It was 83 years ago yesterday when Martin Luther King, Jr. was born into a nation where simply his skin color alone was enough to designate him a second class citizen and prevent him and his family from enjoying such basic human dignities as living, eating, or travelling where they want, or voting for elected representatives without encumbrance or limitation. It can be difficult sometimes for modern Americans who weren't born or didn't live during the civil rights era to comprehend the gross inequalities and devastating economic and social racism that was encoded into our very laws throughout America just 50 years ago. more ›

Current opponents criticize single-member districts as leading to parochial ward politics. In response, supporters of a district-based governance system cite improved responsiveness to local needs, higher voter turnout and the possibility of increased minority representation. more ›

Dust off the derby hats and iron out the seersuckers. It's time to get lucky in Kentucky! Or, for those of us who'd like to skip the 14 hour drive, there's plenty of horsing around going on this weekend right here in Austin.

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• Republican filibuster broken, jobless benefits extension likely to pass
• A little good news from the Gulf: Relief well days from completion...
• ...Or maybe not: Could cleanup effort damage Gulf further?

• Republican filibuster broken, jobless benefits could flow soon
• A little good news from the Gulf: Relief well "days from completion"
• ...or maybe not: Could oilspill cleanup damage the Gulf further?

• Is nowhere safe? A drunk driver hit a pedestrian around noon at the Domain last week.
• The Crawford Peace House has fallen on hard times, is facing foreclosure.
• Wayne Gretzky might buy the Dallas Stars?

• Interracial couple in Louisiana denied marriage license.
• Bank of America loses $2.24B as loan losses rise.
• Bomb kills 4 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

• Obama confers about Afghanistan with a bipartisan group of legislators (because bipartisanship has been going so well for him lately...)
• Polanski loses bid to be released; court calls him a "flight risk."
• Why are we taking the word "climate" out of climate change legislation?

44 people, including rabbis and politicians, were arrested in a NJ corruption sting yesterday. Should Professor Gates have been more polite to the cops who showed up at his door? While her fans still adore her, it looks like less everyday Americans give a hoot about Palin. Budget Lodge near Rundberg on IH35 comes to an agreement with the city; neighbors hope that leads to less crime in the area. Low water levels mean long-ago dumped cars can be recovered from Lake Travis. Shanghai officials to couples: please have two babies. Bruce Campbell a hit at Comic-Con, chats about Burn Notice. more ›

Part legal thriller, part true-life human drama, Scott Hamilton Kennedy’s The Garden has received a cascade of accolades since its release last year and now Austinites have a chance to see it. This Academy Award nominated documentary follows the plight of a few Los Angeles citizens as they fight to save their 14-acre public garden from the bulldozers of wealthy land developers, and judging from the trailer, a compelling struggle most definitely ensues. more ›

Tomorrow night, the UT Libraries are hosting a panel discussion on the legacy of Barbara Jordan. Moderated by Texas Politics Project Director James Henson, "When Barbara Jordan Talked, We Listened - A Panel Discussion" will include current State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, Executive Director of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Susan Rieff, and former Dean of the LBJ School of Public Affairs Max Sherman. This panel is free and open to the public. more ›

• Pesky lawmaker wants to criminalize the sale of a psychedelic shrub to minors.
• Following a nationwide mocking, Texas Rep. Betty Brown apologies for statement, says Asian-Americans can keep their names.
• “Is there anywhere you’d rather be on Easter Sunday?” Morrissey asked everyone at Bass last night. Oh, Mozzer!

The hubbub caused by the news of the Saturday afternoon closing of Highland Mall and proposed Relays weekend closure of a couple downtown clubs has still not completely silenced, but police have released the arrest and citation numbers for downtown this past weekend and the numbers are less than in past years. There were 25 arrests and citations in the downtown area this Relays weekend (compared to 46 in 2008 and 39 in 2007). That number is less than half that of either Mardi Gras (57 arrests/citations) or the last two days of SxSW this year (52 arrests/citations). more ›

At this year's chilly Trail of Lights 5K race, don't be surprised if you happen upon a pack of sexy sprinters sporting little more than red swim briefs. more ›

• Oh, snap!
• Oh, snap! (Part Two)
• How much did it cost to create the CNN hologram?

• Athletes, take your oxygen masks: pollution levels aren't looking that great for the Beijing Olympics.
• G8 leaders pledge to cut in half the amount of greenhouse emissions by 2050.
• Earthquake this morning hits southern Peru.

Obama to make a speech on race this morning which will address his pastor's none-too-politic comments on the subject. The Dalai Lama might "resign" if violence in Tibet keeps getting worse. News flash: US consumers are going to become fiscally responsible again! Oh man! The new New York guv has had affairs too! But at least this time, his wife got hers as well. more ›

The good thing about Bush's State of the Union speech tonight: it will be his last! St. Austin's Church turns 100. Judge decides against landowners in Brownsville border fence dispute. This has us baffled: Harris County assistant district attorney sends out e-mail using "Canadian" as a racial slur. more ›

Image from City of Austin Watershed Protection Dept. 108,000 gallons of wastewater drain into tributary to Harris Branch Creek, killing fish and possibly harming nearby residents who use well-water. Manhunt on for man who shot and killed someone during a card game in Bastrop this morning. Truck overturns in South Austin, takes power lines with it. Georgetown cop indicted for sexually assaulting a female in custody. Dawnna Dukes may have an opponent in her race... more ›

As we move to the next square on the calendar you're still out there trying to make a connection. Sadly you let most of them slip by without saying a word. We understand, no one wants to be overzealous and get shot down. If only you had some place to find a second chance. Oh yes, Missed Connections. If only you had someone to sort through and find the best of the above. Oh,... more ›

Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan blames President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for efforts to mislead the public about the role of White House aides in leaking the identity of a CIA operative. Police Chief: "Missing Student Ignored Due to Race." A drunken man broke into a central London park and attempted to have sex with a fence: Daniel French, 24, made "sexual motions" towards metal railings in Leicester Square Gardens... more ›

Sunday marks the tenth anniversary of Komen Austin Race for the Cure. With 24,000 attendees and a fundraising goal of over $1 million, this year’s event is expected to be the largest in the Austin's race history. Throughout the past ten years, 150,000 Austinites have raised more than $6 million dollars to support those affected by breast cancer in our community. Susan G. Komen for the Cure started as a promise between sisters back in... more ›

Sugar Cane Alley, the third offering of the current Austin Film Society series Torn From the Motherland: Films from the African Diaspora, introduces us to a young boy named Jose who has grown up in the shanty towns of Martinique. Life in his village has been poor in material possessions, but rich with lessons. He has learned about race relations through his friendship with a child of mixed ethnicity, the bastard son of the Creole... more ›

Robert Stikmanz, AKA Jackanapes Plenty, AKA fully human Austin author Robert Lewis, will appear in one of his many guises to preview his new book, Nod’s Way, at BookPeople this Saturday. Nod’s Way is part fantasy, part I Ching manual from another dimension, so if you have any burning questions that Dr. Laura or George Noory can’t answer, here’s your chance to consult a real live ancient oracle. Nod’s Way is a follow-up to Stikmanz’s... more ›

Beirut The Flying Club Cup (4AD) Beirut is Zach Condon, and Zach Condon is right on time. His international folk through every instrument imaginable (except guitar) is rich with cultural consciousness and adventure and is just the reinvigoration the folk, indie, rock and whatever-music scenes need to get over their musical malaise. The resplendent and occasionally haunting sounds of the cello, accordion, violin, mandolin, piano, sax, clarinet, glockenspiel, flugelhorn, trumpet and more ukelele than you... more ›

FACT: In 2007, there will be 181,510 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the U.S. alone. Of those diagnosed, nearly 41,000 will succumb to the disease. AWESOME FACT: When detected early, breast cancer has a 96% survival rate. This Wednesday, join Mayor Wynn and members of Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s Austin Affiliate to kick off National Breast Cancer Month and celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Austin’s Race for the Cure. To celebrate... more ›

The University of Texas raised $26 million in athletic donations in 2006, putting it 16th among all U.S. universities. A study by The Chronicle of Higher Education found that money for athletics accounts for more than one-quarter of all contributions to some universities. The Chronicle survey reported that the country's largest athletic departments and booster clubs raised more than $1.2 billion in 2006 and 2007. The University of Texas wasn't the top athletic fund-raiser in... more ›

Editors’ note: The opinions and ideas expressed in this opinion piece are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the outlook and belief of anyone else in the Ist network. I hadn't initially planned to attend The Flaming Lips show at La Zona Rosa this past Tuesday, opting to avoid possible run-ins with any "Furries", but a last-minute ticket to a Lips show is not something to turn one's nose up... more ›

While lounging amongst hundreds of lesbians at HRC’s Dinah Lakeshore event two weekends ago, we noticed a few people emerge from the mass of tank tops in full-on Western-wear: they were there to spread the word about the Texas Gay Rodeo Association’s Capitol City Rodeo. Hopelessly hypnotized by the man’s Southern drawl and his ability to delve into the most fascinating details concerning the art of calf roping, we were already sold on the event... more ›

The start of the fall season on network television used to be a bigger deal before cable's summer original fare became so juicy and good. We admit we still get a little excited when we read about original ideas heading our way on the big networks. The crop of new shows starting this fall seems like more of the same (sadly), but there are some that don't follow type and deserve recommendation. Pushing Daisies, ABC,... more ›