Tag Archives: Houston

HISD may race to the top

Posted on January 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Despite the earlier decision by Governor Perry to not let Texas compete for “Race to the Top” stimulus funds, school districts like HISD may get the chance to apply for them on their own. President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dynamo fans rally for the stadium

Posted on January 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

There was a rally by Houston Dynamo fans over the weekend in support of getting the stadium deal done. Hair Balls and the Chron’s Glenn Davis have coverage. From what I can see, it looks to me like the ralliers … Continue reading →

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Boriskie steps down

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Add HFD Chief to the list of things Mayor Parker will need to address. With his department under siege by critics and a new mayor as his boss, Houston Fire Chief Phil Boriskie stepped down as the department’s top commander, … Continue reading →

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From the “You get what you pay for” department

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around this story about the struggle of suburban fire departments to provide services for residents who don’t want to pay for them. I just don’t understand the mindset. Montgomery County ESD No. … Continue reading →

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The economic impact of dropouts

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Really interesting story from last week. The Alliance for Excellent Education in Washington, D.C., analyzed data from the nation’s 45 largest metropolitan areas to see how high school dropouts influence not only their own lives but also their community’s overall … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Meet Team Parker

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron peeks behind the curtain at the people who will be working the most closely with Mayor Parker. They fall into roughly three camps: senior aides from her time as controller, City Hall veterans and a lone political operative … Continue reading →

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Interview with Bill White

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Today we begin my interview series for the 2010 Democratic primary, and we begin it with the man who has helped get so many of us excited about the 2010 elections in Texas, former Houston Mayor Bill White, who is … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Houston Area Table meeting Tuesday

Posted on January 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

If you’re getting tired of reading what I’ve got to say and would rather hear me say it out loud, come to the Houston Area Table meeting this Tuesday, January 19 and see if I sound any better that way. … Continue reading →

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Biodegradable bag requirement postponed

Posted on January 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Implementation of the new city ordinance requiring biodegradable bags for yard waste has been pushed back until April. The new start date is April 5, which is after the last major fall of leaves for the season, said Harry Hayes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

There ought to be an app for that

Posted on January 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Smartphone app writers of the town, unite! Want to count calories, diagnose car trouble or kill time fighting an imaginary war? There’s a Houston-made app for that. As sales of smart phones continue to grow, local technology advocates hope to … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Saturday video break: Houston versus Dallas

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This video touting the charms of the city of Dallas made the rounds this week. I actually find all of the dorky dancing to be somewhat charming. You can’t do that sort of thing and take yourself too seriously. Having … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

HISD moves ahead with its teacher dismissal plan

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. The school board on Thursday gave initial approval to a policy that allows the district to dismiss teachers whose students consistently perform below expectations on standardized tests. The change represents a move to make personnel decisions based … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

No Rice-BCM merger

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The longstanding merger talks between Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have been terminated. Rice President David Leebron and Baylor College of Medicine President Dr. William Butler gave no reason for the talks ending in their statement. “Since we … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Evaluating teachers

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is sure to be contentious, but I think it’s the right direction. Teachers in Houston ISD could lose their jobs for failing to improve student test scores under a controversial proposal slated for a school board vote Thursday. HISD … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

World Cup bid update

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Houston will be on the short list of cities to be included in America’s bid to host the World Cup. As reported last week: The USA Bid Committee will conclude its eight-month host city selection process by unveiling the list … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A hippie bohemian flashback

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Remember this? Those were the days, my friends, those were the days. These days? Not so much. Three years ago, developers got the city to shut down Bolsover Street so they could build the seven-story complex, but those plans stopped … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

On a side note regarding Commissioners Court

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Just a quick point to note regarding Commissioners Court and its various perks. In a few months, we’re going to hear from Mayor White’s term limits commission regarding suggested alterations to Houston’s term limits law. When we do, we’ll be … Continue reading →

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From the “It’s good to be the czar” files

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Every few years we get an article like this one about how the sweetest gig in the state is being a Harris County Commissioner. Commissioners may have the safest jobs in Harris County politics. No incumbent has lost an election … Continue reading →

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We’ll always have skeeters

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Wait, so all this arctic weather doesn’t mean a reduction in the mosquito population? So what’s the point of it, then? “The freeze is going to kill some of the population, but it’s not going to wipe out everything,” said … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Sales taxes still sliding

Posted on January 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Still no sign of a turnaround in many Texas cities. Municipal sales tax collections across Texas fell 11.4 percent in November, raising new economic worries amid signs of recovery in housing and other industries. The declines are discouraging to city … Continue reading →

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Sportsmanship

Posted on January 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll say this much in defense of Yates basketball coach Greg Wise: I don’t think it’s any less humiliating for the opponent that you’ve thoroughly dominated if you tell your team to just stop playing like they care about the … Continue reading →

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

HISD and CEP

Posted on January 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I think this is a good idea. The wide disparity in principals’ use of schools run by Community Education Partners has caught the attention of HISD Superintendent Terry Grier, who questions whether schools are kicking out too many students on … Continue reading →

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

The high rise versus the bar

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is just bizarre. A long-standing feud between Rice-area bar owners and their neighbors in a high-rise condo has escalated from egg throwing, water spraying, laser pointing and name calling to assault lawsuits. Just off Kirby Drive on Quenby a … Continue reading →

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Thinking small on commuter rail

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Christof says that the Houston-Galveston commuter rail study that’s currently in progress has a rather limited vision. Commuter Rail Alternative provides service along the Galveston Houston & Henderson (GH&H) Railroad between Galveston and Houston. The GH&H is a freight rail … Continue reading →

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Jarvis Johnson files for CD18

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’d heard this was coming over the weekend, and here it is. Council Member Jarvis Johnson has filed for the Democratic primary in CD18, challenging Sheila Jackson Lee. From his press release: Houston City Council Member Jarvis Johnson filed today … Continue reading →

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

The inauguration

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here was my view of today’s inaugural festivities: Click the photo for a larger version. Tiffany and I were seated next to Martha, who has some pictures as well as a post about Mayor Parker’s inaugural address. It was an … Continue reading →

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The Whites say goodbye

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Outgoing Mayor Bill White and First Lady Andrea White say goodbye and thank you to Houstonians as his term comes to an end. Needless to say, they won’t exactly be riding off into the sunset any time soon; with any … Continue reading →

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Houston food tours

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This is a fabulous idea. [Monica Pope, chef of t’afia] — along with fellow chefs Bryan Caswell of Reef; Marcus Davis of the breakfast klub; Mark Holley of Pesce; Randy Evans of Haven; Hugo Ortega of Hugo’s; Chris Shepherd of … Continue reading →

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

Hoang’s agenda

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Tomorrow is the public swearing-in ceremony for Mayor Annise Parker. After she retakes her oath of office, she will then administer the oath to all new and returning City Council members. One of them is the newly elected Member from … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Parker to be officially sworn in today

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Possibly by the time you read this, we will have a new Mayor. In private ceremonies at City Hall, state District Judge Steven Kirkland, an old friend and former campaign manager, was scheduled to administer the oath of office [to … Continue reading →

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Play politics first, ask questions later

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The number of homicides increased in unincorporated Harris County last year while declining in Houston. With only a few hours left in the year, 86 murders had occurred in the county’s unincorporated areas in 2009, up from 69 in 2008. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Recycle that tree redux

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The City of Houston has set the example to follow. Stripped of holiday finery and misshapen after a Christmas Eve wind gust clipped off its top, Houston’s official City Hall Christmas tree unceremoniously was chopped, chipped and shipped off to … Continue reading →

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Hail to the (interim) Chief

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As expected, HPD Chief Harold Hurtt has quietly slipped out the door in advance of Mayor-Elect Annise Parker taking the reins of the city. Until she names his replacement, here’s who will fill in. Executive Assistant Chief C.A. McClelland will … Continue reading →

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Ditching spelling tests

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m okay with this. Causing confusion among parents, a growing number of schools are ditching tradition for a different method of teaching spelling that focuses less on memorization and more on understanding why and how words are constructed. Some districts, … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments