D

Texas Doctor Becomes New Head Of AMA

J. James Rohack is widely admired nationally for what he did as president of the Texas Medical Association, especially in the area of tort reform. Yesterday he took the reins of the national association and quickly told his fellow doctors to chill out on health reform, quoting the 9th principle of the AMA’s Code of Ethics…

“…a physician shall support access to medical care for all people.”

What Is The Thomas Foundaton, Ctd

Here’s the non-profit’s 2007 IRS form 990. FrontBurnervians are the best.

What Is The Thomas Foundation?

While Eric and Marty are whiling away the afternoon, I’m trying to figure out the Thomas Foundation, with the assistance of a law-practicing FrontBurnervian (who, I grant, has actually done all the work). Here’s what we know so far. The foundation was incorporated on November 2, 2004. Its board at the time consisted of Stanley Thomas, Deborah Thomas, and Harry Reever. In 2006, it received a grant for $10,000,000. Its registered legal address is the same as Christian Rock 89.7. Eldred and Raye Nell Thomas took effective control of a previous station and the 89.7 spinoff in the 1970’s. The station accepts donations.

The Worst Explanation for a Boondoggle Ever

Dave Levinthal has a great item over on the DMN’s City Hall blog about Councilwoman Carolyn Davis explaining her taxpayer-funded trip to Belize. She said today, “Belize has a lot to offer to the city of Dallas, just like Africa.” Awesome. I wonder what Cancun can offer Dallas. Maybe Davis ought to check out Ibiza, too. We need to get some trade going with those guys. (Keep in mind, this is the woman who doesn’t even know the names of the committees on which she sits.)

Chace Crawford Is HOT!!

People has named Chace Crawford the hottest bachelor of the summer. Hey, remember when we ran into him at the Black Friar? I’m going to borrow a line from the FrontBurnervian who sent me the People link: just posting this makes me feel a little gay.

Dallasnews.com Gets a D- on Design

An alert FBvian points us to this review of the top 25 newspaper sites in the country. The DMN gets a D-. The review begins:

Dallasnews.com looks like it was put together by The Mad Hatter.

And please, before you start your own blog and point out that we at D live in a glass house, etc., etc., understand that I’m just pointing to that review. Not saying I agree with it. You believe me. Right?

Is Wick the New Fingers of Fury?, Ctd.

Marty Cortland sends this zinger:

The big difference being, of course, that you can comment on Big Bob’s posts.

Why Does Texas Still Have The Death Penalty?

Back in May, you may remember, former Dallas prosecutor James Fry wrote a searing article about how he convincd a jury to convict the wrong man 27 years ago. The Innocence Project, spurred by current Dallas DA Craig Watkins, has already exonerated 37 others based on DNA evidence — and that is mostly because Dallas County kept DNA evidence, so you can imagine how many innocent men and women are still in jail or perhaps awaiting the death penalty who had the misfortune of being convicted in other Texas counties.

Now Grits for Breakfast reports on a new study that shows that 82% of criminologists — the people who work with crime and study crime every day — do not believe the death penalty is a deterrent and 87% say abolishing the death penalty has no effect on crime rates.

What more do we need? Are we keeping the death penalty just so a few state politicians can claim to be ”tough” on crime? Are we endangering lives merely for the sake of posturing?

Is Wick the New Fingers of Fury?

Wick = lots of posts Wick = tall Wick = smoker Wick = great writer Wick = My hero	Big Bob = lots of posts Big Bob = tall Big Bob = smoker Big Bob = great writer Big Bob = My hero

So, yes, aside from the whole Catholic/Jewish, Rich/Not Rich, Republican/Democrat, smooth-skinned/chaka-like, hate me/love me thing, they’re basically the same person. I hereby dub Wick NFoF.

How Bad Laws Get Made In Texas

This time it is not the lobby’s fault. It is good intentions run amok. Tara Hill examines how a child-abuse law got passed and why it is dangerous.

Texas Top State For Business

Directorship Magazine (which I’ve never heard of) announced our dear state leads the pack. Key quote:

What puts Texas first? It has a pro-business tax climate that ranks third, a low cost of living, a relatively solid economy, and a litigation environment that ranks 10th on our list. Texas also ranks first in the number of Fortune 500 companies located there. We used the Fortune rankings as one measure of attractiveness to large companies and an indication of strong infrastructure. Texas’ central location and time zone also make it an ideal hub, especially for companies with a national distribution or customer footprint.

But we already knew that, didn’t we.

Burl Osborne To Lead Freedom Newspapers

The former News editor and publisher has served on the Southern California chain’s board since 2004, although he still lives in Dallas. So it’s no surprise the owner of the Orange County Register would turn to Osborne as its CEO heads to Playboy (which uncharitable souls might regard as jumping from the frying pan into the fire). Osborne spent 21 years building the News into the dominant news and information company in the Southwest, and he’s made no secret of his dismay/anger/disgust at how management has handled the company since he left in 2001. Now he’ll get to match his wits against the same disruptive economy the News has faced and see how he does.

Happy Birthday to Glenn Hunter

Today our own beloved Glenn Hunter, editor of D CEO, turns 60. As a special gift to him, I am turning on comments so that you, dear FrontBurnervian, may wish him a happy birthday.

Leading Off (Cops Item), Ctd.

Our good friends at Park Cities People have the scoop on the Abbott cops.

Leading Off (Cops Item), Ctd.

I’m fairly certain — like 99.9 percent — that what Mary witnessed was a training exercise. I saw firefighters being put through their paces at the same complex yesterday morning.

Top 48 Dallas Recipients of Major Foundation Grants

The Foundation Center ranking says Top 50 but it lists Southwestern Medical and Southwestern Medical Foundation as separate entities (which, of course, they are, but the money goes to the same place) and the Center for Performing Arts twice. The report is from 2006, the last year available, and is compiled from “a sample of the 1,263 larger foundations” in the U.S.

The number 4 biggest recipient is the “Thomas Foundation,” which got one grant for $10 million. I’ve never heard of it. I cannot find it on the intertubes. There is one telephone listing but the number connects to a fax line. Anyone know about it?

Leading Off (6/17/09)

1. Oh, this is too rich. Judge Barbara Lynn issues a gag order in the City Hall corruption trial. But defendent Darren Reagan goes ahead and faxes a letter to the DMN in which he accuses lawyer Don Templin of having staked out his DeSoto house back in 2005. Oh, also, Reagan thinks Templin was involved with a home invasion robbery at his pad. That would be Don Templin, D Magazine’s attorney at Haynes and Boone. For anyone who knows Don, the idea of him running a stakeout is a gas. That’s really good stuff, man. Now, the home invasion? That totally sounds like Don.

2. Mary Poe, our marketing director, just called to say there are about a half dozen cops at an apartment complex down the street from D HQ, on Abbott Avenue, on the edge of Highland Park, with their guns drawn. So there’s that.

3. Do you drive on any of the North Texas Tollway Authority’s roads? Get ready to pay a lot more for the privilege. (Note to my buddy who hosted our poker game at his new house in Frisco a couple weeks ago: I’m not ever going to see you again. Sorry.)