Morning Roundup: High on technology edition

Good morning, Houston. So, how about this: According to Popular Science, Houston is the 10th most high-tech city in the nation — ahead of both Dallas (No. 27) and Austin (No. 53). The rankings were based on 36 indicators, including technology in science, the number of Wi-Fi hotspots in cities, and research budgets at local universities. The final ranking, then, had to do with more than the Internet: It took into account things like automated traffic systems, environmental technology and (in Minneapolis' case) heated bus stops. For the record, we're glad we don't have those.

>> Bad reviews for Burge: KTRK's Wayne Dolcefino continued his look at the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority yesterday by reporting on the contents of some e-mails from, and about, outgoing Sports Authority Chairman Billy Burge. The gist: Not good for Burge. "Billy has been drunk with power far too long," one message from Sports Authority board member Kitty Allen said. In another, Allen wrote that Burge "acts like the HCHSA is his 'personal play pen.'" Dolcefino also found e-mails from Burge in which he tried to get his niece hired as a summer intern based on her charm: "Since she's my niece ... you don't have to pay her a lot ... she's also cute and sweet, like her uncle," he wrote. In other messages, Burge negotiated with a songwriter to get a love song written for his wife's birthday; he got a break on the price partly because the songwriter hoped to get future business with the Sports Authority (doing what, we wonder?). Burge's term expires tomorrow, after which new director Janis Schmees will take over — and the Sports Authority's dealings have already gotten her attention. After Dolcefino interviewed Schmees, she e-mailed a board member to say, "It was tough trying to defend the actions of two particular board members that have no regard for public dollars." One of those members, Dolcefino said, was Burge. Sounds like it might be about the right time to make an exit ...

>> And now for something completely different: Here's a story you don't hear about every day: A Houston man has been accused of lassoing another man and tying him to a bush during an argument early Wednesday morning. It happened at a southwest Houston apartment complex where the two men were arguing over a woman; according to police, one of the men got a rope, lassoed the other man and dragged him through a parking lot. He then tied the man to a bush at a nearby charter school. When police showed up, the would-be cowboy led them on a brief foot chase, so he faces charges of assault and evading arrest. The lassoed man suffered cuts and rope burns. Police said both men were intoxicated.

>> Is there a priest in the house?: There's an interesting problem in the Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston Houston: a shortage of priests. According to Father Brendan Cahill with St. Mary's Seminary, there are about 500 priests serving the estimated 1.5 million-plus Catholics in the area — or one priest for every 2,000 Catholics. It means the priests are being stretched thin: "A few weeks ago, I served in three parishes on a weekend," Father Trung Nguyen of St. Mary's told KTRK. "Four masses because of the need." The diocese isn't rushing to make up the need by relaxing requirements for the priesthood, though: "We're looking for quality and not quantity," Father Dean Wilhelm said. We guess that rules out our plans of seminary by correspondence.

>> Today's weather: Rainy again — we should be used to it by now. This afternoon, expect a 60 percent chance of storms, some of them potentially heavy, with a high around 90. Tonight, the rain will likely stick around; tomorrow, look for the same pattern. On the plus side, we might have some sun this weekend (though there's a chance of rain then, too).

Headlines? Why yes, we have some ...