Monthly Archives: October 2007

Turnout and Prop 15

Posted on October 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron continues its series on Constitutional amendments on this year’s ballot with a look at Prop 15, the initiative to fund cancer research with $3 billion in bonds. No organized opposition has emerged to Proposition 15, but detractors say … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 2 Comments

How about that utility dereg?

Posted on October 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So what do we know about utilities deregulation in Texas? Well, first and foremost, it hasn’t delivered on its biggest promise: “Competition in the electric industry will benefit Texans by reducing monthly rates and offering consumers more choices about the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 3 Comments

Abstinence education funding cuts coming

Posted on October 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Some providers of sexual abstinence programs in Texas schools are cutting back their operations because $50 million in federal funds for abstinence promotion quietly expired last week. Despite an 11th-hour extension of funding until Dec. 31, the effect is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Abstinence education funding cuts coming

More tort “reform” commentary

Posted on October 7, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The NYT had a story on Friday about an increase in the number of doctors in Texas, which is being claimed by tort “reformers” as proof of their success. I’ve been over this ground plenty of times, so I’m going … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 1 Comment

Comptroller blinks in dispute against HCAD

Posted on October 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Last month, Comptroller Susan Combs issued a report saying that the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) had been undervaluing commercial properties, which in turn was shorting HISD of revenue – see here for some background. Now they’re saying maybe not. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Comptroller blinks in dispute against HCAD

The HISD bond opposition organizes

Posted on October 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Most of this story is about fears that opposition to the HISD bond proposal will lead people to also vote against State Proposition 2, which is a subject I covered last week. Other than a quote from Dr. Richard Murray … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | 2 Comments

Construction begins at the old Ed Sacks Waste Paper site

Posted on October 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been writing a lot about various demolitions going on around town lately, so here’s a change of pace for you. Almost two years ago, in January of 2006, the old Ed Sacks Waste Paper company at 440 Studemont, right … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Construction begins at the old Ed Sacks Waste Paper site

Kay Granger targeted for S-CHIP override vote

Posted on October 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The following is excerpted from an Americans United for Change press release, which is part of a big national effort to put pressure on various Congressional Republicans to vote for an veto override on S-CHIP. They’re targeting Rep. Kay Granger … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Primary in JP Precinct 1

Posted on October 6, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The following is via email from Carl Whitmarsh: In a surprise move to many, longtime Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Position 1, Dale Gorczynski seems to have drawn an opponent in the March 2008 primary – his … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 5 Comments

Endorsement watch: Edwards for Adams, HPOU for Sullivan

Posted on October 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Wanda Adams picked up a nice endorsement this week: Councilwoman Ada Edwards has endorsed Wanda Adams to succeed her as the city’s representative of District D. Edwards, who has served on the council for a maximum three terms, was joined … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Edwards for Adams, HPOU for Sullivan

CPPP statement to Cornyn on S-CHIP

Posted on October 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The CPPP has issued the following statement to John Cornyn regarding his SCHIP claims: In the debate over reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Senator Cornyn is talking about plans that did not pass Congress. He is touting the so-called … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on CPPP statement to Cornyn on S-CHIP

Good-bye, Allen House

Posted on October 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I took that picture on Tuesday afternoon (an earlier version, before the wreckers made it to the Allen Parkway side of things, is here). When I drove past Allen House yesterday, it and everything else in the block bounded by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Good-bye, Allen House

RIP, Lisa Moore

Posted on October 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As expected, the character Lisa Moore from Funky Winkerbean has died from breast cancer. [A]s readers mourn Lisa Moore, they may find some comfort in knowing that writer Tom Batiuk promises big changes for the story. In May, Batiuk returned … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 1 Comment

Will the S-CHIP veto be overridden?

Posted on October 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Having now been vetoed, the next phase in the fight over S-CHIP is the override attempt. “Congress will fight hard to override President Bush’s heartless veto,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada vowed. Republican leaders expressed confidence they have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

On nominating judges

Posted on October 5, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

My buddy Matt sent me this NYT editorial about a legal challenge to the way in which New York State elects its judges. The United States Supreme Court hears arguments tomorrow in a challenge to New York’s undemocratic method of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Comments Off on On nominating judges

Reward for KPFT shooting info

Posted on October 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Remember the bullet that was fired into the KPFT studio a few weeks back? If you know anything about who did it, you can collect a reward. An anonymous donor has enabled Crime Stoppers to double the possible reward for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Reward for KPFT shooting info

Freed after 14 years

Posted on October 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t have anything particularly insightful to say about the case of Ronald Taylor, who is on his way to being freed from prison after being unjustly convicted of rape 14 years ago due to an error committed by the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Bissonnet high rise protesters get some results

Posted on October 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not a “media event” without the media, so here’s Miya’s coverage of the neighborhood protest against the Bissonnet high rise. They certainly succeeded in their mission to draw attention to their cause. They’ve also succeeded in the more important … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments

Greater Houston Partnership endorses HISD bond proposal

Posted on October 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Okay, now I think this thing might be a favorite to pass. The Houston school district’s bond proposal won a much-needed, though not unanimous, endorsement from the city’s largest business organization on Wednesday. The Greater Houston Partnership would not disclose … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Greater Houston Partnership endorses HISD bond proposal

Form-based planning

Posted on October 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

A couple of days ago, I blogged about zoning and form-based planning, and said that I knew nothing about the latter. In a comment that I didn’t see at the time because it was accidentally flagged as spam by Movable … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Comments Off on Form-based planning

How to avoid computer viruses in one easy lesson

Posted on October 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Step one: If you receive an email claiming to have nekkid pictures of famous women contained within, do not open it, and for God’s sake do not click on any links or open any attachments. Just delete it unread. Step … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on How to avoid computer viruses in one easy lesson

Our state dinosaur: Not who you thought it was

Posted on October 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, our official state dinosaur is an impostor. Bones discovered in the 1990s that spurred the Legislature to declare the pleurocoelus the state’s official dinosaur were misidentified and actually came from a different species, according to a student’s research. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Our state dinosaur: Not who you thought it was

Joe Heflin named “Legislator of the Year”

Posted on October 4, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s one possible reason why State Rep. Joe Heflin is not at the top of the GOP list of vulnerable incumbents: He’s been doing a really good job. State Rep. Joe Heflin of Crosbyton was credited with a $5 million … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Joe Heflin named “Legislator of the Year”

Border mayors tell feds to stay off their property

Posted on October 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Another front in the fight against the border fence: Mayors in the affected towns are denying access to city-owned property. Mayors in Brownsville, Del Rio and El Paso have denied or limited access to some parts of their city property … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 3 Comments

Alvarado looks to HD145

Posted on October 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose you already knew that term-limited Council Member Carol Alvarado was planning to run for Rick Noriega’s to-be-vacated HD145 seat, but in the event you didn’t, now you do. Although District I City Council Member Carol Alvarado stopped just … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Alvarado looks to HD145

S-CHIP vetoed

Posted on October 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. President Bush, in a confrontation with Congress, today vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have dramatically expanded children’s health insurance. It was only the fourth veto of Bush’s presidency, and one that some Republicans feared could carry steep … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Melissa Noriega With DFA’s Jim Dean Thursday Night

Posted on October 3, 2007 by admin

Forty-two people have already rsvp’d to participate in Jim Dean’s Four Steps To Victory Tour stop in Houston on Thursday night. The event also features Houston’s newest City Council member, Melissa Noriega. You can rsvp here. Event details: Date: Thursday, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Melissa Noriega With DFA’s Jim Dean Thursday Night

Interview with Annette Dwyer

Posted on October 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

For my next interview, we head out to District E for a conversation with Annette Dwyer. She is a resident of Clear Lake, a member of Council Member Addie Wiseman’s Citizens Advisory Committee, and a board member of the Association … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on Interview with Annette Dwyer

Hardin versus the high rise

Posted on October 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

How serious are the opponents of the Bissonnet high rise? Serious enough to hire a high-powered attorney. Residents of Southampton and Boulevard Oaks have hired trial lawyer Rusty Hardin to help them oppose a 23-story high-rise proposed for the corner … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Offshore wind leases granted

Posted on October 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever may happen with the King-Kenedy Ranch kerfuffle, wind energy in Texas will still move forward. A Louisiana company was awarded leases to four tracts Tuesday in the state’s first open bidding for offshore wind power in the Gulf of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Offshore wind leases granted

Two more hurricanes

Posted on October 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

One feature of early October that I think we’re all paying more attention to these days is the revised hurricane forecast for the rest of the season. Hurricane expert William Gray slightly downgraded his forecast today, calling for four named … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Two more hurricanes

If only there were some way to track where it went

Posted on October 3, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Got one of those newfangled GPS units in your car? Watch out, it might get stolen. Valuable stuff has been swiped from cars forever, but the theft of portable satellite-navigation units is dramatically increasing in many places. Crime analysts blame … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on If only there were some way to track where it went

It’s never enough, is it?

Posted on October 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I guess it was too much to ask to hope that the “Noriega may have the resume, but Watts has the money” story line would fade, even for a day, as evidenced by some of the coverage that Noriega’s third … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 3 Comments

A look at At Large #2

Posted on October 2, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has a feature story on the race for City Council At Large #2, and I have to say, I find it a bit puzzling. For a frequent/perennial candidate who as far as I can tell has never actually … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2007 | Comments Off on A look at At Large #2