Monthly Archives: August 2014

Rob Manfred to succeed Bud Selig as MLB Commissioner

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

There will be a changing of the guard for Major League Baseball. Rob Manfred was elected baseball’s 10th commissioner Thursday, winning a three-man competition to succeed Bud Selig and given a mandate by the tradition-bound sport to recapture young fans … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Uber and Lyft go prank calling each other

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I find this pretty funny, in a juvenile-delinquent sort of way. Uber employees have ordered and canceled more than 5,000 rides from rival Lyft since last October, according to new data provided by Lyft. The data was obtained at CNNMoney’s … Continue reading →

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Game room lawsuit dismissed

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

From last week: After a lengthy tussle over new game room regulations for Harris County, a federal judge Tuesday issued an order denying requests from a local game room owner to stop the new regulations. “The game room situation in … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten – The L I will

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Almost halfway through the alphabet now. 1. Self Control – Laura Branigan 2. Irene – Leadbelly 3. Rock And Roll Is Dead – Lenny Kravitz 4. Lady Blue – Leon Russell 5. I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Latest HB2 trial wraps up

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

And so we await a ruling, followed by whatever the Fifth Circuit will pull out of its posterior. Stefanie Toti, representing the Center for Reproductive Rights, said the requirements imposed by the ambulatory surgical center rules single out abortion providers, … Continue reading →

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We have a Lite Guv debate agreement

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars for September 29. Both campaigns confirmed the date via email Thursday after the two sides had agreed to a Texas Tribune-hosted debate but couldn’t reach a consensus on a day. The Tribune originally proposed Sept. 24 and … Continue reading →

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Abbott does one last solid for Perry

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

He lets him keep his little secrets. After critics raised a stink about the tax dollars being spent to provide security for Gov. Rick Perry while he was gearing up to run for president, lawmakers passed a bill in 2011 … Continue reading →

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A second chance to get a piece of the Dome

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

There’s going to be another Astrodome memorabilia sale in the near future. The Harris County Sports and Convention Corp. is considering selling more seats out of the Astrodome after raking in $1.5 million late last year during two online auctions … Continue reading →

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

The case against tossing the HERO repeal petitions

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Jerad Najvar makes a constitutional argument that the city of Houston should have accepted the HERO repeal petitions even though many of the petition pages fell short of the requirements laid out in the city charter. While we lack clarity … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Intimidation tactics

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Very creepy. Anti-abortion activists in Texas employ strategies to identify and monitor abortion patients, investigate abortion providers and clinic staff and search tax records to find locations of abortion providers, according to newly released undercover audio. The audio, from NARAL … Continue reading →

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News flash: Greg Abbott wants to sue the EPA again

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody could have foreseen this! Foretelling a new environmental battle between state and federal regulators, Attorney General Greg Abbott on Monday demanded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency back down from a proposal to expand the definition of federal waters to … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of August 11

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is glad to live in an age where we can zap political ads on TV if we want to as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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On redistricting and race

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Phase Two of the redistricting trial is underway, and if it sounds an awful lot like Phase One to you, you would be right. Texas’ Republican-controlled Legislature didn’t discriminate against minorities by drawing election maps in 2011 that voting-rights activists … Continue reading →

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

On the death penalty

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Most of what you need to know about this story concerning Wendy Davis, the death penalty, and the Governor’s race can be found at the end of it. In July 2000, when she was a relatively new member of the … Continue reading →

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HERO repeal hopefuls try another venue

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. Conservative opponents of Houston’s equal rights ordinance have asked an appeals court to force the city secretary to certify the signatures on their petitions to force a repeal referendum on the November ballot. Equal rights ordinance critics filed a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

San Antonio has begun curbside recycling of plastic bags

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

As of August 1, to be exact. “We are starting with a new recycling processor that can accept the bags so that allows us to add it to the list of items we can accept,” [Solid Waste Management Department Public … Continue reading →

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Wait, there’s another special Senate election coming up?

