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CHRISTUS Children's expands cancer care with new mobile PET-CT imaging unit. SAN ANTONIO, TX - CHRISTUS Children's has expanded access to advanced cancer and neurological care with the addition of a new mobile PET-CT imaging unit, made possible through a $2.5 million gift from longtime partner Valero. The new mobile unit will provide advanced diagnostic imaging for both pediatric and adult patients across San Antonio, New Braunfels and San Marcos, helping physicians detect, stage and monitor cancer while also supporting care for patients with complex neurological conditions, including epilepsy. Valero's contribution continues a partnership spanning more than four decades, during which the company has donated more than $11 million to support pediatric programs and services at CHRISTUS Children's. PET-CT technology combines metabolic and anatomical imaging into a single scan, allowing physicians to identify active disease with greater precision, guide treatment decisions and evaluate how patients are responding to therapy. The technology can often reduce the need for multiple tests while helping clinicians make faster and more informed decisions. "Every child with cancer deserves access to the most advanced tools available to guide their care," said Dr. Parth Subhash Mehta, division chief of pediatric hematology and oncology at CHRISTUS Children's. "Our new unit brings cutting-edge imaging directly to the children and families we serve, allowing us to see disease more clearly, assess response in real time, tailor treatments more precisely and reduce the need for additional travel." The mobile imaging unit represents a significant advancement for pediatric cancer care in South Texas, where access to highly specialized imaging services can sometimes require families to travel long distances for appointments. In addition to oncology services, the PET-CT unit will play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and other neurological disorders. The technology can help physicians identify the source of seizures in patients who have not responded to medication, providing critical information needed to determine whether surgical intervention may be beneficial. The addition comes as CHRISTUS Children's continues to strengthen its neurological care program, including the recent recruitment of a specialized neurosurgeon to expand treatment options for patients with complex conditions. "The state-of-the-art PET-CT unit will revolutionize the care of our cancer patients, dramatically improving our ability to pinpoint tumor location and make precise treatment decisions," said Dr. Ian Thompson Jr., president and chief development officer of the CHRISTUS Children's Foundation and a urology oncologist. "Having treated cancer patients for more than 45 years, this advancement is one of the most impactful I have seen in my career. Ultimately, lives will be saved. We are so grateful for this new unit." Hospital leaders say the mobile model will help bring advanced care directly into the communities they serve while improving coordination across the health system. "This investment reflects our commitment to deliver integrated, accessible care for every child and family we serve," said Cris Daskevich, CEO of CHRISTUS Children's and senior vice president of maternal and pediatric services for CHRISTUS Health. "By bringing advanced imaging directly to our community through a mobile model, we remove barriers, improve coordination across our system and ensure more patients receive the right care at the right time." Valero officials say supporting the project aligns with the company's longstanding commitment to improving health care access throughout the region. "San Antonio is Valero's home and we believe in uplifting the community where we live and operate," said Seymore Battles, senior vice president of communications, public relations and engagement for Valero. "There's no better way to do that than to partner with CHRISTUS to bring better treatment, earlier diagnosis and better outcomes to individuals in our community." The mobile PET-CT unit is the latest investment aimed at expanding specialized pediatric care throughout South Texas and strengthening CHRISTUS Children's ability to deliver advanced cancer treatment, neurological services and multidisciplinary care closer to home.

Chevron launches new sign campaign targeting Sacramento as California gas prices hit new highs. It will be interesting to see how the Chevron sign campaign works out for the company, on this busy Memorial Day weekend. For years, I hoped the petroleum energy giants would push back against global warming activists, eco-nuts who believed carbon dioxide was toxic, and regulation-mad bureaucrats. However, these corporations were content to try to negotiate with these extremists. This encouraged the extremists in California to double down, as there is no effective check on their lunatic policy-making ideas. For example, Gavin Newsom signed into law a measure ordering energy producers to stockpile gasoline, despite pushback from industry. Then, the oil companies began to see the handwriting on the wall and made a strategic retreat. Phillips 66 terminated operations at its Los Angeles-area refinery in the fourth quarter of 2025. Chevron moved its headquarters to Texas, citing high taxes and burdensome regulations. Valero Energy Corporation, which announced plans to close its Benicia oil refinery (located just northeast of San Francisco, in 2026), has just been fined for "air quality violations" to the tune of $3.25 million. However, Chevron has taken a new approach... this time directly targeting the regulators and politicians who view its firm as evil and a cash cow deserving to be pilfered. Drivers across California, including here in the Central Valley, may be noticing new signs posted at some Chevron gas stations pointing the finger at Sacramento for high gas prices. The signs carry messages like: "Sacramento policies did this. Now, you pay more." Others saying, "California has the highest gas taxes and fees in America." The signs also include a QR code customers can scan for more information. Chevron says the campaign is meant to explain why Californians are paying some of the highest gas prices in the country. Chevron is letting customers know in California that it's not Donald Trump causing the insane gas prices in the state, it's California Democrats Chevron just added these new signs to their pumps educating customers, "Sacramento policies did this. Now you pay more" "California... pic.twitter.com/MzIYrzjaBz - Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) May 21, 2026 California Governor Gavin Newsom's Press Office was quick to respond with snark. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is in a spat with a major oil company over who is to blame for the state's high gas prices, with the Democratic governor's office urging drivers not to fill up at Chevron stations over Memorial Day weekend. "Pro tip: unbranded gas comes from the same refineries, storage tanks, and pipelines, and it meets the same state standards to keep your engine running clean," Newsom's office posted Thursday on X. "Big Oil is already making billions off Trump's Iran War; don't let them rip you off even more by overpaying for the brand name." Newsom's office cited an analysis by a group within the state's energy commission, which oversees the oil and gas industry, that found that Chevron averaged more than 60 to 80 cents per gallon above unbranded alternatives. However, the response really wasn't what Newsom was expecting: Thanks for the tip: I'll be sure to spend some extra money at @Chevron this weekend! #Buycott pic.twitter.com/wkxuLPCAlL - Tom Kattman (@TomKattman) May 22, 2026 Then the U.S. Gas and Oil Association bolstered Chevron's position with feedback of its own. "Pro tip: Don't take Pro tips from a Politician who hasn't driven himself anywhere since 2004," the group wrote in a post on X Thursday that had gotten nearly 100,000 views. The association's president doubled down on the criticism in a statement to The California Post. "It's interesting how the politicians who are picked up every morning by a black SUV are experts on gas prices but always fail to recognize the impact their bad decisions actually have on gas prices," Tim Stewart said. The group had been referencing Newsom's taxpayer-funded drivers, who ferry the governor between events across the state and leave him out of touch with everyday commuters. "Chevron works hard to help educate Californians about Sacramento's energy and tax policies. These adversarial policies have resulted in California losing nearly 18% of its refining capacity in less than a year," a Chevron spokesperson told The California Post. "Most Chevron-branded gas stations in California are independently owned and operated. Attacking California's small businesses like this is deeply unfair and irresponsible. We urge Sacramento to take energy policy seriously and stop making life expensive for California drivers," they added. Pro tip: Don't take Pro tips from a Politician who hasn't driven himself anywhere since 2004. https://t.co/3m6Rk7I40u - US Oil & Gas Association (@US_OGA) May 22, 2026 The growing tension between California regulators and oil companies underscores a disconnect between policymakers and the realities of energy demand, with producers continuing to supply a critical, everyday resource even as they face increasingly burdensome and counterproductive regulations. As companies push back and scale operations in response to these policies, they are highlighting the essential role they play in keeping the state moving and raising important questions about whether current regulatory approaches are driving up costs and undermining energy reliability rather than supporting practical, balanced solutions. It will be interesting to see how the Chevron sign campaign works out for the company, on this busy Memorial Day weekend. Donations tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.