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Publisher Michael Wagner Editor in Chief Sanford Nowlin General Manager Chelsea Bourque Editorial Digital Content Editor Stephanie Koithan Contributing Arts Editor Bryan Rindfuss Staff Writer Michael Karlis

in this issue Issue 26-19/// September 16 - 29, 2026

Contributors Abe Asher, Bill Baird, Ron Bechtol, Danny Cervantes, Amber Esparza, Brianna Espinoza, Anjali Gupta, Colin Houston, Kiko Martinez, Mike McMahan, Kevin Sanchez, M. Solis, Dean Zach Advertising Account Manager Parker McCoy Social Media & Marketing Coordinator Jehanna Pena Creative Services Lead Graphic Designer Ana Paula Gutierrez Events and Marketing Events Director Chelsea Bourque Chava Communications Group Founder, Chief Executive Officer Michael Wagner Co-Founder, Chief Marketing Officer Cassandra Yardeni Vice President of Operations Hollie Mahadeo Digital Operations Coordinator Jaime Monzon Revenue Operations Manager Rachel Gold Project Manager Megan Nally chavagroup.com National Advertising: Voice Media Group 1-888-278-9866, vmgadvertising.com San Antonio Current sacurrent.com Editorial: editor@sacurrent.com Display Advertising: marketing@sacurrent.com The San Antonio Current is published by Chava Communications Group San Antonio Distribution The Current is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. Get listed 1. Visit sacurrent.com 2. Click “Calendar” and then “Submit an Event” 3. Follow the steps to submit your event details Please allow 48 hours for review and approval. Event submissions are not accepted by phone.

Courtesy Image / Ruby City

25 Hang on tight!

‘Generative Disruptions’ reframes feminist art at Ruby City

07 News

Copyright notice: The entire contents of the San Antonio Current are copyright 2023 by Chava Group LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher does not assume any liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any submission must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business correspondence should be emailed to the addresses listed above. Subscriptions: Additional copies or back issues may be purchased at the Current offices for $1. Six-month domestic subscriptions may be purchased for $75; one-year subscriptions for $125.

The Opener News in Brief

Data Dodge

Texas chose a ‘soft approach’ with data center survey. It was so soft it flopped.

Cityscrapes

As San Antonio’s budget crisis looms, let’s consider temporary cuts to our fast-growing spending on street maintenance

Bad Takes

Trump’s war on immigration leaves us a weaker nation

‘Shadow Surge’

A quarter of all July immigration arrests happened in Texas as state stepped up cooperation with ICE Approved auditor info as required for public notices per section 50.011(1)(e), F.S. Circulation Verification Council 12166 Old Big Bend Road, Suite 210 St. Louis, MO 63122 www.cvcaudit.com Auditor’s Certification:

CURRENT | September 16 - 29, 2026 | sacurrent.com

Slop Job

Texas Republicans rely on AIgenerated attack ads to target Democratic rivals as midterms draw closer

21 Calendar

Our picks of things to do powerful

29Screens ¡Ay, Papi!

San Antonio drag performer competes in second season of King of Drag

FINDING MONEY FOR THE BUDGET CRUNCH | KAEDAMA BATTLESHIP'S WORTHY RAMEN | INOHA SPREADS ITS HEARTFELT INDIE SOUND | SEPTEMBER 16 - 29, 2026

31Food

Noodle Nirvana

San Antonio’s Kaedama Battleship serves ramen worth slowing down for

35Music

No Algorithms Required

San Antonio indie-rock act INOHA’s viral success comes from keeping it real

Critics’ Picks

n the Cover: Ruby City’s new exhibition “Generative Disruption: Feminist Art from the Collection,” features this photographic work by Miwa Yanagi along with other pieces that recognize the significance of women creators. Cover design: Ana Paula Gutierrez.

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Texas’ prison agency requested $298 million from the Texas Legislature over the next two years to add more air conditioning to the lockups it oversees. However, inmate advocates, who argue rising heat levels are leading to more deaths and severe illnesses in Lone Star State prisons said the probably will require $1.5 billion to correct and that the state’s lowball request amounts to “deliberate indifference.” James Talarico’s interview with Jimmy late-night host Jimmy Kimmel didn’t air, but it’s picked up plenty of traction online. As of the end of last week, a video of the pair’s talk had racked up more than 1.3 million views in 24 hours. Kimmel announced social media video last Wednesday that the Talarico interview wouldn’t air due to what he said were threats from President Trump’s politicized FCC. The number of women who have died following ectopic pregnancies has spiked in recent years, and the trend appears worse in Texas and other states with abortion bans. A new report from ProPublica found that 310 more patients in the state experienced significant blood loss after an ectopic pregnancy in 2023 and 2024 than did so between 2018 and 2019 — highlighting a trend that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, then continued following the enactment of the abortion ban. Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez last week asked CPS Energy and the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) to investigate how the opening of a massive immigrant detention facility on the East Side might impact utility rates. The facility, which has been vacant for years, is slated to open in the spring and could house as many as 1,500 detainees. SAWS officials told KSAT they plan to meet with council as early as this week to discuss McKee-Rodriguez’s request. — Abe Asher

YOU SAID IT!

“The fake news will go around and see that man up there? He’s leaving for the bathroom. He’ll be back in two minutes. They’ll take a picture of his seat while he’s gone. And they’ll say, ‘Trump did not fill up the arena. The arena was not filled. Look at the seat.’” —President Donald Trump attempting to explain why Dallas’ American Airlines Center wasn’t full to capacity during his midterm convention speech

ASSCLOWN ALERT

news

That Rocks/That Sucks

Shutterstock / lev radin

There are times when political leaders, no matter how combative and acerbic their personal brand, should put aside their onstage act and behave decently. Someone calling for political opponents to be shot is one of those times. During U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s speech last Thursday at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, an audience member could be heard repeatedly shouting, “He should be shot!” as Cruz mentioned the names of high-profile Democrats — New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. Cruz offered no response from the stage. Published reports say it’s unclear whether he heard the shouts from the noise on the convention floor. However, his own office subsequently declined to say whether he did, and Cruz had yet to publicly denounce the remarks as of press time.

That silence sends a troubling message — especially given its timing. The convention took place on the first anniversary of right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and multiple speakers at the event invoked his killing while condemning political violence. Given the country’s politically divided state — and Cruz’s oversized part in widening that rift — condemnations of political violence can’t depend on which party’s candidates appear in the crosshairs. Republicans certainly aren’t obligated to like Mamdani, El-Sayed or Talarico. Cruz is free to attack their records, ideology and proposals as aggressively as he chooses. That’s how politics works. But staying silent as someone calls for political opponents to be shot isn’t acceptable, even in our current state of affairs. America has endured assassinations and attempted assassinations across its political spectrum. Leaders who warn about that danger carry a particular responsibility to reject violent rhetoric when it targets their opponents, not just their allies. Cruz still has the option of doing the right thing — condemning the shouted words, without qualification. However, as time ticks by, it appears increasingly doubtful that this assclown will. — Sanford Nowlin

Texas should be more transparent about its spending on its foster care system, a new report from the state’s Legislative Budget Board found. The board’s 2026 fiscal review said that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services can improve its reporting both of how much it spends to temporarily house foster children and what its contractors are spending to provide foster care services — a significant issue after the state fired its largest foster care contractor over the summer.

The Republican Party held its midterm convention last week in Dallas, and, once again, there were unverified reports that a mass gathering of Republicans helped crash the LGBTQ+ hookup app Grindr. A Grindr spokesperson denied claims that the app had experienced outages in Dallas, or at any other Republican convention, but the rumor was broadcast widely nonetheless: Jimmy Kimmel joked about it during his monologue on his late night show last Thursday. — Abe Asher

Ignoring death threats with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz Assclown Alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark.