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, there is. And you thought (okay, I had thought) SD04 was the last election till November. The field is taking shape for the special election next month in Senate District 28, with at least five people announcing they’re running … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

From the “Those that disregard history are doomed to repeat it” department

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

This is the state of environment protection in Texas. Texas’ top environmental regulator suggested Thursday that the state may ignore a proposed directive from the Obama administration in June to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. “I’m concerned that if … Continue reading →

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Collier keeps up the attack

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I really like the way he’s running his campaign. Democratic comptroller nominee Mike Collier says his Republican opponent Glenn Hegar bragged to a Houston-area tea party interviewer last year that he was proud of the Legislature’s 2011 budget cuts to … Continue reading →

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TxDOT to spur research on driverless cars

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Among other things. The state could fund research into self-driving cars, jet packs and hover cars if a new proposal by the Texas Department of Transportation is funded. In a presentation Thursday to the Texas Transportation Commission, TxDOT Deputy Executive … Continue reading →

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

If you read just one more story about Wendy Davis’ campaign

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I would recommend you read this one, by Andrea Grimes. In four months, Texans are guaranteed to elect a new governor for the first time in 14 years, and Davis’ battle stance is appropo: She’s been under attack from naysayers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Redistricting II: Congressional Boogaloo

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Phase Two of the redistricting lawsuit trial begins today, in which the 2011 Congressional maps go under the microscope. That’s as good a time as any for the mandatory How Much All This Redistricting Litigation Is Costing Us story. Texans … Continue reading →

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Chron on One Bin

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle is ambivalent about the city’s One Bin for All proposal. Details of the One Bin For All recycling proposal aren’t even solid yet, but groups like the Sierra Club have already started to line up against it. This … Continue reading →

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

More on the Abbott-Duntsch connection

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Observer advances the ball. How immune are hospitals? Under the current law, for Baylor to be liable for Duntsch’s mistakes, the plaintiffs have to prove that hospital administrators let him operate because they specifically intended to harm patients. Soon … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for August 10

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Now Republicans would like for you to believe that “reproductive health” and “women’s health” are two different things. Don’t trust USB devices. Like, at all. This guy hates being stuck in traffic more than you do. “The [Harry] Potter books … Continue reading →

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LVdP calls out Patrick on debates

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

You tell him, Leticia. Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Letitica Van de Putte said Thursday that her Republican opponent, Sen. Dan Patrick, has yet to respond to her proposal for a series of debates ahead of the Nov. 4 election. Van … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

On beautifying the city for the Super Bowl

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Chris Andrews has some thoughts about what Houston should and shouldn’t do in preparation for Super Bowl LI in 2017. Things More Important Than Beautification Projects to a Super Bowl Visitor As a sports fan, and through my own experience, … Continue reading →

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More on the Postal Service as financial service provider

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I still think it’s a good idea, and so do a lot of other people. The Postal Banking Consumer Survey [PDF] asked more than 1,600 consumers, many of whom do not have access to traditional banking services, whether or not … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Saturday video break: Come Together

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I think we’re all familiar with the original version of this one, so since I just have cover versions of it, let’s go straight to those. First, here’s Aerosmith: Steven Tyler was two years younger than I am right now … Continue reading →

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Rasmussen: Abbott 48, Davis 40

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Make of it what you will. The gubernatorial race in Texas is slightly closer than it was earlier this year. A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Texas Voters finds Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott picking up 48% … Continue reading →

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Sobering center status report

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s working as planned, which is great news. When Mayor Annise Parker opened the center at 150 North Chenevert St. last year, the idea was to cut police costs and reduce recidivism, creating a place other than jail for those … Continue reading →

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Moving out of Fitzgerald’s

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Big music news in Houston. The successful concert promotion group behind Houston’s Free Press Summer Festival has secured land just north of downtown Houston to build a three-stage music venue complex with two indoor stages and an outdoor stage. Pegstar … Continue reading →

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Working on Ebola in Galveston

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Given what’s been going on lately I thought this would be of interest. As the worst recorded Ebola outbreak in history sweeps across West Africa, hope for a cure is centering on scientists thousands of miles away at the Galveston … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten – Kiss me, Kate

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Another all-in-one-name list for the letter K. 1. Pull Me Out Alive – Kaki King 2. Differently – Kat Parsons 3. Rocket Man – Kate Bush 4. Village Green Preservation Society – Kate Rusby 5. Best Song Ever – Katie … Continue reading →

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