Morning Roundup: Ankles away! edition

Good morning, Houston. We'll be the first to admit that we used to take ankles for granted — but we won't make that mistake again after reading that a court battle is raging in Texas over the very existence of ankles. No fooling: In Austin, medical doctors and podiatrists are wrangling over whose turf the ankle is, and in the process, they've called into question whether anyone really has ankles. "You don't have an ankle," Texas Podiatric Medical Association attorney Mark Hanna said. "The foot actually includes the ankle. If you took the foot off the leg, there is nothing lying there that's the ankle." On the other side of the argument is Dr. David Teuscher, immediate past president of the Texas Orthopaedic Association: "If they say the ankle doesn't exist, why do they want to operate on it?" he asked. At issue, the doctors say, is that podiatrists don't have to complete medical school, which means they could be less qualified to conduct ankle operations. "If people wish to practice medicine, they should attend and complete medical school," Texas Medical Association President William Hinchey told the AP. So far, the state is siding with the MDs, saying podiatrists aren't licensed to deal with ankles.

>> If only 'Discovery Green' wasn't already taken: Swamplot reports that the oddly shaped area just east of downtown is looking for a name for itself — and you could be the one to name it, thanks to a contest being held by the East Downtown Management District. (Yeah, "East Downtown" is the name that they're trying to replace. There goes our idea.) The area in question is east of Highway 59, north of Interstate 45 and west of the railroad tracks that cut south behind the site that may or may not eventually house the Dynamo stadium, and Good Project, the design firm that's running the contest, hopes the name — whatever it is — will one day be synonymous with urbane hipness. "Other metropolitan areas have come to be famous for their districts such as Deep Ellum in Dallas, LoDo in Denver and the Pearl District in Portland. We hope to draw attention to the varying districts, cultures and offerings of our city by capturing its unique essence," the Name the District website says. Have an idea? Check out the site and submit your name via e-mail — but don't expect everlasting fame. "Most people are content with being included in the process, this is an opportunity that is rarely afforded to the citizens of any city," Good Project told Swamplot. Why, we're thinking of some names already!

>> Today's weather: We suggest taking a couple of personal days and spending today and tomorrow outside — the weather ought to be perfect for it. This afternoon, look for a high of 72 and lots of sun; tonight, temperatures will fall to 51 under clear skies. Tomorrow: more sun and a high of 76.

>> In brief: Police still searching for man suspected of slashing wife with machete ... Polite robber knocks over Sugar Land bank ... Conroe teen dies while car-surfing ... Adickes sells Summer Street studio ... Poll: Smoking ban isn't hurting Houston's hotel business