Monthly Archives: July 2018

The Trib looks at the AG race

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

There’s case that this is the second-most interesting statewide race on the ballot. Three years ago almost to the day, a Collin County grand jury indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for securities fraud. As the state’s top lawyer turned … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Trib looks at the AG race

Two views of the flood bond referendum

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

View One, from Joe B. Allen and Jim Blackburn: Vote for it because there’s no real alternative. Proposition A — the proposal to allow Harris County to issue $2.5 billion in flood control bonds — will be on the ballot … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018, Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Who wants to protect our voting systems from hackers?

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

You would hope the answer to that question would be “everyone”, but that’s not the world we currently live in. A bipartisan group of 21 state attorneys general are demanding Congress’ assistance in protecting the 2018 election. Writing to Rep. … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Typhus in Galveston

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

An infectious disease update for you. Typhus fever, a disease carried by fleas and once thought to be eradicated, is rearing its head in Galveston County, county health officials said on Monday. The Galveston County Health District reported that 18 … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Typhus in Galveston

July 2018 finance reports: Harris County candidates

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s take a look at where we stand with the candidates for county office. January report info is here. On we go: County Judge Ed Emmett Lina Hidalgo Commissioner, Precinct 2 Jack Morman Adrian Garcia Commissioner, Precinct 4 Jack Cagle … Continue reading →

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

The STEM candidates

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

If there was ever a year for scientists to run for office, this was it. Across the country, hundreds of candidates with academic or professional experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics have left their businesses and laboratories to compete … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The STEM candidates

Beto mostly accepts Cruz’s debate terms

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like we’re on. Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic nominee in Texas’ U.S. Senate race, is accepting Republican incumbent Ted Cruz’s proposal to debate five times over the next three months, though O’Rourke also is suggesting a few changes to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | 32 Comments

Weekend link dump for July 29

Posted on July 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The kids are all right, no matter what the haters say. “For infertility advocates, the Arizona law is less a Solomonic decree than a portent of a borderline-dystopian future wherein the government can compel people to become parents long after … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for July 29

Checking in on SD19

Posted on July 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Election Day is Tuesday. Long before the seat opened up here in Texas Senate District 19, state Rep. Roland Gutierrez was traveling the massive district, making friends as far west as Big Bend National Park’s Brewster County in anticipation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Checking in on SD19

Census lawsuit proceeds

Posted on July 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge in New York on Thursday allowed a lawsuit challenging the addition of a citizenship question to the Census to move forward. U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman’s decision rejected the Trump administration’s request to dismiss the lawsuit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Census lawsuit proceeds

The Prairie View cricket complex

Posted on July 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I love stories like this. Growing up, Tanweer Ahmed’s mother, Kalsoom, always discouraged him from playing cricket. They were a poor family. His mother sold vegetables and milk from the few cows they had in his hometown of Sialkot in … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Paxton joins the wimp brigade

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Seems fitting. Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a TV interview that he would be “happy to debate anybody on the issues” as he seeks re-election this fall, but he is now backing off that offer by refusing to debate … Continue reading →

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

Carranza’s parting shot

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been sitting with this for a couple of days, and ultimately decided it was not worth much more than a shrug. Former Houston ISD superintendent Richard Carranza did not mince words in an interview published this week about his … Continue reading →

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

Houston to get 5G service

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Verizon will soon launch 5G technology in Houston, though its initial focus won’t be on improving the performance of mobile devices. Rather, the wireless provider is positioning itself to compete with Comcast and AT&T for streaming television, playing video … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Houston to get 5G service

Republicans and Independents

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Something to ponder. The good news for President Trump in the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll — half of which was conducted before and the day of the Helsinki presser with Putin, half of which was conducted afterward — … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Council discusses firefighter pay parity proposal

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

It will cost some money if it passes. Houston Fire Chief Sam Peña said Thursday that his firefighters deserve raises, but he would be hard-pressed to maintain his department budget without reducing his ranks if voters approve a measure granting … Continue reading →

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

Don’t expect any other debates

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Cowardice + lack of incentive = avoiding engagement. Land Commissioner George P. Bush (son of Jeb and nephew to George W.) has no plans to go one-on-one with his challenger, Miguel Suazo — at least, not as of Tuesday, July 24. … Continue reading →

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

What’s the deal with that Civiqs poll?

Posted on July 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, Markos at Daily Kos posted this: I didn’t want to believe Politico’s, “Beto-mania sweeps Texas.” But a look at our Civiqs Texas data (which we poll for our own use, not for any client), and holy shit, it’s … Continue reading →

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

Cruz proposes five debates

Posted on July 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

All on Fridays, but at least he’s offering something. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has challenged Democratic opponent Beto O’Rourke to five topical debates before Election Day, about three months after O’Rourke challenged Cruz to six. Cruz strategist Jeff Roe … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

If we actually wanted to increase voter participation

Posted on July 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s what we’d do, courtesy of the Center for American Progress: This report examines the problem of low voter participation in America, which includes structural barriers that keep Americans from having their voices heard as well as widespread disillusionment with … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of July 23

Posted on July 26, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance has never seen a more pathetic and cowardly performance by a President as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of July 23

On campaigning for the flood bond

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This is good, but I don’t know if it will be enough. The Harris County Flood Control District’s summer barnstorming tour of county watersheds to seek public input on its $2.5 billion flood bond proposal is getting officials exactly what … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018, Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on On campaigning for the flood bond

And now we’re going to fight about when elections can be

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I have thoughts about this. School districts and other local governments are intentionally holding elections at odd times this summer to drive down turnout in hopes it will help them win voter approval for tax increases and bond issues, state … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dan Patrick is a wimp

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, you’re such a big tough meanie, Danno. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick does not intend to debate his Democratic challenger, Mike Collier, before Election Day, according to Patrick’s campaign. “It’s no secret Lt. Governor Patrick relishes debates, but since his … Continue reading →

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

Sen. Garcia announces her resignation

Posted on July 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Not quite what I was expecting, but it will do. Moments ago I submitted a letter to @GregAbbott_TX informing him of my intent to resign from #txlege on 1/2/19. It’s been an unbelievable honor to fight for the people of … Continue reading →

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

Business groups file brief opposing Paxton’s anti-DACA lawsuit

Posted on July 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

This is good. A federal lawsuit by Texas officials earlier this year seeking to order the end of the federal immigration program called the Deferred Act for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, will have “immediate, irreparable injury” to Texas businesses and … Continue reading →

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

The Schlitterbahn story

Posted on July 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Monthly does its thing on Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry and the criminal charges that stemmed from the death of an 11-year-old boy on the biggest ride at the park in Kansas City. Investigators and detectives from the Kansas City … Continue reading →

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

Fundraising: 2018 vs the rest of the decade

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

When I posted about the Q2 Congressional finance reports, I said I would try to put the totals in some more context at a later time. This is where I do that. Take a look at this table: Dist 2012 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fundraising: 2018 vs the rest of the decade

Killing Obamacare softly

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

With cuts to the budget for state outreach programs. Which doesn’t scan well lyrically, and I doubt any of the people on the pointy end of this will care about how it came to be, but here we are. The … Continue reading →

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

Kinder Institute profiles Lisa Seger

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure what prompted them to pay attention to this particular race, but Lisa Seger is a good subject for such a profile. In November, Seger will become the first Democratic candidate to challenge Republican Cecil Bell of Magnolia for … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for July 22

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

“Here’s a clever new twist on an old email scam that could serve to make the con far more believable. The message purports to have been sent from a hacker who’s compromised your computer and used your webcam to record … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 12 Comments

“Fetal remains” trial ends

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Now we wait for a ruling. State and reproductive rights attorneys wrapped up a five-day trial in federal court on Friday that will determine whether a Texas law requiring health providers to cremate or bury fetal remains can go into … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Fetal remains” trial ends

Final Four returns to Houston

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars. The NCAA announced Monday that Houston and NRG Stadium will host the 2023 men’s Final Four. College basketball’s marquee event will be held April 1 and 3. It will mark the fourth time the event will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Algae farms

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Food for the future. Inside a high-tech lab in a modular building in the West Texas desert here, a young scientist peered through a microscope at a slide of live and multiplying algae. She was on the prowl for “grazers,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Algae farms