For those who don't know me, I'm a renaissance man with a medieval attitude on this pre-apocalyptic world. Opinions are my own. Links, re-posts and comments are not endorsements.
I'm a Trusted User here at Daily Kos and I'm sharing information from various news sites with a Houston, Texas perspective. I'm keeping the Community, Business and Nonprofit format, but please let me know if there's anything else you'd like me to cover.
COMMUNITY
Habitat changes families
Habitat for Humanity dedicated two new houses in La Porte earlier this month, bringing its total number of homes in the city to approximately 30. The Bay Area-Houston Habitat for Humanity affiliate, based in Dickinson, has been building in Galveston County and southeast Harris County since 1991, said Natalie Ainsworth, the affiliate's executive director. The nonprofit organization builds houses for families in need with the help of volunteer labor and community support.
http://www.chron.com/...
When Mental Illness Hits Home – Part II (audio - MHMRA)
One of the biggest complaints from families coping with the mental illness of a child is there just are not enough resources. Charles, 9, has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and his mother has been struggling since his diagnosis to find adequate help for him. What is frightening for her is Charles has tried to hurt himself several times, so as a mother she’s fears if she doesn’t find the right kind of help, she could lose her son.
http://news92fm.com/...
Muslim group seeks to educate Houstonians on Islamic law
With the help of a neoconservative Washington, D.C., think tank, which spearheaded similar efforts in more than 20 states across the country, the group last year pushed legislation in Texas banning the recognition of foreign law in state courts, with its proponents decrying Sharia's "creeping influence." It didn't pass, but some lawmakers consider the issue important enough to take up before the Legislature convenes in January.
http://www.chron.com/...
New Look Planned for Houston's Animal Facility
A new vision for a troubled agency. Houston Mayor Annise Parker has unveiled design plans for a new adoption center at BARC, the city's animal shelter that has had its share of criticism. Funded by $4.1 million dollars in Capital Improvement Project money, Phase-1 amenities also include a courtyard that will serve as a green space with areas for BARC animals to exercise, and get to know potential adopting families.
http://app1.kuhf.org/...
The Center to hold fun run
The Center, a United Way Agency that assists people with disabilities with job training and health insurance, is holding an 8K fun run at 7:30 a.m. on March 24 at Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston.
http://www.ultimateheights.com/...
BUSINESS
Washington Mutual saga ends with completion of Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Washington Mutual Inc., the largest bank or thrift to fail in U.S. history, emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Tuesday after years of legal wrangling and criminal investigation since its 2008 closure. The Seattle-based company, whose reorganization plan was approved last month by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, said Tuesday that it will start distributing about $7 billion in payments to creditors.
http://www.bizjournals.com/...
Winning streak in home sales continues
Houston-area home sales were up for the ninth straight month in February, as inventory fell to its lowest level in more than three years, the Houston Association of Realtors said in a monthly report Tuesday. Real-estate agents sold 3,832 single-family homes last month. That's up 16.9 percent over February 2011, according to the association, which tracks homes sold through the Multiple Listing Service.
http://www.chron.com/...
KUHF Conversations: U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk
Last week saw two major developments in international trade. The Korea-US Free Trade Agreement went into effect, and the Obama Administration launched a WTO case against China over Beijing's export restrictions on rare earth metals. KUHF Business Reporter Andrew Schneider sat down with U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to discuss both following Kirk's speech to the Greater Houston Partnership.
http://app1.kuhf.org/...
Justices Limit Suits Filed Over Family Leave Act Violations
The Supreme Court split along ideological lines in ruling that state workers may not sue their employers for violations of part of the act, prompting the term’s first dissent read from the bench.
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Gen-Y Consumers Feeling the Debt Pinch
Buried in debt and lacking financial independence, 20-somethings stressed, concerned about their financial futures, and—well—still spending.Generation Y is feeling blue about being in the red. The second phase of the inaugural PNC Financial Independence Survey released today showed that 20 to 29 year olds carry an average debt of $45,000, and that 60% of 20-somethings who graduated into the recession report feeling stressed about their outstanding debt. According to the survey, debt was higher for those in their later 20s. Survey respondents between the ages of 20 and 21 reported an average debt of $12,000, with the average debt for 28 to 29 year olds being $78,000.
http://wire.inc.com/...
NONPROFIT / OTHER
1.2 Billion People Live in Poverty - The Rockefeller Foundation and Institute for the Future Invite 7 Billion People to Help Find Solutions
On April 3, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Institute for the Future (IFTF) will join forces with people across the globe and ask them to help solve global poverty through an interactive online game. These insights will trigger innovations that will make a significant difference in the lives of poor or vulnerable communities. The game can be played online at game.catalyze4change.org. Around the world, hundreds of millions of people are looking for ways out of poverty. While progress has been made, over 1.2 billion poor or vulnerable people around the world are still living in extreme poverty.
http://www.marketwatch.com/...
8 inspiring ‘Thank You’ videos created by nonprofits
With each passing day your supporters, donors, activists and sponsors are becoming overwhelmed by the barrage of tweets, status updates, text messages, and emails thrown at them on a daily basis. As a result, text-based “Thank You” messages are often unread and overlooked. A video can often communicate your appreciation better than the written word, and the eight videos below will help inspire your nonprofit to create a “Thank You” video. With peak fundraising season beginning in six months, that gives you plenty of time to create a video that both inspires and communicates your gratitude.
http://www.prdaily.com/...