Monthly Archives: September 2023

That other high speed rail line is moving along

Posted on September 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Hadn’t heard about this in awhile, but it’s now clearing some key regulatory obstacles. A high-speed rail line from Fort Worth to Dallas is moving “full steam ahead” and could be ready even before the proposed Dallas-Houston line that received … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for September 10

Posted on September 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

“But another major Giuliani development has drawn less attention: An FBI whistleblower filed a statement asserting that Giuliani “may have been compromised” by Russian intelligence while working as a lawyer and adviser to Trump during the 2020 campaign.” “Domain names … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 2 Comments

First week of impeachment ends

Posted on September 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I will state upfront that I followed the impeachment trial from a bit of remove. There’s still a lot going on elsewhere, and thanks to the massive amounts of data dropped during discovery, there really hasn’t been anything new or … Continue reading →

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Houston to fund database to track gun violence

Posted on September 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

This is a good thing. A data project to track gun injuries will receive city funding as trauma centers across Houston saw a steady increase in firearm injury victims in recent years, but lacked a systematic way to report the … Continue reading →

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The Pat Walsh Memorial Bikeway

Posted on September 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I love this. Friends remember Pat Walsh as someone who saw the big picture of what Houston could be, and the little details necessary to get a massive city bureaucracy headed in the right direction. Now they want the former … Continue reading →

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“District of innovation”

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what this means. Houston ISD’s state-appointed school board unanimously voted Thursday to begin the process of becoming a “District of Innovation,” a move that could ultimately allow the district to extend the school year for students and teachers. … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ken Paxton’s sleaze goes beyond his (alleged) crimes and misdemeanors

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder, in case you needed it. When Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton held a news conference in May decrying state lawmakers’ anticipated vote to impeach him, he framed the decision as not only a threat to his political … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For the proposition allowing Council members to put an item on the agenda

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I didn’t think we’d begin Endorsement Season with a charter referendum, but here we are. This is no way to run a representative democracy in the nation’s fourth-biggest city. Thankfully, Houstonians have an opportunity to change that in this year’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dispatches from Dallas, September 9 edition

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

This is a weekly feature produced by my friend Ginger. Let us know what you think. This week, in news from Dallas-Fort Worth, we have a lot of business. We start with coverage of the Ken Paxton trial. Then we … Continue reading →

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Interview with CM Tarsha Jackson

Posted on September 8, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

It’s more than fair to say that first-term District B Council Member Tarsha Jackson had a long, strange trip to electoral success Even then there were still things that happened, but she made it in the end. Jackson is a … Continue reading →

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All candidates should support repealing the revenue cap

Posted on September 8, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Long overdue to get rid of the stupid thing. The Gulf Coast AFL-CIO released a platform for City Hall on Saturday that calls for eliminating Houston’s property tax revenue cap and avoiding worker layoffs. The union has endorsed state Sen. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Isaiah Martin to run for CD18

Posted on September 8, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The primary is now officially contested regardless of what happens in the Mayor’s race. Isaiah Martin, a University of Houston graduate who has been volunteering for Democrat Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s mayoral campaign, launched a campaign Wednesday for her congressional … Continue reading →

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Interview with Joaquin Martinez

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Moving over to District I, there’s a two candidate race to succeed term-limited (and Mayoral candidate) Council Member Robert Gallegos. One of those candidates has no web presence and has filed no finance reports. The other is Joaquin Martinez, who … Continue reading →

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Nueces County DA announces Senate candidacy

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Okay. The embattled district attorney for Nueces County, Mark Gonzalez, announced Tuesday that he will enter the Democratic primary to challenge U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. By announcing his campaign, Gonzalez resigned his current position — a significant development given … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The push to make driving out of state for an abortion a crime

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Take a deep cleansing breath. Have a few sips of your favorite relaxing beverage. Settle into a nice, comfy chair. Then, when you’re feeling calm and collected and your blood pressure is under control and you think you can handle … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of September 4

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes everyone a happy and less heat-dome-y unofficial end of the summer as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Cynthia Reyes-Revilla

Posted on September 6, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

There are five candidates running for the open District H seat on Council, but only two of them had raised any money as of July or shown much in the way of campaign activity. As such, I will conclude my … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Paxton’s motions to dismiss rejected

Posted on September 6, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We’re off to a good start. The Texas Senate on Tuesday rejected all of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s efforts to dismiss the articles of impeachment against him, moving forward with the first removal proceeding against a statewide elected official in … Continue reading →

