Monthly Archives: March 2009

Form-based codes come to Dallas

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good for Dallas. If they can do this, unanimously, even, then there must be hope for Houston and its proponents here. We might get lucky and avoid an Ashby lawsuit, but it sure would be nice to be better prepared … Continue reading →

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Form-based codes come to Dallas

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Good for Dallas. If they can do this, unanimously, even, then there must be hope for Houston and its proponents here. We might get lucky and avoid an Ashby lawsuit, but it sure would be nice to be better prepared … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Derr misses filing deadline

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Yesterday was the filing deadline for the District H special election. Usually, that brings a last-minute surprise in the form of an unexpected candidate. This time, it brought a different kind of surprise. As one of the first people to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | 1 Comment

Derr misses filing deadline

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday was the filing deadline for the District H special election. Usually, that brings a last-minute surprise in the form of an unexpected candidate. This time, it brought a different kind of surprise. As one of the first people to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dewhurst makes the case against Voter ID

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That wasn’t his intent, of course, but it’s clear to see in his plea for a “compromise” on the measure that the more people like Lt. Gov. Dewhurst argue for voter ID legislation, the more obvious it is that they’re … Continue reading →

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Dewhurst makes the case against voter ID

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Greg Wythe

That wasn’t his intent, of course, but it’s clear to see in his plea for a “compromise” on the measure that the more people like Lt. Gov. Dewhurst argue for voter ID legislation, the more obvious it is that they’re … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Is redistricting reform about to become a reality?

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Patricia Kilday Hart reports that Sen. Jeff Wentworth’s redistricting commission bill has a chance this session, thanks to the change in Speaker. Wentworth, who presented his bill to the Senate State Affairs Committee, tells me he has confirmed pledges from … Continue reading →

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Is redistricting reform about to become a reality?

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Patricia Kilday Hart reports that Sen. Jeff Wentworth’s redistricting commission bill has a chance this session, thanks to the change in Speaker. Wentworth, who presented his bill to the Senate State Affairs Committee, tells me he has confirmed pledges from … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

Let’s see those files

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is a good thing. Working to make good on a campaign promise, recently elected Harris County District Attorney Patricia Lykos agreed on Monday to provide copies of police offense reports to criminal defense lawyers, changing the longstanding practice of … Continue reading →

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Let’s see those files

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Greg Wythe

This is a good thing. Working to make good on a campaign promise, recently elected Harris County District Attorney Patricia Lykos agreed on Monday to provide copies of police offense reports to criminal defense lawyers, changing the longstanding practice of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 2 Comments

Texas lawmakers on Twitter

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Elise Hu has compiled a list of elected officials in Austin who use Twitter, for those of you who are into such things. It’s a shorter list than I would have expected, but I’ll bet it grows before the legislative … Continue reading →

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Texas lawmakers on Twitter

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Elise Hu has compiled a list of elected officials in Austin who use Twitter, for those of you who are into such things. It’s a shorter list than I would have expected, but I’ll bet it grows before the legislative … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Websurfing | 1 Comment

Metro to vote on rail contract

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The good news: Metro is set to vote on the contract to build the next light rail lines. The bad news is that they’re doing is amid headlines like Metro refuses to discuss rail contract details before vote. The Metropolitan … Continue reading →

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Metro to vote on rail contract

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The good news: Metro is set to vote on the contract to build the next light rail lines. The bad news is that they’re doing is amid headlines like Metro refuses to discuss rail contract details before vote. The Metropolitan … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Here come stimulus money

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The first batch of funds is arriving. The Department of Housing and Urban Development allocated more than $500 million to Texas cities and counties on Monday, part of a wave of stimulus money expected to flow into the state. Federal … Continue reading →

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Here comes stimulus money

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Greg Wythe

The first batch of funds is arriving. The Department of Housing and Urban Development allocated more than $500 million to Texas cities and counties on Monday, part of a wave of stimulus money expected to flow into the state. Federal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Bill filed to modify strip club fee

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Got the following from State Rep. Ellen Cohen’s office: State Representative Ellen Cohen filed House Bill 2070 today to reform the Adult Entertainment Fee she passed during the 80th Legislative Session in 2007. “We have been successful in raising the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 8 Comments

Bill filed to modify strip club fee

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Got the following from State Rep. Ellen Cohen’s office: State Representative Ellen Cohen filed House Bill 2070 today to reform the Adult Entertainment Fee she passed during the 80th Legislative Session in 2007. “We have been successful in raising the … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not quite boldly going, but it’s still pretty darned cool. The universe may be filled with Earth-like planets — worlds where extraterrestrials might flourish. But these planets were once considered too small to spot, even with the latest in … Continue reading →

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To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Greg Wythe

It’s not quite boldly going, but it’s still pretty darned cool. The universe may be filled with Earth-like planets — worlds where extraterrestrials might flourish. But these planets were once considered too small to spot, even with the latest in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of March 2

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Greg Wythe

It’s the last week of winter, which I define as “the time before Daylight Savings Time”, and it’s time again for the weekly roundup of the Texas Progressive Alliance. Click on for the highlights. Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of March 2

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the last week of winter, which I define as “the time before Daylight Savings Time”, and it’s time again for the weekly roundup of the Texas Progressive Alliance. Click on for the highlights.

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Schieffer jumps in

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Greg Wythe

We have a candidate, one not named Kinky. Former U.S. Ambassador Tom Schieffer of Fort Worth has just announced he is taking his first formal step toward seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a Texas Independence Day press conference … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Schieffer jumps in

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We have a candidate, one not named Kinky. Former U.S. Ambassador Tom Schieffer of Fort Worth has just announced he is taking his first formal step toward seeking the Democratic nomination for governor during a Texas Independence Day press conference … Continue reading →

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Interview with State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As I mentioned on Friday, I had the opportunity to speak with State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte. She’s the chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus (I mistakenly said “House Democratic Caucus” in my intro, but got it right after … Continue reading →

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Interview with State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Greg Wythe

As I mentioned on Friday, I had the opportunity to speak with State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte. She’s the chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus (I mistakenly said “House Democratic Caucus” in my intro, but got it right after … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Blow before you drive

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

MADD wants to make it harder for people with a drunk driving conviction to get behind the wheel. Mothers Against Drunk Driving is again pushing Texas legislators to require ignition interlocks for people convicted of their first driving while intoxicated … Continue reading →

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Blow before you drive

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Greg Wythe

MADD wants to make it harder for people with a drunk driving conviction to get behind the wheel. Mothers Against Drunk Driving is again pushing Texas legislators to require ignition interlocks for people convicted of their first driving while intoxicated … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

The stimulus and the budget

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Jim Dunnam, who is the chair of the ad hoc committee that is charged with disbursing federal stimulus funds, gave an update on their proceedings. Among other things, the federal money may free up some state revenues. Normally, … Continue reading →

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The stimulus and the budget

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Greg Wythe

State Rep. Jim Dunnam, who is the chair of the ad hoc committee that is charged with disbursing federal stimulus funds, gave an update on their proceedings. Among other things, the federal money may free up some state revenues. Normally, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

The real Coke classic

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Greg Wythe

True aficionados know, if you really want the kind of Coca Cola they used to make before the “New Coke” fiasco, you have to get one that was bottled in Mexico. Coca-Cola Classic, as it has been known since then, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The real Coke classic

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

True aficionados know, if you really want the kind of Coca Cola they used to make before the “New Coke” fiasco, you have to get one that was bottled in Mexico. Coca-Cola Classic, as it has been known since then, … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for March 1

Posted on March 1, 2009 by Greg Wythe

In like a lion, out like a lamb… America’s top ten healthiest fast food restaurants. Which I guess is something like “America’s top ten most liberal Republicans”, but there you have it. Jay Lee with a pancake on his head. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for March 1

Posted on March 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In like a lion, out like a lamb… America’s top ten healthiest fast food restaurants. Which I guess is something like “America’s top ten most liberal Republicans”, but there you have it. Jay Lee with a pancake on his head. … Continue reading →

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