Monthly Archives: February 2008

More on the recusal motion for Judge Hoyt

Posted on February 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the lawsuit against Harris County Sheriff Tommy Thomas has been delayed while the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rules on a motion from the defense to recuse presiding Judge Kenneth Hoyt. Here’s some more information on that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Ashby highrise ordinance delayed again

Posted on February 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The first step in solving a problem is to admit you have a problem. City officials want to spend up to seven more months to consider ways to regulate traffic from high-density buildings, Mayor Bill White said Wednesday. The announcement … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 3 Comments

Candidate Q&A: Harold Landreneau

Posted on February 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Note: This entry is part of a series of written Q&As with judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. I am also doing recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates. 1. Who are you and what are you running for? My name is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Candidate Q&A: Harold Landreneau

Endorsement watch: Tick tock, tick tock…

Posted on February 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Here is an incomplete list of primary races in which the Houston Chronicle has not yet offered an endorsement: 1. President. Just a guess here, but I’d peg this one for Sunday. And if it’s not Obama and McCain, I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Tick tock, tick tock…

Save the 4400!

Posted on February 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I somehow managed to miss the news that one of my favorite shows, The 4400, was not renewed for a new season. This is annoying to me on several levels, not the least of which is that now I’ll never … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in TV and movies | Comments Off on Save the 4400!

Could be worse – could (still) be Austin

Posted on February 14, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

M1EK takes to the virtual pages of Austinist to help us understand once again how much better Houston is positioned for transit than Austin is. At times like these, it’s always refreshing to get a reminder once again of how … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 1 Comment

Medina grand jurors sue to make information public

Posted on February 13, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Boy howdy does this open a can of worms. This is a press release that hit my inbox a few minutes ago: MEDINA GRAND JURY SUES DA TO GO PUBLIC In what is believed to be the first suit of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 1 Comment

Suit against Sheriff delayed

Posted on February 13, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we may have to wait awhile for any further action in the lawsuit against the Sheriff’s office that launched Chuck Rosenthal and his infamous emails into the public consciousness. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | 1 Comment

Will Pettite nail Clemens?

Posted on February 13, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

When Roger Clemens goes before Congress today, he may be faced with eivdence that his buddy Andy Pettite has testified that Clemens has used HGH. According to last week’s sworn affidavit from Pettitte, Clemens told Pettitte in either 1999 or … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Candidate interview: Larry Joe Doherty

Posted on February 13, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Note: This entry is part of a series of recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. I am also doing written Q&As with judicial candidates. As I said in my intro for Dan Grant, the 10th Congressional District … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Candidate interview: Larry Joe Doherty

Don’t let them know what we think!

Posted on February 13, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This is just too freaking funny. [H]undreds of Harris County Republican Party precinct chairmen [last night] decided that the answers the party elicited from its candidates about their loyalty to the state party platform will not see the light of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Don’t let them know what we think!

Evaluating the County Judge candidates on rail

Posted on February 13, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Christof reads what the GOP County Judge candidates have been saying about rail, and tries to make some sense of it all. Check it out. Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Comments Off on Evaluating the County Judge candidates on rail

Wednesday campaign notes

Posted on February 13, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Just some collected miscellania from my inbox and the blogs… – The Texas League of Conservation Voters endorsed Brian Thompson in the HD46 primary. “Brian Thompson is a voice for real change and is committed to making the environment a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Wednesday campaign notes

If you want an expert opinion, ask an expert

Posted on February 12, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Tom DeLay. DeLay sounded confident about the crowded field of Republicans running for his old Houston-area seat, which is now held by Democrat Nick Lampson. He said he’s not endorsing in the race because … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on If you want an expert opinion, ask an expert

Red light camera rumors

Posted on February 12, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I’m amused by this story, in which an intrepid Channel 2 reporter investigated various rumors and conspiracy theories regarding the red light cameras here, eventually concluding there’s nothing to them. Not that this is likely to change anyone’s mind, especially … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 5 Comments

Candidate Q&A: Judge Linda Yanez

Posted on February 12, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Note: This entry is part of a series of written Q&As with judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. I am also doing recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates. 1. Who are you and what are you running for? My name is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Candidate Q&A: Judge Linda Yanez

The yard sign primary

Posted on February 12, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

So I’ve been driving around the neighborhood a bit to see how many yard signs are out there for the March primary, and for whom they support. Here’s what I’ve observed: – By far, the biggest show of support in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 4 Comments

Define “prompt”

Posted on February 12, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

As you may recall, some of Governor Perry’s emails have been released for public inspection, thanks to the ongoing work of open government activist John Washburn. But not all of them. The Observer blog reports. Washburn said he received an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Define “prompt”

Texas blog roundup for the week of February 11

Posted on February 12, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Can you believe early voting for the March primary starts next week? To get you in the right frame of mind for that, here’s this week blog highlights from the Texas Progressive Alliance. Click on for more. Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of February 11

TPJ files criminal complaint against Tom Craddick

Posted on February 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

House Speaker Tom Craddick recently threw a bunch of money to three of his Democratic supporters in their efforts to fend off primary challengers – Rick Casey made note of it last week – and he may have landed himself … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on TPJ files criminal complaint against Tom Craddick

Back to court, Chuck

Posted on February 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Let the fun resume. A federal judge has ordered District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal back to court to finish a hearing to decide whether to hold Harris County’s top prosecutor in contempt for deleting several thousand e-mails after they were subpoenaed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Back to court, Chuck

Candidate interview: Rick Noriega

Posted on February 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Note: This entry is part of a series of recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. I am also doing written Q&As with judicial candidates. I don’t really have to give an introduction to Rick Noriega, or an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Candidate interview: Rick Noriega

Audrey!

Posted on February 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Today is Audrey’s first birthday. She is very mobile and active, though not quite walking yet. She is basically fearless about climbing on furniture, which points out to us just how little actual baby-proofing we had to do with Olivia. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in See, I do have a life! | 4 Comments

Come on and take a free ride

Posted on February 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

2009 Mayoral candidate Kemah Mayor Bill King has a suggestion for Metro: Do away with the fare box. Today, the Metropolitan Transit Authority reports slightly under 300,000 daily “boardings.” Because of transfers, it is a little bit of guesswork to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 7 Comments

Coleman’s conviction upheld

Posted on February 11, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Tom Coleman, the undercover cop whose testimony led to the unjust convictions of dozens of citizens of Tulia, Texas, lost his last appeal. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Tom Coleman’s aggravated perjury conviction in 2005 should stand. In … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Comments Off on Coleman’s conviction upheld

Democratic County Judge primary overview

Posted on February 10, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Today the Chron takes a look at the Democratic primary for County Judge, with profiles of David Mincberg and Ahmad Hassan. Here’s a bit from the Mincberg story: Mincberg is in one of many political contests that have illegal immigration … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: GOP DA

Posted on February 10, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron stumps for Pat Lykos in the GOP primary for District Attorney. I am not surprised by this – I figured it’d be a choice for them between Lykos and Jim Leitner; I assumed they’d find Kelly Siegler to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: GOP DA

Et tu, Debbie?

Posted on February 10, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

This was weird. This is truly bizarre. Brian McNamee took aim at another member of Roger Clemens’ family Friday, reportedly telling congressional investigators he injected the pitcher’s wife with human growth hormone for a photo session five years ago. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

Citywide WiFi a no go for now

Posted on February 10, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It was nice while it lasted. EarthLink Inc., the company hired by the city of Houston to build a wireless network, plans to sell its municipal WiFi business, effectively pulling the plug on its project here. While city officials will … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on Citywide WiFi a no go for now

Suits and countersuits over the border fence

Posted on February 10, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not just the feds suing property owners along the border. Property owners are suing the feds, too. A lawsuit by University of Texas-Brownsville Professor Eloisa Tamez and San Benito resident Benito J. Garza claims the Homeland Security Department disregarded … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on Suits and countersuits over the border fence

Endorsement watch: Harris County Judge

Posted on February 9, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes its choices in the two primaries for County Judge. First is an easy one: David Mincberg, Democrat: Mincberg, a former leader of the Harris County Democratic party, says quality of life — including problems of traffic congestion … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 2 Comments

Our experts can beat up your experts

Posted on February 9, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

After the recent spate of outside experts telling us that Planning Is Eeeeevil, it’s refreshing to hear from a different group of outside experts saying it’s not so bad after all. Houston needs a regional growth plan to compete globally … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 4 Comments

Giant Presidential heads head off to Pearland

Posted on February 9, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Look out, Pearland, here they come! It’s official: The first U.S. presidents whose busts will be installed at the planned Presidential Park and Gardens WaterLights District have been announced. Houston-based Historic Real Estate, developer of the project at Texas 288, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Refighting Richmond rail in the County Judge race

Posted on February 8, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Having read this, we are not surprised by this. The Republican contenders for Harris County judge disagreed Thursday over Metro’s plan to put a light rail line along Richmond Avenue near southwest Houston. “Unless the courts overturn it, I think … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2008 | 9 Comments