Mike Falick's Blog

Here are the Outcomes in the Races I was Watching Yesterday (100% on My Predictions)

Here (.pdf) are the outcomes in the races I was watching last night.  I went 5 for 5 on my predictions, although all of them were fairly obvious.

Liveblogging the 2006 Election Results

This post last updated on November 8 at 6:06 a.m.

I will be updating this post as the election returns come in.  Here are the most current results (most recent results appear first):

• Final election results are available here (.pdf) and here.
• Murphy wins
• Woolley wins
• Bohac wins
  
• Cohen wins
• Vo wins
• All City of Houston Props approved
• Vo v. Heflin really tightens up: Vo 50.74% v. Heflin 49.26% (23.71% of Precincts reporting)
• My calls: Murphy wins HD 133; Cohen wins HD 134; Woolley wins HD 136; City of Houston Props all pass; Vo v. Heflin too close to call
• Murphy 56% v. Thibaut 41% (62% of Precincts reporting)
• Vo 52% v. Heflin 48% (21% of Precincts reporting)
• Murphy 56% v. Thibaut 41%
• Prop G at 61%
• Ellen Cohen declares victory
• Lampson 50% v. Sekula-Gibbs 43% (28% of Precincts reporting)
• Vo 52% v. Heflin 48% (17% of Precincts reporting)
• Cohen 54% v. Wong 44% (29% of Precincts reporting)
• Murphy 59% v. Thibaut 41% (25% of Precincts reporting)
• Prop G 62% For
• Vo 54% v. Heflin 46%
• Bohac 60% v. McDavid 38%
• Woolley 68% v. Brann 30%
• Cohen 57% v. Wong 41%
• Fox News just projected Gov. Perry as the winner
• Murphy 59% v. Thibaut 39%
• Sekula-Gibbs 49% v. Lampson 46%
• All City of Houston Propositions currently passing (Prop. G at 60%)
• Perry 40% v. Bell 30%

Election 2006 Races I'll be Watching Tomorrow Night (with a Few Fairly Obvious Predictions)

Click here (.pdf) to see the Texas races I will be watching tomorrow night with predictions on some of the local races.

Robert Novak has posted his views and analysis on the national races that are likely to decide which party controls the House and Senate.

Vote Tomorrow!

Tomorrow (November 7) is election day.  The polls will be open from 7am - 7pm.  Please take the time to make your voice heard.  To determine where to vote, go to the HarrisVotes website.

For a sample ballot, click here. 

The League of Women Voters Voter's Guide provides a good discussion of the candidates and City of Houston Propositions.

Spring Branch ISD Continues to be a Relative Bargain: Second Lowest Real Tax Cost for Homeowners in the Houston Area

Spring Branch ISD continues to maintain the second lowest real tax cost in the Houston area for our homeowners.  We continue to offer all of the exemptions to our homeowners at the maximum available amount, including the full 20% optional homestead exemption.  Here's the comparison of Spring Branch to the surrounding districts:

Neighboroo: Instant Access to Tons of Information About Your Zip Code (Politics, Crime, Home Prices, Cost of Living, Commute Time, Tax Rates, etc.) Using Google Maps

Here's a very good use of Google Maps technology.  Neighboroo allows you to simply type in a zip code or city and you have instant access to everything from political breakdown to crime, politics, school district rank, home price, cost of living, commute time, household income, tax rates, unemployment, and population density and ethnicity.  Here's the political breakdown for each zip code in Spring Branch:

• 77024
• 77043
• 77055
• 77079
• 77080

TEA Announces New Accommodations to Assist Middle School Students with Dyslexia on the TAKS Reading Test

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has announced accommodations to provide assistance to middle school dyslexic students on the TAKS reading test.  The background from the TEA:

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In spring 2006, districts were permitted to use the bundled accommodations to administer TAKS reading tests to eligible students in grades 3 through 5. This year the use of bundled accommodations will be expanded to middle school. Beginning in spring 2007, districts may use these accommodations to administer TAKS reading tests both in English and in Spanish at grades 3 through 6 and TAKS reading tests in English at grades 7 and 8.

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For more information, you can visit the TEA website or download the letter (.pdf) sent to districts by the TEA.

Iraqi War Heroes Respond to Sen. Kerry: Why a Picture Really is Worth 1000 Words