Monthly Archives: April 2016

Saturday video break: It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Combining two of my favorite things in this post, beginning with the Asylum Street Spankers: Man, I miss these guys. I caught every show they did in Houston for several years running, including some in the most smoke-filled room in … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

SCOTUS declines to intervene in voter ID case for now

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Not what I would have wanted, but not the end of the line. Even as a federal appeals court prepares to review the constitutionality of Texas’ controversial voter ID law, the law will remain in effect, the U.S. Supreme Court … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

GetMe waits in the wings

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

No matter what happens with the rideshare repeal referendum in Austin, there will be at least one vehicle for hire company in the capital city. Early voting is underway in Austin on Proposition 1, where residents will decide which regulations … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Cornyn files bill to speed up floodgate construction process

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Credit where credit is due. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn filed legislation Wednesday that he says would expedite the long process of constructing a hurricane protection system for the Texas coast, including the particularly vulnerable Houston region. But while local officials … Continue reading →

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Don’t let the mosquitoes bite

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That’s going to be a challenge. Mosquitoes don’t breed in flood waters. They drown in them, said Dr. Mustapha Debboun, director of the Mosquito Control Division at Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services. But it’s after the flood waters … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Friday random ten: In the city, part 8

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

More Memphis! 1. Leningrad – Billy Joel 2. Lisdoonvarna – Ceili’s Muse 3. Liverpool Sunset – Gerald Jay Markoe 4. Lodi – Creedence Clearwater Revival 5. London Homesick Blues – Flying Fish Sailors 6. (Making The Run To) Gladewater – … Continue reading →

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More on the Uber ultimatum

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Initial reaction is not terribly receptive. Ride-hailing giant Uber threatened Wednesday to stop operating in Houston unless city leaders amend local regulations the company said are making it tough for them to recruit drivers. The ultimatum, the latest skirmish in … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Rangers investigating Rep. Dawnna Dukes

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Busy days for them. The Texas Rangers have joined a Travis County District Attorney office criminal probe into state Rep. Dawnna Dukes’ use of staff, the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed. “At the request of the Travis County District … Continue reading →

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Council approves body camera storage funds

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. City Council voted Wednesday to spend $1 million to buy servers and other equipment to store video collected by city police officers equipped with body cameras. The vote, passed with relatively little fuss following months of sometimes-contentious public debate, … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Another FEC complaint filed against Cruz

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We’re up to two. The Texas Democrats have filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission alleging presidential contender Sen. Ted Cruz and his associates violated campaign finance laws. The complaint, dated April 22, asserts that Cruz national co-chair, J. … Continue reading →

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Uber says it will leave Houston if it does not change its fingerprinting requirement

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I called it. Uber announced Wednesday that the company plans to cease operations in Houston if the city council does not repeal its existing regulations relating to vehicle-for-hire companies. Houston is one of two cities in the country where Uber … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Dan Patrick supports potty package check legislation

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Of course he does. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, weighing into a national controversy over transgender restrooms, said Tuesday he supports keeping men out of women’s restrooms, even if it takes legislation to do so. Since the issue erupted into controversy … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Kill that trash subsidy

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Works for me. Mayor Sylvester Turner, working to close a $160 million budget deficit, has proposed scrapping payments that scores of Houston neighborhoods served by private trash haulers receive to help offset the cost of their waste contracts. The idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of April 25

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is gathered here today to get through this thing called mourning the loss of Prince as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Houston Area Survey 2016: Harris County becoming more Democratic

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Whoa. A majority of Harris County residents lean Democratic for the first time ever, propelled by plummeting support for Republicans among Latinos, according to a survey released Monday by Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. The finding, in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Paxton’s pity party

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, boo hoo hoo. Attorney General Ken Paxton has blasted his indictments and other legal problems – including a previously undisclosed IRS investigation and frozen accounts – as a political witch-hunt fueled by fellow conservatives and the media. At a … Continue reading →

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“Space City” fight escalates

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s getting real. The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau is asking a federal judge to stop a rival comic convention from using the phrase “Space City” for its three-day festival scheduled for NRG Center over Memorial Day weekend. The … Continue reading →

