Monthly Archives: April 2007

Chron covers the prison guard shortage

Posted on April 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

From Sunday’s Chron: As leading lawmakers disagree on whether the state needs to build new prisons, Texas can’t fully staff the lockups it has now. Some warn that a chronic shortage of correctional officers poses a danger. “There’s a public … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Chron covers the prison guard shortage

Round Rock immigration protest lawsuit settled

Posted on April 16, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

In December, parents of four Round Rock High School students who were arrested for violating a curfew law when they were taking part in a pro-immigration rally filed a class action lawsuit against the city, saying that the arrests violated … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Round Rock immigration protest lawsuit settled

DMN: No more death penalty in Texas

Posted on April 15, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. The Dallas Morning News looks at some high profile death penalty cases in Texas and realizes that the system is irrevocably broken. And that uncomfortable truth has led this editorial board to re-examine its century-old stance on the death … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Possibly the last thing I’ll say about Danno’s outburst

Posted on April 15, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I received the following email from Court Koenning, Sen. Patrick’s chief of staff, in response to my earlier post about the Patrick/Whitmire fight on the Senate floor from Thursday: Good evening. Didn’t want to post a response to your update, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Houston WiFi – Not just for Houston

Posted on April 15, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston WiFi plan may benefit some folks who are not residents of Houston – in particular, the cities of Bellaire, West U, and Southside Place. In a section called “interlocal agreements” the contract said Houston, as the anchor tenant … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Jackie Robinson

Posted on April 15, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It was sixty years ago today that Jackie Robinson officially broke the color line in baseball by making his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. There will be much to read and learn about this remarkable man and how he changed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 2 Comments

Big Governor is watching you

Posted on April 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the story, as first reported. Piece by piece, Gov. Rick Perry’s homeland security office is gathering massive amounts of information about Texas residents and merging it to create the most exhaustive centralized database in state history. Warehoused far from … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 4 Comments

More on Danno’s outburst

Posted on April 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

For those of you who didn’t get a chance to see or hear the fracas on the floor of the Senate yesterday, the video is here – jump ahead to the 5:01 mark for the good stuff – while Greg … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 4 Comments

Marriage meddling bill gets gutted

Posted on April 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Good. In a dramatic overnight reversal, the Texas House gutted a “healthy marriage” bill Thursday that would have doubled marriage license fees if couples didn’t take classes in how to be good spouses. Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, won a key … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Fort Bend Democrats barbecue

Posted on April 14, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So what are you doing on May 19th? Let Hal make a suggestion: The Fort Bend Democrats are hosting a picnic in the park with barbecue, guest speakers, an auction, and good company. Where: Eldridge Park Pavilion 2511 Eldridge Road, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

Urban corridor planning events this weekend

Posted on April 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

From Metro: The City of Houston Planning & Development Department will be conducting an Urban Corridor Planning initiative. The findings of this study will modify the City’s policies and regulations to facilitate the development of attractive, walkable, and transit supportive … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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More on the anti-rail “lawsuit”

Posted on April 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story about the “lawsuit” filed against Metro yesterday. As was the case in the earlier coverage, the action is mis-identified. It’s not a lawsuit but a section 202 motion, which is intended to let someone who is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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“All you need is glove”

Posted on April 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I love stories like this: Eldridge Small was in for a surprise on the first day he coached the Wheatley softball team. The girls were excited to start playing, but several of them had never even put on a glove. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The fraud of voter fraud

Posted on April 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron picks up the story, but you really need to read the whole thing, because the Chron version cuts off before it gets to some of the more appalling parts. I’ll let Kevin Drum give what he calls the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

Kirby storm sewer update

Posted on April 13, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The following update to the Kirby storm sewer project was left as a comment in this post by reader robt. Here’s the latest on the Kirby storm sewer project as presented to the University Place Association annual meeting on April … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Lawsuit filed against Metro, sort of

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been wondering for a long time if something like this was going to happen. A lawsuit now threatens to derail Metro’s plans for light rail expansion in Houston. If it is successful, the entire process may have to start … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

“I’ve got a list”

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As expected, the Senate approved its budget today. What was not expected was the fireworks that accompanied it. Attacking from the right, Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, said he’s concerned that state budgets keep growing but Texas keeps trailing in rankings … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on “I’ve got a list”

