Monthly Archives: May 2007

Earthlink passes test in Philadelphia

Good news for EarthLink, our city WiFi provider. EarthLink, the Internet Service Provider that has contracted to build a wireless network in Houston, today cleared a major hurdle in Philadelphia, where it has begun building another of the nation’s largest … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on Earthlink passes test in Philadelphia

Afternoon update on the mess in the House

I’m about midway through the season finale of Lost (thank prime for my in-laws’ TiVo) and wanted to pause for a moment for a brief House update. The anti-Craddicks are still trying to make a motion to vacate the Speaker’s … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

And the fun begins again

I know, it’s the Saturday of a holiday weekend, but the Lege is back at it, and who knows what will happen today. At some point, bills will be considered and maybe even passed. Here’s one that’s dead, killed by … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on And the fun begins again

So what happened last night?

Short answer: Several members attempted to make a motion to vacate the Speaker’s chair. Craddick refused to recognize them, refused to allow an appeal of his rulings, and declared that he had sole and total discretion in the matter. If … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on So what happened last night?

Grits on the death of HB13

It’s official – HB13 is dead. Grits explains what that means in practical terms. The Governor already had authority to accept federal homeland security grants, so that doesn’t change (his homeland security director Steve McCraw is the agent who receives … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Grits on the death of HB13

West 11th Street Park saved!

Assuming we do eventually get a budget passed, it looks like it will contain a provision to pay off the debt for the West 11th Street Park. Jeff Balke has the details. Major kudos to Sen. John Whitmire for making … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on West 11th Street Park saved!

Cleaner cement for Dallas

Very cool. The Dallas City Council voted late Wednesday to direct construction contractors to include the price of dry kiln-processed cement in their bid packages to the city. Cement produced in dry kilns generally produces less pollution than traditional wet … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The great state of Texas | Comments Off on Cleaner cement for Dallas

Is this finally it?

Well, something is going on in the House. It all started about an hour ago. A short while ago, Rep. Jim Dunnam made a simple parliamentary inquiry. Would the speaker recognize someone for a privileged motion to vacate the chair? … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

Senfronia for Speaker!

She did it before, and she’s doing it again. Throw Democrat Senfronia Thompson of Houston’s stylish hat into the ring. She was the first state rep to start the rumbling last summer when she filed her candidacy for speaker for … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

The CHIP endgame

Capitol Letters says the recently-passed CHIP bill HB109 is still being monkeyed with by the Senate and David Dewhurst. After collecting kudos Tuesday from the Texas Network of IAF Organizations (Dallas Area Interfaith, Valley Interfaith and so on), Mr. Dewhurst … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on The CHIP endgame

Weakened toll road moratorium finally passes

This is definitely not what we thought we were going to get out of a toll road moratorium. It may be the best we could have done, but if so that’s pretty sad. Texas lawmakers struck a deal Thursday on … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Another reprieve for the Astrodome

Last week, I noted that State Sen. Kyle Janek had amended HB3694 to qualify the Astrodome hotel redevelopment project for some tax rebates, for the purpose of helping it to get financing, which has proven elusive so far. The amended … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Is HB13 going down?

I’d almost forgotten about HB13 since it passed out of the House nearly three weeks ago. A much-amended version was passed by the Senate early this week, and apparently those amendments have left it open to attack. Yesterday afternoon the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

RIP, statewide smoking ban

It’s a goner. Although Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, may be holding out hope for her statewide smoking ban proposal until the Senate and House adjourn sine die, the Smoke-Free Texas coalition is admitting defeat. The organization, which includes the American … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on RIP, statewide smoking ban

Anti-rail lawsuit details

After being denied the opportunity to break out the thumbscrews depose Metro executives without having to file a lawsuit, rail opponents went ahead and filed their lawsuit, as everyone and their dog knew they were going to do. Much of … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Anti-rail lawsuit details

Get ready to say Good-bye to the River Oaks Shopping Center

The end is near for the River Oaks Shopping Center. Preservationists gathered at a city hall trying to block the renovation of the historic River Oaks Shopping Center. The shopping center is 70 years-old and for generations it has been … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Get ready to say Good-bye to the River Oaks Shopping Center

Tron!

Awesome! Gearing up for our 12th anniversary, Technology Bytes Radio is teaming up with The Petrol Station and St. Arnold Brewery to bring you Tron, the original geek movie, projected in all it’s gigantic glory outdoors and on the back … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on Tron!

