San Antonio Express-News Criminal Justice Enterprise Reporter Emilie Eaton discusses her research & experiences from following a group of cadets to document their training at the San Antonio Police Department’s nationally recognized academy. All five of her reports are now available online at https://www.expressnews.com/32-weeks-the-making-of-a-cop-chapter-one/.

*All audio clips contained in today's episode have been edited for time and clarity. They DO NOT represent the full versions in their entirety.*

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

A reporter and photographer from the San Antonio Express-News spent a year following a group of cadets to document their training at the San Antonio Police Department’s nationally recognized academy. https://www.expressnews.com/32-weeks-the-making-of-a-cop-chapter-one/

A recent city of San Antonio video campaign called “Real 911 Calls” featured Police Chief William McManus and Fire Chief Charles Hood reading trivial 911 calls and poking fun at callers — similar to Jimmy Kimmel’s “Celebrities Read Mean Tweets.” The campaign, which aimed to educate the public on the proper use of 911 services, was shared thousands of times on social media and was featured on Good Morning America and in the Washington Post. It turns out one of the calls wasn’t real. Audio obtained by the San Antonio Express-News shows the city changed or modified the content of some calls.  For example, there was no 911 caller asking for a pizza delivery, according to the audio. The caller seemed to think he called 311 and was requesting the number for a model escort service. https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/No-one-dialed-911-for-a-pizza-but-someone-did-12739737.php

Federal prosecutors expect state Sen. Carlos Uresti will owe more than $3 million in restitution to victims of his criminal fraud, a newly unsealed court filing shows. The government also alleges that last week’s divorce petition filed by Uresti’s wife Lleanna is “largely to avoid the lien that will arise at sentencing” to enable it to apply their property to his restitution debt. https://www.expressnews.com/business/local/article/Uersti-may-owe-fraud-victims-more-than-3M-feds-12738951.php

Stories we are working on:

A third and suspect in the December 2012 starvation death of a 5-year-old boy is scheduled to be sentenced this morning as Josiah Williams's father, Charleston Williams, is the final suspect last to face the judge in the death of his son, who was beaten, malnourished, kept in a closet and slept in a lawn chair while other children in the home were able to eat and had their own rooms. The child's stepmother and step-grandmother each have already been sentenced to prison. 

A day before International Women’s Day on Wednesday, women shined in Tuesday’s primaries as Texas voters propelled historic numbers of women to victory in primaries for U.S. Congress and state legislative races, fueling a "pink wave" amid a national reckoning over sexual harassment and women's marches in protest of President Trump.

And Senator Bernie Sanders speaks today at Trinity University as part of a trip through Texas in support of his organization, Our Revolution. Sanders will address "income inequality, climate change, racial justice and the need to build political movements for change.” Sanders will also speak in Austin later today at a South by Southwest event.

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

Democrats set record turnout numbers, but Republican still casting more ballots

Texas Democrats eager for a blue wave in November turned out in droves for Tuesday’s primary election, casting more than one million ballots for the first time since 2002. But as Democrats seek to seize on anti-Trump sentiment this election cycle, the state’s Republicans still have sheer numbers on their side. A record-setting 1.5 million voters cast ballots in the Republican primary for governor — the most since at least 1970 — which presents an uphill battle for the party tha that hasn’t had a statewide victory in more than two decades.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/politics/texas_legislature/article/Democrats-set-record-turnout-numbers-but-12736775.php

Gonzales ready for next matchup with Shaeffer after knocking off DA incumbent in primary

Joe Gonzales secured the Democratic nomination for Bexar County district attorney before 9 p.m. Tuesday, but he only managed to fit in two hours of sleep before the interviews began. A politically unknown attorney five months ago, Gonzales found himself at the center of attention after knocking off incumbent DA Nicholas “Nico” LaHood, his former business partner, with an early and decisive primary result. The result, decided by an 18-point margin, sets up a general election race between Gonzales and uncontested Republican nominee Tylden Shaeffer, both local prosecutors turned defense attorneys. 

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Gonzales-ready-for-next-matchup-with-Shaeffer-12736851.php

Republican lawmakers who survived Abbott’s opposition fight back

Two Republicans targeted by Gov. Greg Abbott came roaring out of their primary victories saying that rather than curbing dissent, he has hurt his own reputation and endangered the party they share. While the move may not impair Abbott’s own reelection, it “creates a lot of vulnerabilities” as energized Democrats focus on congressional and legislative opportunities, said Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, who beat Abbott-backed Hollywood Park Mayor Chris Fails

https://www.expressnews.com/news/politics/texas_legislature/article/Republican-lawmakers-who-survived-Abbott-s-12736789.php

U.S. prosecutors seek order to prevent Uresti from depleting assets

Federal prosecutors have asked a federal judge to prohibit recently convicted state Sen. Carlos Uresti from squandering his assets. The U.S. Attorney’s Office here filed the motion under seal this week — days after his wife filed for divorce Friday. They are seeking a restraining order to prevent the “dissipation of assets.” Black’s Law Dictionary says the term is used in referring to “a person with debt who will squander his money and not pay his creditors.”

https://www.expressnews.com/business/local/article/U-S-prosecutors-seek-order-to-prevent-Uresti-12736427.php

San Antonio mayor calls on fire union to end “foolish games,” negotiate

Mayor Ron Nirenberg again went on the offensive Wednesday, calling on fire union boss Chris Steele to “end the gamesmanship” and start negotiating a new contract for San Antonio’s firefighters and paramedics. Nirenberg told the media assembled at City Hall that Steele has lost millions of dollars in salary increases for his members and will continue to affect them through their careers and retirement.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/San-Antonio-mayor-calls-on-fire-union-to-end-12736745.php

Another Sutherland Springs family files claim against Air Force

Family members of Dennis Johnson, 77, and Sara Johnson, 68, a couple who were killed in the Nov. 5 massacre in Sutherland Springs, have taken the first step toward suing the Air Force and the Department of Defense over the service’s failure to place the gunman on a federal database. Now at least six families of victims or survivors of the shooting have filed wrongful death claims against the Air Force for not forwarding information to the FBI on Devin Kelley’s violent history, which includes a domestic violence conviction in 2012.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/education/article/Another-Sutherland-Springs-family-files-claim-12736552.php

The gang breaks down San Antonio's hidden sausage dynasty, colorful radishes, new restaurant reviews… & how "Brooklynites" are preaching about how great their BBQ is. Read more about all the topics discussed on today's episode at ExpressNews.com/food/.

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

PRIMARY ELECTION -- With less than an hour of voting left on Tuesday, more than 50,000 people had cast ballots in Bexar County primaries, surpassing the Election Day total four years ago but lagging behind the 2010 midterms. https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Election-Day-off-to-a-slow-start-in-Bexar-County-12732083.php

SAWS – Water utility president has declined his nearly $100,000 bonus. https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/SAWS-CEO-declines-96-500-bonus-12733183.php

SPURS – Desperate times aren’t over as the team heads into match-ups against Houston, Golden State and Oklahoma City.https://www.expressnews.com/sports/columnists/mike_finger/article/Despite-much-needed-win-desperate-times-aren-t-12730449.php

BILLIONAIRES -- Fifty-two Texans made the exclusive “three comma club,” otherwise known as Forbes magazine’s 2018 list of the world’s billionaires.

https://www.expressnews.com/business/local/article/San-Antonio-has-4-billionaires-on-the-Forbes-list-12732308.php

COHN -- Top Trump economic aide Gary Cohn, the director of the national economic council, has announced his resignation.https://www.expressnews.com/news/politics/article/Trump-says-more-staff-will-leave-as-he-seeks-12731105.php

San Antonio Express-News Spurs Reporter Jabari Young discusses how the Spurs have fallen in the rankings due to tough 4th quarter losses & how Kawhi Leonard might still return… followed by answers to your questions from our Spurs Nation Facebook and Twitter page.

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.

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

Months of campaigning will come to an end in most federal, state and county primary races Tuesday when Bexar County voters head to the polls on the heels of a busy round of early voting. Bexar County’s 293 polling sites are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters may cast ballots after 7 p.m. as long as they arrive at the polling place by that time. During the 11 days of early voting that ended Friday, Democrats outnumbered Republicans in Bexar County for the first time since 2008. About 10,000 more Democrats than Republicans voted early at the polls and by mail, according to the secretary of state.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Election-Day-to-decide-competitive-contests-for-12730177.php

Two conspiracy theorists who have pushed the idea that the mass shooting at Sutherland Springs last Nov. 5 didn’t happen were arrested Monday at First Baptist Church, the site of the massacre, after repeatedly harassing the community, the church’s pastor said.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Pair-arrested-after-harassing-pastor-in-12730245.php

A plea deal has been reached for a Laredo man involved in a smuggling incident last year that killed 10 immigrants and injured many others who had been in a sweltering tractor-trailer. Pedro Silva Segura, 46, is scheduled to plead guilty Thursday in federal court in San Antonio to conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants resulting in death, and is to admit to loading only five of the 39 immigrants who were found outside a San Antonio Walmart, with the tractor-trailer that had transported them from Laredo. He faces up to life in prison.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Truck-of-death-accomplice-to-plead-guilty-12729308.php

Most respondents to a University of Texas at San Antonio faculty and staff survey released Monday said they had opportunities to work with diverse colleagues and engage in service work, but some had concerns regarding equity. White and Asian faculty and staff felt the university was more equitable, competent and respectful than their African-American peers did, the survey showed. Female faculty and staff reported less trust in the university leadership than males.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/education/article/UTSA-survey-shows-equity-concerns-among-faculty-12730146.php

The congressional failure to fix the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program before it was scheduled to expire Monday now leaves hundreds of thousands of young immigrants in limbo. Some 700,000 young immigrants, including 124,000 in Texas, now must rely on protection from federal courts, which have blocked President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the program.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/DACA-deadline-passes-but-program-in-place-for-now-12729903.php

San Antonio Express-News courts reporter Elizabeth Zavala gives an update on the murder trial for Gabriel Moreno followed by a preview of the first trial against former attorney Mark Benavides on accusations of having sex with female clients.

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

https://www.expressnews.com/news/news_columnists/peggy_fikac/article/Did-you-think-the-bathroom-bill-fight-was-over-12726258.php

Did you think the debate over the bathroom bill was over? Not if you’re voting in the Republican primary election, even if the issue never comes up in the races you care about. The Republican Party is asking voters to weigh in on whether transgender people’s use of public restrooms should be restricted, the issue that dominated last year’s legislative sessions. The ballot proposition, it should be noted, doesn’t use the word transgender.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Primaries-shapes-future-for-candidates-and-their-12727054.php

Democrats and Republicans aren’t just choosing candidates in their primary elections Tuesday. Through their choices, they’re setting a direction for their parties in a state with challenges in education and transportation, disputes over immigration and demographic changes that are shaping how campaigns are run and issues are addressed. 

https://www.expressnews.com/news/news_columnists/elaine_ayala/article/Latino-cancer-researchers-set-course-for-more-12727067.php

Ask Latinos what disease is most likely to claim their lives, and their answers are likely to be cardiovascular disease or death by diabetes. Wrong. While heart disease remains the leading cause of death for non-Hispanic whites, in 2009 cancer replaced heart disease as the No. 1 killer of U.S. Latinos. And the numbers are climbing. From 2000 to 2014, the group’s cancer rates went up by 72 percent.

https://www.expressnews.com/business/eagle-ford-energy/article/Texas-grid-operator-warns-of-possible-rotating-12723906.php

Texas’ grid operator is warning that there could be a risk of summer blackouts as the state’s power use is expected to reach new record levels. Texas faces looming hot weather, a growing population and electric generation margins — the difference between the power being generated and what’s being used by customers — that will tighten to the lowest they’ve been in years.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/San-Antonio-s-new-Confluence-Park-hailed-as-12725965.php

In what’s hailed as a landmark addition to the Southside, Confluence Park formally opened Saturday with a ceremony where city, county and federal officials traded congratulatory remarks with San Antonio River Foundation authorities beneath what’s lauded as a one-of-a-kind pavilion. The $13.7 million park that features educational facilities, elaborate landscaping and restrooms overlooking the convergence of San Antonio River and San Pedro Creek was funded with $2.1 million from San Antonio, $1.7 million from Bexar County and nearly $10 million in private donations.

Express-News food writers Chuck Blount & Mike Sutter talk everything barbecue with Emily Spicer LIVE from the tap room at Freetail Brewing.