Monthly Archives: July 2016

Weekend link dump for July 31

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

“There is also something between a non-trivial and a substantial amount of evidence suggesting Putin-backed financial support for Trump or a non-tacit alliance between the two men.” What Mark Cuban says. “[Elon] Musk assumes that transit is an engineering problem, … Continue reading →

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Can we PLEASE get some action on redistricting?

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the Lone Star Project: Earlier today, plaintiffs in the pending Texas congressional and state house redistricting case filed a motion with the presiding three-judge federal panel in San Antonio requesting a conference to discuss further action on the case. … Continue reading →

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More on the jailed rape victim

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron pens a harsh editorial. Although a spokesman for the district attorney’s office has admitted this miscarriage of justice should never have happened, Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson defends the prosecutor involved in the case. She says the … Continue reading →

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UT will not push UIL on transgender athletes

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Unfortunate. Despite objections from LGBT advocates, UIL’s longstanding informal policy is set to become official August 1 — when it takes effect as an amendment to the league’s constitution. The amendment, initially approved by UIL’s Legislative Council last year, wasoverwhelmingly ratified … Continue reading →

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Want to know how close you live to a polluter?

Posted on July 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There’s an app for that. More than two million Texans live within a half-mile of an oil and gas facility, putting them at risk of exposure to toxic fumes, according to a new app released Wednesday by national environmental groups. … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Little Things

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s Colbie Caillat, whose version of this song has a definite article on it: Did you know that Colbie Caillat’s father Ken co-produced Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors and Tusk? Well, now you do. Did you know that YouTube offers suggestions for … Continue reading →

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Paxton keeps finding new ways to be in trouble

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The man has a talent. Ethics experts on Wednesday were torn over whether Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s decision to accept $100,000 for his legal defense from a donor whose company was under investigation by his office violates the letter … Continue reading →

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Metro rider satisfaction

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Not too bad. The recently released study by advocacy organization TransitCenter, which details attitudes about public transit nationwide, generally offers good news for METRO Houston. The Urban Edge requested Houston-specific data from the TransitCenter’s national survey of transit passengers. Roughly 76 percent of Houston … Continue reading →

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Hall of Fame revamps Veterans Committee

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sounds reasonable, but we’ll see. Baseball’s Hall of Fame has again revamped its veterans’ committees to increase consideration for more contemporary players, managers, umpires and executives. Under the change announced Saturday by the Hall’s board of directors, there will be … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Not wasting any time

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle has seen enough. On Nov. 8, 2016, the American people will decide between two presidential contenders who represent the starkest political choice in living memory. They will choose between one candidate with vast experience and a lifelong dedication … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 6

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of well-known names this week. 1. Talking Old Soldiers – Bettye Lavette 2. Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) – Beyoncé 3. Billie’s Blues – Billie Holiday 4. X Offender – Blondie 5. Fool’s Game – Bonnie Raitt … Continue reading →

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Media covers latest voting rights lawsuit

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Glad they finally noticed. A group of Hispanic voters has filed a lawsuit challenging how Texas selects judges to its top two courts, arguing that statewide elections for the state Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals dilutes the … Continue reading →

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If we can’t ban it, we’ll BS about it

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The “it” in question is of course abortion, with the state of Texas lying to women about its effects and risks. Death and infertility were just two of the risks a doctor described to Kryston Skinner when she chose to … Continue reading →

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How about a commuter hyperloop?

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This sure sounds interesting. Navigating right-of-way for land development can be like drawing blood from fiercely independent landowners. But a San Antonio technology startup is banking that it has cracked the code to prying some surface rights from Texans by … Continue reading →

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An update on the effort to make the Heights less dry

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

In which we learn there is indeed some opposition to this effort. A petition favored by grocery giant H-E-B to partially lift a 104-year-old ban on beer and wine sales in a dry part of the Heights could be headed … Continue reading →

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

Steve Brown: Why we need the US90A rail line

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: From time to time I solicit guest posts on various topics, from people who have a particular interest or expertise in a particular topic. Today’s post is by Steve Brown, on the newly revived US90A commuter rail line.) In … Continue reading →

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

We have a superintendent

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome to Houston. The San Francisco public schools superintendent won over a divided Houston school board with what members described as his devotion to equity for all students, passion for the arts and willingness to collaborate. The trustees, often split … Continue reading →

