ATX PULSE 12/15/25 (free) (sponsored by The Elite Trade Club): Cold Weather Shelters Open // RIP Frank Cooksey // 1980 Murder of UT Student Solved // CoA to Convert City Hall Bathrooms to Single-Use at Cost of $10M // #3 UT Volleyball Season Ends // Taaffe Enters NFL Draft

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2025

Compiled by Matt Mackowiak

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WEATHER

Monday: H: 56° / L: 43°.

» Another cold night, but no freezing expected, per KXAN.

Tuesday: H: 60° / L: 55°.

Wednesday: H: 68° / L: 61°.

Thursday: H: 77° / L: 43°.

Friday: H: 65° / L: 49°.

Saturday: H: 77° / L: 59°.

Sunday: H: 78° / L: 54°.

TOP NEWS

"City of Austin activates cold weather shelters ahead of possible freeze" KVUE's None – City of Austin activates cold weather shelters ahead of possible freeze

A light freeze is possible Monday morning, with many areas possibly having "feels-like" temperatures in the lower 20s due to wind chill.

The city of Austin is opening its cold weather shelters on Sunday, as temperatures are expected to drop to near-freezing temperatures.

The KVUE Weather Team is forecasting a widespread light freeze for Monday morning. Many areas will be in the lower 30s, but some areas could get down to the upper 20s in spots, and with the winds, most areas could have "feels-like" temperatures in the lower 20s.

Anyone looking to register to stay at the cold weather shelters can do so by visiting the One Texas Center in Downtown Austin from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. CapMetro bus routes that access the One Texas Center are lines 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105 and 801, and those who cannot pay the fare will still be given a ride.

From there, a CapMetro bus will transport those accessing the a Cold Weather Shelter. An after-hours embarkation service will also be available for those seeking transportation to a shelter outside of the usual period.

(KVUE)

"How to prep your home and apartment for a Central Texas winter" Austin American-Statesman's Katey Psencik, Nicole Villalpando – It’s not officially winter yet, but as Austinites know, the weather can boomerang from warm to frigid in the fall and winter months — whether you’re renting or prepping as a homeowner, here’s how to prepare your home or apartment for when that freeze inevitably hits.

Regularly check your pipes, especially those in areas that get less heat, like exterior walls. Locate your water shutoff valves under sinks and behind toilets, as well as your main shutoff valve (this may require checking with your property manager).

Make sure your heater is working properly. Don’t wait until it freezes to turn it on for the first time this season — turn it on early and make sure it doesn’t need maintenance.

Seal any gaps around windows or doors to help retain warmth. You can also buy thermal curtains for your windows if you notice cold air gets in easily.

Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as any other emergency power systems you have, like a generator or portable battery.

(Austin American-Statesman)

"Former Austin Mayor Frank Cooksey, progressive champion, dies at 92" Austin American-Statesman’s Michael Barnes – Former Austin Mayor Frank Cooksey, champion of civil rights and the environment, died early Monday morning, his daughter confirmed. He was 92.

"We've lost one of the good guys," posted Judy Maggio Rosenfeld, a longtime broadcast reporter and founder of Judy Maggio Media. "Frank Cooksey truly cared about Austin, its people and its future."

A student body president at the University of Texas during the 1950s, lawyer Cooksey rode to municipal office on a progressive political wave that began in the 1970s. Tall and smiling, he served as mayor from 1985 to 1988.

"Frank Cooksey’s concerns were always about the well-being of his fellow citizens, all of them," said UT historian Tom Hatfield. "He was their advocate. He was serious about serious issues, like fairness and justice, clean water, adequate food, good housing and effective government. He was an exemplary product of the public schools of Austin."

Cooksey was born June 3, 1933, in Ashland, Kentucky. He lived for seven years in Grayson, Kentucky, where his father owned and operated a department store. The family moved to Austin, where his mother's ancestors had settled since the 1840s. He attended Pease Elementary, University Junior High and Austin High School. He graduated in 1951.

Cooksey attended both Baylor University and UT, where he graduated with a degree in psychology in 1955. After working on a master's in international relations, he attended the Union Theological Seminary in New York, then UT Law School, where he earned his law degree in 1962. In all phases, Cooksey joined and led social, scholarly and other clubs.

He practiced law for 40 years. Among his postings were as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, an assistant U.S. attorney and special attorney general of Texas. He spent time in private practice in Austin, Houston and Washington, D.C. In 1988, he retired from active practice.

That did not slow him down. Cooskey continued to lead legal initiatives at home and abroad.

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