San Antonio Express-News courts reporter Elizabeth Zavala explains the legal history of Genene Jones, a pediatric intensive care nurse, convicted in the 1984 for killing a 15-month-old San Antonio-area girl by injecting her with a fatal dose of muscle relaxers.

Here are the links to the stories mentioned in today’s podcast. Can’t read them? Subscribe to ExpressNews.com today. CLICK HERE

BENSON – Tom Benson Jr., the Texas automobile, banking and media magnate who owned the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans franchise, diedThursday. He was 90. (Also find past coverage about Benson and his past at EN.com.) https://www.expressnews.com/business/local/article/San-Antonio-billionaire-Benson-owner-of-the-New-12756913.php

 IHEART MEDIA – San Antonio-based iHeartMedia Inc. filed for bankruptcy late Wednesday, following two years of litigation, speculation and financial gamesmanship as the nation’s largest owner of radio stations tried to keep its crushing debt under control and creditors at bay.https://www.expressnews.com/business/local/article/Radio-powerhouse-iHeartMedia-files-for-bankruptcy-12755096.php

HARVEY RED TAPE – When Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport the night of Aug. 25 as a Category 4 storm, it exposed not only weaknesses in the region’s flood defenses, but also miles of bureaucratic red tape. That is chief among the “lessons learned” delivered Thursday to Congress by a procession of state and federal officials called to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee, which is examining the response to Harvey and a succession of natural disasters last summer. https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Lesson-from-Harvey-response-Cut-the-red-tape-12757180.php

San Antonio Express-News Austin Bureau Chief Peggy Fikac discusses her interview with Representative Byron Cook, who now claims despite the governor's public statements to the contrary, Gregg Abbott never wanted last year's "Bathroom Bill" legislation to reach his desk. Read more about the issue at https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/House-chairman-says-Gov-Abbott-s-staff-12749758.php

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Cadets

https://www.expressnews.com/32-weeks-the-making-of-a-cop-chapter-five

 Austin Bombing
https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Friends-family-celebrate-life-of-bombing-victim-12754130.php 

Spring Break
https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Spring-break-brings-large-crowds-to-San-Antonio-12754383.php

Spurs

https://www.expressnews.com/spurs-nation/article/Spurs-know-they-are-fighting-for-their-playoff-12752908.php

Hippos

https://www.expressnews.com/lifestyle/article/S-A-s-zoo-hippo-hungry-for-love-from-star-12753797.php

Who were the big winners this year, & should establishments list the price of their drinks in menus? Those discussions, live chicharrón sampling, new restaurant reviews & more on today's episode. Find additional info about all the topics the gang discusses at ExpressNews.com/food/.

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SANCTUARY CITIES – Despite fierce opposition from advocacy groups who argue it will lead to racial profiling, top state officials are touting a federal court ruling that lets most of a controversial law banning so-called sanctuary cities take effect. https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/5th-Circuit-upholds-Texas-sanctuary-cities-law-12750876.php

SA HOUSING – Fueled by the Alamo City’s strong economy and growing population, the local housing market has grown even more unfriendly to buyers as prices continue to rise amid an extremely tight supply of home sellers. Last month, 2,012 homes were sold in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area, an increase of 3.2 percent over February 2017, according to data from the San Antonio Board of Realtors.https://www.expressnews.com/real-estate/article/San-Antonio-buyers-struggle-as-supply-of-homes-12750287.php

MAKING A COP – Chapter Four of our series, Making a Cop: https://www.expressnews.com/32-weeks-the-making-of-a-cop-chapter-four/

SPRING BREAK – Spring Breakers spread out across Texas this week. In San Antonio, long lines and thick crowds formed at the Alamo, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld, among other tourist attractions. And down on South Padre Island, officials say they’re expecting more than 50,000 people to descend on the small coastal community of about 3,000 residents. Spring Break is a major economic force here, but with it also brings problems. https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/As-South-Padre-Island-grapples-with-identity-12749664.php

ABBOTT BATHROOMS – Gov. Greg Abbott didn't want the bathroom bill to reach his desk despite his public statements in favor of it, the chairman of a select House committee said Tuesday, citing a meeting with his former chief of staff. https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/House-chairman-says-Gov-Abbott-s-staff-12749758.php 

ENTERPRISE FUND – House Speaker Joe Straus expressed concern Tuesday over an economic development fund overseen by Gov. Greg Abbott, questioning if it’s actually used to close deals and whether areas beyond North Texas are given proper consideration.https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Speaker-Straus-concerned-about-enterprise-fund-12750197.php

WHITE HOUSE CHESS PIECES – Rex Tillerson is out; VA Director may be replaced with Rick Perry, which could leave a hole in the energy department; CIA director Mike Pompeo to replace Tillerson as secretary of state; first woman nominated to succeed Pompeo. Here’s what’s up:https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/The-long-road-to-Trump-s-firing-of-Rex-Tillerson-12751130.php

Here are the links to the stories mentioned in today’s podcast. Can’t read them? Subscribe to ExpressNews.com today. CLICK HERE

EXPLODING PACKAGES – After two people were killed and two others injured in package explosions over the past 10 days — including two incidents at homes on Monday — authorities want the public to alert 9-1-1 about any unexpected parcels they encounter. https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Package-explosions-in-Austin-deaths-prompt-12747177.php)

JOHN IGO – While acclaimed author, poet, theater critic and beloved college professor John Igo left a rich personal legacy when he died in August 2016, his death also left behind the seeds of a bitter family fight over his estate, including land near the University of Texas at San Antonio worth at least $1 million. https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Family-of-John-Igo-in-Fight-Over-Estate-12747883.php

MAKING A COP – Chapter Three of our series, Making a Cop. https://www.expressnews.com/32-weeks-the-making-of-a-cop-chapter-three/

SPURS – While the Spurs have been to the playoffs 20 seasons in a row –  the longest active streak among the nation's four major sports leagues – Monday’s loss to the Rockets has dropped the Spurs out of playoff picture… for now. https://www.expressnews.com/spurs-nation/article/Loss-to-Rockets-drops-Spurs-out-of-playoff-12748254.php

DRAFT REPORT – Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee have completed a draft report concluding there was no collusion or coordination between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Russia, a finding that is sure to please the White House and enrage panel Democrats. https://www.expressnews.com/news/politics/article/Draft-GOP-report-No-coordination-between-Trump-12747650.php

San Antonio Express-News Spurs Reporter Jabari Young discusses recent losses that put the Spurs in jeopardy of missing the postseason for the first time since the 1996-97 season, possibility of Kawhi Leonard return and a discussion of how sleep, or a lack of it, affects NBA players.

Find more Spurs talk from San Antonio Express-News Spurs Beat Reporter Jabari Young at https://www.expressnews.com/author/jabari-young/. Submit your questions each week to https://www.facebook.com/AllSpursNation/ & https://twitter.com/Spurs_Nation.

San Antonio Express-News courts reporter Elizabeth Zavala describes what led to the second mistrial in the gruesome murder of Jose Luis Menchaca, followed by details of the third person sentenced in the 2012 death of five year old Josiah Williams.

Here are the links to the stories mentioned in today’s podcast. Can’t read them? Subscribe to ExpressNews.com today. CLICK HERE

HARVEY RECOVERY —  Six months after Hurricane Harvey, the state’s General Land Office is just starting to hire workers who can help with disaster recovery programs, replenishing a staff whose size was sharply reduced after George P. Bush took office. FEMA’s requirements for qualifying for help remain high, but just how high is a secret. And thousands of Texans remain in line for help after one of the country’s worst storms. We examine the threads of this bureaucratic mess. https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Land-Office-helping-less-than-2-percent-of-12745063.php

CADETS  —  For over a year, a reporter and photographer from the San Antonio Express-News were granted exclusive access to follow a group of 38 cadets through their training at the San Antonio Police Training Academy. The 32-week training, which Chief William McManus touts as one of the best in the nation, demonstrates how the police department trains new officers amidst a national dialogue about police training, officer misconduct and use of excessive force. https://www.expressnews.com/32-weeks-the-making-of-a-cop-chapter-one/

SPURS FREEFALL — With their ninth loss in 12 games, the Spurs slip to seventh place in the Western Conference. Their playoff hopes are critical.https://www.expressnews.com/spurs-nation/article/Spurs-freefall-continues-in-OKC-12744156.php

SEGUIN DOCTOR — investigators suspect Dr. Robert Fadal II was under the influence of drugs when he allegedly gunned down two neighbors in an unprovoked shooting, according to court records. https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Seguin-doctor-accused-of-killings-said-he-faced-12744133.php

FIKAC — Little wonder that Beto O’Rourke seems to be making U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz a little nervous as the Democrat barnstorms the state, charms a swath of the grassroots and collects millions of dollars for his longshot effort to topple the Republican incumbent. Cruz has seen this movie before. He once starred in it. https://www.expressnews.com/news/news_columnists/peggy_fikac/article/Ted-Cruz-not-taking-Beto-O-Rourke-s-challenge-12745032.php