Monthly Archives: April 2009

UI update

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The headline says it all: GOP holds key to unemployment stimulus dollars. Against the wishes of Gov. Rick Perry, lawmakers are pressing ahead with efforts to claim $555 million in federal economic stimulus money for unemployment benefits. With all of … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on UI update

Johnny Sutton resigns

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As is the norm when a new President is inaugurated, US Attorney Johnny Sutton of the Western Judicial District of Texas has resigned his position. Sutton’s resignation was voluntary, [spokeswoman Shana] Jones said, and his future plans were not immediately … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | 1 Comment

Johnny Sutton resigns

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As is the norm when a new President is inaugurated, US Attorney Johnny Sutton of the Western Judicial District of Texas has resigned his position. Sutton’s resignation was voluntary, [spokeswoman Shana] Jones said, and his future plans were not immediately … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sexting and the law

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The most interesting bit in this story about “sexting” is after the jump when it turns to the DA’s office for its perspective. Eric Devlin, chief of the child exploitation section of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, says he … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Sexting and the law

Ramey Ko speaks

Posted on April 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Asian American Action Fund blog talks to Ramey Ko about the Betty Brown incident, and also about her apology, which wasn’t particularly well received by the Asian American community. There’s a lot more coverage of this story, which has … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Ramey Ko speaks

Court issues injunction against DPS over drivers license rules

Posted on April 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

A district court judge has suspended the new drivers license rules implemented by the Department of Public Safety pending a civil trial on the grounds that DPS didn’t have the authority to do what it did. The rules prevent thousands … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mayoral Musings

Posted on April 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

New blog alert – Mayoral Musings, by Nancy Sims, who is a PR professional and Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston. From the welcome post: This Blog has been created to serve as a resource for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff, Election 2009 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Friday random ten: Good songs

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I was going to jump into some new music this week, but when I remembered that today is Good Friday, I figured I’d do a theme list instead. So here, for Good Friday, are ten good songs: 1. Two Good … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Friday random ten: Good songs

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I was going to jump into some new music this week, but when I remembered that today is Good Friday, I figured I’d do a theme list instead. So here, for Good Friday, are ten good songs: 1. Two Good … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 1 Comment

Rep. Brown’s apology

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In case you missed it, here’s State Rep. Betty Brown’s apology for her dumb remarks about Asian names. Answering a swarm of phone calls during a brief break on the House floor, Rep. Betty Brown , R-Terrell, kept telling reporters … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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

Taking taxation aversion to its logical extreme

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This story just boggles my mind. Think traffic congestion is bad now? Wait until 2012. That’s when Texas’ highway fund — which relies on a motor fuels tax that hasn’t been raised since 1991 — will be out of money … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Taking taxation aversion to its logical extreme

Senate passes clean air bill

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This sounds pretty good. New plants in heavily polluted areas like Houston’s Ship Channel could have a harder time getting state permits under a clean air bill tentatively passed Wednesday by the Texas Senate. Environmental regulators would have to examine … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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

Won’t somebody please think of the mollusks?

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Oyster offenders, long a scourge of the Texas criminal justice system, may have finally met their match in the Senate. A cautiously hopeful populace waits with, um, baited breath.

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Won’t somebody please think of the mollusks?

What’s in a name, Betty Brown style

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

You know, I was just thinking the other day that what this legislative session was lacking was a dose of absurdity. Thank God for people like State Rep. Betty Brown. A North Texas legislator during House testimony on voter identification … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Registration deadline for District H

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

If you live in District H and have are not registered to vote, today is the last day you can do so and still be eligible to vote in that election on May 9. Go to http://www.hctax.net/voter/voterselect.asp for more information … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Registration deadline for District H

Council OKs TIRZ deal for Regent Square

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The deal to jumpstart Regent Square, the idle development on Allen Parkway, was approved by City Council yesterday. The program, approved unanimously by City Council, will reimburse the developer of Regent Square — a 4-million-square-foot community that will abut Allen … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

Council OKs TIRZ deal for Regent Square

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The deal to jumpstart Regent Square, the idle development on Allen Parkway, was approved by City Council yesterday. The program, approved unanimously by City Council, will reimburse the developer of Regent Square — a 4-million-square-foot community that will abut Allen … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Council OKs TIRZ deal for Regent Square

Keller’s day in court set for August

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Not as soon as I would have liked, since I think this saga has dragged on long enough, but at least we have a date. Mark it in ink: The trial to assess whether Judge Sharon Keller violated her duty … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 1 Comment

Keller’s day in court set for August

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Not as soon as I would have liked, since I think this saga has dragged on long enough, but at least we have a date. Mark it in ink: The trial to assess whether Judge Sharon Keller violated her duty … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Keller’s day in court set for August

Mainframing

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ah, memories. As hot new servers have grabbed more attention, mainframes have been plugging away behind the scenes. For decades, they have been the technological backbone for banking, finance, insurance, defense, health care, education, government and other industries. “The perception … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | 1 Comment

Mainframing

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ah, memories. As hot new servers have grabbed more attention, mainframes have been plugging away behind the scenes. For decades, they have been the technological backbone for banking, finance, insurance, defense, health care, education, government and other industries. “The perception … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Mainframing

Not dead yet

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Just a little reminder that sometimes voters are removed from the rolls erroneously. Alegria Arce Hibbetts of Austin got a letter in late March saying that she might be dead. Or more specifically, the Texas secretary of state’s Texas Election … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Not dead yet

Not dead yet

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Just a little reminder that sometimes voters are removed from the rolls erroneously. Alegria Arce Hibbetts of Austin got a letter in late March saying that she might be dead. Or more specifically, the Texas secretary of state’s Texas Election … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Comments Off on Not dead yet

The Ike Dike

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This certainly sounds like a promising idea. Protecting the region from a hurricane’s storm surge, says William Merrell of Texas A&M University at Galveston, is simple: Extend Galveston’s seawall to the island’s West End, build a similar structure along Bolivar … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Ike Dike

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This certainly sounds like a promising idea. Protecting the region from a hurricane’s storm surge, says William Merrell of Texas A&M University at Galveston, is simple: Extend Galveston’s seawall to the island’s West End, build a similar structure along Bolivar … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | 4 Comments

CLC gambling update

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today there will be committee hearings on various gambling-related bills. I am reprinting here an email sent by Suzii Paynter of the Christian Life Coalition, which is one of the leading organizations that are fighting the expansion of gambling in … Continue reading →

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

CLC gambling update

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today there will be committee hearings on various gambling-related bills. I am reprinting here an email sent by Suzii Paynter of the Christian Life Coalition, which is one of the leading organizations that are fighting the expansion of gambling in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | 2 Comments

A letter to the President

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s another update from the Handmade Toy Alliance, in the form of a letter to the President on the current state of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and the need for a technical amendment to it for small … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Comments Off on A letter to the President

A letter to the President

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s another update from the Handmade Toy Alliance, in the form of a letter to the President on the current state of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and the need for a technical amendment to it for small … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on A letter to the President

Radack’s Hill

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Who says Harris County is flat? Not County Commissioner Steve Radack, who is building a hill in Hockley for soap box derby enthusiasts. It is a vision seven years in the making for Radack, who predicts the hill will draw … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Radack’s Hill

Radack’s Hill

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Who says Harris County is flat? Not County Commissioner Steve Radack, who is building a hill in Hockley for soap box derby enthusiasts. It is a vision seven years in the making for Radack, who predicts the hill will draw … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | 1 Comment

America’s Least Wasteful Cities

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We’re Number 22! Um, out of 25, which is to say out of the 25 largest cities in America. On the plus side, that’s two places higher than Dallas. And we were the best at eating leftovers, for which I … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on America’s Least Wasteful Cities

America’s Least Wasteful Cities

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We’re Number 22! Um, out of 25, which is to say out of the 25 largest cities in America. On the plus side, that’s two places higher than Dallas. And we were the best at eating leftovers, for which I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Comments Off on America’s Least Wasteful Cities

Oh by the way, the unemployment trust fund is going broke

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Floor Pass has the bad news. The Texas Workforce Commission released its latest projection for the unemployment insurance trust fund balance, and the news is even worse than last month’s. TWC estimates the fund’s balance will have plummeted to just … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment