Monthly Archives: August 2011

Trautman running for HCDE

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

And we have our first contested Democratic primary in Harris County for 2012 as Diane Trautman has announced her intent to run for Harris County Department of Education Trustee in At Large #3. Here’s her Facebook page for that. She … Continue reading →

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Bad times are good for the Lottery

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Some people might consider this to be good news, but I don’t. This year, the Texas Lottery Commission’s sales are headed for a record high, on pace to reach about $3.83 billion, up from $3.74 billion last year. The previous … Continue reading →

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Interview with Criselda Romero

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in District J is Criselda Romero. Romero grew up in what is now District J, graduating from Sharpstown High School. She is on leave from her job in Council Member Ed Gonzalez’s office, where she has worked as … Continue reading →

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A better way for law enforcement to deal with the mentally ill

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Three Harris County Sheriff’s deputies will have new partners riding shotgun soon, if county officials approve a pilot program pairing them with mental health workers to deal with mentally disturbed suspects. Sheriff Adrian Garcia said he wants to treat … Continue reading →

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

Back to school

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Time to do more with less, kids. Just don’t expect to be cut any slack on those standardized tests. When Texas students return to public schools this week, some will see a slight uptick in class sizes and fewer teachers, … Continue reading →

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Thanks for helping us balance the budget, fishermen

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron’s Shannon Tompkins explains how budgetary shenanigans have an adverse effect on Texas’ hunters and fishers. Every year, tens of millions of dollars in hunting and fishing license fees are left sitting in the state account used to fund … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

“Draft Nick Lampson”

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As things stand now, there are basically two Congressional seats in Texas that Democrats have a shot at taking away from Republicans in 2012. One is CD23, which is drawing a fair amount of interest. The other is CD14, thanks … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rodrigo Cañedo

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We move now into District J, the other of the two new Council districts. Drawn to be a Latino opportunity district, it has in fact attracted two Latino candidates, one of whom is Rodrigo Cañedo. Cañedo is a small business … Continue reading →

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Texas’ unemployment rate spikes

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Texas unemployment rate hits its highest mark since 1987. That’s probably not the kind of headline Rick Perry wants to read right now. As Gov. Rick Perry touts job creation and limited government on the campaign trail, the Texas’ unemployment … Continue reading →

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No red light camera action on Friday

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Tagged again. City Council passed on an opportunity to outlaw red-light cameras during a special meeting Friday, delaying consideration of the repeal of Houston’s camera ordinance until Wednesday. Councilwoman Sue Lovell tagged the item, a parliamentary maneuver that delays a … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

New Braunfels may delay new river regulations

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like the preliminary approval they gave to banning bottles and cans from the Comal River may be put off for awhile before implementation. Grassroots opposition to a proposed prohibition on disposable containers on the Comal River has persuaded the … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for August 21

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

School starts tomorrow. That sound you hear is one part kids wailing and one part parents rejoicing. How to expose a fake video, if you’re a physicist. I have to agree that if deer antler spray doesn’t help you grow … Continue reading →

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“Miss Representation”

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The above is a preview for Miss Representation, which is showing this Thursday for one night only at the Alamo Drafthouse, West Oaks Mall, at 7 PM. I’ve got tickets for the screening, which is also a benefit for Annie’s … Continue reading →

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It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s SuperCommittee!

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Up, up, and away! A group of 16 elected officials, community leaders, union bosses and pension executives have until Jan. 31 to find ways to tackle the triple threat to the city’s future solvency — ballooning pension obligations, runaway health … Continue reading →

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Bexar County legislative hopefuls

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Some news out of Bexar County about Democratic legislative candidates. Two former San Antonio councilmen who left office this summer because of term limits are back in politics and gearing up for their first partisan campaigns for seats in the … Continue reading →

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Will there be more prison closures?

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This story, which is primarily about the soon-to-be-closed Central Unit in Sugar Land, discussed the possibility that other prisons may also wind up being closed, but doesn’t seem to hopeful about it. Officials note that Texas is perhaps the only … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: When the cover is better known than the original II

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You know “I Want Candy”, by Bow Wow Wow, right? Of course you do. But did you know that it was a cover of a song from the 60s, just like Tainted Love was? I didn’t. Well, here it is: … Continue reading →

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HCC Trustee sues HCC Board

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Back in April, the HCC Board of Trustees censured Board member Yolanda Navarro Flores after an investigation reported that she had engaged in unethical behavior. Here’s the Chron story from the time, which I did not blog about: The Houston … Continue reading →

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

Jackson to run for Congress, Anderson to primary Harris

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

State Sen. Mike Jackson makes official what had been speculated. As expected, state Sen. Mike Jackson, R-La Porte, will run for Congress next year instead of for re-election to the Texas Senate. He’ll be running in the newly created CD-36. … Continue reading →

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What if they all lose?

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Now that Rick Perry and David Dewhurst have decided they really want to be in that place they profess to hate so much, Washington, DC, there are a bunch of politicians behind them hoping to move up. Ross Ramsey wonders, … Continue reading →

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Beware the Texas Highway Patrol Association

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A public service announcement from Grits for Breakfast: This morning Grits received a solicitation phone call from a telemarketer who said he was from the “Texas Highway Patrol,” calling because “we’ve lost two troopers recently” and they wanted to “raise … Continue reading →

Posted in Skepticism | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Friday random ten: What would Molly say?

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In re: Rick Perry for President, I quote the immortal Molly Ivins, who said about Dubya “Next time I tell you someone from Texas should not be president of the United States, please pay attention.” In honor of that, here’s … Continue reading →

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Interview with Brian Cweren

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We wrap up our tour of District C with the candidate who ran for Council here before it was reconfigured. Brian Cweren was a candidate in C the last time it was open, back in 2005, finishing fifth but only … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Can this divorce be saved?

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

After all their feuding this week, the city and the camera vendor are still trying to work out the terms of their breakup. A day after Mayor Annise Parker ripped American Traffic Solutions for “jerking us around” and failing to … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

We have a contested HISD election

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

School Zone: Houston ISD school board president Paula Harris is the first incumbent to draw an opponent in the November elections. Arturo “Art” Huerta — who, according to the board office, is a parent of a child at Lanier Middle … Continue reading →

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The back to school letter

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Every year at the start of school, the local district superintendent sends home a letter to the parents of each student telling them about what to expect in the new year. This is the sort of letter they should be … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Joshua Verde

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Joshua Verde is the newcomer to politics in the District C field. A former pilot with Continental’s ExpressJet, Verde has worked for the Houston Airport System and is now a student at the South Texas College of Law. He lives … Continue reading →

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Davis and Veasey will be allowed to intervene in redistricting litigation

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From the Lone Star Project, via the inbox: Sen. Davis, Rep. Veasey Win Key Redistricting Ruling Federal Court rejects Texas Republican argument and grants North Texas Intervenors the right to participate in redistricting trial A group of North Texas citizens … Continue reading →

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Please place the blame where it belongs

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Stories like this concern me. Public opinion of the Houston Independent School District plummeted this year amid severe state budget cuts, while support of the superintendent also dropped, according to a new survey. Among parents surveyed this spring, 54 percent … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of August 15

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes that the nation remembers Molly Ivins’ words about Texas governors as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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No vote on red light cameras today

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Tag! The council will not act today on Mayor Annise Parker‘s resolution seeking its approval to shut off the city’s red-light cameras and fight its vendor in court over breach of contract. Councilwoman Sue Lovell tagged it, delaying a vote … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Interview with Karen Derr

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Karen Derr wound up in District C after redistricting by living in the western portion of the Heights. She ran for At Large #1 in 2009, losing in the runoff to CM Stephen Costello. She is the founder of Karen … Continue reading →

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You can’t always get what you want

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

But you can always complain about getting what you want. A little over a month ago, Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced she was turning the red-light cameras back on and declared she did not need the City Council’s approval to … Continue reading →

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

Making it harder for veterans to vote

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Well done, Republicans. Ann McGeehan, director of the Secretary of State’s elections division, said last week at a seminar in Austin that photo ID cards issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are not acceptable forms of military ID … Continue reading →

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