Morning Roundup: What a lovely view edition

Good morning, Houston. We've heard a lot recently about how Galveston's waterfront is suddenly sprouting high-dollar apartments, condos and hotels — but when will developers begin building high-rises overlooking the lovely Houston Ship Channel? Maybe sooner than you'd think: In Alabama and South Texas, the newest bunch of development is occurring along the Intracoastal Waterway, the 1,300-mile manmade shipping channel few had previously considered pretty. But could the development interfere with shipping, the Intracoastal Waterway's real purpose? Some observers think so. And if any developers out there are looking for the latest, greatest bit of waterfront property, Houstonist would like to call your attention to an unspoiled spot on the edge of our bathtub that would be perfect for some fancy condos. Call us.

>> Protesters: Stop, think about coal plants: About a thousand people gathered at the state capitol yesterday to protest plans to build up to 18 new coal power plants in Texas. The protest, organized by about 40 environmental and health advocacy groups, was aimed at getting lawmakers to support a timeout on the fast-tracked coal plan: "A moratorium would give us time to take a deep, clean breath," state Rep. Charles "Doc" Anderson (R-Waco) said. A TXU spokesman said the plants would be much cleaner than people think, but opponents say they'll still produce greenhouse gases.

>> Saving the streets: In Freedmen's town, a group of historians are concerned about the city's plan to install new pipes under Andrews Street, which they say would destroy the street's historic brick paving. Neighborhood activist Lenwood Johnson says the city must replace each brick exactly in the spot from which it was taken, which the city says is impossible. But "we're trying to do it as sensitively as we can," city spokesman Wes Johnson said. "We know [the area has] a lot of history."

>>This week's weather: Expect rain today as a cold front moves into the area: We should see showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, some possibly severe, with a high of 67. The rain should let up later tonight, leading to a low of 53; tomorrow, we should see a lot of sun and a high of 61. The rest of the week, look for clouds, little chance of rain and colder weather: highs in the mid-40s and lows in the mid-30s in the middle of the week, with highs climbing back into the 50s on Friday.

Now, let's see what else is going on: