Monthly Archives: September 2019

Interview with Anna Eastman

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

So you’ve probably heard that there’s a special election in HD148 this November, to succeed the retiring Rep. Jessica Farrar. You’ve also probably heard that there are many candidates – fifteen of them, to be exact – who are running … Continue reading →

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Will Hurd has delusions about running for President

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Sure, buddy. U.S. Rep. Will Hurd said Thursday he is considering a run for president in 2024. The third-term Republican congressman from Helotes is leaving the House at the end of this term, and his retirement announcement sent shockwaves throughout … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Rodney Ellis may have an opponent in 2020

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Keep your eye on this: NEW: Maria Jackson, #HarrisCounty’s longest-serving felony court judge, today announced her resignation after 10yrs, effective 9/30. County scuttlebutt for months has been Jackson will challenge Pct. 1 Commissioner @RodneyEllis in the 2020 Democratic primary. (h/t … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for September 29

Posted on September 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

What actors are actually doing when it looks like they’re doing cocaine on TV. “The number of states in the union has been fixed at 50 for so long, few Americans realize that throughout most of our history, the addition … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 7 Comments

I’m not that worried about the Green Party effect in Texas

Posted on September 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not nothing, but it’s unlikely to be much. Texas House Bill 2504, passed along party lines by the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature in May and signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in June, lowers the threshold that minor political parties … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

On paying college athletes

Posted on September 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

In case you missed this news out of California. California is going to pass this likeness rights bill and boy howdy does the NCAA not like it California Senate Bill 206, otherwise known as the Fair Pay to Play act, … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Sorry, Willie D

Posted on September 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I think you need better lawyers, dude. William Dennis, the former Geto Boys rapper known as “Willie D,” is planning to a host a campaign fundraiser Friday for his City Council bid, but election officials say voters won’t be able … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Another primary challenger to Cornyn

Posted on September 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck, but don’t expect much. A Dallas investor branding himself a “Reagan Republican” has launched a primary challenge against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, calling one of the top-ranking GOP senators a lackey of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

One thing our state loves spending money on

Posted on September 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Defending unconstitutional anti-abortion laws in the courts. As Texas defends abortion laws in federal court that mandate fetal burials and seek to outlaw certain medical procedures, the state has been ordered to pay pro-abortion attorneys $2.5 million — fortifying women’s … Continue reading →

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Ronald Haskell convicted

Posted on September 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Good, but nothing can undo the damage he did. Cassidy Stay, the lone survivor of a 2014 shooting that killed her mother, father and four younger siblings, folded her hands in prayer inside a courtroom while awaiting a verdict. The … Continue reading →

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

Let’s temper our expectations just a bit in HD28

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s an important race, and winning it would be a big boost, but let’s no go overboard. When Beto O’Rourke traveled to his home state of Texas for the recent Democratic presidential debate, he made a surprising stop: at a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Someone is opposing the Metro referendum

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose it was too optimistic to hope that the Metro referendum would not get any organized opposition. Opponents of Metro’s $3.5 billion bond referendum have formed a political action committee to lead a grass-roots campaign to curtail what they … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Two HISD candidates fail to qualify for the ballot

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We revisit a periodic issue. Two applicants seeking to replace Houston ISD Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones have failed to qualify for the November ballot, leaving five candidates running for the open seat, according to HISD officials. Michael Maloney, an athletics coach, … Continue reading →

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KHOU/HPM poll: Turner 37, Buzbee 20, King 10

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We must be getting into the serious part of Houston Election Season, because we have our first public poll of the Mayor’s race. Mayor Sylvester Turner leads trial lawyer and businessman Tony Buzbee by 17 points, according to a KHOU/Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

State Rep. Dwayne Bohac to retire

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Another open seat for the Republicans to defend. State Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston, announced Wednesday he is not seeking reelection. Bohac won reelection last year by just 47 votes, and his retirement gives Democrats a ripe pickup opportunity as they … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Suing ERCOT

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. Panda Power built three power plants earlier in this decade, investing billions of dollars based on projections from the state’s grid manager that Texas desperately needed more generation to meet growing electricity demand. But those projections turned out to … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of September 23

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wonders how many 500-year floods a region should be expected to experience as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Matt Barnes

Posted on September 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Like I’ve said, the HISD Trustee elections still matter this year. One could argue, they’ve never mattered more. With two of the four Trustees that are up for election this year deciding to step down, we will get some change … Continue reading →

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The MJ Hegar movie

Posted on September 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Coming to Netflix. Mary Jennings “MJ” Hegar stepped away from her last movie deal as it became, as she says, “too blockbuster-y.” The decorated war veteran now has a deal with Netflix for the movie that has long been in … Continue reading →

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Once again, we wait for disaster relief funds

Posted on September 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

At least people know the drill by now. Five deaths are linked to floods from Tropical Storm Imelda, the worst storm in Texas since Hurricane Harvey and one of the wettest tropical cyclones in the nation’s history, according to the … Continue reading →

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Interview with Judith Cruz

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

As we’ve discussed, there are still HISD Trustee elections this year, despite the uncertainty surrounding the TEA takeover. While the Board may not have much authority during the time that the TEA-appointed board of managers is in charge, it still … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Do you believe in magical thinking?

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I did not read this long profile of Tony Buzbee, because life is short and we all have better things to do. I did briefly scan the print version a bit, and in doing so I noticed the following paragraph, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

DPS’ intel gathering

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Should be interesting. And necessary. State and federal officials in Texas have started monitoring racist and incendiary rhetoric online, such as that alleged to have been used by the suspect in the El Paso mass shooting, in the hopes of … Continue reading →

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Interview with Monica Flores Richart

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I’d say there are three things I want to see happen this November. I want to see Mayor Turner get re-elected, I want to see the Metro referendum pass, and I want to see Monica Flores Richart kick Dave Wilson’s … Continue reading →

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Other counties also considering property tax rate hikes

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I have four things to say about this. A statewide property tax relief plan that takes effect next year is prompting hefty tax increases this fall in many of the biggest cities and counties in Texas, even in places that … Continue reading →

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

The MOB’s message to Baylor

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been a member of the Rice MOB since 1988, when I arrived in Houston as a grad student in math. I’m especially proud to have been part of the MOB this weekend. Rice University’s Marching Owl Band delivered a … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports, Society and cultcha | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Weekend link dump for September 22

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Gun licensing is a very effective solution to gun violence. “Why Do We Need Super Accurate Atomic Clocks?” RIP, Ric Ocasek, guitarist and lead singer for The Cars. “How Grocery Stores Became A Cultural Flashpoint In The Gun Debate”. “There … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 10 Comments

UT-Tyler: Trump still looks weak in Texas

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Two months later, there may be a story line to watch. Beto O’Rourke remains competitive against President Donald Trump in a Texas head-to-head matchup, according to a poll released Thursday by the Center for Opinion Research at the University of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020, The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The cumulative effect

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We really need to give a lot more thought, and action, to this. As the flood-weary city of Houston recovers from yet another historic storm in the coming days, rubber-gloved mucking brigades and tow truck armies will swoop in to … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Curfew changes

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

A good step, but I agree with the argument that it doesn’t go far enough. City council on Wednesday eliminated Houston’s daytime juvenile curfew, but stopped short of ditching the ordinance altogether despite pleas from advocacy groups who say the … Continue reading →

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

Risk management is hard

Posted on September 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I have a lot of sympathy for these school officials. At least 20 school districts in Greater Houston opted to stay open as the remnants of Tropical Depression Imelda bore down on the region Thursday, decisions that angered some parents … Continue reading →

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Everybody hates Dan

Posted on September 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

You just hate to see it. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is doubling down on his call for closing loopholes in gun sales background checks despite withering criticism from other Republicans, conservative groups that have ardently supported him, and the … Continue reading →

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The Democratic Club of The Woodlands

Posted on September 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, there are Democrats in The Woodlands. That should not come as a surprise to anyone. Residents of The Woodlands who identify as Democrats often say they feel out of place or unwelcome in Republican-dominated Montgomery County. Some have relayed … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tropical Storm Imelda

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

That escalated very quickly. Heavy rainfall from now-downgraded Imelda continued to wreak havoc Thursday for much of southeast Texas, where officials were dealing with impassable roadways, downed trees, power outages, hundreds of high-water rescues, fast-rising water and in one small … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments