PHOTOS: See the damage, destruction from tornadoes that ripped through the Midwest

A swath of tornadoes tore through the Midwest Friday night, and Saturday’s early morning light revealed the sheer devastation left in its wake across multiple cities.

The weather event is being deemed as one of the most deadly tornado systems to run through the state of Kentucky, according to Gov. Andy Beshear, as damage and recovery efforts continue.

Reports say the tornadoes touched down in Mayfield, Kentucky, Edwardsville, Illinois, and Monette, Arkansas.

In Mayfield, a tornado touched down for 227 miles and ripped through a candle factory. Gov. Beshear says deaths are feared in 10 counties and the toll could exceed 100.

The tornadoes also struck a nursing home in Arkansas and partially collapsed an Amazon facility in Illinois.

These photos show the storms’ devastation in Kentucky and Illinois. All photos are courtesy of Getty Images and The Associated Press:

These images were taken in Edwardsville, Illinois:

These images were taken in Mayfield, Kentucky:

We’ll add more images to this story as they become available.

More on KSAT:

Kentucky governor: Tornado on ground for more than 200 miles

Need for ‘cheater’ glasses eliminated by new eye drops

If you’re tired of looking for your “cheaters” so that you can read instructions, recipes, your cellphone news feed, or just a good book on your bedside table, a solution has now been approved by the FDA in the form of revolutionary eye drops.

Vuity is a prescription eye drop that shows results in temporarily treating presbyopia in clinical trials at Parkhurst NuVision Eye Clinic in San Antonio, and is now available locally.

Presbyopia is also known as age-related blurry near vision, and usually shows up in men and women in their 40s and 50s.

Eyeglasses that magnify are the most common approach for those who begin to lose their sight, and some surgical techniques can address it too. Now Vuity is an option that will be available by prescription only.

Dr. Bobby Saenz, clinic director at Parkhurt NuVision, which also offers Lasik, explained, “This drop actually uses the eye’s natural ability for the pupil to get smaller and as the pupil gets smaller, what happens is it extends our depth of focus and it allows us to see better up-close.”

One drop is placed in each eye, and approximately 15 minutes later, most people with this form of nearsightedness no longer have blurry vision. The affect on the pupil lasts anywhere from six to 10 hours.

“What’s going to happen is what we saw in the clinical studies that we did here because we were one of the principal investigators in that study. Patients definitely saw better up-close, and even some saw better at distance,” said Saenz.

It should only be used once a day, preferably in the morning, eliminating the need for reading glasses for the rest of the day.

Vuity is manufactured by Allergan and was approved for use this week. The first vial arrived at Parkhurst NuVision on Thursday.

Dr. Saenz says the eye drop will not likely be covered by most medical insurance and costs $79 for a month’s worth of drops. He also says it can be used in conjunction with other treatments and techniques for mitigating nearsightedness and farsightedness, including Lasik surgery.

There are other investigational eye drops also nearing completion in their clinical trials, so there may be more advances along the same lines.

For more information, you can contact your eye doctor or Parkhurst NuVision on Datapoint at www.sanantonio-lasik.com.

More on KSAT:

More screen time amid pandemic could lead to eye problems in children

Impossible Foods plants new delivery-only restaurant in San Antonio

Impossible Foods has bumped its reach another notch with the Texas launch of The Impossible Shop, the first-ever delivery-only Impossible restaurant concept that delivers Impossible meals right to your door. Texas was selected as one of 10 exclusive markets for launching the Impossible Shop, along with Arizona, Colorado, California, New York, Maryland, and Wyoming. According to a release, this new delivery-only restaurant is available on select delivery platforms, including DoorDash, Postmates, Uber Eats, and Grubhub….

KSAT 12′s tasty tamale showdown Round 1 results; Six spots advance to next round

UPDATE: Six San Antonio Tamale spots have advanced to the second round of our tasty tamale showdown!

Hundreds of people voted in the first round as we went from 12 restaurants to six. Here are the final six.

Adelita’s Tamale and Tortilla FactoryDel Rio Tortilla FactoryDelicious TamalesRuben’s Homemade TamalesTamale Boy Tacos and TamalesTellez Tamales & Barbacoa

PREVIOUS STORY:

Sharing or making tamales during holidays is a time-honored tradition for many Texas families.

Whether it’s beef, pork, chicken, verdes or rojos, tamales are part of our heritage.

And, in San Antonio, there’s no shortage of restaurants that make delicious tamales, sometimes year-round.

The origins of tamales in Central America date back to the Mesoamerican empire around 8000 to 5000 B.C.

They were considered the food of the gods for many Indigenous civilizations, including the Aztecs and Mayans.

MORE: KSAT News Now’s previous Tasty Taco showdown and watch KSAT Explains deep dive into taco culture in San Antonio

They are made with masa or dough and can be filled with various items. Now we want to know what is your favorite home-grown tamale spot in San Antonio.

We’ve compiled 12 tamale locations in our area and want our viewers to vote for their top spots, and write-ins are allowed. The top six vote-getters will move onto the second round, and the third and final round will feature the top three tamale locations! SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE.

VOTING ROUNDS

12 restaurants will be narrowed to 6 on Dec. 15 and announced on KSAT News Now at 11 a.m. on KSAT.com, followed by Round 2 votingRound 2 winners will be announced Dec. 20 and announced on KSAT News Now at 11 a.m. on KSAT.com, followed by voting for the third and final roundThe winner will be announced on KSAT News Now at 11 a.m. on Dec. 23

RESTAURANTS

Adelita’s Tamale and Tortilla FactoryB&B Tamales and Food To GoDel Rio Tortilla FactoryDelicious TamalesLa Luz Tortilla FactoryMartinez Barbacoa Y TamalesMimi’s Barbacoa Tacos TamalesOlgitas MolinoRuben’s Homemade TamalesTamale Boy Tacos and TamalesTellez Tamales & BarbacoaTortilleria Los Hermanos

VOTE HERE

<!–[if lte IE 10]>

Sorry, you are using an unsupported browser. This page will not display correctly.
Please click here to upgrade to a newer browser.
<![endif]–>

Papa’s Burgers changing name after ‘hurtful’ trademark issue with Houston’s Pappas Restaurants

A beloved San Antonio burger joint is about to go through a rebranding after a “hurtful” trademark issue with a Houston restaurant chain.

Papa’s Burgers owner Robert Walker shared a Facebook update on Monday stating that the restaurant received a cease and desist notice from Pappas Restaurants.

KSAT spoke with Walker who said he went to file a trademark for Papa’s Burgers but first reached out to the Houston restaurateur “out of respect so that it wouldn’t be an issue.”

“I was advised by counsel, that because of the similarities of the names, it could be a problem. I read their history and respect their family legacy. We’re a family-owned business too,” Walker said.

So he sent a letter to the Pappas explaining that he wanted to trademark Papa’s Burgers because Walker is planning on opening more locations in San Antonio in the near future.

Walker told KSAT the cease and desist letter was “a little bit out of left field. I responded to it and sent them a heartfelt letter but haven’t heard back.”

In the Facebook post, Walker said the whole thing is a “little heart breaking considering the reasons behind our name but it is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that sometime in the next 90 days you will begin to see changes in the rebranding of the name in our restaurants.”

Walker told KSAT Papa’s Burgers pays homage to his father, which his family calls Papa.

“My dad is retired military, which is where the red white and blue came from,” Walker said.

Counsel advised Walker that he can fight the trademark since it’s a one-letter difference and a different city, but that it could be very costly – upwards of $25,000 just to start the process.

The second option is to rebrand. A difficult decision Walker said, because the restaurant has already received so many public accolades in the nearly 9 years it’s been open.

Papa’s Burgers “El Caliente Burger” was named the best in Texas by Eat This, Not That, in February 2020.

The restaurant has been featured on many local news channels and Walker said there are plans to expand with 2-3 more locations in the next two years, albeit under a different name.

“It’s never caused any issues in the last 9 years,” Walker said. “It’s just kind of a slap in the face.”

KSAT has reached out to Pappas Restaurants and received the following statement:

“We appreciate that Mr. Walker’s restaurant is a family-run business. We, too, are a family-run business, and for over 25 years, our family has invested time and care into making a brand that our customers love to visit. To protect the efforts of our family and team, the Pappas Burger trademark is registered in the United States Patent and Trademark office. Unfortunately, Mr. Walker’s chosen mark is confusingly similar to our protected trademark, and we are left with no choice but to protect it. We wish Mr. Walker nothing but the best, and look forward to working with him on a reasonable solution and timeline.”

Walker plans to announce the new name of Papa’s Burgers once the trademark has been officially filed.

Related:

The best burger in Texas is right here in San Antonio, list saysPopular San Antonio burger joint closes original location on the West SidePapa’s Burgers set to open new location in spite of COVID-19 pandemic challenges

LIVE at 2: Get tips for staying healthy during holidays with ‘New You’ livestream

‘Tis the season for holiday baking, festive foods, and maybe even some Christmas cocktails. But without the right balance, these indulgences can negatively affect our health, whether it be mentally or physically.

That’s why ‘New You’, a health and wellness series on the KSAT 12, is once again bringing together a group of experts to share some tips to staying healthy during the holidays.

Watch the livestream event in the video player above or on KSAT.com on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m.

Meet the panelists:

Talli Dolge is the CEO of Jewish Family Services. Through her expertise and years of experience advocating for mental health awareness on a local and national scale, she’s become a familiar face on our KSAT livestreams. Read more from Talli here.Anafer Barrera is a Registered Dietician with My Nutrition Studio with a bachelor’s in International Nutrition from UT Austin and her master of public health from UTHealth in Houston.

The panelists will join KSAT anchor David Sears to share helpful tips on self-care and nutrition to keep you looking and feeling your best throughout the year-end and beyond.

Plus, get quick and easy fitness ideas to burn a few extra calories in between last-minute shopping and frantic cookie making. It’s all about balance!

Looking for specific advice? Ask our panelists a question in the section below.

Discover more ‘New You’:

‘New You’: Connecting physical therapy, training provides unique recovery plan for clients

‘New You’: F3 Alamo offers fellowship and fitness for men in San Antonio

‘New You’: Switch up your routine with outdoor workouts at San Antonio Botanical Garden

Funeral services set for BCSO cadet who died during first day of training

Funeral arrangements for a 59-year-old Bexar County sheriff’s detention cadet who died after suffering a medical episode during a physical exercise training have been announced.

Cadet Kevin Reaux’s funeral service will be held on Dec. 16 at 10:45 a.m. at Cornerstone Church located at 18755 Stone Oak Parkway.

BCSO officials say the funeral is open to the public, and the sheriff’s office will be live streaming the service on their Facebook page.

Cadet Reaux was honored by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office last week.

The sheriff’s office provided an honor escort for Reaux from the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office to Mission Park South Funeral Home, located in the 1700 block of SE Military Drive.

Authorities said Reaux died at the beginning of a BCSO training academy for 13 cadets. As they began their physical exercise training, Reaux began to experience shortness of breath and was allowed to rest.

Authorities said as the cadet was resting, he began to feel worse and eventually lost consciousness. Academy instructors performed life-saving measures and called for medical help.

Reaux was taken to Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Medical Examiner has determined his death as cardiovascular disease.

Sheriff Javier Salazar released the following statement regarding Cadet Reaux’s death.

“The loss of Cadet Kevin Reaux is heartbreaking, especially given the fact that he lost his life at the start of his new career with the Sheriff’s Office. Although I only spoke to him briefly while welcoming his new cadet class yesterday, his honorable character was shown by his willingness to serve our community. We ask for your thoughts and prayers for his blood family and his family in blue.”

Reaux is survived by his two daughters.

More on KSAT:

Pedestrian hit by car on West Side, suffers life-threatening injuries‘You can rot in jail!’ Children lash out at their father in court for killing their mother

Teen arrested for murder in shooting near NW Side car wash

Update: The Bexar County Medical Examiner has identified a 33-year-old man who was fatally shot at a Northwest Side car wash Saturday.

Authorities say Jeremy L Bedwell died from gunshot wounds, according to the ME.

The shooting happened on Northwestern and Wurzbach Road.

Police say Bedwell got into an argument with Caesar Martinez, 18, and one of Martinez’s family members when he was shot.

Martinez was taken into custody and booked for murder.

Original:

A man is dead and a teen is in custody for murder following a shooting at a Northwest Side car wash overnight, according to San Antonio police.

The shooting happened around 9 p.m. on Saturday, at a car wash on Northwestern and Wurzbach Road.

Police said it’s unclear what led to the shooting, but when officers arrived, they found a 33-year-old man behind the car wash unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the hip.

The man was rushed by EMS to University Hospital but died minutes later.

The shooter, identified by police as Caesar Martinez, 18, got away from the scene but was later located at a gas station across the street from the car wash.

Upon further investigation, police said they believe an argument broke out between Martinez, one of Martinez’s family members, and the 33-year-old man at the gas station, leading up to the shooting.

Martinez was booked for murder and his family member was taken into custody for questioning, police said.

According to Bexar County court records, Martinez is being held in the Bexar County Jail and his bond is set at $150,000.

Further details are limited at this time. This is a developing story and we’ll bring more updates as they become available.

More on KSAT:

Man dies after truck bursts into flames following crash on Northwest Side, police say

San Antonio River Walk drained this week for maintenance

Update: The Public Works Department will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday to discuss the San Antonio River Maintenance Program. The department will also talk about items found in the riverbed. The news conference will be livestreamed in the video player above.

The River Walk will look different this week, and that’s because the city is going to drain it for routine maintenance.

The City of San Antonio’s Public Works Department said portions of the San Antonio River will be drained beginning Sunday, Jan. 23 through Sunday, Jan. 30, if weather permits.

The draining “is vital to ensuring it remains clean and a beautiful attraction for residents and visitors,” city officials said in a news release.

The heart of the River Walk, including the river loop near The Shops at Rivercenter, will be completely drained. The main channel from East Josephine Street to East Nueva Street will be partially drained.

During this time the Go Rio Cruises will not operate in the downtown or Museum Reach areas.

Alamo Street between Market and Commerce streets will also be closed to vehicle traffic and pedestrians.

Chaining a dog outside will be illegal in Texas starting in 2022

Animal rights advocates are celebrating a new Texas law that is catching up to a San Antonio ordinance that has been in place for years.

Starting Jan. 18, 2022, unattended dogs will no longer be allowed to be restrained with chains or heavy weights outdoors in the state of Texas. The practice has been banned in San Antonio city limits since Oct. 2017.

SB 5 also prohibits an owner from leaving a dog without adequate shelter, shade from direct sunlight, drinking water and an area that allows the animal to avoid standing water and exposure to excessive animal waste.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 5, also known as the Safe Outdoor Dogs Bill, on Monday following the Texas Legislature’s third special session.

The governor previously vetoed a version of the bill, SB 474, in June saying the wording was too “micro-managing.”

“Senate Bill 474 would compel every dog owner, on pain of criminal penalties, to monitor things like the tailoring of the dog’s collar, the time the dog spends in the bed of a truck, and the ratio of tether-to-dog length, as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail,” Abbott said in a veto statement for SB 474. “Texas is no place for this kind of micro-managing and over-criminalization.”

The veto drew outrage on social media and #AbbottHatesDogs started trending on Twitter shortly after Abbott released his veto statement.

Jamey Cantrell, president of the Texas Animal Control Association, told the Texas Tribune that he believes the outcry on social media is what pushed Abbott to sign SB 5.

“If there was no outcry… it would still be something that we’d be planning on working on next legislative session,” Cantrell said.

A report from the Texas Tribune earlier this week points out that SB 474 and SB 5 are similar, however, the latter outlines the appropriate treatment of a tethered dog more clearly.

The new law bans the use of heavy weights and chains as restraints and states that dog collars must be made of “material specifically designed to be placed around the neck of a dog.”

Additionally, the new law eliminates the 24-hour rule that previously barred law enforcement from intervening if an animal was observed in inhumane or illegal conditions.

Violations of the new law will be considered a Class C misdemeanor and will be punishable by a fine of up to $500. Repeat offenders could face a Class B misdemeanor.

Related:

Laws penalize owners for leaving pets out in cold weatherHowl you doin’, pets? Keep your dogs, cats safe on Halloween with these tipsSan Marcos animal shelter clearing out dogs before renovations, some at risk for euthanasia