We’ve added 14 school districts (from Aldine to San Antonio) and five counties (Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Tarrant and Travis) to our government payroll app — an addition of 140,000 public employees earning roughly $6 billion.
Houston
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Demographics
The Brief: March 16, 2010
U.S. authorities teamed with Mexican law enforcement agents on Monday and scoured the streets of the border city of Juarez in search of clues to the weekend murder of three people, including two U.S. citizens, with ties to the U.S. Consulate in that violent city.
Posted inState Government
Grounds for Debate
For the politically disenchanted Texan who can’t cozy up to the Tea Party, an alternative brew is now available. It’s called the Coffee Party.
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Congress
The Curious Case of Kesha Rogers
She’s their nominee for Congress in Tom DeLay’s old district, but Kesha Rogers — who considers health care reform “fascist” and wants Barack Obama impeached — has few friends in the Democratic Party.
Posted in
State Government
2010: Al Edwards Calls for Recount
Who will represent Houston’s HD-146 in the Texas House next session is still in question. State Rep. Al Edwards, D-Houston, filed for a recount after perennial foe and former state Rep. Borris Miles beat him by just eleven votes.
Posted inState Government
In Closing: Farouk Shami
“I’m a positive thinker. If I wasn’t sure of winning, I would not have put my foot in,” he said in his signature bullhorn tone, pressing his BlackBerry against his ear. “Hello? Hello? You’re speaking to the governor here.”
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Higher Education
Trading Places
Texas, that famous bastion of conservatism, has become a leading exporter of agricultural products to communist Cuba — second only to Louisiana among the 50 states.
Posted in
Public Education
The Firing Line
After years of fiddling with merit-pay schemes, the Houston ISD is tying student test scores to the decision to ax teachers. Not surprisingly, the move — on the cutting edge of reforms nationally — has teachers howling in protest.
Posted in
Economy
Ads Infinitum: White: “Money’s Worth”
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White asks Texans, “Do you think you’re getting your money’s worth out of state government?”
Posted in
Demographics
The Numbers Game
More than 373,000 Texans went uncounted by the 2000 census, resulting in a loss of $1 billion in federal funds. With eight of the nation’s 50 hardest-to-count counties right here in our state, the coming 2010 census is a cause for concern — and an apparent lack of attention by elected officials is making matters worse.