- Metro land buys point to less than a dream scenario – Michael Reed, Examiner News
More from the “Rogue Agency” files. The taxpayer money this agency has wasted (continues to waste?) boggles the mind. - How Hakeem Olajuwon Sold Metro $5.6 Million of Swampland for Just $15 Million – Swamplot
Swamplot rewriting/riffing off the above. - On Metro Rail passenger capacity – Fireballs, Lightning Bolts and Hell Storms
Calling at-grade trams a rail system doesn’t really make it so. Good thing we have the buses! - New HPD contract holds off base salary raises for 2 years – Chris Moran, Houston Chronicle
- New police union contract includes 'personal fitness' days – Gabe Gutierrez, KHOU-11 News
- Houston school trustee wants 'red light' cameras in school zones; no can do, HISD says – Lynn Walsh, Texas Watchdog
Seriously? - Patrick’s drainage bill advances – Joe Holley, Chron Houston Politics
So far as I can tell, every state senator whose district includes any part of Houston supports Sen. Patrick’s proposal. That includes Republicans AND Democrats. So Mayor Parker may want to take note of that before she screeches too much more about Sen. Patrick. Area legislators seem to have some legitimate concerns about the way certain muni officials promoted the ambiguous, ever evolving Drainage Tax (pre and post election). Perhaps a lesson for the future is that more detail up front is best. - Citizen Patrick – Harris County Almanac
- Mayor Parker Decries Fairness of Bills Applying Only to Houston; Forgets Public Employee Union Bill Passed in 2005 Was Only For Houston – Yvonne Larsen, Big Jolly Politics
- Houston: One of the great unsung restaurant cities – Alison Cook, Houston Chronicle
It’s true. I’d take it further and suggest that there are many great unsung aspects of living in Houston. We’re not a tourist destination and we don’t get much in the way of “world class” props from outsiders — but that’s okay. - Arturo Boada Files Suit Against His Former Restaurant, Arturo's Uptown Italiano – Village Voice Houston Eating
I hate to see the falling out, but am happy to read that Boada will soon open a new restaurant in the old Bistro Don Camillo space (an old fav, and nearby as well). - KGOW's kapow kapow – Jeff Balke, Village Voice Houston
- If UT values basic research, why isn't its news office promoting the hard sciences? – Eric Berger, SciGuy/Chron.com
I wholeheartedly disagree with the notion that academic research is not valuable, and there’s no question of its economic benefits and the importance of training a new generation of researchers. For that reason I’m glad [Rick] O’Donnell is no longer a special adviser to the regents.
There’s nothing here to substantiate the simplistic and draconian view Berger ascribes to O’Donnell, and like too many Texas journalists, Berger apparently didn’t bother to interview O’Donnell for his perspective before attacking him editorially. That’s unfair and unprofessional, but it happens all the time.
- Texas students should not take back seat to research – Ronald Trowbridge, Houston Chronicle
Maybe SciGuy should have talked to Professor Trowbridge too! - Mistrial Declared In Eversole Trial – KPRC-2 News
Eversole is one shady character, but turning that into a conviction was always going to be tough. - Reasonable doubt? – The Defense Rests
