Monthly Archives: June 2007

We still need a special master for the crime lab

Posted on June 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I agree wholeheartedly with Patrick McCann. When Police Chief Harold Hurtt, Mayor Bill White and Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal were quoted as agreeing that there needs to be in-depth review of hundreds of criminal convictions based upon the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on We still need a special master for the crime lab

Rick Noriega’s record of accomplishment

Posted on June 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Over at Draft Rick Noriega, Vince takes a look at Rep. Noriega’s recent legislative record. We’ll start this week with some of his accomplishments during the 80th Session of the Texas Legislature. State Rep. Rick Noriega has several sessions of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Where the votes are these days

Posted on June 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Let me introduce you to Harris County Precinct 697. It’s a very Democratic precinct, but it doesn’t get a lot of turnout, at least not compared to some of its neighboring precincts. Here’s what happened in Precinct 697 last year: … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 3 Comments

A piece of The Stables lives on

Posted on June 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This is a sweet column by Lisa Gray about what happened to some of the folks who were stranded by the demolition of The Stables restaurant. How stable was The Stables? So stable that the staff didn’t leave for new … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Comments Off on A piece of The Stables lives on

When CEOs blog

Posted on June 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This is interesting. The rest of the world got a glimpse into the personality of John Mackey, Whole Foods Market Inc.’s chief executive, last week and learned what Austin has known for a long time: He is anything but subtle. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Comments Off on When CEOs blog

Red light cameras: Still more to come

Posted on June 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Like ’em or not, red light cameras are not going away – in fact, they’re likely coming to a city near you. More than a dozen municipalities, including Dallas and Houston, have them in place to catch red light runners. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

One more time: No special session!

Posted on June 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Gah. From Cap Inside, via LOs Dos Professors, the special session madness just won’t go away. Some state lawmakers want Governor Rick Perry to call a summer special session in hopes of heading off tuition hikes, budget cuts or property … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Keep your hands off my garlic!

Posted on June 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Is nothing sacred any more? Look around the kitchen of Filippo La Mantia’s hip restaurant in downtown Rome and you’ll see oranges, fresh basil, olive oil. But no garlic. “I will never use garlic!” declares the Sicilian chef as he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Comments Off on Keep your hands off my garlic!

Shaq’s Big Challenge

Posted on June 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I saw a promo for this the other day, and while I doubt I’ll tune in, I hope it does well. Here’s one way to get your earphone-wearing, video-game-playing, junk-food-eating kids off the couch and into a healthier lifestyle: Give … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 7 Comments

“Fire-safe” cigarettes

Posted on June 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

No matter how obsessively one follows the Lege, there’s always a few interesting bills that make it through completely under the radar. Legislators couldn’t agree to ban smoking in public places this session. But they did mandate that all cigarettes … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on “Fire-safe” cigarettes

West 11th Street Park wrapup

Posted on June 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

There’s nothing really new in this story about how funding for the West 11th Street Park came out of the Lege, but it’s a useful overview for those who hadn’t been following it all along. Just as the fate of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

The city of Houston’s top five athletes

Posted on June 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a little discussion fodder for the weekend for you: Who would you consider to be Houston’s top five athletes? The criteria, as noted by Stephanie Stradley, who gives her own answers plus some honorable mentions, are as follows: 1) … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment

What’s it to Wikipedia?

Posted on June 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, Wikipedia wants to delete the entry for Mary Beth Harrell, because it’s an Article about a person that does not assert the importance of the subject. She was a candidate, but did not win the seat. I don’t see … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 2 Comments

Day Labor centers

Posted on June 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still trying to understand the day labor center funding thing, which went one way on one day and then sort of reversed yesterday. Houston Mayor Bill White will help locate $100,000 to keep an East End day labor center … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Day Labor centers

Historic Status on tap?

Posted on June 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’d call this a step in the right direction, if nothing else. The Houston Planning Commission recommended Thursday that two iconic shopping centers be designated as landmarks, making them eligible for tax breaks intended to discourage their expected demolition. […] … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Historic Status on tap?

