NEWS
JUDGE TEMPORARILY REVERSES HEMP BAN IN TEXAS PAGE 2
OPINION
SPORTS
WATER CONSERVATION VITAL FOR TXST FUTURE
BOBCAT SUPERFAN CREATES LEGACY IN SAN MARCOS
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TUESDAY April 21, 2026
VOLUME 115 ISSUE 29
AIDEN FRITSCHE STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Lead singer of The 4411, Cogan McBride, performs at River Fest, Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Sewell Park.
By Cady Clements Assistant Life and Arts Editor
Bobcats flooded Sewell Park with energy as local openers rocked the stage, students laughed and vendors brought San Marcos spirit for River Fest 2026. River Fest 2026 sold out the day before the event with up to 6,000 attendees. It focused on bringing in performers and attendees affiliated with the Texas State
and San Marcos community. The event is in its third year of bringing students live music and fun activities next to the San Marcos River at Sewell Park since its revival. Ending the opening act, The 4411, an indie folk band from Texas State, put on a performance filled with community spirit. It consists of Tomas Gerlach, drummer and sound recording technology senior, Nick Speer, bassist and music educa-
tion senior, Alan Holmquist, guitarist and sound recording technology senior and Cogan McBride, lead singer and communication design senior. McBride said River Fest was important to allow students and alumni build a platform through its performance slots. “River Fest has allowed us to connect more with the San Marcos community,”
SEE FESTIVAL PAGE 9
EVENT
AIDEN FRITSCHE | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Texas State students pose for a photo next to the stage during Good Neighbours’ set at River Fest, Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Sewell Park.
CITY
City approves new Earth Day San Marcos brings awareness to local water condition summer entry fees for Rio Vista Park
By Leo TchoulanovEzhevsky Life and Arts Contributor
Attendees crowded booths and stages for the 13th Annual Earth Day San Marcos to discover and connect with the San Marcos River and surrounding environment. On April 18 at Spring Lake, Earth Day San Marcos aimed to educate the community on the San Marcos River. Anna Jones, deputy director of operations for science communications at the Meadows Center, said the event spreads awareness through its multiple activities and exhibitors. “We’re all about celebrating local artists, local performers, local organizations who are all working around sustainability and the environment,” Jones said. Jones said the event
By Arabella DiChristina News Editor
LIBBY ALLEN | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
A Meadows Center employee gives a boat tour for Earth Day San Marcos, Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Meadows Center. Earth Day San Marcos aimed to educate attendees about the river.
increased in size over the years, from 50 vendors last year to 60 this year, and an expected increase from last year’s 2,000 visitors. According to the Meadows Center’s website, this year’s theme, “One Heart, Many Waters,” highlighted the connections between the community, their water and the ecosystems that
sustain them. Gabriel Irvine, environmental interpreter for Spring Lake Education at the Meadows Center, volunteered at the event. He informed attendees about the conditions of the aquifer and handed out free plants.
Starting Memorial Day weekend, non-San Marcos residents will be charged $5 to enter Rio Vista Park during peak summer period each weekend. The San Marcos City Council approved the new fees on April 7 as part of the Managed Access Test Plan (MATP) to provide revenue to support the park’s upkeep, safety and environmental health, allowing residents and anyone younger than 18, regardless of residency, to continue to have free access. Residents are required to show proof of residency when registering for a park
pass online in the form of a valid driver’s license, government-issued ID, current utility statement with a photo ID, current rental or housing contract with a photo ID, San Marcos Library Card or a current paid parking permit. “The fee will only be charged when we are operating managed access to Rio Vista, Saturdays and Sundays and Holiday weekends. Monday [through] Friday will remain free for all unless a holiday falls on one of those days,” Jamie Lee Case, director of the parks and recreation department for San Marcos, wrote in an email to The Star.
SEE FEES PAGE 3
SEE EARTH DAY PAGE 8 FEATURE
Local bird walks connect Deadly fungus threatens amphibians community through By Charlsie Daniels At Texas State, mycology, genetics and bioin- nature and conservation researchers are working to formatics professor, in his lab UNIVERSITY
News Reporter
Amphibians around the world are dying at an alarming rate due to a fastspreading fungal disease that silently attacks their most vital organ: their skin.
understand the deadly chytrid fungus. Several endangered amphibians like the San Marcos salamander, Texas blind salamander and Houston toad are vulnerable to chytrid, creating an even bigger threat. Royce Voss-Heflin, a biology graduate student, joined David Rodriguez, a Texas State alumnus and a MADELINE CARPENTER STAR ILLUSTRATOR
after developing an interest in mycology, which is the study of mushrooms, and said that Rodriguez Lab was the first in Texas to isolate and grow the fungus to study. Voss-Heflin said during a chytrid demonstration in one of Rodriguez’s classes, a student mentioned seeing frogs dying on their back in her pond, a common indicator
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By Linae Lewter Life and Arts Contributer
Each month, a growing group of bird enthusiasts gather before sunrise at local natural areas to observe the birds that call San Marcos home. Over 15 years, the First Saturday Bird Walk has grew into a fixture of the city’s outdoor and environmental community, welcoming casual
observers, seasoned hobbyists and curious students. On a bird walk, participants learn to identify local species, enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature-minded community members. Stephen Ramirez, a geographic information science alumnus and conservation director for Texas Land Conservancy,
SEE BIRDS PAGE 8