Monthly Archives: August 2009

Kay the vincible

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers. The 1978 Boston Red Sox. The 2010 Kay Bailey Hutchison for Governor campaign. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison began this year as “Kay the Invincible.” But as she prepares to officially launch her bid for governor … Continue reading →

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The biennial budget shuffle

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to billions of stimulus dollars, the budget this year relied on some old tricks to get certified as balanced. Nearly $3.7 billion in levies collected for everything from fighting air pollution to helping low-income people with their electric … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Commuter rail update

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Christof has some surprisingly good news for those who want to see commuter rail in the Houston area. There hasn’t been much public movement on commuter rail since the HGAC’s study was released a year ago. But quietly, gears are … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of August 3

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here we are in August, and like every other week it’s time for another Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup.

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If you can’t beat ’em, shout ’em down

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, your modern day Republican Party: Angry teabaggers and other opponents of health care reform are heckling members of Congress at their town hall meetings back home in an effort to sway the debate and drown out reform … Continue reading →

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Cops and crime

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The news is mixed, though I see it as being presented as more bad than good. Houston has a higher rate of violent crime than any other Texas city and ranks among the highest in the nation, according to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Interview with Brenda Stardig

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

And we return to District A for a conversation with Brenda Stardig. Brenda is a businesswoman and real estate broker who has served on the City of Houston District A Apartment Task Force as well as a number of boards … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

REV Houston revisited

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

REV Houston is back in the news. The drivers of Rev Houston’s green-and-white shuttles zip through downtown picking up and dropping off passengers for tips. Here’s a tip from city officials: Follow the rules. To Rev Houston owner Erik Ibarra, … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

A&M and the Emerging Technology fund

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Loren Steffy tells us about politics infecting research at Texas A&M. And Rick Perry is involved. Shocking, I know. In January, the state awarded A&M $50 million from the Emerging Technology Fund, which purports to benefit private-sector technology startups, for … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Petition to fire Alberto Gonzales

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Once Texas Tech made the bizarre decision to hire Alberto Gonzales as a faculty member, a petition demanding that they fire him was sure to follow. You know my opinion on these things, so take whatever action you deem appropriate. … Continue reading →

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Broken Cords

Posted on August 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Got an email today from Stephen, Melanie and Dianna Muldrow, who are three local kids that have put together a benefit concert called Broken Cords, which is intended to highlight and help fight against human trafficking. From their press release … Continue reading →

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Thurman Munson, thirty years later

Posted on August 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

It was thirty years ago today that New York Yankees catcher and captain Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash in Canton, Ohio. I was just rereading the post I wrote in 2004 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for August 2

Posted on August 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Dog days time… Just a reminder that Governor Perry isn’t the only shameless hypocrite about the stimulus package. Bobby Jindal is pretty damn brazen, too. Traditional media has its blind spots, none of which is more cringe-inducing than stuff like … Continue reading →

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Controller’s debate

Posted on August 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In case you missed it from Friday, here’s the Houston City Controller debate as hosted by Red, White, and Blue on KUHT. I was out of town this week and didn’t get a chance to set the TiVo on Friday, … Continue reading →

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Dems attack Perry over stimulus funds

Posted on August 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good to see. Texas Democratic lawmakers Thursday defended President Barack Obama’s stimulus package against criticism from Republican leaders, saying Texas is making economic progress with the help of recovery funds. Texas state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, said … Continue reading →

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The Ike baby boom bust

Posted on August 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Remember this Chron story from May? Doctors who work in Houston’s busiest maternity ward say they’re expecting an especially bustling June, leading some to conclude that Hurricane Ike was the perfect storm for making babies. It’s been eight months since … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Saturday video break: Can the frog dance?

Posted on August 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Kermit the Frog does “Once in a Lifetime”, by the Talking Heads, complete with David Byrne giant suit: Clearly, I have underestimated “Muppets Tonight” all these years.

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Hammerlein, too

Posted on August 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron confirms the Lone Star Project report about Ed Johnson being reassigned in the Harris County Tax Assessor’s office, and adds on to it. Two Harris County officials at the center of an ongoing dispute over what the Texas … Continue reading →

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Perrycare

Posted on August 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Who says Republicans don’t have any ideas about health care reform, or anything else for that matter? Here’s Rick Perry’s plan to overhaul the system. This afternoon, Rick Perry’s office released a letter the governor has sent to Health and … Continue reading →

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The DA’s new DWI program

Posted on August 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Harris County District Attorney’s new driving while intoxicated diversion program appears to have some problems. Under the new program, those accused of a first-time DWI will be offered the diversion program or 30 days in jail and a $750 … Continue reading →

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Our teen drivers are better than yours

Posted on August 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Good news is always welcome. A new report by the Texas Transportation Institute found that the state’s rate of fatal teen crashes is dropping faster here than anywhere. Researchers looked at 37 states that put restrictions on teen drivers’ licenses … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments