Monthly Archives: April 2011

Saturday video break: Fluuuuutes! Innnnnnn! Spaaaaaaaaace!

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve never seen a flute duet quite like this before: I’m hard pressed to think of a better way to salute the 50th anniversary of the first human being in space. The song they’re playing is the opening bars of … Continue reading →

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House moves forward on school fund money

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, I noted a bill filed by Rep. Rob Orr that would direct some money from the Available School Fund into the public schools. His legislation has now been approved by committee and is likely on its way to … Continue reading →

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Time for the biennial attack on the Travis County DA

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Every two years, some Republican legislators try to kill the Public Integrity Unit of the Travis County District Attorney’s office. An amendment tacked on to the House budget bill approved last week would shift roughly $3.4 million a year from … Continue reading →

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Tinker the T-Rex to come to Texas

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s your dinosaur lawsuit news for the week. The fossilized remains of Tinker the teenage T. rex soon could be returning to the prospectors who unearthed them, after a recent ruling from a federal bankruptcy court. Most of the 65-million-year-old … Continue reading →

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The Austin rail debate

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Austin is gearing up for another debate about how and where – and if – to build more rail there. This is the third time since 2000 that they’ve gone through such a debate. This AusChron story … Continue reading →

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The end of the Willingham case for the Forensic Science Commission

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Dave Mann reads the Willingham report from the Forensic Science Commission so you don’t have to. The commission’s nearly 50-page report—the product of a high-profile, frequently stalled investigation—is an odd mix. It documents at length the flawed state of fire … Continue reading →

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

Friday random ten: The 80s

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The 80s. If you don’t already understand what things like parachute pants and Members Only jackets were about, there’s nothing I can say that will help you understand them. 1. Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen (1980) 2. Who Can It … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Chron story about the House redistricting map

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s what the Chron had to say about the initial redistricting map for the State House. I’m just going to focus on a couple of things: The statewide map creates one new Latino district, maintains the current number of black … Continue reading →

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Bonds found guilty on one charge

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A mixed result for Barry Bonds and the feds who have been pursuing him. Just like the whole Steroid Era: We’ll never really know. Even the one charge that left Barry Bonds a convicted felon didn’t specify steroids. Instead, a … Continue reading →

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When you find yourself in a hole, go ahead and keep digging

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

So Texas has this big budget shortfall. You’ve probably heard about it. A big part of that shortfall is structural, thanks to the 2006 property tax cut that was supposed to be funded primarily by the business margins tax. Unfortunately, … Continue reading →

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Your digital ad here

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Lisa Gray alerts us to the latest bright idea from Austin. Like all of Texas’ big cities, we have regulations that ban digital billboards – both because they’re painfully ugly and because they’re designed to take drivers’ eyes off the … Continue reading →

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Draft Willingham report is out

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Postcards: A draft report issued today by the Texas Forensic Science Commission on the evidence used to convict and execute Cameron Todd Willingham focuses on training and education initiatives for fire investigators and makes several suggestions for continued improvement for … Continue reading →

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HISD lays off teachers, discusses school closures

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We knew this was coming. There may yet be more of it to come. Officials with the Houston Independent School District announced Tuesday that about 730 teachers have been notified they won’t have jobs next year — because of budget … Continue reading →

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

More on the effects of cuts to health and human services

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Most of this should be familiar to us by now. Deep spending cuts in the recently passed House budget would profoundly change the state’s medical system, placing tens of thousands of Texans in the difficult position of finding alternate care … Continue reading →

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Doggett Amendment repealed as part of budget-shutdown deal

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, the things that can happen in the dark of night. In a victory for Gov. Rick Perry, the most recent Congressional budgetary stopgap — passed Friday night to avoid closing the federal government — contains language that repeals the … Continue reading →

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Outdoors legislative update

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This is about the time of year when Shannon Thompkins, the Chron’s outdoor sports writer, devotes a column to what’s going on in the Legislature with bills that are about outdoor activities. I always look for them because he writes … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of April 11

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance reminds you that it does not shut down as it brings you this week’s blog roundup.