Still waiting to vacate

So all the pieces seem to be falling into place for that long-awaited motion to vacate the Speaker’s chair. According to BOR, Republican Rep. Todd Smith has filed two resolutions that would allow for a secret ballot in the event … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Still waiting to vacate

More endorsements for Noriega

Melissa Noriega has racked up a bunch more endorsements for the June 16 runoff for City Council. Early on, she received the endorsements of Noel Freeman and Andy Neill. Earlier today, her campaign sent out a press release announcing the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Election 2007 | 1 Comment

We have TiVo again

Our replacement TiVo unit arrived on our doorstep late this afternoon. It’s all set up now, so when Olivia comes home from school tomorrow she can see one of her beloved Noggin programs again. Of course, she won’t have many … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on We have TiVo again

Goodbye SB419, hello HB1919

The bad news is that SB419 did not make it through the House. The good news is that it’s still alive as an amendment to another bill. Pete has an email from Sen. Eddie Lucio’s office, which lays it out: … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Goodbye SB419, hello HB1919

What about the red light camera bills?

And the other legislation mentioned in the sidebar to the strip club fee story is about red light cameras. Red-light cameras Multiple bills: To formally authorize use of cameras to catch red light violators, regulate their use and require cities … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Is SB1317 dead?

The strip club fee story has a little sidebar on it entitled “Other bills of particular interest in the Houston area”, which includes this tidbit: Clean air The measure: To prohibit Houston and other cities from using city nuisance laws … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Strip club fee passes the Senate

I confess, I hadn’t paid very close attention to Rep. Ellen Cohen’s bill to raise money for sexual assault prevention by imposing a $5 per customer fee on strip clubs because I didn’t think it would make it through. Clearly, … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | 1 Comment

Budget deal reached

With all the other legislative activity going on as the session winds down, I’d almost lost track of the one thing the Lege must do, which is pass a budget. They’re almost there, according to the conference chairs. Senate Finance … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | 1 Comment

Aaron and Bonds

Hank Aaron says he won’t watch Barry Bonds break his record. Aaron doesn’t plan to see the milestone homer in person, wherever it might happen. “No, I won’t be there,” he said. Asked why, Aaron said: “I traveled for 23 … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Baseball | Comments Off on Aaron and Bonds

WiFi woes?

Dwight notes that EarthLink is rethinking its municipal WiFi commitment. Following a quarter in which it posted a loss of $29.96 million broadband provider EarthLink said it is reviewing four of its Wi-Fi deployments in Philadelphia, Anaheim, Milpitas and New … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Comments Off on WiFi woes?

A satisfying driving experience

Houstonist has a question for you: “What is the most satisfying driving experience in Houston?” I’d call it a toss-up between going eastbound on Memorial from 610 to downtown, especially once you get past the last traffic light just before … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

One more step towards independence for the Woodlands

Back in December, a deal was struck between the Woodlands and the city of Houston to take future annexation off the table in return for financial considerations. That deal depended on the Lege passing bills to make it happen. That … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on One more step towards independence for the Woodlands

Dewhurst gives up the pursuit of HB218

Good. It appears the Legislature will not pass a voter identification bill that Republicans desire and Democrats loath as Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst sent ailing Sen. Mario Gallegos home Wednesday night. Gallegos, recovering from a liver transplant and potentially in … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | Comments Off on Dewhurst gives up the pursuit of HB218

Anti-rail lawsuit ruling

We have ourselves a ruling in the anti-rail “lawsuit” that was filed a few weeks ago. A judge today denied a Richmond Avenue merchant’s request to make Metropolitan Transit Authority officials testify about their light rail and Bus Rapid Transit … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 2 Comments

Senate passes CHIP bill

Well, HB109 passed yesterday and that’s a good start, even if there’s room for improvement. The Texas Senate on Tuesday agreed to loosen some enrollment restrictions for children in the state’s low-cost insurance program for working poor families, allowing their … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Comments Off on Senate passes CHIP bill

Rose and Lucio

Well, we’ve made it through another day without an official motion to vacate the Speaker’s chair. It makes sense that it would happen after last night’s deadline for passing bills on third reading, but until it actually happens, I and … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in That's our Lege | 3 Comments

Heck of a job, Joshie

Obviously, I don’t actually care who will win the Republican nomination for President. Having said that, if I were a John McCain fan, I’d shudder in horror at this news. Josh Robinson-State Field Director [for South Carolina] A graduate of … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in The making of the President | 2 Comments