Monthly Archives: August 2019

Yet another story about suburbs shifting away from Republicans

Posted on August 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Collect the whole set! Texas is currently experiencing two trends that are favorable to Democrats: increasing urbanization, and big demographic shifts. The Texas Tribune recently reported that Hispanics are expected to become the largest demographic group in the state by 2022, with … Continue reading →

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“Mistakes were made”

Posted on August 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday that “mistakes were made” in his fundraising letter that used alarmist language in calling to “DEFEND” the Texas border and was dated one day before a deadly shooting that targeted Hispanics in El Paso. … Continue reading →

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Buc-ee’s is going national

Posted on August 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The WaPo has a look at our famous highway rest stop’s growing ambitions. Its fans say few things are more Texas than the chain of massive convenience stores with the disposition of an amusement park. Among its 38 stores, customers … Continue reading →

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How many Congressional seats are really in play for Texas Dems?

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

By one measure, more than you probably think. From Jonathan Tilove of the Statesman: Last weekend, I read an interview in Salon with Rachel Bitecofer, a political scientist at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va. She is also an … Continue reading →

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The children will count us

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Great idea for something that shouldn’t have to be the case. Teresa Flores knows the costs of a census undercount as well as anyone. As the executive director of the Hidalgo County Head Start Program, one of the area’s most … Continue reading →

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Ride sharing for kids

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Yet another transportation option. Los Angeles-based HopSkipDrive, a ride-hailing platform that hires vetted caregivers to drive children 6 and older, is now available in Houston. “Parents shouldn’t have to choose between their careers and their children’s education and activities, but … Continue reading →

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MQS-Bonnen secret meeting investigation update

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record. The top prosecutor in House Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s home district has joined the probe into Bonnen’s secret meeting with a conservative political activist, in which the activist alleges he was offered an illegal quid pro quo. … Continue reading →

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Our first look at how Engage Texas will operate

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting move. As people filed in and out of the massive driver license office in Southwest Houston on Tuesday morning, two workers at a tent affiliated with a conservative advocacy group asked if the passersby would sign a petition or … Continue reading →

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The harder question

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This story just upsets me so much. After a man posing as a FedEx deliveryman forced his way into her family’s house and fatally shot her parents and four siblings, 15-year-old Cassidy Stay played dead until the killer fled the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of August 26

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes all of our schoolchildren a happy, safe, and knowledge-filled year as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Nelvin Adriatico

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

One more time in District J, where the changing of the guard has me a bit nostalgic for the time when the new 11-district map was first presented for our perusal. Nelvin Adriatico is the president and founder of brokerage … Continue reading →

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HD148 update

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From TX Elects: HD148 special: Houston physician Terah Isaacson established a campaign committee for a potential run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-Houston) as a Democrat. Houston resident Lui LaRotta established a campaign committee for the … Continue reading →

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Dave Wilson’s residency shuffle

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

There he goes again. Dave Wilson, a controversial Houston Community College board member, has resigned from his position as a trustee for HCC’s District 2 and has announced that he will run for a District 1 position on HCC’s board. … Continue reading →

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Our all-important metro areas

Posted on August 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Another look at the trouble Republicans face in Texas now. The key to Texas’ political future is whether it finally follows the geographic realignment that has transformed the politics of many other states over the past quarter century. Across the … Continue reading →

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Pretty much everybody wants MQS to release the Bonnen recordings

Posted on August 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From Twitter: JOINT STATEMENT BY REPS. KLICK, HUBERTY, GOLDMAN AND SANFORD “We call for the complete and unedited public release of the secretly recorded conversation between Speaker Bonnen, Representative Burrows and Michael Quinn Sullivan.” — Stephanie Klick (@StephanieKlick) 3:53 PM … Continue reading →

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Who gets to perform marriages?

Posted on August 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

In Texas, the answer to that question is quite limited, and a lawsuit to change that just suffered a legal setback. Texas couples who hope to marry — and leave religion completely out of it — suffered a setback last … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Sandra Rodriguez

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We move now to District J, one of the two new Council districts drawn in 2011, part of the settlement agreement to add two districts when the city’s population hit 2.1 million. Mike Laster has been the only Council member … Continue reading →

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The 2019 ballot order

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Time once again for this risible ceremony. The order of the November Houston ballot was set Friday morning in a random drawing at City Hall, laying out how the candidates for mayor, controller and city council will appear when voters … Continue reading →

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The Houston Roughnecks

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Meet your new XFL team. When the XFL kicks off in February, the Houston team will be known as the Houston Roughnecks. The XFL unveiled team names and logos for all eight teams in the league Wednesday. The Houston Roughnecks … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for August 25

Posted on August 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

“Kids, in our school, you’re always #1!” “As many as 32,000 women get pregnant through rape every year, and at least one-third decide to raise the baby instead of getting an abortion or choosing adoption. But because more than a … Continue reading →

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We’re up to three candidates running against Steve Radack

Posted on August 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Former State Rep. Kristi Thibaut announced her entry into the race to take on longtime Commissioner Steve Radack this week. You can find her campaign Facebook page here. I had previously noted some chatter about her possible candidacy. This is … Continue reading →

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It’s still supposed to be a busy hurricane season

Posted on August 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Hurricane season technically lasts until December 1, but this is the peak of it, so keep paying attention. Don’t be lulled by a quiet June and July. The real Atlantic hurricane season is about to kick off. The hurricane season … Continue reading →

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More driverless trucks

Posted on August 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Look out on I-45. When Don Burnette worked at Otto, a self-driving truck startup, his team hit some pretty big milestones. It recorded the first shipment of cargo delivered by a self-driving truck: 50,000 cans of Budweiser in 2016. It … Continue reading →

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

Ogg’s objections

Posted on August 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This kind of came out of the blue. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg — who has been aligned with bail reformers during an ongoing legal conflict over the disparate treatment of poor defendants — filed a brief Thursday opposing … Continue reading →

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Is there anything Houston can do about gun violence?

Posted on August 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Not much, unfortunately. Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday said he wants state lawmakers to give cities and counties more flexibility to address gun violence in response to mass shootings this month that killed 31 people, including 22 in El Paso. … Continue reading →

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Party Boy bye-bye

Posted on August 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Sad. This October may be the last year the view south of I-10 across from the Heights is a giant orange pumpkin. The property housing Party Boy at 1515 Studemont, where an inflatable pumpkin is displayed atop the building each … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The psychological shift

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. [Democratic operative Jason] Stanford has a theory about how [Texas Democratic] angst started. He says it began with the 1996 U.S. Senate race in Texas. Democrats were recovering from losing two years … Continue reading →

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No Rocket

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

What a world we live in. Pitching great Roger Clemens didn’t shy away from many battles in his major league career, but politics is something he’s not willing to take on. Clemens had been encouraged to run as a Republican … Continue reading →

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Early voting locations coming to UH and TSU

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. Students at the University of Houston and Texas Southern University will be able to cast ballots on campus in this November’s general election, the Harris County Clerk’s office announced Monday. For the first time, the two schools will host … Continue reading →

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Interview with Anthony Nelson

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

One more interview in District F, which as noted will have its fourth member of Council after this election since 2013. Today’s interview is with Anthony Nelson, one of the many younger candidates running for office this year, as reported … Continue reading →

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Bonus commentary on 2019 lineup

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

There was a lot of last minute activity at Monday’s filing deadline, as there usually is. Probably more so this year, as approximately ten percent of Houston adults are running for office this November. The point here is that the … Continue reading →

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Here comes beer to go

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Hooray! Starting Sept. 1, Texans will be able to leave brewery taprooms with a case of their favorite craft beer, and order wine and beer for delivery, thanks to two laws passed by the Legislature this year. Brewers and beer … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of August 19

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance stands with the people of El Paso as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The 2019 lineups are set

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Barring any late disqualifications or other unexpected events, we have the candidates we’re getting on our 2019 ballot. More than 125 candidates turned in paperwork to run for city office by Monday’s filing deadline, setting up a packed November ballot … Continue reading →

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