Monthly Archives: November 2016

Precinct analysis: Gonzalez v Hickman

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ed Gonzalez scored a solid win for Sheriff, knocking out incumbent Ron Hickman to win the office back for Democrats. Let’s break it down. Dist Hickman Gonzalez Hickman% Gonzalez% ============================================= CD02 162,915 111,689 59.33% 40.67% CD07 139,292 113,853 55.02% 44.98% … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

New Sheriff not interested in defending current bail policies

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. After defeating Sheriff Ron Hickman in the election this month, Sheriff-elect Ed Gonzalez is already sticking his nose in Hickman’s official business — mainly, the lawsuit filed against him. Hickman, along with the county, all the county judges and … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Straus not very excited about Patrick’s potty bill

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Take this for what it’s worth. Texas House Speaker Joe Straus doesn’t think passing a transgender bathroom bill is a pressing issue state lawmakers need to address during the 2017 legislative session. “This isn’t the most urgent concern,” Straus, R-San … Continue reading →

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

Re-Endorsement watch: Sung in the special

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron reiterates their choice of Anne Sung for the HISD VII special election runoff. Anne Sung will bring a wealth of educational experience to this position, representing a district with boundaries encompassing a broad swath of near-southwest to near-northwest … Continue reading →

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

Precinct analysis: Ogg v Anderson

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Kim Ogg had the second highest vote total in Harris County this year. Let’s see how that looked at a more granular level. Dist Anderson Ogg Anderson% Ogg% ========================================== CD02 156,027 117,810 56.98% 43.02% CD07 135,065 118,837 53.20% 46.80% CD09 … Continue reading →

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

“Fetal remains” rule goes into effect

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Cue up that next lawsuit. Texas’ proposed rules requiring the cremation or burial of fetal remains will take effect Dec. 19, according to state health officials. Despite intense outcry from the medical community and reproductive rights advocates, the state will … Continue reading →

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

Dropping out of Electoral College

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I have some respect for this. A Texas Republican elector is resigning over the election of Donald Trump, saying he cannot “in good conscience” vote for the incoming president. The elector, Art Sisneros of Dayton, detailed his decision in a … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Precinct analysis: District courts

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Today we will look at the Harris County-specific judicial races, by which I mean the district courts plus two County Court benches. I’m going to begin with something a little different, which is a look at the distribution of how … Continue reading →

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

Two more lawsuit updates

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The ban on the transgender bathroom rule remains in place pending appeals. Continued lack of access in public schools to bathrooms matching transgender persons’ gender identity won’t cause them irreparable harm, a Texas federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Reed … Continue reading →

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

We’re going to be fighting about vaccinations for a while

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I wish it weren’t so, but it is. Texas is one of 18 states that allow non-medical exemptions to the vaccines required for school attendance. California had a similar law allowing non-medical exemptions, until last year when it enacted a law that … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for November 27

Posted on November 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

What Larry Summers says. From August but worth reading if you haven’t already: Why Twitter has such a problem with harassment and abuse, and has never figured out how to mitigate it. Homer Simpson Is Now the Subject of a … Continue reading →

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Texting while driving ban bills filed again

Posted on November 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see if this gets a different result. Drivers know the risks, and in more than 95 Texas counties they live under local cell phone ordinances that ban texting while driving. But the Lone Star State remains one of four … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Texas settles another lawsuit against VW

Posted on November 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Hard to keep track, I know. Volkswagen will pay the state of Texas $50 million to settle a deceptive trade practices lawsuit brought against the automaker. The settlement is part of an $14.7 billion nationwide agreement to resolve the nation’s … Continue reading →

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Who wants to go to Mars?

Posted on November 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I imagine that sounds like a pretty good option to a lot of people right about now. Wealthy business leaders like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are creating buzz around and making progress toward the exploration of deep space, experts … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Mrs Robinson

Posted on November 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s all sing along with Simon and Garfunkel: Here’s a video of the song playing over scenes from the movie with which it is closely identified, The Graduate. The audio is a little weird or I’d have used it instead, … Continue reading →

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Who’s in to succeed Rep. Dawnna Dukes?

Posted on November 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There are three confirmed candidates already to succeed Rep. Dawnna Dukes when she steps down next month. Despite announcing her plan six weeks earlier to resign instead of serving another term, state Rep. Dawnna Dukes handily won re-election earlier this … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A win for beer

Posted on November 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Hooray! All you want for Christmas is a crowler to go? It probably won’t happen that quickly, but an administrative judge’s recommendation could move the state a step closer to letting bars and restaurants sell takeaway beer in the sealed, … Continue reading →

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Plano for high speed rail

Posted on November 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

More support for Texas Central. The Plano City Council has lent it support to a 240-mile high-speed rail project that would run from Dallas to Houston. The council voted 7-1 Monday night to adopt a resolution supporting the project, with … Continue reading →

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

Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 22

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Happy Leftovers Day, y’all. 1. Hotel Pool – Lily & Madeleine 2. Womanizer – Lily Allen 3. Hypnotized – Linda Jones 4. Tumbling Dice – Linda Rondstadt 5. 1917 – Linda Rondstadt and Emmylou Harris 6. Funkytown – Lipps Inc. … Continue reading →

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Hall of Fame 2017 ballot

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The end of the year always brings a new Hall of Fame ballot with it. Prominent names, old and new, highlight the annual ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which was released Monday and mailed to eligible members … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Judge issues injunction against overtime pay change

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Because of cours he did. Millions of low-paid supervisors would have become eligible for overtime pay next week, but a federal judge in Texas blocked that path late Tuesday afternoon, ruling that Congress intended duties, not wages, to determine eligibility … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Thanksgiving video break: Comfort music

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

In times like these, we turn to old favorites for joy and solace: Thanks for being there for us, Arlo. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

David Temple granted new trial

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. The state’s highest criminal court on Wednesday granted a new trial to David Temple, a former Katy football coach accused of killing his pregnant wife in 1999. In an opinion posted online Wednesday morning, the court of criminal appeals … Continue reading →

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

Federal court rules there is such a thing as a too-partisan gerrymander

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Worth keeping an eye on. In a potentially transformative decision that could hobble partisan gerrymandering and restore a degree of fairness to many legislative races, a divided federal court held on Monday that Wisconsin’s state assembly maps are unconstitutional. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Collin County Commissioners Court are a bunch of jerks

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Unbelievable. In an attempt to lay the legal groundwork to quit funding Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s prosecution, Collin County is refusing to pay a longtime local attorney for his work defending indigent clients. On Monday, the Commissioners Court voted … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of November 21

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes everyone a happy Thanksgiving as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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HISD special election runoff will be December 10

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t believe I’ve seen a news story about this. The runoff election for the top two candidates to fill the unexpired term of outgoing HISD District VII Trustee Harvin Moore has been set for Dec. 10. Candidates competing in … Continue reading →

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

Recount in HD105

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Still not decided yet. The tight Texas House District 105 race between Republican state Rep. Rodney Anderson and Democratic challenger Terry Meza is headed for a recount. Meza trails Anderson by 69 votes, according to the latest Dallas County elections … Continue reading →

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

Pasadena voting rights trial update

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Day One: The disparity in infrastructure is at the heart of a voting rights case that opened in federal court Thursday in which a group of Latino residents is challenging the city’s newly revised system of government, saying it discriminates … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: State courts

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We return to our tour of the precinct data with a look at the statewide judicial races. These tend to be interesting mostly as proxies for base partisan support, but there are variations that reflect qualities about the candidates. That’s … Continue reading →

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

Uber wants back in Austin

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s how they get back that’s the question. The ride-hailing company Uber may return to the state’s capital despite leaving Austin in May after a bruising fight with the city over regulation of the industry, according to Trevor Theunissen, the … Continue reading →

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

TEA officially backs off special education limits

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see about that. Facing increasing criticism over its special education enrollment benchmark, the Texas Education Agency this week told schools that they must provide services to all eligible students with disabilities and that they will no longer be penalized … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for November 20

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Making the case for the Detroit Lions as America’s next favorite sad-sack perennial-loser franchise. “Donald Trump is Marion Barry for rural white people.” RIP, Leon Russell, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician and songwriter. RIP, Robert Vaughn, versatile character … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 16 Comments

So now what for voter ID?

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s hard to say how much prospects have changed now that Donald Trump gets to appoint the ninth Supreme Court justice, but it’s fair to say that thing haven’t improved for the plaintiffs. Five years ago, Texas passed one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments