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6:07 p.m.
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Jason Nodler is the artistic director for The Catastrophic Theatre. The following is an email from Tamarie Cooper: Dear Friends, Many of you know that Jason was the victim of a serious hit and run accident while in Amsterdam this summer. He has had surgery and despite much pain, is finally starting ......
Off the Kuff - 2:50 p.m. - 3 clicks 
From Inside Central Houston: A Town Hall Meeting on "Proposed Center Street Recycle Center Relocation" will be 6 - 8 p.m. July 6 at the West End Multi-Service Center, 170 Heights Blvd. It will be hosted by District H Houston City Councilman Ed Gonzalez with Solid Waste Department director Harry Hayes. For more ......
Off the Kuff - 2:50 p.m. - 4 clicks
I missed this last week, but State Rep. Scott Hochberg sent out a press release, which is posted on the House website about Governor Perry's veto of his bill HB1457. If Governor Perry was denied a voter registration certificate because a clerk spelled his name "Peiry" instead of "Perry", we'd never ......
Off the Kuff - 2:50 p.m. - 4 clicks
A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam, born on the Fourth of July... Go green, Austin. Via Kos. Great timing, y'all. Happy Birthday, ActBlue. Did you know they can now take donations via Twitter? Well, now you do. Rarely is the question asked: Is our failed Presidential candidates ...
Off the Kuff - 2:50 p.m.
Seven Harlingen schools could reach the Texas Education Agency's exemplary rating this year. Preliminary results for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills exam were recently released and show that seven Harlingen schools will likely receive TEA's highest rating, according to a news release from the district. ...
South Texas Chisme - 2:19 p.m. - 3 clicks
Some are much less batsht crazy than others. Perry takes locals including architect Chuck Anastos and his interior designer wife Tina; attorney Lance Bruun; Nissan car dealers and philanthropists Ed and Gloria Hicks; Dr. Gaylord Hoyt and wife Sue; businessman Jerry Kane and wife Glenda; businessman Mike Scott and wife Connie, who ran for state representative; and attorney Colleen McHugh. Hutchiso...
South Texas Chisme - 2:19 p.m.
While enjoying the 4fh of July holidays, I was considering whether or how much the original purpose for this blog, Somervell County Salon, has changed since its inception in March of 2005. I believe it has remained about the same. Our intent is to comment on news and events occurring locally, in the state and nationally . We plan to create blogcasts at a later date to provide a listening e...
Somervell County Salon - 2:19 p.m.
From North Texas e-news “ The Drover is a tremendous opportunity for Tarleton students to gain magazine experience, apply what they’ve learned in our classrooms and show the world what they can do,” said Dan Malone, an instructor in the communications department who will supervise the project. “They’re writing and editing stories, taking photographs, laying out ...
Somervell County Salon - 2:19 p.m. - 2 clicks
It just doesn't get any better than this: Cornyn was booed at the start and close of his remarks, which assailed actions in Washington; there were no boos while he awarded a Purple Heart to a Copperas Cove resident injured in Iraq in 2006. “You’re the problem,” a crowd member hollered. On second thought. I think it does get better with what Cornyn said: “I didn’t want to come some p...
Bay Area Houston Blog - 2:18 p.m. - 6 clicks
SAVE THE DATE!! Our Annual Fall Fundraiser, Dinner and Silent Auction will be 10/10/2009. Lots of great folks, great food, beer, wine and an awesome silent auction. Please start working on silent auction items. Minutes of the Friends of the Brazos Meeting-6/20/2009 1. There was a discussion of our great n...
Somervell County Salon - 3:53 a.m. - 4 clicks
Though it's too hot to grill burgers and dogs outside in Houston's relentless and unbearable heat, except on sidewalks and driveways, this has been a really good holiday weekend for progressives and liberals. On the state front, I am excited to learn that Ronnie Earle, former Texas Attorney General, filed the paperwork to run for office in 2010. Many of us hope that Mr. E...
Texas Kaos - 3:52 a.m. - 5 clicks
» Chron: Ex-Oiler Steve McNair found dead Damn ... Former Houston Oilers quarterback Steve McNair was found shot to death in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday, shocking former teammates and NFL personnel around the country. McNair, 36, and Sahel Kazemi, 20, were found dead inside a condominium Saturday afternoon by the Nashville Police Department. Still a lot of unanswered questi...
Greg's Opinion - Sat 11:01 p.m. - 3 clicks
Below is the weekly Texas Progressive Alliance round-up. The Texas Progressive Alliance is a confederation of the best political bloggers in Texas. Above is a map of where Spanish Missions were located in Texas between 1659 and 1795. Here is information and history about Spanish Missions in Texas from the very good Handbook of Texas Online. From the Handbook—”The [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Sat 1:23 p.m. - 7 clicks
"The wicked accept secret bribes to pervert justice." Proverbs 17:23 Maybe it's really the case that bribery and public corruption are becoming more commonplace, or maybe I'm just paying closer attention, but here's yet another instance of drug-war related corruption , this time involving an El Paso-based DEA Agent: A former DEA agent who pleaded guilty to bribery charges was sentenced to a...
Grits for Breakfast - Sat 1:22 p.m. - 8 clicks
Ronnie Earle filed the papers to run for a statewide office on Thursday, Earle a step closer to making run for governor. Former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle inched closer to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor Thursday when he filed a one-page form with the Texas Ethics Commission designating himself as his campaign treasurer. Markos [...]...
Eye On Williamson County - Sat 1:22 p.m. - 7 clicks
Over the past two decades, many a South Texas defendant has feared a sentencing by state District Judge Manuel Bañales, who's known for meting out harsh and creative punishments. ... Thus, when Bañales appeared to show leniency this spring after stepping into a high-profile case involving the state's most prominent fake lawyer, Mauricio Celis, the natural legal order shuddered. “That's not the...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 6:39 a.m. - 2 clicks
Yes, the Republican party is officially a joke.Gov. Rick Perry will attend, as will Joseph Wurzelbacher, who rocketed to fame after a brief encounter with then-candidate Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign and is better known as “Joe the Plumber.” Perry spokesman Mark Minor said the event is “an opportunity for the governor to be with fellow Texans who share the same concerns abou...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 6:26 a.m. - 3 clicks
You have got to be kidding. What is the definition of cruel and unusual punishment? But in Texas’ state prisons — where the summer heat index can top 100 degrees — the wages of sin is sweat. In 112 prisons scattered from the Panhandle to Beaumont, only 19 are air conditioned. And those, say prison officials, generally are reserved for the sick and mentally ill. ...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 6:02 a.m. - 2 clicks
The firefighters are fighting with their fire chief over their mascot. A proposal to authorize the city manager to develop a policy that would allow for mascots at fire stations is tentatively slated for Tuesday's City Commission meeting. The agenda for the session will be finalized today. "Basically, I don't believe the City Commission has a dog in this fight," Commissioner Melissa Zamora said...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 6:02 a.m.
Researchers from Texas A&M University have fired up a new monitoring system on an offshore wind platform and detected a new “dead zone” in the Gulf south of Galveston. The size and impact of the zone has not yet been measured, but the low oxygen levels of the area spell danger for marine life. The pocket of water is south of Galveston, about nine nautical miles from shore. ...
South Texas Chisme - Sat 6:02 a.m.
Good to know some parts of town are still thriving. The recession seems to have forgotten about Midtown. A drive around the neighborhood reveals forgotten buildings undergoing restoration and new apartments being framed. This area between the Central Business District and the Texas Medical Center began its transformation in the late 1990s when ......
Off the Kuff - Sat 6:02 a.m. - 2 clicks
Dwight has the news. Coming next year to the hot, humid air all around you, Houston: High-speed wireless broadband from Comcast. Its new High-Speed 2go service is rolling out now in Portland, Ore., and local Comcast spokesman Michael Bybee said today Houston will get it in 2010. He didn't offer any other ......
Off the Kuff - Sat 6:02 a.m. - 3 clicks
The city's annual fireworks show, Red White & Lewisville , will begin at 9:30 pm, Saturday, July 4. This is the same launch site that has been used for the last several years, just South of the Vista Ridge Mall. The above is the view last year from the Jacuzzi tubs at the Hilton Garden Inn on S.H. 121...
WhosPlayin? - Sat 2:18 a.m. - 7 clicks
I think we all know this story, right? But this blogger not only asks the question of where is the mummy but there's a PHOTO of the mummy. from Incoldblogger . George/St. Helen/Booth’s corpse was mummified and displayed for two years in the front window of an Enid funeral home until his old friend Finis Bates (future grandfather of actress Kathy Bates) came to identify George...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 10:25 p.m. - 8 clicks
It's Fourth of July week, and so it's time for an extra-patriotic rendition of the Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup. Off the Kuff takes a look at the latest Lyceum poll on the Governor and Senate races in Texas. Neil at Texas Liberal suggests that instead of blowing of your fingers lighting fireworks--during a drought in Harris County no less---that maybe you would be better off ...
McBlogger - Fri 7:37 p.m. - 3 clicks
Rep. Scott Hochberg's bill, HB 1457, which would have given authority to the Secretary of State to allow for corrections of obvious typos by voter registration clerks when matching voter registrations to the DPS drivers license file, has been vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry. Each year it is estimated that tens of thousands of valid voter registration applications are denied because of cleric...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 6:59 p.m. - 2 clicks
Texans for Kay , the official website for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, has an interesting interactive map of their email signup goals across all 254 Texas Counties. Oddly enough, I had argued for something like this back in the early days of the Rick Noriega for US Senate campaign when we were thinking of launching the "Project 254" minisite that never came into being. Anyways- what'...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 6:01 p.m.
Barely 72 hours into Draft Earle and so far there has been press coverage all over the state. And now, Burka whose crystal ball seems ever focused on 1994 when it comes to Democratic prospects in Texas, has said it's a dead candidacy . Which is funny coming from someone like Paul 'There's No Way Craddick Loses The Speakership' Burka. Now, we all make mistakes from time to time and I'm no excep...
McBlogger - Fri 2:41 p.m. - 4 clicks
Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, after way too much delay, finally has broken his silence and released, by means of Councilman Joel Burns, the following statement calling for the U.S. Attorney's office in the North Texas region to review the investigations into the Rainbow Lounge raid once completed: We all join in wishing Mr. Gibson a speedy and full recovery. Currently, two i...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 2:25 p.m. - 9 clicks
Two days ago I was in Galveston, Texas. I had lunch at a restaurant on the Seawall. The restaurant had two floors and I was eating out on the upstairs balcony. There was a couple with a small child also out on the balcony. The couple was feeding french fries to seagulls. The seagulls were flying around and the couple [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Fri 1:31 p.m. - 9 clicks
One of the under-recognized achievements of the 81st Texas Legislature was the addition of two amendments by state Rep. Sylvester Turner to the Department of Public Safety's Sunset bill requiring the agency to implement an indigence program for its Orwellian-named Driver Responsibility surcharge. (See pp. 186-190 of the bill -pdf). According to material from the vendor, MSB Government Services ...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 12:03 p.m. - 2 clicks
Ugh. Billy Mays is dead. His family and an advertiser want to run an ad with him in it. Why? " He would have wanted it that way. How tacky. I continue to have no interest in Michael Jackson. Asaraco Smelter-Still nasty -El Paso Is there really a difference between Obama's terror policy and the Bush policy? President Obama may mouth very different rhetoric,” said Anthony D. R...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 10:24 a.m. - 5 clicks
from <http://www.teapartyday.com "On Saturday, July 4th, be part of the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party rally in your community. Help organize a local TEA Party." The closest one will be in Cleburne at 11 AM, July 4th. It will be at Hulen Park, about 10 blocks south of the court house square. There will be the traditional 4th of July parade at 10 AM. ...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 10:24 a.m. - 7 clicks
First, here's Texas Watchdog's take on it. (Interesting-I notice Jennifer Peebles says she doesn't vote in elections). And here's from Editor and Publisher And here's the website. ...
Somervell County Salon - Fri 10:24 a.m. - 8 clicks
Via the AAS, In just 30 hours, Legislature sends 2 of 3 bills to Perry, then adourns. What needed to get done, safety net bill and transportation funding, got done. What didn’t need to get done, CDA’s and the “transportation bank”, didn’t. After less than 30 hours of fast lawmaking, the Texas Legislature adjourned [...]...
Eye On Williamson County - Fri 10:23 a.m. - 8 clicks
Since I first wrote about "scent lineups" conducted by dogs, this questionable forensic tactic has garnered a lot more attention with another civil suit filed in Victoria and critical national news coverage ( in USA Today ), all focused on Texas' chief proponent and practitioner of scent lineups, Fort Bend Sheriff's Deputy Keith Pikett. Now thanks to Radley Balko I discover there's a simi...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 7:22 a.m. - 2 clicks
The Austin American-Statesman has reported that former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle has filed paperwork with the Texas Ethics Commission to run for statewide office in 2010. Earle, who has been the subject of a recently launched Draft campaign for Governo r and is also seen as a potential Attorney General candidate, did not specify which office he will run for. ...
Burnt Orange Report - Fri 6:00 a.m. - 3 clicks
Could pollution be the cause of health problems in Sunland Park? Many residents suspect that it is. They consider the Asarco smelter in El Paso and the Camino Real landfill in Sunland Park to be the major sources of contamination in their community. Will a non-crony government agency help these residents find out? ...
South Texas Chisme - Fri 5:47 a.m. - 10 clicks
Coal-fired power plants are the dirtiest of all power plants when it comes to carbon dioxide emissions. The leading greenhouse gas is blamed for global warming. It's the basis for a worldwide push in stricter regulations and renewable energy sources. Why, then, does a proposed second coal-fired unit at Goliad's Coleto Creek Power Station face such quiet local opposition? ...
South Texas Chisme - Fri 5:47 a.m. - 5 clicks
After less than 30 hours of fast lawmaking, the Texas Legislature adjourned Thursday having resolved two of the three problems Gov. Rick Perry wanted them to fix. Lawmakers approved and sent to Perry bills that will keep five state agencies — including the transportation, insurance and racing departments — in business for the next two years and that authorize the expenditure of $2 billion in vot...
South Texas Chisme - Fri 5:47 a.m. - 6 clicks
The fire fighters and the Mayor are not amused. Tug of wars within the Brownsville Fire Department that have brewed for years have escalated with a dog, named Chief, now at the center of controversy and the mayor's proposal to oust the fire chief. For now, Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr.'s proposal to evaluate and seek the ouster of city Fire Chief Lenny Perez at next week's City Commission meeting fizz...
South Texas Chisme - Fri 5:47 a.m. - 7 clicks
Houston’s largest police union, citing the death of six officers during Mayor Bill White’s tenure, called on the mayor and City Council this week to hire more officers, restore $14 million in overtime pay and overturn the long-standing policy of not questioning residents about their immigration status. In a letter to White, Gary Blankinship, president of the Houston Police Officers Union, called...
South Texas Chisme - Fri 5:47 a.m. - 8 clicks
A former Corpus Christi State School employee accused of failing to report fights among its mentally disabled residents will testify against former co-workers accused of organizing the fights, her attorney said, after an appeals court postponed her trial. The 13th Court of Appeals ordered Thursday that the trial of Stephanie Garza on Monday be put on hold. Garza agreed in exchange for immunity t...
South Texas Chisme - Fri 5:47 a.m. - 7 clicks
Something I'd realized recently is that almost everyone in city government who is or would have been term-limited out is running or has run for another office. Mayor White is running for Senate. City Controller Annise Parker is running for Mayor. Council members Ronald Green, Pam Holm, and MJ Khan ......
Off the Kuff - Fri 5:47 a.m. - 7 clicks
Shannon Tompkins gives us an update on the feral hog situation. Feral hogs seem to be everywhere. At least they are in Texas, where we are cursed with the nation’s largest population (an estimated 1.5-2 million animals and growing) of the amazingly destructive, prolific and adaptable non-native wild swine. Yes, feral hogs ......
Off the Kuff - Fri 5:47 a.m. - 6 clicks
Have an iPhone? Want to have facts and contact information about your Texas Legislature at your fingertips? Then take a look at MyTexasLege, now available for download. From their press release: Created by a former Texas House staffer, My Texas Lege provides all the important information needed to contact your member ......
Off the Kuff - Fri 5:47 a.m. - 6 clicks
Well, he's taken the first step towards running for something, anyway. Democrat Ronnie Earle today filed paperwork with the Texas Ethics Commission to run for office in 2010 but did not specify which office he will seek. The former Travis County district attorney has been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor. He ......
Off the Kuff - Fri 5:47 a.m. - 8 clicks
I wrote last week that Texas has enough ongoing corruption cases to support a single-issue Texas Bribery Blog, and two recent examples provide a case in point. Somehow I missed the story about a "urine monitor" at the Harris County probation department who was "charged with bribery in May for allegedly taking $200 to submit a fake drug test form." As it turns out, though, it wasn't just a one-ti...
Grits for Breakfast - Fri 5:46 a.m. - 5 clicks
Where was the Globe News coverage? Last night, Tom Schieffer appeared at a reception in Amarillo. This morning, he made another appearance at a breakfast in his honor. I wasn't at the breakfast, but I can attest that the reception last night had a very good turnout. Mr. Schieffer is an announced candidate for the office of governor of Texas. In fact, he is the ...
jobsanger - Fri 12:39 a.m. - 3 clicks
This story was interesting: " Last week, during the early evening hours, federal law enforcement agents, assisted by local authorities, took part in an arrest procedure known as, Operation Community Shield. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and officers from the Lewisville Police Department coordinated a raid on the Blue Goose rest...
WhosPlayin? - Thu 8:28 p.m. - 4 clicks
Special Legislative Session Ends --- Well done, citizens of Texas Lawmakers are leaving the Austin Capitol, going home to their families after Governor Rick "Dirt bag" Perry failed to get his special interest pro-toll bill approved by the Legislature. Many individuals and anti-toll groups got involved getting their family, friends and neighbors to...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 6:07 p.m. - 2 clicks
Now that the brief special session is over, Rep. Diana Maldonado will open a district office in Round Rock on Thursday, July 9. “My district office will be a valuable tool and resource for constituents throughout House District 52,” said Maldonado. “I look forward to using this office as a central location to meet and [...]...
Eye On Williamson County - Thu 6:05 p.m. - 2 clicks
Clear Lake teabaggers are going to have a rally on the 4th of July with special guest speaker Paul Bettencourt, the same Bettencourt who quit as Harris County Tax Assessor just two weeks after winning the election. His topic will be "Sticking it out during hard times". Bettencourts' former office has come under fire recently concerning the Assistant Voter Registrar who has been moonlighting se...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Thu 6:04 p.m. - 2 clicks
The legislature wrapped up its special session today. Both chambers passed on a controversial toll road bill and chose to go home for Independence Day rather than slog it out in Austin for another week. Bills renewing five state agencies and authorizing $2 billion in transportation bonds for highway construction sailed through both chambers, save for a scuffle over a Transportation Revolving Fund ...
Floor Pass - The Texas Observer - Thu 4:59 p.m. - 4 clicks
Have you been following the dust up that came out of Todd Purdum's Vanity Fair article on the relationship between former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin and the McCain campaign? This sucker has got some legs. Now we have two CBS News reporters, reporters who were embedded in the McCain campaign and are writing a book about it, who have come out with a little t...
Half Empty - Thu 4:58 p.m. - 2 clicks
FILM: TORTURING DEMOCRACY. GENRE: Documentary. DATE: Thursday, July 9, 2009. TIME: Pizza buffet and announcements 6pm, film and discussion 6:30. VENUE: Poppa Rollo's Pizza, 703 N. Valley Mills Drive, Waco. West End Meeting Room, enter from inside restaurant or front outside on right. AUDIENCE: All welcome. some scenes may be a bit graphic for small children. PRICE: Free (donati...
Waco Area Friends of Peace - Thu 3:38 p.m.
The ongoing blame game resulting from the Rainbow Lounge raid took another turn today as it would appear that Fort Worth Police Chief, Jeff Halstead, appears ready to lay all the blame at the feet of the Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission. Halstead officially suspended joint operations with the TABC pending the results of the internal investigation. But Halstead on Thursday...
Burnt Orange Report - Thu 3:37 p.m. - 5 clicks
The word, according to the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club: The Texas Legislature failed to update state energy codes for new commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. That doesn’t mean Texas can’t move forward. We can get the job done in other ways. There is a silver lining to this spring’s legislative shortfall: proposed rulemaking at [...] ...
Texas Vox - Thu 2:34 p.m. - 2 clicks
Via Postcards, Senate leaders: Private toll-road bill DOA. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Senate leaders just announced publicly what senators had confirmed an hour ago: A bill to continue to allow more privately built toll roads to be constructed is dead in the special legislative session. And lawmakers plan to finish their other business — approving the [...]...
Eye On Williamson County - Thu 2:32 p.m.
Burleson doesn't think so-bought a fancy car with a grant so that.. Burleson’s SWAT team has responded to assist other agencies that do not have SWAT teams or whose SWAT team needs backup. Response scenarios include potential incidents at Somervell County’s nuclear power plant , with the area’s railways, natural gas wells and Spinks Airport as well as deployment with the ...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 12:43 p.m. - 7 clicks
On TPWD website. July 18, 2009 — Dinosaur Valley SP — Stargazing Party — A starry, starry night brings Dr. Raymond Benge of Tarrant County College to present an informative program on Astronomy followed by a look at the night sky. Dr. Benge and staff provide telescopes or bring your own. Accessible for the mobility, visually and hearing impaired. Dusk-till &nbs...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 12:43 p.m. - 4 clicks
It’s Fourth of July week, and so it’s time for an extra-patriotic rendition of the Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup. Off the Kuff takes a look at the latest Lyceum poll on the Governor and Senate races in Texas. Neil at Texas Liberal suggests that instead of blowing of your fingers lighting fireworks–during a drought in Harris [...] ...
Texas Vox - Thu 12:06 p.m. - 2 clicks
I'm taking a sort of vacay right now. Nope, not going anywhere. Nope, not sitting around drinking margaritas. Actually working on stuff I have to get done that I've been putting off... wait. THIS IS NOT A VACATION. I"VE BEEN DUPED! Next week going to catch up posting some stuff I have around here, including audio of some of the recent meetings. Somebody's writing a book about loose canno...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 12:06 p.m.
The Cap and Trade Bill (HR 2454) is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020 and create 'green' jobs, by putting a limit on the amount of pollution large industrial industries can output, and then if they go above that, they have to buy pollution permits. If some companies do not need all that they are allocated, they can sell their permits to companies th...
Burnt Orange Report - Thu 10:59 a.m. - 2 clicks
Terri Hall has her take on what happened yesterday, Legislature blinks as it contemplates largest tax increase in Texas history. If CDA’s are dead and this has been done, House takes out ‘revolver’ on HB 1, aka the “transportation bank”, and the Sunset safety net passes. This session may be done quick without any [...]...
Eye On Williamson County - Thu 10:42 a.m. - 3 clicks
...never stay together for long. From QR : U.S. Senate candidate Roger Williams reports that he raised more than $400,000 at a Saturday fundraiser in Weatherford. The former Secretary of State is exploring a run for the Senate seat when (or if) incumbent Kay Bailey Hutchison steps down to pursue the office of Governor. Based on his campaign’s release, Williams now appears satisfied that...
McBlogger - Thu 10:09 a.m. - 6 clicks
A new iPhone application My Texas Lege will make it even easier for constituents to contact elected officials and their staffers. The app, which has both a paid (Plus) and free version (Lite), is a nonpartisan directory of the Texas Legislaturethat will allow users to dial members’ offices directly, find district offices using Google Maps, [...] ...
Texas Vox - Thu 8:43 a.m. - 2 clicks
What will be going on in Houston and around Houston this Fourth of July? Will the near-majority of Texas Republicans who say that Texas would do well to leave the union observe the holiday? ( Above–John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence from 1819. Please click here for a key as to who is who in the painting.) Will parents talk to kids [...] ...
TexasLiberal - Thu 8:42 a.m. - 2 clicks
Last Friday I wrote a post called A Central Texas Water War . Later that day I had the opportunity to have a detailed discussion with Robert Cullick, executive manager for communications at LCRA since 1991, and we talked water, the post, the lege and more. I told Robert I would be happy to post any response he had to the post and clarify anything I needed to. Robert, sent me a...
