Monthly Archives: May 2018

2018 Runoff EV report: Final totals

Posted on May 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here are your final early voting totals for the 2018 primary runoffs, and here is a handy table with comparisons to previous years. Year March Runoff Pct =============================== 2018 R 156,387 33,768 21.6% 2018 D 167,982 33,706 20.1% 2016 R … Continue reading →

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

HISD begins prep on a 2019 bond issue

Posted on May 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Wait till next year. Administrators on Thursday recommended Houston ISD seek voter approval for a $1.7 billion capital projects bond in May 2019, charging forward with long-term spending plans even as the district faces uncertainty about its leadership and ability … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Add taekwondo to the list of problematic sports

Posted on May 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Also a sport with local ties. Last week, four female USA Taekwondo (USAT) athletes filed a joint lawsuit against the USOC and USAT, alleging that the two organizations engaged in sex trafficking by forcing its athletes — including minor females … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Add taekwondo to the list of problematic sports

Santa Fe

Posted on May 20, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t have anything profound to say, though I would suggest that someone on Dan Patrick‘s staff try to explain to him the concept of fire codes and emergency exits. Beyond that, I’ll say again what I’ve said many times … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

State offers no fixes for “motor voter” law non-compliance

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’m shocked, I tell you, shocked. Told it was breaking the law, and asked to propose a fix, Texas seems to have mostly declined. Following a ruling last month that Texas was violating a federal law designed to ease the voter registration … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on State offers no fixes for “motor voter” law non-compliance

Stadiums and sports betting

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Sheryl Ring at Fangraphs adds another dimension to the SCOTUS sports betting decision story. But there is another incentive for states to legalize sports betting aside from just basic tax revenue. We’ve talked about ballpark deals, particularly in the context … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Jackpot!, Other sports, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Stadiums and sports betting

NASA to test Uber’s flying cars

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Just simulations, thankfully. NASA will soon begin testing in Dallas how Uber’s on-demand air-taxi concept would affect crowded areas. Uber is in the midst of designing an air-taxi service, called UberAIR. Officials hope to conduct flight demonstrations starting in 2020 … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on NASA to test Uber’s flying cars

Abbott versus Houston on Harvey funds

Posted on May 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Gov. Greg Abbott blasted the city of Houston for its response to Hurricane Harvey Wednesday, critiquing what he described as a lack of sound financial planning and sluggish progress repairing flooded homes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Abbott versus Houston on Harvey funds

State House remembers it was going to do something about sexual harassment

Posted on May 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s something. Months after reports detailed a pervasive culture of sexual harassment at the state Capitol, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus on Wednesday announced another measure to address the issue. Straus, a Republican who will retire early next year, created … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on State House remembers it was going to do something about sexual harassment

Texas Central and Amtrak

Posted on May 18, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Connectivity is good. Amtrak and Texas Central announced a partnership Friday to link the proposed bullet train from Dallas to Houston to the national passenger rail network. Passengers will be able to book their bullet train trips through Amtrak. The partnership … Continue reading →

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

Dreamers can litigate in support of DACA

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal district judge has allowed a group of young undocumented immigrants to intervene in a lawsuit where the state of Texas seeks to put an end to the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. Brownsville-based … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dreamers can litigate in support of DACA

The “sanctuary cities” connection to the SCOTUS sports betting decision

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The state’s rights aspect of this ruling may have other applications. Seven of the nine justices — five conservatives and two liberals — backed a robust reading of the Constitution’s 10th Amendment and a limit on the federal government’s power … Continue reading →

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

2018 Runoff EV report: Primary runoff turnout totals don’t much matter

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, have you been wondering how early voting has gone in the primary runoffs so far? Well, wonder no more, for here is the daily report through Wednesday. You have today and tomorrow to vote early, and then you’ll need … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of May 14

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance urges everyone to vote in the primary runoffs as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Runoff races, part 4: Republicans

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Again, not going to spend too much time on this, but here are the US House and State House races for which there are Republican primary runoffs: Dist Candidate March% ========================= CD02 Roberts 33.03% CD02 Crenshaw 27.42% CD05 Gooden 29.97% … Continue reading →

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

Farenthold finds a trough

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the circle of life. Former Republican U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold has accepted a lucrative position lobbying for a port in his ex-Texas district — mere weeks after resigning in disgrace amid fallout from using public funds to settle a … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

SCOTUS rules for sports betting

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Gamblers rejoice. The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed all states to legalize sports gambling. But a ban in Texas remains in place, and recent history suggests that state leaders will be in no rush to lift it. The high court … Continue reading →

