Monthly Archives: June 2015

Houston’s transit deserts

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the Kinder Institute’s Urban Edge blog: A new study suggests that despite METRO’s launch of several highly-touted and publicized improvements, the agency is still struggling to address the needs of some communities that depend heavily on transit. With operations … Continue reading →

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ReBuild Houston and the Mayor’s race

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all about the conservative voters, because no one cares what anyone else thinks. When the most conservative candidate in the Houston mayor’s race dropped out two months ago, the battle to win over right-leaning voters became a two-man show: … Continue reading →

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Off to SCOTUS for HB2

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

If they want to hear it. Abortion is back before the U.S.A Supreme Court, and the justices could signal by the end of June whether they are likely to take up the biggest case on the contentious subject in nearly … Continue reading →

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Abbott signs bill to remove Public Integrity Unit from Travis County DA office

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. Ignoring calls for a veto, Gov. Greg Abbott signed controversial legislation this week that will allow elected and appointed state officials and state employees to bypass Austin prosecutors when they are accused of public corruption. Abbott, a Republican, … Continue reading →

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Pointless pastor protest

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Where to even begin? Some prominent Houston church leaders put their names on a full-page open letter to the U.S. Supreme Court in major U.S. newspapers, promising to defy the court should it decide same-sex marriage is a civil right. … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for June 21

Posted on June 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

“On another occasion, Mr. [redacted] told Ms. [redacted] not to dream of [redacted]’s Chief Financial Officer wearing a singlet wrestling his prom date while naked midgets are cheering for him on the sidelines using Siamese furry cats as pom poms!” … Continue reading →

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The Fifth Circuit still sucks

Posted on June 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

They also blow. A federal appeals court on Friday rejected a request from Texas abortion providers to temporarily put on hold a ruling that could leave Texas with nine abortion facilities. Abortion providers had asked the U.S. 5th Circuit Court … Continue reading →

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Your input for the Bike Plan requested

Posted on June 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve written before about the Bike Plan the city is currently working on, to improve all facets of bike travel in Houston. This effort, now in Phase 2 of 6, depends heavily on input from the public, and the time … Continue reading →

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Sid Miller confirms that he’s a joke

Posted on June 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Sadly, the joke’s on us. Across the U.S., officials waking up to the nation’s obesity epidemic have been moving to cut down on unhealthy food in schools. Not in Texas. Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced Thursday that schools around Texas, … Continue reading →

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More hyperloops

Posted on June 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Gonna be the future soon. Not content with simply sending men to Mars and conquering the automotive industry, billionaire Elon Musk has plans for a tubular transportation system that would dominate the globe. The Hyperloop has been considered closer to … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The Great Gig In The Sky

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

That Pink Floyd song from Dark Side of the Moon whose name you can never remember: That wasn’t the first video I watched for this. I looked at this one first, by The Australia Pink Floyd Show. It was so … Continue reading →

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ReVote Houston?

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Mayoral candidate Bill King calls for a do-over on Renew/ReBuild Houston. Houston mayoral candidate Bill King wants to put ReBuild Houston, the city’s controversial streetand drainage program, back up for a vote. […] King, the most vocal opponent of ReBuild … Continue reading →

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Texas Supreme Court rules against AG in Austin gay divorce case

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One small step, even if it was on a technicality. As Texas waits on the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on same-sex marriage, the state’s highest civil court ruled Friday that the Texas attorney general tried too late to stop … Continue reading →

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“Roguish behavior”

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Saint Louis Cardinals admit they hacked the Astros’ proprietary database. Thursday’s tacit admission by St. Louis Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt Jr. that someone in his organization was involved in hacking the Astros continued a saga that holds the potential … Continue reading →

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Maybe Ratliff won’t step down from the SBOE after all

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Just when he thought he was out, they (might) pull him back in. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed a social conservative and former staffer for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to chair the Texas State Board of Education on Thursday. Donna Bahorich … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Gone too soon, part 5

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four 1. Super Freak – Big Daddy (orig. Rick James, 1948-2004) 2. Just A Little Lovin’ – Dusty Springfield (1939-1999) 3. Suite of Old American Dances – Trinity University Wind Symphony (Dr. Eugene … Continue reading →

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More complaints against Paxton

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the Lone Star Project, spotted on the Quorum Report with the original press release forwarded to my inbox: Lone Star Project research has compiled significant information regarding the involvement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a series of … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit filed over Uptown line

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

All things considered, I suppose this was inevitable. A homeowner’s association is suing Metro over its involvement in plans to run bus lanes along Post Oak Boulevard, saying the project puts the agency at odds with a 2003 referendum that … Continue reading →

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Abbott signs pollution enhancement bill

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Still sucks to be us, Harris County. Gov. Greg Abbott has signed legislation that could make it tougher for local governments to sue big-time polluters – an effort that largely targets Harris County prosecutors. House Bill 1794, set to become … Continue reading →

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How will campuses handle campus carry?

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Good question. When it comes to guns on campus, University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven is in a bit of an awkward position. A month ago, the former Navy admiral was one of the most vocal opponents of legislation … Continue reading →

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New litigation against ReBuild Houston

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

To be expected at this point. A class action lawsuit has been filed against the city, seeking to reimburse residents who pay the drainage fee that helps fund ReBuild Houston, the multibillion-dollar streets and drainage improvement program that voters narrowly … Continue reading →

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I got those reverse commuting blues

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Woodlands is growing as en employment center, which means it is also seeing a lot more traffic in what used to be the reverse commute direction. There is no longer a simple drive to this onetime bedroom community, which … Continue reading →

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Keffer to retire

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The original Straus gang shrinks again. State Rep. Jim Keffer, an Eastland Republican who was one of the earliest supporters of House Speaker Joe Straus, has decided not to seek reelection next year, according to a statement he prepared for … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of June 15

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is binged out on the Women’s World Cup as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Lots of people will lose insurance if SCOTUS takes it away from them

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder. With a U.S. Supreme Court decision looming this month on a point of law that could dismantle the Affordable Care Act, a series of new reports offer a grim glimpse at the toll on Texas should the … Continue reading →

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The Hacked-Stros

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

WTF? The F.B.I. and Justice Department prosecutors are investigating whether front-office officials for the St. Louis Cardinals, one of the most successful teams in baseball over the past two decades, hacked into internal networks of a rival team to steal … Continue reading →

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Uptown BRT construction begins

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’m really rooting for this to succeed. Dignitaries will gather Monday to symbolically start construction of wider sidewalks and dedicated bus lanes meant to enhance Post Oak Boulevard and offer improved transit service, even as some residents and business owners … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit filed against APF

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Sweet. An Austin-based lobbyist has sued the group behind the secret videotaping of Capitol insiders in an attempt to compel it to reveal its major donors and other detailed financial information. Steve Bresnen issued a statement saying he is suing … Continue reading →

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New hope against the sonogram law?

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Possible new hope, but not any time soon. Attorneys who represented Texas doctors in a lawsuit against the state’s 2011 abortion sonogram law are considering their legal options following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Monday decision not to revive a similar … Continue reading →

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There are too many questions that need to be answered before we can talk about expanding HPD

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Chief McClelland is going to have to start answering them if he wants support for increasing HPD’s budget. Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland last year asked City Council for $105 million over five years to hire hundreds of new officers, … Continue reading →

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Encroaching on Sam Houston National Forest

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The march of development continues apace. All over the Texas Piney Woods, along farm-to-market roads and state highways, multicolored signs hawk real estate – small plots of paradise among the tall trees. The billboards offer “gated acreage” and “room to … Continue reading →

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Georgetown goes all in on renewable energy

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From ThinkProgress. Located about 30 miles north of the Texas capital in a deeply conservative county, the city of Georgetown will be powered 100 percent by renewable energy within the next couple years. Georgetown’s residents and elected officials made the … Continue reading →

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Why don’t younger people vote in local elections?

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a great and confounding question, isn’t it? The folks at the Knight Foundation tried to answer it. Local government often has more real-world impact on the everyday lives of citizens than other levels of government. Police departments, libraries and … Continue reading →

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Eltife not running for re-election

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

He will be missed. After 23 years in elected office, state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, said he will not run for re-election in 2016 to devote more time to family, friends, his work and his community. Eltife said he’s loved … Continue reading →

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