NEWS
LIFE & ARTS
SPORTS
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CITY DISMISSES NEW OFFCAMPUS HOUSING
ART TOUR GROWS CREATIVE COMMUNITY
SOFTBALL DYNAMIC DUO ELEVATES TEAM
TUESDAY April 8, 2025
VOLUME 114 ISSUE 28
RUFF SPOT FOR CITY HALL? Site selection puts dog park at risk By Hope Jimenez News Contributor
The City Hall Steering Committee’s proposal to relocate the dog park and skate park and construct a new city hall on the parks’ current site is drawing concern from San Marcos residents. The City Hall Steering Committee has begun reviewing conceptual options for a new city hall and a recent proposal includes relocating the current dog park and skate park. The dog park currently resides on the north side of Hopkins Street, while the skate park resides on East Hopkins Street. “The 23-member Advisory Committee, which includes community members and council representatives, has reviewed several conceptual options for a new City Hall. Some include relocating the dog park and skate park, and some do not. No decisions have been made,” the city of San Marcos wrote in a Facebook post on March 26. Executive Director of the San Marcos River Foundation and City Hall Steering Committee Member Virginia Parker said the committee is still determining which side of Hopkins Street the new city hall facility will be located.
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MEG BOLES | ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Chapo (Left) plays with Molly (Right), Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the San Marcos Dog Park. The San Marcos dog park is at risk of getting relocated.
Lawsuit targets disability protections, Advocates TXST service animals unaffected clash over By Arabella Dichristina News Contributor
A multistate lawsuit spearheaded by Texas could upend parts of federal disability law, but for now, Texas State officials say support for students with service and emotional support animals (ESAs) will continue as usual. The case, Texas v. Becerra, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in September 2024. In it, Texas and 16 other states argue that a new federal rule expanding Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to include gender dysphoria as a protected disability is unconstitutional. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by programs receiving federal financial assistance. Though lawmakers say the lawsuit targets new definitions, all of Section 504 is at risk as the suit states: “Because Section 504 is coercive, untethered to the federal interest in disability and unfairly retroactive, the Rehabilitation Act is not MANDALYN LEWALLEN | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR constitutional under the spending clause.” Animal science freshman Avery Donnelly holds Pumpkin, TuesAt Texas State, Director of the Office of Disability day, April 1, 2025, at Elena Zamora O’Shea Hall. Pumpkin was Services (ODS) Gavin Steiger said that regardless of the registered as an ESA through ODS. lawsuit’s outcome, support for assistance animals will remain grounded in other laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
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feral cat care By James Phillips Life and Arts Contributor
Bird conservationists and animal welfare advocates are divided on how to manage Central Texas’ stray and feral cat populations. Cats are responsible for an estimated 2.4 billion bird deaths annually, according to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC). Experts like Britt Coleman, president of the Bexar Audubon Society, advocate for stricter measures, including euthanasia, to control community cat populations. However, many cat welfare advocates argue strongly for the protection of these cats within local communities.
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Dog’s Day Out expands with new program opportunities By Sydney Seidel Life and Arts Contributor
This year, the Dog’s Day Out (DDO) program is launching new initiatives and expanding its mission to get more dogs out of the shelter while strengthening connections with the community. Run by the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter, DDO was created after staff noticed that many people, especially students, wanted to help but weren’t in a position to adopt or foster. To meet that need, the shelter launched the program as a way for community members to take dogs out for short-term outings. The shelter is expanding the program’s accessibility and flexibility, introducing new options that make it easier for individuals and student groups to get involved.
Dogs are now available for outings more frequently, with new hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon to increase accessibility. When it was started there were only three days volunteers could choose from. Minnie Buckhaults, community engagement coordinator, said the program’s personalized approach ensures dogs get the best environment for their needs, helping potential adopters see them in their most comfortable state. “There have been instances where dogs are spinning in their kennels, and the second they get in the car for their DDO, they immediately fall into a restful sleep,” Buckhaults said. “When they return, adopters see them relaxed and it makes a world of difference.”
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SYDNEY SEIDEL | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Cowlick Curtis takes a dip in the water while he waits at the shelter for his forever home, Monday, April 7, 2024, San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter.