Results tagged “statesen”

More today on Shelby Sendelbach, the 12-year-old Katy junior high student who was shipped off to alternative school for writing a love message in marker on a gymnasium wall: The Katy ISD is now reconsidering its punishment. "I am looking at what happened and what options we have per state law and local policy," Katy Superintendent Alton Frailey told the Chronicle. "It is always my practice to follow the law and policy while looking out... more ›

Looks like The Woodlands is a step closer to being a real city: On Tuesday, the state Senate approved a piece of legislation that will give The Woodlands the ability to extend a sales and property tax district throughout the community. If it's approved by Gov. Rick Perry, the bill could lessen the property tax burden of Woodlanders Woodlandites Woodlandonians Woodlands residents. The bill, along with one Perry signed last week enabling The Woodlands to... more ›

Mayor White traveled to Austin two weeks ago to speak to the state legislature about SB 1317, a bill that would prevent cities from creating ordinances that protect air quality. It was no secret that the bill was targeted at the mayor's recent move to minimize the pollution caused by refineries that lie outside Houston city limits. The bill, authored by State Sen. Mike Jackson (R - LaPorte), was passed by the Senate yesterday, despite... more ›

Mayor Bill White will be in Austin this afternoon to testify before the State Senate Natural Resources Committee considering a bill that would strip cities of their ability to create ordinances that protect air quality. The bill, SB 1317 was authored by State Sen. Mike Jackson, a Republican from LaPorte (surprised?), and its captions lets us know that it is "relating to prohibiting a municipality from enacting regulations on air pollution that apply outside its... more ›

Another development in the story of Texas Southern University's ongoing problems: On Friday, Gov. Rick Perry asked all the university's regents to resign and called for the appointment of a state-appointed conservator who would have the sole power to run the school. It's a drastic step — especially in light of the fact that a commission Perry appointed to find a way for TSU to get back on its feet decided a conservator wasn't necessary... more ›

Good morning, Houston! Looks like we're far from the only people enjoying the bliss that is freedom from telemarketers: According to the AP, almost 25 million phone numbers were added to the federal do not call list in fiscal 2006, bringing the total ... uh ... number of numbers on the list to 132 million. And amazingly enough, it's working: The percentage of complaints last year was small, and the FTC has taken enforcement... more ›

State Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) caused a bit of a stir at the Capitol yesterday when he walked out of the Senate chamber so he wouldn't have to be present as an Islamic spiritual leader delivered the opening prayer. Patrick said he didn't have a problem with Imam Yusuf Kavakci of Dallas giving the invocation, but that didn't mean that he had to stay in the room while it was going on: "It is important... more ›

No, we're not kidding. In what was meant to be an effort to reduce the incidence of abortion in Texas, the lovable State Sen. Dan Patrick has come up with a bill to pay $500 to mothers who give their babies up for adoption within sixty days of birth. But wait a minute, isn't that baby-selling (and really cheap baby-selling)? Don't worry - the bill states that "Section 25.08, Penal Code, does not apply to... more ›

State Sen. Mike Jackson's League City office had something of a 9/11 scare yesterday when one worker opened a letter that contained a white, powdery substance. The immediate thought was, of course, anthrax (no, not that one), and the office was evacuated. Lamoin Scott, Jackson's League City district director, opened the letter and read a portion of it, which he said was about something the writer had asked Jackson to do but had not seen... more ›

So here's something to keep in mind when you're out bouncing along some rural road and your car gets smashed by by a jackalope: You can call 911 from your cell phone, but that doesn't mean anybody's going to be able to find you. That's because most Texas counties — about 80 percent — don't have the requipment to allow emergency operators to pinpoint cell phone locations. And that is because the Legislature keeps pulling money out of a fund created by a 911 tax that's supposed to pay for such things. Good to know the folks under the big pink dome are looking out for us. more ›