Monthly Archives: February 2015

State of the county 2015: Please cooperate more

Posted on February 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett makes his eighth State if the County address. In his eighth State of the County address, Emmett had choice words for both Austin – which is weighing a reduction in property taxes that form the … Continue reading →

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Wal-Mart booze update

Posted on February 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Lege gets involved. One week after Wal-Mart sued the state for the right to sell hard liquor, two Texas lawmakers and a new coalition of businesses are taking the same fight to the Capitol. Wal-Mart, Kroger and the Texas … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 3

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

More parentheses! So many more parentheses! 1. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – U2 2. Come And I Will Sing You (The Twelve Apostles) – Great Big Sea 3. Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) – Chic 4. The Deal … Continue reading →

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First same-sex marriage in Texas happens

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It may be the only one for awhile, but it will definitely not be the only one. Despite Texas’ longstanding ban on same-sex marriages, two Austin women made history on Thursday when they became the first gay couple to legally … Continue reading →

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Should Lane Lewis resign as HCDP Chair to run for Council?

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the question some people are asking. “What I want is someone who is going to be, at least in the political world, dedicated 100 percent to the mission of advancing the ideals of the Democratic Party,” said John Gorczynski, … Continue reading →

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Metro’s new rail station

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Houston Central Station is finally open, though in a much less impressive form than it might have been. Houston’s first new rail station in nearly 14 months [opened] Wednesday, but it won’t serve its main purpose – connecting riders on … Continue reading →

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Faith leaders rally for equality

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Good to see. Faith leaders from across Texas gathered Tuesday at the state Capitol, urging legislators to lift the state’s ban on gay marriage and pass laws forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. While some cities — … Continue reading →

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Views differ on SD26

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From Campos. Before the State Senate District 26 Special started, Rep. José Menéndez and fellow Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer were both good elected officials and good Democrats. This morning they are still good elected officials and good Democrats. Somebody had … Continue reading →

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Another judge finds Texas’ ban on same sex marriage to be unconstitutional

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This ruling is a bit more narrow, however. A Travis County judge ruled Tuesday that the Texas ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, but there was no rush to the altar after county officials — scrambling to assess the impact … Continue reading →

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San Antonio may try again on vehicles for hire

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting. Key players at City Hall are crafting an eleventh-hour amended ordinance to stop Uber from leaving San Antonio, 10 days after the rideshare company announced plans to end service here if one of the nation’s most restrictive ordinances … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of February 16

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance sends warm thoughts to everyone in the Northeast digging themselves out from snow again as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Special election runoff results

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here you go, from the Secretary of State webpage. SD26 Trey Martinez Fischer 9,623 40.95% Jose Menendez 13,888 59.04% HD123 Diego Bernal 5,170 63.66% Nunzio Previtera 2,950 36.33% HD13 Carolyn Cerny Bilski 4,763 42.85% Leighton Schubert 6,350 57.14% HD17 John … Continue reading →

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Obama immigration executive order halted

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

For now. A federal judge late Monday halted President Barack Obama’s landmark immigration order on the eve of its implementation, denying millions of people illegally in America access to work permits and dealing a victory to Gov. Greg Abbott in … Continue reading →

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Texas Central chooses a corridor

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We have a single preferred route for the Houston to Dallas high speed rail line. Texas Central High-Speed Railway (TCR) today informed the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that it recommends narrowing the consideration of potential high-speed rail corridors between Houston … Continue reading →

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Remaking Allen Parkway

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’ll be different, but it makes sense. Next summer, after workers have spent months shifting lanes, adding crosswalks and planting trees, Allen Parkway will be a parkway again, at the cost of a slight slowing of vehicle traffic and the … Continue reading →

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Ivy Taylor enters SA Mayor’s race

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s on. Mayor Ivy Taylor declared her candidacy for mayor Monday in an exclusive interview with the San Antonio Express-News. Taylor, who was appointed mayor last summer by her council colleagues, said that she made the decision after significant thought … Continue reading →

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HD17 runoff overview

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s Runoff Day today for the legislative special elections, and this overview of the HD17 runoff gives a good idea of what to expect from the winner in that race. As Republicans John Cyrier and Brent Golemon prepare to settle … Continue reading →

