Monthly Archives: August 2017

No charter amendments on the fall ballot

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Just bonds, school board and HCC races, and the mostly boring constitutional amendments. Oh, and Heights Alcohol 2.0, if you live there. Houston voters will face $1.5 billion in city bonds and nine community college or school board races this … Continue reading →

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Two more for CD23

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Officially a crowd now. Jay Hulings, a federal prosecutor from San Antonio, said Sunday he could no wait no longer to launch a challenge to U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes. Hulings is an ally of the Castro brothers — U.S. … Continue reading →

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The “run over a protester” bill

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This was from a day or two after the racist violence in Charlottesville, which included the vehicular murder of a counterprotester. Last month, Rep. Pat Fallon filed legislation to protect motorists who hit demonstrators “blocking traffic in a public right-of-way” … Continue reading →

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Houston part of bid for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Houston and NRG Stadium are on an official list for cities and venues that may be considered to host a FIFA World Cup match if the event comes to North America in 2026. The United Bid Committee of the … Continue reading →

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Beto on the road

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A great chance to meet our Senate nominee, if you haven’t already. Looking to overcome the long odds in his U.S. Senate campaign, U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, has hit the road for an aggressive 34-day tour of Texas. … Continue reading →

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Fifth Circuit rules against Texas’ voter interpreter law

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Texas ran afoul of the Voting Rights Act by restricting the interpretation assistance English-limited voters may receive at the ballot box, a federal appeals court found. In an opinion issued Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit … Continue reading →

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Confederate monuments in the Capitol

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Get rid of them, too. A state lawmaker wants all Confederate symbols removed from the Texas Capitol grounds, including a plaque that is 40 steps away from his office that rejects the idea that the South seceded from the Union … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for August 20

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Actions have consequences. “Republican lawmakers in at least 18 states have introduced bills to crack down on protesters. Among those proposals are bills that would allow cities to sue protesters in order to collect money to pay police forces … Continue reading →

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What’s next for the now-canceled white nationalist rally at A&M

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The legal experts are weighing in. Saunie Schuster, an attorney for The NCHERM Group, which provides consulting for schools on First Amendment issues, said that was the organizer’s big mistake. “You can be here and you can speak even if … Continue reading →

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The long view of the bathroom bill

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron considers the future of the bathroom bill. Texas’ controversial bathroom bill, championed by Gov. Greg Abbot and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, may have been declared dead, but some say it could be revived soon enough. “Like Frankenstein, the … Continue reading →

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In defense of hyperloops

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Eric Holthaus at Grist writes in defense of Elon Musk’s hyperloop idea in general, and the proposal for a New York to Washington, DC hyperloop plan in particular. Assuming hyperloop costs of $100 million per mile, and tunneling costs of … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Shake Your Booty

Posted on August 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Fluff up your hair, put on your dancing shoes, turn your HiFi up to max volume, and get down to KC and the Sunshine Band: Now that, my friends, is what I’m talking about. It’s too much awesomeness for any … Continue reading →

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Texas to appeal redistricting ruling

Posted on August 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. If Gov. Greg Abbott calls a second special legislative session this summer, it won’t be for redistricting. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton revealed Friday that Abbott won’t ask lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional map — found … Continue reading →

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Houston signs memorandum of understanding with Texas Central

Posted on August 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This makes a lot of sense. At City Hall, Houston and Texas Central Partners announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding, which commits both sides to share environmental surveys, utility analysis and engineering related to the project and surrounding … Continue reading →

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HISD gets some improvements, needs some more

Posted on August 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Mostly good news. State school ratings released Tuesday showed academic gains across Houston ISD this year, but enthusiasm over the results was tempered by 10 struggling campuses again falling short of state standards, leaving the district under threat of state … Continue reading →

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Typhus in Texas

Posted on August 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

One more thing to worry about, in case you needed it. Strickland spent four days in a hospital receiving treatment and needed about a year to fully recover from the potentially fatal disease transmitted by fleas believed nowadays to be … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten – Back to back, part one

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I’m baaaaaaaaaack… 1. Back Door Santa – Bon Jovi 2. Back Home Again In Indiana – Don Byas, Coleman Hawkins & Stan Getz 3. Back In Baby’s Arms – Patsy Cline 4. Back In Love Again – LTD 5. Back … Continue reading →

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Bond issue set for November

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Should be pretty straightforward, though I suppose you never know. November’s ballot will feature $495 million in public improvement bonds after City Council agreed Wednesday to send the package to Houston voters. The general bonds, which would not require a … Continue reading →

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RK Sandill for State Supreme Court

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Very good news, from the inbox: The Supreme Court of Texas is elected to serve all of the nearly 28 million residents of our great state. Yet, after more than two decades of one-party rule, today’s Court is increasingly out … Continue reading →

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Texas Central picks builders

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record. Backers of a Texas bullet train are moving to the next stop, selecting a team to build the Houston-to-Dallas line, despite not having a clear shot – yet – at construction. Texas Central on Monday morning … Continue reading →

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Let’s play two?

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, God, please, no. Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday put blame on the House — particularly Speaker Joe Straus — for the shortcomings of the special session and left the door open to calling another one. “I’m disappointed that all … Continue reading →

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Hacking voting machines

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I’m just going to leave this here. Google and Apple invite hackers to find flaws in their code and offer hefty rewards to those who find them. It’s a common practice in the industry. The government’s done it too, with programs like “Hack … Continue reading →

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Mayor Turner requests study of Confederate statues

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox. Mayor Sylvester Turner has asked top staff members to study whether statues related to the Confederacy should be removed from city property. The mayor commented about the statues Tuesday at a City Council meeting after members of … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 36 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of August 14

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance strongly condemns the racist Nazi violence in Charlottesville as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Court invalidates CDs 27 and 35

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We are one step closer to having a new Congressional map. Federal judges have invalidated two Texas congressional districts, ruling that they must be fixed by either the Legislature or a federal court. In a unanimous decision Tuesday, a three-judge … Continue reading →

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

Smell ya later, Senate

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

How about that? The special legislative session is over — in one chamber, at least. The Texas House abruptly gaveled out Sine Die – the formal designation meaning the end of a session – on Tuesday evening after voting to … Continue reading →

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HISD board fills Manuel Rodriguez’s seat

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The HISD Board of Trustees is back to full strength. The Houston ISD Board of Education voted to appoint José Leal to fill the seat left vacant after the death of longtime District III Trustee Manuel Rodríguez Jr last month. … Continue reading →

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HISD and the TEA

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Still catching up on things. Texas education officials are warning that Houston ISD could be placed under the jurisdiction of state-appointed managers as early as next year if 13 district schools don’t show improvement. The warning was issued during a … Continue reading →

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Houston city employees file their own lawsuit (again) on spousal benefits

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A shame it’s had to come to this, but this is where we are. On Thursday, three married couples from Houston filed a lawsuit in federal court aimed at forcing the city to preserve health coverage and other benefits for … Continue reading →

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White nationalist rally at A&M canceled

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been on the road with limited Internet access, so I’m just now catching up on recent events. Unlike our garbage president, I wholeheartedly condemn the appalling racist violence committed in Charlottesville by a bunch of Nazi scum. As such, … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , | 52 Comments

July 2017 campaign finance reports – HCC

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome to the last and least interesting of these campaign finance report posts. This one is about the HCC Trustees, and there’s not much to see. Take a look at what there is – you can find all available reports … Continue reading →

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Fran Watson for SD17

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Awesome news. It’s OFFICIAL! I have launched my campaign for TX State Senate District 17. The campaign slogan is People First. “When the people are part of the legislative process instead of a few leaders in Austin, our laws are … Continue reading →

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Paxton joins defense of Wisconsin partisan gerrymandering

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Of course he does. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is backing Wisconsin in a high-profile case asking the U.S. Supreme Court whether lawmakers can go too far when drawing political maps to advantage one party. Paxton, a Republican, filed an … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for August 13

Posted on August 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest for 2017. Go see gorgeous photos. Donald Trump could have been president in Sharknado 3. Which would have been infinitely preferable to current reality. “Now that the Republican Party has won … Continue reading →

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