Good morning, Houston. We're ashamed to admit that, on occasion, we succumb to road rage — especially when we're staying within the speed limit and other drivers get right on our tail, flashing their lights and acting like we need to go faster. We've often been tempted to slam on our brakes and show the tailgaters what's what, but according to the Chronicle's resident police expert, maybe we shouldn't: HPD Sgt. Steve Copeland warns that "if it can be proven that you intentionally caused the accident, you could be shown at fault and held liable criminally and civilly." We could also die, he warns, either from the impact or from a fellow gun-totin' driver. We guess we'd better stick with the more traditional reactions.
(If you're looking for the bit about Houstonist contributor Monica Danna's appearance on Fox News Channel this afternoon, we're sad to report that FNC canceled the interview so it can focus on breaking news about the 9/11 terrorists. Terrorism instead of fashion? Seriously, where's this country headed?)
>> So long, TYC board: As a bill forcing their ouster makes its way through the Legislature, all members of the Texas Youth Commission board will resign Friday amid reports that juveniles in state facilities were being sexually and physically abused by staff. Meanwhile, closer to home, the Harris County Juvenile Board announced that it has found a way to fix ongoing problems with overcrowding and alleged instances of excessive use of restraints at its detention center downtown — but is the plan too little, too late? We'll see.
>> Heartbreak in Pasadena: A Pasadena mother is grieving after a fire broke out in her apartment yesterday morning and she rescued two of her children from the flames, but was unable to save her 2-year-old son. The blaze started, investigators suspect, when one of the kids was playing with a lighter: "The child came and told his mom that the bedroom was on fire, she tried to get the smaller child out and was unable to do so," Pasadena Fire Chief Lanny Armstrong told KTRK. The family will stay with relatives for a while.
>> Funding on wheels: Ever think about all the ways the state has to make money off us average citizens? Here's one: the Driver Responsibility Program, which assesses civil surcharges for some traffic violations — it's brought in more than $190 million so far, 96 percent of which was supposed to go to state trauma centers. But in reality, nearly half that revenue is instead going to the state's general fund, which can be spent on anything. But some drivers who get the surcharges don't know it, which means their licenses are suspended — and that results in an additional surcharge. Ah, bureaucracy!
>> Today's weather: Finally, sunshine. There's patchy fog around the area this morning, but most of it should have burned off by 10 a.m., leaving us with a partly cloudy afternoon with a high around 80. The clouds should decrease as the day goes on, leading to a clear night with a low of 59.
More news? Right this way ...
- Halliburton plans to hire more than 13,000 new employees this year as it makes its move toward opening a new headquarters in Dubai
- Police are on the lookout for two men they say have been robbing and setting fires at area Wal-Marts
- Breanna Zipf, who disappeared while on probation in the 2005 murder of an elementary school teacher, is in jail in Dallas
- Authorities are investigating a possible homicide in northwest Houston, where a body was found yesterday afternoon inside a parked car
- UH is on the short list for a Department of Energy wind turbine research and development facility
- Both chambers of the Legislature agree that elderly drivers should be subject to driving tests — but at what age?
- A group of Houstonians had to be rescued from floodwaters near San Antonio
- On the Beltway, residents are concerned about what they say is a dangerous intersection
add to digg
add to stumble upon
add to reddit