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Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed

Indira Zaldivar
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Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed

Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton died on Oct. 11 at the age of 79. According to People magazine, her family confirmed that pneumonia was the cause of death. In their statement, they thanked fans for “the extraordinary messages of love and support.”

Emergency Response at Her Home

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical call at Keaton’s Brentwood home at 8:08 a.m. and transported her to the hospital. Additional details were not immediately shared at the time of her passing.

A Legendary Career Spanning Six Decades

Keaton rose to fame in the 1970s as Kay Adams in The Godfather films. She earned four Oscar nominations and won Best Actress in 1978 for Annie Hall. Her filmography includes Play It Again, Sam, Baby Boom, The First Wives Club, and the Book Club series. In a 2022 interview with ABC News, she reflected, “I had the opportunity to make my choices with time as it went on.”

Hollywood Pays Tribute

Tributes poured in from co-stars and collaborators, including Mary Steenburgen, Goldie Hawn, and director Nancy Meyers. “We have lost a giant,” Meyers wrote on Instagram, honoring Keaton’s brilliance and vulnerability on screen.

Honoring Her Legacy

Her family encouraged donations to local food banks or animal shelters in her memory, noting her love for animals and her commitment to supporting unhoused communities.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Weather changes ahead! Here’s why there’s a glimmer of hope for rain

ABC13 Houston
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Weather changes ahead! Here’s why there’s a glimmer of hope for rain

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — You’ll notice some changes to the way the sky looks and the air feels on Thursday, and by Friday you might even need to use your umbrella for the first time in October! These changes are occurring ahead of a Pacific cool front that rushes through Southeast Texas late Saturday night.

We’ll enjoy one more seasonal morning with low temperatures in the 60s to start our Thursday. Cloud cover will increase throughout the day as an upper-air disturbance glides overhead. There’s even a 10% chance you could get a brief, light rain shower. Southeasterly winds will also increase the humidity relative to the last few days. With the extra clouds and moisture, high temperatures should stay below 90 degrees.

Higher amounts of moisture arrive on Friday, and we’ve now boosted your chance for rain up to 30%.

What should we expect with this weekend front?

It looks like the front will blow through Southeast Texas late Saturday night and early Sunday morning, clearing the coast around sunrise. This front looks to be weak and fast-moving, so temperatures won’t be impacted as much as the humidity. The dry air flowing in behind the front could cook up Sunday’s high into the low 90s before we get a crisp Monday morning with lows near 60 in Houston.

Will that front bring us any rain?

Possibly, but it won’t be enough to turn the building drought around. This looks to be a Pacific cool front, which typically brings a thin band of showers and thunderstorms. Right now we have a 30% chance for rain Saturday night, and then it drops to zero percent after it clears the coast Sunday morning. Try not to get your hopes up too much for rainfall at this time.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

For more Houston headlines, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine!

Supreme Court Signals Move to Narrow Voting Rights Act

Edward Saenz
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Supreme Court Signals Move to Narrow Voting Rights Act

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared poised to limit how Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is applied to redistricting, a shift that could reshape congressional maps nationwide and weaken protections for minority voters.

Louisiana Case at the Center

The justices heard arguments in a challenge to Louisiana’s creation of a second majority-Black congressional district. Conservative members of the court questioned whether race played too dominant a role in the map’s design, suggesting plaintiffs should face a tougher legal standard to prove discrimination.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, seen as a key vote, raised concerns about the indefinite use of race to draw districts. NAACP Legal Defense Fund president Janai Nelson countered that Section 2 remains essential for addressing ongoing discrimination, not for imposing racial quotas.

Longstanding Legal Precedents

Under current law, race cannot be the primary factor in redistricting, but states are allowed to consider race to comply with the Voting Rights Act. The court reaffirmed Section 2 as recently as 2023, noting it aims to remedy discriminatory effects even without proof of intent.

Justice Elena Kagan emphasized that Section 2 ensures equal voting opportunities for Black voters, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson described it as a “tool” to identify racial disparities rather than a temporary fix.

Nationwide Implications

A ruling in Louisiana’s favor could force the state to redraw its map before the 2026 midterms, potentially under more race-neutral criteria. A broader decision could ripple across multiple states, threatening the existence of majority-minority districts that currently bolster minority representation.

Nelson warned that further rollbacks would be “catastrophic,” pointing out that Black congressional representation in the South largely stems from districts created under the Voting Rights Act.

The court is expected to issue its decision by June 2026, a timeline that could influence how states prepare their maps ahead of the next election cycle.

For more on the Supreme Court’s session, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Houston Keeps Property Tax Rate Flat Despite Budget Deficit

Indira Zaldivar
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0
Houston Keeps Property Tax Rate Flat Despite Budget Deficit

Houston leaders voted Wednesday to keep the city’s property tax rate unchanged, opting to dip further into savings rather than raise taxes to address a growing budget gap.

City Council Splits on Vote

The 12–3 vote, with one member absent, keeps the rate at 52 cents per $100 of property value through 2026. A homeowner with a $300,000 property will continue paying about $1,530 in city taxes. Council Members Abbie Kamin, Edward Pollard, and Sallie Alcorn opposed the move, warning it will deepen financial strain.

Alcorn, the council’s budget chair, called the decision “a swing and a miss,” noting the city will draw down $53 million from reserves to balance its $7 billion budget this year, creating a $128.5 million shortfall heading into the next fiscal year.

Whitmire Holds Firm Against Tax Hike

Mayor John Whitmire reiterated his refusal to raise taxes until his administration eliminates “waste, fraud and abuse.” He said a revenue plan is in development but did not share details. Houston, unlike other Texas cities, does not charge extra fees for services like trash or utilities, relying instead on property taxes for its $3 billion general fund.

Widening Deficit Ahead

City analysts project a $227 million deficit next year, potentially ballooning to $463 million by 2030 without new revenue. Some council members suggested adding a trash fee or lifting the local revenue cap to help close the gap, while others backed the mayor’s stance, saying financial reforms must come first.

Alcorn and Pollard pressed for a clearer revenue strategy. Kamin warned the city is “cutting our life out from under us” by holding the line on taxes without a long-term plan.

Public Affordability vs. City Services

Whitmire emphasized affordability concerns, saying he’ll only consider raising taxes when the public has confidence in City Hall. Meanwhile, residents continue to express frustration with basic services such as trash pickup, as Houston tries to balance financial caution with growing operational costs.

For more on Houston City Council, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Heated Clash at Houston City Council Over Teen’s Immigration Case

Indira Zaldivar
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Heated Clash at Houston City Council Over Teen’s Immigration Case

Tensions flared at a Houston City Council meeting Wednesday after Police Chief Noe Diaz’s remarks about a controversial immigration case prompted a public outburst.

Advocacy Leader Confronts Police Chief

As Mayor John Whitmire called for a 20-minute recess, Cesar Espinosa, executive director of immigrant advocacy group FIEL, stood up and shouted at Chief Diaz for allegedly refusing to meet with him.

“Why do you lie? Why do you lie? Chief Diaz we’ve been trying to meet with you,” Espinosa yelled. “The child is autistic! Proper care that he deserves—do not lie.” Moments later, the audio feed from the meeting was cut.

Teen With Autism Separated From Mother

The confrontation stemmed from the case of 15-year-old Emmanuel Gonzalez Garcia, a Houston teen with autism taken into federal custody after disappearing Oct. 4. He was found at a McDonald’s near Airline Drive and reportedly told police he had no family, leading authorities to contact federal immigration agencies.

Emergency Surgery Raises Concerns

Advocates say Emmanuel functions at the cognitive level of a 4- or 5-year-old and should not have been separated from his mother. He recently underwent emergency appendicitis surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital and remains in federal custody. His mother’s contact with him has been limited since their separation.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Houston Teen with Autism Back in Federal Custody After Emergency Surgery

Indira Zaldivar
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0
Houston Teen with Autism Back in Federal Custody After Emergency Surgery

A 15-year-old undocumented Houston teen with autism is back in federal custody just days after undergoing emergency surgery, sparking outrage from his family and advocates.

