Steve Wolens

Vote Fraud: A Little Bit is Good for Democracy, Even When the GOP Does It

Latest twist in the great imaginary vote fraud epidemic of 2012: Now Republicans are nabbed doing exactly the same stuff they have accused Democrats of doing. In a piece in this morning's New York Times we get a peek at voter hanky-panky, GOP-style. An operative named Nathan Sproul, who has receive ... More >>

In the Medrano Vote Fraud Case, Let's Not Tie the Noose Just Yet

​OK, I do understand that we're all primed now to string up the entire Medrano family for a massive vote fraud conspiracy bordering on terrorism, communism and cannibalism. All I want to do is toss out a couple modest words of caution. The Dallas Morning News has a lead editorial today insist ... More >>

In God We Trust. Unless You're Dublin Dr Pepper, Says Corporate's Latest Filing.

​At the end of last week, Plano-based Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc. filed its response to Dublin Dr Pepper's response to corporate's lawsuit filed in June, in which the mothership insists Dublin's violating a licensing agreement by selling The Imperial Pure Cane Sugar-y Good Stuff outside of a six-count ... More >>

Dublin Dr Pepper Responds to Corporate HQ's Lawsuit With Quite the Legal History Lesson

It probably doesn't help Dr Pepper's case that CEO Larry Young went on KERA's CEO in '09 with a Dublin sixer and touted it as "the original Dr Pepper formula with the Imperial sugar in it" with an "unbelievable" following.​Back in June, you no doubt recall, Plano-based Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc. deci ... More >>

Dr Pepper Snapple Group Responds to Dublin Dr Pepper's Response to Corporate's Lawsuit

Via.​Back to the Dr Pepper-on-Dr Pepper lawsuit ...Early this morning we posted Dublin Dr Pepper's response to the lawsuit filed in June by Plano-based Dr Pepper Snapple Group, which is trying to limit Dublin's real-deal Imperial Sugar-spiked soda pop to a six-county area and alleges the oldest Dr ... More >>

Mike Rawlings Clobbers Ron Natinsky and David Kunkle in Mayoral Fund-Raising Effort

Photos by Sam MertenWe're guessing this was Rawlings's reaction when he received bills from his consultants.​Former TracyLocke CEO Mike Rawlings easily outpaced the field of mayoral candidates by raising a whopping $1.03 million -- nearly three times the combined haul of Ron Natinksy and David ... More >>

Dallas' Next Mayor Will Face Tough Budget Choices. Too Bad The Candidates Won't Talk About Them.

Welcome To The Dull House

Is David Kunkle's candidacy for mayor a sign that Dallas is headed in the right direction or that Schutze is off his meds?

It's Official: Kunkle's Running for Dallas Mayor

Patrick MichelsFormer Dallas Mayor Laura Miller's husband Steve Wolens is Kunkle's campaign treasurer.​Last week, former Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle said he was more than likely going to run for Dallas mayor -- as in, chances are "greater that I will run than I won't run." He didn't know when ... More >>

You're a Mean One, Mayor Grinch: Leppert Taking Hunt Out of Committee Chair Not Nice

flickrBut the opposite of this.​I have been keeping my mouth shut for months about this deal between Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and city council member Angela Hunt concerning committee assignments and Hunt's ability to care for her new baby. But today there's a good story about it by Rudy Bush on th ... More >>

Texas Tribune Catches Up With Laura Miller

​It's quite the reunion this morning: Ex-Dallas News-er Emily Ramshaw, now at the Texas Tribune, sits down with ex-Dallas Observer-er and former Dallas Mayor Laura Miller, now director of projects for Summit Power, which is in the clean-coal (big) business. Miller, who hasn't done many sitdowns si ... More >>

Former State Representative Steve Wolens Interested in Statewide Office

Steve Wolens ​With statewide races wrapping up in a couple months, it seems awfully premature to start the discussion about who's interested in replacing the winners four years down the road. But, as D's Wick Allison pointed out Monday, former State Rep. Steve Wolens has kept nearly $1.2 milli ... More >>

With FBI Informant's Credibility in Question, Prosecution Decides It's Laura Miller Time

Sam Merten Miller crosses Commerce Street this morning, along with husband Steve Wolens and daughter Alex.Moments ago, folks standing outside the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse got a sneak peek at the prosecution's next witness in the City Hall corruption trial: former ... More >>

What a Difference Five Years Makes: Public Funding and Ownership of Hotel Goes From "Considerable Risk" to $315 Million Cash Cow

flickr member: Angela HuntSo how did Mayor Leppert accomplish what his predecessor was unable to do? It's all in the numbers.In December 2003, the city of Dallas issued a request for proposals to build a convention center hotel after former Mayor Laura Miller and her husband, former state Rep. Steve ... More >>

In Which Jim's Not Jealous of Laura Miller at All. Not One Bit. Why?

Under the headline "Refined Refuge," Traditional Home has come up what we news types here in Dallas might consider a pretty decent scoop. They have a story that answers the question: Where the hell has Laura Miller been the last year? Feathering her nest, looks like.The story is all about Miller's ... More >>

Demanding Answers as the Dallas Convention Center Hotel Moves Forward

As Mayor Tom Leppert pushes for a convention center hotel, critics demand more details and less tax money. At least, those who haven't been silenced do.

Dallas Flashes Back to 1997

A Trinity River vote, the return of the Citizens Council, a corruption case at City Hall. Buzz is confused. Was this 2007 or 1997?

All's Quiet on the Northwestern Front

Fed Up in Farmers Branch | There She Goes Again | Borat on Rock and Roll

Tone Deaf

On the Trinity, Laura Miller sounds a lot like any other old-time Dallas pol: bad

If You Got the Money, I Got the Time

Rock Star

The smart money wants a mayor with sex appeal

Save it for a Rainy Day (As If)

Take This Job and Shove It

It's Your Call, Mayor Laura

Mayor Miller Demands Recount

Pants on Fire

Looking forward to even more whoppers next year

Best Political Moment

Laura Miller's coming-out speech

Stepford Mayor

Laura Miller's husband orders a shift for City Hall

Sherlock Doofus

The latest absentee ballot forgeries aren't the handiwork of a genius

Vacancy

An ignored study raises doubt about Dallas' proposed role as hotelier

Now We Like Belo

We just don't want to get caught inside after dark

License to Scam

Is anything actually against the law in Texas elections?

Like Father, Like Son

Plus: Miller the Unifier, Second-guessing Goya, Lucy Is a Band

Bulworth

Democrat-snatchers invade Dallas

Mommie Dearest

Potholes, motherhood and high fashion mingle in Miller's populist campaign kickoff

Busting the Ballot Brokers

County officials hope reforms will prevent absentee-ballot trickery

Dump Bolton

The protesters at Laura Miller's house were Dallas-style terrorists, working for the chief of police

Homefryin' with Fred Baron

Dallas' largest plaintiff's firm, Baron & Budd, cultivates friends, punishes enemies and beats allegations it prompts clients to lie and win

Buzz

Clinton's buddy gets a new job

The old switcheroo

What happens when you no longer need the levee taxpayers voted to pay for? Why, you just spend the money on some other big dumb project.

Bill soon due

Dallas beat the telecoms, but guess who pays the price?

The girl can't help it

Laura Miller says she'd "love" to run for mayor

Buzz

Ignorance is bliss

Two supposed champions of open government are pushing hard to keep campaign finance records off the Internet. What don't they want you to know?

Gutless coup

Everybody's talking about a takeover at DISD, but nobody wants to do anything about it

Letters

The control freak

Fred Baron's attempt to spin the story of his law firm's tactics was memorable, to say the least

Miller leaves Observer for politics

Letters