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

Endorsement watch: Against Prop 1

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman urges a vote against the divisive referendum to repeal Austin’s ordinance regulating transit network companies like Uber and Lyft. Voting against Prop. 1 is the best way to ensure that Lyft, Uber and other ride-hailing service drivers, undergo … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Still debating the Trump effect in Texas

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This time with input from trained professionals. Republicans say it’s just wishful thinking, but Democrats are hoping that Trump’s controversial comments will make some GOP voters stay home in protest and boost the number of Democrats going to the polls … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Don’t expect any flood project funding from Congress, either

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Nice thought, but ain’t gonna happen. As the flood threat across much of the Houston region lessened Friday, local leaders began shifting their focus to recovery and two Houston congressmen announced legislation to fund more than $300 million worth of … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Disaster declaration made

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office today confirmed that President Obama has approved the governor’s request for a federal disaster declaration for Fayette, Grimes, Harris and Parker counties. The action paves the way for federal recovery assistance to … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Why bother?

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle barely musters a shrug for the special election in HD139. The winner of this election will cast no ballots in the state Legislature – presuming that Gov. Greg Abbott doesn’t call an unexpected special session. At the very … Continue reading →

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Early voting for May 7 elections begins today

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, remember that special election to fill out Mayor Turner’s unexpired term in HD139? Early voting for it – and for the other elections on the May 7 ballot – begins today. Who knew, right? Here’s the press release from … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The state is starting to feel the squeeze

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Things are tough all over. The state is facing big problems affecting vulnerable populations that will take significant money to fix at the same time that a slump in the energy industry is chipping into its revenues, House Speaker Joe … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Don’t expect Congress to pay for a Gulf Coast floodgate system

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I sure don’t. After nearly a decade of bickering and finger pointing, Texas scientists and lawmakers finally seem to agree that building some version of a “coastal spine” — a massive seawall and floodgate system — would best help protect … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Oh, Borris

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Not good. State Rep. Borris Miles, a Houston Democrat, repeatedly failed to disclose his business interests in three companies as state law requires. The lawmaker did not report on state ethics forms for several years that he had an ownership … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Weekend link dump for April 24

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

At some point, you’d think they’d have to actually find a Bigfoot, right? It’s time for Animaniacs once again. Has Carroll Spinney passed the torch on playing Big Bird and Oscar? You want to claim your product is “all natural”, … Continue reading →

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Storm debris collection begins in Houston neighborhoods

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Beginning Saturday, April 23, 2016 the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department and private contractors working on the City’s behalf will begin storm debris collection in the single-family neighborhoods impacted by Monday’s flooding. This includes the … Continue reading →

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Ken Paxton says he’ll run again in 2018

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

As I fully expect he will. Embattled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, facing state criminal charges and a federal complaint about his private business affairs, plans to run for re-election. “Let there be no doubt that at the appropriate time … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, you must acquit

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I knew there was a lawsuit going on over the provenance of Stairway to Heaven, but I hadn’t realized there were Texas connections to it. In a few weeks, jurors will decide if Led Zeppelin lifted the guitar intro to … Continue reading →

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Want to buy a big piece of land near the Medical Center?

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s your chance. A single tract of land large enough to hold multiple office towers, high-rise residential buildings and a hotel doesn’t often come available inside Loop 610. One near the Texas Medical Center is even more uncommon. After 45 … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Istanbul (Not Constantinople) revisited

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I posted three videos of the classic “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” a few years back, including a video of the original, by The Four Lads. Now here’s a video of the They Might Be Giants version, done over a montage of … Continue reading →

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First look at how HISD will balance its budget

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Seems to be fairly well-received. The Houston school district’s interim superintendent on Thursday rescinded his proposal to reduce funding for gifted students amid concerns from parents and board members. At the same time, Ken Huewitt proposed bolstering the budgets of … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Being Sid Miller

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s complicated, especially when your stories keep changing. The Texas Rangers are currently investigating whether Miller broke the law when he took those out-of-state, taxpayer-funded trips in February 2015. The first was to Oklahoma, where internal emails from the Department of … Continue reading →

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