Tag Archives: Utah

Are we talking hockey in Houston again?

It appears we are. Billionaire restaurateur and casino magnate Tilman Fertitta sees a professional hockey team as the next building block for the downtown Houston economy. The owner of the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets and the Golden Nugget casino … Continue reading

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The PAC-ACC Conference?

This stuff is getting weird, y’all. The four remaining Pac-12 schools still aboard for next season — California, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State — have options if they are looking for another conference. The Atlantic Coast Conference is exploring … Continue reading

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The PAC-ACC Conference?

RIP, PAC 12

Wow. The landscape of college sports continues its drastic change. The Pac-12 Conference is down to only four schools remaining as the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and the University of Utah announced Friday they are leaving to join … Continue reading

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Colorado to return to the Big XII

It’s about to be the Big XIII, not that they will ever call it that, nor stay at that number. But it’s my blog and I can call it as I see it. The University of Colorado will leave the … Continue reading

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Big XII remains “open” to more expansion

Maybe they’ll eventually call themselves the Big XVI. The Big 12 is open to further expansion, commissioner Brett Yormark said Friday, as the league prepares to welcome four new members, including the University of Houston, on July 1. Expansion was … Continue reading

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Big XII remains “open” to more expansion

MLB in Utah?

It’s on the table. A Salt Lake City consortium led by the former owner of the Utah Jazz plans to pursue a Major League Baseball franchise in the coming years, touting the area’s population growth, strong economy and baseball history … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Big XII now looking to expand

Probably a good idea to try, as a defensive measure if nothing else. The Big 12’s next step is clear after the early exit of Texas and Oklahoma was agreed upon Thursday night. The conference now plans to aggressively pursue expansion in some … Continue reading

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Big XII now looking to expand

UIL still nixes NIL

Sorry, Texas high school athletes. You’re still not getting paid. Even if state lawmakers change legislation to allow high school athletes in Texas to profit off their name, image and likeness, the University Interscholastic League may not be ready to … Continue reading

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on UIL still nixes NIL

Lawsuit filed over Texas trigger law implementation

One last fight before the curtain comes down. Texas abortion providers are making a last-ditch effort to temporarily resume procedures by challenging a pre-Roe v. Wade abortion ban that has not been enforced for nearly a half-century, but that some … Continue reading

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

Feds officially investigating Texas mask mandate ban

Good. The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday launched a civil rights investigation into Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates in schools, making Texas the sixth state to face a federal inquiry over mask rules. The investigation will focus … Continue reading

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Feds officially investigating Texas mask mandate ban

The Big XII is finally ready for UH

Hope it was worth the wait. Five years after a potential match fizzled, the University of Houston and Big 12 Conference are on the verge of uniting after all. UH has emerged as a leading contender to join a reconfigured … Continue reading

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Feds take first steps in the mask mandate fight

Coming attractions. The U.S. Department of Education is opening civil rights investigations to determine whether five states that have banned schools from requiring masks are discriminating against students with disabilities, the agency said on Monday. The department is targeting Iowa, … Continue reading

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The traveling Paxtons

Seriously? While millions of Texans languished in their homes last week without heat, many of them racking up astronomical electricity bills, the state official in charge of consumer protection left to take an out-of-state trip. According to a campaign spokesman, … Continue reading

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Now we wait on SCOTUS

The state of Texas filed its reply to the defendants’ responses to its democracy–killing lawsuit, and, well, it’s something. This brings us the Texas AG Ken Paxton’s reply–or, rather, replies, as there are multiple filings, including a motion to enlarge … Continue reading

Posted in Election 2020, Legal matters, The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

In case you needed another reminder that this coronavirus thing is dangerous

Here you go. The Orlando Pride have withdrawn from the upcoming NWSL Challenge Cup after six players and four staffers tested positive for the coronavirus, a significant setback for a league attempting to become the first in American professional team … Continue reading

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

NWSL will be the first American sports league to return to play

We’ll see how it goes. The National Women’s Soccer League will become the first U.S. team sport to resume play June 27 with a month-long tournament in suburban Salt Lake City, and the rebuilding Houston Dash hope the unique format … Continue reading

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

How other states are handling the Census

Better than we’re handling it. So cities and states with big immigrant populations — like California and New York City — are supplementing the Census Bureau’s efforts like never before, allocating money to outreach groups that can go to communities … Continue reading

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How other states are handling the Census

SCOTUS declines to hear Ted Cruz birther lawsuit

Not that it really matters at this point. The Supreme Court declined Tuesday to hear a lawsuit arguing that Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is ineligible to be president because his Canadian birth means he is not a “natural born … Continue reading

Posted in Legal matters, The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

SCOTUS asked to rule on Cruz birther lawsuit

What fun. A Utah man became the first to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a “birther” lawsuit against Ted Cruz which challenges the White House hopeful’s eligibility for office. The request by Utah attorney Walter Wagner, who … Continue reading

Posted in Legal matters, The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

When are we going to get a general election poll of Texas?

As goes Utah… According to a new Deseret News/KSL poll, if Donald Trump becomes the GOP nominee, the voters of Utah would opt for a Democratic candidate for the first time in over 50 years. Poll respondents said they would … Continue reading

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Does any of this sound like “Medicaid Expansion” to you?

So Wonkblog, TPM, and BOR, all riffing off the same news story in which Greg Abbott had a clandestine meeting with Houston-area legislators and may have said some things that made them think he might be open to “Medicaid expansion”, … Continue reading

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Does any of this sound like “Medicaid Expansion” to you?

Texas same-sex marriage plaintiffs ask for stay to be lifted

I wish them luck. Two same-sex couples have asked U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia of San Antonio to allow gay marriages to begin taking place immediately in Texas. On Monday, couples Mark Phariss and Victor Holmes of Plano and Nicole … Continue reading

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

Texas same sex marriage plaintiffs want the get oral arguments scheduled

They would like to get on with their lives, if it’s not too much trouble to Greg Abbott and the Fifth Circuit. Austin lawyer Nicole Dimetman is pregnant and expects to give birth for the first time on March 15, … Continue reading

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas same sex marriage plaintiffs want the get oral arguments scheduled

Utah will take same sex marriage fight to SCOTUS

This could be the ballgame. The Utah attorney general’s office announced Wednesday that it will appeal the 10th Circuit Court’s decision last month upholding same-sex marriage to the U.S. Supreme Court. Wednesday was the deadline for the state to seek … Continue reading

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Utah will take same sex marriage fight to SCOTUS

Tenth Circuit upholds same-sex marriage

A huge step forward. A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that states outlawing same-sex marriage are in violation of the U.S. Constitution. By upholding a Utah judge’s decision, the a three-member panel of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in … Continue reading

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tenth Circuit upholds same-sex marriage

Hearing for the Texas federal same sex marriage lawsuit is tomorrow

All eyes will be on San Antonio on Wednesday. Like most new parents, Nicole Dimetman and Cleopatra De Leon plan their days around their small child. Theirs is an ordinary family life, they say, but it is by no means … Continue reading

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

On, Wisconsin

From the ACLU of Wisconsin: The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin and the law firm of Mayer Brown filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of four same-sex couples who wish to marry in Wisconsin or are … Continue reading

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On, Wisconsin

Annise Parker’s journey

The Chron reviews how Mayor Parker went from activist for the LGBT community to Mayor on the occasion of her wedding. The country’s first openly gay mayor became the country’s first openly gay married mayor this week. A wedding wouldn’t … Continue reading

Posted in Society and cultcha | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Oklahoma!

Where the same sex marriages come whistling down the plains. U.S. Senior District Judge Terence Kern ruled Tuesday that Oklahoma’s ban on marriage equality is unconstitutional. The ruling is stayed pending appeal, meaning marriages will not occur immediately in Oklahoma. … Continue reading

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Oklahoma!

Utah will not recognize same sex marriages

Not until they are forced to. Utah Gov. Gary Herbertannounced Wednesday that the state will not recognize the 1,000-plus same-sex marriages performed in the state since Dec. 20, when a U.S. district judge ruled that the state’s ban on gay … Continue reading

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Utah will not recognize same sex marriages

SCOTUS halts same sex marriages in Utah, for now

Bummer. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday put same-sex marriages in Utah on hold, granting the state’s request for a stay while it appeals a ruling that laws banning such marriages are unconstitutional. The court said the stay would be … Continue reading

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on SCOTUS halts same sex marriages in Utah, for now

Utah appeals to SCOTUS

This was inevitable. Utah took its fight against gay marriage to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking the high court to suspend same-sex unions that became legal when a judge struck down the state’s voter-approved ban. The heavily Mormon … Continue reading

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Utah appeals to SCOTUS

Lambda Legal sues Houston over same sex spouse benefits

I didn’t see this coming. Lambda Legal [Thursday] filed a federal lawsuit against Houston Mayor Annise Parker and the City of Houston seeking to preserve spousal benefits, including health insurance, covering the same-sex spouses of city employees. The lawsuit was … Continue reading

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

A lot more court action on same sex marriage is coming

One way or another, 2014 is going to be a milestone year for marriage equality. Advocates on both sides of the gay marriage debate predicted that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that overturned part of a federal ban … Continue reading

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment