Monthly Archives: June 2008

Building collapse at Rice

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Tragic. Storm winds toppled walls at a Rice University dormitory construction site Thursday afternoon, killing one construction worker and sending six others to hospitals, authorities said. The collapse occurred about 4 p.m., as rain and high winds whipped through the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Tamalalia 2.0

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The new Catastrophic Theater show opens tonight, and it will have some familiar elements for longtime fans of the local scene. The Catastrophic Theatre presents the world premiere of THE TAMARIE COOPER SHOW written, directed and choreographed by Tamarie Cooper. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Council passes the budget

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to the Metro vote, Council passed the budget yesterday. In his fiscal 2009 plan, Mayor Bill White asked the council to approve a $105 million increase in spending for police, fire and emergency medical services. Included is money … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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More on the Council Metro vote

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Some more details in today’s paper on yesterday’s City Council vote in favor of the Metro consent agreement. Current plans call for the University line to run on Wheeler from Main to Ennis, where it would turn north alongside Texas … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Obama and Latino voters

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

A new national poll of Latino voters has some good news for Sen. Barack Obama. The survey found that 60 percent of Latinos planned to vote for Obama, compared to 23 percent for [Sen. John] McCain, while 16 percent were … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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San Antonio airport expansion

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like a curious time to be expanding an airport, but if they need it, that’s good for them. Work is beginning on a $134 million passenger terminal at the San Antonio International Airport. The eight-gate Terminal B will replace … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Where will those new commuter rail lines go?

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Tory has an analysis of the proposed commuter rail lines that raises some good questions, including one that has come up before and undoubtedly will again: Some of the connections will require all new track through residential and commercial areas … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Plutoids!

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The celestial body formerly known as a planet Pluto gets an upgrade. Pluto is finally getting its day in the sun, after being stripped of planetary status by astronomers two years ago. From now on all similar distant bodies in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 2 Comments

Noriega and Skelly

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Want to lend a painless hand to Rick Noriega‘s fundraising efforts? Go vote in Sen. Barbara Boxer’s Choose a Challenger contest. PAC for a Change is kicking off our 2008 “Choose a Challenger” contest — an opportunity for you and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Council approves Metro consent plan

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

As predicted, City Council passed the Metro consent agreement by a wide margin. The 13-2 vote, with Council members Jolanda Jones and Mike Sullivan opposed, paves the way for Metro to break ground next month, probably on the East End … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Commissioners Court presses forward with scaled-down jail plan

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Commissioners Court’s “try, try again” plan for building a new jail is moving forward. Harris County Commissioners Court may ask voters this fall to approve a bond proposal for a $144 million jail — after the electorate rejected plans for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

Interview with State Rep. Juan Garcia

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Concluding my series of interviews from the convention in Austin is a short chat I had with State Rep. Juan Garcia. I hadn’t made a prior arrangement with Rep. Garcia for this, and was fortunate to run into him in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The state of the Noriega campaign

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Monthly writer John Spong spent some time with the Rick Noriega campaign around the primary, and writes a report that I’ve heard described as “tough love”, a term Houtopia also uses. It’s a pretty accurate description. It’s also a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 5 Comments

The transit network effect

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Matt Yglesias, in speaking about the relative merits of intercity train travel, makes the following observation: Transportation is always a network phenomenon — part of what makes taking the train from DC to New York appealing is that when you … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 3 Comments

A different model for delivering WiFi

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

13th Floor contemplates the death of Philadelphia’s municipal WiFi service and wonders if there might be a better way to deliver the same thing. Sipping my coffee and tapping out e-mails at Powell’s Books, I couldn’t help thinking about a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 3 Comments

Houston Votes! kickoff fundraiser

Posted on June 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

After you put the TexBlog PAC fundraiser on your calendar, put this one on next: Houston Votes! Benefitting voter registration in Houston July 1, 2008 The Continental Club 3700 Main Street 6-8 p.m. $20 Catering: Ragin’ Cajun Entertainment: Zydeco Joseph … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Council to vote on K-Mart settlement payments

Posted on June 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

And we’re one step closer to officially putting all the lawsuits that stemmed from the K-Mart Kiddie Roundup into the books for good. [Houston City Council] on Wednesday will consider whether to settle one lawsuit brought by 59 people who … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Interview with Ernie Casbeer