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Don’t stop fighting for choice

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the message I take from this. They’re pushing a boulder up a hill in the conservative Texas Legislature. But three House Democrats remain laser-focused on repealing the 24-hour waiting period for abortion imposed by the state’s 2011 sonogram law. … Continue reading →

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Losing our sports history

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This is sad. The original championship banners for the Rockets and the WNBA’s defunct Comets remain on display at Toyota Center, as do banners saluting both teams’ representatives in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. After that, Houston’s legacy … Continue reading →

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Voter fingerprint ID

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This has superficial appeal, but I don’t believe it holds up under close scrutiny. Fingerprints can now be used to unlock smart phones, car engines, even guns. Why not ballots, too? A New Mexico legislator has just proposed that his … Continue reading →

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More candidate updates

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Another Council hopeful tosses his hat into the ring, though we don’t know exactly which office he intends to seek just yet. Tom McCasland, who took over the Harris County Housing Authority after it suffered in scandal, will run for … Continue reading →

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Farenthold replies to the lawsuit against his office

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, has formally denied a former employee’s claims that he sexually harassed and discriminated against her. Instead, he fired the staffer for “poor performance and failure to report to work,” his legal … Continue reading →

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Another I-45 public meeting should be scheduled soon

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From Jim Weston of the I-45 Coalition: TxDOT will soon be holding another public meeting! TxDOT has been working for years to come up with a plan to ‘relieve’ the congestion on I-45. After several years, TxDOT is getting closer … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for February 15

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The modesty rules young girls and adolescents are taught to follow are contradictory and harmful. By making this argument in the midst of a measles resurgence, both [Sen. Rand] Paul and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are trying to have … Continue reading →

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McCrum refiles charges against Perry

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. Former Gov. Rick Perry tried to force out a local district attorney because he wanted to stymie the work of a unit she oversees that investigates public corruption involving state officials, a special prosecutor alleged Friday. … Continue reading →

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On Council and charters

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Council continues considering charter changes. (Go ahead, say that five times fast.) The Charter Review Committee’s proposal would allow for six council members to add an item to the agenda for consideration by the full City Council. Under the current … Continue reading →

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Wal-Mart sues Texas

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s about booze. Wal-Mart filed a lawsuit in an Austin federal court on Thursday challenging a Texas law that forbids the company from owning and operating liquor stores in the state. The lawsuit says the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission code … Continue reading →

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On driving the empty private toll road

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Robert Rivard takes a ride on the lonely private toll road SH 130. Let me explain: SH 130, completed in October 2012, runs from an intersection just east of Seguin on I-10 to an intersection just north of Georgetown on … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Fire

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

A young Bruce Springsteen does an acoustic version of one of his classics: There’s a reason they call him the Boss. But for all his many virtues, I don’t think anyone has ever called Springsteen funky. For that, we have … Continue reading →

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Mixed jury verdict in HERO repeal petitions trial

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Some Friday afternoon big news. A jury in the trial surrounding Houston’s embattled equal rights ordinance issued a mixed slate of decisions Friday, giving neither side the obvious upper hand as a district judge now uses those findings to decide … Continue reading →

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Early voting is up in the special election runoffs

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Make of that what you will. If three days of early voting are any indication, the tense runoff fight for the state Senate 26 seat between Trey Martinez-Fischer and José Menéndez is attracting more voters than cast ballots in the … Continue reading →

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Abbott waffles on vaccinations

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Come on, dude. Weighing in on a national debate, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made clear this week that he supports laws that include exemptions to requirements that parents vaccinate their children. “Abbott recognizes the public health benefits of vaccines and … Continue reading →

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The Fair BEER Act

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’m in. The act would reform the federal beer tax imposed on brewers and beer importers and give a special boost to small brewers. The idea is to create a laddered rate that is based on how much a brewer … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 2

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

More songs with parentheses. 1. But Still He Loved Her So (The Ballad Of Harry And Esther) – Sally Fingerett 2. By Cover of Night (Fire Fight) – Sebastien Grainger 3. California (There Is No End To Love) – U2 … Continue reading →

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