"...But if we don't authorize the money for that contingency, we close the door on that option without ever examining it. Along the same lines, the Chronicle editorial board continues to be very skeptical of the proposed boys' academy, but we recognize that this is not the time or place for that fight..."

"...An FBI agent alleged in court that Pardo, a twice-convicted murderer, had been dealing large amounts of heroin for decades. He had been previously revered, picked by critics as "Best Mayor of South Austin" in a 2009 Chronicle "Best of Austin" award for his community service..."

"...That brings us to the other radical restructuring of our local politics: single-member districts. Many of us, including those of us at the Chronicle, have been endorsing SMDs for so long we'd gotten accustomed to the expectation that the notion would be defeated once again..."

"...Alas, I am no match for the indefatigable King and his peerless prose, but a girl can dream. As most Chronicle readers already know, Wells Dunbar, who rode herd over the "City Hall Hustle" column for several years, has moved on to start a new chapter in his life, leaving a vacancy in this particular column hole..."

"...1) Uchi/Uchiko Chef Tyson Cole won Best Chef of the Southwest Region from the James Beard Foundation, the Uchi Cookbook came out to critical acclaim and massive sales, and Uchi was awarded Best Chef, Best Japanese, and Best Sushi among a slew of other awards in the Chronicle Restaurant Poll. Meanwhile, over at Uchiko, chef Paul Qui is currently appearing on Top Chef: Texas, winning challenges and racking up huge cash prizes; he got his own James Beard Award nomination; "Jar Jar Duck" was named one of Food & Wine's Top 10 dishes of 2011; and Uchiko was named Austin's Best New Restaurant...."

"...Since early October, a few days after the Austin wing of the Occupy Wall Street national movement got under way, Chronicle photographer John Anderson has been following, photographing, and engaging with the Occupy Austin activists who have camped at City Hall, marched on Downtown streets, and rallied at the state Capitol. This photo essay is a small selection of his work over the last three months, reflecting the inception, development, and recent actions of the movement in Austin..."

"...I gathered all those grim statistics in the wake of a morning spent visiting, with Chronicle photographer John Anderson, the St. John Community Food Center (see "One Day at a Time")..."

"...It is really hard for me to believe. I'd like for the Chronicle staff to acknowledge and perhaps give a plausible explanation as to why you did not pay homage to our current warriors and those who gave their lives to keep this country free..."

"...Here are the Chronicle editorial board's endorsements for the Nov. 8 state constitutional amendments and Travis County bond proposition elections. Constitutional Amendments..."

"...Here are the Chronicle editorial board's endorsements for the Nov. 8 state constitutional amendments and Travis County bond proposition elections, for which early voting runs Oct..."

"...Waterloo Records and the Chronicle go together like the Beatles and the Stones. Both set up shop in the early 1980s and have played an integral role in supporting and shaping not only the local music scene but also each other..."

"...Dear Editor, In light of the Chronicle cutting back on the amount of letters published I am posting on two items from last week's Chronicle in one letter. The Austin Facial Hair Club's motto should be "Keeping Austin Beard" [“Where the Beards Are,” Screens, Aug. 5]. Second was the "Bag It" article [“Point Austin: Bag It,” News, Aug..."

"...Dear Editor, I appreciate the effort of the Chronicle to bring to light the struggles some artists on the East Austin Studio Tour have been going through in these past several months. However, the article [“East Austin Studio De-Tour,” News, July 15] does not describe my situation correctly, as the author did not bother to verify facts with this artist. The article states that "Barry George had received four complaints about a space at 204 Attayac between March 2010 and 2011." I personally was unaware of these complaints until I received a certified letter describing code violations from Code Enforcement in early January 2011. For the record, from the moment I received the violation notice, I contacted Code Enforcement and have worked to try to resolve the issues the city raised with my studio..."

"...The Chronicle editorial board narrowly endorsed Kathie Tovo over incumbent Randi Shade in the general election, and nothing has happened since then to cause us to reverse that opinion for the run-off. While – as tends to be inevitable – the intervening campaigns have not been particularly edifying, that has not dampened turnout..."

"...On the other hand, Shade has been a leader on the difficult and important question of revising the city's social service funding system, on new energy initiatives (the Pecan Street Project), and in taking on the more dubious aspects of the tax exemption program for "historic" properties – for which she should be commended. Like the council, the Chronicle editors remain divided on the wisdom of the WTP4 decision, but it's fair to say Shade has been steadfast not only in her support of the project but in her ongoing outreach to the most directly affected neighborhoods...."

"...I rarely use this space to call attention to another Chronicle News story – I presume readers who've gotten this far know how to turn the page – but I'm making an exception this week for "The War on Women's Health," Jordan Smith's excoriating report on the Texas Legislature's determination to use the current fiscal crisis as an excuse to attack public services for health care, most visibly symbolized by Planned Parenthood, the nonprofit organization that for decades has delivered below-cost health services for millions of women in Texas and nationwide. From our cover image and headline – "Toxic Shock" – you can tell the Chronicle editors consider this an important story..."

"...According to Austin Police Department Detective Daniel Arizpe, the Chronicle's description of the June 30, 2000, incident at the Catfish Parlour – in our Dec. 3 story "Tone Deaf," about communication problems between APD and deaf residents – was just plain wrong..."

"...This history and passion will no doubt be addressed in more detail at Friday evening's occasion, the 2010 Bill of Rights Dinner at the UT-Austin Alumni Center. And speaking of a sense of justice, among the honorees that evening will be the Chronicle's criminal justice reporter, Jordan Smith, accepting the Molly Ivins "Give 'Em Hell" Award, as the program has it, "for fighting the good fight in more than 1,200 articles."..."

"...He knew before Bentley did. (Bentley recently wrote the Chronicle's cover story on Jimmie Vaughan.)..."

"...So it looks like we'll be paying that sanctioning fee, and state officials now characterize it as a taxpayer "investment" that will be paid back. If I can cleanly lay out these facts and this timeline in a letter to the editor, how is it they didn't make their way into the Chronicle's lengthy 3,000-word article on the subject? Is it somehow not germane in your journalistic eyes?..."

"...Yes, we think spices are weird and exotic. As the Chronicle's token Englishman, I've heard them all...."

"...On May 8, Austin voters return to the polls for school board and Austin Community College board of trustees races. The Editorial Board has considered the contested races and makes the following recommendations to Chronicle readers, along with notes on a couple of uncontested races..."

"...Chronicle-phobes like to tell us they learn from our endorsements whom not to support. On that logic, we suppose we should endorse former state Rep..."

"...I hadn't initially planned on entering the discussion concerning whether Joseph Stack's suicidal attack on an Austin office of the Internal Revenue Service constituted "terrorism." Chronicle colleague Richard Whittaker had already pointed out on the Newsdesk blog that the attack certainly fit the standard definitions of the term, including, for pointed example, that of the FBI: "the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives."..."

"...But her solicitation of an appointment from Gov. Rick Per­ry – and then her public denial that she had done so, despite the documented evidence reported first in the Chronicle – has cast a troubling cloud over her candidacy..."

"...The Downtown Austin death trap article was more than sufficient [“Crime and the City Solution,” Music, June 26]. Can the Chronicle find no more relevant stories to print in its pages?..."

"...At the Chronicle, we have decent health-care insurance, although like all small businesses, the company gets whipsawed annually by rising rates and changing coverages. (For more on that subject, consult the report just released by the Texas Public Interest Research Group's Larry McNeely, "The Small Business Dilemma.") And just because we're insured doesn't mean we're covered..."

"...The Chronicle board discussion of the candidates even suggested an apt and double-edged analogy: "Right now, who do you want in charge of city policy, your stodgy but reliable dad or your energetic younger brother?" We've opted strongly for the former...."

"...Dear Editor, The well-documented endorsement of City Councilman Lee Leffingwell ["'Chronicle' Endorsements," News, April 24] had me cheering and appreciating the efforts put into the Chronicle board’s decision. His abilities as a consensus-builder and leader who has the necessary skills and experience to work with diverse groups were noted and are some reasons I agree with your decision. Leffingwell’s advocacy and strong support for our city’s social services is especially significant now that our economy has caused such an increase in demand for services and a decrease in private funding..."

"...The Chronicle board discussion of the candidates even suggested an apt and double-edged analogy: "Right now, who do you want in charge of city policy, your stodgy but reliable dad or your energetic younger brother?" We've opted strongly for the former...."

"...Dear Editor, Michael King's "Madness in Many Packages" is another example of why I've become more frustrated with the Chronicle weekly [“Point Austin,” News, April 10]. Not only did he slam Alex Jones ("tin-pot conspiracist,” “Infowars La-La Land,” “MisInfowars,” etc.), but he also has no idea about what really goes on at Highland Mall during the Texas Relays..."

"...Dennis Kucinich, Ron Paul, and Brad Sherman; and investigative journalist Greg Palast. Do I sense a bit of envy on the part of Michael King, Louis Black, and the so-called progressive Chronicle?..."

"...The Chronicle editorial board (News staff, News editors, and publisher) offer the following select recommendations to our readers for the general election to be held Nov. 4; early voting runs Oct..."

"...Matters are less likely to resolve so readily over at Austin Independent School District, where the district administration and Educa­tion Austin, the teacher and staff union, remain at loggerheads over the proposed district budget and especially over proposed raises for faculty and staff. As the Chronicle's Richard Whittaker reports ("Budget Woes at AISD"), Superintendent Pat Forgione has proposed a 3% raise for this year (while hinting that flattening property values may no longer support it), while EA has asked for 5% this year and next for full-time faculty and staff, a $10 minimum (living) wage for hourly workers, a health insurance contribution from the district, and more money for library resources..."

"...FixAustin says the key remedy would be significantly beefing up Austin's anemic adoption programs. "Austin's shelter is barely beginning to start a very limited off-site program after years of criticism." Clinton told the Chronicle...."

"...Though now ICE does have 24-hour access to a cubbyhole with desk and chair, Capt. Art Cardenas and sheriff's office spokesman Roger Wade have both told the Chronicle that ICE doesn't have enough manpower to be at the jail on a 24/7 basis..."

"...What small lessons did we learn in this round? Probably the best news, at least in the short term, is that despite everything – and everything very much includes an often-bumbling school district – Austin voters still very much support the public schools, as all three bond propositions passed easily, including Proposition 3 that could arguably have earned opposition as nonemergency spending. The worrisome backstory, as the Chronicle's Richard Whittaker has reported, is that Props..."

"...Please vote – encouraged by the knowledge that the relative importance of your single vote increases in inverse proportion to diminishing run-off turnout. – The Chronicle Editorial Board Railroad Commissioner: Dale Henry..."

"...Council veterans and rookie wannabes alike are now making the rounds of candidate forums and endorsement meetings. I've had enough experience with the political endorsement process – including that of the Chronicle – not to put too much stock in any particular endorsement, however enthusiastic..."

"...As a sign of what a finely tuned, well-oiled machine we have down here at One Chronicle Tower, we forgot to include the following in the print version of our Democratic Primary endorsements. Sorry about that. Travis County Commissioner, Pct..."

"...When my husband came home this afternoon (actually, the condo where we're temporarily staying) he said, you know you got published in the Chronicle? The letter to the editor I posted on one of my previous posts here actually made it in. ( http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Community/Postmarks?StartTime=2007-10-26 , opposing viewpoints )Funny thing when you get 'published' is not the wee vain part in you that says, aHA! My name is in print..."

"...Dear Editor, How courageous of the Chronicle to send a large chicken loose on the streets of Austin. Did no one ponder the consequences? How easily mistaken for a deadly weapon that chicken leg might have been, and your journalist gunned down! All in an effort to serve and protect … truly leaving nothing but a question as the onlookers gawk over the man-sized chicken corpse, "You guys like white meat or dark?"..."

"...As Austin Rep. Lloyd Doggett told the Chronicle last week, "I'd hoped that we were going to be building our numbers up, and yesterday we ended up with fewer votes than we had a few weeks ago." More precisely, 171 House votes for the earlier "phased withdrawal" initiative had diminished to 140 Democratic votes against continued funding of the war..."

"...Dear Editor, Your article on urban pioneers is probably the worst-researched article I've ever read in the Chronicle ["We Were the Urban Pioneers," News, March 23]. You've ranted on and on about the Spring Condo's using their sales brochures that have absolutely no relationship to current market conditions while all along not even knowing where the property is located..."

"...For a couple of years, Chronicle staff writer Jordan Smith has been following the curious story of the "alternatives to abortion" programs authored by the Legislature and underwritten by Texas taxpayers. Predictably, as Smith reported most recently on Jan..."

"...Over in Postmarks, City Manager Toby Futrell writes the Chronicle. An excerpt: "Michael King circuitously questions my professional integrity while acknowledging he has no knowledge of either a conflict of interest or any inappropriate personal interventions [“Point Austin,” News, Dec..."

"...21, corporate lawyers specializing in what they like to call "union avoidance" are anticipating a wave of new business. One told the Houston Chronicle forebodingly a few days before the janitors' victory, "They get the foot in the door, get a decent contract, and [SEIU can] use that as a marketing tool to show workers in other cities how successful they were." There aren't too many professions for which "a decent contract" for employees provides an occasion for dire warnings to future clients..."

"...Dear Editor, I'm curious (and upset) about why there has not been any reporting on the proposed Wal-Mart coming into the Northcross Center? There is a huge opposition group, and I keep expecting the Chronicle to pick up on the story...."