Monthly Archives: January 2017

Precinct analysis: Dallas County Presidential numbers

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

News flash: Hillary Clinton won every Dallas County State Rep district. See for yourself: Dist Trump Clinton Johnson Stein ======================================== CD32 117,758 127,824 5,751 1,056 HD100 8,405 33,647 647 217 HD102 24,768 30,291 1,312 287 HD103 8,710 28,689 683 205 … Continue reading →

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

Look for the helpers

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

They’re at the airports now. Luis Ruiz, an immigration attorney with his own practice, set up shop early Sunday at Bush Intercontinental Airport. He’d seen news of attorneys around the country flocking to airports to help people detained under the … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters, National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Look for the helpers

State fails to respond to voter registration lawsuit

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an update on a different voting rights lawsuit from last year. Civil rights lawyers suing Texas over its voter registration practices are asking a federal judge to sanction the state for allegedly blowing past deadlines and ignoring a court … Continue reading →

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

Welcome to Houston, y’all

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of visitors in town this week. Our goal is for them to leave with a positive impression. With the city’s third Super Bowl a week away, Houston appears ready for its close- up. The national press has taken turns … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Jose Garza

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

So it’s been a busy couple of weeks for the voter ID litigation. There was the motion by the Justice Department to delay the hearing on whether the law was passed with discriminatory intent, which everyone expects is a prelude … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Jose Garza

Hameed Khalid Darweesh and Haider Sameer Abdulkhaleq Alshawi

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This is who the now-injuncted executive order suspending refugee resettlement and immigration visas from certain countries was supposed to “protect” us from. The lawyers said that one of the Iraqis detained at Kennedy Airport, Hameed Khalid Darweesh, had worked on … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters, National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Astrodome gains antiquities status

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. The aging behemoth billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World has joined the revered ranks of the Alamo and State Capitol as an honored historical site. Just days before a crowd of more than 70,000 files past for … Continue reading →

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

The Observer talks to Rep. Beto O’Rourke

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I wish this were longer, and I’d have definitely asked about how he plans to win a Senate election in 2018, if indeed he does run, but it’s worth reading nonetheless. You mentioned how incredibly expensive congressional elections have become. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Observer talks to Rep. Beto O’Rourke

Weekend link dump for January 29

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

10 Actions for the first 100 Days. Neanderthals were people, too. “Iceland knows how to stop teen substance abuse but the rest of the world isn’t listening”. The Dallas Stars Jumbotron operator is the best person in Dallas. #Seanspicersays I … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

“Fetal remains” rule blocked

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good. U.S. District Court Judge Sam Sparks ruled Texas cannot require health providers to bury or cremate fetuses, delivering another blow to state leaders in the reproductive rights debate. On Friday afternoon, Sparks wrote in his ruling that Texas Department … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Fetal remains” rule blocked

SB6 will hurt people

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It will hurt transgender people, who despite what Dan Patrick would have you think, are people like you and me. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has said his so-called bathroom bill isn’t discriminatory because transgender people can update their birth certificates … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

So what will the Justice Department do with voter ID now?

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We don’t know yet. Hours after President Donald Trump was inaugurated, the Department of Justice filed to postpone a hearing on the Texas Voter ID law. The request was granted. The DOJ had previously argued that the law intentionally discriminated … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on So what will the Justice Department do with voter ID now?

Saturday video break: One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only John Lee Hooker: We should all achieve that level of coolness at least once in our lifetimes. Now here’s George Thorogood with the version you’ve probably heard: So, did Jersey party as good … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Saturday video break: One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

Yes, SB6 targets transgender people

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

That is its purpose. The author of the so-called bathroom bill said she is working on potential changes after listening to people “from all walks of life,” emphasizing that her measure is aimed not at the transgender people it would … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Yes, SB6 targets transgender people

Dan Patrick and the wall tax

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, you know who’s going to pay for Dear Leader’s wall? You and me and everyone else in the country. The Trump administration sparked widespread surprise Thursday by announcing it intended to implement a 20 percent tax on Mexican imports … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Trump and the train

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This could be interesting. A privately-funded bullet train between Dallas and Houston and a passenger rail line connecting suburban North Texas are among a litany of transportation projects considered priorities by President Donald Trump’s administration, according to The Kansas City … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Trump and the train

Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 30

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

One week down, 195 to go… 1. We Crawl – The Polyphonic Spree (many members) 2. September – Pomplamoose (Nataly Dawn) 3. The Resurrected Lover – The Poor Clares (Betsy McGovern) 4. Brass In Pocket – The Pretenders (Chrissie Hynde) … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Pasadena appellate hearing set

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars. With deadlines looming for the upcoming May elections, a federal appeals court has agreed to hear arguments Feb. 1 in a voting rights lawsuit that overturned the Pasadena election system. The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Pasadena appellate hearing set

Sheriff Hernandez not backing down

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good for her. Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez indicated Thursday she is not backing away from her recently introduced “sanctuary” policy. Her comments came a day after Gov. Greg Abbott proposed the removal of Hernandez, who announced Friday she would … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

More flood mitigation coming

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This is ambitious. After local leaders stood on the banks of Brays Bayou to celebrate a creative agreement that is expected to speed up work on a long-delayed effort to lessen the risk of flooding in southwest Houston, some angry … Continue reading →

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

More on the STAR Voting System

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron updates us on the latest in modern voting technology. The drumbeat of election rigging and foreign hacking of voting machines have energized ongoing efforts to develop a new model of digital election equipment designed to produce instantly verifiable … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People, Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on the STAR Voting System

HCDP Chair Q&A: Robert Collier

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I have sent out a brief Q&A to all of the announced HCDP Chair candidates for whom I could find contact information. I will run the responses I get in the order I receive them. While only precinct chairs … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017 | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Abbott goes authoritarian

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this shouldn’t surprise me, but it is still shocking, even in the world we now inhabit. Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday that he and state lawmakers will pursue legislation that would “remove from office any officeholder who promotes … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 34 Comments

Yale Street Bridge reopens

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Woo hoo! Heights area residents woke up Tuesday to a bright sunny day in more ways than one, finding that crews had opened the new Yale Bridge spanning White Oak Bayou. The opening late Monday is roughly 10 months ahead … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Yale Street Bridge reopens

Texas blog roundup for the week of January 23

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance marches with the resistance as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of January 23

Senate to begin studying school finance changes

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what this looks like. Leaders in the Texas Senate are vowing to find ways to overhaul the state’s school finance system, saying a recent Texas Supreme Court decision granted them a prime opportunity to shake up the heavily … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Abbott versus Travis County

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This could get ugly. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is formally demanding that Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez reverse her new policy on cooperation with federal immigration authorities or lose state dollars, further escalating a showdown over “sanctuary cities” that have … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Ready for driverless cars, Houston?

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Well, they’re coming, ready or not. Researchers, business leaders and elected officials are about to turn Texas into the biggest laboratory for connected cars in the nation, with the likeliest place to spot a self-driving car in Houston along the … Continue reading →

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

Time to pay attention to the HCDE again

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Some highlights from the HCDE meeting agenda for this Thursday at 1 PM, as emailed to me: 1. Changing board meeting dates. 2. Michael Wolfe wants to name our Post Oak facility for his deceased mother. 3. Create a Home … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

SCOTUS will not review voter ID ruling

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

For now. The Supreme Court issued orders from its January 19 conference this morning. After granting review in two cases from that conference last week, the justices did not add any new cases to their merits docket today. But there … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on SCOTUS will not review voter ID ruling

Pat Van Houte for Pasadena Mayor

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This is the local race to watch this May. A Pasadena councilwoman who became a key witness in a recent federal lawsuit contesting the city’s redrawn voting districts said she will run for mayor in the upcoming election. Pat Van … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Pat Van Houte for Pasadena Mayor

Now is the time to rent out your house

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

If it was your plan to do that, anyway. The teams playing in next month’s Super Bowl [are now set] and the final rush for last-minute lodging will be in full swing. That also means more house and apartment rentals … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Now is the time to rent out your house

Interview with Jessica Shortall of Texas Competes

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We are very familiar with the fight over Dan Patrick’s bathroom bill, which is encapsulated in SB6 but also exists in a larger sense in several other bills. A major component in this fight is the business community, which sees … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Jessica Shortall of Texas Competes

Marching

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

In Austin. Up to 50,000 activists swarmed the Capitol grounds on Saturday to fight for women’s rights on the heels of Trump’s inauguration. The high-spirited crowd joined more than a million protesters nationwide. The Austin march was so large that … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments