Monthly Archives: August 2005

The Astrodome Village

Posted on August 18, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not sure what surprises me more – that there’s a plan to turn the Astrodome into a make-believe village of things that mostly don’t exist in Houston (the reason being in some cases that we’ve bulldozed them to build … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 4 Comments

Chron writeup of I-45 town hall

Posted on August 18, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chronicle report of the I-45 Town Hall from this past Saturday. There’s some more details and a full description of the TxDOT preferred plan for the freeway. I’m disappointed to note that the I-45 Coalition page still has … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Chron writeup of I-45 town hall

Toll road testiness in San Antonio

Posted on August 18, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Jeffersonian points to this story about some friction between Bexar County Commissioners Court and the Texas Department of Transportation over funding for a regional toll road authority there. The war of words that County Judge Nelson Wolff and County … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 3 Comments

How the tort “reformers” have succeeded

Posted on August 17, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I started to blog something about these two LA Times stories on the tort “reform” movement, but never managed to put together something more substantial than a link and an exhortation to go read. Thankfully, there’s people like Dwight to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 4 Comments

Why WiFi II

Posted on August 17, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

You may recall that I strongly opposed any attempt by the Lege in its multiple attempts to pass a telecom bill to ban cities from providing free wireless networking services. Why is this such a big deal? Andrew Rasiej provides … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 11 Comments

Welcome back, Rep. Noriega

Posted on August 17, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Another nice article on State Rep. Rick Noriega, just back home after a year in Afghanistan with the National Guard. Don’t have much to add other than he’s deserving of every laudatory word of it. Welcome back, Rick Noriega. Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

“After you” “No, no, no, after you”

Posted on August 17, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

When you stop and think about it, this really was the only way the latest (and hopefully last for at least a little while) special session would end. The Legislature could have adjourned before its mandatory end at midnight Friday. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on “After you” “No, no, no, after you”

StemPAC

Posted on August 17, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

If you have a stake in the future of stem cell research, here in Texas or elsewhere, you should know that there’s a political action committee that’s on your side. One of their advisory board members is Democratic gubernatorial candidate … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

LULAC town hall in Fort Bend tomorrow

Posted on August 17, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry for the short notice, but this may be of interest to you: Invitation to LULAC Town-Hall Meeting in Fort Bend County addressing Tom Delay Comments Date: August 18, 2005 Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Location: Rosenberg Civic & … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

HelpLine blog

Posted on August 17, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Via Dwight, Chron Help Line columnist and well-regarded local musician Jay Lee has joined the ranks of Chronicle bloggers. This is an excellent use of the form by the Chron, for as Jay notes in his initial post, it will … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 2 Comments

Would you do this for your kids?

Posted on August 16, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I have a very hard time understanding the values that would lead to this. It’s the end of the day at Plano West Senior High School, and teenagers are pouring into the parking lot. One jumps into a BMW M3. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 19 Comments

The state of the Lottery

Posted on August 16, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

We know that changes are coming at the Texas Lottery Commission after its summer of scandal. Now there will also be changes to the Lottery itself as the TLC struggles to reverse bad sales trends. The Texas Lottery is on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | 1 Comment

Out with a whimper

Posted on August 16, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that there’s a special session going on out there, and it’s coming to a close. The end game shaped up Monday when the House didn’t schedule floor debate for today on either its education funding … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Trouble with the trees

Posted on August 16, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

CenterPoint Energy continues to catch flak for its aggressive tree-cutting policy, a topic which has drawn the Mayor’s attention recently. CenterPoint has adopted a new zero-tolerance policy for any trees taller than 10 feet under its high-voltage transmission lines. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Trouble with the trees

Gallego sends Craddick another letter

Posted on August 16, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. Pete Gallego has sent the following letter to House Speaker Tom Craddick in response to the radio wars. August 15, 2005 The Honorable Tom Craddick Speaker, Texas House of Representatives Texas State Capitol, Room 2W.13 P.O. Box 2910 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Gallego sends Craddick another letter

Strayhorn’s strategy

Posted on August 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Any casual glance at polling data would have suggested that this would be Carole Keeton Strayhorn’s strategy for winning the Governorship. The call came from a listener telling Carole Keeton Strayhorn he’d eagerly vote for her for governor in November … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Tony Buzbee

Posted on August 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

We may have a new contender for Lite Guv – Galveston attorney Tony Buzbee. A little-known outsider with a sizable personal fortune and a central-casting resume says he’s giving serious consideration to mounting a challenge against Republican Lt. Gov. David … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment

Coverage of Bell’s announcement

Posted on August 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Just a quick check of coverage around the state of the Chris Bell announcement/rally yesterday. It looks mostly pretty good, with specifics from his speech without too much time on horse race stuff. See for yourself: Chron Express News Statesman … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Coverage of Bell’s announcement

The medical centers of San Antonio

Posted on August 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Houston isn’t the only Texas city with a booming medical center – San Antonio has a pretty good one, too. It’s even surpassed tourism as the city’s biggest industry, not too shabby considering it’s a fairly recent artifact. When Henry … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 2 Comments

Transportation questions for City Council candidates

Posted on August 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

At the time we did the municipal candidates’ meetup, quite a few transportation related questions and issues came up. Christof Spieler and Robin Holzer of the CTC were doing much of that asking. Here in their forum you can find … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | Comments Off on Transportation questions for City Council candidates

The Saint Arnold’s Brewhouse Blog

Posted on August 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The brew crew at Saint Arnold’s has a blog. Truly, we live in wondrous times. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on The Saint Arnold’s Brewhouse Blog

Team Noriega

Posted on August 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Stace points to this nice article on the tag team of Rick and Melissa Noriega. Rick Noriega is a Houston State Rep, who’s been serving with the National Guard in Afghanistan since last August. In his absence, his wife Melissa … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | 2 Comments

No Nonsense in November

Posted on August 15, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

I haven’t yet made note of No Nonsense In November, the group led by former State Rep. Glen Maxey to beat back the hateful Double Secret Illegal anti-gay marriage amendment, so let me say now that it’s precisely the sort … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2005 | Comments Off on No Nonsense in November

Liveblogging Bell

Posted on August 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Greg, Damon, Eye on Williamson (with pictures), Rawhide, and The Red State have the action from the official Chris Bell campaign launch in Austin. We’ll see how the “official” stories compare tomorrow. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on Liveblogging Bell

“We don’t want another Katy Freeway”

Posted on August 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday I attended the I-45 Town Hall at Jefferson Davis High School, and it was a very useful two hours. I’m waiting on a couple of links to the presentations that were used, as they have much of the main … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 3 Comments

New campaign site for Janette Sexton

Posted on August 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Janette Sexton has a new look for her campaign webpage. She tells me that the campaign kickoff event in July was a big success – a picture from the event is here. Check it out, and look for an opportunity … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | Comments Off on New campaign site for Janette Sexton

So why are our jails overcrowded?

Posted on August 14, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Scott has a three-part answer to the question “Why are Harris County jails so overcrowded?” The main culprit is a lack of common sense in the pursuit of being perceived as “tuff on crime”. Read for yourself: Bail blunders boost … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on So why are our jails overcrowded?

Once more into the fog

Posted on August 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

On they go again with the school finance bills. A House committee Friday kicked out two bills that could revive flagging efforts to rewrite school finance laws, but major hurdles remain to passing the plan before the special session ends … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

A little Saturday schadenfreude

Posted on August 13, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Stories like this make the weekend a little brighter. A group that had hoped to build two museums to rebut the displays at the Clinton Presidential Library is folding. “I’m giving up,” said Houston businessman Richard Erickson, who established nonprofit … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on A little Saturday schadenfreude

The most liberal city in Texas

Posted on August 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Take that, you smug Austinites. Nice going, People’s Republic of Dallas. The home of America’s Team and the Texas School Book Depository is, by a long shot, Texas’ liberal bastion, according to the Bay Area Center for Voting Research. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 15 Comments

Craddick v. Dewhurst: Radio wars

Posted on August 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

You don’t think all this sparring between Tom Craddick and David Dewhurst over whether the remainder of this special session is a waste of time or not is getting personal, do you? Nah. House Speaker Tom Craddick, who last week … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Craddick flipflops, House will reconsider tax bill

Posted on August 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron appears to be the only outlet reporting this latest development in the school finance battle. A tax bill that received only eight votes in the Texas House last month was re-filed Thursday and could come up for floor … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Carvel comes to Houston

Posted on August 12, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

Actually, the venerable ice cream franchise is already here, with plans to expand quite a bit in the near term. Before Linda Eppolito opened her ice cream shop in west Houston, a stranger knocked on the door and asked, breathlessly, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 10 Comments

Bell’s launch on Sunday

Posted on August 11, 2005 by Charles Kuffner

The official launch of Chris Bell‘s campaign is this Sunday in Austin, at the UT campus. If you want to come up from Houston you’ll have to drive yourself because their official campaign bus is full up. If you’re a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 1 Comment