June 19, 2013

Man accused of threatening Texas Sen. Ted Cruz

HOUSTON (AP) — A Houston man is accused of threatening to kidnap, murder and burn U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and his father and also to "blow up" the sun if he wasn't paid $3 million.

Nick Gates was being held Tuesday in the Harris County jail on a $10,000 bond. He's charged with making a terroristic threat.

Investigators allege threatening phone calls made June 5 to Cruz's offices in Austin and San Antonio were traced back to Gates.

Court documents show the 37-year-old admitted to FBI agents he made the calls and that Cruz was told he had a choice: give Gates the money or "lose the sun."

More at http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/texas/article/Man-accused-of-threatening-Texas-Sen-Ted-Cruz-4607616.php .

June 18, 2013

Bully, Ideologue, Worst - Sen. Patrick Targeted by Colleagues and Media Alike

Dan Patrick seems to have no issue with verbal altercation. The state senator, representing parts of northwest Houston, has gained quick notoriety for transferring his acidic on-air personality to the halls of Austin. He's offered crocodile tears for the students he purports to support. He's castigated pro-choice advocates on the floor while coddling those in his camp. Patrick, the Senate Educational Committee chair, has introduced a political theater that Texas hasn't seen in some time.

But while Hair Balls has been harping on Patrick's method acting for some time, and while those on the other side of the aisle have often cited him while chastising Texas's hard-right Republican branch, it appears those closer to Patrick are finally taking notice. If this week is any indicator, Patrick has rapidly morphed into one of the most maligned characters set to take part in Gov. Perry's special session. Those tears and jeers he so often employs have finally corroded those who should otherwise offer their support, or non-biased ear, as he attempts to chug toward higher office.

Put simply: Patrick's foes are no longer the Democrats that he and his committee can so rapidly write off. Those he's ticked off are far closer than he'd like to enjoy.

The first he seems to have lost is the Texas Monthly, which recently revealed its list of Best and Worst Legislators of the 2013 Session. Some may have been surprised to see Patrick's name in the "Worst" list. After all, despite the abject and embarrassing failures of his neo-voucher scheme -- the GOP-controlled House hardly gave it a second's thought -- Patrick managed to both shift graduation requirements and lift the charter cap. Not an altogether unproductive session.

More at http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2013/06/bully_ideologue_dan_patrick_wo.php .

[font color=green]It is a long article, but worth reading since he appears to be setting himself up to run for higher office. The most significant factor hampering him is that there are plenty of other Republicans ahead of him in line.[/font]

June 18, 2013

Amid Perry invasion, Connecticut governor aims barbs at high-crime, bad-schools Texas

Connecticut’s governor is brushing off Rick Perry’s Northeast job-poaching tour this week — but not before getting in a dig at the Texas governor.

Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy said Republican Perry’s courtship of Connecticut companies is part and parcel of the Texan’s 2016 presidential bid.

“Look, this guy wants to run for president, and this is how he wants to run,” Malloy said, according to a Monday report by the Hartford Business Journal.

Politics aside (if that’s possible), he stressed that his state was a more sound investment than its Lone Star competitors. Easing into economic development mode, Malloy called out the southern state’s higher crime rate, higher murder rate, and higher assault rate. “Also, low educational achievement,” Malloy added.

More at http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-on-the-potomac/2013/06/amid-perry-invasion-connecticut-governor-aims-barbs-at-high-crime-bad-schools-texas/ .

Cross-posted in Connecticut group.

June 18, 2013

Amid Perry invasion, Connecticut governor aims barbs at high-crime, bad-schools Texas

Connecticut’s governor is brushing off Rick Perry’s Northeast job-poaching tour this week — but not before getting in a dig at the Texas governor.

Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy said Republican Perry’s courtship of Connecticut companies is part and parcel of the Texan’s 2016 presidential bid.

“Look, this guy wants to run for president, and this is how he wants to run,” Malloy said, according to a Monday report by the Hartford Business Journal.

Politics aside (if that’s possible), he stressed that his state was a more sound investment than its Lone Star competitors. Easing into economic development mode, Malloy called out the southern state’s higher crime rate, higher murder rate, and higher assault rate. “Also, low educational achievement,” Malloy added.

More at http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-on-the-potomac/2013/06/amid-perry-invasion-connecticut-governor-aims-barbs-at-high-crime-bad-schools-texas/ .

Cross-posted in Texas group.

June 18, 2013

Applebee's controversial in Port Lavaca for potential 'club atmosphere' and MFM's lewd conduct

PORT LAVACA - The future of an Applebee's restaurant remains uncertain as residents debate extending the hours liquor may be sold.

"We're in limbo," said Port Lavaca City Manager Bob Turner. "Applebee's is waiting to see what happens with the late-night drinking ordinance."

The ordinance, which went into effect April 25, extends the hour that businesses can sell alcohol from midnight to 2 a.m. Applebee's officials have said they will open a restaurant at state Highway 35 and Virginia Street only if the hours are extended.

Walter Spiller, a retired resident of Port Lavaca, says he does not believe extending the sale of alcohol by two hours makes much difference.

Read more at http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2013/jun/16/ew_applebees_061613_212008/?business .

[font color=green]Because there is nothing worse than a group of old geezers causing mayhem and peeing in the parking lot at 2:30 in the morning.[/font]

June 18, 2013

Bus service to Arlington clears final hurdle

FORT WORTH — The Fort Worth Transportation Authority on Monday approved bus service to Arlington as a two-year pilot project and also lowered fares for college students.

The T board’s action was the final approval needed for the Metropolitan ArlingtonXpress — or MAX — which is scheduled to begin service Aug. 19. MAX buses will run from the Trinity Railway Express’ CentrePort station to the University of Texas at Arlington and the city’s downtown area.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit, which will operate the buses beginning Aug. 19, and the Arlington City Council had already approved the two-year experiment, which will cost $700,000 per year.

Arlington City Councilwoman Kathryn Wilemon, who also chairs the Regional Transportation Council, told T board members that the MAX buses would play an important role in improving regional connections in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/06/17/4945219/lets-roll-bus-service-to-arlington.html#storylink=cpy

[font color=green]The article also mentions steps that are occurring to reduce the cost of the fares to college and trade school students that would reduce the cost of an all system pass (DART, The T and TRE) from $10 to $2.50 per day.[/font]

June 18, 2013

End of the road in sight for $1 billion Grapevine DFW connector project

GRAPEVINE — Nearly four years of orange-barrel headaches will soon end in Grapevine’s Texas 114/121 corridor.

Work on the DFW Connector project, a $1 billion-plus makeover of Grapevine-area highways (near DFW International Airport), is nine to 10 months ahead of schedule, a spokeswoman said. Most of the detours and narrow lanes could be gone by August or September.

“We are 90 percent complete, and we are looking at substantial completion in the August or September time frame,” said Alyssa Tenorio, spokeswoman for NorthGate Constructors, the main contractor.

In the latest sign of progress, crews moved the westbound Texas 114 lanes into their permanent traffic pattern over the weekend. With this change, both directions of Texas 114 between Texan Trail and Freeport Parkway (the green segment in the map) are in their permanent place.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/06/17/4944961/end-of-road-in-sight-for-1-billion.html#storylink=cpy

[font color=green]I'm very familiar with the area and have friends that travel through the area daily so I'm certain that they will be relieved that the project is nearly completed. I added information to the original graphics to provide further detail.

June 18, 2013

Gordon Ramsay seeks to turn Meson de Mesilla fortunes as part of 'Hotel Hell' TV show (Las Cruces)

LAS CRUCES — Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and FOX network's "Hotel Hell" crew are already hard at work trying to bring Meson de Mesilla out of a rut and turn it into a successful hotel.

"I was really kind of surprised," said Meson de Mesilla owner, Cali Szczawinski. "What's "hell' about that (Meson de Mesilla)? For me, hell was not having customers."

Meson de Mesilla was built in 1984. When Szczawinski took over the place in 2006, it went through a lot of ups and downs. First, it was shut down for remodeling for more than a year. Then, it opened in 2008 and was sort of an upscale jazz hangout that quickly closed and sat empty for more than a year again. She opened it once again in 2011, deciding to take business into her own hands rather than work with people who would drop out of business on her at the last minute and leave her hanging, she said.

"I was devastated, disgusted and tired," she said. "When leasers left, I pretty much hated this place. I fell back in love with it after I reopened it."

More, including video, at http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_23479271/famed-chef-gordon-ramsay-seeks-turn-meson-de .

June 18, 2013

Legislative response to West explosion begins with registry

AUSTIN – The state plans to compile a registry of businesses with dangerous chemicals so citizens can learn about hazards like the fertilizer plant in West, where a fire triggered a massive blast of ammonium nitrate.

The online database is among a handful of proposals, aired at a hearing Monday, that legislators said would not involve new laws or regulations, or increases in state spending.

“Wouldn’t you want to know if there’s a chemical facility in your neighborhood with hazardous material, ammonium nitrate, or other types of chemicals? And the answer is yes,” Steve McCraw, director of the Department of Public Safety, told the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee.

The registry would be on the state fire marshal’s website, but state officials have not decided which chemicals would be included. Media outlets, including The Dallas Morning News, have published databases of facilities with ammonium nitrate and related chemicals based on information filed with the state health department.

Rep. Joe Pickett, the El Paso Democrat who is the committee’s chairman, said he expects residents will use the state website to pose questions about safety to their county judge, city council, or fire chief.

More at http://watchdogblog.dallasnews.com/2013/06/legislative-response-to-west-explosion-begins-with-registry.html/ .

June 18, 2013

You know you're getting old...

when you scan the "Trending Now" threads on the Home page and read it as

Breaking: White House Threatens Veto of House Farm Bill Over Cats