The San Antonio beer community represented at the Great American Beer Festival and one brewery brought home gold. The annual competition was held Oct. 6-8 in Denver, Colorado. Texas brought home 22 medals overall, three of which came from the Alamo City.

Roadmap Brewing took gold international-style pilsner with Alright, Alright, Alright. Mad Pecker Brewing claimed silver with Bitter Soul in the extra special bitter category, and Freetail Brewing brought home bronze for the Bowie Bock in the international dark lager category.

Johnson City claimed the most medals in the Hill Country. Pecan Street claimed two medals, gold for the Rye Lager and bronze German altbier with Road Devil Amber. Old 290 Brewery in Johnson City snagged bronze in the wood- and barrel-aged beer category with the Hell Raiser Bourbon Barrel Brown.

More golds for the Hill Country craft beer community were won by Alstadt in Fredericksberg with the Alstadt Lager in the Munich-style lager category and the top golden or blonde ale with Fireman's #4 by Blanco's Real Ale Brewing.

Austin's beer community snagged six medals overall, two golds from Lazarus Brewing with the Black Pearl in the herb and spice beer category, and in the German-style pilsner category with Industry by the Austin Beer Garden Brewing. Two silvers for Meanwhile Brewing in the American-style strong pale alec category with Secret Beach and Austin Beer Garden Brewing in honey beer with The Beeginning (not a typo!). Jester King and Pinthouse Pizza brought home bronze with Atrial Rubicite in Belgian fruit beer and Fresh Hop Training Bines in fresh hop beer respectively.

North Texas showed up with a spread of medals. The gold American amber lager was won with Sonidero by Windmills, which is located in the Colony. Carrollton's 3 Nations Brewing won silver in chocolate beer with Devour Imperial Milk Stout: Mexican Chocolate. First of His Name was crowned bronze robust porter, brewed in Weatherford by Edgewise Eight Brewing.

Dallas won two medals, silver in juicy or hazy India Pale Ale with IPO IPA from White Rock Alehouse & Brewery and bronze non-alcholic beer with Nada IPA by Community Beer. Fort Worth claimed bronze American fruit beer with Raspberry Fields from Maple Branch Craft Brewery.

Houston grabbed silver in light lager with Heights Light Lager by New Magnolia Brewing.

Project CommUNITY is an ongoing initiative across Hearst Television to put a spotlight on diverse voices in our communities. The initiative is built around regular coverage of people who are working to make a difference and stories detailing the history of the battle for civil rights, inclusion and social change across America.

On May 24, 2022, 19 children and two teachers were shot and killed by a gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

In just one day, an entire community was left devastated.

In the days following the mass shooting, memorials were set up at the school and the town square.

People from near and far traveled to the sites to mourn. Some wrote cards, some lit candles, and others — brought music.

Anthony Medrano, a professional mariachi musician with Mariachi Campanas de America, organized a bus full of musicians from San Antonio, Texas, to play songs for the grieving community.

"Many of us are educators," Medrano, who's been playing mariachi music for close to 40 years, said. "We teach the children that look like the ones that were killed, and speak like the ones that were killed, and whose parents talk like the ones that were killed."

Performing in Uvalde

Medrano said his friend, artist Cruz Ortiz, went to Uvalde shortly after the shooting to process the tragedy. On his way back, Ortiz called Medrano asking if they could play mariachi music – anything to help comfort the heartbroken community.

With the help of a friend, Medrano secured a charter bus fit for 50 people. The bus was filled within hours.

Medrano instantly felt the weight of the devastation once he arrived at the town square's memorial site.

He saw 21 crosses, each etched with the names of the victims. The crosses were piled high with flowers, cards and toys.

"I have a five-year-old goddaughter that I spend a lot of time with," Medrano said. "And the toys that I saw at these memorials of these murdered children were the same toys that she has in her toy box."

Medrano said he broke down in front of a cross.

"I cried, I prayed, and I apologized," Medrano said. "I apologized to that soul for not being the answer to this problem. The problem of someone getting an assault weapon and going into the school and murdering children."

Medrano and the group of mariachi musicians played a few songs to the community, such as "Amore Eterno," which talks about love and loss, and "Las Golondrinas," a traditional song of farewell.

"These songs aren't your everything's gonna be okay songs," Medrano said. "The lyrics to the songs express the true tragedy. I mean, they don't put a bandaid on it, they kind of rip the scab off so you can get that emotion, so you can expose it."

Seven-year-old Mariachi performer Matteo Lopez also sang a song called "México Lindo y Querido," which Medrano said was appropriate because the community in Uvalde predominantly has roots in Mexico.

"This was a time to play the music that our culture and our community can relate to," Medrano said.

In mariachi culture, musicians yell out "gritos," which is a scream or yell during a song. It can be used in celebration but also can express a guttural cry out loud during songs of grief and loss.

"That's the way we process, we have to cry out loud," Medrano said.

At the end of the performance, Medrano said the community thanked the group of musicians and understood why they performed.

"There was very much a healing session right there in front of the memorials," Medrano said.

'The Song of the People': The history of mariachi music

Mariachi music has deep roots in Mexican history. According to the Smithsonian Institute, the music's oldest rhythms date back to Mexico's colonial times (around 1519-1810) when people from Spain and African slaves and their descendants mixed with hundreds of American Indian cultures to create a new Mexican culture that varied depending on the vast region. The music was referred to as "mariachi" around the 1850s. The bands consist of trumpets, violins, a vihuela (five-string guitar), a guitarrón (six-string guitar) and sometimes a harp. Mariachi musicians wear beautiful suits known as los trajes de charros.

In its earliest days, mariachi bands started simple with two violins, a harp and a guitar instrument known as the vihuela. In the beginning, mariachi music was localized and known as "the song of the people," Medrano said. Songs were handed down from generation to generation. The first songs of mariachi music, known as "Sones," imitated life and nature.

For example, a song called "El Relámpago," meaning lightning, has quick and sharp notes that imitate the sound of thunder in a storm. Some of the first songs also imitated animals, such as birds and donkeys. The songs would always be lively and rhythmic, lending itself to dancing.

Mariachi music evolved through the years into more ballads and the music changed depending on the region in Mexico, such as the huapangos style of music. Medrano said musician Rubén Fuentes started refining mariachi music with the band Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán during the era. The music became more orchestral, Medrano said.

"There was a beautiful mix of the music," Medrano said. "The songwriting, the arranging and just the persona of Mexico, like Jorge Negrete, you know, very classic star, Lucha Villa, Lucha Reyes, Lola Beltrán, all this was a beautiful mixture that came together to create what we do today."

It's tradition for mariachi's to perform for every occasion in life – including funerals, as a way to celebrate life and heal those who are grieving.

"You see mariachis perform at festivals and fiestas, and it's all confetti and piñatas and having a good time," Medrano said. "But the other side of that is that we also are there for families and for loved ones, individuals who don't know how to process a tragedy, and we're asked to come and give comfort through music."

Medrano said performing at funerals is a humbling role.

"But we understand as a mariachi culture, that's part of what we do. We make you smile, and we try to hug your heart when you need it."

Helping Heal: What is music therapy?

Just as the mariachi musicians helped provide healing in Uvalde, music has been used as a form of therapy for a long time.

Robert Krout, professor emeritus of music therapy at Southern Methodist University, has been involved with music therapy and grief work for decades.

In a mass casualty event, those impacted are dealing with shock, grief, anger and other raw emotions all at the same time. This can make it overwhelming for people to talk out loud about what happened – which is where music can help express how they're feeling when words cannot.

Krout said music is processed by the entire brain – from cortical levels of being familiar with a song and linking it to a specific past event, to influencing our heartbeat by matching the beat to the song.

In music therapy, there is a neurological process called entrainment, where the brain and other rhythms in the body (such as heartbeat and pulse) match an external stimulus. For example, people exercise while listening to upbeat music, because they will naturally run to the beat of the song.

In music therapy, there is a client (the person being helped), the therapist (a professionally trained clinician), the music, and the music experience.

The music used in therapy can be active: playing a composed piece, improvising while playing, or moving to the music. The music can also be passive: listening and responding to the music.

Music therapists look at the client's needs, why they were referred to the therapist, their musical background and what aspect of music might benefit the client. Ultimately, music is used to help the client realize their own goals.

Krout said his clients, who are experiencing grief, frequently have relationships with certain songs – whether it be special to them or special to their lost loved one.

Playing familiar songs can be a good start to therapy, as the lyrics can be discussed and reflected upon.

Krout also said songwriting is therapeutic – whether having the client write a song to commemorate the loved one who died or having a gravely ill client write a song to express their wishes to their loved one as a keepsake for when they die.

'We don't want this to be repeated'

After the trip to Uvalde, Medrano and his friends wanted to commemorate the victims.

"We didn't want anybody to forget what happened," Medrano said.

So, they made a corrido, which is a written report in song lyrics of what happened.

They named it "El Corrido de Los Angeles de Uvalde." Medrano said the lyrics do not sugarcoat the tragic details of the shooting.

"It talks about the 90 minutes that they were waiting for help, that they were calling 9-1-1," Medrano said. "Nobody rushed in to save them, to save some at least. It talked about the assault weapon. We talked about the hurt, talked about the families fighting to try to get inside to save their own children by they were held back."

Listen to the full version of El Corrido de Los Angeles de Uvalde in the player below.

This content is imported from YouTube.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Medrano said he hopes the song will bring awareness and, hopefully, policy change to prevent more tragic mass shootings.

"We don't want anybody to forget this part of the history because we don't want this to be repeated," Medrano said. "And if we can remember it and recall it and report it, even through music, that maybe we can make a change."

---

This video is the third of a four-part series by Clarified featured during Hispanic Heritage Month to educate viewers on the contributions, experiences and heroes of the Hispanic community.

Seven months after Texas saw one of the nation's deadliest prison escapes, investigations into what went wrong have come back to one factor: The state's lockups are dangerously short-staffed.

On May 12, convicted murderer Gonzalo Lopez was on a prison transport bus in Central Texas when he managed to escape his handcuffs, cut into the driver's compartment and stab the driver with a makeshift weapon. He stole the officer's gun, wrestled him outside and hijacked the bus, driving about a mile before crashing and fleeing on foot.

Lopez evaded capture for weeks, until law enforcement responding to a welfare check at an area cabin on June 2 found Mark Collins and his four grandsons, ages 11 to 18, dead and the family's truck missing. That night, deputies south of San Antonio spotted the truck and stopped Lopez with spike strips, ultimately killing him in a shootout.

The tragedy drew shock and fury from community members and state officials. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called for a Texas Rangers investigation, and the Collinses' family plans to sue the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for its role in their loved ones' deaths, an agency spokesperson confirmed Friday.

This week, reports from TDCJ and an independent consulting group found that the escape, extended evasion and massacre of a family in Centerville were preceded by systemic failures among prison officers and their supervisors.

TDCJ found that a dozen officers, two sergeants, a captain, a lieutenant and a major at the Hughes Unit all failed to ensure Lopez was unarmed and properly restrained by haphazardly searching prisoners and their property and skipping safety checks (along with falsifying documents saying such checks and searches had been performed).

CGL, the consulting group, said staff at the prison "had become complacent, and circumvented security procedures in favor of hastily completing responsibilities in a cursory manner." The group said the failures seemed routine. Although they did not investigate other facilities, the consultants said it was possible such failures were occurring throughout the state's 100 prisons.

After the escape, prison spokesperson Amanda Hernandez said Friday, three employees resigned, and 15 others were disciplined. Some were fired, she said; others received probation or suspension.

But the seemingly routine bypassing of crucial security measures at the Hughes Unit was not a failure of only the employees, according to CGL. Short-staffing has long plagued the agency and been exacerbated in recent years.

Over two years, CGL stated, Texas prison officer vacancies grew from about 4,300 to more than 7,600 in April, the month before Lopez's escape, with Texas' prisons only about 68% staffed. The Hughes Unit in Gatesville, where Lopez lived, was 57% staffed.

"These staff shortages required the remaining staff to carry a heavier workload and increased the amount of overtime they were assigned," CGL wrote. "This contributed to establishing a weakened security environment that better facilitated inmate Lopez's escape."

TDCJ has long struggled against dangerous, chronic understaffing, but the number of officers reached critical lows during the pandemic. Since last summer, about 300 prison officers have also been working at two units now being used as state-run jails for Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star, which largely hold migrants accused only of trespassing on private property. Short-staffing has been blamed for increased assaults on officers and prisoners, as well as malnourishment and even harsher living and working conditions.

TDCJ has recognized its staffing crisis, pushing to increase recruitment and retention by offering sign-on bonuses and, this April, bumping salaries by 15%, similar to actions taken to address the staffing crisis within the state's juvenile prisons. The number of officers has grown slightly since the raise, according to TDCJ records, with prisons staffed at 71% in October, compared with April's 68%.

But understaffing is still dire, especially at some large prisons. In October, 20 prisons were less than 50% staffed, according to prison data. And the Hughes Unit has fewer officers than in April, dropping from 57% staffed before the escape to 50%, with 275 open officer positions in a prison for nearly 3,000 men.

But in addressing understaffing's burden on the department, Hernandez said Friday that "while short-staffing was a significant contributor, it was not the sole cause."

Lopez, 46, was serving two life sentences for the death of José Guadalupe Ramirez, whom Lopez said he killed on an order from a Mexican drug cartel, and an attempted murder during a car chase. He'd been in prison since 2006 and had been confirmed as an ex-member of the Mexican Mafia, according to the prison review.

At the time of the escape, Lopez was on a bus with 15 other prisoners and two veteran prison officers, traveling from the Hughes Unit to the Estelle Unit in Huntsville for a medical appointment. He was kept in a section of the bus for high-security inmates, separated by metal caging from the armed driver, while the second officer with a shotgun sat at the rear of the bus behind the less-restricted prisoners.

A third seat up front meant for a third officer was empty because of short-staffing.

Not properly searched before the ride, Lopez climbed aboard with two makeshift metal weapons and what resembled a handcuff key in his mouth, other prisoners told investigators. Lopez quickly freed himself from his improperly placed restraints and spent about an hour and a half cutting his way through the metal caging to the driver's compartment.

He slid into the driving compartment, grabbed the officer's gun and stabbed him, the review said. The officer managed to stop the bus, and in a scuffle, stumbled outside the bus with Lopez fighting over the gun, he told investigators. The second officer, saying he thought the bus had crashed, jumped out the back and realized there was an escape attempt.

With the officer's gun, Lopez jumped back into the bus and drove off. With the second officer's shotgun, the driver shot out a tire, causing Lopez to crash about a mile down the road.

Shortly after, the police chief for the nearby town of Jewett approached the now-abandoned officers and, hearing about the escape, took off toward the scene. According to an investigation by The Marshall Project and the Houston Chronicle, the chief did not give chase or shoot after Lopez when he arrived to find the prisoner fleeing from the bus across a field into the brush.

Quickly after the escape, law enforcement swarmed the area on foot, with dogs and on horseback to search for the escaped murderer. But for weeks, they failed. TDCJ's review noted its staff misused their search dogs, bringing out multiple units' dogs and confusing the scents they were tracking.

Law enforcement was at a loss until authorities got a call on May 31 about a burglary nearby and took DNA swabs to check against Lopez. Nobody told locals of the development, however, according to the investigation by the news organizations. Two days later, minutes after learning the DNA matched Lopez, the sheriff's office got a call from someone worried about the Collinses.

At their rural cabin in Leon County, officers found the bodies of Collins, 66, and his four grandsons: Waylon, 18; Carson, 16; and Bryson and Hudson, both 11. They died of gunshot and stab wounds.

In a statement paired with the release of its investigative findings, TDCJ said it has since reduced transportation of prisoners, relying more on telemedicine for medical appointments. The agency also increased the required number of officers in transport buses from two to three and will arm them with pepper spray as well as guns.

Supervisors will also be required to verify that proper searches have been completed before transportation, though similar verifications were said to be falsified prior to Lopez's escape.

The department also upgraded its restraints in hopes of preventing future escapes, since Lopez was easily able to free himself. TDCJ is also having staff undergo new training focused on search procedures, weapons and prisoner transportation.

CGL warned TDCJ, however, of implementing corrective actions aimed at stopping Lopez's escape that could further exhaust their limited staff.

"Developing corrective actions to the escape that load more work on already overtaxed staff can result in further failures," the company wrote. "Given the low staff levels correctional officers are often require to perform the policy requirements of multiple positions."

"TDCJ must ask 'Are these policy requirements impossible to achieve given the current staffing crisis,'" the group added. "In certain circumstances we found this to be the case, and it likely contributes to staff taking security shortcuts."

In response, Hernandez said the agency was reviewing its policies and procedures and auditing job responsibilities to reallocate non-security work to other staff.

This article was first published on The Texas Tribune.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Becky Hammon would have preferred a victory over history after becoming the first woman to coach an NBA team.

The assistant coach took over the San Antonio Spurs in the second quarter after coach Gregg Popovich was ejected in a 121-107 loss to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.

“I try not to think of the huge picture and huge aspect of it, because it can be overwhelming,” Hammon said. “I really have had no time to reflect. I have not had time to look at my phone. So, I don’t know what’s going on outside the AT&T Center.”

Hammon and the Spurs already had a lot to contend with against the defending league champion Lakers.

James celebrated his 36th birthday with 26 points, eight assists and five rebounds in the Lakers’ third double-digit victory. The teams will complete the two-game set Friday night.

“(I was) trying to get the guys in the right spots,” Hammon said. “Trying to get them motivated. Obviously, it’s a learning situation for all of us, but I would have loved to have walked out there with a win with the guys.”

Popovich was ejected by official Tony Brown with 3:56 remaining in the second quarter. Popovich screamed at Brown and entered the court following a non-call on DeMar DeRozan’s attempted layup and a subsequent attempted rebound by Drew Eubanks.

As he exited the court to applause from several of the team’s family members in attendance, Popovich pointed a finger at Hammon and had a succinct message.

“You got ’em,” Hammon said. “See? He doesn’t treat us any differently than he does you guys.”

Said LeBron James: “Obviously she’s been paying her dues over the last few years and Coach Pop has given her the opportunity. ... It’s a beautiful thing just to hear her barking out calls, barking out sets. She’s very passionate about the game. Congrats to her and congrats for our league.”

Hammon took over the team’s huddles during timeouts and walked the sideline following Popovich’s ejection. Hammon was the first full-time female assistant coach in league history.

“Well-deserved,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “I’ve talked to her before and she really knows her stuff and obviously she’s here for a reason. She’s equipped, intelligent (and the) guys have great respect for her. She’s going to be a great coach one day.”

A three-time All-American at Colorado State, Hammon played for the New York Liberty and San Antonio Stars in the WNBA as well as overseas before retiring to join Popovich’s staff in 2014.

“Even in timeouts with Pop as head coach, she is quick on her feet,” DeRozan said. “She tells us about defensive assignments, offensive sets we should run. Seeing her in the forefront, it would have definitely been cool to have won for her.”

The Lakers contributed to Popovich’s frustration and the Spurs’ fortunes didn’t get much better after the veteran coach exited.

Dennis Schroder had 21 points, Anthony Davis had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers. Wesley Matthews was 6 for 6 on 3-pointers in scoring 18 points off the bench.

The Spurs opened with a 9-2 run, including an uncontested drive through the lane by Keldon Johnson for a two-handed slam. The Lakers responded with an 11-0 run that promoted a timeout by Popovich.

The Lakers took their first double-digit lead at 35-25 on Kyle Kuzma’s 3-pointer with 1:14 remaining in the first quarter.

Dejounte Murray had a career-high 29 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.

“At the end of the day, it don’t mean nothing. We lost,” Murray said.

DeRozan added 23 for the Spurs, who lost their second straight after opening the season with two consecutive wins.

TIP-INS

Lakers: PG Alex Caruso missed the game for “health and safety protocols,” as mandated by the league. Lakers coach Frank Vogel did not elaborate on Caruso’s status. … James was listed as questionable after spraining his left ankle sprain in the Lakers’ 115-107 loss to Portland on Monday. James played 35 minutes against the Spurs after scoring 29 points in 36 minutes against the Trail Blazers.

Spurs: Popovich said the Spurs will monitor Aldridge’s knee soreness on a day-to-day basis. … Tim Duncan took over last season when Popovich was ejected against Portland on Nov. 16, 2019. The Hall of Famer opted not to return as assistant this season.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A police official in Texas says 29 people have been recovered from a big rig that was stopped near San Antonio, including one person who was taken to a hospital.

Lt. Jesse Salame says a passerby called police to report a suspicious semi-truck.

An officer performed a traffic stop and as he was approaching the vehicle, the back door swung open and several people ran out.

Police made contact with 29 of the people.

One person was taken to the hospital to be treated for dehydration.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a statement that the traffic stop is being investigated for possible human smuggling.

According to The Associated Press, the semi-truck driver, 49, was taken into custody.