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The HCC races have already been decided

Posted on September 6, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

All three races are uncontested. Houston Community College Trustee Elections 2023 The following candidates filed an Application for a Place on the Ballot for the November 7, 2023, HCC Trustee Elections (listed in district order): District IV Laolu Davies-Yemitan (Unopposed) … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Website issues mostly fixed

Posted on September 6, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure you noticed that the website looked funky all of a sudden for a few weeks, and now it has a different look that has brought back the right sidebar. It’s still not perfect, but it definitely looks better. … Continue reading →

Posted in Administrivia | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Interview with Mario Castillo

Posted on September 5, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We move on to City Council races now. This is a weird year in that only six of the sixteen Council seats are open – 2027 is gonna be crazy, y’all – with most of the fierce action in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Hervis Rogers again cleared of voting charge

Posted on September 5, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

What the hell, man? District Attorney Kim Ogg’s prosecutors quietly reviewed a voter fraud allegation against Hervis Rogers — the Houston parolee who waited six hours to vote in the February 2020 presidential primary — nearly a year after illegal … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

State goes eminent domain on Fairfield Lake

Posted on September 5, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We knew this was coming. In a new attempt to save Fairfield Lake State Park, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department filed a petition to condemn and seize the 5,000-acre property south of Dallas through eminent domain. The petition was … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

LA to sue Abbott over migrant busing

Posted on September 4, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Go for it. Los Angeles is preparing to sue Texas over Gov. Greg Abbott’s migrant busing program, which has sent more than 400 people there. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to investigate whether there are legal … Continue reading →

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ACC goes Pacific

Posted on September 4, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Welp. The Atlantic Coast Conference is expanding from its Eastern roots. The ACC presidents and chancellors met Friday morning and voted to add three schools — Stanford, Cal and SMU, the conference announced. It will bring the league to 18 … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for September 3

Posted on September 3, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

A quick reference guide to all of the 2020 election-related indictments in Fulton County, Georgia. “Texas Says a Fetus Is a Child, Except When a Parent Sues a Negligent Doctor or State Official”. See also this Andrea Grimes piece from … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 4 Comments

Weekend Paxton roundup

Posted on September 3, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

There’s still time to decorate your house for Impeachment Trial Day on Tuesday. I’m just saying. Here’s a Who’s Who of the impeachment trial for those of you who would like a scorecard, and here’s Dan Patrick asking his patrons … Continue reading →

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Anti-porn law blocked

Posted on September 3, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We’re three for three in good legal news for the weekend. A federal judge has struck down a Texas law requiring age verification and health warnings to view pornographic websites and blocked the state attorney general’s office from enforcing it. … Continue reading →

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

Uvalde DA to present mass shooting case to grand jury

Posted on September 3, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, I know, what took so long? The Uvalde County prosecutor said she’ll present a case stemming from the Robb Elementary School massacre to a grand jury by the end of this year. The Texas Department of Public Safety has … Continue reading →

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Drag ban blocked

Posted on September 2, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Good. U.S. District Judge David Hittner temporarily blocked a new state law Thursday from going into effect that would have criminalized sexually-oriented performances in front of children or effectively banned some public drag shows. LGBTQ+ groups sued the Texas attorney … Continue reading →

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

Book rating law blocked

Posted on September 2, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge said Thursday he will stop a new Texas law aimed at keeping sexually explicit materials off of school library shelves on the eve of the law going into effect, according to state attorneys and lawyers for … Continue reading →

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

Paxton roundup: What about Dan?

Posted on September 2, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib ponders how Dan Patrick is holding up under the strain of having to preside over the Ken Paxton impeachment trial. In the Texas Senate, what Dan Patrick wants — Dan Patrick typically gets. Widely regarded as one of … Continue reading →

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Law banning gender affirming care goes into effect pending litigation

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Very unfortunate, to say the least. A Texas law that bans gender-affirming care for transgender youth will go into effect as scheduled Friday. The law will kick in September 1st despite a state district judge’s ruling last week that the … Continue reading →

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

HISD temporarily blocked from using new teacher evaluation system

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

This all came up this week. Houston ISD will not be allowed to implement its new teacher evaluation system until mid-September at the earliest after a judge temporarily blocked the policy Thursday morning. A Harris County judge issued a temporary … Continue reading →

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