Monthly Archives: February 2013

North Forest ISD fighting closure

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This was to be expected. About 60 attended a meeting Saturday in response to TEA Commissioner of Education Michael Williams’ recommendation on Thursday to dissolve NFISD due to poor academic performance and low high school completion rates, among other issues. … Continue reading →

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Alexan Heights update

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The developers of the Alexan Heights project on Yale will go before the Planning Commission tomorrow to get a variance that would remove a single-family restriction on part of the property. Some folks in the neighborhood have been petitioning against … Continue reading →

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

Precinct analysis: Comparing 2012 and 2008

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Though the data isn’t yet posted on individual members’ webpages, I have gotten a copy of the 2012 election results by State Rep district, for which there was much rejoicing. The first question of interest is how much the 2008 … Continue reading →

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School districts are still a long way from getting relief

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

School districts may have gotten a favorable ruling in the latest school finance lawsuit, and if it survives appeal it could have far-reaching effects on the current system, but that doesn’t mean that things will get better for them now. … Continue reading →

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

One big happy pro-gambling expansion family

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

If the pro-gambling forces in the state all join hands and agree to work together, will this finally be the year that gambling expansion gets a vote? Maybe. John Montford, chairman of Let Texans Decide, a coalition of gaming companies, … Continue reading →

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The off-street parking debate

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I believe the new offstreet parking requirements that have been proposed and are being debated are at least as big a deal as the Chapter 42 revisions. We really need to get this right. Under the new rules, some eateries … Continue reading →

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And maybe we won’t need as much road capacity as we think, either

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Felix Salmon writes about the possible implications of driverless cars. While I’ve generally been a fan of just about any alternative to the automobile, now I’m not so sure: I think that smart car technology is improving impressively, to the … Continue reading →

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

Feds get involved in Dewhurst campaign embezzlement case

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The plot thickens. The campaign manager for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, already facing a state investigation over allegations of theft from Dewhurst’s political account, has been accused of also taking at least $1 million from the Republican’s U.S. Senate campaign … Continue reading →

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That drought we’re having? It’s still bad

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

So says our state climatologist in testimony before the Lege. John Nielsen-Gammon, the state climatologist, said that during the past two years Texas received only 68 percent of its typical rainfall, making it the third driest period on record. If … Continue reading →

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How much protection from liability do they need?

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

State Impact asks a good question. The electricity industry is among the biggest of the big spenders on lobbying the Texas legislature. So when bills are introduced giving the industry extraordinary protection from law suits, you can bet somebody’s going … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Weekend link dump for February 10

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

There needs to be a constitutional right to vote. So how do owls twist their heads so far around, anyway? From the Don’t Criticize What You Don’t Understand department. Now this is how you deal with an obnoxious troll. When … Continue reading →

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Court of inquiry concludes

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The court of inquiry that was examining the behavior of then-prosecutor Ken Anderson has concluded with Anderson’s testimony in his defense. Having seen what he had to say for himself, I find myself not terribly sympathetic to him or his … Continue reading →

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

Amy Peck announces for A

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the Inbox: Amy Peck Announces Candidacy for Houston City Council District A I am very excited to announce my candidacy for Houston City Council, District A. Over the last few years, I have been asked to run again by … Continue reading →

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

Nationwide WiFi?

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This sounds like a big deal. The federal government wants to create super Wi-Fi networks across the nation, so powerful and broad in reach that consumers could use them to make calls or surf the Internet without paying a cellphone … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Uptown BRT

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting news from Swamplot. The driving force of a project that Uptown Houston District has proposed to the city to transform Post Oak Blvd.? Big beautiful buses. With both residential and commercial developments like Skanska’s 20-story office building popping up … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Saturday video break: Got My Mind Set On You

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Song #32 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Got My Mind Set On You”, originally by James Ray and covered by George Harrison. Here’s the original: Add this one to the “Songs I hadn’t realized were covers” pile. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

We have a runoff date

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s earlier than I thought it would be. Gov. Rick Perry on Friday set a March 2 special runoff election to fill the open seat created by the death of the late state Sen. Mario Gallegos. The race, between State … Continue reading →

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TEA orders North Forest ISD shut down

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This could be the end for North Forest ISD. Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams recommended that the district of 6,900 students be annexed into the mammoth Houston ISD effective July 1. His statement came just two days after the district … Continue reading →

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

Time for another report on how much traffic sucks

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We love this sort of thing, don’t we? Houston commuters continue to endure some of the worst traffic delays in the country, according to the 2012 Urban Mobility Report released Tuesday by the Texas A&M Transportation Commission. Area drivers wasted … Continue reading →

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First Hobby expansion details announced

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Moving forward at Hobby Airport. The Southwest Airlines-proposed expansion, green-lighted by the Houston City Council last May, calls for construction by the end of 2015 of a new concourse with five gates capable of accommodating midsize aircraft; a federal inspection … Continue reading →

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

Friday random ten: You can’t say that on the radio!

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

You might have heard, or heard about, Ravens QB Joe Flacco’s post Super Bowl f-bomb. That got me to thinking about the things you’re just not supposed to say, or to sing, on the radio. Here are ten songs on … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The 288-to-the-Medical-Center connector takes a step forward

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I still have a bad feeling about this. In a first step toward providing relief, transportation officials will spend the year winnowing six possible locations for reversible toll lanes that would provide a direct connection between the sprawling medical campus … Continue reading →

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There’s gold in them thar pawn shops

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is a police story and a Helena Brown story, because everything is better when it’s a Helena Brown story. Houston City Council on Wednesday passed new rules on precious metals dealers despite a lengthy attempt to water down the … Continue reading →

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

Laptops for all

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier would like to bridge the digital divide in HISD. Superintendent Terry Grier said his goal is to equip all 130,000 students in grades three through 12 with a laptop and hopes to start with at least … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

TEC approves texting campaign contributions

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From Jerad Najvar: After brief discussion and comments by Jerad Najvar, attorney for Harris County Republicans, the TEC voted unanimously to approve a draft opinion permitting Texas political committees to accept contributions by text message. APPROVED OPINION HERE (the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

This time it’s different

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Why is this school finance ruling different from all other school finance rulings? For one thing, it was way more comprehensive. The changes needed to correct the constitutional violations [Judge John] Dietz identified could comprise the most far-reaching overhaul of … Continue reading →

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

City wants the Lege to deal with payday lending

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

That’s what came out of the presentation to Council on payday lending on Tuesday. Houston leaders say they will wait to see whether the Legislature acts during its current session before voting on their proposal. Mayor Annise Parker has said … Continue reading →

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

Here come the STAAR reform bills

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Fire one: State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the newly appointed chairman of the House Public Education Committee, filed legislation Wednesday that would restructure the state’s high school graduation and student testing requirements. Aycock’s proposal, House Bill 5, would move … Continue reading →

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On encouraging jury service

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

District Clerk Chris Daniel notes that many people do not get paid when they take off work to serve on jury duty, and that therefore they generally choose to ignore their summonses. During the upcoming session, the state Legislature can … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of February 4

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance congratulates the Baltimore Ravens on their Super Bowl win as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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A Republican view of 2014 in Harris County

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Big Jolly is feeling pessimistic about his team’s chances in Harris County next year. Now let’s look at who will be on the playing field for us. There will be a lot of statewide action, with unknown Dems – let’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ready or not, here comes Chapter 42

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Changes are coming to Chapter 42, the section of Houston’s ordinances that deal with density and development, and to Chapter 26, the section on off-street parking for bars and restaurants and what have you. The revisions would allow neighborhoods to … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

TMA sort of endorses Medicaid expansion

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Hard to say what this means. Trustees of the Texas Medical Association passed a resolution urging state leaders to snare all federal Medicaid matching dollars that are on the table. The group hinged its support, though, on simultaneous actions by … Continue reading →

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Brenda’s back

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

But will Helena Brown be in trouble? Brenda Stardig will launch her campaign Saturday to retake the District A Houston City Council seat that she lost two years ago to Helena Brown. The announcement came Sunday in the form of … Continue reading →

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