Monthly Archives: May 2018

Quinnipiac: Cruz 50, O’Rourke 39

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Quinnipiac giveth, Quinnipiac taketh away. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has some breathing space from U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, according to a new poll released by Quinnipiac University on Wednesday. In the banner statewide race in the state, the new survey … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

That’s the Texas State Historical Astrodome to you, pal

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s got a marker and everything. More than 56 years after ground was broken on what would become the world’s first domed stadium, the Astrodome is now a bonafide recorded Texas historic landmark. Installed on the stadium’s southwest end, a … Continue reading →

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Stockman asks for his verdict to be set aside

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Never know till you ask, right? Attorneys representing former U.S. Rep. Stephen Stockman, R-Texas, who was found guilty in April of funneling what were solicited as charitable contributions into accounts that instead funded political campaigns and personal expenses, have asked … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of May 28

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance welcomes you to hurricane season as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Hiring and harassment at TxDOT

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good morning. Here’s another story about harassment and discrimination being suffered by female and minority employees at a public institution, in this case the state Department of Transportation. The Texas Department of Transportation held Tamela Saldana up as a “superhero” … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Enabling better transit

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This is great. For less than the cost of a single bus, however, Metro might be the first transit agency in the country to take a significant step across an entire bus system that could open riding options to scores … Continue reading →

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

Pot versus Pete

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I love this story. Marijuana reform activists have created a new super PAC aimed exclusively at defeating Texas Republican Rep. Pete Sessions, the House Rules Committee chairman who has blocked cannabis reform legislation from reaching the House floor. Marijuana Policy … Continue reading →

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

It’s all about the millennials

Posted on May 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From Colin Allred: When Colin Allred, a 35-year-old former NFL linebacker-turned-congressional candidate, addressed two dozen student volunteers at a rooftop restaurant last week, he promised them that he knows millennials are more than avocado toast-eating social media obsessives. “People think … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Harris County hearing officers sue to overturn their conduct sanction

Posted on May 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

An interesting twist. Three Harris County hearing officers have sued the State Commission on Judicial Conduct in an attempt to overturn their discipline for denying personal recognizance bonds to misdemeanor defendants, contending that the agency overstepped its authority by interpreting … Continue reading →

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Let’s kill fewer pedestrians and bicyclists

Posted on May 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Crazy idea, right? Houston officials will find the 10 most dangerous intersections in the city and make safety adjustments where possible following a series of fatal bicycle crashes in 2018. Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the initiative on Bike to Work … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

The Republicans’ risk factors in 2018

Posted on May 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Cook Report’s Dave Wasserman comes up with a system for evaluating Republican Congressional incumbents who may have some trouble in their future. Armed with fresh FEC data, we have created a table listing seven “risk factors” to gauge Republican … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for May 27

Posted on May 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

“But I think these attention-grabbing silly questions are also damaging, and that they reflect a harmful, shallow, and ultimately off-putting approach to the Bible itself.” The appeal of MLB in general and the Yankees in particular in South Korea. “Everyone … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 3 Comments

State asks for emergency stay of “motor voter” ruling

Posted on May 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Also as expected. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday asked a federal appeals court to block a San Antonio judge’s order that gave state officials 45 days to correct an online voter registration system that was found to violate federal law. … Continue reading →

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From doors to video games

Posted on May 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

See if you can tell what’s missing from this discussion. While Democrats clamored for stricter gun regulations and Gov. Greg Abbott discussed measures to tighten school security following Friday’s mass shooting at Santa Fe High School, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Lupe and Beto

Posted on May 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Beto O’Rourke has a year-old, well-funded campaign for US Senate. Lupe Valdez doesn’t have anything like those advantages in her campaign for Governor. Will her lower profile effort have a negative effect on his higher profile one? The race for … Continue reading →

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

Opioid lawsuits

Posted on May 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From last week: Attorney General Ken Paxton is leading Texas into a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma for exacerbating the opioid crisis among Texans. In an announcement Tuesday afternoon, Paxton, a Republican, flanked by several assistant attorney generals, said the state … Continue reading →

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

Zipcar parking arrangement approved

Posted on May 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good. The City Council on Wednesday said companies can start immediately applying for agreements with the city that allow them to use on-street parking spaces so vehicles are visible and easily available to users. Companies such as Zipcar allow people … Continue reading →

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The revenue cap is stupid and harmful

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Reason #4,739: In posting a sluggish population growth estimate for Houston, the U.S. Census Bureau blew a $17 million hole in the city budget. City officials had expected the count would show Houston had added about 30,400 people by January … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Former cheerleaders file lawsuit against Texans over pay

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’d been wondering if something like this was going to happen here. Three former Texans cheerleaders sued the team and its cheerleading supervisor Tuesday, accusing the Texans of failing to pay minimum wage and overtime and accusing the cheer squad … Continue reading →

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

Blake Farenthold is a gift that keeps on giving

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, Blake. Nearly a month after abruptly resigning from Congress in the wake of revelations over lewd and verbally abusive behavior, former Corpus Christi Rep. Blake Farenthold had been angling for several days to get a lobbying job at a port … Continue reading →

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

Post-runoff thoughts

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose one’s view on Democratic primary runoff turnout is a matter of perspective. I wrote that it was way more than the turnout of any primary going back to 2006 – indeed, more than double the turnout of any … Continue reading →

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CCA refuses to hear Ron Reynolds’ appeal

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s getting awfully close to midnight. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has refused to review state Rep. Ron Reynolds’ criminal conviction and one-year jail sentence, according to online court records. The Missouri City Democrat had asked the court to … Continue reading →

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

Buc-ee’s wins in court

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

That was quick. After about six hours of deliberation, a jury in Houston found Tuesday that Choke Canyon company’s alligator logo violated state and federal trademark law, infringing on the pre-established Buc-ee’s beaver mark established by the popular Texas road … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of May 21

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance’s heart is broken for the people of Santa Fe as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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2018 primary runoff results: Governor

Posted on May 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the results. Before we begin, some numbers of interest: Year Total =============== 2018 428,933 (inc) 2016 188,592 2014 201,283 2012 236,305 2008 187,708 2006 207,252 There were at least 241,120 early votes cast in 2018 (that number kept … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 43 Comments

2018 primary runoff results: Congress and Legislature

Posted on May 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

All results are here. I began drafting this around 9:30 when there were still a bunch of precincts out, but with the exception of the tossup in CD25, all of the Congressional races were pretty clear by then: CD03: Lorie … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

2018 primary runoff results: Harris County

Posted on May 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the election night results, with a handful of precincts still not in as of 11 PM. Most of these races were basically decided once the early voting numbers were in, but one was neck and neck all night. … Continue reading →

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Today is Runoff Day

Posted on May 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: As the chief election officer of the County, Stan Stanart reminds voters that Tuesday, May 22, is Primary Runoff Election Day. “Due to consolidation of precincts, many voters will be voting at a new location and are … Continue reading →

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State appeals “motor voter” ruling

Posted on May 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise. The legal fight over whether Texas is disenfranchising thousands of voters by violating a federal voter registration law is on its way to federal appeals court. Just after a federal judge gave Texas less than two months to … Continue reading →

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Beaver v alligator

Posted on May 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a roadside rest stop animal logo legal smackdown, and it’s off to the jury. Buc-ee’s, a popular chain of Texas pit stops, fought hard to build its reputation and wants a San Antonio-based competitor to stop “riding its coattails” … Continue reading →

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

The Trib on CD22 and Fort Bend

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

A closer look at a lower-profile but highly interesting primary runoff. At a glance, volunteers at Sri Kulkarni’s campaign headquarters are no different than those for congressional campaigns across the country — huddling over laptops, tapping voters’ numbers into their … Continue reading →

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The Cornyn Ike Dike bill

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Credit where credit is due. With hurricane season right around the corner, Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Wednesday he is introducing legislation to expedite a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study on a coastal barrier to mitigate storm damage … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

Cities and suburbs up, rurals down

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The story of Texas’ population. Recently released data from the Texas Demographic Center spelled bad news for many rural areas in the state: populations there were still shrinking, or growing slowly. Population growth in Texas remained concentrated in urban areas … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for May 20

Posted on May 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

“Women’s lives matter. Women’s lives matter more than men’s rules for moral purity. That is the overarching and underlying theme surrounding every biblical discussion of divorce. Get that wrong and you’re in danger, like Ezra, of arriving someplace truly monstrous.” … Continue reading →

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