Senate debates the budget

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure there will be more on this later, but for now, the Senate is debating the budget that it passed out of committee earlier this week. Despite some rumblings of discontent from the right, the motion to suspend the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Senate debates the budget

Welcome back, Sen. Gallegos

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It’s only for today, as the Senate debates the budget, but it’s very nice to see Sen. Mario Gallegos back where he belongs. More here, here, and here. Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Welcome back, Sen. Gallegos

Dewhurst and CHIP

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst keeps getting shelled for his uncompassionate and non-sensible position on CHIP. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst drew fire Wednesday from several clergy members and leaders of a community action group who said they have lost patience with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Dewhurst and CHIP

First they came for gay marriage

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’m going to defer to Rep. Garnet Coleman, as quoted in this story from yesterday, for saying what should be said about Rep. Warren Chisum’s desire to meddle with marriage. While Republicans long have decried the “nanny state” of liberal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 4 Comments

Council approves WiFi plan

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

And the City of Houston WiFi plan moves forward. Downtown likely will have the first access to the planned wireless Internet network system approved today by the City Council, and the rest of Houston will be added in 100-square-mile sections … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Council approves WiFi plan

Next time, run a red light

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Ken Hoffman has a problem. I received a notice in the mail last week from the Texas Department of Transportation. It said a video camera caught me running three toll gates in Denton while driving my Ford Taurus in March. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 8 Comments

Stars Over Kirby update

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Houstonist provides an update to the Kirby Drive beautification project that’s in the works: For $1500, you can be a part of it directly. To enable families and small businesses to contribute to the Kirby Drive All Stars program, which … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Come to the compound!

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Presented without comment, because I’m speechless: Tourist attraction planned on site of Davidian standoff. After announcing in February that they hope to renovate the New Mount Carmel property, once home to David Koresh’s Branch Davidian sect, the current occupants say … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Come to the compound!

Lawsuit filed against New Braunfels tubing ordinances

Posted on April 12, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

There may have been a slight easing of the recent rules about what you can and can’t do on the rivers in New Braunfels, but it wasn’t enough for some disgruntled business owners. A group of New Braunfels business owners … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Lawsuit filed against New Braunfels tubing ordinances

Are you registered for the special election yet?

Posted on April 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The deadline to register to vote in the May 12 special election is Thursday, April 12. That’s tomorrow, if you’re keeping score at home. When: Harris County residents must deliver applications to a county tax office by 4:45 p.m. or … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 1 Comment

More on the Senate budget

Posted on April 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s more detail about the Senate budget that came out of committee yesterday. The $152.2 billion, two-year state budget approved 15-0 by the Senate Finance Committee represents a 6.8 percent increase in state and federal spending compared with current levels. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on More on the Senate budget

The Center at City Council

Posted on April 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the latest developments in the Center Serving Persons with Mental Retardation saga: Baker Botts lawyer Irv Terrell confirmed Tuesday that his firm volunteered to represent the center after reading that city officials had declared the facility’s 99-year lease … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 9 Comments

Toll road moratorium passes House

Posted on April 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It took a little gamesmanship, but the two-year toll road moratorium has passed out of the House. Reacting to public hostility, the Texas House tentatively slapped a two-year moratorium on private company toll road projects Tuesday with a loud 134-5 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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“Zoning” in the Heights update

Posted on April 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, my post about the Chron article that was subheaded Houston panel urges zoning on development in neighborhoods got mailed around a bit, and as a result I wound up speaking to Planning Commission committee member Mark Sterling, who helped … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments

Can you read me now?

Posted on April 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I just have one question: Have I been banned in Dallas, too? I figure if John Wiley “I Heart Carole Keeton Strayhorn!” Price is doing this on a domain-by-domain basis to filter out us dirty bloggers, I might be safe. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Can you read me now?

Splashtown: Not going anywhere

Posted on April 11, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

In case you were curious. The new operator of the SplashTown water park said Monday the attraction in Spring will stay open for years to come, with rides expected to be added for next summer. PARC Management of Jacksonville, Fla., … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Splashtown: Not going anywhere

Did we put too much aside for Frew?

Posted on April 10, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Vince asks a good question: Seven hundred million dollars. That’s how much it will cost to settle the ongoing “FREW” lawsuit concerning Medicaid that has been raging for some 14 years. The settlement means providers will receive bigger Medicaid payments … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Did we put too much aside for Frew?