Monthly Archives: June 2015

More counties issuing same sex marriage licenses

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Montgomery County: Montgomery County Clerk Mark Turnbull said he turned one same-sex couple away on Friday who requested a marriage license, but wound up issuing the license after regular hours on Saturday. He initially refused because he was waiting for … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS puts HB2 back on hold

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Good. For now, anyway. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sided with Texas abortion providers and temporarily put on hold a ruling that would have closed about half of the state’s abortion facilities. There were 19 abortion providers performing the … Continue reading →

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Bail reform for Harris County?

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This would be a big deal. In jails across the country, including Harris County, a majority of the people behind bars have not been convicted of a crime. In the jail complex on the north side of downtown Houston, more … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Sales tax revenues take a dip

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t freak out just yet, but do be a little worried. Houston’s 53-month consecutive span of year-over-year sales tax revenue gains has come to an end, five months into an energy slump analysts said could dent the city’s economic numbers … Continue reading →

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Where same sex marriage is still functionally illegal in Texas

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Smith County: After a historic Supreme Court ruling, making same sex marriage legal in all fifty states, couples across the country flocked to courthouses to be legally married. Despite the ruling, an East Texas County Court will not be issuing … Continue reading →

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A setback for transparency

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t care for this. The Texas Supreme Court on Friday limited the public’s right to know about private groups that get government funds. In a 6-3 opinion, the court sided with the Greater Houston Partnership, agreeing that GHP doesn’t … Continue reading →

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Ambulances and ERs

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting story about the overuse of ambulances in Houston and how the city is trying to deal with it. But in truth little works in a system that has been broken for years. Over the past generation, patients began … Continue reading →

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Harris County road bond

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County voters may be asked to vote on a bond issue this fall. Rapid population expansion and development in unincorporated areas of Harris County have strained roads, facilities and infrastructure so much that for the first time in eight … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for June 28

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

“The real test is whether Francis can convince conservative politicians of the reality, and urgency, of climate change. The reaction so far, at least in the United States, suggests he can’t. John Boehner, Paul Ryan, Jeb Bush, and Marco Rubio—all … Continue reading →

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HISD Board President backs changing Confederate school names

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Fine by me. Amid a growing move to shed symbols of the old, slave-owning South, the Houston school board president said Thursday that she supports renaming six campuses named after Confederate loyalists. Rhonda Skillern-Jones said she plans to discuss the … Continue reading →

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What now for road projects?

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

What do we do with road projects that were going to use ReBuild Houston funds now that the Supreme Court has ruled the 2010 referendum to have been illegal? A necklace of neighborhood streets encircling Hudnell’s home is among the … Continue reading →

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Rep. Scott Turner not running for re-election

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Another one heads for the exit. State Rep. Scott Turner, the Frisco Republican who unsuccessfully ran for speaker this year, has decided not to seek re-election. Turner announced his decision in an email to constituents Thursday, hinting that he is … Continue reading →

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Cruz keeps on trolling along

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

For a guy who’s supposed to be so freaking brilliant, Ted Cruz sure says a lot of stupid things. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Saturday said county clerks in Texas should “absolutely” be able to opt out of issuing same-sex … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The Rainbow Connection

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Going out of order, inspired by a Facebook post by my friend Andy, here’s a classic song with a particular resonance for this week: From the original “Muppet Movie” of 1979, which I need to find on DVD and make … Continue reading →

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Moving on to the benefits issue

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

And as we move on to other fights, the terrain changes. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott opened the door for state agencies to withhold benefits from same-sex couples Friday, hours after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. In a letter … Continue reading →

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And we begin the next fight

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s always going to be something. In a somber and defiant statement, Attorney General Ken Paxton proclaimed his next battlefront would be in defense of religious liberty. “The truth is that the debate over the issue of marriage has increasingly … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS rules for marriage equality

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Boom. Handing gay rights advocates a monumental victory, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled that marriages between couples of the same sex are constitutional, a decision that overrides Texas’ long-standing ban on gay marriage. In a 5-4 ruling, the … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit against county by former crime lab supervisor partially reinstated

