San Antonio Express News

Hearst Corp., publisher of the San Antonio Light, said Tuesday that it has agreed to buy the rival Express-News for $185 million from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and will close the Light if it can't sell the paper. A shutdown of the Light, which has lost $60 million since 1987, would end a fierce newspaper war, defined for years by blaring headlines, lottery-type games and shenanigans among employees. Hearst agreed to retain all 1,000 of the Express-News' employees.

Jeff Van Gundy was there at the beginning, when Tim Duncan walked off the Madison Square Garden court with mini-camcorder in hand, chronicling his first NBA title as if it might be his last. Four championships and nearly 15 years later, Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs are still around, still relevant, still contenders as they arrive at Staples Center on Monday night to play the Clippers. The NBA's steadiest franchise has sustained its excellence through a few singular characteristics.

Jose M. Lopez, the nation's oldest remaining Latino recipient of the Medal of Honor, who earned the award for single-handedly killing more than 100 German soldiers in a skirmish during the World War II Battle of the Bulge, has died. He was 94. Lopez died Monday of cancer at the San Antonio home of his daughter, Maggie Wickwire. He had lived in San Antonio since 1973. On Dec.

HOUSTON - Leaders of San Antonio, the second-largest city in Texas, approved a non-discrimination ordinance for gay and transgender residents this week over the objections of conservatives, who have vowed to keep up the fight. Other Texas cities have already passed anti-bias ordinances, including Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth and Houston. But this time, the measure was backed by Democratic Mayor Julian Castro , a rising star in the party and on the radar of Republicans keying up for statewide primaries in March.

George Gervin, former all-pro guard for the San Antonio Spurs, has admitted for the first time publicly that he has a drug problem and says he has joined Alcoholics Anonymous. "I let down the fans and the city, but I am on the road to recovery and there are going to be better days ahead for me," Gervin said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News.

Boxer Kid Akeem Anifowoshe, against his doctor's advice, checked out of a San Antonio hospital and went home to Las Vegas. Anifowoshe was recovering from brain trauma sustained in his June 15 fight against Robert Quiroga. The native of Nigeria collapsed after Quiroga had won a unanimous decision. "Yes, I'm happy to be going home," Anifowoshe, a native of Nigeria, told the San Antonio Express-News. "I feel better." But his doctor said his departure Thursday may have been premature.

Former San Antonio Spurs star George (The Iceman) Gervin's financial troubles have begun to mount in the wake of a reported incident with drugs that police investigated as an apparent overdose, the San Antonio Light reported today. A police report of the Saturday incident stated that Gervin, taken by ambulance to Methodist Hospital, told the investigating officer that he snorted what he "thought was cocaine" and later said he did not know what it was that he put up his nose.

What writers in San Antonio are saying about the series: BUCK HARVEY, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS If the series ends as it started, then what looks the best? Anything in the East. Will Perdue's endorsement future. J.R. Reid's sense of self. Give it to J.R. The ex-Spur didn't let the lights of Hollywood change his game. But there's also a former pots-and-pans salesman named Del Harris. Perhaps the Lakers wouldn't have listened to Harris on Monday, because they quit listening to him before.

Larry Guest of the Orlando Sentinel predicts the Magic will re-sign Penny Hardaway and then try to trade him: "And even if the Magic have had it up to here with Penny's whining and finger-pointing and inconsistency--which they have--it makes sense to re-sign him to make sure they get something in return. "Whether it's a star point guard, a pulling guard or a case of Right Guard.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Uh-oh, 2-0? The San Antonio Spurs find themselves in a familiar place, having won the first two games of the Western Conference finals for a second consecutive season. This is where their season unraveled in stunning fashion last year amid a barrage of baskets by Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. The Spurs lost four consecutive games, a season-ending slide that seemed all the more improbable considering they had won their previous 20 games.

SAN ANTONIO -- Two Texas congressional candidates faced off in Spanish in a debate that could help decide  one of the closest races in the country . Incumbent Republican Rep. Francisco Canseco, 63, a tea party  conservative, and  challenger Pete Gallego, 50, a Democratic state representative, participated in the hourlong debate sponsored by AARP Texas and the Spanish-language network  Univision . “Welcome to this historic event,...

Jose M. Lopez, the nation's oldest remaining Latino recipient of the Medal of Honor, who earned the award for single-handedly killing more than 100 German soldiers in a skirmish during the World War II Battle of the Bulge, has died. He was 94. Lopez died Monday of cancer at the San Antonio home of his daughter, Maggie Wickwire. He had lived in San Antonio since 1973. On Dec.

After divorcing Texas Rep. Charles A. Gonzalez last year, Becky Whetstone said she felt outmaneuvered, out-financed and out of luck. Angry and frustrated, Whetstone -- a writer and family counselor -- considered her options and decided to go public. First, she began writing a book about life as a congressional wife. Then she created a website, www.congressmanswife.com, where she aired her grievances and invited others to share their own stories of love and loss.

The widow and the editor of a U.S. journalist who was found buried in a shallow grave in the remote mountains of central Mexico in 1998 expressed anger Friday at a judge's acquittal of two men accused of killing him. But a U.S. philanthropist who helped finance the defense for the men--who at one point confessed to the killing--said prosecutors never even proved that Philip True was murdered rather than killed in a hiking accident, as one forensic witness claimed.

Got an e-mail from Nate after the first game of the Western Conference finals. "Evil 1, Good 0." Clever. Received an e-mail from Dan after Game 2. "I had the series going six games, but now it looks like a four-game SWEEP!" Cute. Nate and Dan represent the kinder, gentler element of the Los Angeles Lakers' fan base. Erin represents another element: "The next time David Robinson is quoting those scriptures, you may ask him to quote a few regarding judging, jealousy and being a HUGE hypocrite."

The widow and the editor of a U.S. journalist who was found buried in a shallow grave in the remote mountains of central Mexico in 1998 expressed anger Friday at a judge's acquittal of two men accused of killing him. But a U.S. philanthropist who helped finance the defense for the men--who at one point confessed to the killing--said prosecutors never even proved that Philip True was murdered rather than killed in a hiking accident, as one forensic witness claimed.

Ties bind David Robinson and Gregg Popovich. There's the military schooling, and then there's time. Since 1989 they've been together for all but two years. But ties also bind their hands behind their backs--when they stand together in front of firing squads after losses. That is their position again today, the targets of a dejected city, officially Scapegoat No. 1 and Scapegoat No. 2. Which is which? Take your pick and fire. Ties bind them on this question too.

What writers in San Antonio are saying about the series: BUCK HARVEY, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS They came as advertised. Dying for calls, then dying at the line. Talented enough to wear out Sean Elliott's new knees, wild enough to try anything twice. Brilliant enough to light up Hollywood--but dumb enough to give away a game. These are the details that should define California Day-Dreaming: With Tim Duncan on the block, paired with little buddy J.R.