Monthly Archives: December 2010

All eyes on the Senate

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this: Republicans hold a 19-12 majority in the Senate, but 21 senators need to agree to bring the bill to a vote, so Democrats have two members who can make a stand on … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Patterson on the Open Beaches ruling

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I must say, I enjoyed Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson’s op-ed on the recent Open Beaches ruling by the State Supreme Court. The man can bring the snark, I’ll give him that. Two points of interest besides that: Texans, you see, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Will HISD close low-enrollment schools?

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As if there weren’t enough politically charged agenda items out there for next year. Like dozens of campuses in the Houston Independent School District, Jones is losing students and brimming with empty seats. HISD trustees must make politically tough choices … Continue reading →

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

We have a Census number

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here you go. After knocking on 50 million doors and handling tens of millions of surveys, the Census Bureau on Tuesday announced that the official population of the United States is now 308,745,538. The 2010 census also shows America’s once-torrid … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

You can cut services, but you can’t reduce the demand for them

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Another look at what we’ll be facing next year. With state leaders saying the November election sent a no-new-taxes, lean-government message, no program is expected to escape the knife – including education and health and human services, which take up … Continue reading →

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State officially begins the IBM termination process

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Been a long time coming. The state gave notice to IBM [last] week that it will terminate the troubled $863 million data center consolidation contract. The process could take a full two years as the Department of Information Resources finds … Continue reading →

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Neil files for election contest in HD48

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this was inevitable. Republican Dan Neil is continuing his challenge of state Rep. Donna Howard’s razor-thin election night victory with an appeal to the Texas House of Representatives. Neil, who trailed Howard by 12 votes after a recount … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Eversole indicted

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This has been so long in coming I was beginning to wonder if it would ever arrive. Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole pleaded not guilty to federal bribery and income tax charges today. Eversole is charged with accepting … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Redistricting and party-switching, South Texas-style

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Some good discussion about the future prospects of South Texas turncoat Aaron Pena, from Greg, Rachel, the Trib, the DMN, and Greg again. Couple points to add: 1. If Greg says a Republican-leaning district can be drawn for Pena, I … Continue reading →

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Tar sands and Houston’s air quality

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

PDiddie attended the Houston Frontlines tour that I blogged about before, and wrote a really nice, detailed report about it. Some background: Tar sands oil contains — among other heavy metals, neurotoxins, and carcinogens — an average of 11 times … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Abbott wants to block Austin gay divorce

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Attorney General Greg Abbott is once again fighting to protect the sanctity of divorce in Texas. Texas law not only limits marriage to opposite-sex couples, it forbids any action — including divorce — that recognizes or validates a same-sex marriage … Continue reading →

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

The pension problem

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know enough about the particulars of the city’s pension problems to be able to sort out the competing claims made in this story. I do know that the current system is not sustainable, and that the fight to … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Loren Jackson signs on with Sheriff’s office

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Great news. District Clerk Loren Jackson, who was defeated by Republican Chris Daniel last month, will likely stay in county government when his term expires on Dec. 31. Sheriff Adrian Garcia proposes hiring him as his chief of information technology. … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Interview with Gilbert Garcia and Christof Spieler

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

To say the least, 2010 has been an eventful year for Metro. I think everyone would agree that in many ways, the agency is in stronger shape and is headed in a better direction than it was at this time … Continue reading →

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

What now for the DREAM Act?

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It may take awhile, but the DREAM Act will be back, and it will pass. The Senate vote Saturday to toss the proposal that would have granted young illegal immigrants a route to legal status dealt a harsh blow to … Continue reading →

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

The Skeeters have a stadium name

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We now know the name of the stadium that will someday house the Sugar Land Skeeters. Fun at the ol’ ballpark will now officially take place at….StarTex Power Field. It’s named, as you already know if you work for this … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Laura Recovery Center could use your help

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Laura Recovery Center in Friendswood is going through tough times. A decline in contributions has left the center with funding for 90 days, directors say. “We’ve been very blessed with the support of the community,” said founder Bob Smither, … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for December 19

Posted on December 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

One more week till the big after-Christmas sales start. What’s not news but should be. It’s not easy being a hegemon these days. Awkward pregnancy photos. Awkward, but awesome. Is this the new Buffy? “Celebrate life” means something completely different … Continue reading →

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DADT repeal passes, DREAM Act fails

Posted on December 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Some history was made yesterday. The Senate took a big step toward ending the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers today. By a vote of 63 to 33, the Senate voted to end debate on a bill repealing the military’s … Continue reading →

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You can’t say that about cheeseburgers!

Posted on December 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Local TV stations are not lovin’ an anti-McDonald’s ad. The advertisement from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, titled “Consequences,” displays a doctor and a weeping woman standing over a corpse clutching a cheeseburger in its right hand. The 30-second spot … Continue reading →

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

No, I can’t hear you now

Posted on December 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I haven’t attended that many events at Reliant Stadium – a couple of Rice football games, including the 2008 Texas Bowl, and a U2 concert – but that’s enough for me to confirm the lack of wireless coverage in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Saturday video break: We Three Kings are totally on Twitter

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

If the Christmas story were happening today, this is how it might go down: Thanks to Harold for finding this.

Posted in Society and cultcha | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Recycling for apartments

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The city of San Antonio is taking a big step forward in expanding its recycling program. The new amendment ensures that all families and individuals living in apartments, condominiums, townhomes, high rise condominiums and San Antonio Housing Authority properties have … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

State cuts will equal local costs

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Grits is absolutely right: Cuts to state mental hospitals would be a massive unfunded mandate for county jails. [S]heriffs across Texas are increasingly frustrated and worried about the ever-decreasing amount of bed space available at state mental hospitals. Too often, … Continue reading →

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

DREAM Act to be voted on in the Senate today

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Today’s the day. Clergy from San Antonio and elsewhere in Texas vowed Thursday to continue pushing for passage of the DREAM Act, despite getting what they characterized as unclear responses from the staff of U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and … Continue reading →

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

Friday random ten: The top 500, part 5

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Continuing on with the songs in my collection from the Rolling Stone Top 500 list. 1. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Stevie Ray Vaughan (#101, orig. Jimi Hendrix) 2. Hot Stuff – Donna Summer (#103) 3. The Boxer – Simon … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Metro reaches settlement with CAF

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Fresh from the inbox: The Metropolitan Transit Authority announced today that it has reached a settlement with CAF USA, Inc. (a subsidiary of the Spanish Firm Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A.) over two disputed contracts for the construction of … Continue reading →

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

Prop 1 opponents file “We think the voters are stupid” lawsuit

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m really angry about this. Opponents of Proposition 1, Houston’s recently-passed drainage fee, filed a civil lawsuit Wednesday against Mayor Annise Parker and the City of Houston. The lawsuit calls Prop 1 “illegal” because “the ballot language does not accurately … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Still DREAMing

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The good news is that the DREAM Act passed the House last week. The bad news is that means it had to go to the Senate, where good bills go to die these days. At this point, it may not … Continue reading →

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

State Supreme Court asked to reconsider open beaches verdict

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck with that. Galveston has joined key state agencies in pleading with the court to reconsider a ruling that favors private property rights over public access to Texas shores. “I think the Supreme Court really needs to understand the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fort Worth quits its pursuit of streetcars

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m surprised by this. The city’s discussion and study of the viability of a modern streetcar system for the central city is over for now. The City Council voted 5-3 [last] Tuesday to pull the plug on a feasibility study … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

RIP, Blake Edwards

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The man who gave us the one true “Pink Panther” movies has passed away at the age of 88. One of Hollywood’s most successful specialists in comedy, Edwards was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1922 and started out as an … Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Fee for all

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Much as the state will soon do, the city of Houston is raising a bunch of fees. The city of Houston is poised to raise an estimated 150 fees for services ranging from pool inspections to boiler permits, part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Kuempel wins his father’s seat

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We have a full House again. John Kuempel, son of the late state Rep. Edmund Kuempel, won a special election Tuesday to fill his late father’s seat, state election officials said. With all precincts reporting, John Kuempel, 40, received 65 … Continue reading →

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