Monthly Archives: October 2011

TCU to join Big XII

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For now. Until something better comes along, of course. TCU accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 on Monday night, seizing an opportunity to be a part of a conference with natural geographic rivals despite the league’s recent instability. … Continue reading →

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

30 day finance reports for City of Houston races

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The 30 day campaign finance reports for City of Houston elections were due last week, and they are now mostly up on the city’s campaign finance report website, with a large number showing up today. Already I’m seeing questionable, curious, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: Rodriguez in I

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron votes for experience in District I. District I is the cradle of Hispanic municipal political power in Houston, initially represented by Ben Reyes and since then by a string of Latino successors. It encompasses most of downtown as … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Juliet Stipeche

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Next up is Trustee Juliet Stipeche, whose campaign webpage is here. She won a special election in 2010 for the Trustee seat in District VIII that was vacated by Diana Davila. Stipeche is an attorney and a graduate of HISD … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Chron overview of District B

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

As it is now endorsement season, it is now also Candidate Overview Story season for the Chron, and they kick it off with a look at the multi-candidate race for the open seat in District B. It’s the standard type … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Crowdsourcing legislation

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Perhaps the wisdom of crowds might help shape better legislation. It’s worth a shot. [Steven] Polunsky is the director of the Texas Senate Committee on Business and Commerce, which is presided over by state Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas. In anticipation … Continue reading →

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

The Constitutional amendments

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to all of the local races that will be on your ballot next month, there are ten Constitutional amendments up for ratification. Unlike some previous years, and somewhat surprisingly given the divisive and ideological nature of the session, … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Gonzalez in H

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes the easy and obvious choice of endorsing CM Ed Gonzalez for a second full term in District H. In the shuffle brought by the addition of two new City Council district seats, Houston’s District H has been … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rhonda Skillern-Jones

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

We now shift to HISD and HCC Trustee races, which will take us through the end of the interview series. To start off, I bring you a conversation with Rhonda Skillern-Jones, who will succeed Carole Mims Galloway as the Trustee … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

News flash: Voter ID will mean fewer people can vote

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I know, I’m as shocked as you are. As many as a quarter of voters in some small Texas counties might not be able to cast ballots if the federal government allows the new state voter ID law to go … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Another school finance lawsuit update

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib brings some news about the impending school finance lawsuits. Yes, lawsuits – there are two in the works. The Equity Center’s lawsuit will focus on fairness, attacking the target revenue system established in 2006 when lawmakers reduced the … Continue reading →

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HISD considers revamping ethics rules

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This all seems like a good idea. Houston school trustees, who now may accept campaign cash from anyone at any time, would face new restrictions under a proposal meant to curb improper influence in the school district’s business deals. The … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Weekend link dump for October 9

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Only 22 shopping days till Halloween. Why the Kindle Fire tablet is priced so low. The concept of “civil discourse” is meaningless without context. The alarm clock some of us have and the rest of us need. Now this is … Continue reading →

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Austin officially keeps May elections

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

That’s all she wrote. The Austin City Council decided Friday to hold the 2012 council elections in May instead of November, ending a weeks-long debate marked by accusations of voter suppression and political expediency. A new state law aimed at … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2012 | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Our expensive Governor

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Another story about our Governor and his expensive travel habits. The cost is mounting for Texas taxpayers as Gov. Rick Perry pursues the presidency, with new figures showing the tab for the governor’s security detail has topped $364,000 for out-of-state … Continue reading →

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“Crazy ants” update

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The march of the so-called “crazy ants” continues unabated. It sounds like a horror movie: Biting ants invade by the millions. A camper’s metal walls bulge from the pressure of ants nesting behind them. A circle of poison stops them … Continue reading →

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

The macrobrewers are expanding, too

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to all the new microbrewers that are sprouting up, giant international conglomerate Anheuser-Busch InBev will be spending a bunch of money to improve and expand its operations. The local Anheuser-Busch InBev brewery is using a major capital infusion … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: René and Pennington

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Today we learned that the Chron is apparently not endorsing in uncontested elections, as they skipped over CM Mike Sullivan in District E, and we got our first endorsement of a challenger over an incumbent. After a series of controversies … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Saturday video break: If Not For You

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Song #97 on the Popdose Top 100 Covers list is the first one I can’t honestly say I’m familiar with, Bob Dylan’s “If Not For You”, with a cover version by George Harrison. Here’s Mr. Zimmerman’s original: Here’s Harrison: And … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 2 Comments

More troubles for CM Jones

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There have not been many dull moments this year for CM Jolanda Jones. That seems unlikely to change in the near future. [O]n Wednesday, revelations surfaced that one of her staffers photographed a citizen picking up public records from her … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Recycling water

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

There’s more than one way to conserve water. The city of San Antonio recycles theirs to get the most out of what they have. “During wet seasons, the river functions like any other river would,” says Steve Clouse, the chief … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Still more microbrew options

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Our flagons runneth over, as new microbreweries keep springing up. If each opens as planned, Buffalo Bayou, 8th Wonder and Yard Sale Brewing companies would bring to eight the number of plants making beer within an hour’s drive of downtown … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

More on the domestic partner benefits fight in El Paso

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib covers the fight over domestic partner benefits in El Paso. Pastor Tom Brown wants homosexuals to repent and turn to Christ. He certainly does not want them to be given taxpayer-financed health benefits. Brown, the charismatic leader of … Continue reading →

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

Endorsement watch: Cohen and Adams

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a twofer, and it’s apparent confirmation that the Chron is going alphabetically by district. First, they tap Ellen Cohen for the reconfigured District C. Among a strong field of candidates for Houston City Council District C – the district … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Friday random ten: Is it fall yet?

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

After this miserably hot and dry summer, any daytime high temperature under 90 is considered cool, fall-like weather. 1. Angels Would Fall – Melissa Etheridge 2. Another Place To Fall – KT Tunstall 3. Fall Behind Me – The Donnas … Continue reading →

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Interview with Fernando Herrera

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

For what I really do think will be my final interview with a candidate for municipal office, I bring you Fernando Herrera, who was the first declared opponent for Mayor Annise Parker. Herrera is a Deputy Chief with the Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Fifth Ward

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Lisa Gray writes about a popular art project making a reappearance in a new place. Six years ago, the white guys – Dan Havel and Dean Ruck – smashed up a couple of other bungalows, and in the process, created … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

The SOS responds to DOJ on voter ID

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Two weeks ago, the Justice Department asked some questions about Texas’ voter ID law as a condition for preclearance. The Secretary of State has now given some answers, though they may not be what DOJ was looking for. Under section … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Missouri on the move?

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Still no stability for the Big XII. It wasn’t too long ago that Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton spoke of “working every day to hold the Big 12 together.” Now he’s been tasked with helping decide whether the Tigers are the … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Daniels in B

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has made its choice among the candidates in the open seat District B race. In a crowded field vying to replace term-limited incumbent Jarvis Johnson, the Chronicle believes retired Postal Service supervisor and community activist Kathy Ballard-Blueford Daniels … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Peter Lyn René

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Another deadline day filer was Peter Lyn René, who is running for Council in District F. René is an IT project manager and mediator who mediates civil cases in the Harris County Justice Courts; he was the Democratic nominee for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2011 | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

More Perry privatization problems

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Insert your favorite cliche about being shocked. The state of Texas has quietly outsourced the management of more than $1 billion in federal disaster recovery funds to an engineering firm with close ties to Gov. Rick Perry’s administration, paying the … Continue reading →

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Self service checkout at supermarkets

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

This AP story about supermarkets scaling back on self service checkout aisles, which was recently in the Chron business section, has been making the rounds in the progressive blogs. Market studies cited by the Arlington, Va.-based Food Marketing Institute found … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of October 3

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance has no plans to move to the Southeastern Conference or the PAC 12 as it brings you this week’s roundup. Off the Kuff notes that the federal court in San Antonio has issued an injunction preventing … Continue reading →

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