Mold Remediation in San Antonio, TX

DALLAS (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi and the Texas Rangers finalized a $75 million, three-year contract Thursday that keeps him in their starting rotation.

The right-hander was the winning pitcher for Texas in its 2023 World Series clincher, and the Rangers said one of their primary goals this offseason was to re-sign Eovaldi. The sides agreed to financial terms Tuesday, pending a successful physical.

To open a roster spot for Eovaldi, right-hander Roansy Contreras was designated for assignment.

Eovaldi became a free agent Nov. 4 after declining a vested $20 million player option for the 2025 season. The Rangers had expected that move, but said they wanted to bring back the Texas native who will turn 35 in February.

The two-time All-Star got a $2 million buyout from that option, which was earned by throwing more than 300 innings over his two years with the Rangers after joining them in free agency.

More Sports

NFL superstar's TD dance celebrates Texas boy in cancer battle

From Wemby to Olympic gold: Texas' biggest sports moments of 2024

Here's who's playing in the 2024 Alamo Bowl

His new deal came at baseball's winter meetings on the same day Max Fried agreed with the New York Yankees on a $218 million, eight-year contract, the largest ever for a left-hander. Those moves leave 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner and four-time All-Star Corbin Burnes as the top pitcher still available on the free agent market. The right-hander went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts for the Orioles this year, his only season in Baltimore.

Eovaldi will stay in the Texas rotation with two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, who made three starts at the end of last season after missing nearly 17 months following right elbow surgery. The Rangers won all six of deGrom's starts at the beginning of the 2023 season before he got hurt that April.

Texas acquired Eovaldi and deGrom in free agency before the 2023 season. Eovaldi's two-year deal then was for $34 million, with $16 million salaries each season, plus the buyout. That was after deGrom, now 36, signed for $185 million over five years.

When the Rangers made the run to their first World Series title in 2023, Eovaldi went 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA in six postseason starts. He was the winning pitcher in their World Series-clinching Game 5 at Arizona. He also helped Boston win its 2018 title.

Eovaldi went 24-13 with a 3.72 ERA in 54 starts over the past two seasons, and had 298 strikeouts in 314 2/3 innings. He was 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA in 29 starts this year. He threw seven scoreless innings at the Los Angeles Angels to win the season finale for the Rangers, who finished 78-84 and missed the playoffs.

Texas is the sixth big league team for Eovaldi, who is 91-81 with a 4.07 ERA in 294 career games (275 starts) since his debut in 2011 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Besides the Red Sox, he also has pitched for Miami, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay.

The 25-year-old Contreras was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on Oct. 31. He went 2-4 with a 4.35 ERA and two saves in 46 relief appearances and three starts for the Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates last season.

___

AP Baseball Writers Ronald Blum and Mike Fitzpatrick contributed to this report.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Family meals are often a centerpiece of Christmas movies, from “A Christmas Carol” to “Elf.” And often those meals go awry. Think of the desiccated turkey in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” or the bird torn to pieces by a pack of dogs in “A Christmas Story.”

If you want the holiday fare without the fuss, or chaos in the kitchen, these San Antonio restaurants can help. They will be open on Christmas Day, and most will be offering holiday menus.

Make reservations early; space often is limited. And if you don’t see your favorite restaurant here, give them a call. While many restaurants will be closed on Christmas, quite a few will be open – especially restaurants affiliated with hotels.

Note: For those who have a tradition of eating Chinese food on Dec. 25, check out restaurant critic Mike Sutter’s list of the Top 10 Chinese restaurants in San Antonio; several are open on Christmas Day.

Ambler Texas Kitchen: In addition to its regular bar menu, the Southern restaurant at the Hotel Contessa will offer a Christmas a la carte menu with Texas Akaushi prime rib, roasted turkey and eggnog creme brulee for dessert. Holiday cocktails, available all month, include a Riverwalk Wonderland made with candy cane-infused vodka. 5-8 p.m., 306 W. Market St., amblersanantonio.com.

FOOD NEWS: Top 25 Mexican restaurant closing

Boudro’s Texas Bistro: Along with its regular menu, this River Walk restaurant will serve a three-course holiday menu for $65 that includes baby field greens, blackened or grilled prime rib and sticky toffee pudding. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., 421 E. Commerce St., bouodros.com.

Cavalier: The Christmas menu at this brasserie at the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk includes a curated menu of seasonal specialties – roasted mushroom soup, prime rib, chocolate adorno – as well as the restaurant’s full menu. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m., 111 E. Pecan St., cavaliersanantonio.com.

Kona Grill: A special Christmas menu features roasted turkey, stuffing and gravy, baked glazed ham and prime rib. There’s also pumpkin pie for dessert, a kids turkey plate and seasonal cocktails, including Santa’s Egg Nog. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., 15900 La Cantera Parkway, 7400 San Pedro Ave., konagrill.com.

KPot: The Korean barbecue and hot pot restaurant will be open all day on Christmas with an all-you-can-eat seafood option on the menu. Prices start at $37.99 for adults, $11.99-$15.99 for kids. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., 12485 Interstate 10, Suite 103, thekpot.com.

Mi Tierra Cafe: This Market Square favorite is decorated for Christmas every day of the year, so it makes sense that it is open on Christmas Day, too, serving its regular menu. 8 a.m.-10 p.m., 218 Produce Row, mitierracafe.com.

RELATED: Holiday-themed bars pop up in San Antonio

Paesanos: The River Walk location of the popular Italian restaurant will offer three-course meals featuring seasonal fare such as prime rib as well as the restaurant’s signature dish, Shrimp Paesano. Three also is a vegan option with ratatouille. $45-$65; appetizers extra. Seatings at 2, 4 and 6 p.m., 111 W. Crockett St., paesanosriverwalk.com.

Range: Jason Dady’s upscale downtown restaurant offers Christmas Day menu featuring mixed field greens with apple, herb-crusted turkey breast with potatoes, stuffing and rolls, and pecan pie. $68.95 per person. Noon-8 p.m., 125 E. Houston St., rangesa.com.

Supper: The restaurant at the Michelin Guide-endorsed Hotel Emma will be serving a pair of holiday plates on Christmas Day: spiral-cut ham, potatoes and green beans and a Seven Fishes-inspired meal with cioppino, a fish stew, and butter & lemon linguini. Each is $65. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., 136 E. Grayson St., supperatemma.com.

SweetFire Kitchen: Chef John Carpenter will oversee a seven-course prix fixe holiday dinner at the restaurant at the La Cantera Resort & Spa. $125 for adults, $65 for kids. Reservations available from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m., 16641 La Cantera Parkway, lacanteraresort.com.

Dec 12, 2024

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Jim Kiest is arts and entertainment editor for the San Antonio Express-News. He can be reached at jkiest@express-news.net.

San Antonio City Council approved a plan to phase out horse-drawn carriages from city streets on Thursday, making it the first Texas city to approve such a ban.

A fight to end the practice has been playing out in major cities across the country, but a similar effort to ban the business in Dallas was recently shut down.

“If this can happen in Texas, this can happen anywhere,” said Mindy Patterson, president of the Cavalry Group, which lobbies on behalf of the horse-drawn carriage industry nationwide and has been trying for years to pass legislation in Texas to protect the industry.

City Council voted 10-0 Thursday on a plan that will phase out horse-drawn carriages over the course of five years. It stops the city from issuing new permits, and gradually scales back their hours of operation starting in 2027.

The carriages — which have been permitted in San Antonio since 1865 — are expected to be off the streets completely by Jan. 1, 2030.

The initial proposal laid out a quicker, three-year timeline. Councilman Marc Whyte (D10) proposed amending it from the floor, which was approved by a 6-5 vote.

Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran (D3), who co-authored the original proposal, said city staff had failed to provide a clear picture of how it would help the carriage industry members make a smooth transition. She threatened to withhold her support unless the longer five-year timeline was approved.

“I did not have enough information to see that this will be done equitably and fairly in three years,” Viagran said.

Councilman Manny Pelaez (D8) abstained from voting on the overall phaseout, saying five years wasn’t fast enough.

Record-breaking public input

In the nearly two years since Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) and Viagran authored the initial council consideration request, the issue has sucked up countless hours of debate at City Hall and drawn an overwhelming response from advocates on both sides of the issue.

A city survey asking the public for input on how to address the issue drew a record 50,700 responses — split nearly evenly between those who wanted the carriages to stay and go.

While animal rights activists and transit proponents pushing to abolish the practice argue that it’s cruel and archaic, carriage operators have argued that city leaders are wiping out a piece of the local tourism industry in the interest of safety concerns that haven’t borne out.

Despite numerous examples of carriage horses in distress and accidents involving the carriages in other cities, there were almost none in San Antonio, which has taken major steps to regulate the industry.

“Cruelty doesn’t have to always be present in order for something to be still considered exploitation,” said Carter Graham, who signed up to speak in favor of the ban at Thursday’s council meeting. “They are still being viewed as a use, a means for profit, a symbol of entertainment and vanity, not as the sentient individuals that they are.”

Graham and other activists at Thursday’s meeting also called for liberating animals at the San Antonio Zoo, SeaWorld San Antonio and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

Carriage company operators, meanwhile, have helped pack city meetings with farriers, large animal veterinarians and crying children to help make the case that city leaders know nothing about agriculture, and that ending their industry would put dozens of employees out of work.

“I beg of you to see what will happen to all these small businesses if you do this, not just my family, but countless families, the families that fix our wheels, the families that we buy our hay from,” said Devon Vaniman, a carriage driver who spoke in opposition to the ban on Thursday.

A plan to keep fighting

Patterson said the carriage company owners have engaged Attorney General Ken Paxton in their effort to make the case that San Antonio is violating a 2023 law created to prevent cities from over regulating commerce.

Though that law has been tied up in the courts, Patterson said San Antonio’s horse-drawn carriage ban could put it to the test.

“We’re hoping that Paxton will take action on this,” Patterson said. “There’s really nothing that his office could do, as they’ve told us, until the City Council actually bans a lawful business, and then he’ll be able to.”

San Antonio explored options to move the horse-drawn carriages to parks instead of city streets, as well as a transition to electric carriages. Neither of those ideas advanced.

The plan City Council approved lists several options to retrain the carriage industry employees for other jobs, including potential zero-interest loans for those who want to start a new business.

It does not mention career transitions for the horses — something several council members requested in earlier meetings.

Owners of the carriage companies have said many carriage horses wind up going to slaughter if they can’t work, because they’re so expensive to feed.

“You talk about sanctuaries that our horses can go to, are those sanctuaries going to pay off our debts, to take our animals?” said Kathy Stephens, who works for Bluebonnet and Lollipop Carriage Companies. “A bankruptcy court will come and take our assets. Because our largest assets to our company are our horses, and they will be sold at your highest bidder.”

Correction: This story has been updated to correctly refer to a speaker who advocated in favor of the ban at Thursday’s meeting.

After operating downtown since 1864, horse-drawn carriages in San Antonio will soon be no more. City Council approved 10-1 (one abstain) an ordinance on Thursday, December 12 that will gradually ban the attraction over five years after hearing from over 30 residents in support and against the issue.

The city has five horse-drawn carriage companies, with a combined 25 horse-drawn carriages and 81 drivers. The controversial topic arose after council members Jalen McKee-Rodriguez of District 2 and Phyllis Viagran of District 3 submitted a Council Consideration Request calling for the gradual removal of horses in 2022.

City staff first proposed a three-year plan to end the operation. However, Marc Whyte of District 10 motioned for a five-year transition plan and it was voted through. For the five-year transition plan, the city will reduce the operation hours of horse-drawn carriages annually until the prohibition of horse-drawn carriage operations takes effect on January 1, 2030. No new permits will be issued and the Animal Care Services Department will not license new horses effective Thursday, December 12.

More For You

Internet's favorite reusable cup issues millions of recalls

Hotel Emma alum shares first look at upscale Hill Country getaway

Tesla deemed America's most deadly car brand, new analysis says

Kendra Scott expanding its San Antonio footprint at a new mall

Microsoft 365 outages disrupt access

For months, those in support of the ending of horse-drawn carriages have called the practice "inhumane" and a "cruel means of travel." At past meetings, those in support have voiced their concerns not only for the welfare of the horses but also for public safety, construction and increased congestion. However, all five companies have expressed their passion and care for their horses and concern for their livelihood.

Owners pleaded for more time

At the meeting on Thursday, Art Martinez de Vara, the attorney of four horse-drawn carriage companies, said the ban forces the owners to file for bankruptcy as they have about $5 million in debt collectively. He noted how the average salary of a full-time course driver is $100,000 a year due to the advanced portion of skill required for the job.

"It is an integral part of our culture, our history and should be a part of our future. The impact of the closure of the horse carriers industry far exceeds first. It impacts our drivers, our owners, our vets, our suppliers and even the horses," Martinez de Vara said. "Our drivers are great people. Many are single parents, disabled veterans and people supporting retirement."

