The Port of Houston Authority is poised to make the Lone Star State the top U.S. trade partner with communist Cuba after gaining permission for its container vessels to sail there.
Houston
TribBlog: Coleman on Continental
Amid reports that a merger deal might soon be struck between Houston-based Continental Airlines and United Airlines, with the latter as the surviving company headquartered in Chicago, state Rep. Garnet Coleman discusses Houston’s long-standing relationship with Continental.
On the Records: Mapping Texas Education
We’ve created three new maps for visualizing district-level demographics in Texas schools.
The Senate’s Biggest Spenders
The 31-member body spent nearly $16 million last fiscal year on travel, staff and office expenses, according to records from the office of the Secretary of the Senate. Overall spending by individual senators ranged from $206,000, by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, to $637,000, by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston.
Annise Parker: The TT Interview
Three months into her new job, the mayor of the state’s largest city and the nation’s fourth-largest city says she’s working hard to combat the crippling effects of a down economy, putting partisan differences aside to join with Republican congressmen in lobbying Washington to keep NASA intact, and trying to untangle the longstanding knot that is mass transit. Oh, and she’s staying as far away from the governor’s race as humanly possible, though she has a stern message for political operatives who may be looking to tarnish the man she replaced: Don’t mess with Houston.
TribBlog: Census Director “Concerned” About Texas
Texans’ lagging response to the U.S. census questionnaire is getting the attention of the higher-ups at the bureau.
TribBlog: Houston No Sanctuary, Annise Parker Says
Bill White’s successor as Houston’s nonpartisan mayor, Annise Parker, is staying out of the governor’s race. She does, though, have a clear opinion on the Rick Perry campaign’s “sanctuary city” charge.
Advice for Bill White
He has 31 weeks to make his case that we should fire Rick Perry and hire him instead. But when should he introduce himself to voters? When should he start attacking the governor? When should he spend his millions? Democratic strategists Glenn Smith and Keir Murray and blogger Charles Kuffner answer those and other pressing questions for the Democratic gubernatorial nominee.
2010: Al Edwards Contesting Recount Results
A recount showed state Rep. Al Edwards lost his primary race by eight votes, but Edwards wants to be absolutely sure. He’s filed an election contest in district court.
2010: Borris Miles Prevails in Recount
He’s back, y’all. Former state Rep. Borris Miles will be returning to the Texas House after a recount finished today shows Miles prevailing over longtime state Rep. Al Edwards by just eight votes.



