Monthly Archives: August 2015

And now we have a lawsuit over HERO repeal ballot language

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, for crying out loud. Last month the Texas Supreme Court suspended the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, more commonly known as HERO, and ordered City Council to either repeal the non-discrimination measure or put it up for a public vote. … Continue reading →

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State Health Services department finally amends that death certificate

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Complying with a federal court order, Texas has issued an amended death certificate acknowledging a Conroe man as the husband of a same-sex spouse who had died in January. The men had been married in New Mexico in 2014, … Continue reading →

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Metro makes its final tweaks

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Ready or not, here comes System Reimagining. Metro officials on Wednesday approved minor changes to the agency’s redesigned bus system as they brace for response from tens of thousands of riders once the revamped system launches Aug. 16. Metropolitan Transit … Continue reading →

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The demography of the uninsured in Texas

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Another look at those who have been helped by Obamacare in Texas, and those who would be helped if the state wasn’t actively resisting. The states’s uninsured continue to be most likely Hispanic, middle-aged, with low incomes and without a … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs list, part 7

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their list. 1. Dancing Barefoot – U2 (orig. Patti Smith, #331) 2. Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd (#324) 3. Alison – Tufts Beelzebubs (orig. Elvis Costello, #323) 4. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Elivs Costello/Santa Esmerelda … Continue reading →

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Paxton’s pal’s problems

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

AG Ken Paxton’s partner in sleazy business Fritz Mowery was also in court on Monday. Mowery Capital Management, a McKinney-based investment firm with ties to recently indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton, presented false documents to state investigators and misled its … Continue reading →

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Sandra Bland’s mother sues DPS and Waller County

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t say this is a surprise. The mother of Sandra Bland filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the Texas Department of Public Safety trooper and several others she deems responsible for the death of her 28-year-old daughter at the Waller … Continue reading →

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Harris County DA to investigate Planned Parenthood clinic here

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I haven’t spent any time writing about the misleading attack videos on Planned Parenthood being put out by yet another shadowy anti-abortion group, so let me dispense with this. Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said Wednesday her office has … Continue reading →

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Family affair in HD118

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Two families, actually. The race to replace retiring state Rep. Joe Farias in House District 118 is shaping up to be a contest featuring two well-known San Antonio political families: Farias vs. Uresti. Farias’ son, Gabe, said he filed paperwork … Continue reading →

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HERO affirmed by Council

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s official – HERO will be on the ballot this fall. City Council voted to affirm Houston’s equal rights ordinance Wednesday, a move that will send the law to voters in November per a Texas Supreme Court ruling. City Council … Continue reading →

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Fifth Circuit affirms that Texas voter ID law violates Voting Rights Act

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Texas’ four-year-old voter ID law violates the Voting Rights Act but is not a “poll tax” barred under the U.S. Constitution, a federal appeals court has ruled. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled that the … Continue reading →

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There’s more to complying with SCOTUS than issuing marriage licenses

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like Ken Paxton may get to learn that the hard way. A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Texas must recognize the same-sex marriage of a Conroe resident by naming him as the surviving spouse on his late husband’s death … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of August 3

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance prefers Attorneys General who aren’t themselves lawbreakers as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Steve Le

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As noted, District F is a diverse and growing area, out along the southwest part of Houston, including a piece of Fort Bend County. A lot of District F residents are immigrants or children of immigrants. One such person is … Continue reading →

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Pastors file a lawsuit over HERO

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Organizers of the anti-Houston Equal Rights Ordinance petition have filed suit against Mayor Annise Parker, saying she and unnamed “conspirators” unconstitutionally rejected valid petition signatures and “smothered the Citizen Referendum Petition in … Continue reading →

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Rep. Ron Reynolds to be tried again on barratry charges

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Just a misdemeanor this time, for what it’s worth. Reynolds was originally charged in 2013 with felony barratry for an alleged “ambulance chasing for profit scheme,” but was convicted by a jury of six counts of a lesser misdemeanor charge … Continue reading →

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How will we miss Ken Paxton if he doesn’t go away?

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Despite his arrest and indictment, Ken paxton might stick around for awhile. Using Texas history as a measure, Ken Paxton’s indictment on securities fraud charges may mean he will have to navigate rough political waters if he stays in office … Continue reading →

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Defending HERO

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a big job, but we can get it done. “We’re going to do everything we can to win HERO at the ballot box,” [Houston GLBT Political Caucus] president Maverick Welsh said. It would be Houstonians’ third time voting on … Continue reading →

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Ken who?

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

State Republican leaders don’t have much to say about our allegedly felonious Attorney General. Texas’ Republican leaders Sunday continued their radio silence on the indictment of Attorney General Ken Paxton on three felony fraud charges. Paxton, who was elected as … Continue reading →

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Not everyone wants Texas to sue the EPA again

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It won’t mean anything to those that are hell-bent on suing, but it is worth keeping in mind. President Obama is set to unveil the nitty-gritty of his sweeping, state-by-state plan to fight climate change this week — his most … Continue reading →

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Lone Star Rail faces Council vote in San Antonio

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a big step. While there is little opposition to the idea of a commuter rail line (the LSTAR) between San Antonio and Austin, the City takes serious pause when confronted with the yearly costs of operation and maintenance. But … Continue reading →

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Interview with CM Richard Nguyen

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One more set of District Council interviews before we move on to the At Large races. District F covers a stretch of fast-growing, very diverse southwest Houston. It was the location of the biggest political upset of the 2013 election, … Continue reading →

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Still reviewing the video on the line item vetoes

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Any day now. With varying degrees of concern, a smattering of government offices and higher education institutions around the state are waiting to learn the fate of more than $200 million in funds that the governor might — or might … Continue reading →

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Hall for all the haters again

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Enjoy the attention while it lasts, dude. Already a staunch opponent of the nondiscrimination law, Hall has become more vocal in the wake of last week’s Texas Supreme Court ruling that City Council must repeal the ordinance, known as HERO, … Continue reading →

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Connecting trails

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Always good to see. The Houston Parks and Recreation Department and Houston Parks Board recently celebrated the completion of the White Oak Bayou Path, the first in a series of projects creating a more connected system of hike-and-bike trails in … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for August 2

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Baby-crawling races are apparently more complicated than you might think. Minivan evolution. Of course, as we know, all minivans were created less than 6,000 years ago. Remains of four-legged snake discovered, strongly suggesting snakes evolved on land. “On every major … Continue reading →

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Paxton indicted

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It just got real, y’all. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been indicted on three charges in Collin County, according to KXAS-TV NBC 5, The Dallas Morning News’ media partner. The grand jury’s indictments were issued on Tuesday, then immediately … Continue reading →

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HISD and HCC finance reports

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s what we know, though it’s incomplete. Fundraising among most HISD board members was slow during the first half of 2015. Board president Rhonda Skillern-Jones, who plans to seek re-election to her District 2 seat this November, raised the most … Continue reading →

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No, we shouldn’t have any kind of elections for SCOTUS justices

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Your junior Senator, ladies and gentlemen. Dismayed by a pair of Supreme Court decisions upholding Obamacare and gay marriage, Republican Ted Cruz presided over a packed Senate hearing Wednesday calling for judicial elections and term limits to rein in what … Continue reading →

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Bridal Extravaganza happily adjusts to a same-sex marriage world

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Love is love, and business is business. Vendors in the industry, from florists to caterers, are seeing a bumper crop of same-sex Texas weddings. “I think there’s going to be some pent-up demand, and that’s exciting,” said Laurette Veres, Bridal … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Happy

Posted on August 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Did you know Bruce Springsteen recorded a song called “Happy”? It’s true. That’s from his four-CD B-sides-and-other-miscellania collection Tracks, which you probably don’t own unless you’re a big Springsteen fan. Not a whole lot that’s memorable, but hey, it’s Springsteen. … Continue reading →

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Harris County will have a bond issue on the ballot

Posted on August 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

More things to vote on this November. Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to put four bond measures totaling $848 million on the November ballot to address tremendous population growth in Harris County during the past two decades. “When you consider … Continue reading →

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Pasadena City Council member Cody Ray Wheeler announces for HD144

Posted on August 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: I am excited to announce that I have decided to seek the Democratic nomination for State Representative District 144. As a Pasadena City Councilmember, I have worked hard to ensure that under-served communities have a voice in … Continue reading →

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Where the forest and the trees collide

Posted on August 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Headline atop Tuesday’s Chronicle: Spike in Metrorail crashes prompts a second look at safety measures. Metro recorded a record 17 accidents on its rail system in June, and most of them involved the kind of action Marchetti narrowly avoided: people … Continue reading →

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