¡Nosotros! with Elaine Ayala

For nearly 20 years, Sarah Lucero kept us informed as a KENS 5 news anchor. Then, at the peak of her career, she walked away from TV news. Since then, she’s reinvented herself as a fitness entrepreneur, a professional bodybuilder, and an Ironman competitor. Tune in to the Express-News podcast Nosotros to find out what’s next for the indomitable Sarah Lucero. Suggested reading: Former KENS 5 anchor...

Former Mayor Henry Cisneros has for decades been a visionary voice in reshaping San Antonio. Most recently, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the government of Japan — one of the highest honors bestowed on non-citizens.   We’ll talk with Henry about his legacy, the future of San Antonio, including Project MARVEL, and advice for the city's new leadership. Suggested reading: Cisneros hon...

Dr. Abel Antonio Chávez, president of one of San Antonio's oldest private universities, has an old convent and a long-shuttered elementary school on his hands. He's infusing new energy into both.   Suggested reading: Conference to revisit 1968 Commission on Civil Rights Hearings here OLLU announces largest private gift in school’s 129-year history Our Lady of the Lake leadership bios Keep in touch...

The longtime anchor, who recently retired from KENS5, stopped by “¡Nosotros! with Elaine Ayala” to look back on her life, her career and an early encounter with the Hollywood star.   Suggested reading: Longtime KENS 5 anchor thanks viewers as she wraps up final newscast Deborah Knapp to retire from KENS 5 after nearly 50 years in TV news KENS 5 anchorwoman Deborah Knapp will represent San Antonio...

If you think she’s still a mystery, that she hasn’t been quite open enough, or San Antonian enough, mayoral candidate Gina Ortiz Jones examines how she sees herself and reasons behind her reserved nature.   Suggested reading: Gina Ortiz Jones draws on military, personal history in race for San Antonio mayor How mayoral candidates Gina Ortiz Jones, Rolando Pablos can win the runoff Gina Ortiz Jones...

The former councilwoman stepped down in 2023 to focus on a daughter who’s now 3, and Sandoval is back to her roots grounded in the environment. Suggested reading: Ana Sandoval's NALCAB bio page ‘It has been an honor’: San Antonio Councilwoman Ana Sandoval steps down, leaving seat open until March ‘Extremely disappointing’ — Mario Bravo suspended from SA city council committees after verbal outburs...

Adriana Quiñones is leading the charge to establish the second-largest public green space in Texas, and doing it through the lens of equity. Arboretum photos by Oscar Williams and Liz Garza Williams/Photographing the USA Suggested reading: Arboretum CEO's calling came late, but she knew instantly it was about trees Arboretum's master plan will showcase San Antonio as city of trees Arboretum San An...

Two education scholars examine the troubling roots of San Antonio’s annual Fiesta festivals and events, while still recalling the joys of the season. So, it’s complicated. Suggested reading: Beyond its origins, Fiesta has evolved into a celebration of San Antonio Ayala: Despite Fiesta’s origins, there’s hope in events that bring San Antonians together ¡Nosotros! | Fiesta Past & Present Keep in tou...

Right before another $1.3 million was raised to erase financial barriers to higher education, Alamo Colleges chancellor Mike Flores examines what's ahead for the quickly expanding system. Suggested reading: Palo Alto president aims for mentorship Community colleges will be crucial to surviving potential dismantling of federal education New contract keeps Flores as Alamo Colleges chancellor at leas...

Ricardo Lazaro, a young San Antonio musician, never expected to get embroiled in a Washington controversy and “60 Minutes” in an act of resistance. Suggested reading: Young San Antonio musician part of '60 Minutes' show that defied Trump San Antonio teen trumpeter will perform at new WWI memorial in D.C. What musicians did after an executive order on DEI led to the cancellation of U.S. Marine Band...

Elaine Ayala hosts drag sisters Lyn-Z and Armani Andrews, who were both involved in DreamWeek's first-ever gathering about San Antonio's drag community. Suggested reading: Legendary San Antonio drag queen Shady Lady left lasting legacy San Antonio drag queen hopes to make history on ABC’s ‘Idol’ Kristi Waters makes history as River Walk pageant's first drag queen contestant Keep in touch: Metro Co...

Never shy around the microphone, Texas State Sen. Roland Gutierrez shares his thoughts on the current state of affairs with ¡Nosotros! host Elaine Ayala. Suggested reading: How Uvalde grief pushed San Antonio state Sen. Roland Gutierrez onto a new political path Who is Roland Gutierrez, the Texas state senator looking to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz? Garcia: Roland Gutierrez gets little help from Sen...

It doesn’t impact any one group. It’s a PTSD that’s being experienced across the country. It’s President Trump Stress Disorder. Suggested reading: We’re suffering from a new form of PTSD, President Trump Stress Disorder San Antonio's federally funded refugee aid groups struggling under Trump’s orders Migrant aid groups brace for new Trump administration Keep in touch: Metro Columnist Elaine Ayala:...

Legendary Tejano music TV host Johnny Canales died last year, leaving a great, big hole in the lives of his wife Nora Canales and their daughters. She talks here about how they're coping and keeping watch over his legacy.   Suggested reading: TV host Johnny Canales helped launch Selena and other Tejano luminaries The new guy at Texas Monthly's ‘Texas Country Reporter’ | ¡Nosotros! Johnny Canales H...

A panel of newsies join Elaine Ayala’s ¡Nosotros! podcast to discuss some of the top stories of 2024 and one of the most provocative stories about San Antonio’s progress as a big city.   Suggested reading: San Antonio is booming. Why is it still so poor? UTSA demographer studies West Side's 'persistent poverty' San Antonio affordable housing project killed by four City Council members Ayala: Now t...

J.B. Sauceda wasn’t even born when “Texas Country Reporter” first went on the air. The longtime Austinite is now helming it, in its 53rdseason. He’s also hosting a new podcast, “Viva Tejano,” fueled in part by the legacy of the late Johnny Canales. Suggested reading: J.B. Sauceda's website J.B. Sauceda's first TCR episode 'Viva Tejano' podcast trailer Exclusive: Meet the La Porte man who is the ne...

As longtime Bexar County elections chief Jacque Callanen wraps up her last election, she also looks back at the changes during her tenure. Suggested links: Latinas for Kamala were out in force for the first day of early voting Bexar County elections chief to step down amid controversy Univision staff signs up as volunteer voter registrars Keep in touch: Metro Columnist Elaine Ayala: eayala@express...

Perhaps it’s still too soon after the November election to have a better handle on a second Trump administration. But, so far, it looks glum, says UTSA political scientist Jon Taylor in Elaine Ayala’s “Nosotros’ postmortem. Suggested reading: Ayala: History proves U.S. citizens can get caught up in 'mass deportations': https://www.expressnews.com/columnist/elaine-ayala/article/immigrant-raid-brown...

This week on ¡Nosotros! we revisit a previous interview Express-News Columnist Elaine Ayala conducted with UTSA professor emerita, Dr. Ellen Riojas Clark. Together they discuss the history of Día De Muertos and share some do's and don'ts to help celebrate the holiday respectfully. (Originally published on Oct. 28, 2022) Suggested reading: Day of Dead altar creators to West Side neighbors: Help us...

Mine. The international superstar was in town for just 24 hours – this time – and gave “Nosotros” a half-hour of it. Two years ago, he filmed a movie here, and he was back for the VIP screening of his new indie rom-com, “Say a Little Prayer.” Suggested reading: San Antonio rom-com starring Luis Fonsi of 'Despacito' fame gets official trailer, release date 'Despacito' star Luis Fonsi making his fea...

Ron Nirenberg reflects on his record as he nears the end of his tenure as mayor of San Antonio – the longest anyone has served since Henry Cisneros. He talks about his best days in office and some of his worst, and he has a little advice for whomever takes the baton from him next May. Suggested reading: ‘I’m a Democrat’: Mayor Ron Nirenberg campaigns for Kamala Harris, embraces party label San Ant...

“Nosotros with Elaine Ayala” brings together a panel of experts to discuss how a national designation that’s meant to be empowering and celebratory can also be troubling. Suggested reading: Ayala: Success of National Hispanic Heritage Month stirring debate Ayala: In San Antonio and elsewhere, National Hispanic Heritage Month will mean nothing unless Latinos vote and answer the 2020 Census Mexican...

Twin brothers Joaquin and Julian Castro aren’t just San Antonio political figures, they’re national ones. One a congressman, the other a former San Antonio mayor and former housing secretary under President Barack Obama. As they celebrate a major milestone in their lives, they look back at their political careers and talk about what’s to come. Suggested links: Latino Community Foundation CEO Congr...

When San Antonio artists Lionel and Kathy Sosa bought a historic home in Querétaro four years ago, they began to learn about the surprising connections between the two cities. Those go back at least 300 years and has led an exhibit of San Antonio artists in the central Mexican city and a four-part documentary on KLRN. Suggested links: Al Otro Lado Del Espejo (othersideofthemirror.com) Commentary:...

Longtime KSAT 12 reporter Jessie Degollado is now the former KSAT 12 reporter. But the beloved broadcaster won’t leave our TV screens entirely, announcing her new gig at KLRN.   KSAT announced in May that Degollado and five other veteran on-air personalities would retire from the station as part of buyouts offered by parent company Graham Media Group.   Her final day at the station was July 1 afte...