05.24.06
Posted in News at 4:04 pm by Paloma Cruz
Texas sees surge in sales-tax revenue
– reported by the Houston Business Journal
According to Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, the state collected nearly $1.6 billion in sales tax revenue in April, an increase of 17.2 percent compared with April 2005.
“The Texas economy is healthy and sales tax revenue is expanding at a pace I have not seen since I have been Texas comptroller,” Strayhorn says.
Local governments have also seen double-digit sales tax growth. According to Strayhorn’s office, local governments will receive $501.9 million in May sales tax allocations, an increase of 10.1 percent compared with May 2005.
[snip]
Permalink
05.23.06
Posted in News at 5:28 am by Paloma Cruz
High-rise market evolves in Clear Lake
Job growth in the area sparks projects
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
High-rise developers could change the face of the shores of Clear Lake as new zoning rules and a growing demand for waterfront living are creating opportunities for builders in areas that were once off-limits to them.
“This type of lifestyle is something that millions of people are becoming more in tune to,” said Robin Parsley, president of Endeavour Holdings, which is building residential towers along the lake.
[snip]
Located near Clear Lake Park in Pasadena, the $35 million building will have 125 units for rent, with plans to convert them into condominiums later. Construction could start by year’s end, the developers said.
While this low-rise landscape has a long way to go before it starts to resemble popular waterfront areas on the East or West coasts, Parsley and others are in the early stages of creating what could be a sizable high-rise market.
Developers are working on projects near Clear Lake, which they see as a maturing area with strong job growth and an affluent population.
[snip]
Permalink
05.22.06
Posted in News at 4:38 pm by Paloma Cruz
Bilingual students encouraged
– reported by the Pasadena Citizen
An effort to expand students’ future employment options begins at kindergarten level for Garfield Elementary School with its dual-language program, Two Way Immersion Program.
[snip]
The program has been an active part of the Garfield curriculum for three years and Garza hopes to promote awareness for the program throughout the entire Pasadena Independent School District.
The Two Way Immersion Program works in a collective classroom environment in kindergarten through second grade. Two teachers conduct a shared reading lesson in both English and a second language, which is designated by the school according to the ethnic demographic of that school, said Garza.
Because Garfield has a high Hispanic student population, Spanish is the second language used in the school’s program.
[snip]
Permalink
Posted in News at 6:49 am by Paloma Cruz
11 mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus, county reports
Evening spray program activated in affected areas
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
[snip]
The mosquito samples that tested positive were collected in the following zip codes: 77004, 77013, 77016, 77028, 77050, 77077, 77345, 77506, 77536 and 77571.
[snip]
West Nile virus can cause encephalitis. Most people infected with West Nile virus show no symptoms or only mild symptoms, such as low-grade fever and headache. More severe symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, muscle weakness, disorientation and coma.
HCPHES encouraged residents to help control mosquitoes by adhering to the following preventive measures:
- Clean up lawn clippings, leaves and tree limbs from sidewalks and driveways so they don’t wash into storm drains.
- Remove or empty any outdoor containers that may hold water. Change birdbath water at least once a week.
- Keep rain gutters clear.
- Make sure window and door screens are in good condition.
- When outdoors, use an insect repellent containing the chemical compound DEET and apply as directed on the label. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using a repellent with a concentration of 10 percent or less of DEET on children ages 2 to 12.
Permalink
05.21.06
Posted in News at 4:02 pm by Paloma Cruz
This year I am determined to be prepared and not make the same mistakes as last year.
This year Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 21-27, 2006.
The goal of this Hurricane Preparedness Web site is to inform the public about the hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be used to take ACTION. This information can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water.
With that in mind, the City of Houston is holding a “get prepared” workshop:
Houston/Galveston National Weather Service
2006 Hurricane Workshop
Katrina and Rita: Lessons Learned for the Next Time
Presented by CenterPoint Energy
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
George R. Brown Convention Center
1001 Avenida de las Americas
Houston, TX 77010
Found via MetroBlogging.
Permalink
Posted in News at 3:41 pm by Paloma Cruz
Gulf Coast residents wary over hurricanes
But experts are baffled that over half of all U.S. coastal residents don’t see a threat
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
Coastal residents on the Southeast and Southwest Gulf Coast feel they are more vulnerable to damage from a hurricane, tornado or flooding than do residents farther north, according to a recent poll released Tuesday.
The poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, showed that nearly 58 percent of residents from Texas to North Carolina feel vulnerable, compared with 30 percent of those farther north.
[snip]
Permalink
05.18.06
Posted in News at 4:32 pm by Paloma Cruz
Strawberry festival comes a long way in 32 years
Pasadena gears up for annual family fete
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
The first Pasadena Strawberry Festival didn’t make a cent.
“It was a freebie,” recalled Pasadena businesswoman Rosalie Kuntz, who helped organize the first festival in 1974. “We didn’t charge admission.”
That didn’t last long because the organizers quickly realized the festival’s fundraising potential when the first event drew big crowds.
[snip]
Now, depending upon the weather, the Strawberry Festival regularly clears between $90,000 and $100,000 to donate to various causes, said LaDonna Page, executive director.
The proceeds are distributed through the San Jacinto Day Foundation to college scholarship recipients, local nonprofit organizations and projects that preserve and promote Texas history, Page said.
[snip]
More media:
Permalink
05.15.06
Posted in News at 2:58 pm by Paloma Cruz
2006 hurricanes may hit northeast, sparing the Gulf Coast
– reported by KTRK ABC Channel 13
In two weeks, the 2006 hurricane season will officially begin — and it may well be different from recent years.
The good news, experts say, is that due to a cyclical pattern, the hard-hit Gulf Coast most likey will escape the devastation it experienced last season.
“We’re projecting two-thirds of activity of last year, not as much as last year,” said Dr. Bill Gray, a hurricane expert at Colorado State University.
The bad news is that the concentration of hurricane activity is predicted to move up the eastern seaboard this season.
“We think that the mid to latter part of the season, the heart of the hurricane season, is going to be an especially busy one along eastern seaboard,” said Joe Bastardi, a hurricane forecaster at Accuweather.
One of the worst-case scenarios is a hurricane hitting the Northeast.
[snip]
The Gulf of Mexico was hit earliest and hardest this past hurricane season, but this year it may well escape a major blow. It is possible that New Orleans, still reeling from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, could be hit again, but experts predict that would be rather unlikely.
A record-breaking number of tropical storms and major hurricanes hit the Atlantic Coast last season, the strongest of which — Katrina, Dennis, Wilma and Rita — slammed the western Gulf Coast. They were the some the deadliest and costliest hurricanes in history.
[snip]
Permalink
05.13.06
Posted in News at 6:58 pm by Paloma Cruz
McAllen suspect jailed in Pasadena diamond theft
– reported by the Houston Chronicle
A McAllen man remains jailed today after Pasadena police say he stole a 1.5-carat diamond valued at more than $4,000.
Juan Pablo Eguia, 57, also is charged with a similar case in Baytown. Authorities believe Eguia may have stolen other diamonds in the Houston area.
Vance Mitchell, a spokesman for Pasadena police, said Eguia was arrested Wednesday and is being held in the Harris County Jail in lieu of $40,000 bond.
[snip]
Permalink
05.12.06
Posted in News at 3:00 pm by Paloma Cruz
Parade kicks off festival
– reported by the Pasadena Citizen
The Strawberry Festival will not begin until May 19, but the Strawberry Festival Parade will be making its way through a stretch of Pasadena at 10 a.m. this Saturday.
[snip]
Permalink