August 31, 2026

APPLICATION Southwest Research Institute, has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for: Amendment of Permit 43833 This application would authorize modification of the Southwest Research Institute located at 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas 78238 This application is being processed in an expedited manner, as allowed by the commission’s rules in 30 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 101, Subchapter J. AVISO DE IDIOMA ALTERNATIVO. El aviso de idioma alternativo en espanol está disponible en https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/air/newsourcereview/airpermits-pendingpermit-apps. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility’s general location is provided as a public courtesy and not part of the application or notice. For exact location, refer to application. https://gisweb.tceq.texas.gov/LocationMapper/?marker=-98.610277,29.452222&level=13. The facility will emit the following contaminants: ammonia, carbon monoxide, hazardous air pollutants, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen oxides, organic compounds, particulate matter including particulate matter with diameters of 10 microns or less and 2.5 microns or less, lead and sulfur dioxide. This application was submitted to the TCEQ on August 24, 2026. The application will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ central office, the TCEQ San Antonio regional office, and the Potranco Branch Library, 8765 State Highway 151 Access Road, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas beginning the first day of publication of this notice. The facility’s compliance file, if any exists, is available for public review in the San Antonio regional office of the TCEQ. The application, including any updates, is available electronically at the following webpage: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/ permitting/air/airpermit-applications-notices The executive director has determined the application is administratively complete and will conduct a technical review of the application. PUBLIC COMMENT. You may submit public comments to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. The TCEQ will consider all public comments in developing a final decision on the application and the executive director will prepare a response to those comments. PUBLIC MEETING. You may request a public meeting to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. The purpose of a public meeting is to provide the opportunity to submit comments or ask questions about the application. A public meeting about the application will be held if requested by an interested person and the executive director determines that there is a significant degree of public interest in the application or if requested by a local legislator. A public meeting is not a contested case hearing. NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND PRELIMINARY DECISION. In addition to this NORI, 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) § 39.419 requires this application to also have a Notice of Application and Preliminary Decision (NAPD) after the application is determined to be technically complete and a draft permit is prepared. Note: The TCEQ may act on this application without issuing a NAPD and without seeking further public comment or providing further opportunity for a contested case hearing if changes to representations in the application make the application no longer subject to the applicability requirements of 30 TAC § 39.402. In such cases, this NORI will be your final notice of this application and you will not have additional opportunities to make comments or request a contested case hearing. If a NAPD is required, it will be published and mailed to those who made comments, submitted hearing requests, or are on the mailing list for this application, and contain the final deadline for submitting public comments. OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONTESTED CASE HEARING You may request a contested case hearing if you are a person who may be affected by emissions of air contaminants from the facility. If requesting a contested case hearing, you must submit the following: (1) your name (or for a group or association, an official representative), mailing address, and daytime phone number; (2) applicant’s name and permit number; (3) the statement “[I/we] request a contested case hearing”; (4) a specific description of how you would be adversely affected by the application and air emissions from the facility in a way not common to the general public; (5) the location and distance of your property relative to the facility; (6) a description of how you use the property which may be impacted by the facility; and (7) a list of all disputed issues of fact that you submit during the comment period. If the request is made by a group or an association, one or more members who have standing to request a hearing must be identified by name and physical address. The interests the group or association seeks to protect must also be identified. You may also submit your proposed adjustments to the application/permit which would satisfy your concerns. The deadline to submit a request for a contested case hearing is 30 days after newspaper notice is published. If a request is timely filed, the deadline for requesting a contested case hearing will be extended to 30 days after the mailing of the response to comments. If a hearing request is timely filed, following the close of all applicable comment and request periods, the Executive Director will forward the application and any requests for contested case hearing to the Commissioners for their consideration at a scheduled Commission meeting. The Commission may only grant a request for a contested case hearing on issues the requester submitted in their timely comments that were not subsequently withdrawn. If a hearing is granted, the subject of a hearing will be limited to disputed issues of fact or mixed questions of fact and law relating to relevant and material air quality concerns submitted during the comment period. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside of the Commission’s jurisdiction to address in this proceeding. MAILING LIST. In addition to submitting public comments, you may ask to be placed on a mailing list to receive future public notices for this specific application by sending a written request to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. AGENCY CONTACTS AND INFORMATION. All public comments and requests must be submitted either electronically at www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/, or in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address and physical address will become part of the agency’s public record. For more information about the permitting process, please call the TCEQ Public Education Program, Toll Free, at 1-800-687-4040 or visit their website at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/pep. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040. You can also view our website for public participation opportunities at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/participation. Further information may also be obtained from Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, Texas 78238-5166 or by calling Ms. Amber Chapman, Lead Environmental Scientist at (210) 522-3271. Notice Issuance Date: August 31, 2026

CURRENT | September 16 - 29, 2026 | sacurrent.com

news

Data Dodge

Wikimedia Commons / Rsparks3

Texas chose a ‘soft approach’ with data center survey. It was so soft it flopped. BY STEPHANIE KOITHAN

ore than 70% of Texas data centers have failed to respond to a survey sent out by state regulators as they work to compile data on the resource-intensive facilities’ water and power usage, by the state’s own count. The effort, conducted by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), was intended to find out more about the massive computing facilities’ draw on the state’s natural resources. The industry has been opaque about such data, even as it undertakes a controversial and unprecedented expansion in the Lone Star State. The initial deadline to respond to the

survey was May 28, according to the PUCT website. But when almost all data centers in the state failed to respond by then, the due date was extended to July 10. That date came and went with little additional compliance. “The state has now on two separate occasions required any data center or any data center company that wants to create a data center, to provide information to the state,” Gov. Greg Abbott said at a campaign stop in Lubbock last week. In November of last year, the Republican governor touted Texas as an “epicenter of AI,” a growing industry heavily reliant on data centers. However, he’s changed his tune on the facilities in recent months as he faces reelection

amid bipartisan backlash to data centers — especially in rural Texas. When the survey went out for the first time earlier this year, fewer than 10% responded, according to Abbott. The second time, 30% responded. TK “There’s a complete lack of transparency about who they are, what they’re doing, which raises suspicions,” Abbott added during his Lubbock speech. However, PUCT spokesman Rich Parsons told the Current via email that there are two separate surveys, one issued by the TWDB alone on water usage and a joint survey issued by both agencies asking for data on water and power. Response are mandatory for the TWDB’s water survey. However, the regulatory agencies’ joint survey — called Energy and Water Use Survey for Data Center and Virtual Currency Mining Facilities — is voluntary. “The PUCT strongly encouraged all eligible facilities to participate,” Parsons told the Current. That means for all of Abbott’s tough talk,

data centers in Texas are only required to report water usage, not power usage. Paltry fines What’s more, the penalty for ignoring the TWDB survey is negligible, which leads environmental advocates to question how many companies will actually oblige. Failing to respond to the mandatory TWDB water-usage survey is a Class C misdemeanor that only carries a $500 fine, Adrian Shelley, director of consumer watchdog group Public Citizen’s Texas chapter, told the Current. For deep-pocketed tech businesses that rake in billions in revenue, what’s a $500 fine compared to keeping your proprietary information from your competitors and the details from a skeptical public? “Texans don’t have a clear picture of how much water data centers use because their state government hasn’t tried hard enough to find out,” Shelley

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news told the Current. “The fact is, corporations won’t do something unless they are forced. The Texas Legislature funded a survey with weak enforcement, then acted surprised when industry didn’t comply. They can blame bad actors, but lawmakers set a low expectation that most data centers were happy to ignore.” The state also is expecting local district attorneys to enforce the fines, according to Inside Climate News. The Current reached out to Bexar County District Attorney Joe D. Gonzalez’s office to see whether personnel there are aware of which data centers failed to complete the TWDB survey and whether any enforcement action has been taken. We received no response by press time. The Current also reached out to TWDB personnel to see whether they have distributed a list of noncompliant data centers to district attorneys and to check whether they plan to do so and when. Again, we got no response. Even in cases where companies do respond, environmental advocates warn the water usage data will be incomplete. Since the state of Texas currently treats each data center and its power source as separate entities, the data center company is only required to report the water usage of the computing facility itself. That’s even though the sites’ power sources, such as gas-fueled plants, can use more than 20 times as much water as the data center itself. ‘Softer approach’ The directive to conduct the water survey was written into the state budget last year by State Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, who called it a “softer approach” than passing legislation demanding the information, according to Austin NBC affiliate KXAN. State lawmakers said they backed the approach to avoid scaring away the burgeoning industry. “These are new entities that are coming to the state of Texas. We want those jobs. We need those jobs,” Walle told the TV station in February. “However, we also have to be very good stewards of our water resources.” The joint voluntary survey by the TWDB and PUCT is for every data center currently operating in Texas or planning to operate here by 2030. It also covers

123Net_Data_Center_(DC2)

the state’s crypto-mining facilities. The data collected in the voluntary survey will be compiled into a report by the end of the year that’s intended to help with statewide planning on water and power, according to the PUCT website. But to complicate matters, officials with both regulatory agencies admitted at a Texas Senate hearing in early September that they don’t have a master list of contact information for the state’s data center operators and no way to reach some of them, Inside Climate News reports. “We just collect information and are aware of who did not respond,” Temple McKinnon, the TWDB’s director of water supply planning, told the news outlet.

It’s also unclear whether state regulators have a mechanism for determining the accuracy of the self-reported surveys from data centers that do respond. Some critics say that the survey approach was flawed from the beginning because lawmakers assumed industry officials would respond honestly without oversight. “If there’s no verification, there’s no confidence in the results and no incentive to get it right,” Public Citizen’s Shelley told the Current. Additionally, not all questions on the survey require a response, according to the PUCT’s own website. “If some questions cannot be an-

swered, provide an explanation either in the space provided next to the question or under the last question in the survey,” the PUCT said on the survey’s FAQs page. But no matter how few data centers respond to either survey, PUCT’s Parsons told the Current that the regulators are still required to submit their findings — however incomplete or inaccurate — to the Legislative Budget Board and Abbott’s office by Dec. 31. The deadline comes just ahead of the January start of the Texas Legislature’s next regular session. Lawmakers are widely expected to file bills, some with bipartisan support, calling for stricter regulation of the data center industry.

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news Cityscrapes

As San Antonio’s budget crisis looms, let’s consider temporary cuts to our fast-growing spending on street maintenance BY HEYWOOD SANDERS Cityscrapes is a column of opinion and analysis.

he headlines right now are scary: “Cutting deep,” “Education nonprofit fights to keep city funding,” “San Antonio pitches 3.9% property tax increase as budget woes worsen.” San Antonio faces a shortfall in its general fund budget for the coming fiscal year — a deficit on the order of $158 million. What’s not clear is how City Council will deal with it. City staff has proposed a combination of cuts in services and spending, together with a “first-in-30-years” increase in the city property tax rate. Some council members appear absolutely opposed to a property tax increase, while others seem more determined to avoid cuts in library services and the number of city employees. The immediate problem the city faces is a dip in property tax revenues, largely due to a decline in taxable property values. For years, the city could count on regular growth in housing demand and new homebuilding to push up base property values. But not now, and perhaps not for a few years. That means both our council members and our community must ask serious questions about priorities and how we got here. Unfortunately, that’s not easy when the council appears deeply divided and the mid-September budget deadline is almost here. Yet there may be options other than those offered by city staff that can provide both a solution — if only for a couple of budget years — and a sense of how we got here. I’d like to suggest one example: pavement. Let’s start with the fiscal year 2014 budget, done at a time when the city was coming out of a similar period of declining property tax revenues in the wake 2008 Great Recession.

The adopted budget for fiscal 2014 included spending tied to the city’s rolling five-year Infrastructure Management Program covering streets, sidewalks, alleys and traffic signals. By far, the largest part of that spending was devoted to street maintenance, specifically the kind focused on resurfacing and rehabilitation. A total of $35.1 million was budgeted for the work. That street maintenance spending was different from the major street work included as part of the city’s five-year bond program. And as the city’s revenue situation improved, so too did the money for streets. The fiscal 2015 budget added $15 million to street maintenance — a 43% increase that elevated that year’s total to $50.6 million. Council subsequently cut back the increase to $6 million, leaving street funding at $41 million. Then came fiscal year 2016. That budget included a $23 million boost for street maintenance, a whopping 56% increase, which brought the total to $64 million. The city’s overall Infrastructure Management Program budget hit $86.6 million, up from $53.7 million in 2014. And it didn’t stop there. For fiscal year 2018, the street maintenance budget totaled $99 million — a 55% increase from the level of the previous two years. Then, for fiscal 2020, the streets allocation hit yet another high: $110.6 million for 1,214 individual projects. By June 2020, at an early point in the COVID-19 pandemic, the city was facing real fiscal uncertainty. A trial budget called for a reduction in the street maintenance budget of some $28 million. But the final adopted budget for fiscal 2021 returned the street-repair funding to $102 million, or “a reduction of only $8.0 million from the previous year and a continuation of the historic investments in infrastructure made in recent years.” The expectation was that the allocation for street repairs would remain around $100 million the following year.

Michael Karlis

However, with an improved budget outlook by May 2021, city budget staff recommended restoring the cut to street maintenance, and that brought the total for the fiscal 2022 budget back to $110 million. For the next year, fiscal 2023, the funding total came to $116 million, including $6 million from the 2022 bond program and an additional $10 million “one-time funding” from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act. With extra funding from the 2022 bond program, the fiscal 2024 budget allocated a total of $116 million to street maintenance. The temporary availability of bond funds even boosted the total to $122.4 million in fiscal 2026 and then $129.8 million in the city’s proposed budget for fiscal 2027. The upshot of all these numbers is that, over the years, spending for San Antonio’s streets has managed to grow and grow, with each new increase serving as the base for the next year’s expansion. Now, it’s obvious that street resur-

facing and reconstruction projects are popular with City Council. They provide visible, tangible evidence of the city investing in something we use every day. What’s more, council members can say they’re delivering for their constituents. And having seen my well-worn street repaved recently after more than 30 years, I won’t complain about spending on that upkeep. But in a budget season when there is far less money to go around, why can’t we manage a real reduction — if only for a year or two — in spending on streets? There is no magic number, nor is there any requirement for spending $100 million or more annually repairing wornout roads as we face a budget crisis. At the least, throttling back our spending on streets would provide added time for a real discussion of public priorities and the justification for a property tax increase. And perhaps this example might encourage our elected officials to do a deeper dive on how spending has grown.

sacurrent.com | September 16 - 29, 2026 | CURRENT

CURRENT | September 16 - 29, 2026 | sacurrent.com

news

Bad Takes

Trump’s war on immigration leaves us a weaker nation BY KEVIN SANCHEZ Bad Takes is a column of opinion and analysis.

epublican presidents from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush once went to bat for immigration. But how the shining city on a hill has dimmed since then. In 1986, Reagan granted amnesty to nearly 3 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. A year later, he deferred the deportation of their minor children, an executive order that protected at least 100,000 families from possible separation. Even President Donald Trump went off script during his 2019 State of the Union to extol the virtues of those who immigrate here legally. “Legal immigrants enrich our nation and strengthen our society in countless ways,” he said. “I want people to come into our country in the largest numbers ever, but they have to come in legally.” How does that square with the White House carrying out what the Associated Press has called “the largest single mass revocations of visas in U.S. history?” Officials who requested anonymity informed the wire service that the administration is gearing up to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners currently seeking asylum status. If Trump sincerely wanted for “people to come into our country in the largest numbers ever,” then why will legal immigration be slashed by an estimated 33-50% by the end of his term, as estimated by the nonpartisan National Foundation for American Policy? The State Department is now “refusing to process applications abroad,” the foundation said in a Forbes op-ed, sowing chaos for “spouses, children and other family members ... as well as employers seeking workers.” Meanwhile, the administration, under the guidance of Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, “also has stopped all refugees from entering the U.S. except white people from South Africa.” I’m sure it’s the content of Afrikaners’ character, not the color of their skin, that fully explains the favoritism. But

blanket inhospitality threatens our way of life all the same. This summer, when the Supreme Court rubber-stamped the end of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) held by hundreds of thousands of migrants, among the fiercest critics were those busy caring for elderly retirees. “The most significant impact is the potential loss of experienced caregivers and frontline staff,” a spokeswoman for the American Seniors Housing Association told trade publication McKnight’s Senior Living. The article also noted that the 1.3 million TPS holders are “vetted immigrants who arrive through legal pathways and hold valid work permits,” adding that some “20% of Haitians nationwide work in healthcare roles.” Yet Trump has repeated the false and xenophobic claim that Haitians in particular are known to eat people’s dogs and cats, and amount to “a death wish for our country.” The president’s anti-immigrant screeds come as the Kaiser Family Foundation contends that foreign-born workers make up 20-40% of employees in nursing homes, assisted living communities and at-home healthcare. “There is no workforce waiting in the wings capable of replacing the long-standing relationships, in some cases built over years and even decades, that are so vital to quality care,” said Katie Smith Sloan, the CEO of LeadingAge, a national association for aging-services providers. But nursing care isn’t the only industry facing headwinds right now. “The fear sparked by enhanced immigration enforcement has added pressure to a preexisting labor shortage in the construction industry,” the Dallas Morning News reported this month. The paper noted that immigrants represent 50.2% of the Texas construction industry’s blue-collar positions, meaning the administration’s crackdown is contributing to building delays, housing shortages and rising costs. “I’ve been telling the administration, do not conflate the gangster with the gardener, the nanny with the narco,” U.S. Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Florida, re-

Wikimedia Commons / usicegov

cently told The Hill. ”The people who’ve been here for decades in construction, hospitality, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing ... the White House is not understanding that those people are needed. And that those are our values as Americans.” Even as public demonstrations against the federal government’s heavy-handed immigration-enforcement sweeps grow quiet, ICE arrests and detentions have actually ramped up. ICE officers “broke records for the second Trump administration with back-to-back months of arrests topping 50,000 in July and August,” The Hill reported, noting that 55% had no previous interaction with law enforcement. It shouldn’t be surprising that new horror stories continue to pile up. A recent American Prospect piece described the heartbreaking case of one young Haitian caught in the federal enforcement apparatus. “On the morning of Aug. 31, Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old TPS recipient living in Springfield, Ohio, walked into highway traffic and was struck and killed by a truck. He had been fitted with an ankle monitor in July, which his family cites as being the source of his depression and subsequent suicide,” the article states. Bel had begun taking courses at

Wright State University after graduating high school with honors. However, after receiving an ankle monitor, he found himself targeted by bullies. He could no longer play soccer without the device beeping, nor did it allow him to be fitted for an ROTC uniform. The young man’s father took two trips to ICE offices to ask agents to remove the bracelet. Apparently, those pleas fell on deaf ears. Failures of compassion aside, the never-ending newsfeed of avoidable cruelties has damaged the United States’ world standing. In 36 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Center earlier this year, a median of just 37% of adults held a favorable view of the U.S., compared to 57% who held an unfavorable view. “In many of the countries we have surveyed since 2002 — including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Philippines, South Africa, South Korea and the UK — positive ratings are at or near the lowest they’ve been,” Pew reported. Pierre Damas Bel may have died from a tragically misplaced sense of shame, but the real shame rests with those of us who let the demagoguery spin so out of control. might encourage our elected officials to do a deeper dive on how spending has grown.

sacurrent.com | September 16 - 29, 2026 | CURRENT

CURRENT | September 16 - 29, 2026 | sacurrent.com

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Wikimedia Commons / usicegov.

‘Shadow Surge’

A quarter of all July immigration arrests happened in Texas as state stepped up cooperation with ICE BY SANFORD NOWLIN

exas accounted for a quarter of all U.S. immigration arrests in July as the Trump White House stepped up its use of local and state law enforcement to carry out its mass-deportation agenda, the Marshall Project reports. Some 2,000 state and local law enforcement agencies have signed agreements with the feds to conduct immigration stops and turn over migrants who end up in local jails, according to an analysis by the criminal justice-focused nonprofit newsroom. The White House shifted to the cooper-

ative approach after high-profile surges in Democrat-led cities yielded severe public backlash and led to the fatal shootings of Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents. Cooperation has been especially strong in Republican-led states, the Marshall Project reports, and Texas, led by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, has been among the most willing partners in this quieter crackdown. Abbott, a Trump loyalist, has increasingly made anti-immigrant sentiment part of his political brand. “We call it the ‘shadow surge,’” Jill Gar-

vey, director of States at the Core, a group that supports grassroots resistance to authoritarian threats, told the Marshall Project. “It’s this much quieter, but no less violent or deadly, enforcement.” Since June, ICE has set new monthly records for signing up local law enforcement partners, the Marshall Project reports, citing agency documents. As a result, immigration arrests from March through July increased from the same period last year in all but four states, according to data published by the Deportation Data Project at UC Berkeley and UCLA. Texas immigration arrests accounted for 10,329 of July’s total of 41,748 busts nationwide, the universities’ database shows. Florida, the state with the next-highest number of arrests, recorded just half of Texas’ total at 5,468. Growing Texas cooperation The increased use of state and local

police agencies has made it harder for observers to distinguish routine traffic stops from targeted immigration actions, Garvey told the Marshall Project. That, in turn, has made it harder for ordinary citizens to hold the administration accountable as it steps up immigration sweeps. The Texas Department of Public Safety is far from the only Lone Star State law enforcement agency partnering with ICE in its new under-the-radar approach. As of this month, 432 law enforcement agencies in the state have signed a total of 514 agreements with ICE for any of its three types of cooperation partnerships, the Texas Tribune reports. More than half of those agreements — a total of 314 — are for ICE’s most controversial partnership, the “task force model” established by Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which gives local cops the authority to question people about their immigration status during traffic stops and other routine police work. Last month, Democratic federal and state lawmakers called on six small San Antonio-area communities to end their task force agreements with ICE. Those municipalities include Balcones Heights, China Grove, Hollywood Park, Sandy Oaks, St. Hedwig and Von Ormy. The elected officials maintain the deals make residents less safe, expose people to racial profiling and undermine trust in law enforcement. “ICE has become an abusive and rogue organization at this point,” San Antonio U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, an outspoken critic of Trump’s mass deportation program, said during a press conference calling out the municipalities. “And for that reason, all of these relationships need to be reexamined.” Beyond asking the six cities to pull back from the program, the lawmakers requested that they reveal details about their participation, including how many officers are deputized, how much federal reimbursement they receive and whether the money is tied to arrest targets. “Our communities will be afraid of our first responders, crimes will become unreported, victims of crime will be re-victimized and racial profiling — something I know well — will rise,” Texas Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins said of the program’s consequences. “This is not what our forefathers intended for us or our country.”

sacurrent.com | September 16 - 29, 2026 | CURRENT

Named Best Cocktail Bar three Years in a Row!

THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS EVE THE BEST OF TSO AND MORE

Cheers, San Antonio!

FROST BANK CENTER 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM TICKETS AVAILABLE AT TICKETMASTER.COM 18

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Slop Job

Screen Shot: X / @danpatric

Texas Republicans rely on AI-generated attack ads to target Democratic rivals as midterms draw closer BY STEPHANIE KOITHAN AND MICHAEL KARLIS

acing increasingly tight polling and an apparent inability to make dirt stick on their Democratic rivals, two of Texas’ highest-profile Republican elected officials have resorted to using artificial intelligence to generate phony footage for their attack ads. Lt. Gov. Patrick used controversial AI deepfake technology in a spot that debuted over Labor Day weekend mocking Texas Democrats running this election cycle. Meanwhile, Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign debuted an AI-generated ad showing James Talarico reading fake passages from the Bible — an apparent attempt to slam the state rep’s background as a seminarian. The spot was released to coincide with the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas. “Ken Paxton and his billionaire backers are using AI deepfake videos to literally put words in James’ mouth because they can’t rely on facts to win this race,”

Talarico campaign spokesman JT Ennis told the Current. Patrick’s political ad, posted on his social media accounts, featured the likenesses of his Democratic challenger Vikki Goodwin as well as those of Talarico and gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, also Democrats. The phony clip shows Goodwin playing spoilsport at a University of Texas Longhorns football game as she proposes new taxes, including a soda tax, a brisket tax, a happiness tax and a “nostalgia surcharge.” “They should be chanting taxes instead!” the digitally generated Goodwin is shown saying as the crowd chants “Texas.” Next, the clip shows a phony Gina Hinojosa appearing at Texas Tech to demand a permit for Red Raider fans’ finger guns. Finally, the spot includes fake footage of Talarico at a Texas A&M game eating tofu and asking why the 12th Man has to be so gendered.

Goodwin told the Current during a Wednesday phone call that the ads’ fake images and fabricated statements show the desperation of Patrick’s campaign. “My platform is something that resonates with people, so I don’t really need to lie,” Goodwin said. “There’s a lot of information out there about my opponent already, so there’s not any need for me to put out negative AI ads.” Goodwin also said Patrick’s spots make it difficult for viewers to differentiate between fact and fiction. Indeed, a recent survey by biometric identity verification company iProov found that fewer than 0.1% of respondents reliably identified deepfakes they were shown. The research showed that 30% of 55-to 64-year-olds and 39% of those 65 and up had never even heard of deepfakes, highlighting a significant susceptibility for older viewers. Because deepfakes have become so convincing, they have emerged as a tool for scammers to commit identity theft, wire fraud and other crimes, according to experts. “Security experts have been warning of the threats posed by deepfakes for individuals and organizations alike for some time,” Professor Edgar Whitley, a digital identity expert at the London School of Economics and Political Science said in a statement about the

iProov analysis. “This study shows that organizations can no longer rely on human judgment to spot deepfakes.” Deepfake fraud now accounts for 6.5% of all fraud attempts globally, up from 0.1% in 2022 — a 2,137% increase, according to statistics shared by ElectroIQ. Financial losses from deepfake scams exceeded $200 million in the first quarter of 2025 alone, a study by DeepStrike found. In the U.S., those losses reached $1.1 billion for all of 2025, Keepnet reports. Such risks have prompted 49 states to pass some form of legislation cracking down on deepfakes, according to Ballotpedia. Patrick himself charged the Texas Legislature in 2024 to tackle deepfakes being used to simulate child pornography. However, when an elected official such as Patrick uses the technology to score cheap political points and trick voters, it raises questions about how serious he is about regulating the technology or cracking down on its most nefarious uses. Although there are no laws regulating the use of AI in political ads, Goodwin told the Current that her Democratic colleagues have reached out to the University of Texas at Austin to alert the institution that Patrick used their brand and likeness without written consent.

