Monthly Archives: January 2010

Voter registration deadline is Monday

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure everyone reading this is already registered to vote. But if for some reason you’re not, or you’re not sure, your last chance to be registered in time for the primaries is tomorrow, Monday, February 1. Here’s a press … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: HGLBT Political Caucus and judicial races

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t have a press release yet, but via email from Kris Banks, the President of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, here are the endorsements the Caucus has made in Harris County Democratic Party judicial primaries: 113th Civil District Court … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for January 31

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

If I cared about the Pro Bowl, I’d probably think that it was wrong for it to happen before the Super Bowl. Who’s screwing whom? I can’t say my Facebook experience has been the same as this, but I certainly … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 2 Comments

No mention of Willingham

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Forensic Science Commission had its first meeting since Williamson County DA John Bradley was named Chair by Governor Perry. Bradley did the job Perry picked him for by preventing any official discussion of the Cameron Todd Willingham case … Continue reading →

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The GOP gubernatorial debate, simplified

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

About what one would expect, I daresay. The Republican candidates for governor clashed in what is likely their final debate Friday, attacking one another’s records but offering little vision as to what they would do as governor over the next … Continue reading →

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Austin’s rail service to get started in March

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Austin’s long-awaited rail service, which was approved by the voters in 2004, is finally ready to roll. After what seems like endless series of problems and delays, Cap Metro has announced that light rail service will begin in March. Service … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The abandoned shrine

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

What a waste. A multi-million dollar mess has neighbors in an upscale Houston neighborhood looking for answers. They’re tired of seeing a big, empty building with boarded-up windows, broken doors and dead landscaping. “An eyesore, quite ugly,” said Jan O’Brien, … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Saturday video break: “Lost”, as explained by people who could have been my neighbors

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Every once in awhile, I am reminded why the Internet exists. It’s for stuff like this: You can’t stop awesomeness like that. You can only hope to contain it. Via the nearly as awesome Therese Odell.

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Bellaire versus Westpark Stadium

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Still more on the proposed Westpark location for Dynamo Stadium: The Mayor of Bellaire doesn’t like the idea. [Bellaire Mayor Cindy] Siegel has scheduled an executive session of the Bellaire City Council Monday following the 7 p.m. State of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

EPA public hearing on hazardous ozone standards in Houston

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The following was sent to me from the Sierra Club: Right now the EPA is accepting public comments on proposed new ozone standards that will make the air we breathe cleaner and our communities healthier, but they are facing fierce … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The recession and the Texas Enterprise Fund

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

A report worth reading from Texans for Public Justice: The global recession that hit Texas in 2008 is playing havoc with Governor Perry’s signature business-incentive program: the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF). A review of 45 TEF projects that received $363 … Continue reading →

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A look at legislative primaries

Posted on January 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib has a nice roundup of legislative primaries of interest. I know it’s partly because of the Governor’s race, with contested primaries in both parties, but the State House side of things feels awfully sedate compared to previous years. … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Miss, Mister, Missus

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s Honorifics Week in the Friday Random Ten: 1. Miss Fritchie – Eddie From Ohio 2. Miss Kate Rusby – Battlefield Band 3. Miss P – The Rogues 4. Mr. Big Stuff – Jean Knight 5. Mr. Heatmiser – Big … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

A tip of the hat

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m much more connected to the political world in this town than I am to the arts, though I do try to keep up with what’s going on. I was therefore delighted to pick up this week’s Houston Press and … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Priscilla Walters

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

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More on the Dynamo’s Westpark option

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an updated version of the earlier story about the Houston Dynamo and the possibility of their stadium being built on Westpark. “The deal downtown started stalling a little bit. We started wondering if that stadium could make sense at … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

In case you needed further proof that the SBOE is a clown show

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

These guys just defy parody. In its haste to sort out the state’s social studies curriculum standards this month, the State Board of Education tossed children’s author [Bill] Martin, who died in 2004, from a proposal for the third-grade section. … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Expanding Metro

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Soon-to-be-former Metro Chair David Wolff riffs off of a Chron editorial that lamented the lack of connectivity between Metro and some new bus routes in Harris County and makes the case for expanding Metro’s service area. The first steps toward … Continue reading →

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More or stronger?

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

If we’re talking about hurricanes, neither sounds like an attractive choice. A new study with the most extensive computer modeling of storm activity to date suggests the overall number of Atlantic storms will fall 30 percent by century’s end, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: AWA and AFL-CIO

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

More endorsements of the mostly-judicial variety for you to ponder, from the Association of Women Attorneys and the Harris County AFL-CIO. The 2010 Elections page has been updated to reflect these recommendations. Note that there were a few dual endorsements … Continue reading →

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Democratic gubernatorial candidates to debate

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, I’m not much of the debate-watching type. But this is one I may tune in to. Houston Mayor Bill White and millionaire businessman Farouk Shami have accepted an invitation from KERA and its media partners to debate … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Andy Pereira

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

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The forensics backlog

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I was going to blog about this Chron story regarding a backlog in fingerprint analyses for the HPD Crime Lab, but Grits said most of what I was going to say, so just go read him. The key, I think, … Continue reading →

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Let’s not talk about sex

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Sometimes all you can do is marvel. A Hitchcock school board member’s discussion about sex with a class of middle-school girls led the district to issue an apology and on Monday to offer counseling for girls in the class, a … Continue reading →

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Two strikes and Wilson is out

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

And that’s all she wrote for Dave Wilson. On the one hand, I’m delighted that this hateful jerk won’t be polluting the Democratic ticket. On the other hand, it’s a discgrace that Jerry Eversole gets a free ride to re-election. … Continue reading →

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Unemployment up in Texas

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Not the kind of story Rick Perry wants to see with an election coming up. The state’s economic recovery hit a snag in December, as employers cut 23,900 jobs after expanding payrolls in October and November. The Texas unemployment rate … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: ParentPAC for Thomas Ratliff

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m very glad to see that the Texas ParentPAC is getting involved in the SBOE primaries. Here’s their press release for the District 9 GOP race: The bipartisan Texas Parent PAC today announced its endorsement of Thomas Ratliff for election … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Dynamo contemplate their options

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Is the future of Dynamo Stadium on Westpark? Could be. Dynamo President Oliver Luck is in talks with a developer about building a soccer stadium on private land about a mile south of the Galleria. The Dynamo have not abandoned … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Interview with Ahmad Hassan

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Also running for the Democratic nomination for Harris County Judge is businessman Ahmad Hassan. Hassan is a real estate and mortgage broker and the owner & President of Alexandria Real Estate and Mortgage. He has been a US citizen since … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Robert Cardenas

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so this is intended to help introduce the candidates … Continue reading →

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SWAT team

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not sure about this. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is starting an elite “high-risk” squad with the aim of developing it into a full-fledged SWAT team. Maj. Bob Doguim began soliciting applications for the eight-member team two weeks ago, … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Perry to thumb his nose at the newspapers

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Raise your hand if this surprises you. In a major rebuke to the state’s media establishment, Gov. Rick Perry will not meet with newspaper editorial boards to try to win their endorsement before his March 2 primary. “In the final … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Recommendations for the Forensic Sciences Commission

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Keith Hampton, who is a Democratic candidate for the Court of Criminal Appeals, has some recommendations for what to do with the Texas Forensic Science Commission. I don’t expect Rick Perry or John Bradley to pay any attention to what … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: H-BAD and Tejano Dems

Posted on January 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We’re getting close to the start of early voting for the primaries, and that means endorsements are coming out from various groups. Today I got press releases from the Houston-Black American Democrats (H-BAD) and the Harris County Tejano Democrats with … Continue reading →

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