Monthly Archives: March 2012

Friday random ten: South By Southwest

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

You may have heard something about South By Southwest, the big music/arts/techie shindig they have in Austin every year. I’ve never been and honestly probably never will, but I have grabbed some of the free tunes they make available after … Continue reading →

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And then they went right back to not caring about women

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Such a delightfully cynical little stunt. Thirteen Republican members of the Texas congressional delegation wrote a letter to President Obama protesting the administration’s decision to phase out funding for the Texas Women’s Health Program. The administration took the action after … Continue reading →

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

What radicals?

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I was reading this Patricia Kilday Hart column about how nobody outside Texas paid attention to the sonogram bill until the Virginia brouhaha and the Doonesbury series, which is a good albeit frustrating read, when I came across this bit … Continue reading →

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Early Childhood Intervention

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

When we say that the budget was balanced on the backs of children and the poor, this is the sort of thing we’re talking about. Lawmakers last year slashed funding for the statewide [Early Childhood Intervention] program by 14 percent. … Continue reading →

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Texas high school graduation rate improved over the last decade

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

According to one report, anyway. Texas’ graduation rate for high school students increased 1.9 percent since 2002 to just below the national average, according to a new report by a coalition of education groups. The report found that high school … Continue reading →

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

Just keep cutting till we tell you to stop

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I have two things to say about this. Looking to get an early start on shaping budget discussions for the 2013 legislative session, the Texans for a Conservative Budget Coalition recommended Tuesday that lawmakers plan to reduce welfare spending, increase … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More details on the city’s crime lab plan

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s starting to come into focus. An independent crime lab could cost nearly 20 percent more than the current police-run operation, a high-level Parker administration official told a City Council committee this week. Andy Icken, the mayor’s chief development officer, … Continue reading →

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Outsourcing Texas border security

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

What could possibly go wrong? A little-known private defense contractor from Virginia has quietly received about $20 million under a series of no-bid contracts with the State of Texas to develop its border security strategies, an effort that included shaping … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of March 19

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance has a spring in its step as it brings you this week’s roundup. Off the Kuff wrote about the forthcoming end of the Women’s Health Program in Texas. PRESS RELEASE: May 16, 2012 For immediate release … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rep. Borris Miles

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Borris Miles is in his second term representing HD146, though his terms were not consecutive. He knocked off longtime Rep. Al Edwards in 2006, lost a rematch in 2008, then won again in 2010. He will face Edwards … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Hold it right there on the homeless feeding ordinance

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This is the right call. After a community outcry protesting what opponents call the criminalization of charity, Mayor Annise Parker announced this afternoon that she will not seek a vote Wednesday on her proposed regulation of the feeding of homeless … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Pink slime

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know if you’ve been following the “pink slime” debate, but Bettina Siegel, who is one of the main catalysts behind it, had an op-ed in the Chron that summarized the main arguments. Last week, the online publication The … Continue reading →

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

Hens for Houston

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Looking for a new cause to get involved in? Here’s a movement to allow people to raise hens in Houston. Vision: “Hens for Houston” is working to promote a sustainable and progressive Houston in which city dwellers can keep 4-6 … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Sen. Wendy Davis’ office firebombed

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, my God. State Sen. Wendy Davis’ West Seventh Street office in Fort Worth was firebombed Tuesday afternoon, according to reports, but no one was injured in the attack. According to scanner traffic, Fort Worth patrol officers were searching for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Who not to vote for 2012

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There are a number of interesting and exciting Democratic primary races on this year’s ballot. You can see a bunch of them here and here. There are many good candidates, and many races in which you may have a difficult … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

United versus Southwest

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I feel like I’m missing something in this debate. A proposal by Southwest Airlines to offer international flights from Hobby Airport has triggered an intense lobbying duel with United Airlines, which still wields considerable local clout as the successor to … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

More cuts, fewer teachers

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We knew this was what had happened, and now we have the numbers. New data from the Texas Education Agency illustrate what school officials have decried for months: Their staffs are stretched thin following the unprecedented state budget cuts that … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Mockery is the best medicine

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Business Insider comes across the Facebook fun. Women aren’t too happy with Rick Perry’s stance on family planning funding. Today, they let him know the best way they could, with some well-directed Internet snark. Posts asking Perry’s advice about everything … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rep. Garnet Coleman

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Garnet Coleman is one of my favorite people in the Legislature. He’s one of the most knowledgeable members in the House on matters relating to health care policy, and he’s a leader on a wide range of issues … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why no ID?

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Grits asks an interesting question. Why do so many adult Texans lack ID? In part because 2 million drivers have had their drivers licenses revoked because of nonpayment of the Driver Responsibility Surcharge, which readers will recall is a stiff … Continue reading →

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

Abbott files suit over WHP

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Say what? Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is filing yet another lawsuit against the federal government, this one, no surprise, over the Women’s Health Program. Federal health officials announced Thursday what state leaders had predicted for weeks: that they are … Continue reading →

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

Americans Elect starts the petition process

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

And they’re off. Americans Elect — an emerging, alternative third party that plans to use the Internet to field a presidential ticket this year — is starting to gather signatures of registered voters in Texas to try to gain a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Weekend link dump for March 18

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Happy day before Saint Joseph’s Day! All hail the 2016 GOP frontrunner. The first rule of committing crimes is to always check for cops before committing them. I’m pretty sure Jesus would not have done this. We’re about to get … Continue reading →

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Houston may finally be drought-free

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This was from a week ago. The rain brings the city’s official precipitation total for the year to 15.78 inches, twice the normal level, and a tally Houston didn’t reach in 2011 until early November. On Sunday, for the second … Continue reading →

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Solving car crimes with DNA

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This story is basically a commercial for Harris County’s crime lab – Did you know that since they have no testing backlog on personal crime cases they can focus on property crimes? It’s true! – but it’s still pretty cool. … Continue reading →

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

A deluxe efficiency in the sky

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The hot trend in real estate is small apartments. Apartments in Houston are shrinking. As rents have gone up, developers have been building smaller units and a lot more of them to meet growing demand from apartment dwellers who want … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Saturday video break: I’m Free

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Song #77 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “I’m Free”, originally by the Rolling Stones, and covered by the Soup Dragons. Here’s the original: Am I the only one who remembers that early days Bloom County comic in … Continue reading →

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Texas will be relevant to the GOP nomination circus after all

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

After Mitt Romney’s unimpressive showing on Tuesday, the race for the GOP Presidential nomination continues to slog on with no clear end in sight. Which is good news, I guess, if you’re a Texas Republican because it means that your … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

There’s an app for binge drinking

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There will be, anyway. And it’s not what you’re thinking because it’s the TABC that’s developing it. As college students from across the nation head to Texas beaches for spring break, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is already making plans … Continue reading →

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

It’s not so easy being green

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

For cities, anyway, at this time. College Station, the maroon-hued home of Texas A&M University, is finding it is not easy being green. Four years after launching an ambitious local effort to fight global warming, city leaders say their high … Continue reading →

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

Friday random ten: On break

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

To salute the end of spring break, ten songs about breaks and breaking. 1. Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You – Connie Francis 2. Only Love Can Break A Heart – Gene Pitney 3. Break It To Me Gently … Continue reading →

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Texas goes long on voter ID

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

From Michael Li: The State of Texas is seeking permission from the three-judge panel in the voter ID case to file an amended complaint that would directly challenge the constitutionality of section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. The amended … Continue reading →

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

Bye-bye, WHP

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Thanks, Rick! Federal health officials announced Thursday what state leaders have predicted for weeks: that they are halting funding for Texas’ Women’s Health Program. Cindy Mann, director of the federal Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, said Texas left her … Continue reading →

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Houston gets HUD grant to house the homeless

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Since we’ve been talking about homelessness recently, I thought I’d take note of this. Houston-area homeless programs will receive nearly $2.8 million in federal funding as part of an Obama administration plan to confront homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment