Texas State is in the final stages of a five-year process to be reaffirmed to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University officials are completing the reaffirmation process, formerly referred to as reaccreditation, as required by the Commission on Colleges.

Each accredited institution much be reaffirmed every 10 years. SACS formerly required all institutions to comply with a series of “must statements,” but the process changed in 2001 and in 2004 it became effective.

Three low-income families in San Marcos will be given the opportunity purchase a home with financial support as a result of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant that was awarded to the city.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs allocated $525,000 in July for the redevelopment of abandoned or foreclosed homes in the area. The contract period for the grant began Sept. 1 and is expected to end Aug. 31, 2011.

Texas State scientists announced Wednesday the conclusion of a cancer research project at a joint press conference.

Texas State researchers, Cisne Enterprises and Orizon Research, held the press conference in the Agriculture Building.

Developers at Cisne Enterprises and Orizon Research have created a product that may provide an alternative basis for cancer cell growth control and virus survival, ALKA V-6, formerly ALKA Vita. The substance was tested at Texas State.

Bobcat Tram is now serving greater areas of San Marcos. New tram routes to the Wonder World and Clarewood areas have been implemented.

“With the statistics and new apartment complexes added, 1,000 to 1,200 new residents needed the service,” said Paul Hamilton, shuttle service manager.

Students no longer have the option of calling Students With Alternate Transportation to assist in getting them home after throwing back one too many drinks. SWAT is no longer running.

Judy Row, director of the Alcohol and Drug Resource Center, said there has been too few volunteers to sustain the program for the last two and a half to three years.

Lindsey Goldstein/ Star photo illustration

There could be a black market for art classes.

Erika Molina, art junior, said she found a suspicious flier in an art-building bathroom.

“The fliers will say, ‘does anyone need a metal or sculpting class?’” Molina said. “The students will then get together and make the trade atthe same time.”

Molina said art students register for classes they do not need and then trade then among themselves.

Texas State students are seeing yellow.

The Springtown Center parking lot still stands vacant.

Mayor Susan Narvaiz has appointed a task force of 21 city officials to redevelop aging infrastructures like the Springtown Center. Narvaiz said the task force will determine how funding will be obtained for Springtown’s redevelopment within the next 90 days.

She said the condition of Springtown, which is located at the intersection of Interstate 35 and Springtown Way, creates security and safety concerns.

Texas State athletics and the student government have collided.

ASG President Chris Covo appointed Michael Flowers, public administration senior, to become the ASG athletic liaison, a position Covo created  aimed to open communication between Bobcat athletics and the student body.

Michael Flowers was appointed Aug. 30 as the ASG athletic liaison.

“This was one of my platforms,” Covo said. “I wanted to build onto Reagan Pugh and Brett Baker’s previous administrations to help the drive for athletics.”