Austin news

• I-35 project would push out Black and brown Austinites from neighborhoods — what are their rights?

  21-02-2023 23:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Black and brown Austinites are waiting to see whether they're going to get pushed out of their neighborhoods.
  With just a few weeks left to weigh in on the Texas Department of Transportation's I-35 expansion project, many are looking ahead to see where they'll go.
  In the heart of downtown Austin sits La Escuelita de Alma, a daycare. You can hear kids laughing and playing — ignorant of the fast-moving world around them.
  La Escuelita is just one of the properties that w
  
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• Strong winds overnight set the stage for warmest day of the year Wednesday

  21-02-2023 23:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The afternoon will be sunny with unseasonably warm air. Our normal high temperature today is 68°.
  Highs tomorrow will be just as warm, if not warmer, from another sunny sky and a warm west to southwest wind.A "cold" front comes across Central Texas overnight through Wednesday morning with a miniscule 10% chance of a little rain. Most rain totals will yield nothing than a trace to .01" for most locations.The front leaves a west to southwest wind. As the front glides across so
  
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• First case of highly-contagious rabbit disease detected in Hill Country

  21-02-2023 23:27 via kxan.com
  
  GILLESPIE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The first case of a deadly disease that affects wild and domestic rabbits has been detected in the Hill Country.Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) was first detected in Texas in April 2020, with cases in Lubbock and Hudspeth counties. The new case, in a wild rabbit, is in Gillespie County, making it the first case in the Hill Country.The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says it continues to receive and respond to reports of dead wild rabbits and
  
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• Affidavit: Man charged with murder in December death at Lady Bird Lake

  21-02-2023 22:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An Austin man was arrested after a shooting on Dec. 19 that led to another man crashing his truck into Lady Bird Lake and dying of a gunshot wound to the head, according to police documents.Joel Santiago Gonzalez-Paron, 18, has been charged with murder in the death of Josue Moreno, 45, in the early morning of Dec. 19. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Gonzalez-Paron said he thought someone else was in the truck that Moreno was operating that ended up crashing into the l
  
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• Affidavit: Man charged with murder for December death at Lady Bird Lake

  21-02-2023 22:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An Austin man confessed to a shooting on Dec. 19 that led to another man crashing his truck into Lady Bird Lake and dying of a gunshot wound to the head, according to police documents.Joel Santiago Gonzalez-Paron, 18, has been charged with murder in the death of Josue Moreno, 45, in the early morning of Dec. 19. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Gonzalez-Paron said he thought someone else was in the truck that Moreno was operating that ended up crashing into the lake.Th
  
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• Sister-duo create healthy, bite-size snack ‘Nuf’ for H-E-B, Central Market

  21-02-2023 22:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Diabetes experts hope this is a wake-up call for America to prioritize health after a Center for Disease Control and Prevention study said as many as 220,000 people under the age of 20 are expected to be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2060.
  This is an increase of nearly 700%, the CDC study said. It based its projections on trends between 2002 to 2017. In 2017 28,000 individuals under 20 were living with Type 2 diabetes.Researchers said the rise is mainly because of child
  
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• Fayette County: Lack of finances causes rural hospital to stop services

  21-02-2023 22:20 via kxan.com
  
  FAYETTE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Rural hospitals are an important lifeline for people who live outside major cities, but over the years some have become at risk for closure or have had to reduce services.St. Mark’s Medical Center has become the latest victim in this ongoing struggle to operate rural hospitals.According to a press release from St. Mark’s, the governing board voted unanimously to pursue becoming a Rural Emergency Hospital, which would keep the hospital open and ser
  
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• 10.5 million Austin trees damaged in February ice storm, Texas experts report

  21-02-2023 22:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An estimated 10.5 million trees in Austin were damaged as a result of this month's ice storm — impacting 30% of the city's total tree canopy coverage, experts with the Texas A&M Forest Service said Tuesday.The update came through data compiled by seven Texas A&M Forest Service crews as well as the agency's Urban Forest Inventory and Analysis program. Satellite images were also used to capture the estimated extent of the damages, officials added. ICYMI: Homeown
  
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• Austin to enhance pedestrian, bike paths along Barton Springs Road near Zilker Park

  21-02-2023 21:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new project from Austin Public Works will revitalize pedestrian and bicycle paths along Barton Springs Road between Stratford Drive and MoPac Expressway.Crews recently began construction along the 0.7-mile project stretch, designed to improve mobility and add transit access near Zilker Park, the Zilker Botanical Garden and the Austin Nature and Science Center, per the release. The project is being done in partnership with the Austin Parks and Recreation and Austin Transpo
  
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• Salvation Army's downtown Austin shelter closing

  21-02-2023 20:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One of Austin's emergency shelters is closing.
  Salvation Army announced in a press release its downtown center will close.
  "After a long period of consideration and prayer, with the counsel of Advisory Board members and Austin community leaders, The Salvation Army has come to the decision that they can no longer continue to offer the level and quality of care their brothers and sisters need at the facility," the release said.
  The release also said the pandemic brought into
  
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• Man charged with murder after neighbor's body found in his apartment

  21-02-2023 20:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A 23-year-old man is facing a murder charge after his 81-year-old neighbor was found dead inside his southeast Austin apartment last weekend, according to an arrest affidavit.
  On Saturday, Feb. 18, family members of Leonard Foster, 81, asked for a welfare check because they had not heard from him since Wednesday, Feb. 15.Family members went to Foster's apartment and found that the front door was unlocked, and no one was there.
  About an hour later, the family called police again
  
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• LIVE: Man arrested in Austin 'street takeover' events from Dallas, had stolen gun, affidavit says

  21-02-2023 18:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One of the men arrested after several "street takeover" events in Austin this weekend was only in town for the "street takeover" and was from Dallas, an affidavit shows.
  Jerry Antonio Gore, 22, was arrested on evading arrest, reckless driving and other gun-related charges, documents show. According to the affidavit, Gore also had a gun reported as stolen out of Dallas in his car at the time of his arrest.No attorney is listed for Gore as of Tuesday afternoon.Editor's Note: The v
  
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• At least 7 people arrested in connection with Austin 'street takeovers'

  21-02-2023 18:52 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today's top headlines for Feb. 21, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- At least seven people were arrested following the street takeover events around Austin over the weekend.The Austin Police Department announced Tuesday in a news conference that four people were arrested Sunday. APD arrested two people Saturday night. APD: 2 arrested after ‘street takeovers’ late SaturdayThose four people are listed below:
  Ali Ahraf Nouredenne, 19Brian Javier Serrano
  
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• Affidavit: Man arrested in Austin 'street takeover' events from Dallas, had stolen gun

  21-02-2023 18:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One of the men arrested after several "street takeover" events in Austin this weekend was only in town for the "street takeover" and was from Dallas, an affidavit shows.
  Jerry Antonio Gore, 22, was arrested on evading arrest, reckless driving and other gun-related charges, documents show. According to the affidavit, Gore also had a gun reported as stolen out of Dallas in his car at the time of his arrest.No attorney is listed for Gore as of Tuesday afternoon.Documents show a DPS
  
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• 'Potential explosive device' found in Central Texas garage sale haul

  21-02-2023 18:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Kempner police are investigating a "potential explosive device" a person said they found in a box of items purchased at a garage sale.Kempner police chief Eddie Rodriguez met the person just after 8 a.m. Tuesday in the 12000 block of U.S. Highway 190 in Kempner, which is in Lampasas County and less than 20 miles west of Killeen."The citizen stated they had purchased a box of miscellaneous items at a garage sale and became concerned with one of them," a release said, adding
  
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• Report: Gulf of Mexico warming 2 times faster than global oceans

  21-02-2023 18:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new study finds that surface waters in the Gulf of Mexico have warmed approximately twice as fast as the global ocean over the last 50 years. LIST: Sunniest US cities, how Austin ranksThe study, published in the American Meteorological Society's Journal of Climate and conducted by scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Northern Gulf Institute (NGI), found "significant warming" of the Gulf's sea surface temperature — a 1.8°F
  
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• San Antonio police chief: 'Street takeover' groups also showing up there over last few weeks

  21-02-2023 18:03 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ANTONIO (KXAN) — After several "street takeover" events that happened across Austin this past weekend, San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus said his city has seen "street racer/takeover groups" show up there in the last couple of weeks as well.
  The chief called them "dangerous and disruptive" and said in San Antonio those types of events have ended in "numerous arrests, citations and gun and vehicle seizures."APD: 2 arrested after ‘street takeovers’ late SaturdayIn Austin,
  
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• Attorneys calling for prosecution of Austin officers who shot downtown shooting suspect

  21-02-2023 17:40 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today's top headlines for Feb. 21, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Attorneys for the family of a man who was shot and killed by police officers after a shooting in downtown Austin last month are calling for the prosecution of those officers.
  Anthony Franklin, 31, was shot by three Austin Police Department officers who believed he had fired shots in downtown Austin Jan. 15.
  The department later released several videos of the incident and revealed that Franklin
  
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• Attorneys call for prosecution of Austin officers who shot downtown shooting suspect

  21-02-2023 17:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Attorneys for the family of a man who was shot and killed by police officers after a shooting in downtown Austin last month are calling for the prosecution of those officers.
  Anthony Franklin, 31, was shot by three Austin Police Department officers who believed he had fired shots in downtown Austin Jan. 15.
  The department later released several videos of the incident and revealed that Franklin was shot seconds after he jumped off of a porch during a chase.DETAILS: VIDEO RELEASED
  
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• College campus voting sites would be banned under proposed Texas bill

  21-02-2023 17:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A proposed bill would ban voting sites on Texas higher education campuses, one of the latest filings that would change Texas voting laws.State Rep. Carrie Isaac, R-Wimberley, filed the bill Thursday. Isaac represents Comal County and parts of Hays County.In her proposal, counties would be prohibited from designating a polling place on the campus of an institution of higher education within the county. 2023 Legislature: Texas pre-filed bills aimed at changing voting lawsIf p
  
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• New study with Apple Watch to monitor Texas firefighters' hearts during wildfire season

  21-02-2023 16:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The amount of wildfire smoke firefighters breathe in and how it affects their health is at the heart of a major study.Apple is teaming up with Dr. So-Min Cheong, a Texas A&M researcher and associate professor in the Public Service & Administration Department at the Bush School.“This is investigating the impact of wildfire smoke on the health of firefighters, and we're particularly zooming into the heart,” said Dr. Cheong, the lead researcher of the study
  
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• 1 person dead after 3-vehicle wreck in north Austin

  21-02-2023 15:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One person died Tuesday morning after a crash involving three vehicles in north Austin.Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) reported the wreck happened at about 7:40 a.m. near the East Anderson Lane service road by Cameron Road, which is below U.S. 183. Paramedics said a total of three people are involved in the crash.
  ATCEMS shared that the wreck threw one person from a vehicle, while another patient is considered a "Trauma Alert." It's unclear which of these people died duri
  
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• Baby goes home after 2 open heart surgeries, 139 days in Dell Children's NICU

  21-02-2023 15:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A baby girl finally went home this week after undergoing two open heart surgeries and spending 139 days in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, at Dell Children's.
  Le'Lani was born 12 weeks early, weighing only 1 pound and 3 ounces. Her mother, Jasmine Matthews, of Mexia, Texas, suffered from a life-threatening case of preeclampsia that required her to deliver early, according to Dell Children's.
  Le'Lani was also diagnosed in utero with a rare congenital heart defect.
  
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• Rori Harmon's focus on training: An inside look at the point guard's work ethic

  21-02-2023 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A foot injury kept Texas point guard Rori Harmon out of the team's first five games of the 2022-2023 campaign. During that time, the proverbial light bulb lit up in her head."Something clicked," said sophomore guard Rori Harmon. "And [I] was like Zach [Zillner], we're going to have to be a little more serious with me doing recovery."MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsle
  
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• Gov. Abbott expands ice storm disaster declaration

  21-02-2023 14:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 44) - Governor Greg Abbott has expanded the state’s disaster declaration to include additional counties impacted by the ice storm from late January and early February.
  The counties added to the Governor’s disaster declaration are - Anderson, Bastrop, Blanco, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Delta, Falls, Hopkins, Hunt, Kendall, Lamar, Lee, Leon, Red River, Robertson, and Shelby counties. Gov. Abbott announces school education plan to empower parent choice&ldqu
  
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• Proposed study calls for possible solutions to affordable housing for Austin students

  21-02-2023 14:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A proposed resolution from one of Austin city council's newest members will lead to a study looking at the stock of affordable student housing and the number of college students who need that help.Council member Ryan Alter, district 5, authored the resolution, the first of his term. The study was requested by the College Student Commission to get a better understanding of the housing problem affecting students at local colleges and universities.The resolution, if approved, would
  
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• Temperatures soar, but so do wind speeds

  21-02-2023 12:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- You'd never know it's still winter in this current weather pattern.Afternoon highs will return to the mid-80s today with more sunshine expected after lunchtime. Winds will be breezy - gusting 20-25 mph - through the day with even stronger winds arriving overnight.Our first in a pair of cold front arrives just after midnight tonight. Strong southerly winds ahead of the front could gust up to 40 mph, and will continue to be gusty even behind the front just coming out of a differen
  
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• Strong winds coming tonight

  21-02-2023 12:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The afternoon will be sunny with unseasonably warm air. Our normal high temperature today is 68°.
  Some 90s are likely for the Hill CountryHighs tomorrow will be just as warm, if not warmer, from another sunny sky and a warm west to southwest wind.A "cold" front comes across Central Texas overnight through Wednesday morning with a miniscule 10% chance of a little rain. Most rain totals will yield nothing than a trace to .01" for most locations.The front leaves a west to south
  
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• Longhorns women's hoops fall two spots in latest AP Top 25 poll

  21-02-2023 05:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Despite a blowout win over West Virginia on Saturday, the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team fell two spots in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll released Monday.A 66-61 loss to then-No. 22 Iowa State was enough for poll voters to drop the Longhorns to No. 19 this week, still six spots behind No. 13 Oklahoma whom the Longhorns hammered 78-58 at home Jan. 25.
  MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score
  
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• Pflugerville, Round Rock FDs respond to apartment fire in far north Austin

  21-02-2023 05:34 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Pflugerville and Round Rock fire departments responded to a fire at an apartment complex in far north Austin near Pflugerville on Monday.Shortly after 8 p.m., Pflugerville and Round Rock units responded to reports of the fire at the Morgan Apartments, located at 1801 Wells Branch Parkway. It's an area with an Austin address but served by Travis County ESD No. 2, the Pflugerville Fire Department.It was not immediately clear how the fire started, nor how many apa
  
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• Austin street takeovers highlight persistent problem: Staffing shortages

  21-02-2023 05:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)-- Just off of Barbara Jordan Boulevard, Luis and Elida Bonet were leaving a concert at the AISD Performing Arts Center when they stumbled upon a different show on the street.
  "Probably five or six different cars just drifting, burning tires," Luis recalled.
  It was a street takeover, one of several that broke out in Austin on Saturday night.APD: 2 arrested after ‘street takeovers’ late Saturday"It just kept on going, just kept on going," Luis said.
  The incident prompted
  
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• Round Rock Express holding national anthem auditions Feb. 21

  21-02-2023 04:40 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN)-- The Round Rock Express is holding auditions to see who can belt out "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the upcoming 2023 season, according to a news release.The auditions will take place from 5-9 p.m. at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, located across Highway 79 from Dell Diamond, the release said. Auditions will be inside the Kilimanjaro Ballroom Suite #1.Anybody can audition with check-in beginning at 4:30 p.m. A warm-up room will be available.Each season, hundreds of p
  
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• Longhorns fall two spots in men's hoops Associated Press Top 25

  21-02-2023 04:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Voters in the Associated Press Top 25 men's basketball poll dropped the Texas Longhorns in the latest rankings released Monday.The Longhorns dropped two spots to No. 8 following a road loss to Texas Tech and an overtime win at home over Oklahoma last week. They'll take on No. 23 Iowa State at the Moody Center on Tuesday and No. 9 Baylor on Saturday in Waco.
  Full AP Top 25 men's basketball poll
  Kansas is the highest-ranked Big 12 Conference team in the poll at No. 3, receivi
  
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• Funeral planned for Texas teen shot near Shreveport Mardi Gras parade route

  21-02-2023 03:42 via kxan.com
  
  ELYSIAN FIELDS, Texas (KTAL/KSHV) - Funeral arrangements were announced Monday afternoon for an East Texas teenager fatally shot in Shreveport Saturday.Services for Kip Lewis will take place Thursday, Feb. 23 in the Elysian Fields High School auditorium. The service will begin at 10:00 a.m.All Elysian Fields ISD campuses will be closed Thursday to allow students and staff to attend.Elysian Fields ISD ‘heartbroken’ by shooting death of student near Shreveport Mardi Gras parade
  Kip, a
  
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• Juvenile arrested, faces charges in bomb threat that delayed flight at El Paso airport

  21-02-2023 03:39 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A  juvenile suspect was arrested and faces charges in a bomb threat that delayed an American Airlines flight out of El Paso International  Airport by about four hours on Friday,  according to news release sent out by the Texas Department of Public Safety.During a joint agency investigation spearheaded by the West Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force, a juvenile suspect was identified who later confessed to sending out a threat. No age or other description
  
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• 'NIL is a monster out there': Eddie Reese on changing college sports landscape

  21-02-2023 01:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Longhorns men's swimming and diving head coach Eddie Reese has won more than anyone else in NCAA history.During his 45-year tenure, the Longhorns have won 15 national championships and finished as runners-up another 13 times, including last season. TRACKING NIL: With states in charge of NIL laws for now, federal legislation may take years to comeWhen they compete in the Big 12 Championships in Austin from Feb. 22-25, the Longhorns will be aiming for their 44th consecu
  
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• Annual 'Go Red for Women' luncheon happening Friday

  21-02-2023 00:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)-- As a way to continue to raise awareness for cardiovascular disease in women, the Go Red for Women organization via the American Heart Association (AHA) will host its annual luncheon this week, according to the AHA website.The luncheon happens from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, at JW Marriott, 110 E. Second St, on the fourth floor.According to the website, research shows younger women and women of color are not aware that the threat is real.
  The keynote speaker for the event is Star
  
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• Remembering founder of 'La Cocina de Consuelo': A Texas housekeeper from Mexico achieved her American dream

  21-02-2023 00:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)— The long-time owner and founder of an Austin staple has died.Consuelo "Connie" Rodriguez passed away on Valentine's Day Eve, after a battle with cancer, her family said.
  Consuelo "Connie" Rodriguez, in her younger years before founding, "La Cocina de Consuelo."(Photo: Priscilla Gilbert).
  For more than a decade, the restaurant, 'La Cocina de Consuelo,' on Burnet has been a community favorite.La Cocina De Consuelo on Burnet Road. (KXAN photos/Jala Washington).
  It's a small fam
  
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