Come out and play!

Prairie Fest Debuts New Old Look This Weekend

Star-Telegram gives away free advertising

If your name is Tim Love.

No wonder the restaurant’s in Fort Worth are pissed.  What happens when they do the same to YOUR type of business?

Apparently Mitch doesn’t read the comments from readers on his own paper, or he’d know the kind of reviews the locals give the Woodshed.  You know, the folks that actually live here.

What’s the going rate for kickbacks in the “news”-paper industry?

We will warn you, this may be one of the most nauseating views we have yet to read from the Trinity River Vision cheerleader, AKA, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  Almost as nauseating as the “news”paper  even mentioning tubing on the river after the known findings of fecal matter, etc. were released last year, after the tubing events, of course.

So tell us, what is the real purpose of a “news” paper?  WHEN will Fort Worth get one?  How will we ever wait?

Just a reminder for those of you who don’t know, summer is coming…

If the Woodshed Smokehouse is any indication of what's ahead for the Trinity River Vision, maybe they could start digging that bypass channel a few years early. How will Fort Worth ever wait?

The Woodshed is so good, so soon, that it gives the river project a jolt of new energy and even gives government a good name.

The TRV aims to move a river, reclaim acres of waterfront land near downtown and attract the development to pay for it. Celebrity chef Tim Love sees the Woodshed as an iconic venue unlike any in North Texas, and a place that stirs a love affair with the river.

The Tarrant Regional Water District, which opted to go large and all-in, spent almost $1 million to build the pavilion-style structure (designed by Bennett Benner Pettit of Fort Worth).  AKA – Gideon Toal

Granger didn't have the option of selling the Woodshed's tiny parcel to Love. It had to remain in government hands for potential flood control. Rather than a simple lease, Granger and Love worked out a risk-sharing deal, with 4 to 6 percent of gross revenue going to the water district, depending on sales volume.

How do you figure?

The editorial in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram left us shaking our heads, again.  The editor says this is the only Private/ Public Partnership (P3) that won't work.  Although, it is a project that is a direct result of their fist-pumping, paper-loving Trinity River Vision (a completely taxpayer funded project). 

They go on to say a good thing about P3's is "no bond election needed".  An election concerning a project in Fort Worth?  Not building something until you have the money?  YOUR own money?  Foreign concept around these parts.  (See the accompanying article," Fort Worth working to find $3.3 million dollars to redevelop Hunter Plaza" . )

A citizen commented on the way the Police and Fire Training Academy could be funded.  They get it.

They may try to get "Junior" Granger and "Mama" to front the deal as the citizens will pay when they're through with "Mama's Legacy"!!!!

Of all the capital projects on Cowtown's ever-expansive list of wants, this is the only one with a clock ticking.

The city sold the fire and police training building and the firing range at 1000 Calvert St. in 2011 to the Tarrant Regional Water District. Both departments still have access to those facilities under leases, but the contract on the firing range runs out Dec. 31, 2013. (The lease for the training building doesn't expire until the end of 2019.)

Waitin' on Water

Well, waiting to sue our neighbors again for theirs.

Politex explains WHY Irving and their current mayor have jumped on board. Now, WHY would the Supreme Court need another week? 

WHAT happens when the water is gone?  WHO will come to Texas then?  WHERE will you get water?

The U.S 10th Circuit and a lower federal court ruled in favor of Oklahoma in the lawsuit, in which the water district seeks to obtain water from north of the Red River to serve as part of the Metroplex's future water supply.

"The Supreme Court today decided to take another week to consider Tarrant’s certiorari petition challenging Oklahoma laws barring the export of water to Texas – indicating that the Justices are interested in Tarrant’s arguments and intend to study the case more deeply," said attorney Timothy S. Bishop.

"The Court will discuss whether to grant Tarrant’s petition again on March 30."

Last week, the Supreme declined to hear another case involving water being moved from Oklahoma to Texas. Hugo, Okla., had an agreement to sell water to Irving and the lower courts had ruled that Hugo couldn't sell water without Oklahoma's permission.

How do YOU protect your property?

Like that.

Good work, Texans.  Keep it up.  If YOU don't, WHO will?

A BIG moment has arrived...

Proposal to fix key segments of FREEways in San Antonio WITHOUT tolls! 

After 7 years of controversy, San Antonio elected officials come together to snag some of that $2 billion to fix 281 & 1604 without tolls (as YOU asked them to). MPO to vote on resolution tomorrow, Monday, March 26 @ 1:30 PM!

Join us for...
Press Conference prior to the MPO vote
1:00 PM Monday, March 26
Via Metro Center
1021 San Pedro
San Antonio, TX

Despite recent developments for a non-toll proposal for a few segments in San Antonio, there are still 500 other toll projects planned statewide...

If this doesn't scare you...

Read the comments.  93 of them on an article posted today on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

WHAT'S more important to YOU? Quality or growth?  What's more important to YOUR elected officials?

Do YOUR leaders really think lawn watering is the reason we're in the shape we're in?  We have reports of dead grass and trees from here to the Red River.

Remember earlier this week when a nonprofit did an investigation on Congress and their family connections.  WHAT do you think they are they paid to say?

WHO controls YOUR water?  What will the other cities do?  Like always, wait and see what Fort Worth does.  No offense, guys, but you need to pick another role model.

Guess the latest Irving Mayor has been brought into the game.  The last one tried to get water for the city instead of waiting on the Tarrant Regional Water District. All the way to the Supreme Court to get water from Oklahoma. 

"Mayor Price and I have been talking about lots of initiatives together, and water is one of them," Rawlings said. "I think water conservation is probably the most important issue we have in the next three decades. We cannot continue to grow without water, and I want to continue to grow."

The district provides raw water to 98 percent of residents in Tarrant County, including Fort Worth, Arlington and Mansfield.

"The goal is to reduce excessive outdoor watering and water waste, especially during peak summer months when rain is scarce and demands are high," said Linda Christie, the district's government and community relations director.

The (Tarrant Regional Water) district provides raw water to 98 percent of residents in Tarrant County, including Fort Worth, Arlington and Mansfield.

Officials with Colleyville and North Richland Hills said they haven't discussed the issue. North Richland Hills spokeswoman Mary Peters said the city will likely follow the lead of Fort Worth and the authority on the issue since it buys water from both entities.

The Fort Worth Water Department has 30 wholesale customers, including Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Southlake, Hurst, Burleson and Crowley. Its contract requires customers to follow whatever rules the city implements itself.

The mayor of Irving, which tried unsuccessfully to broker its own water deal with Hugo, Okla., said the city is ready to work with others.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear a lawsuit that resulted from the proposed deal, upholding a lower court's ruling that Hugo couldn't sell water without Oklahoma's permission.
The people say:

Ok, I can understand wanting to conserve water and even using the  twice a week plan. BUT... what about all the Government buildings, Commercial properties & City landscapes that (even when "WE" were in restrictions last year) continue to water on a daily basis, not only in the heat of the day (outside of City required times) but also over watering to the point that there is a large stream running down the road.

What's required for us should be required for the Government and Commercial properties also.
"We cannot continue to grow without water, and I want to continue to grow."

Sounds like a mindless comment to me.  At what point does growth reduce the quality of your life?
Maybe if Rawlings stopped and thought about it, he would realize that the lack of water ITSELF is trying to tell him something, that growth only works when there are reasonable resources to sustain it.
Promoting growth with one hand, while restricting resources with the other, is a bad idea.  There has to be a balance.

"We cannot continue to grow without water, and I want to continue to grow."  Why must we continue to grow?  If you are conserving water, only to expand your growth, then you are just delaying the problem.  If we are under water restrictions, then there should be building restrictions as well.  No new house without the destruction of an equivalent number of sq ft.  7 billion people.  Just stop already.Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2...

Duh...

A new study called Family Affair, details the rampant nepotism in Congress.  Which isn't "technically" illegal, but how to YOU feel about paying for it? 

Recently there was the article about how much YOUR Congressperson is bringing home.  Now here's one about how much of YOUR money they are funnelling to their family. 

Guess WHO made the list? 

Even the Fort Worth Star-Telegram gave it a little notice.  YOUR billion dollars got a two sentence mention. 

Two-thirds of the Texans serving in the U.S. House of Representatives -- including three from North Texas -- have relatives who financially benefited from having a legislator in the family over the past four years, according to a report released this week.

The report, titled "Family Affair," was released by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which reviewed documents for nine months. It shows that relatives of 248 members received payments or otherwise benefited because of the lawmaker in their family.

Some payments were not made directly to relatives but may have come through federal funds earmarked to institutions or nonprofit organizations where they work. Or family members may have served as lobbyists or in government relations, actions that are "not illegal, but ripe for abuse," according to the report by the nonprofit ethics group.

Granger was named because she earmarked $30 million in federal funds for a river redevelopment plan in Fort Worth. Her son, J.D. Granger, heads the Trinity River Vision Authority, which is working to make Kay Granger's vision a reality.

Fort Worth Firebomb

It's being reported that Wendy Davis' office was firebombed this afternoon. 

Luckily, Wendy wasn't present and no one was hurt. 

WHO would do such a thing? 

What's the ETA on karma?

Do no harm

Isn't that the oath doctor's take?

Seems the industry does not share the sentiment. 

What if something was making your child sick and your doctor was forbidden to tell you about it?  WHAT would you do?

Truth-out has a three part gas drilling series YOU must see.  YOUR life may depend on it.

Fracking: Pennsylvania gags Physicians

Fluids used in fracking include those that are “potentially hazardous,” including volatile organic compounds, according to Christopher Portier, director of the National Center for Environmental Health, a part of the federal Centers for Disease Control. In an email to the Associated Press in January 2012, Portier noted that waste water, in addition to bring up several elements, may be radioactive. Fracking is also believed to have been the cause of hundreds of small earthquakes in Ohio and other states.

The law, an amendment to Title 52 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, requires that companies provide to a state-maintained registry the names of chemicals and gases used in fracking. Physicians and others who work with citizen health issues may request specific information, but the company doesn’t have to provide that information if it claims it is a trade secret or proprietary information, nor does it have to reveal how the chemicals and gases used in fracking interact with natural compounds. If a company does release information about what is used, health care professionals are bound by a non-disclosure agreement that not only forbids them from warning the community of water and air pollution that may be caused by fracking, but which also forbids them from telling their own patients what the physician believes may have led to their health problems. A strict interpretation of the law would also forbid general practitioners and family practice physicians who sign the non-disclosure agreement and learn the contents of the “trade secrets” from notifying a specialist about the chemicals or compounds, thus delaying medical treatment.

The clauses are buried on pages 98 and 99 of the 174-page bill, which was initiated and passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and signed into law in February by Republican Gov. Tom Corbett.

“I have never seen anything like this in my 37 years of practice,” says Dr. Helen Podgainy, a pediatrician from Coraopolis, Pa.

WHO are you voting for?

Be there Thursday to learn about the candidates, one of which, will end up voting for YOU. 

Looking at the line up, it should be fun.

TX House District 91 Candidate Debate
Stephanie Klick vs Ken Sapp vs Charles Scoma vs Theresa Thombs
Thursday, March 22 7:00-8:00pm
Foster Village Recreation Building
6600 Starnes Rd, Watauga