Morning Roundup: Soccer kick, football kick edition

Good morning, Dynamo fans. Ready to see the Orange in the MLS playoffs again? Well, playoff tickets will go on sale at 10 this morning. Depending on where the Dynamo finish in the standings, the team will play in the Western Conference semifinal match at Robertson Stadium either Oct. 27 or Nov. 3; pick your tickets up at Ticketmaster or the Dynamo's website.

>> The scandal effect: TSU's enrollment has fallen to its lowest level in five years, and administrators say the university's recent scandals are partly to blame. This fall, TSU's enrollment is 9,544 — a 15 percent drop from 2006, when reports showed financial mismanagement at the university and former President Priscilla Slade was indicted for allegedly spending hundreds of thousands of university dollars on personal expenses. That led the state Legislature to consider placing TSU under a state conservator, a plan that was scrapped in favor of Gov. Rick Perry replacing the TSU Board of Regents. "A lot of those conversations took place when students were making their decisions," TSU spokeswoman Kimberly Williams said. "They will come back."

>> Watching the Gulf: The Chronicle's Eric Berger takes a look at conditions in the Gulf of Mexico, including Invest 94L, the tropical disturbance that may or may not develop into something we should keep an eye on. But it looks like history is in our favor: Though hurricane season won't be over until the end of November, there have been only three direct hurricane hits on Texas after Sept. 24 since the 1850s. "I write this not to say we won't be struck by any more hurricanes this season," Berger notes. "But I would bet heavily against it."

>> The impact of the arts: So here's something interesting: In 2004, the nonprofit arts brought in more than $626 million and supported 14,115 jobs. "The arts are a powerful business asset, and one we need to have for Houston to remain a leading city in the future and to keep its extraordinary economic vitality," Houston Endowment President Larry Faulkner told the Houston Business Journal. More stats: More than 34,000 people volunteered with arts and cultural organizations in 2004, contributing some 650,000 hours worth $11.2 million-plus, and 9.2 million people said they attended arts or cultural events in the city in 2004 — twice the number of people who attended Rockets, Astros and Texans games in 2005.

>> Today's weather: Looks like we're in for a chance of rain the rest of the week, beginning this afternoon. Expect an afternoon high around 90, with an overnight low in the lower 70s. And remember that fall weather we've been promised? According to the long-range forecast, we might see a taste of it late next week. Maybe.

There may be no cool weather, but at least there's news ...