Monthly Archives: January 2013

Austin to get bike sharing

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

About time, y’all. City Council will vote Thursday on a five-year contract with a newly formed nonprofit organization, Bike Share of Austin, to operate the system. The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization awarded Austin a $1.5 million grant last summer … Continue reading →

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

Expanding Medicaid is about more than money

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a matter of life and death If Texas doesn’t expand Medicaid, it will reject more than $100 billion in federal money the first decade, according to the state’s own figures. To get that sizeable federal reimbursement, the state would … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Point of disorder

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

New House, new rule. The Texas House’s Democratic minority was dealt a blow Monday when the House passed an amendment to the chamber’s rules to limit legislators’ ability to derail a bill based on clerical errors. Calling “points of order” … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What they’re saying about transportation

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

So far in all the stories I’ve read about the beginning of the legislative session, education and transportation are two of the biggest items everyone talks about. Here’s a sample from the Chron. Story #1: [Rep. Ed] Thompson said funding … Continue reading →

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Aereo

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From Dwight: Aereo, which already has disrupted the television landscape in New York City, is coming soon to Houston and 21 other U.S. markets – but only if it survives legal attempts to kill it. On Tuesday, Aereo CEO Chet … Continue reading →

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Interview with Todd Clark and Chris Gonzales of the firefighters’ pension fund

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I have written numerous times about the ongoing battle between Mayor Parker and the Houston Firefighter’s Relief and Retirement Fund, which is to say the firefighters’ pension fund. After I noted a legal victory by the city in its attempt … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Sports Authority’s finances are back in the news

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I still have no idea whether this is something we need to worry about or not. The firm that insures the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority’s $1 billion in bonds – sold to finance the homes of the Texans, Rockets and … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

On conflicts of interest

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Many members of the Texas Legislature have conflicts of interest, or at least they would if the rules on such in the Lege were more clear. Advocates of a part-time legislature say the system keeps lawmakers in touch with their … Continue reading →

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More on metal recycling

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has a followup story on metal recycling and hexavalent chromium. Houston air experts plan to deepen their investigation into the air outside metal recycling companies after their measurements showed – apparently for the first time – that the … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for January 13

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Be on the lookout for pantsless people today. Triskadekaphobes, unite! You have nothing to lose but your mild anxiety. The Bloggess can be your patron saint. The top ten skywatching events to look for this year. “There are many advantages … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 2 Comments

Three days of early voting in SD06

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not sure that the Chron’s classification of early voting so far in SD06 is accurate, but I’m not sure how I myself would characterize it since we have so few precedents to draw on. Three days into early voting, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Abbott reportedly tells the money people he’s running for Governor

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

One would think that if Greg Abbott were to tell anybody what his 2014 plans are, it would be the money people. A source who has spoken with Republican donors says Attorney General Greg Abbott is saying he’ll run for … Continue reading →

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We’re still looking at a drought here

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I know we just got a lot of rain this week, but that doesn’t mean that drought conditions are over. The latest seasonal drought outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that for much of Texas and … Continue reading →

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Saving the T Rex skeleton

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

How cool is this? Little did Houston attorney Robert Painter know that his decade-old friendship with the president of Mongolia would lead to unraveling an archaeological mystery worthy of Indiana Jones. In a story that reads like a Hollywood script, … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Hard To Handle

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Song #36 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Hard To Handle”, originally by Otis Redding and covered by the Black Crowes. Here’s the original: I’ve known for awhile that this was an Otis Redding song – not as … Continue reading →

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School finance dispatches

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Some bad news for the state in the school finance lawsuit. State District Judge John Dietz directed state attorneys Wednesday to redo a key study that underestimated the funding advantages of higher-wealth school districts — a blow to the state’s … Continue reading →

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No injunction in state lawsuit for Planned Parenthood

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Bummer. Travis County District Judge Stephen Yelenosky on Friday refused to grant Planned Parenthood’s request for a temporary injunction to be included in the Texas Women’s Health Program. “Probable injury is not really sufficient,” said Yelenosky, who ruled in favor … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

What does it mean to be a “craft” beer?

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has a Q&A with beer aficionado Jenn Litz that raises an interesting question. Q: How are the major breweries responding to the craft beer trend? A: Mostly through the acquisition route. They know the milliennials are drinking craft, … Continue reading →

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

Friday random ten: Life, liberty, and property

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The new Congress was sworn in last week, and the Texas Legislature reconvened this week. This seemed like an appropriate occasion for a Friday Random Ten. 1. (You’re Not The) Boss Of Me – They Might Be Giants 2. One … Continue reading →

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Here comes that B-Cycle expansion

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Excellent. Houston’s bike-sharing program downtown is getting a boost from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, city officials announced Wednesday. The insurance company will contribute $750,000 to expand the B-Cycle system from three stations and 18 bikes to 24 … Continue reading →

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

School Land Board votes to transfer $300 million to Available School Fund

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the Trib: The School Land Board voted Tuesday to release $300 million into the Available School Fund for public schools. The money will be released in two $150 million installments, one in February and the other on June. The … Continue reading →

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Student RFID lawsuit rejected

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A win for the school district in federal court. A federal judge Tuesday ruled that Northside Independent School District can transfer a student from her magnet school for refusing to wear her student ID badge to protest a new electronic … Continue reading →

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

In praise of CODIS

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We’re catching more crooks thanks to DNA. Not exactly an earth-shattering revelation, but it’s always nice to have some numbers. The number of Texas crimes solved after a suspect’s DNA matched with offenders’ DNA samples stored in the national repository … Continue reading →

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A first look at the 2013 elections

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It is 2013, right? So while we have the SD06 special election and the new legislative session to worry about, it’s not too early to start talking about the 2013 elections. Let’s start with a peek at the campaign finance … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Endorsement watch: Why not both?

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I should have seen this coming. [Sen. Mario] Gallegos’ passing opened the Senate District 6 seat after the deceased man polled 70 percent in the November general election against a Republican opponent. No fewer than eight candidates are seeking to … Continue reading →

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Hall of Fame elects nobody

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Truly, utterly, ridiculous. Steroid-tainted stars Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa were denied entry to baseball’s Hall of Fame, with voters failing to elect any candidates for only the second time in four decades. Bonds received just 36.2 percent … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of January 7

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance welcomes the 2013 Legislature and hopes that it actually tries to make Texas a better place as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Carol Alvarado

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The special election in SD06 to succeed the late Sen. Mario Gallegos is Saturday, January 26, and early voting for this election begins Wednesday, January 9. There are two serious candidates in this race, former County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Chron overview of SD06

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The day before early voting begins in the SD06 special election (which is today), the Chron previews the race. It has a lot of stuff we already know, and it mostly focuses on the two frontrunners, Sylvia Garcia and Rep. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Day One of the Lege

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

What do we know so far? Same old Rick Perry. Gov. Rick Perry called for tax relief and a lean approach to budgeting as he addressed the Senate, even as the state faces a lawsuit from school districts over funding … Continue reading →

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Fix what’s broken first

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

What Texas Watch says. Imagine this scenario. Texans are facing a physician shortage. Under-served rural and poor communities struggle to attract doctors to serve their needs. Politicians scramble to find a solution to the crisis. That is where we were 10 … Continue reading →

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Julian 2016?

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I have five things to say about this. Texas Democratic powerbrokers are quietly promoting rising star Julian Castro as a consensus building leader with bipartisan support as they position the charismatic San Antonio mayor for the party’s 2016 presidential ticket. … Continue reading →

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The revenue estimate is in

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

And under normal circumstances it would be very good news. Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, laying out the parameters for state spending on the eve of the legislative session, said Monday that the rebounding Texas economy gives lawmakers $8.8 billion unallocated … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Yes, Dewhurst is running for re-election

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I know you were dying to know. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who has signaled before that he plans to run for re-election, punctuated his plans with some extreme math in a Friday interview. “I am 101 percent firm on running … Continue reading →

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