Martinez de Vara asked the council for a five-year plan to give the owners more time to pay off creditors, which was granted. Kathy Stevens, manager of Bluebonnet and Lollipop Carriage Companies, said they do have debt and need time. She added they've tried to compromise with them but there hasn't been any communication with the city council leaders.

City Council's response

Manny Pelaez of District 8 abstained his vote as said he's been wanting to remove the horses for quite some time and didn't like the five-year plan. Marina Alderete Gavito of District 7 voted in favor, saying her primary concern for the horses is their public safety as they impede emergency vehicles and traffic.

McKee-Rodriguez was disappointed about the five-year plan as he said the goalpost has been moving time and time again over the past few years. He said, "Horses do not belong downtown. The business model is exploitative. I've offered alternatives, and I've been met with insults, and that's unproductive." However, he said he supports the five-year phase.

John Courage of District 9 said he doesn't believe the carriage companies are being mistreated and doesn't believe the businesses should close. Whyte agreed as he believes the companies invested a substantial amount of money into the attraction and have a chunk of debt.

"I find today to be a little bit of a sad day here in our city's history. It seems that the council's intent on becoming the first city in Texas to ban these horse-drawn carriages," Whyte said. "...This is a lot of jobs that are on the line. There are a lot of people who invested their time and capital in these companies, they provide. They're really part of our culture in downtown State Antonio, I am not in favor of what I think is going to happen today."

Although she co-signed the request, Viagran said she wasn't in favor of the three-year plan and supported the motion of five years. Teri Castillo of District 5 has voiced her stance against the ban and called out council members for the end of horse-drawn carriages hypocrites.

What's next?

The Economic Development Department will assist business owners in navigating the transition with programs like Launch SA, a program that offers direction, education, and mentorship for entrepreneurs, and LiftFund, which provides loans to entrepreneurs and small businesses, including nonprofits.

City leaders also said the Workforce Development Office will schedule resource fairs monthly and coordinate to connect carriage operators with local workforce partners and education institutions.

The current operating hours will remain through May 31, 2027. Hours will be shortened by four hours from June 2027 through May 2028, and the again cut to additional three hours from June 2028 through December 2029.

Dec 12, 2024

Senior Trending Reporter

Born and raised in San Antonio, Priscilla knows her city well. She has a B.A. in Communications from UIW and has been with the Express-News and MySA since 2019. Priscilla loves writing about hikes, parks and weird sea (and land) creatures in San Antonio and Texas.

In This Article:

GNGBY -1.14%

Swedish medical technology company Getinge has installed its complete surgical workflow portfolio at UT Health San Antonio Multispecialty and Research Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.

The installation includes Getinge's infection control equipment, including washers, sterilisers and ultrasonics, as well as surgical workplaces featuring operating room tables, lights and ceiling supply units.

Digital health solutions such as Torin OR Management, Tegris OR Integration and T-DOC Instrument Tracking have also been installed.

These integrated systems are designed to streamline workflows across the hospital, from the operating room to the intensive care unit and sterile processing department.

UT Health San Antonio's new hospital is due to open this month and will accommodate a diverse range of medical and surgical specialities.

By using Getinge's surgical workflows, the hospital aims to improve efficiency, surgical precision and patient safety across various care settings.

To achieve this, the hospital will accommodate a diverse range of medical and surgical specialities.

Getinge Surgical Workflows president Stephane Le Roy said: “This project is a big leap forward in improving patient care.

“It demonstrates how combining the right technology with efficient workflows can make a real difference, making it easier for healthcare teams to do their jobs and providing better outcomes for patients.”

Getinge North America president Patricia Fitch said: “We look forward to continuing to provide tailored solutions that effectively address the unique challenges faced by today’s hospitals.”

Getinge recently marked the inauguration of two hybrid operating rooms at ASST Sette Laghi hospital in Varese, Italy, in partnership with Siemens Healthineers.

These ORs are designed for complex procedures that require coordination between multiple surgical teams and the use of diverse technologies.

They feature Getinge's Maquet Magnus operating tables, which are integrated with Siemens Healthineers' interventional X-ray systems.

Based in Gothenburg, Getinge provides products and solutions for hospitals and life science institutions across 40 countries.

"Getinge installs surgical workflow portfolio at UT Health San Antonio in Texas" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand.

The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.