sacurrent.com | September 16 - 29, 2026 | CURRENT

CURRENT | September 16 - 29, 2026 | sacurrent.com

FRI | 09.18 - TUE | 09.29 TH EATRE

THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL

Few of us missed Little Ms. Gothic Lolita’s dance of thinly veiled threats on Netflix’s Addams Family series — it was hard to ignore. In this musical based on the beloved franchise, our antihero has done gone and gotten herself engaged to — horror of horrors — a square: a downright L7 goofball whom she’s too embarrassed to bring home to Mama Morticia. That means her papa, Mr. Gomez Addams, must do the unthinkable: keep a secret from his beloved wife. Witness the fateful night the Addams family hosts Mr. Perfect for dinner. $15-$35, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, Wonder Theatre, 4522 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 267-8388, wondertheatre.org. —Anjali Gupta

SAT | 09.19 - SUN | 09.20

calendar

Facebook / Wonder Theatre

SPECIAL EVEN T

IN A PICKLE FESTIVAL

Helotes’ In a Pickle Festival is an all-ages, all-weekend event centered on brined cucumbers in all their forms — from sweet to sour to exotically spiced. Expect to sample anything from pickle pizza and pickle cotton candy to pickle beer and pickle snow cones. Not for those of delicate gastric constitution, the gathering also features pickle-eating contests for both kids and adults, pickle juice-drinking contests (sponsored by Bob’s Pickle Pops, no less) and a home pickle-canning contest for both budding preppers and seasoned homesteaders. Timed ticket entries and fees on website, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Helotes Festival Grounds, 12210 Leslie Road, (512) 796-8857, inapicklefest.com. — AG

Courtesy Image / UTSA

calendar SAT | 09.26 - SUN | 09.27 SPECIAL EVEN T

34TH ANNUAL KOI & FANCY GOLDFISH SHOW

Talk about swimming with the in-crowd. Some of the region’s flashiest koi and goldfish will appear at this annual competition presented by the Texas Koi & Fancy Goldfish Society. View an incredible array of beauties ranging from rare koi to the most unusual circus goldfish you may ever encounter. Mingle with fellow enthusiasts and learn how to create environments for these lovely little showoffs. Everyone is welcome, from experienced keepers to those merely considering indoor or outdoor water features. The nursery will also have pond plants available for purchase. Free, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Rainbow Gardens, 8516 Bandera Road, (210) 680-2394, rainbowgardens.biz. — AG

Courtesy Photo / Ann Miller of the Water Garden Club of South Texas

Public Domain

THU | 09.24 LECTURE

HISTORY OF SAN PEDRO SPRINGS

With its artesian wells, sacred to the Native peoples of this region, and Spanish Colonial acequias, San Pedro Springs Park continues to draw, San Pedro Springs and Park continues to draw tens of thousands of tourists and locals to its crystal-clear waters. It is considered one of the most important ecological sites in the Southwestern United States. In the next installment of a lecture series on this mystically beautiful area, environmental scientists, led by Gregg Eckhardt of San Antonio Water System, will trace the history of both the springs and the park, with an emphasis on the environmental history that affected the settlement of San Antonio. Free, 6-7:30 p.m., William R. Sinkin Eco Centro, 1802 Main St., (210) 486-0417, alamo.edu. — AG

CURRENT | September 16 - 29, 2026 | sacurrent.com

calendar WED | 09.30 DANCE

LOVE FLAMENCO

Flamenco has always depended upon improvisation and the real-time interplay between singer, guitarist and dancer. That exchange can create powerful, almost aggressively beautiful moments known as duende — an overtaking of both performer and audience. Granada-born Antonio Gómez, known as El Turry, serves as artistic director and lead vocalist for the touring production Love Flamenco. El Turry’s own work has been closely associated with the legacy of fellow Granada artist Enrique Morente, whose experimental approach expanded the possibilities of flamenco in the ’70s and ’80s. The troupe also includes some of Spain’s emerging international flamenco artists, including dancer Fuensanta Blanco, who has performed as a principal dancer with the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, and young guitarist Marcos de Silva, a recipient of the Paco de Lucía Foundation’s Grammy Scholarship. Vocalist Iván Carpio comes from a Sevillian flamenco family connected to legendary singer Antonio “Chocolate” Núñez. Together, the cast offers a glimpse at a younger generation carrying flamenco forward while remaining connected to the artists and traditions that came before them. Part of a U.S. tour stretching from Los Angeles to New York, the San Antonio stop at the Carver offers a rare chance to catch an international flamenco production without leaving Texas. $80, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, Jo Long Theatre at the Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St., thecarver.org. — Marco Aquino

Facebook / Love Flamenco Tour

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CURRENT | September 16 - 29, 2026 | sacurrent.com

arts

Hang on tight!

‘Generative Disruptions’ reframes feminist art at Ruby City BY KAT MCKINNEY

n Yuka, a large-scale chromogenic print by Japanese artist Miwa Yanagi, an old woman with electric red hair barrels across the Golden Gate Bridge in a motorcycle sidecar, laughing into the wind. She clutches a cigarette between her fingers. A much younger lover rides beside her. The piece is from Yanagi’s “My Grandmothers” series. The artist asked women in their 20s and 30s to imagine themselves 50 years into the future, then used prosthetic makeup and digital editing to bring their visions to life. The result is a disarming portrait of rebellion and a perfect entry point into “Generative Disruption: Feminist Art from the Collection,” Ruby City’s expansive new exhibit, which opens Saturday, Sept. 26. Local, global and in between The exhibition gathers works by 33 artists whose practices explore body, identity, gender, power, space, belonging and lived experience. It’s curated as a cross-generational dialogue that illustrates how feminist art of the ’60s and ’70s continues to shape contemporary practice. Most of the works come from the Linda Pace Foundation Collection, and many were bought by Pace herself during her lifetime. Patricia Morales, Ruby City’s curator of collections and exhibitions, said Pace’s art curation was guided by her core collecting pillars: feminism, social justice, spirituality and ideas of beauty. “I don’t know if she ever said, ‘I am a feminist,’” Morales said. “But her path shows a belief in individual liberty, including for women.” Because the exhibition is drawn almost entirely from the permanent collection, Morales sees it as a reflection of Pace’s values. The exhibition’s roster is impressively broad. Alongside Yanagi’s photos, visitors will encounter works by Wangechi Mutu, Sue Williams, Mona Hatoum, Shahzia Sikander, Tracey Moffatt, Aïda Ruilova and more. San Antonio-based artists, including Trish Simonite, Janet Lennie Flohr and Katie Pell, appear throughout, grounding the show in our city’s feminist artistic lineage. Morales is particularly excited about the inclusion of LA-based Sama Alshaibi, a conceptual artist whose work interrogates Orientalist depictions of women. The curator hopes the international diversity of the works will provide ample opportunities for viewers to connect. “I think especially for the subject of this

Courtesy Image / Ruby City

particular exhibit, feminists and feminism, it’s so important to make the conversation as open as possible,” she said. “I think that feminism means something different to everybody. “Everyone’s going to have their own definition or connection or antipathy to the idea, which is why we’re pulling together such a diverse range of artists who interpret it in different ways, and then pulling in a diverse group of community members to come see and talk about it.” Material disruption A central thread in “Generative Disruption” is media experimentation. Early feminist artists challenged hierarchies that privileged painting and sculpture over textiles, crafts or other “domestic” materials. Morales said she sees this trend — still ongoing — as essential to the exhibit’s story. She pointed to one local artist in the show, Bettie Ward, who integrates embroidery directly onto canvas works. “An aspect of this exhibition is the exploration of materials that aren’t generally seen in the canon of fine art, more craft-based work,” Morales said. “In a broad sense, it comes down to the freedom to choose what you want to do.” While these approaches might once have been

Courtesy Image / Ruby City

dismissed, Morales said these multimedia works now form the backbone of contemporary art. Although it’s rooted in feminist history, “Generative Disruption” is responsive to the present. The exhibition includes a major loan, “Trigger Planting 3.0,” by Kadambari Baxi, Maureen Connor and Landon Newton. The installation maps abortion restrictions across the United States using dried plants historically associated with contraception and abortion.

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Courtesy Image / Ruby City

Morales notes that the “3.0” in the title refers to this piece as the third iteration of the project. The artists continually update the work as abortion laws change. “[Trigger Planting] is a work that’s continually changing as it responds to the different types of ‘trigger laws,’ barriers for women who are seeking reproductive choice,” Morales said. “The iteration we see now may look very different if they install it someplace else two or three years from now.” Access above all else Ruby City’s free admission is central to its mission, but it’s also an important element to the show’s reception. Morales said she sees accessibility as key to creating meaningful engagement. “How are we creating opportunities not only for people to have access to work,” she asked, “but to explore themes that feel relevant to them, in a way that allows them to be curious?” Visitor service associates are trained on the exhibition and available to answer questions. Morales said their role is part of the institution’s efforts to make the space welcoming for newcomers and seasoned art enthusiasts alike.

Beyond that, Morales said visitors may well see themselves reflected in the work. “I hope people can recognize someone they know in the work,” she said. “These lived experiences are similar for women globally, maybe in different degrees.” The exhibition’s opening will include a public walkthrough led by Ruby City Director Elyse A. Gonzales from 2-3 p.m., followed by a reception. Several artists will be present at the opening to speak about their work. Throughout the year and before the exhibition’s closing next August, Ruby City will host free programs that complement the work. Through screenings, workshops and other events, visitors will be able to explore themes in the show together. In a moment when public discourse feels increasingly fractured, “Generative Disruption” promises to meet viewers wherever they are. The show invites viewers to slow down, take a closer look and consider how artists have expanded what contemporary art can be — and what feminism can mean. “The goal is to introduce work to the public and give them the space to reflect on it,” Morales said. “It’s not about presenting a perspective. It’s about letting the work stand on its own.”

Courtesy Image / Ruby City

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CURRENT | September 16 - 29, 2026 | sacurrent.com

San Antonio drag performer competes in second season of King of Drag BY KIKO MARTINEZ

lamo City drag performer Papi Culo has earned memorable titles throughout their career. From The People’s Papi to the Demon Daddy of San Antonio, Papi’s flamboyant style has long demanded attention on the biggest stage. Now, Papi is on just such a stage and competing for a new crown: King of Drag. The second season of the series King of Drag follows eight drag kings competing in challenges designed to test their creativity and performance skills. While drag queens typically exaggerate femininity through costumes, makeup and performance, drag kings do the same with masculinity. Season 2 of King of Drag premieres at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, on Revry, a global LGBTQ+ streaming network. The show — and Papi’s part in it — doesn’t stop there, though. The Royal Tour, King of Drag’s first-ever live national set of road dates, will visit 22 U.S. cities starting Sunday, Oct. 25, in Las Vegas. During a recent interview with the Current, Papi — who was born in Houston and relocated to SA after time away from Texas — talked about where the name Papi Culo came from. They also discussed what it means to bring drag king culture to a national audience and their thoughts on the Texas Senate’s anti-drag show bill being ruled unconstitutional once again.

What brought you to San Antonio three and a half years ago? I made my way here through love. My wife is from the West Side. It’s been such a beautiful community. I used to live in New York, so coming back to Texas, I was like, “Is there something here for me?” I feel like San Antonio is this quintessentially family-friendly community full of La Raza. I’ve been so lovingly supported here in my career.

Where did the name Papi Culo come from?

I was tinkering with that name when I was in New York before I even started drag. It’s playing off the phrase “papi chulo.” It’s a little cheeky, to say the least. When people hear “papi,” it’s very sexualized. But within the [Latino] community, a papi chulo is more of a womanizer or a sweetheart. There’s this masculine component to it. I really identify a lot with that and lean into these flirtatious tendencies that “papi” can have. Love is what Papi is all about.

What does it mean to you to bring drag king culture to a national audience?

I’m grateful to have a platform. I recognize there’s a lot of responsibility with that. I want to share a lot of my heart and what I feel is an extension of this community. The outpouring of love I’ve experienced is quintessential San Anto. When people see me on King of Drag, I want to represent myself and the Latinidad. I want to challenge what masculinity means. Masculinity in the Latino culture can be poquito tóxico (a little toxic). But I think the way I’m able to represent it redefines that and shows that masculinity has a lot of heart.

Drag kings aren’t mainstream like drag queens. Is a series like this going to change that? I think drag kings are having this moment now, because there’s been a lot of work that the community has done. We’ve seen little previews of it in RuPaul’s Drag Race. We haven’t had the same representation in the local drag scene. We’ve had to overcome that by creating our own spaces, so we can get out of the shadows.

You’ve created your own space in Texas, but now you’re taking your act national. What did you learn about Papi Culo on a bigger stage?

I definitely had to let go of what I think people want to see. I needed to lean into who Papi is and not get lost in the sauce of what people think masculinity should look like. There’s a lot of conversations like, “You need to look this way to represent that community.” That reinforces a lot of issues with gender bias. I do believe it’s connected to a colonization mindset.

Last month, a federal judge ruled, once again, that Texas Senate Bill 12, a law restricting certain public drag performances, was unconstitutional. What was your reaction to that ruling?

The whiplash has been tough. But I take solace in the fact that I know there’s lots of community members that are fighting for equality. These things aren’t right, and they’re infringing on our human rights. So, I’m doing what I can to support those people because I know I

screens

¡Ay, Papi!

B Sharp for Revry

can’t be in all the spaces at once. I’m incredibly proud of San Anto, because we’re scrappy, and we’re not going to let people tell us what to do. We have the L.O.V.I.N. Ordinance (Looking Out for Vulnerable Impacted Neighbors) that one of our councilmen, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, put together. I think we’re being smart about it. I think that speaks to the resilience and the resistance of our community.

What’s your biggest dream as a drag king? I’m a Pisces, so I have so many dreams. The biggest dream I have is creating spaces for everyone to feel like they belong, whether you’re LGBTQ+ or Latino or an immigrant. It doesn’t matter who you are or who you love. You deserve the ability to have peace and happiness in this world.

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LET LINK MOVE YOU Link around Downtown on your schedule. Book a ride for just $1.30 on the VIA LINK app. Link to the Pearl, explore Southtown's art and food scene, and get around Downtown with less walking.

Learn how to LINK at VIAinfo.net/link.

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JUST

$ 30 per ride

food

Noodle Nirvana San Antonio’s Kaedama Battleship serves ramen worth slowing down for BY RON BECHTOL

he only overtly decorative element in the otherwise taut, tailored and blond wood-wrapped interior of San Antonio ramen spot Kaedama Battleship is a poster for the 1985 film Tampopo. Often referred to as a “noodle western” for its almost mythic ride-in-on-a-white-horse aspects and as an avatar of “food porn,” the charming Japanese comedy depicts, among other scenes both nostalgic and erotic, an old master trying to educate an impatient young acolyte in the proper etiquette of ramen appreciation. Many moments of contemplation are required before one can even begin to think of eating. I confess that my sympathies once lay with Tampopo’s apprentice. With dorm food firmly in mind, how much attention need be paid to a bowl of noodle soup? But it’s bowls such as Kaedama Battleship’s smoked pork ramen that served to change my mind. It’s worth observing the beauty of the elements before tucking in. Sheets of green-bronze nori and a semi-submerged soft-cooked egg hint at sensual pleasures to come. Bobbing halves of cherry tomato add both color and levity, while sliced rounds of rolled pork belly suggest decadence. And that’s before we even get to the tangle of kinky noodles. OK, now we can eat. Chopsticks will be required. The dish’s lightly smoked belly is just assertive enough to add umami without coming across as fatty. Both the meat and the broth it influences serve as the anchor for the dish. Early on, you may want to prod the egg with your chopsticks to release its golden yolk into the broth. Dole out the feathery shreds of green onion so they can serve as a counterpoint to the deeper flavors. You can decide whether to do the same with the chopped, leafy “flagship” greens. And you also can ponder just how much slurping is appropriate to your state of mind. Kaedama Battleship offers five types of ramen plus a variant, tsukemen, in which the noodles are served separately for dipping in broth. There are also numerous add-ins, including an order of extra noodles, or kaedama. I’m of the opinion that more garlic can improve almost any savory dish, so I ordered the black garlic bomb. If you’re patient, you can add the entire ball of spiced black garlic all at once so its sweet pungency slowly perfumes the broth all the more as you get to the bottom of the bowl. It’s harder to rhapsodize about a bowl of ramen stir-fried with a simple blend of oyster,

Ron Bechtol

soy, and Worcestershire sauces. And sometimes ketchup. The dish is often served with cabbage and pork belly. Here it’s graced instead with griddled coins of carrot, slivers of onion and shaved Brussels sprouts. It’s all winningly hearty and undeniably good, and it might be made even more luxurious with the nesting of a soft egg in the bed of noodles. Still, it’s better saved for a day when contemplation is not on the mental menu. Noodles are even involved, stealthily, in the restaurant’s beef dumplings with tomato ponzu and charred onion “salad.” Little actual char was apparent in the fried onion, though shredded green onion added a bright and colorful note. But the subtle tomato ponzu, modest in its own right, was beautifully calibrated to enhance, not overwhelm, the plump packets fat with a mixture of finely ground beef, shredded carrot and chopped noodle. There’s not much poetic to be pondered here, but the whole package is an exercise in the beauty of simplicity. No noodles at all were harmed in the making

of the crispy tofu buns. Slabs of fried tofu are armored in an ultra-crisp and crunchy coating of panko plus both black and white sesame seeds, bedded in cottony bao buns and lightly lubricated with a miso-based garlic and chili sauce. Coconut yogurt would provide a cooling counterpoint if there were enough to matter. However, a single minty shiso leaf steps up to complete the task in this mini master class in contrasting flavors and textures. Don’t spend too much time trying to parse the layers of the matcha tiramisu, Kaedama Battleship’s sole dessert. However, do slow down to at least observe the color contrast between the pale green matcha cream and the even paler strawberry “milk.” If the participating coconut cake has surrendered to its milky bath, well, that’s perhaps its role. The house’s large soup spoons are a little indelicate for the purpose, but try scooping down to the bottom each time. Once again, that’s where the good stuff is.

KAEDAMA BATTLESHIP

122 E. Houston St., (210) 361-7574, kaedamabattleship.com. Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight daily Prices: $10-$18 The lowdown: Kaedema Battleship is swathed in blond birch plywood and dedicated to the art of ramen — emphasis on “art.” A diner might choose to start with crunchy fried tofu in a cottony bun and finish with subtly seductive matcha tiramisu. But the real action is in the noodles bathed in savory broth and accompanied by the likes of rolled pork belly, marinated shiitakes, bamboo shoots and bok choy — all of which can be accessorized with soft egg or a black garlic “bomb.” The small list of drinks includes a frozen “billion dollar” cocktail for a mere $10.

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music

No Algorithms Required San Antonio indie-rock act INOHA’s viral success comes from keeping it real BY KAT MCKINNEY

any in Gen Z have written off Millennials as “cringe.” For some Zoomers, the generation before them’s happy-golucky disposition feels out of place in today’s increasingly online, doomerist culture. Despite the backlash, early 2010s-style indie-rock has made a roaring comeback, driven by interest from Gen Zers. The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, Cults and The 1975 are suddenly soundtracking TikToks posted by younger folks indulging in Tumblr-era nostalgia. INOHA, a four-piece band born and bred in San Antonio, is one of the unexpected success stories stemming from the trend.

Courtesy Photo _ INOHA_

If you have scrolled through Instagram Reels in the past year, there’s a good chance you encountered INOHA without even realizing it. The quartet’s first viral clip — now sitting at nearly 3 million views — shows lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Keanu Bicol standing in a shopping cart, lip-syncing the single “Seventh Heaven.” INOHA’s path is distinctly Gen-Z, and its surge of online attention stemmed from the internet’s new cultural gatekeepers: TikTok, Instagram and Discord. In part, that’s because the band’s quirky DIY videos, such as its promo for “Seventh Heaven,” are powered by the kind of passion and authenticity that can’t be manufactured. The clips stand in stark contrast to more polished videos posted by other bands. “I think people resonated with the authenticity of the video,” said Gavin Gonzales, INOHA’s lead guitarist. “It wasn’t recorded on a 4K camera, just on an old Samsung phone. You can literally see the pixels. People found it refreshing not to have that HD quality.” Paired with the song’s infectious tune, that clip and others that followed catapulted the band from local upstart status into being online faces of Gen Z’s indie-rock revival. That visibility came in handy for the band as it released

its first album, ALOHA INOHA, in 2024. “Music now is 90% marketing, 10% actual art,” INOHA drummer Ricky Juarez said. “Just because we have 150,000 people following us, that doesn’t mean 150,000 people are coming out to our show.” That distinction between attention and investment is something the band caught onto quickly. Viral fame doesn’t always translate to bodies in a club, and it certainly doesn’t translate into longevity. “We’re not just a band on the Internet that’s stuck behind the screen; you can see us in person. You can come to our shows. And we’ll actually play the music that you like,” Bicol said. Just the same, the viral content did bring out crowds, which the band grew through constant touring. INOHA’s live shows have become rowdy affairs. Sometimes mosh pits break out like at hardcore shows, and kids and band members alike crowdsurf throughout the set. The band thinks back fondly on a show in Orlando where the venue’s built-in crowd turned the night into the wildest show its members have ever played. “We hopped in and started moshing early to get the energy flowing, and by the time we reached our set, it boiled over,” Juarez recalled. “Non-stop crowdsurfing, people jumping on

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music

Courtesy Photo _ INOHA_

each other, pits opening up. Even I was jumping off of stuff.” San Antonio roots Part of INOHA’s appeal is how determined the members are to keep their local connection. All four members — Bicol, Gonzalez, Juarez and bassist Chris Young — were raised in San Antonio. Bicol and Gonzalez first played together in a high school band whose other members were chronically late to practice. While waiting, the two would jam, evolving into a “totally unserious side project” that eventually became their main focus. Young joined after sliding into their DMs, and they met Juarez through a chance encounter at a record shop. Their musical backgrounds vary widely, encompassing country, rap, dad rock, jazz, emo, pop-punk and more. That eclecticism increasingly shows up in the group’s songwriting. The new album This Might Be Useful, which dropped Sept. 4, is “all over the place,”

by the members’ own admission. The most recent singles, “Are We Cool” and “Everything Is Nothing,” blend raspy emo vocals, pop hooks, lovelorn lyrics and heavy indie rock guitar, suggesting INOHA has outgrown a single-genre label. “I think that’s what I’m most proud of all, is the way that our music bridges a whole bunch of people from different niches of music together,” Juarez said. If early-2010s indie was defined by a curated cool, INOHA’s rewrite is defined by sincerity. They reject the idea that artists should be aloof. Instead, the band prioritizes accessibility. “If I love your music, I want to know — who are you?” Bicol said. “We’re silly … we love food … we’re just normal guys.” That philosophy of sincerity has also guided their approach to social media, especially the band’s Discord server, which has become a hub for INOHA superfans. Members get early access to merch, tour dates and unreleased songs. Juarez said he’ll sometimes answer emails at 2 a.m. while streaming a movie, and fans will hop in to watch at

Courtesy Photo _ INOHA_

the same time. It’s a far cry from the mystique that has seemed so central to artists’ brands in the past. But to the members of INOHA, it’s exactly what today’s fans want. San Antonio has never been known as an indie-rock city, with its music scene instead favoring metal, punk, garage rock, Tejano and conjunto. And although these genres built strong followings, INOHA’s rise suggests the group is more than an anomaly. The band’s accelerating success seems like a sign that the city’s younger musicians are carving out space in a genre that once felt coastal or inaccessible. Next up? The new album This Might Be Useful is a culmination of two years of nonstop writing, touring and learning how to keep pace with INOHA’s own momentum. The band’s nationwide tour kicks off Saturday, Sept. 19, at Paper Tiger. The last San Antonio date came close to selling out, and this time, they’re aiming for a full house. Riley! and Pretoria

will open the show. “Our ultimate goal is a completely sold-out headlining tour,” Juarez said. “Everything gone — VIP gone, general gone. That’s the dream.” But the band’s ambitions go beyond ticket sales. They said they want longevity — a career that’s durable enough to outlive algorithms and nostalgia cycles. “We’re always trying to grow and learn,” Gonzalez said. “Fix any leaky pipes, put out fires, figure out the next step. Even when we’re off tour, we’re working our asses off.” And beyond that? “My goal is to one day play with the Strokes,” Bicol said. “That’s the one.” It’s a fitting, albeit audacious, aspiration for a group whose sound feels like a South Texan answer to the early aughts indie boom. INOHA’s rise, though, is entirely of its own making. Instead of chasing New York cool, the act is building a brand rooted in scrappy attitude and San Antonio DIY ethos. $32.79, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, Paper Tiger, papertigersatx.com.

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critics’ picks Wednesday, Sept. 16 Guns N’ Roses, Pierce the Veil Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan are bringing the current incarnation of Guns N’ Roses to SA with their legendary catalog in tow. Songs from the groundbreaking debut LP Appetite for Destruction and the acclaimed double album Use Your Illusion make up the bulk of the setlist these days along with a sprinkling of covers. Once a chaotic live act, GNR has evolved into a steady rock juggernaut known for sating fans’ appetites. Don’t sleep on the post-punk energy of opener Pierce the Veil. $39.55-$203.80, 6:25 p.m., Alamodome, 100 Montana St., (210) 2073663, alamodome.com. — Danny Cervantes

Saturday, Sept. 19 W.A.S.P., KK’s Priest Those of a certain vintage may recall being mildly frightened by shock-rock act W.A.S.P. and their whole drinking-blood-from-a-skull schtick. Nowadays, it seems pretty tame, but the band’s take on over-the-top, balls-out screeching metal remains a lot of fun. $42, 8 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s, (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com. — Bill Baird

Sunday, Sept. 20 Mr. Phylzzz, Boxcar Satan Mr. Phylzzz delivers on the kind of noise-rock insanity that could heal the world, or at least help pull its head out of its ass. The Chicago twopiece has released plenty of wild and wonderful records, but it’s really all about the live show. These guys bring both the rock and the ruckus. Also on the bill: San Antonio avant-garage legends Boxcar Satan, who have been delivering on their own brand of roots-informed noise-rock since the ’90s. Full disclosure: Current Editor-in-Chief Sanford Nowlin is a member. $10, 8 p.m., Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 455-0233, thelonesomerosesa.com. — BB

Tuesday, Sept. 22 Soulfly Soulfly may make you “Jumpdafuckup” when it brings its blend of nu-metal and thrash sensibilities to town. Vocalist and guitarist Max Cavalera, best known as frontman for legendary Brazilian metal act Sepultura, recruited peers to play in Soulfly and produced its critically acclaimed 1998 debut album. The band continues to tour, having released a new album, Chama. These days, the band features Cavalera’s son Zyon on drums and San Marcos’ own Mike DeLeon on guitar. $34.51, 7 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — Brianna Espinoza

Wednesday, Sept. 23 Bruno Mars Superstar Bruno Mars has done it all. He started

Iron Maiden Jaime Monzon

entertaining as a child, first as an Elvis impersonator, then as a pop artist and finally as a crossover performer capable of dabbling in anything. After shedding the catchy piano-pop days of his 2010s material, Mars moved into funk and soul. Latin sounds pervade on his latest album, The Romantic. Along with the massive tour announcement, sudden appearance on various artists’ songs and a new album all within the last two years, jokes about Mars needing to pay off his rumored gambling debts are unlikely to go away anytime soon. $342.81-$1,901.25, 7 p.m., Alamodome, 100 Montana St., (210) 207-3663, alamodome.com. — BE

Wednesday and Friday, Sept. 23 and 25 Rush Bassist-vocalist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson — the two surviving members of proggy Canadian hard-rock trio Rush — are on the road for their first road dates since the 2020 death of drummer Neil Peart. The Fifty Something tour features talented drummer Anika Niles filling in for Peart. Setlists have drawn heavily from classic albums 2112 and Moving Pictures, depending on the night. $100.50 and up, 7:30 p.m., Frost Bank Center, One Frost Bank Center Drive, (210) 444-5140, frostbankcenter.com. — DC

Wednesday, Sept. 23 The Bad Plus Quirky modern jazz collective the Bad Plus has always pushed musical boundaries, blending elements of rock, pop and indie into the mix. That’s granted the group both broad audience

and longevity. The Bad Plus is set to release its 18th studio album in November, this time with no piano in the lineup. Founding members Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (drums) view continued evolution as necessary for creativity. $30.93-$42.18, 8 p.m., Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway, stablehall.com. — DC

Thursday, Sept. 24

up award after award. He’s one of the top Latin-music stars worldwide and even has starred in soap operas and TV shows galore. If you love singing along with a massive crowd, this is your show. Chayanne consistently aims for the heart with varying degrees of success. $82, 7 p.m., Frost Bank Center, One Frost Bank Center Drive, (210) 444-5140, frostbankcenter.com. — BB

Diamond Rio Country group Diamond Rio has released four — count ’em, four — greatest hits albums, which says something about the longevity and popularity of its music. Although the band’s modern country sound helped it chart big in the ’90s and early 2000s, it’s instrumental interplay and harmonies are rooted in bluegrass, which offers a timeless flavor few of its radio peers could match. $42, 8 p.m., Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway, stablehall.com. — BB

Santiago Jimenez Jr. After the passing of so many San Antonio music icons, we must honor those who are still with us — and conjunto master Santiago Jimenez Jr. is a good place to start. His latest album Tardeada, produced by Garrett T. Capps, is an homage to his father, Santiago Jimenez Sr., and his world-famous brother Flaco. As a live performer, the dude still delivers on musicianship, fun and a dancing good time. $10, 6 p.m., Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 455-0233, thelonesomerosesa.com. — BB

Built to Spill Iconic ’90s indie-rock act Built to Spill remains one of the best bands from that decade, and guitarist Doug Martsch is a low-key hero of his instrument. Keep It Like a Secret remains the band’s entry into the pantheon of all-time great albums and shows its knack for creating timeless, well-crafted rock. $35, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — BB

Tuesday, Sept. 29

Sunday, Sept. 27 Chayanne Puerto Rican crooner Chayanne has sold a mind-boggling 21 million records while racking

Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Anthrax Don’t just run to the hills, run for your lives. Legendary metal band Iron Maiden is returning to SA atop a stacked bill that threatens to destroy everything in its wake. After the touring departure of longtime drummer Nicko McBrain two years ago, the band is playing dates worldwide with stand-in Simon Dawson. This tour, the band is celebrating all the hits between its self-titled debut album and its ninth, Fear of the Dark. $39.10-$1,150, 6:15 p.m., Alamodome, 100 Montana St., (210) 207-3663, alamodome.com. — BE sacurrent.com | September 16 - 29, 2026 | CURRENT

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NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Mixed Beverage Permit by The Paradox Bar LLC, to be located at 2243 E Commerce Street Bexar County, Texas 78203. Officers of said corporation/LLC are Bryanna Nicole Rivera, Owner/Managing Member

“It’s the Pits”--double the disappointment. by Matt Jones © 2026 Matt Jones Across 1. Lowest of SATB 5. One of Stephen Baldwin’s brothers 9. “Aladdin ___” (David Bowie album) 13. Become troublesome 15. Cowboy’s tie 16. Racetrack shape 17. Sport that involves throwing very small rocks? 19. “Much to learn, you still have” speaker 20. Representative’s counterpart 21. Garage container 23. Letter after pi 24. A bit hard to believe 26. Old photograph tone 29. Rowing machine target 30. It may come between partners? 31. World Cup shout 32. Introspective query 35. “The Wind in the Willows” character 38. ___ grecque (cooked with olive oil and lemon) 39. Pockets on a plate 41. Made a meal of 42. Alliance agreement 44. ___ of interest 45. Actor Perlman 46. Short trip 48. Allow 49. Belly 51. Fish-eating raptors 53. Bank counter item, once 54. Knuckleheads

55. Earl Grey purveyor 59. State where “MomTok” was popularized 60. Stuff to help you slide past slam dancers? 63. Faith No More lead vocalist Patton 64. Great Lake not changing its name currently 65. Chips go-with 66. Enchilada option, at many Mexican restaurants 67. Provocative 68. Accepted Down 1. Birkin offerings 2. Piece of property? 3. Actor Sebastian 4. “American Beauty” actress Mena 5. Shortened version, but shorter? 6. Mauna ___ 7. Bent pipe shape 8. Spectrum band 9. “___ Green” (1973 sci-fi thriller) 10. Condition caused by lifting alligator pears with one hand? 11. Rival of Federer and Djokovic 12. Stylish elegance 14. Target for some vacuum attachments 18. Stop along the Underground, maybe 22. Lyricist Gershwin 24. Biting works 25. Extreme limit 26. Laundry need 27. “Choosin’ Texas” singer Langley 28. Serpent hanging around Georgia orchards? 29. Full of vigor 33. Maple tree output

34. “Can’t Get It Out of My Head” rockers 36. Particle in a smasher 37. Say it ain’t so 40. Visibly happy or sad 43. Show currently hosted by Kristen Kish 47. “Before,” when before 50. Depose 51. Bellybutton type 52. Namesakes of a Salinger girl 53. Wooden pin 54. Word in a Jim Carrey film title 55. The “T” of TMBG 56. Master Chief ’s franchise 57. ___ buco 58. High point 61. Minecraft material 62. Touchdown points

Answers on page 29.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES: Southwest Research Institute, has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for: Amendment of Permit 43833 This application would authorize modification of a Southwest Research Institute located at 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas 78238. This application is being processed in an expedited manner, as allowed by the commission’s rules in 30 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 101, Subchapter J. Additional information concerning this application is contained in the public notice section of this newspaper.

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