Monthly Archives: May 2010

“Committed” to rail

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Well, it’s better than not being commited. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said today that his agency is continuing a review of the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s light rail funding application, but he declined to say when the $900 … Continue reading →

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

The Suns take a stand

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m very glad to see this. In an extremely bold move, the Phoenix Suns as an organization made a strong political statement in opposition to the recent Arizona immigration bill. Discussions on taking action began last week after the bill … Continue reading →

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It may take an act of God for Rick Perry to admit he was wrong

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Governor Perry is being questioned about his silly “act of God” comment regarding the BP oil leak in the Gulf, and he’s apparently a mite touchy about it. Look, we all know – clearly Perry does – that “act of … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Defense attorneys criticize Forensic Science Commission

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. Texas defense lawyers took aim at the state’s Forensic Science Commission Monday, charging that the group — now probing the possibly botched arson investigations that sent an East Texas man to his execution — is in danger … Continue reading →

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We whine bigger than other states, too

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Someone please call a waaaaaahmbulance. Since January, besides losing big federal contracts, Texas’ pollution permit process has been rejected for failing to meet Clean Air Act requirements; the state is facing fines for chronically missing food stamp benefit deadlines, and … Continue reading →

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The technical solution to texting while driving

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

There’s nothing revolutionary about a device like this, but it could have a big effect. I s a teenager’s life worth $99.95? Is avoiding a lawsuit arising from unsafe driving practices by fleet drivers worth that investment? Rodney, Robbie and Rocky … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Is this the end for Frank Wilson?

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Could be. The Metropolitan Transit Authority board is working toward president and chief executive officer Frank Wilson’s “amicable” departure from the agency as soon as Friday, sources said today. A plan under discussion involves naming George Greanias, the former city … Continue reading →

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

Of guns and kittens

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Sen. Kirk Watson has the definitive response to the Rick Perry coyote incident. About all that’s missing is music by Ennio Morricone. Just go read it and you’ll see what I mean. Thanks to the Trib for the pointer.

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Accounting tricks

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Everyone knows that the current budget shortfall means the Lege will be searching for cutbacks and new revenue sources. But there is a third option, too, one that doesn’t usually get much attention but which has certainly been done before: … Continue reading →

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

Not just MLB

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Basketball writer Bethlehem Shoals argues provocatively that NBA Commissioner David Stern should take a stand on the Arizona “Show me your papers” law. Enter the NBA’s éne-bé-a campaign, launched at the beginning of this season in attempt to capitalize on … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Drainage update

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

City Council Members Stephen Costello and Ed Gonzalez had a public meeting last week to bring folks up to date on their efforts to upgrade Houston’s drainage system. Neighborhoods that report drainage problems to the city wait five years for … Continue reading →

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Knock, knock, Census calling

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

They won’t be knocking on my door, but they’ll be knocking on a bunch of other ones. When census enumerators set out this Saturday, they could encounter a range of responses at the 48 million addresses they need to check. … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of May 3

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is enjoying the May flowers as we bring you this week’s blog roundup.

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Perry blames God for oil leak

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

That sure is what this sounds like to me. Texas Gov. Rick Perry Monday offered a stern warning against halting oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of a massive oil leak, and he raised the question … Continue reading →

Posted in Skepticism | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Just a reminder about Perry’s unemployment tax increase

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Lisa Falkenberg watches some video of Texas Workforce Commission Executive Director Larry Temple testifying before the Senate and reiterates something we knew. Temple acknowledged Thursday to the Senate Committee on Economic Development that Texas’ decision not to take $556 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

More pressure on MLB over the 2011 All Star Game

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Keep it up. A New York congressman who called for the league to move the 2011 game from Phoenix is the latest person to push for an economic boycott against the state in protest of the new law. Companies have … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

VIA thinks bigger on streetcars

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

They may be scaling back in Dallas, but San Antonio’s transit agency will apply for more federal funds to build a more extensive streetcar network. VIA Metropolitan Transit’s board of trustees voted Tuesday to spike a federal grant application for … Continue reading →

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The food banks pitch in

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s great that they’re making such a difference. It’s a crime that it took so long and that the problem got to be so bad before they were called in to help. Last year, food banks had to step up … Continue reading →

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Sixty thousand and counting

Posted on May 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In March, the Dallas Morning News wrote about how Rick Perry was running a new kind of campaign. Rick Perry’s campaign has a radical approach that eschews traditional voter turnout efforts in favor of extensive use of social media networks … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Weekend link dump for May 2

Posted on May 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I was strolling through the park one day, in the merry merry month of May… Don’t listen to what John Cornyn says, just watch how he votes. If R. Crumb told the story of Genesis, the band. All right, now … Continue reading →

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Texas rejects high-risk insurance pools

Posted on May 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No big surprise. Gov. Rick Perry told federal officials Friday that Texas would not participate in health insurance pools for high risk individuals that are being set up under the new national health care law. Perry, citing some of the … Continue reading →

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Jail passes another state inspection

Posted on May 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good news for the Harris County jails: They passed another surprise state inspection by a Texas Commission on Jail Standards team last week. “This certificate of compliance is a direct result of your department’s commitment to excellence and further attests, … Continue reading →

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Metro still has unresolved issues

Posted on May 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

With the FTA and its Buy American requirements. A central issue in a federal investigation of the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s compliance with “Buy America” regulations remained unresolved after meetings in Washington, Metro board Chairman Gilbert Garcia said on Thursday. Plans … Continue reading →

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

Saturday video break: There’s an app for that

Posted on May 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Can you perform Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” on your iPhone? She can: Sometimes – okay, pretty much all of the time – I love living in this century.

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Keller gets slammed by Ethics Commission

Posted on May 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. The Texas Ethics Commission has levied a record $100,000 fine against Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller for failing to make full financial disclosures in 2007 and 2008. […] The commission in an order made public … Continue reading →

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

Still focusing on overtime

Posted on May 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Annise Parker talks again about trying to control HPD and HFD overtime costs as a way of bridging the city’s budget shortfall. Mayor Annise Parker provided an early picture of how she intends to close a $140 million budget … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Not too bad a job returning those Census forms

Posted on May 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

We did better than in 2000. Houston, Harris County and Texas each exceeded their 2000 Census mail-in return rates this year while falling short of the national rate, according to final figures released Wednesday. In Houston, 67 percent of those … Continue reading →

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