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a bit of a convoluted story. A federal appeals court has reinstated portions of a lawsuit filed by two former Houston Police Department crime lab supervisors who contended that Harris County prosecutors retaliated against them after they exposed problems … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Best Songs list, part 1

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Awhile back, I did a series of Friday Random Ten posts based on this Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. I had thought it was from 2008, but upon closer inspection it’s actually from 2004, it was … Continue reading →

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That other big SCOTUS case from yesterday

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Another nice surprise from the mercurial Supreme Court. A sharply divided Supreme Court on Thursday preserved a key tool used for more than four decades to fight housing discrimination, handing a surprising victory to the Obama administration and civil rights … Continue reading →

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Remember, don’t rush to get married in Harris County just yet

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Harris County Clerk isn’t ready for you and won’t be for at least a little while. Should the U.S. Supreme court decide to strike down same-sex marriage bans nationwide, a decision that could come as soon as Thursday, county … Continue reading →

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A whiter shade of male

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Sheriffing is a man’s job, ladies. I’m sure you understand that. One month into his job as Harris County sheriff, Ron Hickman has filled his roster of top commanders, a new hierarchy marked by one omission: There are no women. … Continue reading →

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Wilson thwarted again

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Dave Wilson’s latest troll job: applying for a spot in the annual Pride parade. It did not go well. Wilson told me he received preliminary approval to appear in the parade, and paid $805 in fees. He said he crossed … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Turner and Garcia lead early Mayoral poll

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We have our first polling numbers for the 2015 Mayoral election. Sylvester Turner and Adrian Garcia have emerged as the clear front-runners in the first independent poll before the election that will determine Houston’s next mayor. The KHOU – Houston … Continue reading →

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Abbott would like to restore the uninsured rate

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s what he does. Greg Abbott on Monday urged his fellow Republicans not to “rescue” President Barack Obama’s signature health care law if it is torpedoed by the U.S. Supreme Court, an unusually public stance that could make the first-term … Continue reading →

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No response necessary

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Unless it’s “We will respect and fully comply with the court’s ruling”. The U.S. Supreme Court could decide as early as this week whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. For supporters of same-sex marriage, it’s an emotional … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of June 22

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The thoughts and prayers of the Texas Progressive Alliance are with the families and friends of the victims of the horrible shooting in Charleston as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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The next steps for equality advocates

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Marriage equality will be a huge step, but there are many more steps to be taken. The newly launched Texas Wins campaign—a multiyear, multimillion-dollar effort—aims to increase the number of LGBT Texans protected by local nondiscrimination ordinances. “We want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The latest Pete Rose revelations

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

He bet on Reds games while he was still a player, despite his loud assertions to the contrary. For 26 years, Pete Rose has kept to one story: He never bet on baseball while he was a player. Yes, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Bell wants Meyerland flooding investigated

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a story about flooding and the Mayor’s race, but not the story about flooding and the Mayor’s race you might have been expecting. Mayoral candidate Chris Bell on Sunday called for an independent investigation into why so many Meyerland … Continue reading →

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On judicial elections and campaign finance

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Ross Ramsey raises an interesting point. It might seem silly to elect people who promise they won’t represent you, their political party or their donors, but that’s what we expect judges to do. They’re supposed to apply the law, and … Continue reading →

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It always was about animus towards gays

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

TPM reviews the history of anti-gay marriage laws and constitutional amendments now that they’re on the verge of being thrown out. Opponents of marriage equality have been claiming that these laws were not enacted with any animus intended towards same-sex … Continue reading →

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Abbott vetos Huffman loophole bill

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Gov. Greg Abbott has vetoed legislation that would have allowed married elected officials to hide their personal financial business from the prying eyes of Texas voters, according to the author of the legislation. The so-called spousal loophole provision had … Continue reading →

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Meet your Constitutional amendments

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

A pretty uninspiring bunch, if you ask me. Now that the dust has settled on the 84th Texas Legislature, voters are getting the first official look at which constitutional amendments they will be voting on come November. Texas Secretary of … Continue reading →

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