10.26.05

Rosa Parks dies

Posted in News at 1:21 am by Paloma Cruz

Civic rights activist Rosa Parks passed away, at age 92. A cultural icon, living history, Rosa Parks was one of the few women who could truly say “look at what I did.” She will be missed. Let’s not forget what she tried to do.

Civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks dead at 92
– reported by KHOU CBS Channel 112

On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Ala, a black woman refused to relinquish her seat on a city bus so a white man could sit there.

Rosa Lee Parks, the quiet, gentle woman who made the gesture during a time of blatant discrimnation, died Monday at the age of 92.

In 1955, Jim Crow laws in place since the post-Civil War Reconstruction required separation of the races in buses, restaurants and public accommodations throughout the South, while legally sanctioned racial discrimination kept blacks out of many jobs and neighborhoods in the North.

[snip]

1913 ROSA PARKS 2005
‘Mother of the civil rights movement’
– reported by the Houston Chronicle1

Rosa Lee Parks, whose refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man sparked the modern civil rights movement, died Monday. She was 92.

[snip]

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Reminders:

  1. Houston Chronicle links expire after a few days because they’re archived. If you want to access these articles after that, you either have to be a subscriber or go to the Houston Public Library and access the database using your Library Power Card.
  2. KHOU CBS Channel 11 requires a registration, free.

Gay marriage proposition

Posted in News at 12:41 am by Paloma Cruz

Group says Prop 2 language could threaten traditional marriage
– reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13

Opponents of Proposition 2, which would amend the Texas constitution to define marriage as being only between one man and one woman, warned Monday the proposition could nullify traditional marriages.

[snip]

The group points to the language of the proposed amendment that says the state is prohibited from “creating or recognizing any legal status identical or similar to marriage.” That, the group says, could be interpreted by a judge to mean traditional or common law marriage is invalid.

[snip]

PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Same-sex marriage tops list before voters
Taxes, property and bail issues are also to be decided in Nov. 8 election
– reported by the Houston Chronicle1

Texans will cast ballots Nov. 8 on nine proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, only one of which has received much attention or scrutiny: Proposition 2, which would prohibit same-sex marriage.

[snip]

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Reminders:

  1. Houston Chronicle links expire after a few days because they’re archived. If you want to access these articles after that, you either have to be a subscriber or go to the Houston Public Library and access the database using your Library Power Card.

filing for bankruptcy

Posted in News at 12:41 am by Paloma Cruz

Tougher Bankruptcy Law Takes Effect
Law Requires Mandatory Credit Counseling
– reported by Click2Houston.com

[snip]… it’s tougher to file for personal bankruptcy.

[snip]

The new law makes it harder to liquidate. Those filing have to meet certain income requirements.

In addition, anyone wanting to file will have to undergo credit counseling and produce documents including tax returns, pay stubs and statements from their creditors.

The idea behind the new law is to prevent abuse of the bankruptcy system.

[snip]

EMS disaster preparations

Posted in News at 12:25 am by Paloma Cruz

EMS disaster preparations in place
– reported by KHOU CBS Channel 111

Amid all the excitement and fun of Houston being in the World Series there is a serious side to this big event.

Emergency preparations are part of the game plan for security and the ever-present threat of terrorism that all of us have been living with since September 11th.

[snip]

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Reminders:

  1. KHOU CBS Channel 11 requires a registration, free.

10.25.05

Notice of Vote on Tax Rate

Posted in News at 11:50 pm by Paloma Cruz

Found on the City of Houston Web site (via blogHOUSTON):

The City of Houston conducted public hearings on a proposal to increase the total tax revenues of the City of Houston from properties on the tax roll in the preceding year by 1.27 percent on October 12th at 9:30 A.M. and on October 19th at 9 A.M.

The City Council of the City of Houston is scheduled to vote on the tax rate that will result in that tax increase at a public meeting to be held on October 26, 2005 at 9 A.M. at City of Houston Council Chambers, 901 Bagby, Houston, Texas 77002.

10.24.05

Tuition costs rise

Posted in News at 12:53 am by Paloma Cruz

Tuition costs still rising — so is student debt
More federal aid is coming in form of loans, not grants
– reported by the Houston Chronicle1

Tuition and fees at the nation’s public universities climbed an average of 7 percent this year, continuing an upward trend but at a slower pace than the past five years [snip]

In Texas, tuition and fees increased by 6 percent this year, climbing to $4,830 annually for four-year universities and $1,510 annually for two-year community colleges. State lawmakers allowed public universities to set their own tuition levels two years ago, which led to record increases.

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Reminders:

  1. Houston Chronicle links expire after a few days because they’re archived. If you want to access these articles after that, you either have to be a subscriber or go to the Houston Public Library and access the database using your Library Power Card.

Texas reading scores

Posted in News at 12:51 am by Paloma Cruz

Texas students competitive on math test, trailing in reading
– reported by the Associated Press at ABC KTRK Channel 13

Eighth-grade students in Texas also outscored the national average on the math portion, but trailed on the reading test. Texas fourth-graders scored slightly higher in reading than the national average score.

HISD increases in taxes

Posted in News at 12:51 am by Paloma Cruz

Houston School Board Approves 2-Cent Tax Increase
Money Will Help Pay For School Construction, Renovation Projects
– reported by Click2Houston.com

[snip]… the Houston school board unanimously approved a 2-cent property tax increase that will help pay for school construction and renovation projects. The new tax rate will be $1.62 per $100 of property evaluation.

HISD residents will see tax hike
Rate increase likely to be OK’d, but trustee says it won’t be enough for coming year
– reported by the Houston Chronicle

The bill for the owner of the average Houston Independent School District home with a taxable value of $117,740 would be $1,907, or $147 more than last year.

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Reminders:

  1. Houston Chronicle links expire after a few days because they’re archived. If you want to access these articles after that, you either have to be a subscriber or go to the Houston Public Library and access the database using your Library Power Card.

Funny post

Posted in General at 12:30 am by Paloma Cruz

Under the News has a funny post entitled You know you live on the Gulf Coast when …. My favorites:

  • You can wish that other people get hit by a hurricane and not feel the least bit guilty about it.
  • Three months ago you couldn’t hang a shower curtain; today you can
    assemble a portable generator by candlelight.
  • A battery powered TV is considered a home entertainment center.

10.19.05

Hurricane reads & links

Posted in News at 10:52 pm by Paloma Cruz

Reading in the Post-Katrina, Post-Rita Hurricane season:

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Reminders:

  1. Houston Chronicle links expire after a few days because they’re archived. If you want to access these articles after that, you either have to be a subscriber or go to the Houston Public Library and access the database using your Library Power Card.
  2. KHOU CBS Channel 11 requires a registration, free.

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