Monthly Archives: July 2010

Saturday video break: When you gotta go, you gotta go

Posted on July 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

If your dog could sing, he’d probably sing this to you: I don’t think I can add anything to that.

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Ready or not, here comes Wal-Mart

Posted on July 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a done deal. Wal-Mart has placed 16 acres of land in the Washington Avenue corridor under contract, company spokeswoman Kellie Duhr confirmed Thursday. The deal comes two days after concerned Heights-area residents voiced their opposition to the project to … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Towards healthier school lunches

Posted on July 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good for DISD. As part of a nationwide push against childhood obesity, the Dallas Independent School District is overhauling its cafeteria menu by featuring healthier food and tossing aside classic artery cloggers. “The challenge to improve school nutrition is coming … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Dewhurst the deficit peacock

Posted on July 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst wants you to believe that he cares about deficit spending. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst warned Wednesday that new federal health care legislation will bust Texas’ budget, saddling state taxpayers with $27 billion in extra costs over … Continue reading →

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Metro gets record of decision for University line

Posted on July 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Very good news. Metro has received word that final approval has been given concerning the environmental review process for the University light-rail line. “Houston clearly needs the University Line as an East-West transit artery,” said George Greanias, action president and … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Friday random ten: One through ten

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I finished my tour of the alphabet a few weeks ago, and it occurred to me around that time that there was a natural extension of that theme once I got through the Zs. To wit: 1. Going For The … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Interview with Judy Jennings

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Completing our tour of the SBOE candidates, I bring you an interview with Judy Jennings, who is running for the open District 10 seat that the uber wingnut Cynthia Dunbar has vacated. Jennings has a PhD in educational psychology and … Continue reading →

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

Keller appeals to Supreme Court

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

She’s still going for full vindication. Because as far as she’s concerned, she did nothing wrong. [I]n a Supreme Court petition filed Thursday, Keller argued that the commission acted in a “lawless” manner because the Texas Constitution forbids it to … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Trib’s electoral three-parter

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In case you haven’t seen it, I recommend the Trib‘s three-part series on the state of electoral politics in Texas, which was done in conjunction with the El Paso Times: The Map: Can A Democrat Win? The Map: The Giant … Continue reading →

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How much do kids count?

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In Texas, the answer is not much at all. Between 2000 and 2008, the number of Texas kids living in poverty grew by 240,000, accounting for 23 percent of the total child population. The national child poverty rate is 18 … Continue reading →

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Dirty deals, done dirt cheap

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

So I missed this DMN story from the weekend about Rick Perry’s excellent fortune in the real estate market. Three years after Gov. Rick Perry’s biggest real estate score, questions persist about whether the governor benefited from favoritism, backroom dealing … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Where’s Birdwell?

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib re-raises the question of the newest Senator’s eligibility to serve. The newest member of the Texas Senate, Brian Douglas Birdwell, voted in the November 2004 presidential election twice, choosing between George W. Bush and John Kerry in Tarrant … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

State sues the EPA again

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Round and round we go… Texas has sued the federal Environmental Protection Agency for the second time in six weeks, escalating a feud over the state’s rules for air pollution from refiners and other large industries. State Attorney General Greg … Continue reading →

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New jitney rules coming

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

City Council is preparing to make some changes to its ordinances regarding jitneys. The goal of the new rules, some of which also will be established by mid-September in a “green” ordinance that will govern the use of zero-emissions vehicles, … Continue reading →

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If it’s not your car, why did you get mileage reimbursements on it?

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Back to Basics PAC has more questions about “Linda Harper-Benz”. Remember our prior post on the scandal about how State Rep. Linda Harper-Brown was caught driving a brand-new 2010 Mercedes-Benz ME550 Sedan that was given to her by a state … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of July 26

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes Lois the corpse flower a restful and well-earned dormant period as it brings you this week’s blog highlights.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Interview with Rebecca Bell-Metereau

Posted on July 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Next up is Rebecca Bell-Metereau, who is running for SBOE in District 5, which also touches San Antonio and goes north into the Hill Country. Bell-Metereau is also a professor of English, at Texas State University. She is running against … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Pushback on the historic preservation ordinance

Posted on July 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m seeing a few of these signs in my neighborhood: The first ones I spotted were in front of houses on Heights Blvd; this one and a couple of others were on Studewood on an empty commercial lot. I’ve since … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 31 Comments

County redoes its public defender proposal

Posted on July 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Back in April, Harris County Commissioners Court voted to start a pilot public defenders office, contingent on getting a $4.4 million grant from the Texas Task Force on Indigent Defense to help cover costs. That initial effort was subsequently criticized … Continue reading →

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You think there might be a connection there?

Posted on July 28, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In the middle of this Trib story about the Driver Responsibility Program and the Lege’s efforts to reform it comes a reminder about the relationship between federal and state legislation. Denise Rose, senior director of government relations at the Texas … Continue reading →

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DA clears Metro

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Months after prosecutors took boxes of documents from Metro’s downtown headquarters and experts examined the agency’s computers, the investigation into allegations that Metropolitan Transit Authority administrators illegally destroyed public documents has ended, Metro officials said today. In a letter … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fundraising: SBOE

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Really only two races of interest here, SBOE 5 and SBOE 10. Let’s take a look. http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/php/summary.php?rn=458837&form=COH Totals From Report For Rebecca L. Bell-Metereau Filed on: July 15 2010 Covering the Period February 21, 2010 Through June 30, 2010 Total … Continue reading →

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

In case you need a reminder to vote this November

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

What we have to look forward to in Austin next year if nothing changes. Legislators next year will face severe budget problems, divisive redistricting, school funding troubles and reviews of major state agencies, including the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality … Continue reading →

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

Full fees ahead

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The cost of doing business for Harris County keeps going up. Rising credit card fees have increased that portion of the county government’s banking bill by $1.7 million in two years. In the year that ended in February, the county … Continue reading →

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Another lawsuit against Farmers Branch over City Council districts

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Trying again to force the city of Farmers Branch to create single member City Council districts. The suit seeks an end at-large voting for City Council seats, arguing that the current method dilutes Hispanic voting strength. Nearly half the city … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Michael Soto

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s time to start up the interview machine again, as election season will be on us before you know it. (Fun fact: We’re less than 90 days out from the start of early voting.) I’ve got a trio of SBOE … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

What is this “warning” of which you speak?

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m glad to see that someone is asking questions about the warning that the State Commission on Judicial Conduct handed down to Sharon Keller. Seana Willing, the commission’s examiner, contends in an e-mail that the order is based on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

TEA Commissioner Scott defends Texas Projection Measure

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott takes advantage of a friendly audience to lash out at critics of the Texas Projection Measure. Scott, speaking to the State Board of Education, said the so-called Texas Projection Measure has been misunderstood and … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

How dry is Dallas?

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m fascinated by stories about elections to allow the sale of alcohol in places where it is currently prohibited. I suppose I find it weird that these vestiges of Prohibition are still with us. I especially find it strange to … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for July 25

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Hot enough for ya? It’s a nice thought, but it ain’t happening any time soon. We have to go back! Vegas, baby! Don’t try this at home, kids. The Republicans have no ideas. I know, I’m as shocked as you … Continue reading →

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So what did the Forensic Science Commission do?

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I guess I wasn’t expecting this. A majority of the Texas Forensic Science Commission has tentatively concluded that there was no professional negligence or misconduct by arson investigators whose flawed work in a fatal Corsicana fire contributed to the conviction … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Nikki Araguz

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I support Nikki Araguz. The wife of a Wharton firefighter who died in a massive July 4 blaze decried allegations lodged by her late husband’s family that she is a fraud because she was born a man. “Really, all I … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Saint Arnold school supply drive

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The following is from the latest Saint Arnold Army newsletter: School Supply Drive for Needy Families on Wednesday, July 28 In conjunction with State Representative Jessica Farrar, we will be hosting a school supply drive at the brewery on Wednesday, … Continue reading →

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Postseason expansion: Not just for the NCAA

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Texas high schools may be getting into the act, too. There is growing support to create a Conference 6A that would send even more Texas high school football teams to the playoffs, the head of the University Interscholastic League said … Continue reading →

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