edgar said. “If there was a cowboy, he’d play ‘Ghost Riders in the Sky.’ If there was a teenager there, he’d play the Pink Panther theme.”
SEE MUSIC PAGE 6
The Texas State University Police Department (UPD) plans to employ nine more officers by June in response to a shortage in sworn officers. According to UPD Chief Matthew Carmichael, the department currently has a shortage of 11 sworn officers. He said the department can employ up to 37.5 sworn officers, including a part-time sex crime investigator. Sworn officers are officers licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and sworn in to a law enforcement agency. “We’re struggling, not unlike every other agency in the U.S., and the challenge is hiring,” Carmichael said. “Hiring at this time, it’s just difficult to get applicants alone... which is challenging for us because of what you’re seeing nationally.” Until UPD reaches higher staffing levels, Carmichael temporarily reassigned officers who may normally have other duties, such as detectives, who previously were in charge of investigating cases, to patrols. Carmichael said he believes police patrols are the most important thing a department can do.
SEE SAFETY PAGE 3
New H-E-B could address food desert in east San Marcos By Hope Jimenez News Contributor
A new H‑E‑B set to open on east Interstate 35 is sparking debate about its potential to improve local food access. The 114,000 square-foot H-E-B located at I-35 and McCarty Lane will possibly provide a solution to low food access areas, formerly referred to as “food deserts” in winter 2026. Low food access areas are geographical
areas where residents have limited grocery stores. For some, the new H-E-B will address mobility issues on the east side of I-35 for residents who may not have the means to travel to grocery stores in the city. Residents in east San Marcos currently rely on smaller grocery stores and mini-mart convenience stores. The closest large grocery store from McCarty Lane is the H-E-B 4
miles away on West Hopkins Street. At the Oct. 15, 2024 city council meeting, Councilmember Matthew Mendoza said building a new H-E-B is a step in the right direction. “[H-E-B has] proven time and time again...a great evolving company for Texas,” Mendoza said. “I’ve said before, born and raised here in San Marcos, there’s always been a food desert in that part of town, we’ve seen the growth happening there.”
According to the Central Texas Food Bank Food Access Community Needs Assessment, one in six Hays County residents, nearly 39,000 residents, experience food insecurity, as reported in January. Executive Director of Hays County Food Bank Lisa Young said the H-E-B will benefit the community, particularly in its efforts to alleviate hunger.
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