Monthly Archives: October 2011

Big XII targeting Big East schools

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There are still more dominoes to fall. Two high-level Big 12 school administrators said on Sunday the conference expects Missouri to leave and will act quickly to replace the Tigers, focusing primarily on West Virginia with Louisville as a strong … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For Prop 2

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron recommends a Yes vote on another Constitutional amendment. If there were ever a summer to remind us of Texas’ water problems, this was it. During months of drought and earth-cracking heat, our reservoirs dipped, cities restricted water usage … Continue reading →

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Early voting starts today

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Today is the start of Early Voting for the 2011 elections. It will run through next Friday, November 4, with Election Day on Tuesday the 8th. You can see the EV schedule and locations here, or check out Greg‘s Google … Continue reading →

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Say “No” to Confederate license plates

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been in Texas over 25 years now, but sometimes I just can’t escape my Yankee heritage. A group of elected officials said Saturday that Texas cannot allow the Confederate flag – which they consider a symbol of oppression – … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Dan Grant forms exploratory committee for CD25

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

BOR: Dan Grant announced that he’s forming an exploratory committee for CD-25, the Congressional district that includes much of East and Central Austin. Overall, the new CD-25 includes all of Johnson, Hill, Bosque, Somervell, Hamilton, Coryell, Lampasas and Burnet Counties, … Continue reading →

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League of Women Voters Houston 2011 Guide

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For your perusal, in a printer-friendly format. (The Spanish language guide is here. It contains information about voter registration laws and the Constitutional amendments, and a brief Q&A with candidates from all the Houston races, including HISD and HCC. The … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Robinson for HCC

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The last two contested races awaiting Chron endorsements are the two HCC Trustee elections. They deal with the open seat race in District IV by recommending Carroll Robinson. The contest to replace outgoing Houston Community College District IV trustee Michael … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for October 23

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Happy Mole Day, everyone! Assuming we weren’t all raptured, of course. I would like for this to be incorporated into the standard written driver’s test. I also think Rude Taco would make an excellent band name. If this doesn’t convince … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

Chron overview of the Mayor’s race

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For the Sunday that is the last day before the start of early voting, the Chron brings us their overview of the Mayor’s race. And a theme we’ve seen expressed once or twice before. Political analysts predict Mayor Annise Parker … Continue reading →

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Investigating the DA

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There may be something interesting going on in the grand jury room. A Houston grand jury apparently investigating recent allegations about the Houston Police Department’s troubled mobile alcohol-testing vehicles may now be setting its sights on the Harris County District … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Can you feel the McCaul-mentum?

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You know what the race for the Republican nomination for Senate is missing? Another rich old white right-winger. Four-term U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, one of the wealthiest members of the U.S. House, is burnishing his conservative credentials and taking stock … Continue reading →

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Deer smuggling

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I had no idea. The smuggling operation across the Texas border proved lucrative, netting over $2 million for hauling the undocumented 41 who went by such aliases as “Hit Man” and “Spike.” But the illegal cargo wasn’t immigrants from Mexico. … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: How Soon Is Now

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Song #95 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “How Soon Is Now”. It was also apparently the theme song to the TV show “Charmed”, or at least the cover version by Love Spit Love is. And here’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Astros to the AL update

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I remain puzzled by this. Major League Baseball is discussing with prospective Astros owner Jim Crane possible compensation for agreeing to move the team to the American League. Three people familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday that MLB has … Continue reading →

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RIP, UT-A&M

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Tradition, schmadition. This Thanksgiving one of college football’s oldest and most storied rivalries will be put on indefinite hold when Texas and Texas A&M meet for the last time as Big 12 foes. The Aggies wanted to continue the series … Continue reading →

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Rice Stadium renovations coming

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This is something Rice fans have been hearing about for a long time. Calling it “a critical investment in the future of Rice football,” university officials on Thursday unveiled a plan to build a two-story football facility at the south … Continue reading →

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New parking regulations

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Hair Balls last week had a good discussion of a proposal by the city to revamp its 1989 Off Street Parking ordinance. Currently, bars — which are defined as having alcohol make up more than 75 percent of their sales … Continue reading →

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

Friday random ten: With this ring

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This past Monday was my 13th wedding anniversary. I’ve now been married long enough that I have a hard time remembering what it was like to not be married. Of course, I’m also very old, so that may just be … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jew Don Boney

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We conclude this interview cycle with a familiar name in Houston politics. Jew Don Boney, who is running for the open HCC District IV seat, was the Council member in District D from 1995 to 2001; he was my Council … Continue reading →

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HISD to join school finance lawsuit

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The Houston school board committed Thursday to suing the state, adding to a growing list of districts taking legal action to force Texas lawmakers to improve the way they fund public education. Trustees of the Houston Independent School District … Continue reading →

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

Chron overview of At Large #5

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to their belated endorsement in the At Large #5 race, the Chron now has its overview story of the race up as well. At-Large Position 5 Councilwoman Jolanda Jones arguably finds herself running as the upstart in her … Continue reading →

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There’s an app for finding a bus

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. Imagine this: You are walking around the Galleria and want to go to Discovery Green for a concert. But you’re not sure what bus to take. In a few months, you’ll be able use your smart phone to … Continue reading →

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

Endorsement watch: Bell for Jones

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Former Council Member and Mayoral candidate Chris Bell has endorsed Jolanda Jones for re-election, writing his own letter of support for her, which you can see here. Normally, I’m not that interested in this sort of personal endorsement, but since … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: HISD incumbents

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron sticks with the incumbents in the three contested HISD Trustee races. For HISD Trustee in District III: Manuel Rodriguez Elected to the board in 2003, he was its president in 2007, when the district successfully passed an important … Continue reading →

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Interview with Carroll Robinson

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The other contested race for HCC Trustee is in District IV, which is the open seat being vacated by Michael Williams. It features two former City Council members, the first of which is Carroll Robinson, who served in At Large … Continue reading →

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The interim plans

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Monday was the deadline for parties in the redistricting lawsuit being heard in San Antonio to file interim plans for the court to consider in the event preclearance is not granted in time for candidate filing. Texas Redistricting summarizes the … Continue reading →

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RUDH files suit over 380 agreements

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: RUDH has filed a petition in Harris County District Court challenging the legality of a six million dollar tax reimbursement deal between the City of Houston and Ainbinder Heights, LLC, the developer of the Houston Heights area … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of October 17

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance reminds you that early voting for the November election starts next week as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Endorsement watch: The Chron proves me wrong

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I had thought that the Chron was going to endorse challenger Laurie Robinson in the At Large #5 race. I was wrong. Of the current 15 members of Houston City Council, including Mayor Annise Parker, none arouses the intense passions … Continue reading →

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Interview with Wendell Robbins

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Opposing Chris Oliver in District IX is Wendell Robbins. Robbins was a late entrant into the race whom I noticed when he picked up the endorsement of the Harris County Tejano Democrats. Robbins owns a construction company. This is his … Continue reading →

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KHOU polls the Mayor’s race

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We have our first published poll of the season. Mayor Annise Parker, leading the city during an era of budget cutbacks and high unemployment, has the lowest approval ratings of any Houston mayor in decades. That’s the striking headline popping … Continue reading →

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Why is stimulus by one type of government better than the other?

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Perhaps someone should ask that question at the next Republican Presidential debate, which they seem to have every week or so. Gov. Rick Perry’s record of creating jobs with taxpayer money is coming under greater scrutiny because of his presidential … Continue reading →

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UH to get Big East invitation

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Change is coming, one way or another. UH’s hope of joining an automatic-qualifying Bowl Championship Series conference may soon come to fruition after the Big East Conference extended an invitation to UH on Monday evening. The league extended an invitation … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: White for Christie

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This came as a surprise to me. Former Mayor Bill White has endorsed Jack Christie for the At-Large 5 City Council seat. It is the only endorsement the ex-mayor has made in this year’s city elections. White sent out a … Continue reading →

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