Monthly Archives: April 2016

Two Medicaid stories

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the Trib: State health officials confirmed Tuesday they have asked the Obama administration to keep a 15-month lifeline of federal Medicaid money flowing into Texas to help hospitals treat uninsured patients. That money would offer temporary relief to health care providers who face losing … Continue reading →

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Pity the poor utilities

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry, but low electricity prices, especially when they are aided by record amounts of wind power generation, are good news. Texas’ national lead in cheap wind power, combined with near historically low natural gas prices, mild weather, an abundant power … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: In the city, part 7

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Spanning the globe, week after week… 1. (Is Anybody Going to) San Antone – Doug Sahm And Band 2. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) – They Might be Giants/Lager Rhythms 3. I’ve Been To Memphis – Lyle Lovett 4. I’ve Got A … Continue reading →

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Lawsuits filed over teacher evaluations

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. A statewide teachers group filed a lawsuit Wednesday in an attempt to block the state from implementing a controversial system that for the first time ties assessments of educators to student performance on standardized tests. … Continue reading →

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An outside view on Uber in Houston

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman looks at how Austin’s fight with Uber and Lyft over fingerprint requirements compares with other cities in Texas, including Houston. Officials in Houston said they decided early on that their city, despite having almost 2,500 licensed taxis, could … Continue reading →

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

Your increasingly regular Sid Miller update

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

What a piece of work this guy is. For years, a sticker affixed to more than 170,000 gas pumps in Texas featured a straightforward headline — “Fuel Feedback?” — alongside a toll-free number, email address and instructions for consumers with … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The dry run for the Super Bowl

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It went pretty well. In less than a year, the Super Bowl is expected to draw almost twice as many as the 70,000 out-of-towners who flocked here for the Final Four. More than 1 million are expected to come downtown … Continue reading →

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The Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: After receiving calls from corporations and others who want to help financially, Mayor Sylvester Turner is establishing The Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund, to accept flood relief donations. “We’ve been hearing from residents who are confused about … Continue reading →

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Harriet Tubman will be on the new $20 bill

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The U.S. Treasury has decided to keep Alexander Hamilton on the front of the new $10 bill, after encountering fierce opposition to its plans to replace the founding father with a woman, Treasury officials said Tuesday. The Treasury will … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Business as usual with the Texas Enterprise Fund

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Raise your hand if this surprises you. In July of 2013, Gov. Rick Perry announced that he had closed another deal. Chevron would build a 50-story tower in downtown Houston next to one of its existing office buildings. The $662 … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of April 18

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance stands with the LGBT community of North Carolina and Mississippi as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Federal appeals court sides with transgender teen in bathroom case

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This could be big. A federal appeals court in Richmond has sided with a transgender high school student, saying that he can proceed with his lawsuit arguing that his school board’s decision to ban him from the boys’ bathroom is … Continue reading →

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

On drainage and flooding

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Two items of interest from Gray Matters, both on the subject of the week. First, from Cynthia Hand Neely and Ed Browne of Residents Against Flooding: Man-made, preventable flooding has surged dirty, sewage-ridden water through Houston living rooms three times … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Lone Star Rail: Not dead yet

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Just a flesh wound, actually. The decision by Union Pacific to end its working relationship with Lone Star Rail District (LSRD) in February, was a blow in efforts to develop a passenger rail line between San Antonio and Austin. But … Continue reading →

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How you can help or get help in Houston

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Via email from State Rep. Gene Wu: I hope this email finds you safe after yesterday’s flooding. While we are seeing most of the high water receding from our neighborhoods, there is still a good deal of cleanup work to … Continue reading →

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Why North Carolina and not Houston?

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

John Nova Lomax asks why Houston has not suffered the same backlash as North Carolina after the repeal of HERO last November. In the aftermath of the repeal of Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance in November, the bill’s proponents predicted dire economic consequences. … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

The DAPA arguments at SCOTUS

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Hard to say how this will go. A shorthanded Supreme Court heard a Texas-led challenge against President Barack Obama’s 2014 immigration plan Monday with sharp questions about whether the state could bring the case to begin with and if the … Continue reading →

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Ghosts of Allison

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I sure hope everyone made it through yesterday’s ferocious rain all right. The storm that flooded the greater Houston area on Monday – drenching the region with the most rain since Tropical Storm Allison dumped more than 24 inches in … Continue reading →

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

Get Me goes to Galveston

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Swooping in to fill the gap left by Uber’s departure. Galveston is close to getting app-based transportation back. Get Me, a Dallas-based company that started serving Houston in October, has submitted an application with Galveston to provide ride services on … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jerome Moore

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, everyone is focusing on the Presidential race, but here in Harris County there are some races of great local importance. You can order them however you like, but the Sheriff’s race is certainly up there. I had … Continue reading →

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DAPA’s day at SCOTUS

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Another day, another huge Supreme Court case involving Texas, a big policy item from President Obama at stake, and the fate of millions of people hanging in the balance. The Supreme Court on Monday will hear the matter, one of … Continue reading →

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

Weekend scandal news roundup

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

If anything comes from the Texas Rangers investigation into his questionable expenditures, Ag Commissioner Sid Miller would be prosecuted in Travis County. If embattled Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is prosecuted for misusing government funds, his trial would be in … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Supreme Court dismisses effort to dissolve state’s first same-sex marriage

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I could be wrong, but I believe this closes the books on all the same-sex marriage litigation from last year. The Texas Supreme Court on Friday tossed out Attorney General Ken Paxton’s effort to undo the union of the first gay couple to … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for April 17

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That Amazon Galaxy Quest project will sadly not be happening in part due to the death of Alan Rickman. A richly deserved honor for Sonia Manzano. I do love a good Joel Kotkin takedown, yes I do. What’s at stake … Continue reading →

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Turner announces his budget

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Utilizing a shared sacrifice approach, Mayor Sylvester Turner today unveiled a proposed Fiscal Year 2017 General Fund budget that eliminates a projected $160 million shortfall that was the result of cost increases, voter imposed revenue limitations, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

UberACCESS debuts in Houston

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good to see. A partnership that has helped disabled people connect with a popular ride service launched in Houston at midnight. Uber officials confirmed UberACCESS, which offers wheelchair-accessible rides for the same price as UberX, began service Wednesday. Like all … Continue reading →

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Here come the drones

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Look! Up in the sky! Companies in Austin and Addison on Wednesday became the first two firms to become officially credentialed to operate unmanned aircraft systems under a new training and safety program that officials said promises to boost Texas’ … Continue reading →

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I now pronounce you man and machine

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, no. Chris Sevier says he’s being denied his right to marry – his computer. The persistent Tennessee lawyer – who has carried his challenge to same-sex marriage to courthouses across the nation – has filed a lawsuit in federal … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Inside Out

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From their second album, which was of course called “Volume 3”, the Traveling Wilburys: Not bad, and a treat to see George Harrison again. They just weren’t quite as good without Roy Orbison, though. And for a completely different song … Continue reading →

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It’s a conspiracy!

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, noes! Planned Parenthood is in cahoots with the Harris County DA! Run for your lives! The anti-abortion activist accused of falsifying records to secretly videotape Planned Parenthood officials in Houston is accusing the Harris County district attorney’s office of … Continue reading →

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HPD rolls out its body cameras

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The first wave has been deployed. The Houston Police Department handed out Thursday the first wave of 4,100 body cameras being distributed to all first-line officers over the next 12 to 18 months, initiating a new policy that will require … Continue reading →

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Meet the toucan light

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The first of its kind in Houston, though maybe not the last. The new traffic signal suspended above Appel at Yale and Seventh is a first for Texas, but also an adjustment for residents – some of whom are unsure … Continue reading →

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Sid Miller’s spokesperson jumps ship

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Who could blame her? The top spokeswoman for Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller resigned Monday, citing a “tremendous lack of communication” at the agency. The spokeswoman, Lucy Nashed, a former aide to then-Gov. Rick Perry, said she was leaving after … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: In the city, part 6

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Some old familiar places this week. 1. Halfway To Memphis – Sammy Hagar 2. Halley Came To Jackson – Mary-Chapin Carpenter 3. A Heart In New York – Art Garfunkel 4. Hello Hopeville – Michelle Shocked 5. Hey Marseilles – … Continue reading →

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