Monthly Archives: May 2013

Hotze sues Obamacare

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

You would think that once the Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act was constitutional that that would settle things, but then you would not be Steve Hotze. Steve Hotze, a Houston-area physician and major Republican campaign donor who … Continue reading →

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The Washington Avenue parking benefit district is now operational

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From CultureMap: It took a while, but nearly five months after Houston City Council approved the first citywide Parking Benefit District for the Washington Avenue corridor, the meters started charging at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. The City of Houston’s Administration and Regulatory … Continue reading →

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What to do with a problem like Rosemary?

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Austin Chronicle has a great overview of the Rosemary Lehmberg situation. All speculation aside, Lehmberg has vowed that she will not resign. In a letter to Travis County residents (apparently dictated to friends from jail and posted to her … Continue reading →

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

Cities generally ignore Abbott’s domestic partnership opinion

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. Attorney General Greg Abbott’s opinion [last] week, while not binding, is the latest of several challenges to same-sex benefits across the country that so far have had mixed results in the courts and prompted changes after officials … Continue reading →

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Florida’s failure to be insane is our gain

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good news if you’re rooting for Houston to host Super Bowl LI. Houston’s bid for Super Bowl LI received a major boost Friday when Florida lawmakers ended a 60-day legislative session without approving a plan that would have provided a … Continue reading →

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Ashby developers sued

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know about this. A group of residents who live near the site of the high-rise planned for 1717 Bissonnet filed suit against the developer in state district court Wednesday, another attempt to stop construction of the 21-story building. … Continue reading →

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

A Q&A about the TCDCC

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, I introduced you to the Texas County Democratic Campaign Committee (TCDCC), which is focused on recruiting and supporting county-level Democratic candidates outside of our current urban strongholds. It’s an idea and an organization that is long overdue. I … Continue reading →

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Texas versus EPA, round one zillion

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The desire to coddle polluters is strong in this one. A Texas-led coalition of energy-producing states has asked the Supreme Court to hear a case involving the Obama administration’s efforts to regulate emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. … Continue reading →

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No X Games for Houston

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. After more than 10 years in and around downtown Los Angeles, the X Games will leave Southern California for a new destination next year. Chicago, Detroit, Austin, Texas, and Charlotte, N.C. have been announced as finalist cities to earn … Continue reading →

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So long, Skylane Apartments

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is happening in my neighborhood, and it’s already generated a lot of interest from the locals. The aging Skylane Central apartments, perched near the entrance of the Woodland Heights neighborhood, are headed for demolition as a developer makes plans … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Weekend link dump for May 5

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It was Cinco de Mayo, I was down on the bayou… Here’s a video of a cat, dressed as a shark, chasing a duckling while riding on a Roomba. Also features a dog in hammerhead shark costume, because of course … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 2 Comments

Is this the end for the Railroad Commission?

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

For the name, I mean, not the Commission itself. After 40 minutes of discussion about a bill that would rename the Railroad Commission of Texas and make other significant changes to the agency that regulates the oil and gas industry, … Continue reading →

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

If only it were that easy to get our act together

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has some blunt words for Houston about light rail. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood likes Houston’s light rail that’s up and running but warns that regional transit officials have squandered opportunities the past decade by … Continue reading →

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

Modified teacher retirement bill put forth

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Sounds like progress, though we’ll have to see how it goes from here. Members of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas objected strongly last week to a legislative proposal that would have required about half of current employees to work … Continue reading →

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The red light camera debate keeps raging on

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Elsewhere, thankfully. Not here. League City is the latest to put the plug on red light cameras at intersections. Cameras at three League City intersections were to be turned off by midnight Wednesday, after the City Council voted to cut … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Superman

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Song #21 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is “Superman”, originally by The Clique and covered by REM. Here’s the original: Add this to the long list of “I didn’t know this was a cover” songs. Of those, this … Continue reading →

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Bike trails bill

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A bill that will clear the way for bike trails to be built on CenterPoint utility rights of way in Harris County has passed both chambers in the Lege and now awaits Rick Perry’s signature. “We are really, really pleased … Continue reading →

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Auto dealers versus Tesla

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’m pretty sure the dealers will win this round, but I doubt they can win in the long run. Texas auto dealers and their lobbyists in Austin are targeting legislation that would allow Tesla Motor Inc. to sell its all-electric … Continue reading →

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The updated TRIP app is here

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This came in last week: If you’ve got a smart phone, we’ve just made riding our buses or trains a lot easier. Today, we officially launched the METRO T.R.I.P. app – a tool that retrieves our schedule information, predicts real-time … Continue reading →

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UIL moves to limit high school football practice time

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

They are doing it to limit the risk of concussion. Established in 2001, the University Interscholastic League’s Medical Advisory Committee has done its best to be proactive and stay ahead on issues. That’s been the case in requiring schools to … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: The city never sleeps, part 4

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

“Ah, The City. My The City.” What, am I the only one that ever watched The Tick? 1. Galveston Bay – Bruce Springsteen 2. Galway Farmer – Ceili’s Muse 3. The Girl From Ipanema – Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto … Continue reading →

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Drivers licenses for all – maybe

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Not quite drivers licenses, exactly, but close enough. A Dallas Democrat has teamed up with two powerful Republicans to craft a compromise version of a bill that would give immigrants here illegally the ability to drive legally in Texas and … Continue reading →

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Ben Hall’s tax problem

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. A campaign video shows Ben Hall, the former city attorney who is now running for mayor, sitting in a classroom amid a group of schoolchildren as his voiceover talks about the importance of education. “Our children are our future,” … Continue reading →

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

Fare enforcement for Metro

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Dodging the fare on the light rail lines could become more difficult to do. Provided a key piece of state legislation comes through, Metro officials said the plan is to have new monitors in place when the new North, East … Continue reading →

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No gay Scouts for Houston

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Despite a proposed change at the national level, if you’re gay the Boy Scouts in Houston still don’t want you. On Monday, Sam Houston Area Council members said they would continue the current national policy of the Irving-based Boy Scouts … Continue reading →

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If Medicaid is broken, who broke it?

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Patricia Kilday Hart asks an excellent question. [Rep. Garnet] Coleman’s observation provides part of the answer: Just last session, the Legislature trimmed $486 million in state money paid to Medicaid providers, and ended a student loan-forgiveness program for new doctors … Continue reading →

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Payday lending prospects look grim in the House

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the Observer: Late into the night on Monday, the payday loan industry strutted its stuff before a very friendly House committee. The hearing came just a week after the Senate passed a surprisingly tough bill that the industry insists … Continue reading →

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The Houston Hackathon

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the Mayor’s office: Houston Mayor Annise Parker today announced the City of Houston will host a 24-hour “Open Innovation Hackathon” on May 17-18 at the Houston Technology Center and at Start Houston. A hackathon is a day-long event in … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of April 29

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance would have gotten rid of the entire sequester, not just the part that inconvenienced the few, as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Have your say on the Uptown/Memorial Park TIRZ

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox, and the office of CM Oliver Pennington: To the Residents of District G: As many of you are aware, the May 1, 2013, Council Agenda contained several items related to the Reinvestment Zone Number Sixteen (Uptown Zone), … Continue reading →

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Water, water, not so fast

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

So much for that. A major bill on the top of Gov. Rick Perry’s priority list that would authorize spending billions of dollars on state water projects faltered in the Texas House on Monday night after a contentious debate over … Continue reading →

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The emotional Dome decision

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody really wants to tear the Astrodome down. That in a nutshell is why the process to determine what to do with it has taken so long even though there aren’t any viable alternatives to demolition at this time. A … Continue reading →

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

North Forest still fighting as the deadlines approach

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Never give up, never surrender. North Forest ISD has spent more than $595,000 appealing the state’s order to shut down, newly obtained records show, and the school district is continuing the court fight as its July closure date nears. Despite … Continue reading →

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More test tweaking

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Seems reasonable. Students in elementary and middle school would get a little testing relief under a House bill that passed overwhelmingly on a preliminary vote Monday. Amid a backlash against state-mandated testing, the legislation eliminates writing exams in fourth and … Continue reading →

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