A 17-year-old boy who was the subject of an Amber Alert last week was later found dead from multiple gunshot wounds. El Niño usually means colder winters; our meteorologist looked for historical clues as to when the weather may start to turn cold. These were the most-read stories this week.
San Antonio police said 17-year-old Darian Alexandre Rangel, who was the subject of an Amber Alert, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds on the city’s North Side. A passerby discovered his body in a grassy area near Wurzbach Parkway and Vista Del Norte and called 911. The Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide. DPS had issued an Amber Alert after Rangel was last seen on the West Side and canceled it after his body was found.
El Niño strengthened into a very strong phase, with sea-surface temperatures 2 degrees Celsius above average that gave it unofficial super El Niño status seen only three other times since 1950, and it was likely to become the strongest on record and persist through winter. In Texas it shifted the Pacific jet south and brought more frequent storm systems, colder fronts and wetter conditions. Historical San Antonio data showed little temperature change in September, but October rain jumped about 69 percent. November saw the biggest cool-down at about 2.2 degrees below normal, and December rainfall nearly doubled, up 97 percent. January and February stayed cooler and wetter, with temperatures down about 1.4 and 1.3 degrees and rainfall up 43 and 47 percent, though year-to-year outcomes varied.
San Antonio police detained 15 people and arrested eight during a raid at a Southwest Side home near South San High School. Officers served a Dangerous Assessment Response Team warrant with South SAFFE, the City Attorney’s Office and other city departments to investigate public safety and quality-of-life concerns. Police identified Steven Gonzales, 45, on a parole violation and Ricardo Sifuentes, 61, on an out-of-state forgery warrant among those arrested. City officials and Code Compliance said they would review findings before deciding what action to take against the property.
The Conservation Society of San Antonio canceled the next A Night in Old San Antonio, calling a hiatus to review and retool the festival that long funded its preservation mission. Leaders cited a major reduction in usable space at La Villita, a point the city disputed while insisting the footprint matched last year. Attendance had dropped 48% since 2000 and recent festivals produced no net revenue, with the event losing money over the past four years. The board voted 17-10 to pause while exploring new locations and formats, and Fiesta leaders backed the move as a step toward a revitalized return. The decision came as other Fiesta traditions also struggled, including Alamo Heights Night, which organizers already scrapped for financial reasons.
Former UTSA offensive lineman Jacob Graner died at his home in Jasper, Ga., at age 28, with the cause of death unknown. Graner played for the Roadrunners from 2016 to 2019, appearing in 13 games and starting at right guard in wins over Texas State and UTEP as a junior. He is survived by his wife, Natalie, his sons, Elijah and Mason, his parents and two siblings. Former teammates and coach Jeff Traylor shared tributes, remembering Graner as a joyful presence and devoted teammate. The family asked for donations to support his children’s college fund.
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