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Expect Texas Central to be a target in the Legislature

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s sure to draw a lot of proposed legislation, now that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has declined to get involved at this time. “We were glad the STB ruled as quickly as they did because that allows us to … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of July 25

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance calls on all Presidential candidates to come up with a plan to broker peace between Taylor Swift and Kanye West as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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July finance reports for county candidates

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Most of the interesting race in Harris County this year are the countywide races. Here’s a look at how the candidates in these races have been doing at fundraising. District Attorney Friends of Devon Anderson PAC Kim Ogg Name Raised … Continue reading →

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Harris County DA drops charges against video fraudsters

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Disappointing, to say the least. Criminal charges against the anti-abortion activists behind undercover recordings of a Houston Planned Parenthood facility were dismissed Tuesday. David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, the videographers who infiltrated Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, had been charged with … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

There is a Castro thinking about running for office in 2018

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s Joaquin. And he’s thinking about the Senate. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, has set off a new stir in Texas politics with his remark that he will consider challenging U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in 2018. Castro, long … Continue reading →

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State settles birth certificate lawsuit

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. After undergoing mediation, the state of Texas has reached an agreement with undocumented families in a lawsuit over its denial to issue birth certificates to children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants. The state will clarify and expand … Continue reading →

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July finance reports for State Rep candidates

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, it’s July, and you know what that means: Campaign finance reports! There aren’t many State Rep races of interest this November, but there are four that I wanted to look at. HD134 Rep. Sarah Davis Ben Rose Name Raised … Continue reading →

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Falkenberg talks to DA Anderson about jailed rape victim

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Worth reading, as you would expect. I’m going to quote from the conclusion: [Assistant DA Nick] Socias appeared to have diligently tried to help, but he seemed to be trying alone. Anderson’s office said she wasn’t informed about the situation … Continue reading →

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New affidavit procedure implemented for HD120 special election runoff

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Seems likely this is what we’re going to get for November. Now before the Court comes the Consent Motion for Entry of Temporary Remedial Order, filed on July 23, 2016. The Court has considered the motion and determined that it … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Looking again for a new justice complex

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Got to do something about this sooner or later. Mayor Sylvester Turner has formed a committee to study how to acquire a new police headquarters and courts complex for Houston. Former mayor Annise Parker spent more than two years studying … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Voting rights lawsuit filed over Texas statewide judicial elections

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This happened on the same day as the Fifth Circuit ruling on voter ID. [Wednesday], the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), Garza Golando Moran, PLLC, and Dechert LLP filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court … Continue reading →

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

Fort Worth updates its transgender bathroom policy

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Everyone declares victory. The new guidelines, condensed to two pages, affirm transgender students’ right to accommodations but eliminate a portion of the April guidelines that told schools not to out transgender students to their parents out of concern for their … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

AG asked to investigate Hill County ballot irregularities

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Weird, but we’ll see. The Texas Attorney General’s office has been asked to launch an investigation into allegations that multiple people voted illegally in the 2016 Republican primary elections in Hill County, despite local officials’ claims that the discrepancies were … Continue reading →

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Buc-ee’s files another logo lawsuit

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That’s one litigious beaver. Buc-ee’s has sued the San Antonio-based operator of Choke Canyon Travel Center for promoting its barbecue and other travel essentials with its grinning, lip-licking, hat-wearing, finger-pointing alligator. The alligator sits in a circle -much like Buc-ee’s … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for July 24

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

“In the 17 states with a medical-marijuana law in place by 2013, prescriptions for painkillers and other classes of drugs fell sharply compared with states that did not have a medical-marijuana law. The drops were quite significant: In medical-marijuana states, … Continue reading →

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What next for Julian Castro?

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I can think of something for him to do. Housing Secretary Julián Castro was long touted as a possible running mate for Hillary Clinton, but when the call came Friday informing him that the presumptive Democratic nominee had picked someone … Continue reading →

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

Roadside drug tests

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. A Houston police officer pulled Barry Demings over as he headed to work in Beaumont and plucked a spot of white powder off the floorboard of Demings’ year-old Ford Explorer. Demings had just … Continue reading →

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