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By Yvette Tello
Divorce is a complex journey that can bring both challenges and insights. I’d love to hear your experiences—what has been the best moment, the worst, or anything in between? How was your experience with lawyers, the court, and judges? Is your relationship with your ex now good, bad, or indifferent? Do you have advice for others going through a divorce? Your stories can help others feel less alone during this difficult time. Let’s talk about it…
Kenneth Mumma: “If you loved your person at one time,why do people have to be so nasty? Just be cool and remember KIDS are involved... everything else is only material. This is for both sides! If he or she had anything before the marriage, it's not yours. So go to the library, get your divorce papers and do it yourself. This cost under $500 not to be an ass. I am still friends with my ex. This will be till the end. It's easy to be kind and human. Remember you will be answering to God in the end.”
Dee Saucedo: “My ex-husband had an awesome first wife and I just love her!!!!”
Let’s Talk About It Life after Divorce
being. After 2 years and $7000 later, my divorce was final and my ex was in and out of my kids' lives. 7 years after that, my ex decided to file for full custody to get out of child support with false accusations, but failed. There was another additional $15k that could’ve been used for our kids' education or their well being. Now it is gone. And again, he could’ve just communicated like a decent human being and we could’ve agreed without having to have a judge or attorneys. I can't stand him. I’m glad he’s someone else’s problem.”
agreeable and respectful of each other, it’s very possible to have a positive ending.”
Ram Dls: “Getting married is the stupidest thing to do.”
George Monsted: “Well, you don't want your children to think that what they are seeing is love.”
Veronica EllaVip: “I filed for my uncontested divorce and it cost me $300, until day 59, when my ex decided to contest it instead of just communicating like a decent human
Michelle Hernandez Butler: “If anyone is looking for a divorce lawyer …. Call me at the Castro Law Office (210)290-9614. Consultations are free and the attorney will explain all the process.”
RD Gonzales: “Divorce is so hard especially with children. My ex and I made a commitment to be the best we can for our kids and work hard to co-parent well. It was bumpy at first trying to establish new routines and boundaries but we are in a great place now! We stay focused on what is most important and that’s our kids having access to both of us. We filed for divorce then had a mediation agreement drawn up and filed with the courts. It has worked out beautifully for us. We were complimented by the mediator and judge at how well we worked together. It’s hard to end relationships but if couples can be
Crystal Perkin: “Divorce has been one of the hardest things I have done.I’ll be the first to tell you how difficult it’s been to let go! Especially after 25 years of history with one person. But here we are….many of you have flooded my email, DM, and comments with prayers, warm wishes, love, strength, questions, and more. Honesty, I don’t have all the answers in this situation. Everyone’s journey and process is different. The best advice I can give is this: Give yourself grace. Don’t allow the process to harden your heart. Communicate with your kids nonstop. Show gratitude for the time shared. And last but definitely a big one, set boundaries with your family. I look forward to continuing to empower women through my journey. I still believe in love. I believe in marriage. I still value family, and I also value ME over any and everything else.”
Fran Cas Potter: “My dear friends, divorce is painful, however it's best to walk away. A quote by a priest: ‘God does not want to suffer.’ Life is too short! Life goes on.”
By Ricardo Romo, Ph.D
Santa Barraza, a native of Kingsville, Texas, began receiving international recognition in 1983 when her work was featured in A Traves de la Frontera, an exhibit that traveled throughout Mexico’s border towns. In 1991, her art was included in Alma, Corazón y Vida, a multicultural exhibition in Rome, Italy. In the U.S., her work gained national attention in 1990 with the groundbreaking Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation (CARA) exhibit, which toured ten cities including Washington D.C.’s Smithsonian National
About the Cover Artist: Santa Barraza
Museum of American Art. At the time, Barraza was teaching at Penn State University’s School of Visual Arts. In 1997, she returned to her roots, joining the faculty of Texas A&M University–Kingsville, where she taught for 23 years. It was at this campus—formerly Texas A&I—where her passion for art began.
Barraza enrolled at Texas A&I in 1969 intending to study mathematics, but a second-semester art class shifted her path. She entered college during a time of political unrest marked by anti-war protests and the Chicano civil rights movement. Influenced by El Movimiento, farmworker activism, and artists aligned with La Causa, Barraza immersed herself in the cultural politics of the era.
After three semesters, she transferred to the University of Texas at Austin to pursue a BFA. There, she was one of the few Chicana students in the art department, where she studied under prominent scholars like Jacinto Quirarte and Linda Schele and took courses in the emerging Mexican American Studies program.
Barraza’s art is deeply rooted in cultural identity and history. She once wrote: “I am interested in borders as regions of appropriation. I appropriated preColumbian symbols and myths... as mechanisms for resistance to oppression and assimilation.” Her works reflect her South Texas roots and Indigenous ancestry—her greatgreat-grandmother was Karankawa. She incorporates native plants like agave and mesquite into her visual storytelling.
Malinche, and La Llorona. Her more contemporary subjects include Selena, Lydia Mendoza, and labor activist Emma Tenayuca.
Now retired, Barraza continues to create, exhibit, and lecture. She has opened an art gallery in downtown Kingsville to promote Latino art and celebrate cultural identity through visual storytelling.
A Chicana feminist and cultural interpreter, Barraza often references historical and mythical women such as La Virgen de Guadalupe, La
Cover Art Caption: Santa Barraza, “Nepantla.” courtesy of the artist. Read more about the artist on page 10.
By Cyndi Dominguez
I was sitting here, watching the news and witnessing the state of our nation, and asked myself: “Can immigrants in America not only embrace freedom but also become powerful catalysts for expanding it across the nation?”
My answer is: YES and I can prove it!
In a time when division too often overshadows unity, Julian Jurado stands out as a beacon of purpose, a leader with principle, and progress in Texas.
Born and raised in Medellín, Colombia, Julian immigrated to the United States at age 10, bringing with him not just hope for opportunity, but a deep-rooted commitment to values. Inspired by the America of the 1950s, an era he came to admire through old war movies and the honorable legacy of his grandfather, Julian embraced the timeless ideals of family, humility, and service to others.
Now a proud Houstonian, Julian has become a tireless advocate for the Latino community, especially in the fight for accessible and dignified healthcare. With firsthand experience as an immigrant and a heart grounded in compassion, he has helped shape policy that puts people first. Julian
Julian Jurado: An Outstanding Latino in Texas
is working across political lines to expand community health access and support underserved neighborhoods throughout Texas.
I asked Julian’s supportive supervisor Osvaldo (also an immigrant) to sum up who Julian is, he stated:
“Julian Jurado is proof that true leadership isn’t about power, it’s about purpose!
With the heart of an immigrant and the honor of a patriot, he bridges cultures, builds communities, and reminds us that the American Dream is not just inherited; it’s earned, lived, and shared with hard work & genuine passion!”
But Julian’s work doesn’t stop in policy chambers. On weekends, Julian rides with a close-knit motorcycle club
that does more than just cruise the highways, they partner with local businesses, uplift struggling communities, and organize grassroots events to keep the heart of Texas strong and connected.
A few fun facts about Julian, he is a dog dad to Coco, has been featured in a Tejano superstar Laura Linda’s honey girl music video. Julian also recently earned a LIbre Initiative championship ring for shaping Texas policy!
Julian Jurado represents the best of what it means to be an American and an outstanding Latino of Texas: principled, community-driven, and dedicated to leaving Texas a better than he found it. His story is a reminder that immigrants don’t just chase the American Dream—they help define it.
Comisión de Calidad Ambiental del Estado de Texas
AVISO DE RECIBO DE LA SOLICITUD Y EL INTENTO DE OBTENER PERMISO PARA LA CALIDAD DEL AGUA
PERMISO PROPUESTO NO. WQ0016808001
SOLICITUD Y DECISIÓN PRELIMINAR. City of San Marcos, 630 East Hopkins Street, San Marcos, Texas 78666, ha solicitado a la Comisión de Calidad Ambiental del Estado de Texas (TCEQ) para el propuesto Permiso No. WQ0016808001 (EPA I.D. No. TX 0147842) del Sistema de Eliminación de Descargas de Contaminantes de Texas (TPDES) para autorizar la descarga de aguas residuales tratadas en un volumen que no sobrepasa un flujo promedio diario de 8,000,000 galones por día. La planta estará ubic ada aproximadamente 1.75 millas al noreste de la intersección de Farm-to-Market Road 1978 y State Highway 123, cerca de la cuidad d e San Marcos en el Condado de Guadalupe, Texas 78666. La ruta de descarga estará del sitio de la planta a Cottonwood Creek, de allí a York Creek, de allí al río San Marcos Inferior. La TCEQ recibió esta solicitud el 7 de mayo de 2025. La solicitud para el permiso estará disponible para leerla y copiarla en la Biblioteca Pública de Seguin, 313 West Nolte Street, Seguin, Texas antes de la fecha de publicación de este aviso en el periódico. La solicitud (cualquier actualización y aviso inclusive) está disponible electrónica mente en la siguiente página web: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/wastewater/pending-permits/tpdes-applications . Este enlace a un mapa electrónico de la ubicación general del sitio o de la instalación es proporcionado como una cortesía y no es parte de la solici tud o del aviso. Para la ubicación exacta, consulte la solicitud. https://gisweb.tceq.texas.gov/LocationMapper/?marker=97.91944,29.810975&level=18
AVISO DE IDIOMA ALTERNATIVO. El aviso de idioma alternativo en español está disponible en https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/wastewater/pending-permits/tpdes-applications.
AVISO ADICIONAL. El Director Ejecutivo de la TCEQ ha determinado que la solicitud es administrativamente completa y conducirá una revisión técnica de la solicitud. Después de completar la revisión técnica, el Director Ejecutivo puede preparar un borrador de l permiso y emitirá una Decisión Preliminar sobre la solicitud. El aviso de la solicitud y la decisión preliminar serán publicados y enviad o a los que están en la lista de correo de las personas a lo largo del condado que desean recibir los avisos y los que están en la lista de correo que desean recibir avisos de esta solicitud. El aviso dará la fecha límite para someter comentarios públicos.
COMENTARIO PUBLICO / REUNION PUBLICA. Usted puede presentar comentarios públicos o pedir una reunión pública sobre esta solicitud. El propósito de una reunión pública es dar la oportunidad de presentar comentarios o hacer preguntas acerca de la solicitud. La TCEQ realiza una reunión pública si el Director Ejecutivo determina que hay un grado de interés público suficiente en la solicitud o si un legislador local lo pide. Una reunión pública no es una audiencia administrativa de lo contencioso.
OPORTUNIDAD DE UNA AUDIENCIA ADMINISTRATIVA DE LO CONTENCIOSO. Después del plazo para presentar comentarios públicos, el Director Ejecutivo considerará todos los comentarios apropiados y preparará una respuesta a todo los comentarios públicos esenciales, pertinentes, o significativos. A menos que la solicitud haya sido referida directamente a una audiencia administrativa de lo contencioso, la respuesta a los comentarios y la decisión del Director Ejecutivo sobre la solicitud serán enviados por correo a todos los que presentaron un comentario público y a las personas que están en la lista para recibir avisos sobre esta solicitud. Si se reciben comentarios, el aviso también proveerá instrucciones para pedir una reconsideración de la decisión del Director Ejecutivo y para pedir una audiencia administrativa de lo contencioso. Una audiencia administrativa de lo contencioso es un procedimiento legal similar a un procedimiento legal civil en un tribunal de distrito del estado.
PARA SOLICITAR UNA AUDIENCIA DE CASO IMPUGNADO, USTED DEBE INCLUIR EN SU SOLICITUD LOS SIGUIENTES DATOS: su nombre, dirección, y número de teléfono; el nombre del solicitante y número del permiso; la ubicación y distancia de su propiedad/actividad con respecto a la instalación; una descripción específica de la forma cómo usted sería afectado adversamente por el sitio de una manera no común al público en general; una lista de todas las cuestiones de hecho en disputa que usted presente durante el período de comentarios; y la declaración "[Yo/ nosotros] solicito/solicitamos una audiencia de caso impugnado". Si presenta la petición para una audiencia de caso impugnado de parte de un grupo o asociación, debe identificar una persona que representa al grupo para recibir correspondencia en el futuro; identificar el nombre y la dirección de un miembro del grupo que sería afectado adversamente por la planta o la actividad propuesta; proveer la información indicada anteriormente con respecto a la ubicación del miembro afectado y su distancia de la planta o actividad propuesta; explicar cómo y porqué el miembro sería afectado; y explicar cómo los intereses que el grupo desea proteger son pertinentes al propósito del grupo. Después del cierre de todos los períodos de comentarios y de petición que aplican, el Director Ejecutivo enviará la solicitud y cualquier petición para reconsideración o para una audiencia de caso impugnado a los Comisionados de la TCEQ para su consideración durante una reunión programada de la Comisión. La Comisión sólo puede conceder una solicitud de una audiencia de caso impugnado sobre los temas que el solicitante haya presentado en sus comentarios oportunos que no fueron retirados posteriormente. Si se concede una audiencia, el tema de la audiencia estará limitado a cuestiones de hecho en disputa o cuestiones mixtas de hecho y de derecho relacionadas a intereses pertinentes y materiales de calidad del agua que se hayan presentado durante el período de comentarios.
LISTA DE CORREO. Si somete comentarios públicos, un pedido para una audiencia administrativa de lo contencioso o una reconsideración de la decisión del Director Ejecutivo,la Oficina del Secretario Principal enviará por correo los avisos públicos en rel ación con la solicitud. Además, puede pedir que la TCEQ ponga su nombre en una o más de las listas correos siguientes (1) la lista de correo permanente para recibir los avisos del solicitante indicado por nombre y número del permiso específico y/o (2) la lista de correo de todas las solicitudes en un condado especifico. Si desea que se agrega su nombre en una de las listas designe cual lista(s) y envía por c orreo su pedido a la Oficina del Secretario Principal de la TCEQ.
INFORMACIÓN DISPONIBLE EN LÍNEA. Para detalles sobre el estado de la solicitud, favor de visitar la Base de Datos Integrada de los Comisionados en www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/cid. Para buscar en la base de datos, utilizar el número de permiso para esta solicitud que aparece en la parte superior de este aviso.
CONTACTOS E INFORMACIÓN A LA AGENCIA. Todos los comentarios públicos y solicitudes deben ser presentadas electrónicamente vía http://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/ o por escrito dirigidos a la Comisión de Texas de Calidad Ambiental, Oficial de la Secretaría (Office of Chief Clerk), MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Tenga en cuenta que cualquier información personal que usted proporcione, incluyendo su nombre, número de teléfono, dirección de correo electrónico y dirección física pasarán a formar parte del registro público de la Agencia. Para obtener más información acerca de esta solicitud de permiso o el proceso de permisos, llame al programa de educación pública de la TCEQ, gratis, al 1-800-687-4040. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040. También se puede obtener información adicional del City of San Marcos a la direcciónindicada arriba o llamando a Sr. Paul Kite, Subdirector de Servicios Públicos al (512) 393-8003.
By J. Gilberto Quezada
For the past several years, I had made it a point to call my first grade teacher and my other three nuns often and to visit with them at least twice a year. I vividly remember Sister Mary Elvira, she now goes by her baptismal name of Sister Rosa Ruiz, when as a six-year-old in 1953, I was in her class at St. Augustine Parochial School in Laredo, Texas. She was in her late twenties and in her fifth year as a teacher. There were forty-one well-behaved students in the class. We were all seated in alphabetical order facing the front of the room in five straight rows. She managed quite successfully with no teacher assistants to teach us the rudiments of a first grade education in that learning environment that consisted of two large rectangular blackboards with the alphabet on top of each one, printed in white letters against a green background, a colorful globe, and on the front wall were two small flags--the United States and Texas, with a big crucifix in the middle, a set of abacus, a record player, and the three-foot shelves around the room were filled with library books, 45 and 78 rpm records and art supplies.
Three ceiling fans circulated the northwesterly air that swooped in through four elongated windows on the west side and six elongated windows on the north side. The classroom was in the northwest corner of the second floor, allowing us a clear view of San Agustín Plaza and of the neighboring twostory commercial buildings. I had to laboriously climb three flights of stairs amongst a sea of strange faces. In those days, the first-grade students were not required to wear a uniform. From my diminutive position, I had to crook my little neck every time this towering Anglo-looking woman, clothed in a black wool serge habit that concealed her towering slender body, with a white roman collar that covered her throat, and her head, ears, and forehead were covered with a starched shortened coronet (The Sisters of Divine Providence did away with the guimpe a couple of years before), called on me. As she stood by
A Surprise Reunion
my side, the rustling sound of her rosary with the large black beads and the gold crucifix that hung around her waist came to a standstill.
On many occasions, this distinctive sound was a warning signal of her imminent approach and for us to behave. She eventually caught on and would sometimes hold the rosary with her right hand to catch us off guard. Staring down at me, I listened attentively to her authoritarian but soft voice that flowed from her colorless lips. And from my vantage point, all I could see was a pair of gentle, smiling green eyes evenly affixed on a small white oval face, and her cheeks were always rosy like if she had a permanent blush. Her exposed small and delicate hands were as white and smooth as her face. I sometimes wondered what color of hair she had. When she got close to me, I would take a deep breath, I liked the way she smell, it was an impalpable emanation, an aura of a holy scent. I was intimidated by this commanding adult figure, but I was more frightened by the massive three-story yellow brick building with no central airconditioning that was built in 1927, and that housed grades first through twelve. After I was promoted to the second grade, I never saw her again until forty-three years later when I was working in the South San Antonio Independent School District.
On an unusual cool Monday morning, May of 1996, it was an inservice day and all the first grade teachers were participating in an all-day workshop in the spacious room across the hall from my office. I heard noises in the hall. The teachers were on a break when I heard a knock at my open office door, at the Parent Development Center, where I was working as a school administrator, and there was this petite elderly woman, with short dyed brown wavy hair, wearing gold rimmed glasses, and a brown skirt with a white blouse, covered by a navy sweater, pointing to my nameplate on the door. I got up from behind my executive mahogany desk and politely offered her a seat on one of
the two comfortable leather black armchairs in front of the desk. The conversation went something like this:
She: "Your last name--Quezada-is rather unusual. Are you from Laredo?"
Me: "Why, yes, I am from Laredo." I was surprised that she had guessed my hometown.
She: "There are not too many people with that last name. It is a very memorable one. Did you attend St. Augustine School?" And she smiled.
Me: "Why, yes, I did." Now my curiosity was really piqued. I cleared my throat and straightened my posture.
She: "Do you remember the name of your first grade teacher?"
Me: "Yes, of course. Her name was Sister Elvira." I responded proudly and even pulled my chest up.
She paused a few seconds, smiled and still looking at me with her gentle green eyes that seemed magnified almost four times by the thickness of the lenses. Then without blinking an eye, she calmly replied, "I am Sister Elvira, and I have never forgotten you." I literally fell off my chair, I did not recognize her. She said something to me in Spanish; I could not believe what I had just heard. My beloved first grade teacher was sitting in front of me after all these years. My mouth felt dry like if I had a huge cotton ball inside my throat, and I tried to swallow, but a knot in my throat delayed any immediate response. I regained my composure and was finally able to utter something like, "You are!! But you were so tall and Anglo-Saxon looking and spoke no Spanish." (I was now six-three and she was still five even). She smiled again and said, "I now go by my baptismal name of Sister Rosa Ruiz. And as you can see, I no longer have to wear the religious habit. I had to speak English because in those days we were not allowed to speak Spanish in class." Her authoritarian and soft voice
had not changed, but somehow, I was no longer intimidated by her presence.
With tears in our eyes, we warmly embraced, and we had a very good and long visit. I looked at her and said, "My debt to you, Sister Rosa, is eternal. I owe you a debt of immeasurable gratitude." And she responded, "I have always had a special place in my heart for you." She told me that she grew up in Lower Colonias, New Mexico, and had taken her vows at Our Lady of the Lake Convent in San Antonio when she was eighteen. I found out that she was the oldest of seven children and that her father was a farmer and a carpenter and her mother took care of the household. She also told me that her Mother Superior had given permission for the Sisters to work in public schools if they so desired. Their salary, of course, would be handed over to the convent.
Many parochial Catholic schools had closed throughout the state, including a few in San Antonio.
I had a rare opportunity, perhaps once in a lifetime, to express my gratitude to her personally for giving me such a great start. She worked for the school district for five years teaching first grade at Price Elementary School before retiring. Then she went to work in an orphanage in Mexico for a few more years before finally retiring. Sister Rosa lived at Our Lady of the Lake Convent when she went to her eternal reward at the age of 85 years old. She passed away on Sunday, July 27, 2014, and I attended her wake and rosary four days later.
Photo Captions: Sister Rosa Ruiz, Sister Mary Elvira
Latina Artists Santa Barraza and Kathy Vargas Honored with Prestigious Latinx Artist Fellowships
By Ricardo Romo PhD.
Latina Artists Santa Barraza and Kathy Vargas Honored with Prestigious Latinx Artist Fellowships.
The Latinx Artist Fellowship announced this week an award of $50,000 each to a multigenerational cohort of 15 Latinx visual artists. Administered by the US Latinx Art Forum in collaboration with the New York Foundation for the Arts and supported by the Mellon Foundation and the Ford Foundation, this award celebrates the plurality and diversity of Latinx artists and aesthetics.
The US Latinx Art Forum grants are important because these artists have made significant and vital contributions to American culture and “have lacked visibility and received little of the philanthropic or institutional support necessary to secure their place in the story of American art.” Among the 15 Latinx artists chosen for the 2025 awards are Tejana artists Santa Barraza and Kathy Vargas.
Santa Contreras Barraza is an acclaimed contemporary Chicana/ Tejana artist, educator, and art entrepreneur known for her vibrant, symbolic Texas-Mexico borderlands paintings that explore culture, identity, and spirituality. Drawing from her mestiza heritage, Indigenous ancestry, and preColumbian iconography, Barraza has become a leading figure in the Chicano art movement and one of the most celebrated visual artists of her generation.
Barraza began her academic journey at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M University–Kingsville) in 1969 during a time of intense political activism inspired by the anti-Vietnam War movement, César Chávez’s farmworkers' struggle, and the rise of “El Movimiento.” Immersed in the Chicano movement on campus, she found purpose in art as an instrument for cultural affirmation and social change. Because the Kingsville campus did not offer an art degree, she transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned her BFA in 1975 and MFA in 1982. She was one of only a few Chicana students
in the university’s art department at the time.
Barraza was deeply shaped by the cultural and political forces of the 1960s and 1970s. Her artwork embodies the concept of Nepantla—a mythic “land-between”—to explore the emotional, historical, and spiritual spaces where identities and traditions intersect.
In 1976, while at UT Austin, Barraza joined the San Antonio-based Chicano arts collective Los Quemados, which included Cesar Martinez and Carolina Flores. She later co-founded Mujeres Artistas del Suroeste (MAS), a Chicana feminist art collective that organized Encuentro Femenil, one of the first Chicana feminist art festivals in the U.S.
Barraza’s paintings in the Mexico City exhibit A Través de la Frontera toured numerous Mexican border cities and enhanced her cross-border reputation. In 1990, her national breakthrough came with the selection of her artwork for Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation (CARA), a landmark traveling exhibit shown at major institutions including the
Smithsonian. Her work was later featured in the Alma, Corazón y Vida exhibit in Rome (1991).
In 2001, the book Santa Barraza: Artist of the Borderlands was published by Texas A&M University Press—the first scholarly monograph focused on a Chicana artist—and it won the Southwest Book Award in 2002.
After early years as an college art educator in Chicago and Pennsylvania, Barraza returned to her hometown to teach art at Texas A&M University–Kingsville and established Barraza Fine Art, LLC, a gallery and studio dedicated to nurturing art in the South Texas borderlands and rural communities.
Barraza’s work was included in recent exhibitions, such as Traitor, Survivor, Icon: The Legacy of La Malinche (2022–2023) hosted at major museums in Denver, Albuquerque, and San Antonio; Chicana/o Art Movimiento y Más at the Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin (2022); and Art in Embassies, a U.S. Department of State exhibition hosted by Ambassador Ken Salazar in Mexico City (2022–2025). In
2026, her work is slated to be included in a major exhibit, Frida: The Making of an Icon, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Barraza’s themes often include La Virgen de Guadalupe, La Malinche, La Llorona, labor leader Emma Tenayuca, and singer Selena. Her unique blends of retablo-style painting, codices, and pre-Columbian motifs often incorporate maize, nopales, maguey, and mesquite— plants sacred to her great-greatgrandmother’s Indigenous Karankawa heritage. Barraza has spoken of feeling deeply rooted in the South Texas land: “The land feeds me physically and spiritually.”
Santa Barraza’s commitment to preserving and celebrating Chicana/ Tejana culture has made her an artistic trailblazer, mentor, and enduring inspiration to artists and communities across the Americas.
San Antonio native Kathy Vargas is a nationally recognized Chicana artist, photographer, curator, educator, and activist whose five decades-long career has left an indelible mark on contemporary
photography and Mexican American art. Her technically innovative work explores the complex intersections of family, culture, memory, and religion. Through a unique blend of hand-colored silver gelatin prints, layered exposures, and symbolic imagery, Vargas has redefined the narrative power of photography in American art.
Initially drawn to painting, Vargas enrolled at the Southwest School of Art and Craft in San Antonio but turned to photography—where she found her true calling. Studying with renowned rock-and-roll photographer Tom Wright, she learned the technical discipline and creative intensity the medium demanded.
Vargas’s artistic development continued at San Antonio College with Mel Casas, a key figure in the Chicano art movement. From Casas, Vargas gained a deeper understanding of the political and cultural dimensions of art. Early in her career, Vargas worked as an arts journalist for the San Antonio Light, becoming one of the first writers to spotlight Chicano artists.
Santa Barraza, “Emma Tenayuca.” Courtesy of the San Antonio Museum of Art. Photo by Ricardo Romo.
Santa Barraza. "La Mano Poderosa de Coyolxauhqui." Courtesy of the artist.
including Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation (CARA) and Hospice: A Photographic Inquiry at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C.
Vargas’s photographs, often featuring meticulously composed images, layers of painted detail, and recurring symbols such as thorns, lace, and flowers, blend Catholic iconography with Mexican folklore, producing work that is at once intimate and universal. Her recent body of work, Light Needs Shadow Needs Light…, is a deeply personal and political meditation on life, love, death, and remembrance.
Vargas’s photographic proficiency is evident in her signature darkroom techniques: hand-coloring, multiple exposures, scratched negatives, and painterly brushstrokes, all of which create a visual chemistry that defies categorization. Her photographs serve not just as images, but as layered stories—acts of recollection, resistance, and celebration.
Vargas earned her BFA in 1981 and MFA in 1984 from the University of Texas at San Antonio, cementing her academic foundation in art. Her curatorial journey began in earnest in 1985, when she was named Visual Arts Program Director at the San Antonio Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, a position she held for 15 years. There, she worked alongside influential Mexican American cultural figures including Pedro
Rodriguez, Sandra Cisneros, and Juan Tejeda, helping shape the city’s vibrant Latino arts landscape.
A major milestone came in 1996, when Vargas was selected for the prestigious Artpace Artist-inResidence program. Since then, her work has been exhibited internationally, with solo exhibitions in Rome, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and Germany, and in group shows
Her accolades are numerous. She was named Texas Two-Dimensional Artist of the Year in 2005 by the Texas Commission on the Arts and awarded San Antonio’s Medal of the Arts in 2019. Her work is featured in key publications, including Lucy Lippard’s Mixed Blessings and Paul Matte’s Open Aperture. Her papers are at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art.
Vargas’s art is included in major collections at the Smithsonian
American Art Museum, the Toledo Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, the Centro de la Imagen in Mexico City, the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, and the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio.
Since 2000, Vargas has served as Professor of Art/Photography at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, where she also chaired
the department. As an educator, she continues to mentor new generations of artists and photographers, advocating for art as a tool for change and empowerment.
Kathy Vargas remains an indispensable voice in Chicano, feminist, and American art. Her life’s work offers a compelling testimony to art’s power to heal, question, and illuminate.
Santa Barraza, “La Malinche.” Courtesy of the artist.
Santa Barraza, “Toros of La Guadalupe with the Holy Spirit.” Courtesy of the Centro Cultural Aztlan. Photo by Ricardo Romo.
Kathy Vargas. Courtesy of US Latinx Art.
Santa Barraza. Courtesy of US Latinx Art.
apply.
Opportunity Home will open the Aspire at Tampico project-based waitlist for applicants interested in a studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom home. Applicants selected from the waitlist will begin eligibility screening appointments in July 2025. Limited units are available. Available units will be located at Aspire at Tampico, 218 Tampico St., San Antonio, TX 78207. Individuals who meet the criteria below are encouraged to apply! Applicants and all household members must:
▪ Meet HUD requirements on citizenship or immigration status.
▪ Meet the applicant selection criteria and complete an application appointment.
▪ Meet the screening requirements related to criminal activity and have a good or acceptable rental history.
▪ Not have any family members engaged in any drug-related and/or criminal activity that threatens the life, health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents.
▪ Have an annual income that does not exceed income limits established by HUD (must not exceed 50% of Area Median Income (AMI) based on family size).
▪ Not owe debts to Opportunity Home or any other federally assisted housing.
To stay informed about Opportunity Home programs and waitlists, please visit homesa.org/apply.
Pedro Espinoza Sergio Torres Benito Martínez Los Felices Cumpleañeros
Por Franco
Gran fiesta beisbolista se celebró en honor por sus cumpleaños de los jugadores Pedro Espinoza, (managerjugador) Sergio Torres del equipo Astros y Benito Martínez “El
Venado” manager y jugador de Rangers .
Durante el partido
clásico dominical en el campo 2 del estadio
Potranco sede de la categoría Masters 50+
Temporada dedicada al Rielero Mayor Juan Sánchez.
Donde el domingo
29 de junio se jugó el clásico dominical entre los equipos del timonel y jugador Astros del manager y jugador Pedro Espinoza y Rangers del timonel y jugador Benito Martínez “El Venado”
Durante el partido José Sánchez, comentarista y compilador oficial estuvo enviandoles felicitaciones. Por lo cual aficionados se unieron en las felicitaciones, Espinoza, y Torres, manager y jugador de Astros compartieron deliciosa cena y colorido pastel ofrecido por la gentil dama Maria Espinoza, (esposa del dichoso cumpleañero Pedro Espinoza) quien recibió emotivo agradecimiento. Pedro cumplió 71 años justamente ese domingo
29 de junio, siendo felicitado por su familia. Mientras qué Torres ,
ex futbolista profesional estará celebrando 58 años el 7 de julio, ahí mismo fue felicitado por su esposa Raquel Torres, y familia. Benito Martínez (64th birthday), durante la semana recibió felicitaciones de su esposa Magdalena Martínez y su apreciable familia. Así como en el final del partido por sus
compañeros, con quienes saboreó deliciosos platillos preparados por “Taquitos al Minuto” del chef Víctor Silva y Familia.
En las fotos aparecen los festejados acompañado de familiares y compañeros de sus respectivos equipos, quienes les desearon todo lo mejor (Fotos de Franco).
Tribute to Senator Bob Vale: A Legacy of Leadership and Community
By Yvette Tello
Senator Vale's legacy extends beyond his legislative achievements; it is embodied in the love and strength of his family. His daughter, Kathy Vale, continues to keep her father’s spirit alive, carrying forward his mission of service and dedication. Kathy's efforts to honor her father's memory through community engagement and activism remind us all of the profound impact one individual can have on the lives of many.
In recognition of his contributions, Bob Vale Middle School
July 2cnd marks the anniversary of the passing of Senator Bob Vale, a remarkable leader whose contributions as a Latino statesman have left an indelible mark on our community. Senator Vale dedicated his life to advocating for justice, equality, and opportunity for all, and his tireless efforts have paved the way for future generations. Throughout his distinguished career, Senator Vale championed policies that uplifted the voices of the marginalized and fought for the rights of those who often went unheard. His unwavering commitment to social justice not only inspired many but also instilled a sense of pride within our Latino community. He understood the unique challenges we faced and worked diligently to address them, believing that every individual deserves a chance to thrive.
in San Antonio stands as a testament to his commitment to education and community service. The school not only honors his name but also serves as a place where students are inspired to embrace their potential and strive for excellence, reflecting the values he championed throughout his life.
As we reflect on Senator Vale's life and legacy today, let us celebrate his unwavering commitment to justice and equality. His contributions remain priceless, and his spirit lives on in the hearts of those he inspired. May we continue to carry forward his vision of a brighter, more equitable future for all
Las Desconexiones Forzadas Son Inhumanas
Julián
Villarreal, PhD
"Aunque trabajamos y trabajamos, tenemos salarios miserables que no nos alcanzan para pagar las facturas. Los gastos siguen aumentando pero nuestros salarios no. Y si no podemos pagar la factura nos cortan la luz." Estos eran los comentarios que dio Araceli Herrera, activista y organizadora del grupo Domésticas Unidas, este pasado lunes 30 de junio en una reunión pública de la junta de gobierno de CPS Energy. La señora Herrera fue solo una de muchas personas que acudieron a la reunión en las instalaciones de CPS Energy en el centro de San Antonio para dirigir sus comentarios a los directores de la empresa pública que provee a la población de esta ciudad con luz y gas para nuestros hogares, escuelas, y lugares de trabajo. Minutos antes de la reunión alrededor de 25 personas— vecinos, activistas, madres y padres de familia, parte de una coalición de grupos llamada Justicia Climática San Antonio, se juntaron afuera de la lujosas instalaciones para una rueda de prensa en la que manifestaron su oposición a la política de desconexiones forzadas de CPS Energy. Como consecuencia de esta práctica por parte de la empresa pública, cada mes cientos de miles de personas en el área de San Antonio se quedan sin luz y sin gas para el hogar si se atrasen en el pago de sus facturas. Aunque existen opciones para inscribirse en un plan de pagos mensuales, estos pagos en realidad significan una deuda que se acumula, ya que en muchos casos no se reduce el monto a pagar y solo se añade como una cuota adicional en cada factura. Aunque al inicio de la pandemia en marzo del 2020 se suspendieron las
desconexiones por impago, CPS Energy reanudó esta práctica en junio del 2021.
El resultado es que las personas que viven en la pobreza (que corresponden a más del 20% de la población de San Antonio) o las que se han quedado sin empleo y no tienen ingresos o las que tienen un ingreso fijo como las personas que reciben una pensión del Seguro Social, si se atrasan en los pagos, corren el riesgo de ser desconectadas, lo cual empeora su situación. Si se inscriben en un plan de pagos, muchas veces el monto mensual de sus facturas solo aumenta. Existen programas para que la gente reciba apoyos económicos. En algunos casos, las personas que logren llenar una solicitud y que ésta sea aprobada, pueden ver sus pagos reducidos. Sin embargo, el proceso para solicitar dicho apoyo puede ser complicado especialmente si uno no cuenta con un dispositivo con conexión al internet.
Esta situación ha llegado a un punto álgido ya que en los últimos 3 años el concejo municipal ha aprobado 2 aumentos en las tarifas de CPS Energy que sumaron a un aumento total de más del 8% en la tarifa base en comparación con su nivel en 2021. Y aunque los montos han oscilado debido a fluctuaciones en el precio del gas natural (que es la principal fuente de energía que CPS usa para generar electricidad), las facturas—especialmente durante el verano—pueden alcanzar hasta los $300 por mes. Todo esto ha ocurrido en el contexto de la inflación generalizada de los últimos años en que los costos de la vivienda, el cuidado de salud, los alimentos, y muchos otros gastos han incrementado
precipitosamente, lo que ha causado bastante dolor para muchísimas personas.
Y en medio de toda esta crisis del costo de la vida, la junta de gobierno de nuestra empresa pública CPS Energy y el concejo municipal en su mayoría han hecho caso omiso de las quejas y súplicas de la gente trabajadora que ha alcanzado su punto de quiebra. O si bien escuchan las peticiones de la gente más necesitada, no han tomado ninguna acción para remediar esta crisis que solo se agrava año tras año.
Además, cuando activistas comunitarios e incluso miembros de la prensa han pedido a los directores de CPS Energy una rendición de cuentas acerca de la política de desconexiones y han solicitado datos actualizados que puedan aclarar la magnitud del problema (p. ej. el número de desconexiones realizadas cada mes) la empresa se ha negado a responder con total claridad. La falta de transparencia en éste y otros asuntos solo ha servido para intensificar las críticas hacia CPS Energy. Según el informe que los gerentes presentaron en la reunión del 30 de junio, de las más de 965,000 cuentas por cobrar que tenía CPS Energy en abril del presente año, el 18% estaba atrasado, es decir, alrededor de 178,000 cuentas. Las cuentas en riesgo de desconexión representaban el 7% del total (cerca de 70,000 cuentas) y las cuentas que habían pasado a un proceso de recuperación de deudas representaban el 4% o 39,000 cuentas. La suma total de cuentas por cobrar atrasadas en abril de este año era de $112 millones lo que representaba un saldo promedio atrasado de $632 por cliente. El
informe también detalló que el porcentaje de cuentas morosas se ha mantenido relativamente estable durante los últimos cinco años, aunque el monto total adeudado se ha reducido notablemente desde su punto máximo en octubre del 2022. Aunque no se detalló con exactitud el número de desconexiones vigentes, estos datos nos dan una visión alarmante de la situación económica en la que se encuentra miles de hogares en nuestra ciudad. Es increíble e injusto que en el país más rico del mundo haya tanta gente con dificultades para pagar sus necesidades básicas. Cabe destacar que los informes de CPS Energy solo dan una descripción financiera abstracta de la realidad que miles de personas viven día a día. No se aprecia en estos informes la miseria que embarga a tantas familias debida a las grandes carencias que sufren. A fin de cuentas, se trata de la salud y de la vida de las personas más vulnerables, de seres humanos y no de números en una hoja de cálculo. Sin embargo, las declaraciones de los directores de CPS Energy siempre son muy positivas. Dicen que la empresa es una de las mejores del estado y que las tarifas son las más bajas. De hecho en el mismo informe sobre las cuentas por cobrar, se incluyó una gráfica que "comparaba" a San Antonio con varias otras ciudades tejanas entre ellas Houston, Dallas, Austin, El Paso, y Corpus Christi, en donde se mostró que la factura mensual residencial en promedio ($176 en abril de 2025) de los clientes de CPS en San Antonio era la más baja de todas las ciudades mencionadas. Parece que los
residentes de San Antonio salen ganando, ¿no? Pues ahí surge una contradicción: ¿por qué hay tantas cuentas atrasadas si las tarifas son tan bajas? La respuesta es que, en el mejor de los casos, el análisis proporcionado por CPS es incompleto, y en el peor del casos, es engañoso. Ese análisis no habla por ejemplo de la carga financiera de las facturas de luz y gas. Tampoco nos habla del contexto económico de las familias de San Antonio que sufren una mayor tasa de pobreza en comparación con las otras grandes ciudades tejanas. Y entre más pobre el hogar, más es la carga económica de las facturas. Según un informe del Instituto de Investigación de la Pobreza Energética de Texas (TEPRI, por sus siglas en inglés) publicado el año pasado, las facturas de luz y gas son inasequibles para el 42% de hogares de ingresos bajos a moderados en San Antonio. En cambio, las empresas comerciales e industriales que más electricidad consumen son las que pagan las tarifas más bajas.
Con razón las familias más necesitadas siguen haciendo reclamos a CPS Energy por su política de desconexiones forzadas. Cientos de miles de personas en toda la ciudad están viviendo una crisis económica que conlleva carencias y precariedades. Los costos siguen subiendo pero los salarios siguen igual de miserables. Nuestros líderes e instituciones públicas como CPS Energy deben velarse por el bien del pueblo y enfrentar esta crisis con soluciones que busquen proteger el bienestar de las personas. Seguiremos exigiendo cambios hasta que tomen la acción necesaria. C/S
Desenchufe y Conserve.
Únase a Cam el camaleón para conservar energía y ahorrar dinero en periodos de máxima demanda.
Descubra consejos sencillos y compruebe su estado de color actual en cpsenergy.com/ConservarYAhorrar
Cuadrangular En Honor Del Legendario Manager Y Comentarista Simón Sánchez
Por Sendero Deportivo
Esté fin de semana con motivo de los festejos patrios del 4 de Julio, el manager y jugador Jesús (Chuy) Ramírez del club
White Sox San Antonio, estará honrado la excelente trayectoria del señor
Simón Sánchez, quien ha dedicado gran parte de su vida al desarrollo del rey de los deportes.Su majestad el Béisbol.
Por tan importante fecha el mismo honorado y el artista
Eloy Rocha, propietario del complejo deportivo y
social Potranco Baseball
Field y Potranco Ballroom, decidieron suspender las acciones del rol regular en las categorías Abierta dominical y Masters 50+, para así convocar a la noble afición y equipos que actualmente se encuentran compitiendo para estar unidos en este histórico evento.
De acuerdo al mismo presidente Simón Sánchez, los equipos participantes el sábado cinco de julio en el horario de las 11am Bullys vs White Sox y
2:30pm Diablos vs San
Anto jugarán la primera
ronda. El domingo 6 a las 11am irán Perdedor vs Perdedor y a las 2:30pm Ganador vs Ganador por el trofeo de campeón.
El reconocimiento al presidente Simón Sánchez, tendrá lugar antes de comenzar el partido por el campeonato. Todo ello de acuerdo al feliz homenajeado.
Tengo diez años al frente de esta liga [Potranco Baseball League]. Donde por 485 fechas he tenido la oportunidad de organizar y comentar los partidos en las ligas sabatinas y dominicales”.
Sin añadir torneos anuales alusivos al Día de Acción de Gracias que presenta el Rielero Mayor Juan Sánchez (sin parentesco), con quien ha trabajado durante su instauración.
Quien dijo a La Prensa Texas lo siguiente.”Estoy agradecido con Chuy Ramírez, y los equipos que estarán participando.
Así como su torneo denominado Cuadrangular Latinoamericano, ambos con la participación de potentes clubes participantes, lo cual por años ha elevado la calidad de béisbol en la región del béisbol independiente en nuestra deportiva región de El Álamo. En las fotos aparece Simón Sánchez, comentarista en jugadapor- jugada y compilador oficial , quien por diez años ha organizado y presidido ligas de categoría Abierta, Veteranos y Masters 50+ en Potranco Baseball League. (Fotos de Franco).
Créditos y Deducciones para Individuos
Por Saenz Octavio
Los créditos tributarios y deducciones cambian el monto de la factura o reembolso de impuestos de una persona. Las personas deben conocer qué créditos y deducciones pueden reclamar y los documentos que necesitan para demostrar su elegibilidad.
Créditos tributarios
Un crédito tributario reduce la cantidad de impuestos dólar por dólar que un contribuyente debe en función de su declaración de impuestos.
Algunos créditos tributarios, como el Crédito tributario por ingreso del trabajo, son reembolsables. Si la factura de impuestos de una persona es menor que el monto de un crédito reembolsable puede recuperar la diferencia en su reembolso.
Para reclamar un crédito tributario, las personas deben:
Mantener archivos que demuestren su elegibilidad para los créditos tributarios
que reclaman.
Verificar ahora si califican para reclamar algún crédito el próximo año en su declaración de impuestos.
Deducciones
Las deducciones pueden reducir la cantidad de ingresos de un contribuyente antes de que calcule el impuesto que debe.
La mayoría de las personas toman la deducción estándar. La deducción estándar cambia
cada año según la inflación. El monto de la deducción estándar depende del estado civil para efectos de la declaración, la edad y si es ciego y si el contribuyente es reclamado como dependiente por otra persona.
Algunas personas deben detallar sus deducciones, y algunas personas pueden optar por hacerlo porque reduce su ingreso tributable más que la deducción estándar. Por lo general, si las deducciones detalladas
de un contribuyente son mayores que su deducción estándar, tiene sentido que las detalle.
Asistente Tributario Interactivo
Encuentre ayuda con preguntas tributarias a base de circunstancias específicas con el Asistente Tributario Interactivo. Puede ayudar a una persona a decidir si es elegible para muchos créditos tributarios y deducciones populares.
By Ramon Chapa. Jr. Senior Bexar County Commissioner
Tommy Calvert said, "Let there be Light!" Miller's Point had a Neighborhood Lighting Celebration where Calvert installed 28 solar street lights throughout the neighborhood in Bexar County's first ever county lighting program!