Burnt Orange Report - Thu 7:27 a.m. - 13 clicks
Keep the Pressure on Lawmakers! Throw Privatizing Texas Transportation Out the Window Gov. Rick Perry and certain lawmakers are trying to approve 2 bills that will give the green-light to privatizing our roads into long-term tollways. It's up to Texans to ensure that new toll taxes will NOT be an issue for our children and their grandchildren. ...
Somervell County Salon - Thu 6:57 a.m. - 4 clicks
Isiah Carey asks "Have you ever heard of cork recycling?" I've heard of bottle recycling, plastic recycling, and even computer recycling but never cork recycling. Apparently, some Houston area liquor stores are on a campaign to recycle corks from wine bottles. In fact, one store in The Woodlands will donate 2 ......
Off the Kuff - Thu 6:41 a.m. - 8 clicks
Bad economic times are good times for Texas prisons to fill their vacancies. Texas has just 1,262 correctional officer jobs now open, compared with more than 3,700 openings just over a year ago. Officials say more people have become guards because of pay incentives and the struggling economy. "It's the economy. No ......
Off the Kuff - Thu 6:41 a.m. - 11 clicks
I linked to this Statesman article yesterday in regard to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's expectations for the Senate in the special session. It also contained this bit about Dewhurst's view of his future: Dewhurst, in his first interview since before the regular session ended June 1, reiterated earlier statements that he ......
Off the Kuff - Thu 6:41 a.m. - 3 clicks
Rep. Todd Smith takes Governor Perry to task for vetoing HB3148, which would have exempted some teenagers who had engaged in consensual sex with a minor less than four years younger than themselves from having to register as sex offenders. Gov. Rick Perry vetoed one of the most morally compelling bills ......
Off the Kuff - Thu 6:41 a.m. - 8 clicks
Congratulations to Gloria. She has worked long and hard for the Nueces County Democratic Party at the headquarters, in the field and with the Texas Democratic Women. Here's a copy of the email I received. Please join Gloria Caceres for her official campaign announcement for Nueces County Commissio...
South Texas Chisme - Thu 5:44 a.m. - 6 clicks
Crony is as crony does. A push to allow for new privately run toll roads hit a pothole Wednesday as the special legislative session opened, with the measure likely to be drastically scaled back or ditched. The idea was “struggling to find support,” said Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee Chairman John Carona, R-Dallas. Good. Perry is still flogging for his cronies while the Te...
South Texas Chisme - Thu 5:44 a.m. - 5 clicks
Texas Gov. Rick Perry met a deadline Wednesday to request federal stabilization funds for education — with 18 minutes to spare. Perry was the last of the nation's governors to submit an application. Missing the deadline could have meant losing more than $3 billion in federal money for education funding, from preschool to college. Much of the money is intended for salary increases for teachers, l...
South Texas Chisme - Thu 5:44 a.m. - 5 clicks
A study on whether a new international port of entry is needed in the Lower Valley is not getting the support of U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas. Reyes on Wednesday said he opposed the city's study for a new commuter bridge because it was focusing only on land between the Bridge of the Americas and the the Zaragoza Bridge and not other locations. He said that the feasibility study should inc...
South Texas Chisme - Thu 5:44 a.m. - 6 clicks
The Fort Worth police chief says the head injury to a young man at the bar happened while he was in TABC custody. Witnesses say the young man was slammed into the wall by officers first. Maybe finger pointing will lessen the chances of a cover up. Officials for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission have acknowledged that a man was severely injured Sunday while in the custody of a TABC age...
South Texas Chisme - Thu 5:44 a.m. - 5 clicks
Inmate families offer the best and most frequently cited source of assistance for offenders who want to turn their lives around, but too often the state treats them as criminals, too, instead of as partners in promoting their loved ones' rehabilitation. That trend was exacerbated by a Texas Supreme Court ruling last month allowing the state to deduct money from inmate commissary accounts to pay...
Grits for Breakfast - Thu 5:44 a.m. - 6 clicks
Last night, Amarillo got its first political visit from a candidate in the 2010 Democratic primary. It was Tom Schieffer, who is running for governor. Schieffer is the only Democrat who has declared his candidacy so far, and he got a very good turnout from Amarillo Democrats (who are thirsting for a Democratic victory next year). It might be good for other candidates to go ahead and d...
jobsanger - Thu 1:23 a.m. - 9 clicks
Dog days don't usually set in until after the 4th. But this year, right after the Solstice, the heat and the drought took hold big time. What was a garden of Eden here at my place has all of a sudden turned to gold. When I walk around, the dried grasses and weeds make that 'rice krispies' sound that is so familiar in summer in Texas. The deer are really hurting, their ribs starting to show. Where...
Somervell County Salon - Wed 8:59 p.m.
(I, along with 3 other members of consumer organizations, had an opportunity to sit with Chancellor Mike McKinney when he was the Chief of Staff for Governor Perry to discuss mandatory binding arbitration. He was a complete arrogant jackass. Seems that the Texas A&M faculty thinks so too.) From the Valley Morning Star : COLLEGE STATION - The Texas A&M University faculty has given ...
Bay Area Houston Blog - Wed 8:23 p.m.
Omigosh. Hub and I went several years ago to the Tower of the Americas and had such panic attacks we couldn't even approach the ledge on that thing. I can't imagine crawling out no a glass ledge you could see through. I don't know how other people feel when they are up in those tall buildings, but I've been to the John Hancock building a couple of times and couldn't get near the glass bec...
Somervell County Salon - Wed 6:03 p.m. - 2 clicks
Tadd McVay has been ordered into federal prison for his part in falsifying company records to shmooze Wall Street. McVay was hired by Scrushy. McVay has said he was promoted to chief financial officer at HealthSouth in late 2002 and signed a phony earnings statement rather than lose his job, which paid him $400,000 a year. Scrushy was acquitted of criminal charges, but a judge ruling in a sh...
Somervell County Salon - Wed 6:03 p.m. - 8 clicks
State Senator Wendy Davis and State Representative Lon Burnam just issued a joint statement regarding their efforts to investigate the Fort Worth Rainbow Lounge raid: We want to provide you with an update of our response to concerns raised about the actions taken by City of Fort Worth Police officers and Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission agents on the early morning of June 28, ...
Burnt Orange Report - Wed 4:38 p.m. - 3 clicks
So of the three items on the call for this special session, two of them are sailing along. SB2, the Senate bill to keep state agencies like TxDOT alive, has already passed the full Senate by unanimous vote and will be taken up by the House tomorrow, where HB2 passed ......
Off the Kuff - Wed 3:41 p.m. - 5 clicks
As you saw from the Senate's pre-filed bills, there are a number of items being pushed by legislators that aren't a part of the call for the special session. If one believes Governor Perry, it's unlikely that anything else will get added, at least if the session is on track ......
Off the Kuff - Wed 3:41 p.m. - 5 clicks
House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam pointed out that there’s no need to extend CDA’s in Texas. He also emphasized the misplaced priorities of putting corporate toll roads ahead of children’s health insurance, A few fireworks in transportation committee meeting. Rep. Jim Dunnam just hit the roof in a House Transportation Committee hearing on extending “comprehensive developm...
Eye On Williamson County - Wed 3:41 p.m. - 9 clicks
ReEnergize Texas is having a party to kick-off our Summer of Solutions program and your 4th of July weekend! Join us at Public Citizen (1303 San Antonio St.) this Thursday 6pm-9pm for music, food, and beer (for those of age)! Come show your support for joint projects being run by Resolution Gardens, ReEnergize Texas, American [...] ...
Texas Vox - Wed 1:38 p.m. - 3 clicks
The special session that Governor Rick Perry called started this morning. On the agenda: extending the life-line of several state agencies that were up for review, such as the Department of Transportation, Insurance, Public Insurance Counsel, and the Texas Racing Commission and the State Affordable Housing Corporation. If legislators don’t pass a bill to extend [...] ...
Texas Vox - Wed 12:27 p.m.
By: Citizen Brem Even though Texas leads the nation in greenhouse gas emissions, Governor Perry balks at making any major stand on producing reliable renewable energy. “Are the Democrats willing to say we’re fixing to raise everyone’s cost of living in America, on science yet to be solidified?” said Rick Perry several weeks ago. Perry has vowed [...] ...
Texas Vox - Wed 12:27 p.m. - 6 clicks
According to an article written in the Houston Chronicle this morning, John Cornyn, John McCain and Mitch McConnell met with a group of doctors at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. John Cornyn is apparently on a mission to destroy health care reform by misleading and scaring doctors and patients, alike. According to Cornyn, the evil doer is a non-existent single payer option. "This is w...
Texas Kaos - Wed 11:50 a.m. - 2 clicks
Early Sunday morning, 40 years after the Stonewall Riots, TABC and Fort Worth PD raided a gay bar in Fort Worth. A few things were strange... the bar had only been open for a week and it was clear from the get-go, this raid wasn't about service at the bar. It was about harassing the patrons of the bar. Asterisk has a detailed account of what happened that night pieced together from multiple sou...
McBlogger - Wed 11:50 a.m. - 5 clicks
So, finally, we can see just what was on those credit cards she's been hiding from us... drumroll please... New details in Dukes' corrected reports show that she used campaign funds for gifts for constituents from Family Christian Stores, fees for the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, gas from Chevron and utilities from the City of Austin. Umm, WHAT?! Sorority fees are a campaign expense? ...
McBlogger - Wed 11:50 a.m. - 2 clicks
» Chron: Hampton starting to look like a sound investment (Richard Justice) Astros pitcher, Mike Hampton, turning things around ... He'd won two of his nine starts for the Astros, and his ERA was 5.62. Since then it's been a turn-back-the-clock stretch including Tuesday night's six innings and one run allowed against the Padres. The Astros had gambled he still had something in t...
Greg's Opinion - Wed 11:50 a.m. - 3 clicks
Today is Timothy Cole's birthday, and the Texas Legislature opens its special session I'm headed up to the capitol soon to attend a: Press conference commemorating Tim Cole's birthday and requesting the Governor add a posthumous pardons constitutional amendment to the call for the special session ( AUSTIN )// Senator Ellis, Ruby and Cory Session, Tim Cole's mother and brot...
Grits for Breakfast - Wed 11:50 a.m.
Fort Worth Police Chief, Jeff Halstead, has begun the blame game by punting responsibility for the Rainbow Lounge raid this past weekend to the Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission: "They were not my employees," Halstead said during a meeting at an east Fort Worth church. Oh yes, when all else fails and the pressure is on simply blame someone else, right? No need to ta...
Burnt Orange Report - Wed 11:49 a.m.
So, legislators, the big special session starts today. I'm guessing it will only be special in the constitutional sense, because Governor Perry won't let anybody have any fun. He has his three issues, and apparently he's stickin' to 'em. According to the presiding officer in each house, all 3 of the relevant Senate bills will immediately be referred to the Finance Committee, and ...
Letters From Texas - Wed 8:46 a.m. - 7 clicks
The Collin County Observer has learned that District Judge Greg Brewer of the 366th District Court has sent a letter of resignation to Governor Rick Perry and County Judge Keith Self. Sources at the courthouse have confirmed that Judge Brewer, who has served on the bench since 2007 resigned yesterday, effective September 1st, 2009. According to county officials, Judge Brewer gave no reason for hi...
The Collin County Observer - Wed 8:45 a.m. - 7 clicks
Please... No Toll Road Agendas During Special Session Dear Lawmakers, Please do NOT approve the toll road agenda during the Special Session. The majority of your constituents do NOT want more toll roads in Texas. You really should listen more to their voices. In addition, you all know by now that toll roads are nothing more than spec...
Somervell County Salon - Wed 7:31 a.m. - 9 clicks
A 26-year-old customer who was injured early Sunday at a gay bar south of downtown was in the custody of an agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, not a Fort Worth police officer, Police Chief Jeff Halstead said Tuesday night. "They were not my employees," Halstead said during a meeting at an east Fort Worth church. That will get the TABC guys talking. I hope. Here's an improvemen...
South Texas Chisme - Wed 7:29 a.m. - 8 clicks
Nueces County DA, Carlos Valdez, said donations to Bañales from Celis cronies might give the impression of bias as does Bañales' connection to defense lawyer Tony Canales. The district attorney’s motion stated the judge received campaign contributions from lawyers and firms with whom Celis split fees. The motion also implied Celis attorney Tony Canales could help Bañales if he wanted to become a ...
South Texas Chisme - Wed 4:57 a.m.
Ignoring a plea from a member of their governing board, faculty leaders at Texas A&M University on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a no-confidence vote aimed at the system’s chancellor, Michael McKinney. “This is not that we believe Chancellor McKinney is a bad person,” said Michael Benedik, a biology professor and member of the faculty senate. “Do we have confidence in his ability as a leader? ...
South Texas Chisme - Wed 4:57 a.m.
The special legislative session that starts today includes measures to allow private companies to build more toll roads across the state — an idea opponents have dubbed “the largest tax increase in history.” Gov. Rick Perry, who called the special session and sets its agenda, wants lawmakers to continue five state agencies that otherwise would expire, to permit highway bonds to be issued — and t...
South Texas Chisme - Wed 4:57 a.m.
The special session gets started today, with the stated goal of being done by the weekend. House Speaker Joe Straus thinks his chamber can get everything done in three days, while Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is even more ambitious than that. "The Senate will get it done in less than three ......
Off the Kuff - Wed 4:23 a.m.
Some of you may know that my wife, Tiffany Tyler, has been working with Central City Co-Op. Last year, she helped launch the farmers market they run at Discovery Green - she was its first manager - and has continued to work with them on their Board of Directors. Central ......
Off the Kuff - Wed 4:23 a.m.
One gets used to disappointments with Rick Perry. In late 2007, the appointment of Bryan Shaw, a Texas A...
Off the Kuff - Wed 3:26 a.m. - 7 clicks
Facebook Facebook is wonky tonight. Don't know what the problem is but some links I click take me to the wrong page. Oh well. Speaking of Facebook, I think the format of that forum and the ease of posting a random thought have taken a toll on my writing here. Maybe I'm romanticizing the distant (in internet terms) past, but it seems like in past years, I wrote longer, more substantial and p...
WhosPlayin? - Tue 10:11 p.m. - 4 clicks
Admit its broken and fix it already. Several education stories drew my attention over the last week and deserve some reflection. Their common theme: Texas Education is still broken. Take for example this piece : Texas rejects plan to adopt national school standards wherein we learn that : Texas has decided to steer clear of a national effort - involving 46 states - to develop uniform s...
Texas Kaos - Tue 5:40 p.m. - 2 clicks
