VA hospital plan advances; March colon screening campaign launches; measles cases noted in counties near San Antonio
San Antonio, TX – March 3, 2026 – VA planning advances for a new Medical Center hospital campus as Bexar County spotlights colon screening and measles risks.
VA hospital planning takes a visible step
Federal planning for a major new Veterans Affairs hospital in San Antonio moved forward late last week, with an Army Corps of Engineers notice seeking information for architectural and engineering services. The San Antonio Report said the concept is for a 1.6 million-square-foot facility to replace the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, which opened in 1973.
According to the report, the preliminary plan describes a main hospital building, separate administration space, a central utility plant and two parking garages with about 3,000 spaces. The notice described the effort as early-stage market research rather than a contract solicitation, and VA officials told the outlet the agency is still evaluating sites and preparing an environmental impact statement.
The site referenced in the story is a 50-plus-acre tract near Hamilton Wolf Road and Floyd Curl Drive, less than two miles north of the current hospital.
March screening campaign spotlights colon cancer in younger adults
University Health and Bexar County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores are launching a monthlong Colon Cancer Awareness effort in March, KSAT reported. The campaign includes community activities such as sporting events and health clinics aimed at raising awareness of screening options.
KSAT noted that national experts lowered the recommended age for routine colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45 in 2021, citing rising rates among younger adults. Clay-Flores, who has spoken publicly about her own diagnosis in late 2024, said she wants residents to have clearer, local information about screening and risk.
National Wear Blue Day is set for March 6 as part of the local awareness push, according to KSAT.
Outbreak watch: measles cases logged in counties near San Antonio
A Texas-wide measles update published Feb. 26 said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was listing at least nine measles cases in Texas so far in 2026, including cases in Bandera, Kendall and Frio counties, which surround the San Antonio area. The report also noted one case in Lubbock County.
Public health officials generally emphasize vaccination and rapid case investigation to limit spread when measles appears, because the virus is highly contagious.
Sources
Plans are firming up for a new VA hospital in the Medical Center
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/02/28/colon-cancer-rates-are-on-the-rise-for-younger-adults-bexar-county-commissioner-leads-push-for-early-screening/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/measles-returned-texas-see-where-110000966.html
If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.
