Axios San Antonio

May 21, 2026
It's Friday Jr.! The Western Conference Finals is tied 1-1 after the Spurs fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-113 last night.
π§οΈ Today's weather: Showers and thunderstorms likely, with a high in the low 80s.
ποΈ Programming note: Axios San Antonio members can win two tickets to the inaugural Pearl Fest this weekend. We've emailed the details to our members.
- Not a member? Sign up today to be eligible for the tickets while supporting our journalism.
Today's newsletter is 1,047 words β a 4-minute read
1 big thing: Democrats distance from Galindo
House Democrats are in a mad dash to isolate Texas Democratic congressional candidate Maureen Galindo, who has said she wants to turn an ICE facility into a "prison for American Zionists."
Why it matters: A mysterious PAC is spending hundreds of thousands to boost Galindo, which Democrats allege is a Republican attempt to ensure the GOP candidate in that district faces a weak opponent in November.
- Galindo did not respond to multiple requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Republican-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund declined to say if the GOP is behind PAC spending on her behalf.
The latest: U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said in a joint statement they will "force a vote to expel her every day she is here" if she wins.
Driving the news: Galindo's campaign wrote in an Instagram post last weekend that, if elected, she would turn the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center into "a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers."
- It's the latest in a series of inflammatory comments by Galindo, who told Axios she would introduce legislation to have "all American candidates and elected officials who have ever taken Israeli money tried for treason."
- Galindo finished first in the Democratic primary in the 35th District in March and is now in a runoff with sheriff's deputy Johnny Garcia.
Zoom in: This isn't Galindo's first time running for local office. Last year she challenged Councilmember Sukh Kaur for the District 1 seat and came away with 2.5% of the vote among 10 candidates.
Zoom out: Texas Republicans redrew the 35th District as a GOP pickup opportunity, but Democrats increasingly think they could hold the majority-Latino seat.
- The new district still includes parts of Bexar County but is largely rural, encompassing Guadalupe, Wilson and Karnes counties.
2. Flood-prone crossings flagged
San Antonio is marking Flood Awareness Week by warning residents about the city's most dangerous low-water crossings and urging drivers to "turn around, don't drown" during heavy rain.
Why it matters: South Central Texas is among the nation's most flood-prone regions.
Threat level: Vehicles driven into deluged roads account for more than half of flood-related deaths nationwide, per the National Weather Service.
- Six inches of moving water can knock someone off of their feet, while 12-18 inches can sweep away most vehicles.
By the numbers: The San Antonio Fire Department tracked high-water rescues from 2015 to 2025 and identified the crossings where drivers most often got stuck.
- The most dangerous spot was Old Seguin Road at Salado Creek on the East Side, where firefighters responded to 46 rescues over the past decade.
Rounding out the top five high-risk crossings were:
- Old O'Connor Road north of Lookout Road (31 rescues).
- Hollyhock Road west of Babcock Road (20).
- Pinn Road south of West Commerce Street (14).
- Spencer Lane east of Balcones Heights (13).
- See the full list here.
What's next: Storms and showers are in the forecast through early next week, the National Weather Service says.
- Monitor flooded crossings and closures here and receive emergency updates through SA.gov/Alerts.
3. Inside the Loop
π H-E-B is looking to invest $700 million to expand its East Side supply chain facility β potentially creating more than 1,200 jobs β while seeking a $15 million tax abatement from Bexar County. (SA Business Journal π)
πΈ Miles, a cocktail-focused neighborhood bar and bistro, will soft open tomorrow in St. Paul Square with a chef-driven menu, late-night bites and jazz-inspired vibe. (Instagram)
π£οΈ San Antonio City Council is on track to vote to rename CΓ©sar E. ChΓ‘vez Boulevard back to Durango Boulevard in August. (Express-News π)
4. Why Spurs limit ticket sales
As the Western Conference finals head to San Antonio for Game 3 tomorrow, you won't see too many Thunder fans who made the trip down I-35 β at least not if the Spurs can help it.
Why it matters: For playoff games, the Spurs block ticket purchases from more than 150 miles outside the Frost Bank Center β meant to prioritize local fans, Spurs Sports & Entertainment spokesperson Lucy Kaneb tells Axios.
How it works: Customers buying seats through Ticketmaster, the team's official ticketing platform, will see a disclaimer about the restriction.
- Residency is determined by the billing address tied to the buyer's credit card, according to the notice. Orders placed by customers outside the 150-mile radius are subject to cancellation and refund.
What they're saying: Kaneb says the policy is also intended to "protect against mass purchases by ticket brokers from outside our market," noting that other NBA teams use similar methods.
- "Our local fans have supported and embraced our team for over five decades," she says. "It's important to our organization to recognize and celebrate their continued commitment to our team."
Yes, but: Secondary resale platforms may not follow the same policy, widening the pool of potential buyers β while also increasing the risk of fraudulent sales or delayed ticket transfers.
5. πΊπΈ Weekender guide: Playoffs, pools and patriotism
Thursday
π§ Enjoy a free sunset yoga session at The Shops at La Cantera (Center Court), 7-8:30pm.
Friday
π Spurs playoff fever takes over the weekend with a 7:30pm Friday tipoff and Game 4 on Sunday at 7pm. Tickets for both games are currently hovering in the high $300s, but watch parties at The Rock and local hangouts will still bring the energy.
Saturday
ποΈ Splash into summer at High Praise's Memorial Day weekend pool party with a DJ, welcome cocktail and poolside bites, 11am-6pm.
- Tickets cost $38.
πΆ Honor those who sacrificed for our country at the Memorial Day weekend concert series at Alamo Plaza. The free concerts run through Monday.
- Showtimes vary.
Monday
πΊπΈ Continue the commemoration at Make Ready Market's Memorial Day event with live music, local vendors and a community photo tribute celebrating heroes, 11am-4pm.
Thanks to our editors Astrid GalvΓ‘n and Bob Gee.
π Madalyn loves this story about Victor Wembanyama's summer training at a Shaolin monastery.
βͺ Megan is reading about the San Antonio nuns who are Spurs megafans.
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