Monthly Archives: August 2010

Win a date with Karl Rove

Posted on August 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Desperate times and all that. The Perry campaign is offering supporters who submit 11 names of registered voters for the campaign to contact a chance to win prizes in a raffle. The gifts include a jogging lesson from RunTex founder … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of August 2

Posted on August 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance sends its congratulations to Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky on the occasion of their wedding as it brings you this week’s blog roundup.

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Judicial Q&A: Dion Ramos

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates. These Q&As are primarily intended for candidates who were … Continue reading →

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

If not Planned Parenthood, then who?

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

That sound you hear is another can of worms being opened. State Sen. Bob Deuell wants Planned Parenthood’s clinics out of the state’s Women’s Health Program, which provides family planning services — but not abortions — to impoverished Medicaid patients. … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Coal ash

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Sierra Club would like your help at some EPA public hearings. The EPA has proposed two rules to regulate toxic coal ash, and they’re going to hold only five hearings across the country to hear from citizens. One of … Continue reading →

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

H-GAC Transportation Survey

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Make your preferences known. This is a brief survey about funding for roadway and transit improvements. For decades our community relied on state and federal dollars to supplement local dollars that are used to grow and maintain the region’s Transportation … Continue reading →

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Prop 8 overturned

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good. In a major victory for gay rights advocates, a federal judge on Wednesday struck down a California ban on same-sex marriage. Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision to overturn the voter-approved ban, known as Proposition 8, came in … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, National news | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Interview with State Rep. Senfronia Thompson

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Senfronia Thompson is an institution in the Texas House. First elected in 1973, she is the longest serving female member, and the longest serving African American member of that chamber. Her list of achievements is long enough that … Continue reading →

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

That sound you hear is another school finance lawsuit coming

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It may be sooner rather than later, but one way or another it’s coming. Despite numerous challenges and Band-Aids to Texas’ school funding system over the past three decades, school leaders say another school finance lawsuit is imminent. If it … Continue reading →

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It’s still hard to free an innocent person

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise, right? While some appellate attorneys are applauding Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos’ establishment of a Post Conviction Review Section, whose work led to the freedom of two wrongfully convicted men in the past week, Texas law continues … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dynamo Stadium coming along

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

A very brief update from the Chron: Tim Leiweke, the president of Dynamo co-owner AEG, told the Chronicle that the Dynamo’s negotiations for a new stadium are completed for the most part and that he expects to break ground at … Continue reading →

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

Judicial Q&A: Tim Riley

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates. These Q&As are primarily intended for candidates who were … Continue reading →

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

How the schools are really doing

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I think I’m just going to let the picture tell the story: If you want the words, go read the Trib story. I get that the TPM is supposed to measure growth, and that growth can and does occur with … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Still steroid-free

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No juicing here. The University Interscholastic League on Thursday released results of [steroids tests of high school athletes] for the spring semester of the 2009-2010 school year. Of the 3,308 boys and girls tested last semester, all of the student … Continue reading →

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ReNew Houston officially makes the ballot

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From their press release: The ReNew Houston Campaign is pleased to announce it has met state requirements for qualified signatures from registered Houston voters to call for a charter amendment to create a dedicated funding source to improve and renew … Continue reading →

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Houston Votes kickoff party

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Houston Votes, which is well on its way towards its goal of registering 100,000 new voters in Harris County for this election, is having a party and you’re invited. RSVP here. Drink specials, no cover, and cool people. Come out … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Ted Ankrum

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Not a whole lot of Congressional action in Harris County this year, as no Democrat ran in CDs 02, 07, and arguably 22. The one race to watch is in CD10, where Ted Ankrum takes another crack at Rep. Mike … Continue reading →

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

Gambling industry support

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The DMN has an interesting story about gambling industry players making large campaign finance contributions, but there’s some context missing. A review by The Dallas Morning News of contributions since last July shows horse track interests have poured more than … Continue reading →

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The immigration wedge issue for the GOP

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this story. Evangelical ministers in Texas and across the nation are splitting off from the hard right, declaring immigration reform is needed that includes a path to citizenship without first deporting millions of … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The retirees of Collin County

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I too think of Collin County as a place that primarily attracts young people with its cheap real estate and all, but apparently that’s quite attractive to older folks, too. Affordable living, jobs and a Sun Belt climate have made … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Weekend link dump for August 1

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad! Under the sea. Yes, please let’s do call a liar a liar. If you didn’t make it to Comic-Con, here’s who was there. Not the celebrities and boldfaced types, the real attendees. I’ve known a … Continue reading →

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Where all of the children are above average

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here are your school ratings, according to the Texas Education Agency. Including charter schools, here’s a summary of how the state’s 1,237 districts performed: Exemplary 239 19% Recognized 597 48% Academically Acceptable 346 28% Academically Unacceptable 45 4% Not Rated: … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Drowning doesn’t look like drowning

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This was published in May, but I just came across it the other day. The new captain jumped from the cockpit, fully dressed, and sprinted through the water. A former lifeguard, he kept his eyes on his victim as he … Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | Tagged | 2 Comments

Today’s TABC

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting story about the Texas Alcoholic Beverages Commission and its struggles to find an identity. To me, the key bit of the whole thing is right here: Moreover, the agency, formed in 1935, still has many rules and regulations on … Continue reading →

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Remember the Alamo ™

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Trademark this. An attorney working for Gov. Rick Perry’s office filed a “notice of opposition” [last week] with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office stating that Texas — not the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, which operates the historic … Continue reading →

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