In the early days of the pandemic, when small businesses were forced to close their doors and grocery store shelves were emptied by frantic shoppers stocking up for quarantine, brothers Davis and Patton Jones began to wonder what it would be like if San Marcos had not been as prepared as it was.

Embedded within neighborhoods, tucked away behind the allure of shopping outlets and the bright lights of The Square rests hundreds of historical homes displaying clues to the local families, travelers and stories that established the rich 200-year-old history of San Marcos.

Every year, hundreds of Central and South American migrants risk their lives in pursuit of entry into the U.S. for a better life. Crossing often means trying to survive punishing heat, miles of desert, unknown waters and dangerous predators. Some end up successful, while others, just miles s…

Records once dangled from the ceiling as music memorabilia lined the walls, while the smell of incense filled the room and melancholy tunes of blues drew customers in. Recognized as a true haven for music fans in San Marcos, Bobby Barnard's Sundance Records and Tapes rocked the city's soul.

With her long black hair, signature red lipstick and gold-gilled swimsuit tail, Jessica Mejía, better known as Sirena del Rio, the Indigenous Mermaid of the San Marcos River, is bringing the serene waters of the river to children in a virtual setting.

Chocolates, stuffed animals and roses have returned to the bank statements of San Marcos residents as the season of love kicks in. While spreading Valentine's Day love and joy comes with health risks this year, local businesses are exploring creative and safe ways to make it happen.

The transition from undergraduate to graduate school is a huge step. There is more work, less structure and the ever-pressing dilemma of figuring out how to pay for it. These factors push some students to rule-out graduate school as an option; however, some view them as necessary obstacles i…

For nearly a year, social distancing rules and mask mandates have compromised the day-to-day leisure and comfort people are accustomed to. As cases of the virus fluctuate and the long-awaited vaccines are distributed, students are finding themselves burnt out from the nation's new way of life.

With a lengthy application process and over 100 degree programs to choose from at Texas State alone, stepping on the path toward graduate school has served as a daunting task for some students.

Black History Month serves as a time for communities from all racial backgrounds to celebrate and preserve Black history through art, activism and education. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, student organizations have still made it a point to honor Black excellence through esteemed principles …

Female artists and creatives of Hays County will have their time to shine as the San Marcos Price Center begins preparations for its third annual International Women's Day exhibit.

The mermaid has been the unofficial mascot of San Marcos for decades, inspiring the town’s art, conservation and education scenes. Now, the state legislature is working to make the city's mermaid roots official.

From saying farewell to finals in the fall to the excitement of a New Year's toast, Texas State students from across the country have committed to maintaining an active lifestyle as they head into 2021.

After dedicating years of education to brain research and psychology, Dr. Carmen Westerberg, an associate psychology professor at Texas State, was awarded $300,000 to fund her upcoming study exploring the effects of sleep on memory retention and formation.

The average American visits the doctor four times a year, making the experience a relatively routine part of life. A team of Texas State professors hope to make that process more efficient and accurate through the emerging field of computational medicine.

The Texas State community honored the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 19 with its first-ever virtual celebration in 37 years.

Before stepping foot into the clinical lab of Ascension Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle, Gilbert Swink sat fully clothed in personal protective equipment, including a mask and a face shield, ready to run another set of COVID-19 tests.

Walking across the commencement stage and participating in Texas State’s river jump tradition were two celebrations Amy Matthis looked forward to when first starting at Texas State in 2016.

After a 10-month hiatus due to COVID-19, The Brunch Club has rejoined the San Marcos entertainment scene with its "3 G's"— good food, good people and good vibes.

Two Texas State professors are working to improve children's education through a computer science research project focused on a collaborative and relational way of problem-solving between humans and computers.

Driving up the hill on LBJ Drive, there is a restaurant where customers are greeted with a front door decked out in graphic stickers and a dining room where colorful umbrellas hang from the ceiling.

After jokes and banter between two best friends at Austin City Limits in 2019, the idea for a podcast aimed to give back to its community through comedic relief was born.

Known for its forward-thinking fashionistas, hands-on industry experience and packed-house fashion shows, Texas State's Fashion Merchandising Association (FMA) showcased the latest 2020 designs and trends in a new light during its first-ever virtual fall fashion show.

For some Indigenous peoples, an Election Night poll by CNN categorizing race by white, Latinx, Black, Asian and “something else," served as an indication of how an Indigenous heritage often comes with a feeling of having one’s very existence erased.

Equipped with mounds of compost and members who are not afraid to get their hands dirty, Texas State's waste management composting program, Bobcat Blend, is on a mission to create and maintain a sustainable campus community.

For 35 years the San Marcos River Foundation has functioned as a network of environmental activists committed to preserving the unique and delicate ecosystem of the San Marcos River.

Scribbling out countless verses in piles of spiral notebooks, Marcus Peoples, a public administration alumnus, spent his years at Texas State crafting his language into what would become his first children’s book, "Proud to be In Between".

In an effort to celebrate and recognize alumni who have excelled both professionally and personally, Texas State has awarded several Bobcats with the Distinguished Alumni and Young Alumni Rising Star awards.

It was a cold February night earlier this year when local psychedelic indie band Wezmer celebrated like it was the end of the world.

While in the midst of a normal day lounging around, Gracelyn Economidis, a family and consumer science junior, received a shocking direct message on Instagram.

Editor's Note: The University Star will release two articles recognizing this year's Distinguished and Young Alumni honorees at Texas State. Part 1 highlights Dr. Deborah Bergeron, Gloria Campos Brown, Johnny Weisman and Kuro Tawil. Part 2, which will be released next week, will recognize Jo…

As tumbleweeds rolled down LBJ Drive and students sat in their homes for the latter half of the 2020 spring semester, alumna Allison Price, a directing graduate, looked for a way to continue her creative journey in a new reality.

On the energetic morning of Aug. 29, a team of scientists stood on top of Texas State's Supple Science Building, ready to complete the first step toward building the university's first low earth-orbiting satellite. It was not the view Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin experienced on the moon or…

Before the Square, river tubing or Texas State, San Marcos was a magnet for Spanish explorers who traveled through the Camino Real searching for a place to settle. Explorers became attracted to the fertile land, along with the abundant wildlife, unique scenery and never-ending supply of cool…

When Dr. Susana Villanueva-Eguia Lis left her home in Mexico 20 years ago to study abroad in the U.S., she was not expecting to walk into a melting pot she would call home one day, nor a place where she would become an internationally-recognized Spanish poet. 

What began as a fun way for Texas State alumna Jasmine Valadez to match her earrings and outfits at her job as a student teacher has now turned into a successful polymer clay earring business.

Far before ever stepping foot on a stage or picking up an instrument, Luis Parra found his love for music in his hometown of Valencia, Venezuela. Since then, Parra, 24, has been part of several bands, groups and music projects in San Marcos and Austin. 

Joshua Castro knew he wanted to serve in the Peace Corps in third grade. His class had a pen pal in the Peace Corps who would tell them stories about the different ways they had to adapt to day-to-day life, which included living in a country that experienced extreme drought and learning to t…

Colorful artwork, spice-filled aromas along with the detailed stitching of Mexican influenced blouses represent the core of family pride and heritage that is found in locally-owned Hispanic businesses in San Marcos.

In 2010, Jennifer Foster passionately stood center stage at a talent show, under pink and blue iridescent lights, singing the timeless lyrics of Aretha Franklin’s and Carole King’s 'Natural Woman'.