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Monterrey Iron & Metal signed a code compliance agreement with San Antonio; revocation process of recycling license suspended

SAN ANTONIO – Joey Cipriano said he’s disappointed in the city’s decision on the status of Monterrey Iron & Metal’s recycling license revocation process.

“It feels like a betrayal of justice, honestly,” Cipriano said. “They received an option that none of us really knew was an option.”

Monterrey Iron signed a code compliance agreement with the City of San Antonio this week. That agreement suspended the revocation process spurred by multiple code violations at Monterrey’s facility. Neighbors who pushed for accountability said they’re frustrated after finding out about this decision.

“I’m very disappointed,” Tricia Fayadh said. “We’re going to do something about this. We’re going to fight it, absolutely.”

Michael Shannon, director of the Development Services Department for San Antonio, said the department will inspect Monterrey weekly over the next six months. If they fail at any point, the revocation process will resume.

“It’s going to give us the amount of time and ability to ensure they stay in compliance,” Shannon said. “This particular property had excessive (violations). We had issued over 20 citations in less than a year.”

Neighbors are the most concerned with how the suspension of the revocation process became an option for Monterrey Iron.

The business was told it could appeal the revocation process to the city council or lose its license in the original letter sent by the city on Jan. 23. Shannon said the suspension and weekly inspection agreement was created after Monterrey met code compliance within the 30-day appeal window.

“The code is really silent on what happens if they do come into compliance with that 30 days,” Shannon said. “We want them to stay in the compliance for not only their safety, (but) the safety of the surrounding community.”

The scrap yard and recycling center on Frio City Road has been in San Antonio for more than a century but only at its current location for a few decades.

Jordan Vexler, chief operation officer for Monterrey Iron and Metal, issued the following statement after the agreement was announced:

“We are pleased to announce that Monterrey Iron and Metal is now 100% in compliance with all city codes. This achievement not only secures our permit but also reinforces our dedication to upholding the highest standards in environmental, safety and business practices. Our company has a legacy spanning over a century in San Antonio. We’re proud to play an integral role in our community, contributing to the city’s economic and environmental initiatives. Today’s resolution of these pending compliance matters ensures the continuation of our company’s operations, secures the jobs of our 80-plus employees, and underscores our commitment to maintaining high standards within the industry.”

This isn’t the first time KSAT 12 reported on safety concerns surrounding the scrap yard. In November, neighbors first had a community meeting calling on city and state leaders for help. More than 50 people came forward with complaints about thick smoke, multiple fires and even loud noises sounding like explosions coming from the scrap yard.

Cipriano said this agreement decision does little to ease his safety concerns.

“It doesn’t solve explosions. It doesn’t solve the fires,” Cipriano said.

To read more about neighborhood concerns, click here.

Copyright 2024 by KSAT - All rights reserved.

About the Author:

Avery Everett

Avery Everett is a news reporter and multimedia journalist at KSAT 12 News. Avery is a Philadelphia native. If she’s not at the station, she’s either on a hiking or biking trail. A lover of charcuterie boards and chocolate chip cookies, Avery’s also looking forward to eating her way through San Antonio, one taco shop at a time!

LOS ANGELES -- — LeBron James had 30 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame Victor Wembanyama's historic “5x5” statistical performance for their seventh victory in nine games, 123-118 over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.

Wembanyama had 27 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in his first road game against the Lakers. The French rookie sensation added five blocked shots and five steals, making him the youngest player in NBA history and the 15th overall to achieve the rare 5x5 — at least five points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals in one game.

“He doesn't have a ceiling,” James said of Wembanyama. “He can do whatever he wants to do in his career. It seems like he enjoys the game. It seems like he puts the work in, just from the outside looking in. ... I said a long time ago how special he was, and it's really that simple.”

Wembanyama fell one one assist shy of a 5x5 game in Sacramento on Thursday night, only to hit the mark one night later in Los Angeles in just 30 minutes, 55 seconds of play — the smallest amount of playing time in a 5x5 performance in league history.

Wembanyama also joined Michael Jordan as the only players to get at least five steals and five blocks in consecutive games.

“I wonder if (Jordan) did it in wins, not losses,” Wembanyama said. “To me, it’s secondary. Hopefully in the future we can look back and see this as a good performance, but as of today, I can’t be satisfied in a loss.”

Wembanyama scored 16 points in a dominant first quarter, but Anthony Davis answered his fellow No. 1 overall pick's challenge with impressive play in the next two quarters while the Lakers maintained their lead.

Davis racked up 28 points and 13 rebounds before sitting out the entire fourth quarter of the second game in a back-to-back set. Jaxson Hayes performed capably in his place against Wembanyama while James led the Lakers to their 12th win in 18 games.

“(James) powered through some good stretches and some tough stretches, but all in all, when we needed him to make plays, make shots, he stepped up and he did that,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “Coming out of the All-Star break, everything is a little topsy-turvy. Guys are still trying to get back in rhythm to where we were beforehand, but I thought (James) was good.”

San Antonio finished on a 17-5 run in the final 3 1/2 minutes to trim the final margin considerably.

D'Angelo Russell had 22 points and six assists on his 28th birthday, while Rui Hachimura added 17 points for the Lakers, who haven't been able to move higher ninth place in the Western Conference standings despite their surge in recent weeks. Los Angeles returned from the All-Star break with a loss to Golden State on Thursday.

James came back strong after missing the Lakers’ last two games to rest his sore ankle, although he played in the All-Star Game in between.

“I can’t tell you how we’re going to be each and every single day,” James said. “We just put the work in and live with the results. We approach the game the right way defensively. Offensively, we continue to share the ball. ... If we defend, we get back in transition and we clean glass when teams miss, we’ll give ourselves a chance to win every night.”

Wembanyama embraced his first opportunity to play underneath the Lakers' wall of championship banners by getting off to a brilliant start, racking up 13 points and three rebounds while drawing two fouls from Davis in the game's first six minutes alone. He was up to 20 points by halftime, but was just 2 for 6 after halftime.

Malaki Branham scored 17 points and Jeremy Sochan had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who have lost three straight and 10 of 11. They're 1-6 on their nine-game annual Rodeo Road Trip.

San Antonio snapped its franchise-record losing streak at 18 games in these teams' last meeting in December.

UP NEXT

Spurs: At Utah on Sunday.

Lakers: At Phoenix on Sunday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Non-profit Strong Towns examined Grissom and Old Grissom Road in a webinar

SAN ANTONIO – Driving near Grissom and Old Grissom Road can be nerve-wracking.

Lorenzo Gonzales said making a left turn there feels dangerous. It’s why he avoids the intersection.

“It almost seems like it’s a guillotine,” he said. “You know, you can get hit by either side if you’re not careful.”

The intersection is no stranger to accidents, including deadly ones.

Yamini Karandikar said drivers shouldn’t take all the blame.

“Yes, people are speeding, but what other factors are involved?” she said.

Karandikar nominated the intersection and a crash that happened there in May 2023 to be analyzed by Strong Towns, a nonprofit advocacy organization focusing on civic engagement.

The nonprofit says its mission is to advocate for cities of all sizes to be safe, livable, and inviting.

“The design on the roadway really encourages people to speed,” noted one member of a Friday afternoon panel focusing on Grissom and Old Grissom Road.

According to the report of the crash that the group analyzed, the driver waiting at a stop sign on Old Grissom Road crashed into a car on Grissom Road.

That stop sign is the only traffic measure at the intersection.

The city’s public works department said it analyzed traffic data at the intersection in May 2023, with plans to install a traffic signal in the summer.

“The reality is the crashes are caused by multiple factors, not just driver error,” Tony Harris, an action team coordinator with Strong Towns said.

Joey Pawlik, the executive director of ActivateSA, said some solutions are simple and low-cost.

“We can install base rates again, maybe, you know, rumble strips or repainting the streets,” Pawlik said.

Until there’s a fix, Gonzales said he’ll continue taking a different route.

“Even though it might take another 2 or 3 minutes off the time going through that route, it’s just safer just to avoid it all over,” he said.

The city says the best way for people to give feedback on traffic safety is by calling 311 or online.

Copyright 2024 by KSAT - All rights reserved.

LeBron James had 30 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and Anthony Davis had 28 points and 13 rebounds in the Los Angeles Lakers' seventh victory in nine games, 123-118 over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.

Victor Wembanyama had 27 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in his first road game against the Lakers. The French rookie sensation scored 16 points in a dominant first quarter, but Davis answered his fellow No. 1 overall pick's challenge with impressive play in the next two quarters while the Lakers maintained their lead.

Davis sat out the entire fourth quarter of the second game in a back-to-back set, and Jaxson Hayes performed capably in his place against Wembanyama while the Lakers cruised to their 12th win in 18 games. San Antonio finished on a 17-5 run in the final 3 1/2 minutes to trim the final margin considerably.

D'Angelo Russell had 22 points and six assists on his 28th birthday, while Rui Hachimura added 17 points for the Lakers, who haven't been able to move higher ninth place in the Western Conference standings despite their surge in recent weeks. Los Angeles returned from the All-Star break with a loss to Golden State on Thursday.

But James came back strong after missing the Lakers' last two games to rest his sore ankle, although he played in the All-Star Game in between.

Wembanyama embraced his first opportunity to play underneath the Lakers' wall of championship banners by getting off to a brilliant start, racking up 13 points and three rebounds while drawing two fouls from Davis in the game's first six minutes alone. He was up to 20 points by halftime, but was just 2 for 6 after halftime.

Malaki Branham scored 17 points and Jeremy Sochan had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who have lost three straight and 10 of 11. They're 1-6 on their nine-game annual Rodeo Road Trip.

San Antonio snapped its franchise-record losing streak at 18 games in these teams' last meeting in December.

UP NEXT

Spurs: At Utah on Sunday.

Lakers: At Phoenix on Sunday.

Former Brackenridge High School standout and professional football player Ramon Richards bit on more than he could chew while munching on a bowl of Trix cereal about 18 months ago.

Richards, 28, alleges in a lawsuit filed this week that while he was eating the cereal he bit into a hard object.

“He felt instant pain in his teeth and jaw and heard a cracking sound in his mouth,” an amended version of the complaint alleges. It then says he spit out the object — “a metal nail” — along with pieces of his teeth.

Richards seeks more than $250,000 in damages in his negligence and product liability suit against General Mills Sales Inc., a subsidiary of the food maker, and H-E-B, where he says he bought the 35-ounce bag of Trix.

HELPING HAND: Rams cornerback Ramon Richards gives back to San Antonio East Side Community

Mollie Wullf, a spokesperson for General Mills, said the Minneapolis, Minn., company doesn’t comment on pending litigation. An H-E-B spokeswoman said the grocer had no comment.

Desi Martinez and Mark Anthony Acuna, San Antonio lawyers representing Richards, declined to discuss the lawsuit.

Richards made a name for himself as a star quarterback at Brackenridge High, where he graduated in 2014. He then attended Oklahoma State University, where he transitioned from quarterback to defensive back.

Following Richards’ college career, the Los Angeles Rams signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2018. The team went to the Super Bowl that season, but he did not play in the game.

He later played for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League.

He now trains athletes at his San Antonio company, R7 Sports Performance, and is a motivational speaker, Martinez said.

Richards’ lawsuit was filed Tuesday in state District Court in San Antonio.

He alleges General Mills was negligent in its processing, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of the cereal bag.

The injuries he sustained from biting on the nail has caused his “physical and mental condition to deteriorate,” the suit says.

He’s seeking to recover damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, disfigurement, mental anguish, and past and future lost wages.