February 2009
Former state Rep. Fred Hill now lobbying on behalf... →
The Richardson Republican has left the legislature, but he’s still being paid with tax dollars — and he could make nearly $700,000 this year for it. Does Texas need a “cooling off” period to slow…
Backgrounding nonprofits: A tutorial in Form 990 →
The NeoHouston blog has a great post this morning that works as a tutorial in how to use IRS form 990s — and the privately run Web site Guidestar.org — to find out basic financial information on…
Chronicle: Houston activist agrees with mayor on... →
More insights into the Houston redistricting debate, by the Chronicle’s Bradley Olson: A Houston lawyer who has successfully sued the city over past redistricting plans has taken an unexpected side…
From the horse’s mouth: Some primary source... →
At-large Councilmember Jolanda ‘Jo’ Jones spoke today against a bill that postpones redistricting in Houston.
Click here to read a memo from City Attorney Arturo G. Michel responding to Jones’…
Fulshear mayor’s lawyer has harsh words for... →
A defense lawyer for Fulshear Mayor James Roberts, who was recently acquitted on misdemeanor charges, lashed out at the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department and the local district attorney’s office…
Amarillo commissioners in unity in owing Amarillo... →
Some politicians owe political favors to fellow politicians. In Amarillo, they owe a bit more than that: All the city commissioners owe money to Amarillo National Bank, where one commissioner is an…
No new headcount until 2010, City Council punts on... →
The Houston City Council punted on the issue of whether to draw new council districts, voting today that the current districts are not “materially imbalanced” and sending the matter to a study…
Like sixth grade all over again: State Senate to... →
So imagine, you’re watching your state senator debate an important bill and you want to pass on a message to her in the middle of the debate. How do you think that would work out for you?
Well, up…
Houston City Council votes to study addition of... →
Houston likely won’t take a population count to add two additional council districts until 2011, after the City Council voted this morning to “study” the matter.
The city has been sued by two private…
Why can’t government make its information... →
If men were angels, James Madison said, people wouldn’t need government. Here’s a 2009 update: If the government were full of angels, we wouldn’t need a free press. Our post today about how hard it…
Lawmakers push for public law school, experts say... →
State education experts say it’s not needed, but the North Texas legislative delegation still wants funding for a new law school in Dallas.
Parliamentary hijinks shelved law school in 2007.... →
If not for a single vote two years ago, construction crews would be renovating the dusty, creaky interiors of the old Dallas city hall, preparing to open a public law school in the heart of the…
UTIMCO outsourcing costs big bucks for colleges’... →
The agency that oversees the endowments for Texas’ colleges and universities is paying a lot of money to outsource the work of managing the schools’ investments, the Austin American-Statesman…
Dallas Independent School District’s check... →
After the Dallas Independent School District announced last summer that it had outspent its operating budget by tens of millions of dollars, administrators had a choice: be as transparent as…
‘Grits’: Texas inmates should be allowed to use... →
The must-read Texas legal blog Grits for Breakfast is blogging on the documentary film Writ Writer — and in doing so, Grits has some issues with the state’s public records law and the prohibition…
Farmers insurance sues to keep Dallas newspaper... →
The Dallas Morning News wants to find out how insurance companies figure out how to bill you for your homeowners insurance policy — but Texas Farmers Insurance Co. is going to court to stop the…
UT execs’ got bit raises while tuition rose... →
This is sure gonna stir up your blood if you’ve been paying college tuition in the past four years. From Jay Root of the AP’s Austin bureau, spotted via Chron.com: AUSTIN — Executives at the…
State’s top-paid worker to forego $168K in bonuses →
The top investment officer for the state teachers’ retirement system — the state’s most highly paid employee in 2007 — has offered to give up $168,000 in bonuses and incentives, the Austin…
Speaker Joe Straus defends appointment of Rep.... →
Yesterday, new House Speaker Joe Straus kept Terri Hodge on the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee — even though the Dallas Democrat has been indicted on 14 felony charges — all related to public…
Houston sued over City Council redistricting, more... →
A debate over whether the city should redraw City Council district lines has led to a lawsuit, which the Chronicle’s Bradley Olson details here. And at ABC 13, Miya Shay has posted the lawsuit.
The…