Monthly Archives: September 2014

The Historical Commission, the expert panel, and the Dome

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

And Judge Ed Emmett, the connection between them all. As a group of national experts convenes to figure out what is best to do with the Astrodome, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett on Tuesday briefed the chairman and staff of … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: The clerks

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Two more endorsements from the Chron, one of which may be the least enthusiastic endorsement they’ve ever given. District Clerk: Chris Daniel The Harris County district clerk’s office runs behind the scenes in our judicial system. It maintains records for … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rita Lucido

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We come now to legislative interviews. While I’ve done a lot of these in years past, my schedule this year just didn’t allow for that. I’ve only got two interviews with legislative candidates to share with you, but both are … Continue reading →

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McCrum asks for help

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Because many against one is not a fair fight. The special prosecutor in the case against Gov. Rick Perry is asking for some help. San Antonio lawyer Michael McCrum, who guided the case to last month’s indictment, filed a motion … Continue reading →

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Texas woman denied driver’s license over same-sex marriage

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the headline of this Observer story, and it’s just as infuriating as you think it is. A woman who recently relocated from California says the Texas Department of Public Safety refused to issue her an accurate driver’s license because … Continue reading →

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Empower Texans to spread its virus to Houston

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Try not to get infected. Empower Texans said Sunday it will open a political outpost in Houston, a signal that the conservative political action committee may emerge as a player in upcoming municipal elections. […] On Friday, Empower’s fiscal policy … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for September 21

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I once had “equinox” played against me in a Scrabble game. On a triple word score square. Needless to say, I lost that game. How to find your tribe, in one easy step. “Rigorous studies tend to find that wellness … Continue reading →

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Davis at TribFest

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Wendy Davis expands on some debate topics and other campaign issues at the Texas Tribune’s TribFest. If elected governor, state Sen. Wendy Davis would consider using “executive action” to expand the state’s Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act in … Continue reading →

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Dan Patrick sightings

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I doubt that the Chron’s calling out of Dan Patrick had anything to do with him appearing in public, in the daylight, where there might be people that don’t vote Republican, but it was good timing anyway. Now that Patrick … Continue reading →

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Texas Transportation Commission continues to be obstinate

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

This continues to be ridiculous. Continued disagreement about certain features of a planned Uptown bus rapid transit system prompted a Texas transportation official to suggest Thursday that $25 million in state funding should be redirected. The comments by Texas Transportation … Continue reading →

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The LGBT Wedding Expo

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I love stories like this. The Houston LGBT Wedding Expo at the Galleria-area JW Marriott, which was hosted by the North Carolina-based Rainbow Wedding Network, showcased venues and companies marketing to the growing number of same-sex couples. With the LGBT … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Dancing In The Dark

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

You know this one: Gotta say, I’ve seen Springsteen in concert a couple of times, but I’ve never seen him dance like that, with or without Courtney Cox. Clarence Clemons, sure, but not The Boss. Ah, well, it was the … Continue reading →

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Debate night

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing like a 6 PM on a Friday debate that people don’t know how to find on their cable service. Democrat Wendy Davis went on the offensive against Republican Greg Abbott on issue after issue Friday in their first debate … Continue reading →

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More on Early Matters

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Scott McClelland, president of H-E-B Houston and also the chair of the Greater Houston Partnership Education Advisory Committee, pens an op-ed about the importance of pre-kindergarten and the latest effort to provide for it. It’s hard to believe, but more … Continue reading →

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Southeast and Harrisburg line openings delayed again

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

sigh Metro acknowledged Wednesday that it will be unable to open its two new light rail lines this year as promised, the latest in a series of delays and controversies associated with the rail system. Less than two months ago, … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Statesman for Collier

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman continues its early work on endorsements with a solid recommendation for Democratic Comptroller candidate Mike Collier. The deplorable revenue forecast issued ahead of the 2011 legislative session by the current comptroller, Republican Susan Combs, who’s retiring from politics, … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: R You Ready?

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Ready or not, here come the Rs. 1. Cry Me A River – Ray Brown Trio 2. One Mint Julep – Ray Charles 3. Cruella De Ville – The Replacements 4. Time To Ring Some Changes – Richard Thompson 5. … Continue reading →

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Steven Hotze in his own words

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Media Matters sat in on a conference call of professional haters, and, well, see for yourself. Fox News hero and prominent Texas conservative Dr. Steven Hotze warned supporters during a conference call that gay activists want to overturn laws prohibiting … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit filed to get Paxton records from State Securities Board

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

From the Lone Star Project on Wednesday: Today the Texas Coalition for Lawyer Accountability (TCLA) filed suit against the Texas State Securities Board to obtain documents linked to Republican attorney general candidate Ken Paxton’s admitted felony violation of state securities … Continue reading →

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Greg Abbott is not an advocate for people with disabilities

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Didn’t think this was in question, but let’s review the facts again. “I really strongly believe, and I think most people who are advocates for people with disabilities believe, that a disability is neither a barrier nor an advantage in … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Family courts

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle gets in the endorsement game by getting started on the long list of judicial races that will be on your 2014 ballot, and it’s a big helping of good news for the Democratic slate of Family Court nominees, … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: James Horwitz

Posted on September 18, 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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HISD should not be on the hook for North Forest’s liabilities

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Come on! Fourteen months after the Texas Education Agency ordered Houston ISD to take over the long-troubled North Forest school district, some unexpected disputes over funding have surfaced. The Houston school board has authorized its attorneys to challenge a Texas … Continue reading →

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Metro still tweaking its reimagined bus plan

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Still a work in progress. Sweeping changes to Houston’s bus system are on pace for approval later this month, though some features of the new routes and schedules will be a work in progress. Five so-called “flex zones” planned in … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of September 15

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance doesn’t need Congressional approval to bring you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Melissa Noriega

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We round out the county races this year with the Harris County Department of Education, a seven-member board that handles federal grants and provides various programs for the many independent school districts in Harris County. It’s hard to believe, but … Continue reading →

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Next in “What’s wrong with our textbooks”: Climate change

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: An examination of how proposed social studies textbooks for Texas public schools address climate change reveals distortions and bias that misrepresent the broad scientific consensus on the phenomenon. Climate education specialists at the National Center for Science … Continue reading →

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Rest of the single stream bins to be distributed

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

All Houston homes will be covered. All Houston residents who get city trash service will be able to roll their recyclables to the curb in 96-gallon green carts by the start of 2015, a milestone that has been years in … Continue reading →

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Text to 911 option coming locally

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Ever wonder why you can’t text 911? Well, in Harris and Fort Bend Counties, you will soon be able to. By the end of the year, millions of Houston-area residents are expected to have a silent alternative: the Text-to-911 option … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Farrah Martinez

Posted on September 16, 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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On Gene Green and representing Latino districts

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been meaning to blog about this story about Rep. Gene Green and CD29 and how the Houston area has never sent a Latino to Congress, but I kept getting stuck and I finally decided I was overthinking it. Two … Continue reading →

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HISD approves its redistricting plan

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, HISD now includes all of the former North Forest ISD, and with that new territory came the need to reapportion its Trustee districts. They completed that task last week with a minimum of fuss. The Houston school … Continue reading →

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Rearranging the traffic

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure how much of an effect this will have. Among the 200,000 motorists who traverse Interstate 45 just south of downtown every day, a fair number find themselves weaving frantically from lane to lane as they approach the connection … Continue reading →

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Interview with Debra Kerner

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

We round out the county races this year with the Harris County Department of Education, a seven-member board that handles federal grants and provides various programs for the many independent school districts in Harris County. It’s hard to believe, but … Continue reading →

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