Monthly Archives: May 2012

Two more ways to divert money from public schools

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Number One: Taxpayer-funded scholarships to private schools. When the Georgia legislature passed a private school scholarship program in 2008, lawmakers promoted it as a way to give poor children the same education choices as the wealthy. The program would be … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The exoneration that wasn’t

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know about you, but I’d forgotten about this. A Texas judge who reviewed the controversial 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham planned to posthumously exonerate the father who was put to death for killing his three daughters in … Continue reading →

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

A small overview of a large field

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has a partial overview of the cattle call in CD14. [State Rep. Randy] Weber, 58, is one of nine Republicans vying for the party’s nomination in Paul’s congressional district, which includes Lake Jackson, where the 76-year-old Paul delivered … Continue reading →

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

Mayor to announce Hobby expansion deal

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here it comes. Houston Mayor Annise Parker is planning to announce Wednesday morning that the city and Southwest Airlines have come to an agreement on how to finance a $100 million expansion of Hobby Airport to accommodate international flights, according … Continue reading →

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The Trib’s strange samples

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the UT/Texas Trib poll result the Trib should have reported: Q19. If the 2012 general election for U.S. president were held today and Mitt Romney was the Republican nominee, would you vote for [randomize] Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, someone … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A trio of trial updates

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Planned Parenthood versus Texas: A ruling affecting health care, including contraception, for some 130,000 low-income Texas women probably won’t come until late this year as Planned Parenthood and the state of Texas plan for mid-October oral arguments in their legal … Continue reading →

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Assessing the risk of wildfires

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

While one hopes that it won’t be a problem this year, the Harris County Fire Marshall has come up with a plan to protect vulnerable areas from wildfires. Four months ago, Harris County became the most populated county in the … Continue reading →

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The unhelpful SBOE overview

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The premise of this story is good and useful. Unfortunately, the execution falls short. Conservatives and moderates get a rare opportunity this year to try to stack the State Board of Education with members who will help shape public education … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Rose Meza Harrison

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I know that I said when I did that last interview that it would in fact be the last interview for the primary election, but as is often the case it turns out there was more to do. I was … Continue reading →

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Meet your Crime Lab board

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Parker has recommended nine people be appointed by Council to the governing board for the proposed Houston Forensic Science Local Government Corporation (LGC). “The people I have selected have varied backgrounds in science, law enforcement, public policy, business and … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

City sues firefighter pension board

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We knew this was coming. The city of Houston sued the firefighters pension board in state District Court on Wednesday in an effort to pry open the retirement system’s books for a look at supporting data behind the $61 million … Continue reading →

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

Early voting after one full week

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here are your seven day early voting totals for the 2012 primaries, and some historical context to go along with them. Year 7 day Early 7 day % Final 7 day % Early % ============================================================== 2004 R 11,330 28,217 38.91% … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Weekend link dump for May 20

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The browser wars are back. Kids today aren’t interested in the culture wars. I’m there already, kids. What’s the point of choosing a secure password if you’re going to be forced to reveal it to someone? Facebook is killing text … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

RIP, Americans Elect

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s official. After its board met Wednesday to discuss its options, [Americans Elect] released a statement Thursday indicating that it would not change its rules, effectively disqualifying all the candidates from participating in an online nominating convention that was scheduled … Continue reading →

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

Stardig v Brown II?

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not too early to start stocking up on popcorn. A rematch between District A Councilwoman Helena Brown and former Councilwoman Brenda Stardig next year is looking increasingly likely. Stardig attended Wednesday’s Council meeting, so I asked her about her … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Wentworth and Jones sue each other

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a contender for nastiest primary race of the cycle. On Thursday, incumbent state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, sued challenger Elizabeth Ames Jones, a former railroad commissioner, alleging libel and slander. Emergency room doctor Donna … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: There’s only one Democrat running for County Commissioner in Precinct 4

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron correctly endorses Sean Hammerle for County Commissioner in Precinct 4, though they fail to fully explore all the reasons why he deserves it. We believe Hammerle, an LSU graduate who makes his living as a consultant for nonprofit … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Mrs. Robinson

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Song #67 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkel, covered by The Lemonheads. Here’s the original: I trust we’re all familiar with that song, even if we’ve never seen “The Graduate”. Here’s the Lemonheads version: … Continue reading →

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The face of the country continues to change

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This is our future. For the first time, as of 2011, more than half of the children under age 1 in the U.S. were minorities, the newest benchmark illustrating the widening age gap between mostly white, older Americans and fast-growing, … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Financing the Dallas to Houston high speed rail line

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The way things are going, this could get built before the final pieces of the 2012 Metro Solutions plan. If high-speed rail comes to North Texas by 2020, the bullet trains will initially rely on the area’s road system — … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Two for Doggett

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The San Antonio Express News did most of its endorsements before the start of Early Voting, but took its time on the Congressional races. In the end, they did all their endorsements in one editorial, and at the end of … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Madden in HD137

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron picks Joe Madden as their preferred candidate to succeed Rep. Scott Hochberg in HD137. In the Democratic primary on May 29, an impressive slate of candidates has come forward to run for Hochberg’s seat representing the 137th District … Continue reading →

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

Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Ever notice how some songs have and alternate, parenthetical title? Here are ten examples from my collection. 1. Remember (Walking In The Sand) – Aerosmith 2. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) – They Might Be Giants 3. (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Lawsuit filed against Justice Hecht’s ballot access

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht’s Democratic opponent has filed suit seeking to delay the printing of ballots and other election material to allow time to investigate potential problems with Hecht’s candidacy petitions. Several unfilled blanks in petitions from … Continue reading →

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

Bike racks at restaurants

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I wholeheartedly approve of this. On nice days, a 20-station bicycle rack stays mostly full outside Hay Merchant, a food-and-beer establishment located among a cramped string of restaurants on Westheimer near Montrose. When the rack is full, it means 20 … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The foodie caucus

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Sure, why not? State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, an Austin Democrat and admitted foodie, is creating the Farm to Table Caucus of the Texas House. Rodriguez is expected to send letters to all of the House’s 150 members Monday and invite … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Endorsement watch: Sadler

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Paul Sadler for the Democratic nomination for Senate. Sadler, 57, a father of five who served in the Texas House from 1991 to 2003, is an East Texas Democrat from the classic mold – a populist with … Continue reading →

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

The Mayor’s 2013 budget

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

What a difference a year – and better sales tax receipts and a better real estate market – makes. Mayor Parker has unveiled her budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, and it promises no service cuts, no layoffs, and no … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Why better eyewitness ID procedures matter

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Because bad eyewitness ID procedures can lead to the wrong people being executed. State Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, and Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, stopped short of claiming Texas wrongfully executed suspect Carlos DeLuna for the February 1983 murder of store … Continue reading →

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“Americans Unelect”

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. Americans Elect, the deep-pocketed nonprofit group that set out to nominate a centrist third-party presidential ticket, admitted early Tuesday that its ballyhooed online nominating process had failed. The group had qualified for the general election ballot in 27 states, … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of May 14

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance reminds everyone that early voting has begun as it brings you this week’s blog roundup.

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How many votes will be cast early this year?

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not talking total number, I’m talking what share of the vote will be cast early. The professionals think it will be a lot. “The early vote is more important this time than perhaps in any cycle in my lifetime … Continue reading →

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The Parent PAC slate

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I mentioned some of the candidates that have been endorsed by the Texas Parent PAC in this post, but since then they have released their full slate of endorsees. Texas Senate S.D. 9: Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless  www.toddsmithfortexas.com S.D. 11: Dave … Continue reading →

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

Another reason why Texas has a high teen pregnancy rate

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

We’re lousy at sex education. In the mid-1990s, California embraced sex education that teaches students the importance of waiting until they’re older to have sex, but also the value of using protection if they don’t wait. Compare this with classrooms … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment