Monthly Archives: September 2014

Judicial Q&A: Jason Luong

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote. … Continue reading →

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And we’re still talking about the 2015 Mayor’s race

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. The mayor’s race may be more than a year away, but nearly all candidates have launched shadow campaigns – and not all shadow campaigns are created equal. [State Rep. Sylvester] Turner and Harris County Sheriff Adrian … Continue reading →

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Abbott’s Enterprise Fund issues

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a bit of a problem for him, isn’t it? While critics were hounding Gov. Rick Perry a decade ago about his job-luring Texas Enterprise Fund, his lawyers went to Attorney General Greg Abbott to block the release of applications … Continue reading →

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UTMB continues to do well post-Ike

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Good to see. The morning after Hurricane Ike crashed into Galveston Island six years ago, David Callender surveyed the sea of mud coating the 84-acre University of Texas Medical Branch campus. The UTMB president saw oak tree limbs blocking the … Continue reading →

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Interview with Sam Houston

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

As we head into the home stretch of the campaign – early voting begins in three weeks, and the deadline to be registered for this election is one week from today – we turn to the statewide candidates for the … Continue reading →

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Perry doesn’t have to show up at his court hearing

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

He’s excused this time. But don’t push it. Gov. Rick Perry does not have to appear at an Oct. 13 court hearing in his case, but that does not mean he has a pass to skip all future hearings, Visiting … Continue reading →

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Early Matters presents its case

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

They’ve got a good coalition. Let’s see where they can go with it. Access to preschool programs – and their quality – varies widely across Texas. A broad coalition of Houston-area executives, educators and nonprofit groups assembled by Houston’s premier … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Ogg for DA

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle endorses a change in thew Harris County DA’s office. Houston has changed since the hang ’em high days of Holmes’ tenure. Our region has grown more diverse, our mentality more mature. While some may look back with nostalgia, … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for September 28

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Immunization rates in the toniest LA preschools are in line with immunization rates in developing countries like Chad and South Sudan. “In short, mainstream economics – and the concept of homo economicus – recognizes only half of what makes us … Continue reading →

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A thought about the stealth campaign

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Forrest Wilder writes about the un-campaigns being run by most statewide Republicans. But now comes a new twist: the art of the non-campaign. The candidate who doesn’t even bother to put on a show, doesn’t even pretend to reach the … Continue reading →

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Abbott appeals school finance case to Supreme Court

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on Friday appealed to the Texas Supreme Court a district court finding that the state’s school finance system is unconstitutional. State District Judge John Dietz’s Aug. 30 ruling called Texas’ current school finance … Continue reading →

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Dan Patrick loves the poor folks

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

He says so himself, so it must be true. State Sen. Dan Patrick told a wealthy Houston business group Thursday that he would advocate for the poor and people of color if elected lieutenant governor in November, at one point … Continue reading →

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Food trucks arrive downtown

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome. Houston’s foodie community rejoiced Friday as Mayor Annise Parker welcomed propane-fueled food trucks downtown after a years-long ban, but more plans to loosen the city’s mobile unit rules are not likely to meet the same fanfare at City Council … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Dancing Queen

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

All hail ABBA: Did they know how to craft pop music or what? It’s not a surprise that the concept of a jukebox musical, where all the songs are taken from a single artist, has had its best success with … Continue reading →

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Metro board approves updated bus reimagining plan

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

With some provisos. Despite vocal opposition, Metropolitan Transit Authority board members tentatively approved sweeping changes to the bus route system that restructure routes and change daily habits for nearly everyone who uses a bus today. The approval authorizes staff to … Continue reading →

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Paxton investigation put off till after the election

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I can’t really argue with this. The Travis County District Attorney’s Office will not pursue legal action against attorney general candidate state Sen. Ken Paxton until after the election, if at all, because of an internal policy aimed at preventing … Continue reading →

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Free WiFi finally comes to Houston’s airports

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Hallelujah. Travelers to Houston’s largest airports will now have access to free WiFi. The service will be available in all terminals at Hobby Airport and in Terminals A and D at Bush Intercontinental for the tens of millions of travelers … Continue reading →

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On school districts selling stadium naming rights

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Raise your hand if this surprises you. When Bert Brocker wanted to advertise his auto business on the entrances of New Caney ISD’s new football stadium recently, the district offered another, bigger possibility: Naming rights to the entire $20 million, … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Call me Steve

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Just not Steve Jobs. I mean seriously, just try to do a Google search of “Steve” without tripping over a zillion Steve Jobs links. 1. Nothin’ To Do But Today – Stephen Stills 2. Copperhead Road – Steve Earle 3. … Continue reading →

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Abbott and the Latino vote

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I have four things to say about this. When Lily Benitez pulled into her driveway in the Donesta neighborhood here Saturday morning, she was surprised to see Greg Abbott coming toward her. It wasn’t just because he’s the attorney general … Continue reading →

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Firefighter pension board makes an offer to the city

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

This was unexpected. The trustees of Houston’s firefighter pension, who for years have fought the mere mention of changes to benefits as Houston’s enormous pension burden has continued to grow, now are shopping a compromise proposal. Fire pension leaders say … Continue reading →

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The “Everybody does it” defense

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

You knew it was coming. A prominent line of defense has emerged for a newly appointed family court judge accused this month of false billing when she was working as a court-appointed lawyer representing abused children: Everybody does it. District … Continue reading →

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Public meetings coming for Texas Central Railway

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Part of the process of getting the Houston-to-Dallas line built. A proposed high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston, already the subject of a federal environmental review, will soon be the focus of a series of public meetings in Texas, … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Kim Bohannon Hoesl

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote. … Continue reading →

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McCrum slaps back at Perry

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting legal strategy. The special prosecutor in the criminal case against Rick Perry said Tuesday that the governor is asking for “special favors” and that his activities, including a rally when he was booked, are making a mockery of the … Continue reading →

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County appeals Wilson decision

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. Harris County officials are asking an appeals court to reconsider the question of where Dave Wilson lived when he ran for his seat on the Houston Community College board, The Harris County Attorney’s office is appealing … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of September 22

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes it had as much vacation time as Congress does as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Endorsement watch: Civil courts, part 1

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

In the first round of judicial endorsements, Democratic candidates did very well, getting the nod from the Chron in five of six races. In their first review of civil court races, it was the reverse as the Chron stayed with … Continue reading →

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Interview with Susan Criss

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

My second legislative candidate interview is with one of my favorite people in politics, Susan Criss, who is running to succeed Rep. Craig Eiland in HD23. Criss is a longtime District Court judge in Galveston County, who survived the 2010 … Continue reading →

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Voter ID trial concludes

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Now we wait for the judge. Texas’ voter ID law is discriminatory because it was designed to thwart emerging minority voting power in the state and should be dropped, attorneys for the law’s opponents said in closing arguments in a … Continue reading →

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Law enforcement for same sex marriage

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Bravo, y’all. The Democratic sheriffs of Texas’ two most populous counties have signed on with more than 60 other Texas law enforcement officials and first responders saying the state’s ban on same sex marriage not only disrespects but endangers front-line … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: One for Steve Brown

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Express News makes a nice call. In this year’s contest, Democrat Steve Brown is the best candidate. A former party chairman of Fort Bend County, Brown has not worked in the oil-and-gas industry and can bring a much-needed outsider’s … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Sherri Cothrun

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote. … Continue reading →

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Pushing absentee voting

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see how this goes. Texas Democrats, armed with better data and a reinvigorated ground game, have launched an aggressive campaign to turn out voters in November who have spurned them by wide margins for decades: the elderly. The state … Continue reading →

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