Most Popular
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Death in the Inner Circle
Apparent murder-suicide cuts to the heart of the mayor's southern Dallas advisors
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Battle Against Teaching Evolution in Texas Begins
Should creationism win out, textbooks throughout the country–not just Texas–will challenge the theory of evolution in science curricula
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After Their Murder-Suicide, Questions About Rufus and Lynn Flint Shaw's Shady Dealings Haunt Dallas
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Family Court Judge Sheds Light on Unfair Child Support Practices in Texas
Judge David Hanschen lets men challenge whether the kids they support are theirs. And the Texas Attorney General's Office is pissed.
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The Dwaine Caraway Show
Starring that new breed of politician who wants to root out your crack houses, close down your whorehouses and pull up your pants
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Murder at the Howard Johnson's Serves Up Flavorful Fare (27)
Also: Collin College kicks up heels with Li'l Abner and unfunny Nipples at Hub
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Death in the Inner Circle (21)
Apparent murder-suicide cuts to the heart of the mayor's southern Dallas advisors
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Arguments Creationists Make to Counter Evolution (18)
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Battle Against Teaching Evolution in Texas Begins (17)
Should creationism win out, textbooks throughout the country–not just Texas–will challenge the theory of evolution in science curricula
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Family Court Judge Sheds Light on Unfair Child Support Practices in Texas (17)
Judge David Hanschen lets men challenge whether the kids they support are theirs. And the Texas Attorney General's Office is pissed.
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Death in the Inner Circle
Apparent murder-suicide cuts to the heart of the mayor's southern Dallas advisors
-
Battle Against Teaching Evolution in Texas Begins
Should creationism win out, textbooks throughout the country–not just Texas–will challenge the theory of evolution in science curricula
-
After Their Murder-Suicide, Questions About Rufus and Lynn Flint Shaw's Shady Dealings Haunt Dallas
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Family Court Judge Sheds Light on Unfair Child Support Practices in Texas
Judge David Hanschen lets men challenge whether the kids they support are theirs. And the Texas Attorney General's Office is pissed.
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The Dwaine Caraway Show
Starring that new breed of politician who wants to root out your crack houses, close down your whorehouses and pull up your pants
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AFI Dallas: And the Winners Are ...
06:07PM 04/06/08 -
Leon Batie Went to War. It Wasn't Till He Returned to Dallas That His Dreams Were "Destroyed."
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Once Again, The News Sells Us Down the River in a Pork Barrel
03:22PM 04/04/08 -
Last Night: Collin Herring at The Cavern
01:58PM 04/06/08 -
Good Friday: Ghosthustler, The David Allor Benefit, Hal Samples' SPACE Opening, Black Joe Lewis
05:41PM 04/04/08 -
This Week's MP3 Round-up: Calhoun, Zane Lewis, Smile Smile, Pet Hospital
05:19PM 04/04/08
What we are writing about
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Recent Articles By Jim Schutze
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The Dwaine Caraway Show
Starring that new breed of politician who wants to root out your crack houses, close down your whorehouses and pull up your pants
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After Their Murder-Suicide, Questions About Rufus and Lynn Flint Shaw's Shady Dealings Haunt Dallas
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Are Surveillance Cameras the Answer to Rising East Dallas Crime Rates?
Cameras have had an effect in the Richland Park Estates neighborhood, homeowners say.
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DART's Outside Auditor Seems Too Inside to Expose Secrets
We're over the game of hide the ball with Deloitte Touche
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Mayor Tom Leppert Needs to Walk the Ethics Reform Talk
If the mayor wants to raise the ethical bar at City Hall, he won't have far to reach
National Features
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Miami New Times
The Murder of Master Do
In a city plagued by killings, the most perplexing death is that of a killer.
ByTamara Lush -
SF Weekly
Pitching "Woo-Woo"
He'll find you a parking space and even watch your car--if the meter maids let him.
By Ashley Harrell -
Nashville Scene
Spank the Honkey
The victim of a racial slur exacts a special kind of retribution.
By P.J. Tobia -
Broward-Palm Beach New Times
Spring Break is Still Awesome
Try as it might, Ft. Lauderdale still can't shake America's die-hard partiers.
By Michael J. Mooney
Zoning Out: Wait a minute. Buzz thought Laura Miller was the mayor who couldn't count to eight. Now it's Tom Leppert—the new guy.
Twice recently he has had his hat handed to him on key issues because he didn't have the votes.
How hard is it? The mayor plus the rest of the city council make 15 votes total. A majority is eight. They talk in the back room first. If you don't have eight, don't go.
In the Dwaine Caraway story on the cover of the March 27 Dallas Observer, we reported that Leppert suffered a defeat on a key vote at a briefing session March 5. But last week he did even worse.
He tried to roll over District 14 city council member Angela Hunt on a zoning issue. Buzz could explain the whole zoning thing to you, but, you know, you could also go get a root canal. Take it from Buzz: There was this issue.
For the last 17 years, the Dallas City Council has honored an informal system—treated as near-sacred by council members—in which zoning questions are decided by the council member in whose district the issue arises.
Buzz could explain why it's that way. Or you could have that surgery on your gums. Take it from Buzz: That's how they do it.
Leppert and District 12 council member Ron Natinsky tried to get the council to break the rule in order to vote against Hunt on a zoning issue in her district. Leppert didn't just lose that one on a 10-5 vote, which would have been ignominious enough. He received multiple tongue-lashings.
District 5 member Vonciel Jones Hill told Leppert and Natinsky, "I find it presumptuous of any other council person here to tell Miss Hunt how District 14 should be handled."
District 9 member Sheffie Kadane and District 13 member Mitchell Rasansky also spoke in strong support of Hunt.
It's easy to figure. If they gore Hunt's ox on a question in her district, then their own ox might get gored when the next zoning issue is in their own district. That's why they have a rule against the goring of oxen.
But the bigger question is this: Why can't Leppert count to eight? Is it the job? If Einstein was alive, and we elected him mayor of Dallas, after 10 months would he think three plus two equals eight?
Frightening.
It's funny, the mayor maybe can't count to 8 but Jim you can't seem to remember past articles you've written. In 'The Good Laura,' you commended Mayor Miller and Mitchell Rasansky for breaking "the unwritten rule" and going against Councilmember Blaydes and the zoning he wanted in his own district. How is this any different than the dustup between Nantinsky and Hunt, except you like Hunt and didn't like Blaydes? If you truly beleive in what you write today then Blaydes/Jerry Allen would know what's best for Lake Highlands far better than Miller, Rasansky, Hunt, or any of the other councilmembers past or present.
Comment by Tod Allen — April 7, 2008 @ 08:07AM