Missing Teen Found, Then Detained

Emmanuel Gonzalez Garcia disappeared 10 days ago before being found by Houston police. Instead of being reunited with his mother, Emmanuel was placed under the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). After his surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital, advocates with FIEL Houston say ORR detained him again shortly after his mother left his bedside.

Family and Advocates Demand Answers

Maria Garcia, Emmanuel’s mother, spoke at a Houston City Council meeting alongside FIEL Houston, questioning why her son wasn’t returned home. Council Member Mary Nan Huffman said there was confusion over Emmanuel’s name when police located him, which delayed reunification efforts.

HPD stated it spent four hours trying to resolve the case before Child Protective Services advised contacting federal health officials. ICE clarified that it was never involved, but that ORR received Emmanuel following HPD’s call.

City Officials Pledge Action

Mayor John Whitmire promised to assemble a legal team and staff to investigate. “We will hold everyone accountable for what happened,” he said.

Cesar Espinoza with FIEL Houston emphasized that Emmanuel belongs with his mother, stating, “She wants to put the responsibility if anything happens to Emmanuel now, on them, because he should’ve been able to go home.”

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Wednesday is hot and sunny, then small rain chances return ahead of weekend front

ABC13 Houston
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Wednesday is hot and sunny, then small rain chances return ahead of weekend front

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houston has now hit 90 on 11 days so far in October, and it will likely happen again today. While long-lasting drought and heat relief are nowhere in sight, we do have a slim chance for rain starting Thursday and continuing until Sunday morning when a Pacific cool front rushes through Southeast Texas.

We are starting off Wednesday with temperatures in the low 60s. You can expect a lot of dew on the ground with the humidity near 100%. A dry northeasterly breeze will turn more easterly as the day wears on, and with all the sunshine, temperatures should again climb to near 90 in the afternoon. An Ozone Pollution Watch is also in place for Harris, Brazoria, and Galveston Counties. Ozone is a lung irritant, so you may want to limit any strenuous, prolonged outdoor activities.

When could we get some rain?

An upper-air disturbance blowing in Thursday brings a 10% chance for rain, and then the rain chance creeps a little higher Friday and Saturday as Gulf moisture surges in ahead of our weekend front.

When is the next front supposed to arrive?

It looks like the front will blow through Southeast Texas late Saturday night and early Sunday morning, clearing the coast around sunrise. This front looks to be weak and fast-moving, so temperatures won’t be impacted as much as the humidity. The dry air flowing in behind the front could cook up Sunday’s high into the low 90s before we get a crisp Monday morning with lows near 60 in Houston.

Will that front bring us any rain?

Possibly, but it won’t be enough to turn the building drought around. This looks to be a Pacific cool front, which typically brings a thin band of showers and thunderstorms. Right now we have a 30% chance for rain Saturday night, and then it drops to zero percent after it clears the coast Sunday morning. Try not to get your hopes up too much for rainfall at this time.

What is happening in the tropics?

Lorenzo is struggling over the Atlantic and will remain a fish storm. We are also monitoring a developing Pacific disturbance near Mexico that could send moisture into Texas later this month. For a thorough update and in-depth video on what’s happening in the tropics, head to our tropical update page.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

For more Houston headlines, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine!

Instagram Adopts PG-13 Content Standards for Teen Users

Indira Zaldivar
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0
Instagram Adopts PG-13 Content Standards for Teen Users

Instagram is rolling out its most significant update yet to “Teen Accounts,” introducing new PG-13–based content settings for users under 18. Starting this week, teen accounts will automatically shift to a “13+” setting designed to mirror the themes, language, and visuals typical of PG-13 movies.

Aligning with Parental Expectations

Meta’s Global Director of Public Policy, Tara Hopkins, said the change aims to give parents a familiar reference point. “We’re doing this to really speak the language of parents who are much more familiar with movie ratings,” she told Good Morning America.

Instagram first launched Teen Accounts in 2024 to strengthen protections for young users amid growing pressure from lawmakers, parents, and advocacy groups.

New Restrictions and Parental Controls

Under the updated guidelines, teens cannot opt out of the “13+” setting without parental permission. Parents who want stricter limits can select a Limited Content mode, which filters more material and removes commenting features.

Content involving marijuana, alcohol, extreme stunts, suggestive themes, or strong language will be further restricted from teens’ feeds, Reels, and Explore pages. Meta is also expanding its age-prediction technology to prevent teens from bypassing these controls.

Parental Involvement and Feedback

Parents can report inappropriate content and share feedback with Instagram. So far, over 3 million pieces of content have been rated globally through this initiative. A recent Ipsos survey found 95% of U.S. parents believe the new settings will help, and 90% say the changes make it easier to understand what their teens see online.

Broader Safety Measures

Instagram is also tightening controls around teen accounts by blocking mature search terms, limiting interactions with flagged accounts, and aligning AI responses with PG-13 standards.

The new settings are launching in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada, with global expansion planned for 2026. Meta says it will continue refining Teen Accounts to make the Instagram experience safer and easier for parents to understand.

Keep up with the ever-changing world of technology and social media, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Soul Icon D’Angelo Dies at 51

Edward Saenz
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0
Soul Icon D’Angelo Dies at 51

D’Angelo, the legendary soul artist behind the hit “Brown Sugar,” has died at age 51 following a private battle with pancreatic cancer.

TMZ reported the news on Tuesday, and DJ Premier confirmed it in a tribute on X, writing, “Such a sad loss to the passing of D’Angelo. We have so many great times. Gonna miss you so much. Sleep Peacefully D’ Love You KING.”

Early Life and Rise to Fame

Born Michael Eugene Archer in Richmond, Virginia, D’Angelo was the son of a Pentecostal minister. He began playing piano at age 3 and performed at church with his father by age 5. As a teen, he formed musical groups and showcased his talent at Amateur Night at the Apollo, eventually winning first place in 1991. With his prize money, he began recording songs that would shape his debut album.

Breakthrough with Brown Sugar

Released in 1995, Brown Sugar became a defining album of the neo-soul movement. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, went platinum within a year, and earned D’Angelo four Grammy nominations. Its smooth sound and intimate lyricism made him a standout artist of the decade.

Grammy-Winning Success with Voodoo

In 2000, D’Angelo released his second album, Voodoo, which debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B Albums charts. The album won the Grammy for Best R&B Album, while “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” earned Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and a nomination for Best R&B Song, cementing his place as a soul music icon.

For more celebrity headlines, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Alex Jones’ Appeal in $1.4 Billion Sandy Hook Case

Edward Saenz
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Supreme Court Declines to Hear Alex Jones’ Appeal in $1.4 Billion Sandy Hook Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Alex Jones’ attempt to overturn a $1.4 billion defamation judgment related to his false claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a government-staged hoax. The decision, issued Oct. 14, leaves in place the Connecticut jury’s ruling against the Infowars founder.

Background on the Case

Jones repeatedly claimed the mass shooting — in which 26 people, including 20 children, were killed by 20-year-old Adam Lanza — was fabricated. A Connecticut judge found Jones liable by default in 2021 after he refused to comply with court orders or hand over evidence. A jury later determined the damages he owed to families of victims and an FBI agent.

Jones’ Legal Arguments

Jones asked the Supreme Court to intervene, arguing he was denied a proper trial and that state courts should not be able to issue administrative default judgments against media figures. His lawyers described the outcome as “a financial death penalty by fiat imposed on a media defendant whose broadcasts reach millions.” The court declined to review the case or to shield his assets, including Infowars, during the appeal.

Additional Judgments

In addition to the $1.4 billion Connecticut judgment, Jones also faces nearly $50 million in damages from a Texas lawsuit brought by the parents of a six-year-old Sandy Hook victim.

For more updates on the Supreme Court cases during the ongoing session, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

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