Monthly Archives: December 2008

More red light cameras for The Woodlands

Posted on December 24, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The Woodlands, which installed red light cameras last year, is set to add more of them. “The number of violations has decreased,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance. “It appears the reduction of red light runners is down 20 percent.” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Yet another Farmers Branch lawsuit

Posted on December 24, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Seems to be a growth industry in that town. A former Farmers Branch City Council member filed a lawsuit against the city Wednesday, asking a state district judge in Dallas to order the city to turn over invoices for legal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Vasquez officially selected to replace Bettencourt

Posted on December 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. Harris County Commissioners Court today appointed Republican businessman Leo Vasquez to fill the vacancy left by resigning tax assessor-collector Paul Bettencourt. […] Vasquez said he first will focus on customer service and efficiency and plans to meet with … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

75 declared anti-Craddick votes?

Posted on December 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Harvey Kronberg reports on a meeting of Republican representatives in Austin about the fate of Tom Craddick. If the Dems can deliver their promised 64 votes, there are now 75 declared votes against Craddick’s re-election as Speaker. Today a group … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Casino gambling for Galveston?

Posted on December 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve said before that I fully expect there to be a push for an expansion of legalized gambling in Texas in the next legislative session. Here’s further evidence of that. Casino gambling is increasingly seen by some as a way … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 3 Comments

Layoffs for you, bonuses for me

Posted on December 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Faculty Association has a question about UTMB. One would think that any outfit pleading $710 million in damages due to Hurricane Ike would instantly cut out bonuses and such, particularly $3 million worth of bonuses, eh? They tell … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Comments Off on Layoffs for you, bonuses for me

Has driving peaked?

Posted on December 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The Morning News notes the trend of fewer vehicle miles travelled (VMT) in the US. All across the country, Americans began driving fewer miles on average as far back as 2005, and they may have crested as early as 2002, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of December 22

Posted on December 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Just hear those sleigh bells ring-a-ling, jing-ting-ting-a-ling, too. Come on, it’s lovely weather for a blog roundup together with you. OK, needs work. But the links are fine as they are. Click on for the weekly Texas Progressive Alliance roundup. Continue reading →

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HHSC extends Medicaid coverage

Posted on December 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is extending Medicaid coverage for about 34,000 children in the Houston-Beaumont areas because Hurricane Ike may have disrupted families’ ability to get and return the forms to renew their coverage, the commission … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Possibly my last post about the 2010 Governor’s race this year

Posted on December 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I realize that I’m as guilty as anyone in jumping ahead to the 2010 Governor’s race and who-knows-when Senate race, so let me give Phillip a chance to tell us what he really thinks. Did I miss the filing deadline … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged | 1 Comment

Gray on the latest Weingarten kerfuffle

Posted on December 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Lisa Gray gives the latest Weingarten controversy a look. Up until now, the building had angered people. But neighbors now say Weingarten is violating a city ordinance. They say the company not only crossed the line, it crossed the line … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Bike racks on trains: Not looking good

Posted on December 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Peter Wang brings the bad news. Despite letters from Judge Ed Emmett, all four Republican and Democratic Harris County Commissioners, and other public officials, METRO is going to place orders for the new trains on Christmas Eve 2008… without any … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 4 Comments

District H update

Posted on December 22, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I heard a rumor last week that HISD trustee Diana Davila, a prospective candidate for City Council District H, was dropping out of the race. I’ve since heard a stronger version of that rumor, from more sources. I’m not sure … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Tragedy for family of State Rep. Robert Alonzo

Posted on December 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Stace has the sad news. Tragedy has struck the family of Texas State Representative Roberto R. Alonzo of Dallas. While details about the accident and final funeral arrangements are still rather sketchy, what is known at this time is that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for December 21

Posted on December 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… Spot the math errors! Here’s a hint: Dividing by zero is a bad idea. Oh, and “square root” is not singular. That about covers it. Link via Chad. Twas the night before … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Saving the water wall

Posted on December 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Glad to hear it. It may have cost $8.5 million, but the city now can safely say that the Water Wall near the Galleria is safe from being razed and potentially turned into another high-rise or shopping center. Within the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 4 Comments

Toys for Tots

Posted on December 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Good Mom, Bad Mom has a really good idea. Continue reading →

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Fort Worth considers streetcars

Posted on December 21, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Fort Worth is taking steps towards installing streetcars. The task force and city staff recommended hiring a consultant with transit experience to help with the project. The plan recommends starting with a limited system: A loop in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Meet your blogger

Posted on December 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Hair Balls has initiated a weekly get-to-know-your-local-bloggers feature, and they started it off by interviewing me. After all these times interviewing other people, it’s a little funny to be on the other end of the questions. Thankfully, I made it … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 1 Comment

More on Leo Vasquez

Posted on December 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the full Chron story on Leo Vasquez, who appears to be the favorite to be selected by Commissioners Court as Paul Bettencourt’s replacement for Harris County Tax Assessor. Just a couple of points to note. First, since I was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Another casualty of Ike

Posted on December 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Health insurance. Stephanie Goodman, a spokeswoman for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, said more than half of the 72,000 children statewide who did not re-enroll in Medicaid are from the Houston and Beaumont areas — both hit by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 2 Comments

Commit for Life blog

Posted on December 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center now has a blog. Here’s some of what you can expect from their blogging efforts: Conversations on how we can work together to save lives Personal stories from blood recipients and their families Success … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 2 Comments

From the “What might have been” files

Posted on December 20, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Swamplot is doing a bunch of year-end awards, and I think my favorite may be the Best Project Cancellation or Delay, which includes four different projects that I’ve been following. I think Sonoma, the infamous Hippie Bohemian Attorney project, is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 7 Comments

Friday random ten: Karaoke!

Posted on December 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

In honor of the airport karaoke setup, here are ten songs that I have belted out back when I did that sort of thing. 1. “Mack the Knife” – Bobby Darin 2. “What’s Your Name?” – Lynyrd Skynyrd 3. “Keep … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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On the agenda for Commissioners Court

Posted on December 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

In yesterday’s post about the looming Bettencourt deadline, a commenter noted that the agenda for Harris County Commissioner’s Court would be posted this morning for next Tuesday’s meeting. Here it is (PDF), but it doesn’t tell us much: Discussion and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

TRCC escapes the axe

Posted on December 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Unfortunate. The Sunset Advisory Commission agreed Tuesday night to recommend that the Texas Residential Construction Commission be reviewed again in four years, instead of the usual 12. But it said the agency must resolve disputes more quickly and recommended that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 1 Comment

From the Department of Bad Ideas

Posted on December 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t think this will end well. Convicted last year of intoxication manslaughter for the death of her boyfriend, the 21-year-old daughter of a state district judge is suing the truck driver she ran into during a drunken driving crash. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Christine DeLay gets subpoenaed

Posted on December 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

ACR has the scoop. It’s kind of amazing to me that after all this time, there’s still a lot of unfinished business surrounding the now-defunct DeLay empire. At what point will we get resolution, and DeLay get what’s coming to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Election challenge in HD11

Posted on December 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Brian Walker, the losing Republican challenger to State Rep. Chuck Hopson in the second closest election of the year in HD11, has filed paperwork for an election contest in the House. From the Quorum Report: After the recount, Hopson beat … Continue reading →

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Bettencourt deadline looms

Posted on December 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Hair Balls brings the news. Harris County Commissioners Court has to appoint a replacement. The trouble, County Judge Ed Emmett tells Hair Balls, is that there’s a deadline fast approaching that has to be met or the entire office may … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Your name here for Governor in 2010

Posted on December 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Evan Smith asks the question that has been on my mind as well. Anybody else think the entrance of the former Comptroller and the current Houston mayor — the only two big Democratic brands in a state where “big Democratic … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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TxDOT says: We need money!

Posted on December 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Huge, gaping bags of it, apparently. An estimated $313 billion will be needed to meet Texas’ transportation needs through 2030, a special panel appointed by Transportation Commission Chairwoman Deirdre Delisi said today. The figure takes into account the investment required … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 3 Comments

Statesman calls on Dunbar to resign

Posted on December 18, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. Why in the name of common sense is Cynthia Dunbar on the State Board of Education when she despises public education so intensely? She is not there to improve public schools but to undermine them, and says … Continue reading →

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RIP, Sammy Baugh

Posted on December 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Sammy Baugh, one of the all-time great football players, has died at the age of 94. Sammy Baugh, who set numerous passing records with the Washington Redskins in an era when NFL teams were running most every down, died Wednesday … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | 1 Comment