Monthly Archives: May 2016

My vision for Metro: Buses

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve said before that I would have some suggestions for new Metro Board Chair Carrin Patman and her team as they take their places. This post is where I start sharing those suggestions. The idea is to focus on proposals … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

More on severance pay and the Land Commissioner’s office

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The law doesn’t apply here. After reports of state agencies keeping former employees on the payroll after they stopped working, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other agency heads have taken heat for stretching the rules on paid “emergency leave” … Continue reading →

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

Endorsement watch: For making the Heights less dry

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron is rooting for that petition effort to change the alcohol rules in the historic Heights. Today, sitting down in some of the restaurants in the Heights is like slipping through a wormhole into a bygone era when respectable … Continue reading →

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One year of the Green and Purple light rail lines

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ridership keeps trending up, but it’s hard to get a handle on the details from this story. Monday marks one-year of Metropolitan Transit Authority’s two newest rail lines. Well, most of Metro’s two newest rail lines. The last mile or … Continue reading →

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Typhoon Texas

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Someplace new for the summer. Not far from Katy Mills Mall, rainbow-colored slides tower seven stories high over a new water park that has taken shape on 25 acres. A short hill with a waterfall running through it greets visitors. … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for May 29

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

How to deal with “Your issue is trivial, you should spend more time on what I find most important” arguments. Can changing birth certificates change the bathroom access debate? Maybe get a second opinion before you decide whether or not … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

Memorial residents file lawsuit over flooding

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. A group of residents sued the city of Houston and one of its local redevelopment authorities Wednesday, alleging that they approved commercial development in the Memorial City area without requiring adequate storm water mitigation, resulting … Continue reading →

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

Two runoff recounts in the works

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not over yet in HD128. In a reversal, state Rep. Wayne Smith is now pursuing a recount in his narrow loss in Tuesday’s Republican primary runoff. Deer Park attorney Briscoe Cain beat Smith, a longtime incumbent from Baytown, by … Continue reading →

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Remembering Buckyballs and the Nobel Prize they won

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Twenty years ago, two Rice University chemists won the Nobel Prize for a revolutionary idea about carbon molecules. The discovery of Buckyballs, a new form of carbon that ushered in the era of nanotechnology and won a Nobel Prize, happened … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Just A Little Lovin’

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

How about a little throwback country/pop from Dusty Springfield? Such a great voice. I need to find more of her stuff. For a more modern take on that song, here’s Adrian Lynne: Very nice, though I kind of like the … Continue reading →

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Anyone want to help me sue the feds?

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? When Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Wednesday that he had filed a lawsuit challenging federal guidelines for transgender students, he said it was to protect a Texas school district that had adopted a policy requiring students … Continue reading →

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The high-speed rail fight has officially shifted to Congress

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing like a little eminent domain action to spur some people on. In the four years Texas Central Railway unveiled plans to link Dallas and Houston with the country’s first bullet train, officials with the private company have talked a … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

George Scott hangs on after recount

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

A win by six votes is still very much a win. A longtime Katy ISD board member conceded defeat Tuesday to a district critic in a closely watched race after a recount did not show him closing the narrow margin. … Continue reading →

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

Texans say they favor Medicaid expansion

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This comes with a huge “but” attached to it. More than 60 percent of Texans support an expansion of Medicaid here and plan to take those views into the voting booth in November, a new survey commissioned by the Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Friday random ten: In the city, part 12

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

A very California-centric episode today. 1. San Francisco Bay Blues – Eric Clapton 2. San Jacinto – Peter Gabriel 3. San Lorenzo – Pat Metheny Group 4. Santa Ana – Bruce Springsteen 5. Santa Ana Woman – The Bobs 6. … Continue reading →

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Council unanimously passes Turner’s first budget

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good job. Mayor Sylvester Turner achieved his goal of securing unanimous passage of his first general fund budget Wednesday morning, a month ahead of the typical schedule and after an unusually brief and uncontentious discussion of council members’ proposed changes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Baylor fires Art Briles

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

About time. Baylor University, in response to allegations of sexual assaults made against students — including by several football players — announced Thursday that football coach Art Briles has been suspended with intent to terminate, and Kenneth Starr will no … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ellis v. Radack

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: On Tuesday, Commissioner Steve Radack said during a public session of the Harris County Commissioner’s Court that Senator Rodney Ellis should “shut up” about criminal justice reform. Click here and scroll to the 30 second mark of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

More on the effort to make the Heights less dry

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the Chron: With the intention of building a new store in the Heights, H-E-B said Wednesday that it has been working with a political consulting firm in Austin to help change a law precluding beer and wine sales in … Continue reading →

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

Paxton sues over Obama directive on transgender bathroom access

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

A more transparent publicity stunt you would be hard-pressed to find. Texas, joined by 10 other states, filed a lawsuit Wednesday to stop a federal directive instructing school districts to let transgender students use the bathroom that corresponds with their … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

RideAustin

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Another new player gets set to enter the Austin rideshare market. Adding to the growing number of ride-hailing options in Austin since Uber and Lyft’s wholesale evacuation, a new nonprofit, community-based app called RideAustin was introduced today at the Alamo … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Sugarek/Jeffery family is back together

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Wonderful news. Seven weeks after Child Protective Services caseworkers removed the boys following their foster mothers’ repeated complaints about suspected abuse by an older sibling living elsewhere in foster care, a CPS supervisor brought them back. The move followed a … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of May 23

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance does not get paid to not work for Ken Paxton or George P. Bush as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Democratic primary runoff results

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County results Fort Bend County results Statewide results Trib liveblog Just for the record, we didn’t get any precinct results until 8:34, at which time only 8% of precincts had reported. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t because of overwhelming … Continue reading →

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Republican primary runoff results

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County results Statewide results Trib liveblog Your new State Senators are Bryan Hughes, who defeated his former House colleague David Simpson, and Dawn Buckingham, who defeated former Rep. Susan King. Hughes is a Dan Patrick buddy, who will fit … Continue reading →

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Voter ID’s day before the full Fifth Circuit

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. A top lawyer for Texas fiercely defended the state’s strictest-in-the-nation voter identification law on Tuesday, in a high-profile case that could ultimately determine at what point states that assert that they are protecting the integrity of … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit filed over STAAR exams

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. A backlash against this year’s STAAR exams escalated Monday when a group of parents sued the state in an attempt to keep schools from using 2016 test scores to rate students — including deciding whether students should advance to … Continue reading →

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The Commissioners Court candidates forum

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

On Sunday, I attended the candidate forum held by the HCDP for the people who are interested in being named to replace the late El Franco Lee on the ballot this November. The Chron has a report on it here, … Continue reading →

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You get a severance! And you get a severance!

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Everybody gets a severance package! Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush has spent nearly $1 million in taxpayer money to entice dozens of people fired by his administration to agree not to sue him or the agency, a practice that … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Japanese high-speed rail operator to open Dallas office

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

To be close to the action, no doubt. The Dallas Regional Chamber announced Thursday afternoon that Central Japan Railway Co. will station about 20 employees in Dallas. The company’s technical and operations experts will help privately-backed Texas Central Partners with … Continue reading →

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Primary runoff day is today

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart strongly urges voters to visit www.HarrisVotes.com to find their designated Election Day polling location for the May 24, Primary Runoff Election.   There, voters can also find their personal sample ballot and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Overview of the Commissioners Court Precinct 1 “race”

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I put “race” in quotes because it’s not like any other race you’v ever seen. The campaign for the next Harris County Precinct 1 commissioner appears in many ways like any other: candidates are raising money, seeking endorsements and sending … Continue reading →

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Feds rescind Universities line funding

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Not a surprise at this point. A proposal for a light rail line along Richmond Avenue, long left for dead because of strong opposition and years of languishing, has lost its shot now for funding from the Federal Transit Administration. … Continue reading →

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Judge Hanen’s bizarre order

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

WTF? A federal judge with a history of anti-immigrant sentiment ordered the federal government to turn over the names, addresses and “all available contact information” of over 100,000 immigrants living within the United States. He does so in a strange … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments