Monthly Archives: December 2017

RIP, Ruth Jones McClendon

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

She will be missed. Ruth Jones McClendon, the former longtime state representative from San Antonio, has died. She was 74. State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, McClendon’s successor, said she died this morning at her home in San Antonio. “I think she’s … Continue reading →

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Filing roundup: State Senate

Posted on December 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

In 2014, Democrats contested five of the eleven Republican-held State Senate seats on the ballot, plus the seat that was vacated by Wendy Davis, which was won by Republican Konni Burton. This year, Democrats have candidates in eleven of these … Continue reading →

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Inevitable lawsuit over pension bond ballot language filed

Posted on December 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Like night follows day, like flies garbage. Mayor Sylvester Turner misled voters into approving a $1 billion pension bond referendum last month, a new lawsuit alleges, claiming that city officials plan to use the bonds’ passage to sidestep a voter-approved … Continue reading →

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The climate change effect on storms like Harvey

Posted on December 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

More likely and more extreme is the tl;dr version of this. The research presented Wednesday began soon after Harvey dumped feet of rain on the Houston area. World Weather Attribution — an international effort to analyze the potential influence of … Continue reading →

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Early polling on the AG race

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It looks sexy, but keep your salt handy. The 2018 election for the job of the state’s top lawyer could be a tight race if voters go to the polls knowing about Attorney General Ken Paxton’s criminal indictment, according to … Continue reading →

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One small piece of relief for Harvey-affected school districts

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not much, but it’s something. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath is not changing state standardized test dates for students affected by Hurricane Harvey, but he is waiving some requirements for certain students, his agency said Thursday. Students across the … Continue reading →

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The war on coal is over in Texas

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Coal lost, and good riddance. Wind power capacity edged out coal for the first time in the Texas history last week after a new 155-megawatt wind farm in Scurry County came online. The farm in question is the Fluvanna Wind … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for December 17

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Democratic Party is the most united American party in modern political history. The real-life Bada Bing Club will be closing its doors in New Jersey. What can go wrong when you give Amazon your house key. It’s harder than … Continue reading →

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Republican Party sues to get Farenthold off the ballot

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Now here‘s something you don’t see every day. The Texas GOP is suing the Texas secretary of state to keep embattled U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold off the 2018 primary ballot — one day after the Corpus Christi Republican announced he … Continue reading →

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High speed rail line route finalist chosen

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here’d where the Texas Central rail route will be, modulo some possible final tweaks and any further political obstacles. Federal officials narrowed the possible paths for a Dallas-Houston bullet train down to one likely route Friday, providing an unknown number … Continue reading →

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You can’t legislate from jail

Posted on December 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the Ron Reynolds story. There’s a chance state Rep. Ron Reynolds could be sentenced to serve a year in jail next year. If that happens, he wouldn’t have to resign, according to state officials. The Houston-area Democrat recently lost … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Somebody Loves Me

Posted on December 16, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I feel like we could use a little sax music, so here are Al Cohn and Zoot Sims: I’m pretty sure it’s the law that you have to be a musician to be nicknamed “Zoot”. Where there’s jazz there’s western … Continue reading →

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Senate has a hearing on its sexual harassment policy

Posted on December 16, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The babiest of baby steps. There has only been one official sexual harassment complaint in the Texas Senate since 2001, the secretary of the Senate said Thursday. The Senate Administration Committee debated possible ways to revise current sexual harassment policy … Continue reading →

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The Paul Pressler lawsuit

Posted on December 16, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here‘s a thing to keep an eye on. A former Texas state judge and lawmaker has been accused of sexually abusing a young man for several decades starting when the boy was just 14, according to a lawsuit filed in … Continue reading →

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Thinking big about fighting flooding

Posted on December 16, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Christof Spieler, on behalf of the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium, comments on a proposal to move forward post-Harvey. On Oct. 25, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett released 15 recommendations for mitigating damages from future flood events. The researchers collaborating … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Bring it

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It has been brought. 1. Bring Back That Leroy Brown – Queen 2. Bring ‘Em Home – Bruce Springsteen 3. Bring It Back Again – Stray Cats 4. Bring It On Down To My House – Willie Nelson & Asleep … Continue reading →

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From Alabama to Texas

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here are two numbers from Sen.-elect Doug Jones’ victory over garbage human Roy Moore: 92.0% and 49.3%. Jones received 92.0% of the total vote that Hillary Clinton received in Alabama in 2016. Moore received 49.3% of Donald Trump’s vote total. … Continue reading →

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Another step in the Uptown BRT process

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Gotta build those bus lanes on the Loop, too. A bus guideway along Loop 610 will cost slightly more than anticipated, based on bids opened Wednesday in Austin. Williams Brothers Construction, a mainstay of highway building in the area, was … Continue reading →

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Farenthold changes course

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Sort of. U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, will retire from Congress after finishing his current term, a source close to the congressman told The Tribune Thursday morning. Farenthold soon confirmed the decision in an emotional video posted on Facebook.The … Continue reading →

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The statewide lineups

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the statewide lineup for Democrats. I’ll add in some notes afterwards. U. S. Senator Beto O’Rourke U. S. Senator Edward Kimbrough U. S. Senator Sema Hernandez Governor Adrian Ocegueda Governor Andrew White Governor Cedric Davis, Sr. Governor Demetria Smith … Continue reading →

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Recycling deal held up again

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll take Unexpected Effects of Hurricane Harvey for $200, Alex. A 20-year, $37 million recycling deal for Houston is in limbo after City Controller Chris Brown said his office was not prepared to sign off on the proposal, citing concerns … Continue reading →

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Some pushback on Jeff Mateer

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A small bit of sanity. Even as President Donald Trump rushes to fill federal judge openings across the nation, a top Senate Republican is urging the White House to put the brakes on an outspoken nominee from Texas. Iowa Republican … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of December 11

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wonders if Donald Trump has ever heard of Krampus as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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The Harris County slates

Posted on December 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s talk about the filings for Harris County. The SOS filings page is still the best source of information, but they don’t provide shareable links, so in the name of ease and convenience I copied the Democratic filing information for … Continue reading →

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HISD proposes to rebuild four schools damaged by Harvey

Posted on December 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Seems reasonable. Students at four storm-damaged Houston ISD elementary schools wouldn’t return to their home campuses until at least 2020 under a district proposal for replacing the structures announced Monday. The $126-million plan calls for the four campuses — Braeburn, … Continue reading →

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RIP, Peter Brown

Posted on December 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A dedicated public servant and a heck of a nice guy. Former Houston city councilman, mayoral candidate and civic leader Peter Brown has died, his family said Tuesday. Brown, an architect and urban planner, was 81. “A loving father, committed … Continue reading →

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Filing news: A few tidbits while we wait for the dust to clear

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, yesterday was the filing deadline for the primaries. Lots of things happen at the last minute, and the SOS filings page isn’t always a hundred percent up to date, so I’m hesitant to make final pronouncements about … Continue reading →

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Morris and Trammell elected to the Hall of Fame

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Modern Era committee has spoken. Fittingly, Jack Morris reached the Hall of Fame in extra innings. Morris was elected to the Hall by its Modern Era committee on Sunday along with former Detroit Tigers teammate Alan Trammell, completing a … Continue reading →

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The dolphins in the bay

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Dolphins in Galveston Bay are having health issues. Kristi Fazioli first spotted the pair of dolphins swimming behind a shrimp trawler near Morgan’s Point, eager to get a mouthful of breakfast. They appeared healthy as they popped in and out … Continue reading →

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So now that names have been named, now what?

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe some hearings? I don’t know. Texas leaders called for a review of sexual harassment policies at the state Legislature following a Texas Tribune story detailing how current procedures offered little protection for victims and describing a wide range of harassment at the … Continue reading →

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A look at past primaries

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I think we can all agree that the 2018 Democratic primary season is already unlike anything we’ve seen in recent memory. And since I like putting expressions like that into numbers, I thought I’d try to do it here. First, … Continue reading →

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Lamenting the lost rail opportunity

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

What could have been. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett’s speech Tuesday may have included jabs at state lawmakers, but it was a hit with transit advocates for a single line. “We cannot go back in time and undo some poor … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for December 10

Posted on December 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve probably been playing Monopoly incorrectly your whole life. Basically, Yetis are bears. I’ll bet the same is true for Bigfoot. “The Satanic baby-killers have always been with us, even though they have never actually existed. We reinvent them over … Continue reading →

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Santos, Lira, and Stallworth win runoffs

Posted on December 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to all, and on to 2018. Two current educators, Elizabeth Santos and Sergio Lira, won seats on the Houston ISD school board, according to preliminary results from Saturday’s runoff election. Voters also chose Pretta VanDible Stallworth, a business consultant … Continue reading →

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