October 2013 - blogHOUSTON

Another of Houston’s top cops (METRO’s police chief) involved in crash

October 31, 2013 Kevin Whited

Last month, Mayor Annise Parker’s handpicked police chief rammed a downtown pedestrian with his car (propelling the poor guy), gave a highly inaccurate account of the incident, and was not cited by HPD for the

KTRK’s Ted Oberg takes closer look at Astrodome Boondoggle proposal

October 28, 2013 Kevin Whited

We have been calling BS on the numbers put out by Astrodome Boondoggle proponents for years. As we’ve watched free-spending Houston Mayor Annise Parker and formerly fiscally conservative County Judge Ed Emmett jump on the

City holds tax rate steady; Appraisal creep to boost revenues

October 22, 2013 Kevin Whited

CM Helena Brown tries to give taxpayers relief; Parker and Council want the revenue Last week, Mayor Annise Parker and her Council voted to hold the property tax rate steady, which will result in a

“The sky is crying in Houston tonight. Bum Phillips is dead” – TH

October 19, 2013 Kevin Whited

Chron: Bill White’s “new parks” ordinance has mostly funded existing parks

October 17, 2013 Kevin Whited

We were surprised earlier this week by a nice local government watchdog/accountability piece that appeared in the Chronicle. Background: In 2007, Mayor Bill White and his Council pushed through an ordinance that was sold to

Chron: Feds must impose backup cameras NOW (to protect the 0.0005%)!

October 14, 2013 Kevin Whited

Roughly three weeks ago, the Chronicle ran an essay that was stunning for its length, its unabashed advocacy (under the guise of straight “news”), and the clear absence of sensible editorial guidance. The essay in

Mayor Annise Parker pledges to build light rail to both airports

October 10, 2013 Kevin Whited

In Tuesday’s mayoral debate, which was rendered nearly useless by the steady stream of wacky comments coming from the Green and Socialist Workers Party candidates, Mayor Annise Parker pledged to build light rail to both

A lesson in Houston Chronicle crisis management

October 9, 2013 Cory Crow

Last night, the story broke. A handful (one, two, three?) of disgruntled Houston Texans fans decided to act silly, showed up at Matt Schaub’s house (allegedly) and proceeded to heckle him and his family *.

The Chron’s could-maybe-perhaps Doomsday journalism

October 7, 2013 Kevin Whited

The Chronicle‘s “Houston Advocate” reporter (whatever that means) has a dire Doomsday warning of something that could, maybe, perhaps happen if the federal government maybe, perhaps remains (partially) shut down: Shutdown could delay November food

Hearst DC bureau chief McCumber hates NRA (but otherwise, his bureau reports objectively wink)

October 2, 2013 Kevin Whited

Way back when, we used to comment on the Chronicle‘s strange practice of allowing its Austin Bureau chief at the time, Clay Robison, to write partisan lefty screeds on the weekends, while overseeing the bureau’s