Monthly Archives: July 2016

Guardianship

Posted on July 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

An eye-opening story in the Observer on a subject many of us probably never think about. Guardianship is the state’s last-ditch tool to protect people from neglect or abuse, and although it saves lives, it can be a blunt instrument. … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 4

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Girl groups! 1. White Rabbit – Austin Lounge Lizards & Karen Abrahams 2. Complicated – Avril Lavigne 3. June Bug – The B-52’s (Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson) 4. Venus – Bananarama (Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward) 5. Walk … Continue reading →

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Gallego claims poll lead over Hurd in CD23

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Just another item to add to the list of reasons why Donald Trump is and has been bad news for Texas Republicans. Voters in the district, which is the largest Congressional district in the country which is not its own … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

First potty case reaches SCOTUS

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. The legal fight over transgender bathroom rights reached the U.S. Supreme Court for the first time on Wednesday as a Virginia county school board sought to block an order that lets a student who was born a … Continue reading →

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The Observer talks to now-retired Judge John Dietz about school finance reform

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

A brief taste: One really important point, which was certainly not addressed [by the Supreme Court]: With economically disadvantaged students, the undisputed testimony is that if you didn’t grow up economically disadvantaged, when you arrived at school you had roughly … Continue reading →

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

iCars

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, look, it’s a new rideshare option for Houston. A new ride app promises on-demand luxury car services — and no surge pricing. San Francisco-based iCars put its luxury ride app in drive for the Houston and Dallas markets, as … Continue reading →

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Chron overview of SD13

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Not much new here. Amid frantic wooing of Democratic precinct chairs, the unconventional sprint to succeed state Sen. Rodney Ellis is boiling down to an argument over tenure: Is it better to move a seasoned legislator to the Senate, or … Continue reading →

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

What makes transit successful?

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s pretty basic, as this report lays out. A new report released [Tuesday] by TransitCenter, a foundation dedicated to improving urban mobility, finds that developing transit in walkable areas and offering frequent, fast bus and rail service is the key … Continue reading →

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

Rep. Ted Poe fighting leukemia

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

More bad health news. U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, announced Wednesday morning that he was recently diagnosed with leukemia and will spend the rest of the summer concentrating on this battle. “During the Congressional recess, I will be spending time … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of July 11

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance mourns the Dallas Police Department’s losses at a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest, and continues to support peaceful, constructive solutions for our country’s ongoing racial issues as we bring you this week’s roundup.

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We should hear something soon on voter ID

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

So says Rick Hasen: The federal challenge to Texas’s strict voter identification law is pending before the entire Fifth Circuit sitting en banc.  The Supreme Court set a soft July 20 deadline for a decision—after that the Court has invited … Continue reading →

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Hexit?

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron’s Ken Hoffman asks a burning question. Just for fun, how would the vote go if Houstonians had a crack at “Hexit” – leaving Texas? I don’t mean another “Brexit” – in which British voters elected to leave the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Abbott hospitalized after suffering burns

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ouch. [Gov. Greg] Abbott is recuperating from burns on both legs below the knees. On Tuesday, the governor [underwent] skin grafts to repair damage on both feet. He is expected to be discharged and will return to Austin. His office … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The zebra mussels keep invading

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Can anything stop them? When zebra mussels exploded in the Great Lakes region during the early 1990s, fisheries managers in Texas and many other southern states certainly noticed, but most weren’t overly alarmed. Yes, the alien freshwater mollusks, native to … Continue reading →

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Trump’s white voter problems

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Add another group to the long list of those who can’t stand Donald Trump. Wanda Melton has voted for every Republican presidential nominee since Ronald Reagan in 1980, but now the Georgia grandmother plans to cross over to support Democrat … Continue reading →

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More opposition to North Carolina’s HB2

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Justice Department seeks to halt implementation of North Carolina’s viciously anti-LGBT law. The billowing legal fight over North Carolina’s House Bill 2 continued to grow this week with the U.S. Department of Justice asking a federal judge to suspend … Continue reading →

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

Sandra Bland, one year later

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The timing of this is tragically appropriate. With confident, and sometimes vulnerable, lyrics, a group of poets and singers Sunday afternoon commemorated the life of [Sandra] Bland, who had been found dead in her Waller County Jail cell three days … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Tim Duncan retires

