Monthly Archives: January 2007

Dewhurst’s misplaced priorities

Posted on January 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday, we discussed how there’s $2.5 billion in the state budget for $4 billion worth of priorities, at least once you factor in the sacred and all-consuming property tax cuts. Today, Lt. Gov. Davis Dewhurst shows that he wants that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 3 Comments

Arguments before the CCA in the DeLay case

Posted on January 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Following up on yesterday’s post, here’s the story about the arguments made in the Court of Criminal Appeals in the DeLay case, over whether or not the conspiracy charge that was tossed should be reinstated. Rick Reed, an assistant to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on Arguments before the CCA in the DeLay case

Film screening on Texas parks

Posted on January 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This hit my mailbox yesterday, and since the event in question is this evening and here in Houston, I thought I’d pass it along for those who might be interested: Ethan Hawke Stars in Short Film on Texas Parks Crisis … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 3 Comments

Get ready to say goodbye to Allen House

Posted on January 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

As noted by commenter KH here and as reported in the Chron, the next well known structure to go on the bulldozer hit list is the Allen House apartment complex on Allen Parkway. On Tuesday, residents there were told that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

Drink ’em if you got ’em

Posted on January 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

How stuff gets done in the Lege, in a nutshell. Liquor wholesalers dumped nearly $1.7 million on Texas lawmakers in the weeks leading up to the 2007 Legislature while pushing for changes that would allow them to sell booze directly … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Drink ’em if you got ’em

Janette Sexton

Posted on January 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not sure why this has come up right now, but both Perry and Stace are using the case of Janette Sexton in HD144 to make a point in a larger argument about who did and didn’t do what to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2006 | 5 Comments

The blogger/journalist thing

Posted on January 25, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron’s RG Ratcliffe explores the “are bloggers journalists?” question in the context of some recent actions by the Lege: possibly credentialling bloggers for the Lege floor, the blogger libel bill, and the proposed journalist shield law, among other things. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | 5 Comments

Here’s a budget priority for you

Posted on January 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s talk state budget priorities for a moment, shall we? Legislative leaders outlined a starting-point spending plan for the next two years that puts a priority on local school property-tax rate cuts but doesn’t earmark money for new prisons, increased … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

CCA will hear final DeLay appeals today

Posted on January 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

More than four months after agreeing to hear an appeal from the Travis County DA’s office over the dismissal of a conspiracy charge against Tom DeLay, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will actually hear arguments in the case today. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Comments Off on CCA will hear final DeLay appeals today

Appraisal caps no, revenue caps yes

Posted on January 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The good news, as we already knew, is that the Governor’s Task Force on Appraisal Reform will not recommend another attempt at mandating a lower appraisal cap for property taxes. The bad news is that they’ve chosen an even more … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Appraisal caps no, revenue caps yes

Preservation in River Oaks

Posted on January 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The preservationist urge has come to River Oaks, whose stately old mansions are slowly being replaced by not-so-stately newer ones. “This community is an historical area, with each of the homes having a history from the owners and residents who … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

More New Braunfels tubing rules

Posted on January 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The city of New Braunfels has continued its crusade to crack down on rowdy river revellers by passing several new ordinances, including on that bans big coolers. The restriction on the size of coolers generated the most discussion, with council … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 8 Comments

Lightning!

Posted on January 24, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Houston is going to be the center of some lightning research. With its proximity to a nearly endless supply of warm, humid coastal air that breeds thunderstorms, Houston attracts more lightning than any part of Texas, with an average of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Lightning!

The state of the city speech

Posted on January 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve got some bloggage and reactions to the Mayor’s State of the City speech (which you can find here) over at Kuff’s World. Anybody here attend the GHP lunch, or just otherwise have a reaction to the speech? Leave a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Farmer’s Branch tries again

Posted on January 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

They may be down in Farmer’s Branch, but they’re not out. The five-member City Council voted unanimously to rescind an earlier measure and replace it with a modified version that must be approved by voters in May before it goes … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 1 Comment

The Stables: Gone but not (yet) forgotten

Posted on January 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, The Stables was torn down. Remember what it used to look like? Well, this is what it looks like now: Sad, isn’t it? And see the marquee, now lying forlornly on the grass? Here’s its fate: I wish … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 5 Comments

Are you smarter than a fifth grader?

Posted on January 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

While Olivia and I were in Portland, one of the things I learned was that my 7-year-old niece Vanessa loves the show “Deal or No Deal”. She even has the home version of it, which she played with my sister, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | 2 Comments

You don’t want fries with that?

Posted on January 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Given a choice, kids will eat healthy foods. Who knew? The cafeteria lunch line at Columbus Elementary School moves quickly as students grab portions of carrots, celery, apples and oranges. French fries and hamburgers, once cafeteria staples, aren’t even offered. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | 2 Comments

Birthday party wars

Posted on January 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This sort of thing alternately amuses and horrifies me. Birthdays Without Pressure is taking aim at the oneupsmanship that drives moms and dads to throw parties that will really, really impress the kids and the other parents, too. “We feel … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | 4 Comments

The Lege wants to cure cancer

Posted on January 23, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This sounds interesting. Texas could become a world leader in cancer research if state lawmakers succeed in a plan to bring $3 billion to the state. The plan, which several lawmakers discussed today in a meeting with Gov. Rick Perry, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

New dollar coin set to arrive in Houston this week

Posted on January 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Remember the new President-themed dollar coin? According to Houstonist, we’ll start seeing them in Houston this week. The eyes of third- and fourth-graders may grow as wide as silver dollars next week when a bewigged and costumed “living biographer” of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

The state of the city 2007

Posted on January 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Today at the Greater Houston Partnership lunch, Mayor White will outline his agenda for 2007. Should be happening right about now, in fact. White will use the speech to call for the region to reduce energy consumption. He plans to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Gallegos receives liver transplant

Posted on January 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Good news for Sen. Gallegos. State Sen. Mario Gallegos underwent liver transplant surgery late Friday night and is recovering at the Texas Medical Center, according to his family. Gallegos, a Houston Democrat, had cirrhosis of the liver, which necessitated the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Astroworld site update

Posted on January 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron’s Nancy Sarnoff has an update on the site where Astroworld used to be and the development group that bought it out. Angel/McIver Interests is seeking the creation of a municipal management district for the site. The special district … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Another story on casino gambling in Texas

Posted on January 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever else I may think of the gambling industry, I have to admire their ability to get stories in the paper about their efforts to expand in Texas, even if there’s really nothing new to report. Battle lines already are … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 2 Comments

Who will replace Bud?

Posted on January 22, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Believe it or not, Bud Selig will eventually step down as Commissioner of Major League Baseball. He says he’ll retire when his current contract expires in 2009. True or not (we’ve heard this before), sooner or later he’ll be a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

Farmer’s Branch backs down

Posted on January 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Farmers Branch City Council on Monday is expected to repeal the city’s litigation-inducing ban on renting apartments to illegal immigrants and will consider a revised ordinance that will put the matter to a vote in May. The council in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Farmer’s Branch backs down

Microsoft comes to San Antonio

Posted on January 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Microsoft will buld a big honking data center in San Antonio, in return for a little civic largesse. The San Antonio City Council on Thursday approved a 10-year, 100 percent tax abatement worth $20.7 million and voted to provide $5.2 … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | 8 Comments

Smoking bans make headway nationwide

Posted on January 21, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Houston’s expanded smoking ban from last year was part of an overall nationwide trend in such legislation. Thirty years after it began as just another quirky movement in Berkeley, Calif., the push to ban smoking in restaurants, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | 2 Comments

Hillary!

Posted on January 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

So, Hillary Clinton is running for President. Quelle surprise, eh? I’m going to spend as much time as possible this year not blogging about the 2008 Presidential primaries, so let me say this now and get it out of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | 3 Comments

Bye-bye, Cassidy & Associates

Posted on January 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

Via BOR, the state’s contract with Jack Abramoff-associated lobby contract with Cassidy & Associates has been terminated. Gov. Rick Perry had hired Cassidy & Associates and The Federalist Group a rate of $15,000 a month each to push Texas priorities … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Bye-bye, Cassidy & Associates

Eleven minus one

Posted on January 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

This was mentioned in an earlier Chron story, but the news about Sen. Mario Gallegos’s need for a liver transplant means that the partisan dynamic in the Senate has changed. The 11 Senate Democrats now number 10, and find themselves … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

Next on the endangered buildings list: The Arabia Shrine Center

Posted on January 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

I heard about this last week through a bridge e-newsletter, but didn’t think to go looking for a link at the time: The Arabia Shrine Center on Braeswood near Kirby may soon be history. The Arabia Shrine Center — the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 2 Comments

So long, Stables

Posted on January 20, 2007 by Charles Kuffner

According to Houstonist, the anticipated demolition of The Stables has taken place. I haven’t managed to drive past it this week, but I’ll be sure to take some pics at my next opportunity. I’m just glad that I got these … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Comments Off on So long, Stables