Monthly Archives: August 2016

Preliminary injunction granted in transgender bathroom directive case

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. A federal judge in Fort Worth has blocked Obama administration guidelines directing the nation’s public schools to allow transgender students to use bathrooms and other facilities that align with their gender identity. In a 38-page order released Sunday, U.S. … Continue reading →

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

Getting ready for the new voter ID universe

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a scramble. With roughly two months before early voting starts, Texas election officials are facing the difficult task of training thousands of poll workers and educating the public about court-ordered changes to a voter ID law – all while … Continue reading →

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

No injunction for campus carry

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

So much for that. A federal judge has denied three University of Texas at Austin professors’ initial attempt to keep guns out of their classrooms under the state’s campus carry law. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel ruled that the professors, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

It’s not crazy to think that a downballot Democrat could win statewide this year

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll get to that headline in a minute. I’ve got some reading to sort through first. We’ll start with the most pessimistic, or perhaps the least blue-sky, story of how things are likely to go. Arizona. Georgia. Utah. Indiana. Is … Continue reading →

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More focus on bail practices

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Something needs to be done, whether via the ongoing lawsuit or other means. Sandra Thompson, a University of Houston law professor, has spent hundreds of dollars bailing her cousin out of jail for minor offenses. “I get steamed under the … Continue reading →

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

Who watches the election watchers?

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

What could possibly go wrong with this? In 2012, Greg Abbott caused a stir when he issued this warning to international election observers: Don’t set foot inside Texas polling places. Abbott, then the attorney general, was worried the Organization for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

SH 130 operator to give up its ownership stake

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Another step on the road to bankruptcy. SH 130 Concession Co. filed a bankruptcy reorganization plan Friday that proposes transferring company ownership to its largest lenders, which include the Federal Highway Administration and a group of European banks. The company … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for August 21

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

“What’s really most important is that each of these people believe that the center of gravity in the GOP is pro-Trump and that their political futures would be damaged by turning against him. That is the big deal, far more … Continue reading →

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Voter registration numbers keep increasing

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Always good news, though it’s hard to say anything definitive. County elections officials across Texas are reporting a spike in registered voters this election cycle, with one county now exceeding one million registered voters for the first time ever. Earlier … Continue reading →

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Bail practices lawsuit update

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There was a hearing in court this week, and the judge was skeptical. U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal declined Thursday to rule on whether Harris County should be dismissed from a lawsuit intended to force officials to reform a tough … Continue reading →

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

State sues Alabama-Coushatta tribe over casino

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. A new legal salvo was fired this week in the state’s long-running battle against Indian gambling with a filing in federal court that seeks to close the gaming hall on the Alabama-Coushatta Reservation. A motion for … Continue reading →

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

Endorsement watch: Optimism for the future

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

WIRED does what it has never done before. For nearly a quarter of a century, this organization has championed a specific way of thinking about tomorrow. If it’s true, as the writer William Gibson once had it, that the future … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Magic Bus

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Get on the bus with The Who, y’all. And as I threatened promised last week, here’s Pete Townshend doing this solo, at The Deep End: Who needs backup vocalists when the whole audience sings along? Also, too: windmilling. I swear, … Continue reading →

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Why are so many pregnant women dying in Texas?

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Better yet, what are we going to do about it? The rate of Texas women dying of pregnancy-related causes nearly doubled from 2010 to 2014, with the state seeing more than 600 such deaths in the four-year span. In a … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

More on the latest voting rights lawsuit ruling

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Coverage from the Chron: In contrast to the discourse over the voter ID law, it’s not clear there are many political stakes over the law [Judge Robert] Pitman tossed out Friday. There are enough Hispanic and Latino voters in every … Continue reading →

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

New study questions Uber effect on DUI

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. The introduction of ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft hasn’t had any impact on the number of fatalities related to drunken driving, a newly published study finds. Researchers at the University of Southern California and Oxford University looked … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Endorsement watch: The early work continues

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron continues its way-early rollout of general election endorsements by giving their blessing to four Justice of the Peace candidates. Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1: Eric William Carter The Democratic candidate Eric William Carter, 33, is … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 9

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Musicals! Silly folk songs! 1. Got To Be Real – Cheryl Lynn 2. Potato – Cheryl Wheeler 3. The Foggy Dew – The Chieftains & Sinéad O’Connor 4. Something Real – China Anne McClain & Kelli Berglund 5. Any Moment … Continue reading →

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Taking on Ted

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Rep. Mike McCaul isn’t saying that he will, but he isn’t saying that he won’t, either. U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, is not ruling out challenging U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in 2018, but he’s emphasizing that he is not … Continue reading →

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Laredo plastic bag ban overturned

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. The Fourth Court of Appeals on Wednesday sided with merchants and free-market groups who argued that Laredo’s ban on single-use bags is illegal because it is pre-empted by state law regulating solid waste disposal. The 2-1 ruling overturned a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Senate whinefest about ballot propositions

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Spare me. Members of a state Senate committee called Monday for changes in Texas law to prevent cities from thwarting or blocking citizen petition drives, a key issue for conservative and tea party groups in Houston and other cities in … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Metro celebrates ridership increase one year after new bus network rollout

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Leah Binkovitz reports. From September 2015 (the first full month after the switch was implemented) to July 2016 (the most recent complete month), METRO saw its ridership on local bus and light-rail add an additional 4.5 million boardings — a … Continue reading →

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

Evan McMullin to sue for ballot access in Texas

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

You know, that guy who recently turned up as the latest NeverTrump dreamboat? He wants on the ballot in Texas. Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin, an ex-CIA officer and congressional policy wonk who launched his campaign last week to offer … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Pension reform update

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Things are happening. Longtime firefighters pension fund chairman Todd Clark has retired from the department and resigned his post, a move City Hall observers interpret as perhaps the clearest sign yet that Mayor Sylvester Turner’s push for pension reform may … Continue reading →

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

Too many kids are not getting vaccinated

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We let this happen, thanks to the fervor of a vocal minority. The number of Texans who exempt their children from vaccination for non-medical reasons rose nearly 9 percent last school year, continuing a now 12-year-long trend that public health … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of August 15

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance announces that all of its members have renamed themselves “Simone” as we bring you this week’s roundup.

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Texas to appeal voter ID ruling to SCOTUS

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sure, whatever. Texas plans to file an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court challenging a lower court decision that found the state’s voter ID law discriminates against minorities. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office said Tuesday it will appeal the ruling … Continue reading →

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

PPP: Trump 44, Clinton 38

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We knew this poll was coming, and it confirms what we have been seeing elsewhere. PPP’s new Texas poll finds a relatively tight race, at least on the curve of recent Presidential election results in the state. Donald Trump leads … Continue reading →

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Strange HISD referendum to be on the ballot

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This will be weird. Because of the state’s byzantine financing system, HISD will have to either send almost $162 million in local taxpayers’ money to the state or stand by to see some of the district’s most valuable properties assigned … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Microbrewery lawsuit heard in court

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I can’t wait to see how this turns out. Just how much is it worth for that Velvet Hammer or other local craft brew to make it to your favorite bar or convenience store? That’s one of several key questions … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas loses another voting rights lawsuit

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge Friday blocked Texas from enforcing a state law that limits the availability of interpreters in polling places, ruling that it violates protections guaranteed by the U.S. Voting Rights Act. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert … Continue reading →

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

Anne Sung will run for HISD

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From Facebook: I am running for HISD School Board-Position 7 in November 2016 and I invite you to join me in my campaign. As a proud graduate of TH Rogers and Bellaire High School, I know how important a high … Continue reading →

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Servergy sued by more people

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Servergy is the company Ken Paxton was paid to shill for without being up front about the fact that he was being paid to shill for them. That’s the context of this. The company tied to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s … Continue reading →

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Have we reached a tipping point on flood mitigation?

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That’s a question that is alluded to but not directly addressed in this story. “This is how the land is supposed to act,” said Mary Anne Piacentini, executive director of the Katy Prairie Conservancy, a nonprofit land trust. “It’s supposed … Continue reading →

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