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

He will be missed. San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan today announced that he will retire after 19 seasons with the organization. Since drafting Duncan, the Spurs won five championships and posted a 1,072-438 regular season record, giving the team … Continue reading →

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Another view of Democratic goals for 2016

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sounds about right. Some Democrats say Clinton has a chance at winning a majority in Texas, where interest is heightened because U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro has been mentioned as a possible Clinton running mate. Castro said … Continue reading →

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More on Mississippi’s anti-LGBT law and the effect in Texas

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Doesn’t look like we’re going to learn anything from the Mississippi experience. Reeves’ ruling isn’t likely to deter Texas Republicans who have stated adamantly that Christians and others with sincerely held religious beliefs need extra protection when following their faith, … Continue reading →

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

Astroworld II?

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Turner would like to see it happen. In a recent informal lunch with members of the media as he approached six months in office, Mayor Sylvester Turner ticked off the important things his administration has accomplished — unanimous passage … Continue reading →

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

Endorsement watch: The Chron for Rep. Thompson

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Rep. Senfronia Thompson in SD13, though they spend most of their time attacking Rep. Borris Miles. In 2008 [Rep. Miles] was indicted (and later acquitted) for deadly conduct in a bizarre scenario that had him accused of … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for July 10

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

How much do some conservatives hate transgender people? Enough to make them abandon one of their core legal arguments about abortion in the service of discriminating against transgender people, that’s how much. There’s a good way to legalize marijuana, and … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Labor for Thompson, the Mayor for Miles

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO today announced their support of Senfronia Thompson for State Senator District 13. “Our unions screened two candidates for Senate District 13 — Representatives Senfronia Thompson and Borris Miles,” said … Continue reading →

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

No bonds this year

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe next year. Mayor Sylvester Turner likely will not ask voters to approve bonds this November to replace the nearly depleted debt residents approved in 2012, a move that may delay several projects. […] Having addressed a $160 million shortfall … Continue reading →

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

More states file potty lawsuits

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, goodie. Ten additional states are suing the Obama administration to stop a directive that requires schools to allow transgender students to use bathrooms aligned with their gender identity under the threat of losing federal funding, bringing the total number … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Lithium

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The brightest light of the grunge era, Nirvana and one of their big hits, “Lithium”: Kurt Cobain was exactly a year and a day younger than I am, so he’d have been 50 years old next February. Hard to believe, … Continue reading →

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Dallas

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t have anything insightful to say about the horrible events of the past few days – the police officers in Dallas, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and so many others before them. I started talking to my 12-year-old Olivia about … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | 6 Comments

Abbott pre-K plan falls short

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Well, duh. In Texas, where pre-K is scorned by some conservative activists as “godless,” Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s major education initiative is giving classrooms far less money than many once thought, causing even the district of the governor’s high school … Continue reading →

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Get ready to fly to Cuba

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

You’ll be able to get there from Houston in a few months. A new weekly flight from Bush Intercontinental Airport to Havana was announced Thursday as part of the government’s historic effort to unwind more than 50 years of political … Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hempstead landfill application resubmitted

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. A Georgia-based company on Wednesday announced it had initiated a new application to build a controversial landfill in Waller County, bringing renewed attention to a project that a citizens group and several county commissioners have actively … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 3

Posted on July 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

More ladies, y’all. 1. Trembles, Part II – Alex Napping (Alex Cohen) 2. Breathe (2 AM) – Anna Nalick 3. A Whiter Shade Of Pale – Annie Lennox 4. Fly Me Away – Annie Little 5. Closer – Annie Williams … Continue reading →

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Mixed signals on voter registration

Posted on July 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s mostly good news, but it could be better. While nonpartisan groups say funding is lagging to sign up Latinos to vote in the November election, voter registrations — likely fueled by Donald Trump’s salvos against people of Mexican heritage … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Lawsuit filed over campus carry

Posted on July 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. Three University of Texas at Austin professors sued their university and the state on Wednesday, claiming Texas’ new campus carry law is forcing the school to impose “overly-solicitous, dangerously-experimental gun policies” that violate the First … Continue reading →

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