Business

One of the loudest arguments we're hearing in favor of Proposition 4 is that if the state of Texas has more Tier One research universities, the quality of higher education will improve. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni has been working on a project, the results of which appear to contradict the idea that research universities provide an inherently superior education to students.

The Gristmill River Restaurant and the legendary Gruene Hall were once again the set for national television, when MTV's reality show "True Life" came to Historic Gruene to shoot for their upcoming episode "True Life: Relocating for Love".  Gruene was chosen to portray the rustic charm of Texas as juxtaposed against the Miami city scene.  This episode tells the story of local New B

Native Texan and cowboy-turned-chef Grady Spears will debut his new book, Cooking the Cowboy Way: Recipes Inspired by Campfires, Chuck Wagons, and Ranch Kitchens at the Burlap Horse in Boerne, Texas on Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

In honor of the approaching holidays, Messina Hof Winery and Resort, which has been hailed as the fastest growing award-winning winery and resort in Texas, announces its Wine Premiere Weekend November 12-14, 2009. The weekend will kick off with a "Thanksgiving Bounty" cooking party, a sumptuous five-course dinner alongside their new fall vintages, and a strolling food and wine party.

Spectacular stadium, record crowd, unbelievable video board, deafening noise, a sea of silver and blue, and none of it could change the disgust Jerry Jones felt after the Cowboys home-opener loss to the Giants, which dropped the Cowboys to 1-1 and moving the Giants to 2-0 to start the season.

Lakota Sioux artist, Dennis Eagle Horse of Bandera, Texas (featured in Diane Comer’s artist profile at http://countrylifestyle.net/node/385) and his wife, Diane, are part of a proud Lakota Sioux tradition that they have passed on to their three sons. 20-year old twins, Tacha and TaTanka, and their 15-year old brother, Sunkmanitu, are carrying on their Native traditions, particularly through dance.

I've held back on this because I wanted to give readers a chance to read the initial analysis of Proposition 4. There are a lot of arguments out there in favor of it (the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has their endorsement here). I think you need to know, Prop. 4 is a bad idea.

There are 11 state constitutional amendments on the November 3 ballot. Early voting begins on Monday, October 19. If you are voting by mail (absentee voting), the last day to submit your mail-in ballot is Tuesday, October 27.

Intricate and fantastic design features have revolutionized the building of sports stadiums all around the world in the 21st century. Extravagant stadiums like the “Bird’s Nest” in Beijing, whose basket-weaved exterior became iconic during the 2008 summer Olympics, or London’s Wembley Stadium “home of soccer in England,” which displays a dramatic 133 meters tall structural-support arch visible from over 13 miles away.

This one-of-a-kind attraction is a must-see.  The Dalmatian-spotted fire hydrant welcomes visitors into Beaumont’s downtown cultural and historic district.  

Lone Star Beer is returning to its roots at the historic Lone Star Brewery, and its fans are invited to join the fun by celebrating their independent spirit and the Texas musicians they love.!
On SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 the “National Beer of Texas” will host the first Indie Bash at the Brewery on the grounds of the former Lone Star Brewery. Music enthusiasts can enter a sweepstakes online at www.LoneStarBeer.com or by mail to register for the chance to see some of the best talent from across the state, such as Austin’s Ben Kweller, San Antonio’s Charlie Robison and Dallas’ Jonathan Tyler, as well as win other prizes.

Via www.Newsbusters.com

For one hundred years a furniture store, now the building at 2125 Church Street is a landmark in Downtown Galveston!

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples announces a partnership between the Texas Department of Agriculture and Connected Nation to create a broadband initiative called Connect Texas. The detailed broadband inventory map the partnership will create is intended to better position Texas for competitive funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and is expected to serve as a key asset for the state as it prepares for federal stimulus funding to support broadband investment.

Join Valero and cycling enthusiasts in the Hill Country for a weekend-long roundtrip ride from the Alamo to Schlitterbahn and back this October!

Ordinarily, I'd take Harvey Kronberg's theories lightly, but this one has given me a considerable amount of "hmmm"s in the last hour, so I thought I'd post about it. Earlier this evening, HK posited the theory that Gov. Perry could appoint State Senator Dan Patrick to KBH's empty US Senate seat (assuming, of course, it becomes vacant).

Every so often, a politician proves equal parts savvy and inspirational. And when that happens, people take notice. But will Michael Williams ride that rising wave of interest to Washington, D.C.?

Long before the modern SUV became popular, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer was one of the first utilitarian, mass-market vehicles.

Looking for a Hispanic role model in light of Sonia Sotomayor’s disappointing nomination?

Pics in this post were taken by myself and members of my household throughout the legislative session. I think they capture the theme quite well. Please excuse the blurriness in some - cell phone cameras only do so much.

After 2005's Summer of the Special Session(s), I think it's perfectly natural for Texas political junkies to take about a five minute breather when the gavel falls on sine die before they begin wondering if the governor is going to call everyone back to address some major issue.

SB 855 fell victim to the "chubbing" (unofficial filibuster) perpetrated by House Democrats over the course of Memorial Day weekend. A prescient move by Senator Carona has, however, saved the "local option" gas tax - he had it put on to HB 300, the TXDOT (Texas Dept. of Transportation) sunset bill that was debated in the Senate earlier this week.

“This is a day I will never forget,” Maria Ruiz says after accepting her award from fellow Texan Selena Gomez (Disney Channel).   John Krasinski (“The Office”) presents Tad Agoglia with his award, as Bob Dylan’s Shelter from the Storm plays in the background. 

On Thanksgiving Day, CNN announced its Heroes of the Year for 2008.  Amazingly, over one million viewers voted and chose only 10 finalists out of 3700 nominees from around the world; even more amazing, two of the top 10 had ties to Texas.

Selected by a panel of judges that included such luminaries as Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and primatologist Jane Goodall were Tad Agoglia (First Response Team of America) whose Houston-based 501(c)(3) non-profit helps victims of natural disasters, and Maria Ruiz (JEM (Jesus es Mana) Ministries) from El Paso, who personally travels to Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, to provide aid to families living in poverty. As finalists for the inaugural award, each received a check for $25,000.

Although Louisiana’s Liz McCartney took home the big prize—a check for $100,000—for her work providing homes to Katrina victims, Texans can take great pride in the accomplishments of Agoglia and Ruiz.

On Tuesday a bill that will allow college students and employees to carry their concealed handguns on campus passed with preliminary approval in the Texas Senate.

A lot of bloggers and various pundits have begun talking about "what's next" in terms of the Tea Party movement. As of this morning, I've received four Facebook invites to events planned for July 4 and Sept. 12. Rallies at state capitols, county courthouses, and of course, Washington D.C.

April 15th, “tax day” in America, an estimated 20,000 people from all over Texas and other parts of the nation attended the San Antonio Tea Party.  Why did these people of all ages and incomes, representing Democrat, Republican and Independent voters, come together in front of the Alamo?  Was it to rock out with Ted Nugent, protest high taxes and socialism, learn more about Constitutional principles, or just see TV host Glenn Beck? To find out, Texas Magazine randomly asked a cross-section of patriots a simple question: “Why are you here”?

Gov. Rick Perry today joined state Rep. Brandon Creighton and sponsors of House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 50 in support of states’ rights under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

As of right now, there are 61 days left in the 81st legislative session. Not much time to get our act together to defeat bad legislation, and in particular, the monstrous local option tax bill known by it's more apt name in some quarters as the "Transportaxation bill."

We have a lot to be proud of in Texas! Texas is #1 in job creation, most Fortune 500 companies, top state for business, fastest growing state in the country, top exporting state, and our tort reforms rank top in the nation!

A bill preventing appraisers from skipping over foreclosed property passed the House this week (CSHB 1038 by Paxton). This is a great move, as it helps ensure that all available information is being used in appraisals. From the committee analysis:

Boerne, TX – The recent Drive One 4 UR School fundraiser sponsored by Ford and Jennings Anderson Ford on March 7, 2009 raised $1,680 for Boerne-Champion High School Project Graduation. Ford donated $20 for each person who drove one of the vehicles in its current lineup. In total, 84 members of the community participated in the unique event.
 

This is the story you can find everywhere. But I could only find one story that explained why Gov. Perry was rejecting the money. So if you are curious as to why, here is the answer:

Framing his decision as a stand for state sovereignty, Perry said Washington politicians are trying to push their values on the Texas government.

President Barack Obama ran on the platform of bringing change to America and change has come. Though media coverage has focused almost exclusively on the nation’s economic woes, the winds of change have already affected how business will be done in Texas and more change is coming. With majorities in both the House and Senate, Mr. Obama will likely be able to continue to enact additional significant employment legislation, making it easier for unions to form and increasing the number of lawsuits businesses may face.

Tomorrow across the country, groups will be gathering to hold "tea parties" in conjuction with the National Chicago Tea Party movement. The point of which is, of course, to show our opposition to the out of control spending coming from the federal government (see my earlier post on this here).

The Free Market Foundation is alerting Texans of their liberty  being attacked. Right now in every public school in Texas, students begin each day by saying the Pledge of Allegiance, the Texas Pledge, and then observing a moment of silence.

I think most Texans always felt that a moment of silence was a good compromise for those students who wished to pray and those who did not.

While the federal government enters into an unprecedented glut of spending, back here at the state level, the Texas Senate is wrestling with, among other things, out-of-control tuition prices in our public universities. The Senate Finance Committee has been conducting hearings on university spending for the last couple of weeks, and what has been revealed in that time should shock you.

The Stimulus bill will pass in some form. But no one on the Republican side has fought harder to get the pork out than our two Senators, Sen. John Cornyn and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson.

Sen. Cornyn was on Fox News Sunday. The transcript is here, but this part sums it up nicely:

The UT College Republicans and the University Democrats are getting together tonight to oppose tuition deregulation, a policy enacted by the Texas legislature in 2003 that allows public universities sole discretion in setting tuition prices.  They are hosting State Senators Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen) and Dan Patrick (R-Houston) to discuss their efforts to overturn the policy this legislative session.

It may come as no surprise to anyone who followed former state representative Fred Hill's career in the Texas House.  As chairman of the (now defunct) Local Ways and Means Committee, Hill saw to it that legislation protecting citizens from greedy local governments never saw the light of day.  Champion of organizations like the Texas Municipal League and the Texas Association of Counties, Hill argued that he was for local control - that is, for local government control, and not necessarily putting c

The State of the State speech is today; sadly I will have to read a transcript, not having the capability to watch from here (also, if you're on Twitter, there will be a liveTweet here).