Monthly Archives: January 2015

Saturday video break: Existential Blues

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure I have a few Dr. Demento fans in my reading audience. As such, I’m sure you’re familiar with Tom “T-Bone” Stankus and his stream of consciousness masterpiece: There are some better videos that show Stankus singing, with some … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Perry re-files motions to quash indictments

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. Following the cues provided in a judge’s ruling this week, lawyers for Rick Perry filed a request on Friday to get an indictment against the former governor dismissed. The new request noted “serious, well-founded concerns” that Judge Bert … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The last time Texas was in the minority on a marriage issue

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Those who forget the lessons of history are likely to get an unfavorable SCOTUS ruling crammed down their throats. As the U.S. Supreme Court takes up the issue of same-sex marriage, Texas once again finds itself on the lonely side … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The last time Texas was in the minority on a marriage issue

A first data point on the Uber/Lyft experience

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been saying since the vehicles for hire saga began that we should circle back in a year or so and review how things have gone. Thanks to an academic study of users’ experiences with Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar in … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on A first data point on the Uber/Lyft experience

From industrial to residential

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

More changes coming to my neck of the woods. Some of the old warehouses lining a stretch of Sawyer Street across Interstate 10 from the Heights are being primed for new development, as this First Ward area continues to morph … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on From industrial to residential

Friday random ten – Dance Party!

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I mentioned Scalzi’s 80s dance party playlist a couple of Fridays ago, and also mentioned that it had some oversights on it. Well, no party lasts forever, so you have to cut it off somewhere. Be that as it may, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Friday random ten – Dance Party!

The games our tax system plays

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I find this just fascinating. It’s been described as bribery, taxation without representation and a shady political maneuver. Others have called it an innovative way to deal with budgetary problems and get things done. Ever since Texas lawmakers made it … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

HD13 runoff date set

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We are now all set on special election runoffs. Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday scheduled a Feb. 17 runoff in the special election for Lois Kolkhorst’s old seat in the Texas House. Austin County Judge Carolyn Bilski and Caldwell attorney … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HD13 runoff date set

Appeals court reverses ruling about pension retiree information

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

So much for that. A state district court’s 2013 ruling that Houston’s fire pension board must turn over detailed information on its retirees to help city officials better project future pension bills has been overturned on appeal. Justices with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Paxton evades prosecution

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

In Travis County, anyway. New Attorney General Ken Paxton, who in 2014 was found to have violated the Texas Securities Act, will not be prosecuted by the state’s office that investigates public corruption, officials said Thursday. Paxton, a former state … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton evades prosecution

A bill to outlaw cities

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

That would appear to be the effect of this. Sen. Don Huffines, a Republican from Dallas, has filed a bill that would prohibit cities from enforcing LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances. Huffines’ Senate Bill 343, introduced Friday, is a sweeping proposal that … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A bill to outlaw cities

Front and center with the fraud allegations

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The city goes on offense as it defends the equal rights ordinance at the repeal petition trial. In his opening argument in court Tuesday, Alex Kaplan, an attorney for the city, said the petition is “full of problems.” “It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Senate’s opening budget

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Could be worse, I guess. Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson presented a $205.1 billion two-year base budget Tuesday morning, vowing to provide property tax cuts that Texans “actually feel” while keeping the state’s economy humming along. The Senate budget is … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Senate’s opening budget

Texas blog roundup for the week of January 26

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Well more than two thirds of the Texas Progressive Alliance thinks this legislative session is off to an inauspicious start as we bring you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of January 26

January campaign finance reports – HCC Trustees

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

There are nine trustees on the HCC board. With them serving six-year terms, in a normal year three trustees are up for re-election; 2013 was an abnormal year, with two extra races to fill out unexpired terms. We are back … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on January campaign finance reports – HCC Trustees

Perry still under indictment

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. A judge on Tuesday rejected former Gov. Rick Perry’s attempt to throw out a two-count indictment against him, saying it’s too early in the case to challenge the constitutionality of the charges. Perry’s attorneys immediately filed notice that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

From the “Good problems to have” department

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Metro will have a few million dollars left over when it is done building the remaining light rail lines. After more than three years of construction, Metro officials estimate $39.9 million of the $900 million awarded by the Federal Transit … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

HISD considers a different kind of redistricting

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It would likely be just as contentious as the usual kind. Houston school officials may rezone students from roughly two dozen elementary schools over the next few years in an effort to meet the state’s class size limits. District officials … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD considers a different kind of redistricting

The situation in Plano is complicated

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I had not realized this. The nation’s largest LGBT political advocacy group indicated this week it is unlikely to help defend a nondiscrimination ordinance in Plano due to exemptions affecting the transgender community. The announcement from the Washington, D.C.-based Human … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The situation in Plano is complicated

It’s going to be a long trial

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Settle in and get comfortable, the HERO repeal petition trial is going to take some time. Ultimately, though, the trial is expected to be tedious and technical. So much so, that even after the city lost a significant motion two … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on It’s going to be a long trial

Chris Oliver joins the At Large #1 crowd

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Houston Community College Trustee Chris Oliver has announced his candidacy for the open Houston City Council, At-Large Position 1 seat to be filled this November. Chris brings years of experience as a businessman, legislative advocate, and Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

918K and counting

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Obamacare enrollment numbers in Texas keep going up. More than 7 million people, including 918,890 Texans, have selected a plan or were automatically re-enrolled in coverage in the federal health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act, according to government … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on 918K and counting

January campaign finance reports – HISD trustees

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Four HISD Trustees are up for re-election this year. There are nine Trustees in all, and they serve four-year terms, so in a normal year either four or five are up for re-election. As things stand right now, all four … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on January campaign finance reports – HISD trustees

School finance case timeline announced

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Mark “later this year” on your calendars. The Texas Supreme Court will hear the state’s appeal of last year’s far-reaching school finance decision later this year under a timetable laid out by the high court on Friday. Justices gave the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on School finance case timeline announced

Don’t look for a meet-and-confer bill in the Lege this year

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Buried in this story about the city and the county preparing to play defense during the legislative session is this update on the state of relations between the city and the firefighters. In her first two sessions, Houston Mayor Annise … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Don’t look for a meet-and-confer bill in the Lege this year

The Farenthold files

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Farenthold lawsuit continues to have promise as the underrated scandal of the year. In his first interview since the suit was filed in December, [Rep. Blake] Farenthold said he was shocked by the allegations made by Lauren Greene, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Farenthold files

Weekend link dump for January 25

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

“If Westerners can overcome their disgust of crickets—or any bug—as food, the environmental benefits could be significant.” “That’s why the new plan from House Democrats is so encouraging. It seems they are finally beginning to internalize the fact that American … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for January 25

First three runoff dates are set

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Greg Abbott completes a bit of business left to him by Rick Perry. Gov. Greg Abbott has scheduled runoffs from the Jan. 6 special elections for Feb. 17, according to his office. The decision officially sets head-to-head match-ups in state … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on First three runoff dates are set

By the way, Dave Wilson also hates transgender people

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, no surprise, right? What’s more, he puts his money where his mouth is. Now, anti-LGBT activist Dave Wilson is circulating another petition that would place a charter amendment on the ballot to repeal trans protections in both HERO … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Reusing wastewater

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Get used to it. Reclaimed wastewater soon will irrigate the trim lawns and wooded parks of some Houston suburbs. Instead of being dumped into the bayous, some of it might even undergo more extensive treatment in order to flow from … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Reusing wastewater

Robinson Warehouse, eight years after

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the Free Press Houston Worst of 2014: WORST WASTE OF SPACE: CORNER OF ALLEN PARKWAY AND MONTROSE In 2006, The Aga Khan Foundation purchased the massive swath of land at the Southeast corner of Allen Parkway and Montrose. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Saturday video break: Exactly Like You

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody does western swing these days like the Hot Club of Cowtown: I’ve been a fan of theirs for awhile, though I haven’t seen them in Houston recently. For a clear demonstration of their instrumental chops, see this blazing rendition … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Saturday video break: Exactly Like You

Bell makes his announcement tomorrow

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Making official what we had long known. Former Democratic congressman Chris Bell will announce his mayoral bid this Sunday afternoon in Sam Houston Park, becoming the first candidate in a crowded field to officially kick off a run to lead … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Minding Houston

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Want to know about mental health issues and how they are being addressed by the Legislature? Tune in to Minding Houston, the legislatively-focused blog of Mental Health America of Greater Houston. From their About page: Mental Health America of Greater … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment