Monthly Archives: March 2014

Precinct analysis: Democratic primary elections

I finally got around to asking for the canvass reports for the primaries in Harris County. I didn’t have any specific agenda in looking at the data from each, I just wanted to see what I could learn. Let’s start … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A bumpy ride for Lyft in San Antonio

Ride sharing service Lyft has made its move into San Antonio, where much like it did in Houston it is offering free rides while regulatory issues are negotiated. Unlike Houston, the official reception they got was distinctly unfriendly. Less than … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on A bumpy ride for Lyft in San Antonio

AG opines against Early To Rise

This kind of snuck in there. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued an opinion Monday saying a court would likely have found a petition effort last year to send a 1-cent property tax hike to voters to buoy local preschools … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Just a reminder, the Ledbetter bill was bipartisan

I mean, it had to be bipartisan to pass in the Lege, but let’s keep that in mind as the debate continues. After 42 years in the Texas House, Rep. Senfronia Thompson has earned a nickname – “Miz T” – … Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for March 30

Time for Chief Wahoo to go away. The anti-social network has finally arrived. “Scientists have discovered a bizarre, bird-like dinosaur, named Anzu wyliei, that provides paleontologists with their first good look at a dinosaur group that has been shrouded in … Continue reading

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for March 30

Pratt resigns

Good riddance. Under investigation by Harris County prosecutors for dismissing hundreds of cases without notice, embattled family court judge Denise Pratt resigned Friday, abruptly ending her re-election bid. The freshman Republican jurist campaigned as a conservative advocate for children and … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

When are we getting those trains again?

The Metro board has some doubts about railcar manufacturer CAF’s ability to keep its promises. Houston transit officials, worried that the light rail system might run short of trains for months after two new lines open, are not satisfied with … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dallas adopts plastic bag fee

A fee, not a ban. Stores in Dallas will charge customers five cents for most kinds of plastic or paper carryout bags, under a measure approved Wednesday by the City Council. At the urging of council member Dwaine Caraway, the … Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Darsh Preet Singh

Very cool. Basketball courts didn’t care that Darsh Preet Singh wore a turban. Or that he is Sikh. Hardwood is a great equalizer. The court’s 10-foot-high rim does not discriminate. If you can handle the rock, you’ve got a place. … Continue reading

Posted in Society and cultcha | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Darsh Preet Singh

Saturday video break: America

Has there ever been a better free concert than the one Simon and Garfunkel did in Central Park in 1981? Here they are doing “America”: I love Simon’s joke about “the guys who are selling loose joints” donating half their … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Fifth Circuit does its thing again

There was never any doubt. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday upheld the new abortion regulations that were passed in July by the Republican-led Texas Legislature. The plaintiffs, who represent the majority of abortion providers in Texas, including four … Continue reading

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fifth Circuit does its thing again

Tesla’s stealth visit to San Antonio

May mean something, or it may not. A pair of executives from Tesla Motors Inc., the electric carmaker that’s scouting a location for its planned $5 billion “gigafactory,” secretly met here Wednesday with top city and county officials, a person … Continue reading

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

New Braunfels can ban is now officially canned

Pending appeal, of course. A permanent injunction issued Friday bars the city from enforcing its controversial ban on disposable containers and cooler-size limits on the Guadalupe and Comal rivers inside the city limits. “You can start drinking from cans and … Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

No more wobbly tables!

I love this story. A Houston businessman has an idea that could rid the world of having to use drink coasters and napkins to stabilize restaurant tables. Steve Christian, owner of Houston burger institution Christian’s Tailgate Bar and Grill, believes … Continue reading

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on No more wobbly tables!

Friday random ten: All in the family

We had family in town last week, and we went and visited more family in New Braunfels while they were here. So here are some family-oriented songs. 1. Aunt Avis – Widespread Panix 2. Uncle Dave – Leah White 3. … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Friday random ten: All in the family

Abbott sides with medical malpractice

Awesome. The Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, accused of protecting a neurosurgeon who allegedly killed and maimed patients, gained an ally this week in Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. Abbott filed motions to intervene in three separate federal court … Continue reading

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Mayors love high speed rail

As well they should. The mayors of Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth announced Thursday their unified support for the construction of a privately funded bullet train between the two metropolitan regions. “If successful, Houstonians will have a reliable, private alternative … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Mayors love high speed rail

Zipcar expands in Houston

Very cool. A car-sharing service on Wednesday expanded from spots on the Rice University campus to other locations in Houston, providing city residents with another option for transportation. Zipcar is making available 25 vehicles in 10 different locations in Houston … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Zipcar expands in Houston

Endorsement watch: DMN goes Kinky

Since pretty much every newspaper endorsed Hugh Fiztsimons for the Democratic nomination for Ag Commissioner in the primary, they now have the choice of picking a new candidate for the runoff or ignoring it and hoping it goes away. The … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: DMN goes Kinky

Vote fraud by impersonation just doesn’t exist

I mean, if Greg Abbott can’t find it, who possibly could? Since taking office in 2001, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has called voter fraud an “epidemic,” and made cracking down on it a top priority. Now, as he runs for … Continue reading

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Rick Perry feels your pain, ladies

You know what you ladies need? A big heaping dose of Rick Perry explaining to you why all this “equal pay” stuff is so silly. Rick Perry said today it’s “nonsense” to focus on equal pay for women when there … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Goal Zero Fatalities plan for bikes adopted

From the Mayor’s office: Mayor Annise Parker today announced the City and BikeHouston are joining forces to launch a major bike safety campaign to enforce and educate motorists and cyclists about the existing Safe Passing Ordinance, as well as create … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Goal Zero Fatalities plan for bikes adopted

Texas blog roundup for the week of March 24

The Texas Progressive Alliance has no idea what’s so hard to understand about the concept of equal pay as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of March 24

Last minute health insurance enrollment help

From the inbox: The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) will open four of its multi-service centers on Sunday and extend their business hours next Monday to help people sign up for a health insurance plan by the Affordable … Continue reading

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Last minute health insurance enrollment help

The Galveston oil spill

This is just awful. While the oil spill resulting from Saturday’s collision between a ship and barge was small by global standards – less than a third of what it would take to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool – the … Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Galveston oil spill

Collier hammers Hegar for property tax idiocy

Good. During the recent Republican primary for state comptroller, state Sen. Glenn Hegar repeatedly endorsed eliminating local property taxes in Texas. Borrowing from GOP opponent Debra Medina’s 2010 playbook, Hegar urged a shift to sales taxes to make up the … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Calculator apps

This seems reasonable to me. Despite concerns about test security, Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams announced Thursday that he would allow some students to use calculator “apps” on state exams next school year. Under current rules students may use only … Continue reading

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

We have ways of making you talk

Poor Greg. Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott, under fire for dodging the details on some policy questions, is filling in the blanks on issues that could be key in his race for governor against Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis. The answers … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Burnam files challenge in HD90

This ought to be interesting. State Rep. Lon Burnam filed a lawsuit Monday challenging his 111-vote re-election loss earlier this month. Burnam, D-Fort Worth, said the goal of the lawsuit is to review data from the Texas House District 90 … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Burnam files challenge in HD90

Makeup days

Sorry, kids. Houston area schools are facing possible cuts in state funding, and a bruising in the court of public opinion, by making up days missed earlier this year because of icy roads. With little fat built into the spring … Continue reading

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Park and Ride parking

I have no problem with this. Park and ride buses are among the cheapest options for suburban commuters who work downtown, in part because Metro provides free parking. But just as new highways increasingly require drivers to pay tolls, officials … Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Park and Ride parking

We still have no idea what the effect of the voter ID law will be

From the inbox, Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart declares victory for voter ID. The final results of the 2014 Democratic and Republican March 4th Primary Elections have been approved by the Democratic and Republican Parties. The results show that less … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Trib writes about One Bin For All

Mostly familiar information if you’ve been following this story, but a good overview if it’s new to you. Laura Spanjian, Houston’s director of sustainability, says the city is spending millions to expand its conventional recycling service and is still evaluating … Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: None of the above

The Texas Farm Bureau is unhappy with its choices in the Ag Commissioner runoffs. The political arm of the Texas Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farming organization, will refrain from endorsing a candidate in the GOP runoff for agriculture commissioner … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: None of the above