Author Archives: Charles Kuffner

Hey, remember Colony Ridge?

Posted on October 24, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

What if I told you that it was all a big nothing? Gov. Greg Abbott named Colony Ridge a top state priority when he placed it on the third special legislative session agenda — heeding calls by right-wing media to … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Endorsement watch: Chron goes for Whitmire

Posted on October 24, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses John Whitmire for Mayor. Close your eyes for a moment and ask yourself: in this city of immigrants who start companies and win World Series, of silvery skyscrapers and moonshot cancer fighters, of astronauts who train for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

October 2023 campaign finance reports – Senate

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

As was the case with the July reports, we have a lot more candidates now than we had three months ago, or six months ago in April. In fact, we now have so many people running for Senate, and filing … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

DeBakey students finally get an AP Physics teacher

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Better late than never and all that, but sheesh. AP Physics students at the DeBakey High School for Health Professions had a new teacher Wednesday after Houston ISD lifted a hiring freeze that had kept the position vacant since the … Continue reading →

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

Galveston redistricting ruling paused

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Fifth Circuit strikes again. Less than a week after a federal judge ruled Galveston County’s precinct maps violated the Voting Rights Act, the U.S Fifth Circuit Court issued a stay on the order. U.S. Circuit Court Judge Jeffery V. … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for October 22

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

“For many, the sight of a handcuffed Keffe D being marched into court was a stunning breakthrough in one of the most enduring murder mysteries in hip-hop and American celebrity. But for the people who have followed the case since … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

What early voting looked like in 2015 and 2019

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Tomorrow we start voting – well, technically, tomorrow we start voting in person. People have already been sending in mail ballots, as we’ll see when the Day One EV totals are posted. I will of course report on this as … Continue reading →

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

NHTSA investigating Cruise

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. U.S. regulators are investigating General Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicle division after receiving reports of incidents where vehicles may not have used proper caution around pedestrians in roadways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the reports involve … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on NHTSA investigating Cruise

Endorsement watch: Hernandez and Allen in HISD

Posted on October 22, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron does remember that there are HISD races on the ballot. It’s the board of managers that has the voting power on district decisions, a task some critics say it has fulfilled by largely rubber-stamping Superintendent Mike Miles’ plans. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: Hernandez and Allen in HISD

Early voting starts Monday

Posted on October 21, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Are you ready? Early voting for the November 7 Joint General & Special Elections begins Monday, October 23, and ends Friday, November 3. A total of 68 voting centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

“Stuck with H-GAC”?

Posted on October 21, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Sure seems a bit late in the game to be raising this possibility. This November, Houstonians will decide whether the city should stay in a regional planning body that does not offer it proportional voting power. But City Attorney Arturo … Continue reading →

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

Endorsement watch: Reyes for At Large #1

Posted on October 21, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron is taking a detour in these last few pre-early voting days to endorse in elections other than City of Houston races, but they did endorse Conchita Reyes for At Large #1 along the way. Reyes is a native … Continue reading →

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

SOS releases 2022 Harris County election audit

Posted on October 20, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

They sure know how to time these things. Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson’s office on Thursday released preliminary findings from its audit of Harris County’s November 2022 election, the latest analysis of an election that has been the subject … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on SOS releases 2022 Harris County election audit

San Marcos settles “Trump Train” lawsuit

Posted on October 20, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I really hope this leaves a mark, because it should. San Marcos police officers and professional staff must receive training on responding to political violence and voter intimidation and ways to develop community trust as part of a legal settlement … Continue reading →

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

Dispatches from Dallas, October 20 edition

Posted on October 20, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

This is a weekly feature produced by my friend Ginger. Let us know what you think. This week we have a long entry after a respiratory bug bit me last week. (The RAT said it wasn’t COVID and I’m recovering … Continue reading →

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

Lawsuit filed against San Antonio over “reproductive justice fund”

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I’m a little concerned about this. The city of San Antonio is facing a lawsuit after budgeting $500,000 to support reproductive health services, including, potentially, transportation and lodging for people seeking abortions outside Texas. A group of anti-abortion organizations filed … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lawsuit filed against San Antonio over “reproductive justice fund”

Harris County gets federal grant for its climate action plan

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. The U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday that it awarded Harris County one of 16 clean energy grants totaling $30 million, distributed to state and local governments nationwide. The Harris County grant of more than $1.6 million is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Harris County gets federal grant for its climate action plan

More trouble for True the Vote

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Music to my ears. When identifying the individuals most responsible for convincing supporters of Donald Trump that the 2020 election was stolen, no one surpasses Trump himself. But one could argue that the second person on the list is filmmaker … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More trouble for True the Vote

Texas blog roundup for the week of October 16

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance would remind the state GOP that you cannot “stand with Israel” while holding hands with Nick Fuentes as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of October 16

30 day campaign finance reports – At Large Council candidates

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Previously: Mayor City Controller District Council And here are the At Large Council candidates. The January finance reports for city of Houston candidates are here, and the July reports are here. Dist Candidate Raised Spent Loan On Hand ============================================================ AL1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Drought 2023

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

It’s bad. Any questions? A lingering drought affecting more than 80% of Texas is causing wildfires, hurting agriculture and drying up water supplies throughout the state. This year’s drought comes less than a year after Texas experienced one of its … Continue reading →

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

Endorsement watch: Hellyar and Evans-Shabazz

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Nick Hellyar in At Large #2 in a piece that mostly praises other candidates in the race. Houston voters have a clear top-flight candidate in the race for City Council At-Large Position 2. Nick Hellyar, 41, has … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

30 day campaign finance reports – District Council candidates

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Previously: Mayor City Controller Let’s get into the Council races, starting with the district Council contests. The January finance reports for city of Houston candidates are here, and the July reports are here. Dist Candidate Raised Spent Loan On Hand … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Seriously, what the hell is going on at HISD?

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Well, three things that aren’t just straight-up WTF? Juniors and seniors at Houston ISD’s DeBakey High School for Health Professions walked into their AP Physics classes at the beginning of the school … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Endorsement watch: For Hollins

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes a strong endorsement of Chris Hollins for Houston City Controller. Overseeing Harris County’s vote during one of the most contentious presidential elections in American history, smack dab in the middle of a raging pandemic, Hollins led a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Endorsement watch: For Hollins

Past interviews with Mayoral candidates

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

As I said last week, I have decided to wait until the runoff to do Mayoral candidate interviews. The size of the field and the limited amount of time I had available to try to schedule probably seven interviews with … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Past interviews with Mayoral candidates

On filing financial disclosure reports

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Campaign finance reports aren’t the only filings that city candidates can screw up. About a quarter of the candidates running for city council seats and mayor have not provided financial disclosures to the City Secretary due in September. Twenty-three out … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On filing financial disclosure reports

Carbon capture project coming

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. A carbon removal project south of Corpus Christi is one of two sites selected by the Department of Energy to receive up to $1.2 billion to support the development of direct air capture technology. The project, which is being … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Weekend link dump for October 15

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

“Massive Changes Could Be Coming From the Vatican. Conservative US Catholics Are Mad as Hell.” “Book banning, then, is just one part of a broad effort to chill the free exchange of ideas in K-12 schools. But it is getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 2 Comments

Lee and Garcia push the city to Do Something about Whitmire’s campaign finances

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what happens. Two rival candidates have asked the city of Houston to block state Sen. John Whitmire from using $2.7 million in proceeds from stock sales to underwrite his campaign for mayor. Already dominating in the fundraising race, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lee and Garcia push the city to Do Something about Whitmire’s campaign finances

Hydrogen hub Houston happens

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. The Texas Gulf Coast has been selected by the Biden administration as a clean hydrogen hub, one of seven locations across the United States set to receive billions of dollars in federal funding and private investment to help develop … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Confederate statues finally removed from city’s art collection

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Good riddance. Statues of Christopher Columbus, Confederate officer Dick Dowling and an angel representing the “Spirit of the Confederacy” were officially removed from the city of Houston’s art collection Wednesday. The statues were taken down from public display two to … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Galveston County redistricting ruled illegal

Posted on October 14, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. Galveston County Commissioners Court violated the Voting Rights Act when it approved a 2021 map that greatly limited voting power for Black and Latino voters in the county, a judge ruled Friday. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Galveston County redistricting ruled illegal

Cruise officially rolls out in Houston

Posted on October 14, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The service is limited for now, but I suspect it will expand soon enough. A driverless ride hailing service is launching operations Thursday in Houston, where residents in select locations can start catching autonomous rides at 9 p.m. Cruise driverless … Continue reading →

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