Airport's robot failure, sheriff's car crash topped this week's news
May 9-The San Antonio International Airport shipped a robot back to its manufacturer after the 420-pound machine failed at multiple turns, Sheriff Javier Salazar was involved in a wreck and a Texas justice of the peace was involved in a late night brawl at Whataburger - with a teenager. These were the most-read stories this week:
Zapp's and Dirty chips pulled over salmonella risk
Utz Quality Foods issued a nationwide voluntary recall of select Zapp's and Dirty potato chips after a supplier flagged possible salmonella in dry milk powder used in seasonings. The recall covered Zapp's Bayou Blackened Ranch, Salt and Vinegar, Big Cheezy and Dirty Salt and Vinegar, Maui Onion, Sour Cream and Onion, identified by specific UPCs best-by dates and batch codes. The move followed California Dairies' recall and affected other snack makers as well. Utz reported no illnesses and urged consumers to avoid or discard the listed products and check labels for affected codes.
Read more
San Antonio airport scraps security robot after glitchy trial
San Antonio International Airport shelved a leased robot after a short trial riddled with failures. The 420-pound machine struggled to navigate, verify badges through its camera, play public messages, and provide reliable video and audio. The airport later shipped the robot back and refused to pay the $21,000 annual fee, saying the project never moved past a free testing period. The robot's manufacturer, Knightscope, declined to comment, while its CEO defended the technology and suggested the robots were used outside their recommended scope.
Read more
Texas teacher's arrest exposes holes in do-not-hire checks
An Elgin middle school teacher accused of molesting an eighth grader had previously resigned from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department after giving a shirtless youth a skin-to-skin back rub and turning off his body camera. TJJD deemed him ineligible for rehire but allowed him to resign, and Elgin ISD hired him months later without access to a statewide do-not-hire registry. Police later arrested him on a charge of improper relationship between educator and student after students alleged abuse during sleepovers he hosted. State leaders responded by launching a multi-agency misconduct database known as SEMARC and expanding reporting rules. Advocates warned the fixes fell short and urged agencies and schools to screen current staff against the database, not just new hires.
Read more
North Texas judge probed after late-night brawl with teen at Whataburger
A justice of the peace faced an investigation after a late-night fight with a teenage boy outside a Texas Whataburger. The clash began after teens took photos with YouTuber Danny Duncan, and witnesses said Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Jason Hearne made a homophobic remark that escalated the argument. When the dispute moved to the parking lot, witnesses said Hearne threw the first punch, and videos circulating online appeared to show the confrontation. A district judge coordinator said District Judge Phillip Gregory was aware and believed the matter remained under active investigation. County records listed Hearne as the Precinct 1 justice of the peace.
Read more
Video shows sheriff had green light before downtown crash
Footage released by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office showed Sheriff Javier Salazar entered a downtown intersection on a green light and T-boned a Toyota Camry. He had left the county jail in a county-issued SUV when the collision occurred at South Pecos La Trinidad and Guadalupe Street. An elderly woman reported chest pain and EMS took her to a hospital as a precaution, while Salazar said he was uninjured.
Read more
------
This content was partially generated by AI and then reviewed and edited by our newsroom staff. For more details on our use of AI, see our AI policy.
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.