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

Runoff races, part 3: Harris County

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not going to give a big windup on this because I think we’re all familiar with these races, but just to make sure we’re on the same page. District Clerk Marilyn Burgess Rozzy Shorter County Clerk Diane Trautman Gayle … Continue reading →

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

Revisiting online voter registration

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Camel’s nose in the tent alert. Texas could be forced to create at least one narrow avenue for online voter registration after a federal judge ruled that the state is violating the National Voter Registration Act, a decades-old federal law … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Zipcars and parking

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s sort this out. A plan to allow more on-street parking spaces for cars Houstonians could rent by the hour hit a bump Wednesday, when city council members balked at moving beyond the pilot program they approved nearly two years … Continue reading →

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

Runoff races, part 2: Legislative

Posted on May 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

There’s one Democratic primary runoff for SBOE, one for Senate, and seven for the House. Here’s a brief look at them. SBOE12 Suzanne Smith Laura Malone-Miller Smith led with 48.12% in March to Malone-Miller’s 26.31%. Smith has the DMN endorsement, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Runoff races, part 2: Legislative

State ordered to come up with fix for voter registration problems

Posted on May 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The clock is ticking. Texas has less than a week to tell a federal judge in San Antonio how it will begin complying with the National Voter Registration Act, a decades-old federal law aimed at making it easier for people … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Primary runoff early voting begins today

Posted on May 14, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Early voting for the May 22 Primary Runoff Elections will take place from Monday, May 14 to Friday, May 18. During that period, Harris County voters may vote at any of the 46 polling locations throughout the county. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Primary runoff early voting begins today

Weekend link dump for May 13

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

You can stop shooting your Yeti cooler now. From the “Be careful what you vote for, you just might get it” department. On the dysfunctional relationship between Lucy and Schroeder. “Following last month’s DNA-driven arrest of a suspect in California’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 10 Comments

Runoff races, part 1: Congress

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I looked at most of these races after the filing deadline here and here. Here’s a reminder about who’s still in. CD03 Lorie Burch – Finance report Sam Johnson – Finance report First round: Burch 49.61%, Johnson 28.68% Burch was … Continue reading →

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

Will the AG get involved in the Karolyi case?

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The gymnasts who were victimized by Larry Nasser at the Karolyi Ranch would like to see a higher level of action. The Texas Attorney General’s Office should take the steps of the Michigan attorney general in aggressively pursuing charges against … Continue reading →

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

Self-driving car service coming to North Texas

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Coming to the city of Frisco in July, a public-private venture pairing up with a California-based outfit called Drive.ai, for something that’s a little like shuttle service and a little like mass transit on a small scale. The initial service … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Self-driving car service coming to North Texas

HISD gets some public feedback

Posted on May 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Needed more opportunities for this from the beginning. Emotions continued to run high Thursday as residents offered both condemnation and support of Houston ISD Board of Trustees President Rhonda Skillern-Jones, whose leadership has been questioned following a raucous board meeting … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on HISD gets some public feedback

Judge sides with city in term limits lawsuit

Posted on May 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The city wins for now, but we all know it’s not over yet. Politicians at City Hall can continue serving four-year terms — at least for now — after a state district judge sided with the city of Houston Friday … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Judge sides with city in term limits lawsuit

Endorsement watch: Runoff time

Posted on May 12, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron goes for Lizzie Fletcher in CD07. United States Representative, District 7: Lizzie Pannill Fletcher Democrats have a serious chance of knocking Republican Congressman John Culberson out of the seat he has occupied since 2001. The 7th Congressional District … Continue reading →

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

A primary runoff threefer

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It’s getting chippy in CD02. What started off as a relatively cordial campaign between two Republicans who want to represent parts of Houston in Congress has gotten downright testy as early voting looms. Eight weeks ago, Dan Crenshaw and Kevin … Continue reading →

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

Houston in the running for 2020 DNC

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like there’s a few more places bidding for this one. Eight cities are in consideration to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention as the party prepares for a presidential contest that is expected to include an unusually large number … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

HISD hoping for Harvey waiver

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

That’s what it would take to avoid TEA sanctions this year. Houston ISD’s 10 longest-struggling schools likely would not trigger major state sanctions this year if they all receive academic accountability waivers due to Hurricane Harvey, Texas Education Commissioner Mike … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Turner’s 2019 budget

Posted on May 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the plan for making ends meet for next fiscal year. Mayor Sylvester Turner’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts in July would close a shortfall of $114 million without employee layoffs by drawing down the city’s reserves, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments