Monthly Archives: March 2018

JP Hilary Green resigns

Posted on March 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Wise decision. The Harris County justice of the peace accused of paying prostitutes for sex, abusing drugs while on the bench and sexting a bailiff officially resigned this week – although her attorney says it has nothing to do with … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Suing Facebook

Posted on March 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck with that. A Houston businessman launched a wide-ranging class action lawsuit [last] Friday against Facebook for violating the trust of millions of users by sharing personal data with a company that used the information to post targeted political … Continue reading →

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

Pete Gallego is in for SD19

Posted on March 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We now have two intended candidates for what we hope will be a special election. Another candidate signaled plans to enter the race for Senate District 19 on Wednesday, about a month after the San Antonio Democrat who currently holds … Continue reading →

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What role might the city have in HISD?

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The possibility that the city could have any role at all with HISD is itself interesting. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he has been asked to get “very, very, very involved” in Houston ISD as it faces potentially severe state … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Endorsement watch: Ana’s army

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Two weeks ago, I noted an email sent out by Rep. Carol Alvarado containing a long list of current and former elected officials as well as other prominent folks who had endorsed her candidacy for SD06, for when Sen. Sylvia … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Everybody should be counted

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The 2020 Census has big challenges, especially in Texas. But even two years out from the 2020 count, local officials, demographers, community organizers and advocates say they are worried the census could be particularly tough to carry out in Texas … Continue reading →

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

Going back to the Fifth Circuit on SB4

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Gotta hope for the best. Opponents of the state’s immigration enforcement legislation have asked a federal appeals court to reconsider a decision that allowed most of the controversial measure to go into effect. Attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union, … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Comments Off on Going back to the Fifth Circuit on SB4

Still discussing flood bonds

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s complicated. Harris County officials Tuesday said the “clock is ticking” on its call for a bond referendum for $1 billion or more in flood control projects, as requirements to provide matching funds for federal grants being disbursed in Hurricane … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018, Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The prosecution keeps piling on Steve Stockman

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From Monday: A fundraising director who quit and returned most of his salary after four days as an employee of ex-U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman characterized the work environment as “horrific” for Washington, D.C., interns, according to his testimony in the … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of March 26

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

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

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The field is set in District K

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the District K special election webpage, and now that the filing deadline has passed and the list of candidates has been updated, here are your contenders for this seat: Candidate Contact Information in alphabetical order Larry Blackmon | 6167 Ludington, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Judge in Dallas County ballot lawsuit need not recuse himself

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Round One goes to the Dems. The Dallas County Republican Party on Monday failed in an attempt to have a judge removed from a case that could disqualify 82 Democratic Party candidates from the general election ballot. Kerrville’s Stephen Ables, … Continue reading →

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Flood tunnels

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s so crazy, it just might work. The Harris County Flood Control District is exploring the possibility of building several massive, deep tunnels aimed at keeping storm water out of flood-prone neighborhoods and carry it underground for miles to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Precinct analysis: One of these things is not like the others

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s finish up our look at the primary precinct data with a peek at the Republican side of things. As a reminder, my analysis of the Democratic Senate primary is here, my analysis of the Governor and Lt. Governor races … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

City reaches settlement in pension projection lawsuit

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Old story, new development. Houston has agreed to settle a lawsuit it filed four years ago against an actuarial firm whose predictions it blamed for contributing to the city’s multi-billion-dollar pension crisis for $40 million. The city’s outside counsel, Susman … Continue reading →

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It’s about more than the statewide races

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Two articles coming to basically the same conclusion. First, from the Observer: People watching Texas from afar are naturally not very interested in the balance of power in the Legislature, or county government. They’re interested first in whether Texas could … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: Countywide candidates

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

We have four – count ’em, four – runoffs for Harris County office nominations for May. Every contested countywide non-judicial primary – that is, everything other than County Judge – is going to overtime. I’m going to look at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The DCCC elsewhere in Texas

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’m OK with this. The U.S. House Democratic campaign arm may well be at war with another Texas Democrat. Lillian Salerno, a Democratic House candidate in the Dallas-based 32nd Congressional District, pushed out a fiery news release on Thursday afternoon … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for March 25

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, Toys R Us will just have been the first of many businesses of all descriptions facing the same hard demographic truth: Economic growth is extremely difficult without population growth.” Which, by the way, is one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 3 Comments

Scenes from the March For Our Lives

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From Houston: Nearly 15,000 descended Saturday morning on downtown Houston for the city’s March For Our Lives, advocating for greater gun control in light of last month’s Florida school shooting. A mix of children and adults gathered in Houston’s Tranquility … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 49 Comments

HISD chooses partnerships for low-performing schools

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

In the same story as the one with the news about interim HISD Superintendent Grenita Lathan, we get this news as well: HISD administrators are recommending the district temporarily surrender significant control over 10 chronically underperforming schools as part of … Continue reading →

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HISD names an interim Superintendent

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations! Houston ISD trustees unanimously appointed Grenita Lathan as interim superintendent late Thursday, elevating the district’s chief academic officer about two weeks after Richard Carranza announced he’s stepping down. Lathan, 48, will serve as acting superintendent starting Friday, then become … Continue reading →

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The Stockman trial gets weird

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, with Steve Stockman you have to expect some weird crap, but I didn’t see this coming. The American Phoenix Foundation — a now-defunct conservative activist groupknown for attempting undercover stings of lawmakers and lobbyists — planted an intern in … Continue reading →

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You may finally be able to buy booze at Walmart and Costco now

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I agree with this. A protectionist Texas law that has kept Walmart, Costco and other giant retailers from selling hard liquor was found unconstitutional by a federal judge this week, prompting cheers from free-market advocates — and vows of a … Continue reading →

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

Chron overview of CD07 runoff

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Democrats looking for a ray of hope in Houston’s Republican-leaning Seventh Congressional District have their sights locked on an apparent upset victory in a conservative Pennsylvania district that President Donald Trump won … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Houston’s flood mitigation priorities

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The sooner the better with this. Converting a defunct golf course and dormant landfills into detention basins, digging new channels and buying out or elevating scores of homes are among Houston leaders’ key priorities as Hurricane Harvey recovery funds begin … Continue reading →

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Stockman trial update

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From Tuesday: “This case is the story of how the defendant over the course of four years exploited the trust and charity of others to pull off a massive scam,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Heberle, of the Justice Department’s public … Continue reading →

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District K special election update

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From Durrel Douglas: In a late night Facebook Live video, prominent Houston activist Ashton P. Woods bowed out of the race to replace former City Councilman Larry Green who passed unexpectedly in early March. Woods says he will back a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

How about we excavate those reservoirs?

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Okay by me. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is quietly exploring the possibility of excavating dirt from Addicks and Barker reservoirs, reviving an oft-discussed proposal that would allow the reservoirs to hold more storm water and keep it out … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

From the “Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash” files

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Same song, second verse. If budget writers don’t come up with money to address a state employee pension shortfall and mounting needs for public schools, health care and transportation, credit agencies are likely to downgrade Texas’ AAA rating in the … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of March 19

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance has shifted into runoff mode as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Ted Cruz has your personal data

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Hope that doesn’t creep you out. Sen. Ted Cruz is under fire for his connections with a voter targeting firm that used data taken from 50 million Facebook users without their knowledge. The Cruz presidential campaign touted its collaboration with … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Judge orders firefighters’ petitions to be counted

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t say I’m surprised. A state district judge on Tuesday ordered Houston’s city secretary to finish reviewing firefighters’ petition asking for pay parity with police, giving her until April 27 to validate the eight-month-old signatures. Firefighters submitted a petition last … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

“We (Heart) Houston” someplace else

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Your favorite Instagram spot is moving to a new location. The “We Love Houston” sign you’ve seen either near I-10 or in Instagram selfies is on the move. Artist and die-hard Houstonian David Adickes told Chron.com in previous interviews that … Continue reading →

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