Monthly Archives: May 2012

“Open letter to Williamson County”

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

John Raley is the attorney who worked for years to exonerate Michael Morton on the charge of murdering his wife in 1987. The key to the case was a bloody bandana, which DNA testing showed belonged to the real killer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Is the Amazon deal with the state legal?

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman raises a great question about the settlement deal between Amazon and the state of Texas that will get the online retailer to start collecting sales taxes in Texas while forgiving back taxes the state says it owes. But … Continue reading →

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Paying for Hobby expansion

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

At last week’s Council hearing on the proposed expansion of Hobby Airport, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly made the statement that if the proposal were to be accepted, Southwest would pay for the $100 million project. The Chron looks at … Continue reading →

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

Another story about parents and education cuts

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I really want to believe that there’s an uprising in the works and that the Lege could be a very different place for the better next year, but I’m reserving judgment on that for now. Deep cuts in school funding … Continue reading →

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Ike rebuilding funds finally coming

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

About time. More than 3½ years after Hurricane Ike, a high-ranking federal housing official and Mayor Annise Parker announced Wednesday that $151 million in federal disaster relief money is on the way to four areas of Houston to rebuild or … Continue reading →

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First day EV totals

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Here they are, courtesy of the County Clerk. Dems had 1,570 in person votes and 4,644 mail ballots returned out of 11,722 requested; Rs had 3,380 and 10,027 mail ballots out of 22,369 requested. There’s no point in making comparisons … Continue reading →

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

Early voting begins today

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Feels weird to be talking about early voting for the primaries now, doesn’t it? Well, ready or not after all this time and all these twists in the road, here we are. Here are your early voting locations and schedule. … Continue reading →

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

Endorsement watch: The list so far

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron printed their list of primary endorsements so far yesterday. It’s more impressive for what they haven’t done yet as early voting starts. After a couple of years of getting most of their business done before actual voters started … Continue reading →

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Express-News overview of Romo versus Doggett

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Some interesting tidbits in here. Despite the minority makeup of a newly drawn congressional district, a San Antonio Latina candidate faces a steep uphill climb against a white Austin liberal with a long tenure in the nation’s capital. Sylvia Romo, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Can we please call a critic a critic?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Metro had a public meeting on Thursday to address the question of the diversion of transit funds to cities for road projects, which is expected to be a referendum topic this fall. The Chron has a story about the meeting … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for May 13

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

T-minus one day till the start of early voting… Some Mother’s Day cards from superhero comics. “Dear child, you are beautiful just the way you are. Not because you look or act a certain way, but because you bear the … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of the Tax Assessor primary

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Having just reported on the vehicle registration problems at the Harris County Tax Assessor’s office, the Chron now writes about the GOP primary for that office. A Houston Chronicle story Friday reported Sumners’ staff is working overtime to process a … Continue reading →

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

A good year for real estate

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. Area housing prices will rise this year amid a strong local economy and a limited supply, economist Ted C. Jones said Tuesday at an annual symposium on real estate and the economy. Apartment rents could go up as … Continue reading →

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

Still trying to kill bills

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Planet Money reports on the continuing efforts to eradicate the paper dollar bill and replace it with dollar coins. In its most recent report, the GAO recommends switching to coins, which could make $4.4 billion for the government over 30 … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Saturday video break: Bang A Gong (Get It On)

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Song #69 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Get it On (Bang a Gong)”, originally by T.Rex and covered by Power Station. Here’s the original: That’s a song you’re probably quite familiar with if you’ve been anywhere near a classic … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

I got those can’t get my car registration done on time blues

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. The Harris County tax office is paying 32 clerks overtime on weekends to eliminate a large backlog of unprocessed auto registrations, a potentially serious problem that could force some motorists to drive … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

News flash: Texas Dems give lots of money to candidates outside Texas

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

I know, I’m as shocked as you are. An analysis of Federal Election Commission data by the Houston Chronicle found that more than three-fourths of Democratic political money raised in Texas has left the state. Of the $21 million Texas … Continue reading →

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If you can’t beat ’em, eat ’em

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Monthly proposes a way to deal with those bothersome invasive species. Keep your invasive species sweet; you may have to eat them. Late last week StateImpact Texasput together a list of the “Top Ten Invasive Species in Texas.” But what’s the best … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Friday random ten: Oh, so THAT’s the name of that song

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

When I did that Name That Tune list a bit ago, one of the answers was clearly on the right track but had the wrong name for the song. I’m talking about Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage”, which you might well … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The out candidates

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

There are four LGBT candidates running for the Lege this year. Since 2003, when Austin Democrat Glen Maxey left the Texas House, no out LGBT person has served in the Texas Legislature. The Lone Star State is now one of … Continue reading →

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County Attorney report on Constables

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

County Attorney Vince Ryan has completed a report his office began in December to examine some of the practices in the Constables’ offices. At that time, the FBI was investigating and was on the verge of arresting now-former Constable Jack … Continue reading →

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Bench slaps come in threes

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to the tongue lashing they got from the DC Court in the voter ID preclearance trial, the Greg Abbott gang took fire from judges in two other cases recently. Trail Blazers has the highlights. First, some incredulity from … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Kirkland

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Nearly all of the judicial primary action this year is on the Republican side, since nearly all of the incumbents running for re-election are Democrats; there are no contested Democratic primaries for the few Republican-held benches. The one contested Democratic … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Two cities, one argument about airports

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Turns out Houston isn’t the only city squabbling with United Airlines about airport expansions. There’s a similar fight going on in Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has gotten tough with the teachers union and muscled the City Council. But will he … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

CD34 candidate Villalobos busted by the feds

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This is not the sort of news one wants to make as a candidate. Cameron County District Attorney Armando R. Villalobos vowed Monday to fight a federal indictment filed against him and his former law partner Eduardo “Eddie” Lucio. Villalobos, … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Three’s company

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not uncommon to see dual endorsements in multi-candidate races. Even the Chron did one for the 2009 Mayor’s race. But this is the first time I can ever recall seeing a three-way endorsement. The creation of District 36 has … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of May 7

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance thinks Mrs. Sarkozy would have been the better candidate than her husband as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Updated 30 Day finance reports for other state races

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

After I posted my overview of 30 Day campaign finance reports for other state races, I got an email from Cliff Walker, the Executive Director of the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee, with a more accurate list of races and … Continue reading →

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30 Day finance reports, other state races

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

To complete my tour of the 30 day finance reports, here are the 30 day finance reports from Democratic legislative primaries around the state. Dist Candidate Raised Spent Loans Cash ========================================================== 035 Gus Ruiz 11,047 27,858 25,000 2,067 035 Joseph … Continue reading →

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“Reasonable accommodation”

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

According to a legal opinion provided by the City Attorney’s office, Houston must provide “reasonable accommodation” to Southwest Airlines for its proposal to offer international flights at Hobby Airport. In a memo accompanying the legal opinion, City Attorney David Feldman … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Will the last judge on the Third Court of Appeals please issue a ruling on Tom DeLay?

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The way this is going, we may have to start importing judges from other states. Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s appeal has taken an unexpected turn as three Republican justices removed themselves from his money laundering case in … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

ERCOT hopes this summer is better than the last

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

That would be nice. Managers of the state’s primary electricity grid expect to avoid rolling blackouts this summer but not without calling on Texans to turn up their thermostats and conserve power during peak usage on the season’s hottest afternoons. … Continue reading →

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Recap of all my interviews so far this cycle

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

To say the least, there was a lot of uncertainty at the beginning of the year when I was planning out my interview schedule for the primary election. There were no maps for the State House, State Senate, and Congress. … Continue reading →

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Voter ID trial likely to be delayed

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

And if it is, it’s all the fault of the State of Texas. In another blow to advocates of Texas’ voter ID law, a federal district court ruled today that the law will likely not be in place by the … Continue reading →

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