Cragg Hines is retiring

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like the Chron is going to need another DC-based columnist. FishbowlDC has learned that Houston Chronicle Washington columnist (and former Houston Chronicle D.C. Bureau Chief) Cragg Hines is retiring after 35 years with the paper. A Gridiron fixture, Hines … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 1 Comment

Zoo prices

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this story about a price hike at the Houston Zoo. 1. Get a membership. If you go to the Zoo more than once a year, it pays for itself. (And if you go … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

More pension deal details

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Today’s story on the pension deal fills in a few blanks. The city’s annual financial contribution, which increases with the liability, had been a source of contention in recent weeks. White has defiantly stated that the city couldn’t afford a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

We have congested streets? Why wasn’t I told?

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I didn’t think there was anything else to say about the head-spinningly fast flipflop on Westpark Toll Road pricing, but then I saw this in today’s updated story. On Tuesday, [Commissioner Steve] Radack said of drivers who couldn’t afford peak-hour … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

OK, we get it – you don’t like it

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Press’ Rich Connelly follows up this slightly over-the-top blog screed (call me a humorless liberal if you will, but I’ve lost my taste for “torture” jokes) against Kristin Finan’s video blog with another potshot (PDF) in this week’s print … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 1 Comment

The Ten Commandments of driving

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So the Vatican has issued the Ten Commandments of Driving. I hadn’t realized they had a travel bureau, but all in all it’s not a bad effort. I kind of prefer Mac’s version, though, even if they sometimes make me … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

New gig for Mary Beth Harrell

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Via Eye on Williamson comes the news that Mary Beth Harrell, who ran against Rep. John Carter in CD31 last year, has a new gig: KNCT-TV, the local public broadcasting station located on the campus of Central Texas College, recently … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other punditry | 1 Comment

Whitemire involved in lawsuit

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I didn’t get around to this story yesterday, in which a bartender who was fired from an Austin watering hole has sued her former employer for allegedly refusing to serve State Sen. John Whitmire. In her lawsuit, Rebekah L. Lear … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Pension deal reached

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I was wondering about this when I saw the story about the city budget being adopted earlier today. It was just a matter of time, I guess. The city and its largest pension fund have reached a tentative agreement on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Pension deal reached

Congestion pricing? What congestion pricing?

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Well, that was fast. County Judge Ed Emmett announced today that the county will not double fees during peak hours on the Westpark Tollway, backing off a decision made two days earlier that was assailed by many tollway drivers and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Backlash on Westpark Toll Road fees

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like there’s a little commissioner’s remorse over the upcoming toll road fee hikes. Several Commissioners Court members received calls and e-mail criticizing their decision Tuesday to double tollway fees during peak hours. “My initial thought was to implement these … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Give platelets

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

J. Fred Duckett, the longtime stadium announcer for the Rice Owls and the originator of the phrase “It’s a great day for outdoor football!”, is suffering from leukemia and in need of platelet donations. From the Owl fan forum, posted … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Comments Off on Give platelets

Independent at last!

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg changes tack. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced Tuesday that he was dropping his Republican affiliation, a step that could clear the way for him to make an independent bid for the presidency. […] Until … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 4 Comments

Don’t stop downloadin’

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Of all the things to come out of the Sopranos finale, I’d have to say this was the least expected. To me, anyway. The Sopranos is over, but the last song featured on the show, Don’t Stop Believin’ which the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 1 Comment

Farmers Branch and Hazelton

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

At last, we have an official injunction against the anti-immigrant ordinance in Farmers Branch, to replace the existing temporary restraining order. Agreeing with lawyers for residents and apartment owners who sued, U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay wrote that the measure … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Farmers Branch and Hazelton

Assessing the vetoes

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Paul Burka takes a detailed look at many of the bills that were vetoed by Governor Perry here and here, and examines the justification he gave for each. As you might imagine, some are more justified than others. In a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Assessing the vetoes

Hilary Green

Posted on June 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Kristin Mack reported last Friday that Hilary Green, wife of City Council Member Ron Green, was being considered for an appointment as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 7, Place 1. That’s the JP Court formerly presided over by Betty … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Hilary Green

More on the county bonds proposal

Posted on June 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

More details on the county bonds proposal that came out yesterday, though the questions that most interest me are still unanswered. Major projects that likely will be put before voters include: Family Law Center: An $85 million courthouse would be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Keep (your car) off the grass

Posted on June 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Is it just me, or does anybody else have a Jeff Foxworthy moment in reading this story? A proposed city law would make it illegal to park in your front yard. But if you simply slapped down some pavement over … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Keep (your car) off the grass