Posted on June 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Next up on the interview list is Ernie Casbeer, who came out of nowhere to get 44.5% of the vote in a district (PDF) where no other Democrat topped 40% – Bill Moody scored 39.7% in HD59, with most other … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Good poll news in CD10

Posted on June 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

CD10 candidate Larry Joe Doherty has released a poll memo (PDF) with some good and interesting news. This district may have been gerrymandered to be a safe Republican seat, but it certainly does not look like one any longer. In … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Coming attractions on the business tax

Posted on June 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

From last week, the Chron’s Alan Bernstein notes a problem the Republicans will be have to deal with for November and beyond: [Thursday], across Discovery Green from the downtown convention, two Democratic state House members and Democratic candidates for the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of June 16

Posted on June 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still basking in the glow of seeing my Yankees win a pair of games with my dad, so I don’t have a snappy intro to this week’s Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup handy. So pretend I had something amusing … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Save the date: TexBlog PAC fundraiser

Posted on June 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This is a heads up to mark Thursday, June 26 on your calendar for the next TexBlog PAC fundraiser in Houston. Please join host Mustafa Tameez and sponsors: State Representatives Ellen Cohen, Jessica Farrar, Armando Walle, and Ana Hernandez Democratic … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Why we evacuate

Posted on June 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

If there’s another call to evacuate the Houston area because of a hurricane threat, this will be part of the reason why. Imagine a Category 3 hurricane striking the western end of Bolivar Peninsula. The storm surge would raise water … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 2 Comments

Come to Houston, if you can

Posted on June 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a great job waiting for you here in Houston, if you can afford the move. As houses linger on the market and prices continue to fall in many U.S. cities, some recruiters in Houston are wringing their hands. [Carole] … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 2 Comments

Interview with Joe Moody

Posted on June 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in my convention interview series is Joe Moody, running for the now-open HD78 seat in El Paso, which was held by Rep. Pat Haggerty until he was knocked out in a nasty GOP primary fight against Dee Margo, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Interview with Joe Moody

The immigration problem

Posted on June 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

There’s so much heat and noise about immigration these days, it’s good to see articles like this that break it down into something basic and understandable. [A]lthough the immigration system is complex, the basic problem is simple: There are many … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on The immigration problem

Republican Rap Sheet

Posted on June 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Via Texas Politics, the Harris County Coordinated Campaign Lone Star Project has launched a new website called Texas Republican Rap Sheet, which lists the transgressions of various local Republican officeholders, plus the recently resigned former DA Chuck Rosenthal. It’s pretty … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Is Facebook a reunion killer?

Posted on June 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I’m currently serving on a committee for my 20-year college reunion, which is an event I’ve been looking forward to for some time now. So when I see articles like this one in which the author speculates that Facebook will … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 5 Comments

Claytie

Posted on June 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Part of me is just plain amused to read about the Clayton Williams kerfuffle, in which his infamous “rape is like the weather” joke from the 1990 gubernatorial campaign has caused some embarassment for John McCain, who cancelled a scheduled … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 2 Comments

Huffman in SD17

Posted on June 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

We have another contender for the SD17 special election. Republican Joan Huffman, a former felony court judge in Harris County, announced her candidacy in the Nov. 4 election to fill the vacant District 17 state Senate seat once held by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Update on Vo’s apartments

Posted on June 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Hubert Vo, who made front-page news earlier this year when it was reported that some apartment complexes he owns were in violation of city electrical and structural standards, has now been certified by the city as being fully … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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MLB looking at instant replay

Posted on June 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. This surprises me. Instant replay might be coming to Major League Baseball in an instant. Moving faster than expected and coming after a rash of blown calls, baseball wants to put replay into effect by August for home run … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Demand for mass transit growing

Posted on June 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I alluded to this in the post on the new commuter rail plans here, but this MSNBC article makes it clear that demand for transit is booming across the country as gas prices rise. Mass transit ridership is at its … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

A night at the ballpark

Posted on June 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s where I was last night, along with my dad, thanks to my friend Danil and a last-minute invitation of extra tickets: Some thoughts from the game, in no particular order: – Good decision #1: We parked a fair distance … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 6 Comments