The Dallas state senator has come into his own. He tops the “best” category in Texas Monthly’s biennial Best and Worst rankings, and for very good reasons. The senator surprised me from the very start (although I shouldn’t have been surprised at all) by opposing his own party’s ham-handed change of Senate rules to pass voter I.D., which he supports but not at the expense of overruling the customary privileges of the minority in the Senate (a move that will come back to haunt the GOP when it becomes the minority). It’s tough being the lone voice of reason when the mob is screaming. For more on Carona’s excellent performance during the session, read the piece by Paul Burka and Patricia Kilday Hart.
As the economy continues to kick everyone in sight right square in the jeans, folks are setting SUVs ablaze in the desert, parking their cars in the paths of oncoming hurricanes, and — closer to home — burying BMWs in the Texas fields.
“We see people doing this kind of crime who ordinarily wouldn’t steal candy from a store,” said Tom Reilly, a sheriff’s investigator in Dallas County, Texas.
Reilly also says that these kinds of sketchy-sounding thefts are up as much as 12 percent in Dallas County this year. If you’re thinking about doing it yourself, give me a call. I’ve never actually done it, but for a two-year stretch when my car was giving me trouble (unbeknownst to me, squirrels had made a nest inside and chewed up most of the wiring — seriously) I imagined every possible scenario. I am an expert.
One paragraph in this report about the disposal of the intellectual assets of the Rocky Mountain News caught my attention:
Another party familiar with the potential sale is Brian Ferguson, the Texas-based investor whose group seriously considered making a run at the Rocky before eventually backing away. Ferguson and his fellows control what he describes as “a good chunk” of A.H. Belo, the corporation that owns the Dallas Morning News, and they’re also Scripps shareholders — and he continues to covet the Rocky’s intellectual property…
What does “good chunk” mean? The last time we looked, his group had bought 6% of the common shares. The company famously has a two-tier stock system, like the New York Times, designed to protect the Dealey family’s control against the likes of Ferguson and other would-be intruders. So what’s the play? For an answer, see the July issue of the print product, soon to be on a newsstand near you.
She also wants your feedback on what should and shouldn’t be cut. My suggestion: Every sixth line item. Only way to make it fair. From Ms. H:
Next year’s City budget (Oct. 2009 – Sept. 2010) is going to require serious budget cuts. I have opposed a tax increase because too many residents and families are struggling right now. I want your input on next year’s budget, and would like you to get involved in the process as soon as possible. Because of the dire state of next year’s budget, the city is holding early meetings to give a budget overview:
Tincy Miller was there. So were Ed Cox, Karen and Denis Boulle, and nearly 400 others. The occasion: an exclusive, invitation-only reception Tuesday evening for George W. and Laura Bush at the tony Brook Hollow Golf Club. To find out what the former president said when he addressed the country clubbers, their spouses and their guests, make the jump.
1. Gov. Perry said he will call a special legislative session so work (like the passage of laws needed to fund government agencies) can be completed. Then he broke his collarbone riding a bike. Then Chrissy and Janet bandaged him up so Mr. Roper wouldn’t find out.
2. Arlington may get rid of independent parking lots near the new Cowboys stadium. The city said this was to address “neighborhood disruptions, traffic backups, and public safety” issues. Not said: “HEY! That’s our money!”
3. Cleburne had two (!) mild earthquakes yesterday. That makes five for the week. Ignore these if you want, Tommy, but you do so at your own risk. Because I don’t think those were ordinary earthquakes.
I’m still trying to process what went down on last night’s episode. Despite the promises of the previews, it wasn’t the most dramatic episode ever. It was, however, the most R-rated language episode ever. Practically everyone swore last night–Angry Dave even got bleeped for something I still haven’t figured out during his one-on-one time with Jillian. For those who care, let’s jump and take it from the top.
Ian Dille reports on the massive project’s current state of play for the Texas Observer.
Most of the attentiona and ink by urbanists goes to yuppies and Baby Boomers, because young single professionals rent downtown apartments and empty-nesters buy them. But, Joel Kotkin argues, those two groups are minor: they only add the flavor to the stew. The real meat and potatoes is the new urban middle class, the people who build and remake the neighborhoods that make a city flourish.
Irving’s North Hills Prep is run by Uplift, which also operates Peak and Williams Prep. For more on how Rosemary Perlmeter and her outfit are revolutionizing public education (and yes, these charters are public schools, open to all), here’s our article from last year.
KERA has bought itself another frequency, 91.7 FM, on which it will play music. The full release is after the jump. If this means more Paul Slavens, then it’s a very good thing. Huzzah.
Ennis native Edward Whitacre Jr. has been tapped to lead the new General Motors. To which we say: Good luck, Ed! Now, how about moving the outfit to Dallas?
Norman Brinker’s legacy as an entrepreneur, sportsman and philanthropist is unmatched. But it didn’t happen by chance. In this article for D CEO–scroll to the bottom–Dave Moore recalled that Brinker never stopped learning.
I am no fan of Arthur Laffer (creator of the infamous “Laffer Curve“) but this piece in the Wall St. Journal has the data to back up his assertion that soaking the rich is a disasterous policy option for state governments. To wit:
Examining IRS tax return data by state, E.J. McMahon, a fiscal expert at the Manhattan Institute, measured the impact of large income-tax rate increases on the rich ($200,000 income or more) in Connecticut, which raised its tax rate in 2003 to 5% from 4.5%; in New Jersey, which raised its rate in 2004 to 8.97% from 6.35%; and in New York, which raised its tax rate in 2003 to 7.7% from 6.85%. Over the period 2002-2005, in each of these states the “soak the rich” tax hike was followed by a significant reduction in the number of rich people paying taxes in these states relative to the national average. Amazingly, these three states ranked 46th, 49th and 50th among all states in the percentage increase in wealthy tax filers in the years after they tried to soak the rich.
Of course, the recession has now hit Texas, and 2009 will not be a wonderful year. But this statistic from the article still boggles the mind:
Texas created more new jobs in 2008 than all other 49 states combined.