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First State House redistricting plan is up

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Go here, click Select Plans, then Base Plan, then choose Plan H113. The first thing I noticed is that it did in fact reduce Harris County to 24 members. Here’s a screen grab: HD149 is the odd district out – … Continue reading →

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A third opportunity district

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Greg breaks out the mapmaking tools and redraws the city’s proposed Council map in a way that creates a more realistic third Hispanic opportunity district. It’s not a heavy favorite to elect a Latino candidate the way districts H and … Continue reading →

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So what is the point of the SBOE, anyway?

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s another story about the difficulties of SBOE redistricting, and it’s got me wondering why we bother having an elected body called the State Board of Education. This legislative session, lawmakers are working on redrawing the 15 districts based on … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Do we have an opponent yet for the Mayor?

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Probably not. Houston Fire Department Deputy Chief Fernando Herrera has filed papers appointing a treasurer for a mayoral campaign fund-raising committee. He was the Republican candidate for District 148 state representative in 2010. He lost to incumbent Jessica Farrar. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cancelling constables

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Like Grits, I see this as an opportunity, not a loss. Budget cuts have led two Harris County constables to cancel their security contracts with several area school districts, leaving the districts scrambling for a fix to cover the end … Continue reading →

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Bradley’s mission nears its completion

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

John Bradley won’t get confirmed by the Senate as the Chair of the Forensic Science Commission, but that’s all right. The purpose for which he was put on the Commission by Rick Perry is about to be fulfilled. Perry, who … Continue reading →

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Let’s not look for excuses

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, MALDEF released a Congressional redistricting plan for Texas that was aimed at drawing two new Latino Congressional seats. Paul Burka has a complaint about one of the districts they drew. The other district in Plan 108C is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

NYT on Ellen Cohen

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You don’t expect Houston City Council races or candidates to get written up in the Times, but Ellen Cohen isn’t your everyday candidate. Well, and there’s the partnership with the Texas Tribune, too. Of interest is the question of whether … Continue reading →

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Payday lending bills advance

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Legislation by Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth that would cap fees and interest on loans made by payday and car title lenders was approved Thursday by the Senate Business and Commerce Committee. The bill, which now heads to … Continue reading →

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Are you ready for 2016?

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Unlike the Super Bowl, Houston will get to host another Final Four in the near future. Detroit set the previous record in 2009, but the Final Four at Reliant Stadium established a new standard for the event’s highest total attendance … Continue reading →

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

First public hearing on Council redistricting this Wednesday

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Public Hearings on Proposed City Council Redistricting Plan On Wednesday, April 6, 2011, the Houston City Council was presented with the proposed City Council Redistricting Plan. Three public hearings will be held to discuss the proposed plan … Continue reading →

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I can’t drive 85

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Start your engines, y’all. The Texas House approved a bill that would allow the speed limit on some highways to be raised to 85 mph, which would be the highest in the nation. The measure passed Wednesday on a voice … Continue reading →

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Richie will not run for another term as TDP Chair

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Over the weekend, Texas Democratic Party Chair Boyd Richie announced that he would not seek another term when his current one expires next year. I’ve put his press release beneath the fold. I think Richie did some good work as … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

House passes texting while driving ban

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Put that phone down and drive. This is no LOL matter: Texting while driving could soon be prohibited statewide. The House preliminarily passed a bill [Thursday] that singles out “text-based communication” — texting, instant messaging or e-mailing — while driving … Continue reading →

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Skilling conviction upheld

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Some Enron news for you: A U.S. Supreme Court decision does not undo any of the convictions against former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling, but his case should still be sent back to a Houston judge for resentencing, an appeals court … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for April 10

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Insert random quote here. Your tax dollars at work. Don’t you wish you could have had some Urkel-O’s for breakfast? Or maybe some C-3PO’s? Mmm mmm good! We really have come a long way. There’s a long way yet to … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

The House finds a few extra bucks

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Where has this been all along? State Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson, introduced two bills to the House Appropriations Committee that could add several million dollars to the public schools budget over the next two years. HB 2646 proposes allowing the … Continue reading →

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