Daily Archives: February 20, 2007

Dedicating the sporting goods tax

Posted on February 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

South Texas Chisme looks at the headline Legislature to debate the use of sporting goods tax for parks and wails in despair “WHY IS THERE EVEN A DEBATE? WHY WASN’T THAT TAX USED FOR PARKS BEFORE?” I don’t have a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Dedicating the sporting goods tax

City WiFi on the agenda

Posted on February 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s some more info about the the citywide WiFi initiative, which was on today’s City Council agenda. Houston officials and the contractor they chose last week for the project say they have learned from other cities’ mistakes. “We’re learning some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Perry’s TXU order shot down

Posted on February 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A state district judge today blocked Gov. Rick Perry’s executive order creating a fast-track permitting process for coal-fired electric generating plants, a ruling that also could impact the debate over Perry’s order requiring cervical cancer vaccinations for pre-teen girls. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 1 Comment

HB2: Property tax cuts uber alles

Posted on February 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday, the House picked up where the Senate left off on the issue of busting the spending cap to fund the excessive property tax cuts. After a mostly harmonious debate concerning extending the tax cut from the last special session … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on HB2: Property tax cuts uber alles

Eckels: It was all about me

Posted on February 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t really care who Robert Eckels is going to work for. It was a safe bet it was going to be something high-powered and high-paying, it was just a matter of which big-name firm would be signing his checks. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 5 Comments

How do you TiVo?

Posted on February 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Dwight has a question for all you TiVo and TiVo-like users: So how about you? Like commercials or hate ’em? If you own a DVR, do you watch the ads or zap through them? If you like them, ‘fess up: … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 2 Comments

Get well soon, Debra Danburg

Posted on February 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Debra Danburg was my State Rep for most of the 90s when I lived in Montrose. I’m very sorry to hear that she has cancer of the bile duct and is scheduled for surgery today. I join Rep. Hochberg and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Still more on Old Spanish Trail

Posted on February 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Rad Sallee must have really struck a nerve with his columns about the sorry state of Old Spanish Trail because he’s gone back to the well for a third time. Texas Department of Transportation area engineer Maureen Wakeland had briefly … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Still more on Old Spanish Trail

Onion Creek goes smokefree

Posted on February 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Marty Hajovsky brings me some good news about my neighborhood pub. Following its inception in the fall of 2002, Onion Creek Coffee House has been an innovator, being the first establishment of its type in the area, and also being … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Onion Creek goes smokefree