Author Archives: Charles Kuffner

Jury deliberations begin in “Trump Train” lawsuit

Posted on September 22, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Axiously awaiting a verdict. A jury in Texas began to deliberate Friday whether the so-called “Trump Train” that surrounded a Biden-Harris campaign bus days before the 2020 election in a heated highway encounter amounted to political intimidation. “This case is … Continue reading →

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Uplift Harris lawsuit 2.0

Posted on September 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty much as expected. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is again suing Harris County over its guaranteed income initiative, alleging that the latest version of the program still violates the Texas Constitution despite modifications officials made to pass muster. “The … Continue reading →

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You can count non-citizen voters on one hand

Posted on September 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

And still have fingers left over. Data compiled by the conservative Heritage Foundation shows that noncitizen voting in Texas isn’t a widespread problem and instead shows other instances of voter fraud committed by U.S. citizens are more prevalent. Since 2017, … Continue reading →

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What can the state do to help create more affordable housing?

Posted on September 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Probably a few things, though it’s not clear what is on tap at this time. If Texas wants to rein in its high housing costs, it needs more homes, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s office said Tuesday — the latest sign … Continue reading →

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Dallas judge rejects Paxton’s State Fair lawsuit

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The Fair’s ban on guns will stand, at least for now. A Dallas County district judge is leaving the State Fair of Texas gun ban in effect after an injunction hearing Thursday. Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Dallas and the fair last month because … Continue reading →

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SUV that crashed into the Energy Transfer pipeline valve recovered

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Human remains were found inside, sadly. Deer Park city officials confirmed human remains were found in the vehicle involved in the pipeline fire near Deer Park and La Porte after it was towed away Thursday morning following the four-day-long incident … Continue reading →

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Ted Cruz votes against protecting IVF access

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

It’s right there in the headline. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Tuesday led the effort to block a bill by Senate Democrats that they said would protect in-vitro fertilization in America. But on the Senate floor, Cruz blasted the Democratic … Continue reading →

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Dispatches from Dallas, September 20 edition

Posted on September 20, 2024 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 another grab bag: a lot of election news including the failed maneuvers to keep early … Continue reading →

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UnidosUS 2024 Pre-Election Poll of Hispanic Electorate

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, today released findings from its 2024 Pre-Election Poll of Texas’s Hispanic Electorate. The data shows that the top five priorities for Texas Latino voters, two months out … Continue reading →

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Whitmire plays his greatest hits

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor John Whitmire gave his first State of the City address this week. Here’s the preview story for what we were to expect. Mayor John Whitmire will lay out his administration’s priorities during his inaugural State of the City address … Continue reading →

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We could have already had charges against Ken Paxton by now

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This is frustrating, but if we do get there in the end it’ll be all right. Federal prosecutors in Texas had drafted bribery and obstruction charges against state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) before the US Justice Department took over … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of September 16

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is still catching up on all the cat memes as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Travis County files its own lawsuit over its voter registration efforts

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Counterpunching. Travis County officials sued Attorney General Ken Paxton and Secretary of State Jane Nelson on Tuesday over the state’s attempt to block attempts to sign up more voters ahead of a hotly contested presidential election. The new federal lawsuit … Continue reading →

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The Energy Transfer pipeline fire

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This is never a good thing: Pipeline fire in Deer Park, TX. ~10 miles north of Johnson Space Center, and even closer to my Earth home. Nikon Z9, 200mm f2, 1/320 sec, ISO 25600. — Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) 8:56 AM … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Catching up

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron has been doing endorsements a few days a week, one at a time, in no particular order. Here are three recent ones, to catch up a bit. CD22: Marquette Green-Scott Marquette Greene-Scott says she never got to know … Continue reading →

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Too late, Kenny

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Hilarious. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office sought a temporary restraining order to stop Bexar County’s hired vendor from mailing out unsolicited voter registration forms — but lawyers for the county said Monday morning that it was too late, they’ve already … Continue reading →

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Spring Branch ISD single member district lawsuit trial concludes

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Now we wait. The federal trial between Spring Branch ISD and a parent alleging the district violated the Voting Rights Act sheds light on what the plaintiffs characterized as vast inequities fueled by a lack of elected representation from the … Continue reading →

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How about a Dem for Speaker?

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos, come on down! A Texas House Democrat is joining the crowded field to challenge Republican Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, for the speakership. Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos, D-Richardson, told The Texas Tribune she felt energized to run for … Continue reading →

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Interview with Lindsay London of the Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I have written a couple of times about the Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance, which was formed earlier this year to fight the so-called “Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn” proposition that is on the city of Amarillo’s ballot this November, after … Continue reading →

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More on Paxton versus the State Fair

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This guy, I swear. Attorney General Ken Paxton this week withdrew an eight-year-old legal opinion that gave private nonprofits the green light to ban guns on land they lease from a city — a move that comes as Paxton challenges … Continue reading →

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Smithee makes five

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

And the beat goes on. State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, is the fifth person to enter the race for Texas House speaker. Smithee, a 73-year-old attorney, is a long-serving Republican state representative from Amarillo. He is one of the most … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for September 15

Posted on September 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

NFL cheerleaders should be paid more. They’re professionals who do a hard but very visible job. “So what happens if you take a European with little knowledge of [baseball] and drop them into an MLB context? “The energy and vitriol … Continue reading →

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Paxton sued over voter registration purge activities

Posted on September 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Counterpunch time. A nonprofit focused on increasing Latinos’ civic participation sued Attorney General Ken Paxton in federal court Friday so it could continue its voter registration efforts after the Republican official targeted them in an investigation last month. The organization … Continue reading →

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Maybe the Inner Katy Line is only mostly dead

Posted on September 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

That’s one takeaway from this. Houston transit officials are approaching the next few months as a transitional period, as they assess basic improvements, the demands of travel and the expectations of riders eager for better service. “We are going to … Continue reading →

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River Oaks Theater set to reopen

Posted on September 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Excellent. It ended with “Nomadland” and it’s starting again with “Joker: Folie à Deux.” After more than three years in the dark, the River Oaks Theatre is again turning on the lights. Culinary Khancepts, the Houston-based company that operates the … Continue reading →

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SCOTx hears Brent Webster’s disciplinary lawsuit appeal

Posted on September 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I dunno, this seems awfully straightforward to me. But no one asked me. Some Texas Supreme Court justices seemed skeptical Thursday of a professional misconduct case against a top aide to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for his role in … Continue reading →

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More on the Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance

Posted on September 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Good overview of the group working to prevent an abortion travel ban in Amarillo. Dubbed an “abortion trafficking” ban by anti-abortion extremists—as one of the policy’s progenitors put it, “The unborn child is always taken against their will”—the zealous measure … Continue reading →

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PAC 12 lives again

Posted on September 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. The Pac-12 is poaching four Mountain West schools to join Oregon State and Washington State in an effort to preserve the league. Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State and Fresno State applied for Pac-12 membership and all have … Continue reading →

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Complaint filed over CenterPoint’s unused generators

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll admit, I didn’t even know there was a complaint process for this. The Texas Consumer Association filed a complaint Wednesday asking the state utility regulator to deny CenterPoint Energy the ability to continue to pass on the costs of … Continue reading →

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Four! Four Speaker challengers!

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Everyone in the pool! State Rep. James Frank, a Wichita Falls Republican who is one of the Texas House’s leading voices on health and foster care, announced Tuesday he is running for speaker, making him the fourth member to challenge … Continue reading →

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Of course the I-45 project will cost more than expected

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Same as it ever was. The first major road work set for downtown Houston related to the $11.2 billion-plus rebuild of the freeway core and Interstate 45 remains on track for next year, but at a cost of $80 million … Continue reading →

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More on the drivers license/birth certificate gender change ban

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This Houston Landing story from Friday covers the recent news about the very quiet policy changes regarding birth certificates and drivers licenses, and adds some extra information at the end. I’m going to focus on that part of it. The … Continue reading →

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DUI charge dismissed against Judge Kelli Johnson

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This took an unexpected turn. Judge Kelli Johnson’s misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge was dismissed Tuesday after a toxicology report failed to reveal any signs of alcohol or drugs in her system at the time of a June arrest — … Continue reading →

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Another sexual assault lawsuit filed against Deshaun Watson

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Noting it for the record. Former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, now more than two years removed from his time with the team, has been sued by another woman claiming he sexually assaulted her during a date. The lawsuit was … Continue reading →

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