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Trail MIX |
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August 2008
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Recently by Lee McGuireHOUSTON CITY HALL -- In a touch of irony, the Houston City Council's vote to relax the city's controversial floodway rules came as a forecast of heavy rain hung overhead. The original rules, which took effect in 2006, bar any construction or major home improvement in land along bayous that are prone to flooding. Today's vote effectively reverses that decision -- with the caveat that the city must approve of new construction, inspect it regularly, and that new buildings in the floodway must be elevated. The "floodway ordinance" was designed to discourage further building along those bayous. Accordin... by Lee McGuire / 11News Settling a lawsuit concerning two 2002 crackdowns on illegal drag-racing will cost taxpayers $731,617. Today the Houston City Council approved a settlement agreement between the Houston Police Department and two groups of teenagers. In a lawsuit, the teens claim they were detained and arrested in violation of their civil rights. In August, 2002, HPD conducted "Operation ERACER," intended to discourage drag-racing by arresting spectators as well as participants. In two raids, police detained and arrested 101 people, mostly teenagers, in a K-Mart parkin... by Lee McGuire / 11News Houston's City Council has passed a water restriction plan that could someday take effect if Houston sinks into a summer drought. Council member Melissa Noriega, who helped author the plan, cautioned that this plan is required by new state regulations and does not mean water restrictions are imminent. Mayor Bill White recognized what Noriega was getting at. "Are you saying that somebody might mischaracterize what we're doing?" he asked. "Is that possible?" The proposed restrictions would place restrictions on lawn watering and car wash... HOUSTON CITY HALL -- Houston Police Sgt. Shelby Stewart arrived at the City Council Chamber this morning with a gas mask. He brought it to demonstrate what he calls a discriminatory policy put in place by Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt, which bans beards. Stewart says he has to have facial hair because of a medical condition, which mainly affects African Americans. In previous interviews with 11News, Stewart has said that shaving his facial hair causes an extremely painful rash. "This will take away the rig...
by Lee McGuire CITY HALL -- Michelle Mitchell, Houston's finance director, is warning City Council members at a budget briefing that rising fuel costs threaten to drag down the city's future budget plans. "The cost for fire and police is so high that if we're not conservative in other areas, then we could face some real issues," Mitchell said. She is briefing members of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee on her projections for the next five years. Just as the city is finally gaining control over its pension plan, Mitchell says, fuel prices... by Lee McGuire Crime is no laughing matter, but fighting crime can be. In a discussion about whether to buy a fleet of new helicopters for the Houston Police Department, conversation turned to the age of one of the choppers that's currently used for training. The poor thing was built in 1975 and looks like something out of "M.A.S.H." On a tour of the helicopter hangar last week, the top training officer for HPD told me that it's been on its last legs for a decade now. Before voting for the money to replace it, Council Member Mike Sullivan remar... by Lee McGuire / 11News Pat Lykos and supporters have gathered at a Greek restauraunt in Montrose to watch results come in. Unlike most candidates, who wait until some results are posted to show up at watch parties -- Lykos was here before even any reporters. Typically we're the first ones to arrive, to stake out tables and good camera positions. I arrived just after 7pm -- and Lykos and City Council member Anne Clutterbuck were seated at a candle-lit table, below a giant plasma TV displaying blank election returns. It only took a few minutes for... |
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