National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman's Poem: Schools scared to death. The truth is, one education under desks, Stooped low from bullets; That plunge when we ask Where our children Shall live & how & if To read more of her poem, click here

By Jason Beeferman, The Texas Tribune

Texas Senator José Menéndez hosted a Town Hall for seniors and their advocates to help people learn how to avoid fraud and scams that come knocking on the door and could lurk in your email or cell phone. How can you protect yourself and your loved ones from fraud?

On the first day of early voting for the Nov. 6 General Election, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Texas State Senator José Menéndez (D-26) called on Bexar County to quickly resolve voting issues, and encouraged voters not to give up. During a news conference at Las Palmas Library, an early voting site, Castro and Menéndez said problems on Oct. 22, included outdated voting machines with no paper records, system glitches, incorrect voter information, staffing shortages, long lines and a lack of accommodations for disabled voters.

Leaders of the Westside Neighborhood Associations Coalition told the mayor, city council members and state representatives that they are being disrespected and treated like “guinea pigs” in the SA Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan process.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg testified against the so-called “bathroom bill,” saying it “puts transgendered people in the crosshairs of discrimination,” and threatens the Texas economy.

The San Antonio Police Chief, the Bexar County Sheriff and District Attorney condemned the bill banning sanctuary policies, and were joined by C.O.P.S./Metro leaders who said they “refuse to give up a culture of hospitality and welcoming the stranger.”

by Brooke Cowey Hundreds of people gathered at the Institute of Texan Cultures on March 27 for the fourth Cultural Conversation event which was designed to challenge misconceptions about refugees and examine how entrepreneurship in the refugee community is changing the face of San Antonio. The event was reated by District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg and State Sen. José Menéndez to promote tolerance and diversity. Watch video of the event or scroll down for more detail:

State Sen. José Menéndez acknowledged Wednesday that he failed to report a combined $50,000 in donations from two groups that are considered arch enemies at the state Capitol — the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and Texans for Lawsuit Reform.

UPDATED: Optimized with additional information, tools, links, transcribed quotes, links to specific spots in the video and outside links to helpful information. Replay video from the live webcast of What's Next for DREAMers, a panel discussion at the University of Texas at San Antonio Aula Canaria Lecture Hall on the downtown campus, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. SCROLL down below video for links, tools and transcript.