Monthly Archives: July 2018

No quorum for very special Council meeting

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Close, but no cigar. A handful of city council members who organized a rare special meeting to push for a Houston firefighters petition seeking pay “parity” with police to appear on the November ballot fell short of a quorum Friday … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

HISD is optimistic about not being taken over (yet)

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I hope it’s warranted. Several of Houston ISD’s longest-struggling elementary and middle schools posted significant gains on state standardized tests in 2018, including all three campuses that must meet Texas academic standards this year to avoid triggering major sanctions, according … Continue reading →

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The rising cost of losing

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Womp womp. The price of losing keeps going up for Republican Kathaleen Wall. Four months after losing her campaign for Congress, the Houston Republican had to put yet another $150,000 of her own money into her campaign to pay for … Continue reading →

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Debating dates

Posted on July 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We know what the best answer is. What the most likely answer is, I have no idea. The back-and-forth over when and where the two major candidates for Texas governor will debate continued Wednesday, with Democratic nominee Lupe Valdez announcing … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Another homeless feeding lawsuit dismissed

Posted on July 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Not the end of the story, though. A state district judge this week dismissed a lawsuit a local activist filed last year against Houston’s ordinance regulating the charitable feeding of the city’s homeless, but the case is proceeding on with … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Darian Ward indicted on charge of violating public information laws

Posted on July 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. Mayor Sylvester Turner’s former press secretary, Darian Ward, was indicted by a grand jury this week for failing to turn over public records in response to a reporter’s request late last year. The indictment, handed up Tuesday but released … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Two views of Democratic fundraising

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Positive: For the first time in a generation, there is a Democrat running for Congress in every single district in the state. Most of those candidates vying to unseat Republicans will likely lose. Many are running in districts where President … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Santa Fe ISD to install metal detectors

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

If that’s what they want… Metal detectors will be installed in all four of Santa Fe ISD’s campuses after its Board of Trustees voted to accept at least 16 devices that had been donated by two private companies and Lt. … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The power to pay more for electricity

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Deregulation really does create jobs. When Texas deregulated electricity markets 16 years ago, the Public Utility Commission created the website Power to Choose to help consumers through the power buying experience. But what was promoted as an easy, free way … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of July 16

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is old enough to remember a time when Republicans thought cozying up to Russia was a bad idea as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | 1 Comment

July 2018 campaign finance reports: Congress

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

So we know that Texas Democratic Congressional challengers really crushed it in Q2, and that’s on top of three strong quarters before that. How good was it? Let’s quantify. Here are the July 2017 finance reports, here are the October … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A very special Council meeting

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Who knew there was such a thing? In a rare maneuver that sidesteps Mayor Sylvester Turner’s authority, five city council members have called a special meeting this week, hoping to force the issue of Houston firefighters’ push for a referendum … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

New frontiers in strip club tax collections

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

A new-ish development in a decade-long battle. Dozens of “bikini bars” from Houston to San Antonio are suing the state after the Texas Comptroller accused them of skirting the so-called pole tax on nude entertainment and slapped them with seven-figure … Continue reading →

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

Dems keep posting very strong finance reports

Posted on July 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. There are few bigger warning signs for a member of Congress that their re-election may be in doubt than when a challenger outraises them. In Texas, it just happened to seven incumbents, all Republicans. Since last week, when U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“Fetal remains” lawsuit trial underway

Posted on July 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. State and reproductive rights attorneys are going head to head again in federal court on Monday to argue whether Texas should require health providers to cremate or bury fetal remains. “It’s a tough case for everybody,” U.S. … Continue reading →

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

Early voting in SD19 special election has begun

Posted on July 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The summer of elections continues apace. Monday marks the start of early voting in the July 31 special election to fill the seat for Texas Senate District 19. It’s been less than one month since Gov. Greg Abbott called a special … Continue reading →

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Monday “day before reports start showing up” campaign finance roundup

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good things keep happening to MJ Hegar. EMILY’s List, a powerful organization that backs female Democratic candidates who support abortion rights, is putting its support behind Hegar, an Air Force veteran who has shot to national prominence in recent weeks … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Debating debates

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We have an agreement for a debate (mostly) between Greg Abbott and Lupe Valdez. Incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott agreed Wednesday to participate in a televised statewide debate with Democratic challenger Lupe Valdez, the first in the general election runup. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The World Cup and its possible infrastructure effects

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Assuming Houston does get to be a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, that could spur some major projects, for transportation and recreation and who knows what else. Houston will not receive final word on the bid until … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for July 15

Posted on July 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

There Won’t Be a Single Moment When We “Discover” Alien Life. “Serena Williams’ French Open ordeal proves maternity rights in pro sports have a long way to go”. “For many, the conversation of black baseball and civil rights begins and … Continue reading →

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Kulkarni reports $234K raised in Q2

Posted on July 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From the Inbox: Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress, Sri Preston Kulkarni, raised over $400,000 in receipts to date for his campaign to unseat incumbent Pete Olson (R-TX). This is the largest total ever for a Democratic candidate for the current … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Checking in on Pasadena

Posted on July 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

How’s it going over there? A year into his four-year term, [Pasadena Mayor Jeff] Wagner says he is focused on unifying a city whose ethnic and socioeconomic inequities were displayed before a national audience during the 2016 trial over a … Continue reading →

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

Uber scooters

Posted on July 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Somehow, you knew something like this was going to happen. Uber is getting into the scooter-rental business. The ride-hailing company said Monday that it is investing in Lime, a startup based in San Mateo, California. “Our investment and partnership in … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Republican reactions to Beto’s fundraising

Posted on July 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The interesting bits of this story: El Paso Democrat Beto O’Rourke, the underdog challenger to Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, recently burnished his grass-roots credentials by completing a tour of all 254 counties in Texas. Now O’Rourke has proven his fundraising chops as … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Trump trade war troubles

Posted on July 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. There’s a Chinese proverb: Sow melons, reap melons. Sow beans, reap beans. In other words, expect tit for tat. President Donald Trump — and by extension many of the nation’s farmers — … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 41 Comments

Dallas hyperlooping

Posted on July 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

North Texas takes the lead for this super sexy but possibly vaporware transportation technology. The Regional Transportation Council announced Wednesday that it will consider the feasibility of a hyperloop as a way to connect Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

We are going to get some Congressional polling soon

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Nate Cohn on Twitter: Well we’ve been working pretty hard over here in Upshot land for the last few months, but I think we’ll have at least one thing to show for it fairly soon: results from a test of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Campus carry at the Fifth Circuit

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see if this gets a better reception than it got at the lower court. Two years ago, three University of Texas at Austin professors — Jennifer Lynn Glass, Lisa Moore and Mia Carter — filed a lawsuit against state … Continue reading →

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

Beer delivered to your home

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Who needs groceries, am I right? Favor, founded in Austin in 2013, prides itself in delivering almost anything in under an hour. But until now, beer and wine — long the No. 1 request from customers — was among the … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Everyone is giving money in the Senate race

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a marquee attraction. Abby Tannenbaum has never been to Texas. But that hasn’t stopped the 23-year-old digital strategist from Florida from sending $2 a month for the past year to help fuel the campaign of El Paso Congressman Beto … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Minute Maid 2.0

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Astros are staying in their home stadium for the long term. Now that the Astros are in Minute Maid Park for the long haul, “Minute Maid Park 2.0” is in the works. The Harris County Houston Sports Authority on … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | 24 Comments

Houston Flood Museum

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Sounds like a good idea. [Lacy] Johnson, a published author and Rice assistant professor, started writing to process the post-disaster “dissonance” she observed. The resulting essays published on Facebook quickly garnered hundreds of reactions and shares. It wasn’t long before the Houston Endowment approached her about … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of July 9

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wonders when Trump will start conscripting people into his trade war as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Gravis: Cruz 51, O’Rourke 42

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a new poll of four statewide races in Texas, for which there may or may not be any news coverage. The executive summary: Gravis Marketing, a nonpartisan research firm, conducted a random survey of 602 likely voters across Texas. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments