Monthly Archives: January 2020

Abbott opts out of accepting refugees

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Sadly, not a surprise. Gov. Greg Abbott informed the U.S. State Department that Texas will not participate in the refugee resettlement program this fiscal year. The decision comes after more than 40 other governors, including several Republicans, said they would … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

DMN profile of Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The fourth entry in this series, and the first to generate some heat. Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez says there’s power in her name. “Tzintzún is more Mexican than any Garcia or Lopez,” the activist told a gathering of Democratic women in … Continue reading →

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

Don’t count the other Jerry Garcia out yet

Posted on January 12, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

But do count his votes, because they are legally required to be countable. Reversing itself from a day earlier, the Harris County Democratic Party on Thursday said a constable candidate who was accused by another candidate with the same name … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Don’t count the other Jerry Garcia out yet

After-deadline filing review: Fort Bend County

Posted on January 11, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Fort Bend County had a big Democratic breakthrough in 2018 (though the gains weren’t fully realized, as some Republican incumbents were not challenged), but you could have seen it coming in 2016, when Hillary Clinton carried the county by almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on After-deadline filing review: Fort Bend County

DMN profile of MJ Hegar

Posted on January 11, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Third in the series, and first of the candidates to jump in the race, back when we still thought Beto would be a candidate. As she looks confidently to November, and a chance to try to pack U.S. Sen. John … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on DMN profile of MJ Hegar

TEA appeals takeover-delay injunction

Posted on January 11, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This isn’t settled just yet. Texas Education Agency officials said they filed an appeal Thursday to overturn an injunction by a Travis County judge blocking it from replacing Houston ISD’s trustees with a state-appointed board of managers. The appeal was … Continue reading →

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

Who might run for Mayor in 2023?

Posted on January 10, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

So Election 2019 is (modulo District B) safely in the books, and Sylvester Turner is in office for his second and final term. In years past at this time I’d be taking a look ahead at the next city election … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2023 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

This ballot isn’t big enough for two Jerry Garcias

Posted on January 10, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

They will both still be on the ballot, though only one is now officially running. One of the two candidates named Jerry Garcia who filed to run for Precinct 2 constable — the one who did not appear to be … Continue reading →

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

Oh God, I have to mention Tony Buzbee again

Posted on January 10, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

There goes one New Year’s resolution. There is a plate of crawfish on the table in front of Tony Buzbee, who has substituted his jeans-and-jacket campaign garb for a baby blue sweatshirt and Texas A&M baseball cap. The setting: Crawfish … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Food, glorious food, General snarkiness | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Oh God, I have to mention Tony Buzbee again

Interview with Kelly Stone

Posted on January 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Today we take a break from the State House to return to the one statewide office on the ballot, Railroad Commissioner. It will be the fourth race you see on your ballot this fall, after President, Senate, and Congress. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Judge Powell back on the ballot

Posted on January 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

So be it. A civil court judge Wednesday ordered that sitting criminal district Judge George Powell be included on the March primary ballot after the Harris County Democratic Party denied his application for candidacy last month. Party officials had to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

HISD gets another injunction

Posted on January 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

In state court this time. A state judge Wednesday evening immediately blocked Texas from taking over the Houston Independent School District until she issues a final ruling on the case, complicating the state’s plan to oust the district’s school board … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of January 6

Posted on January 9, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance refuses to play the game of how close events from our memories are to events from history as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of January 6

Interview with Lanny Bose

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We wrap up our tour of the candidates who seek to flip HD134. HD134 is now truly a Democratic district, at the county candidate level, at the state candidate level, and yes, at the judicial candidate level. It just needs … Continue reading →

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

DMN profile of Amanda Edwards

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Second in the series, focusing on now-former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards. On the day of her last Houston City Council meeting, outgoing at-large member Amanda Edwards wasn’t in the mood for goodbyes. “In my mind it’s not really … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on DMN profile of Amanda Edwards

It’s not just the Astros

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, boy. The Dodgers have not won the World Series since 1988. They have only appeared in the World Series twice since then, in 2017 and 2018. Both teams that beat them — the Houston Astros in 2017 and the Boston Red Sox … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Interview with Ruby Powers

Posted on January 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We continue with candidate interviews in HD134. You might have thought HD134 was a prime Democratic opportunity in 2018 based on the 2016 Presidential vote, but downballot, especially in judicial races, it was still a fundamentally Republican district. And then … Continue reading →

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

We’re not going to get an independent redistricting commission

Posted on January 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Nice to think about, but the set of circumstances that might lead to it are exceedingly narrow. Most of the seven states that have independent commissions adopted them by a citizens’ initiative. Since Texas doesn’t have that option, the only … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Another voter registration lawsuit filed

Posted on January 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This time, the point of contention is electronic signatures. In a federal lawsuit filed Monday in San Antonio, the Texas Democratic Party and the campaign arms for Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate allege that Texas is violating the … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Ann Johnson

Posted on January 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The next three weeks will focus on the three highest-priority legislative races in the Houston area. The road to a Democratic State House, and all the good things that go along with it, go through HDs 134, 138, and 26. … Continue reading →

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

DMN profile of Chris Bell

Posted on January 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The Dallas Morning News did a series of profiles of Democratic Senate candidates during the Christmas break. They’re worth reading, especially since polls show many of us don’t know these candidates all that well. I’m going to post about each … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Marijuana arrests stay down

Posted on January 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We really should view this as the new normal, and not a problem to be “fixed”. It’s been more than six months since Texas lawmakers legalized hemp and unintentionally disrupted marijuana prosecution across the state. Since then, the number of … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for January 5

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome to the third decade of the 21st century… Do better, Chuck Todd. And if you don’t know how, get out of the way and let someone else do it. “Americans may feel as though Christmas lasts forever, but at … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for January 5

Texas is on track to pick up three more Congressional districts

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Put an asterisk next to this, as the actual Census will need to bear that out. The U.S. population continues to shift south and west, according to new Census Bureau data that offers the clearest picture yet of how the … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas is on track to pick up three more Congressional districts

A view of Texas and polling

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The premise of this is sound, but don’t read too much into it. In Texas, the nation’s biggest, most important red state, Trump’s disapproval rating has consistently lagged behind many of the 30 states he carried in 2016. This potentially … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on A view of Texas and polling

How Nuro is mapping Houston

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Really interesting story. On the muggy streets of suburban Houston, amid McMansions, bright green lawns and stately oak trees, a futuristic race is quietly afoot. The contestants are not people but late-model Toyota Priuses outfitted with an array of sophisticated … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How Nuro is mapping Houston

Mayor Turner’s second term begins

Posted on January 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

He’s on the clock now. Freshly sworn in Thursday morning, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner promised to make significant strides in street repairs and flood control while boosting services for the city’s homeless in his second term. He also called on … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Who sues first?

Posted on January 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It matters whether Harris County or the state of Texas is first to the courthouse against an industrial polluter. As chemical plant explosions and fires have disrupted lives and raised air-quality concerns in the Houston area this year, the state … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Who sues first?

The robo-umps are coming

Posted on January 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Not right away, but you can see it from here. Computer plate umpires could be called up to the major leagues at some point during the next five seasons. Umpires agreed to cooperate with Major League Baseball in the development … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

After-deadline filing review: Courts

Posted on January 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s return to the wonderful world of scoping out our candidates. Today we will concentrate on judicial races. Previous entries in this series are for the greater Houston area, Congress, state races, and the Lege. Supreme Court and Court of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Julian Castro ends his Presidential bid

Posted on January 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry to see him go. Julián Castro has ended his campaign for the Democratic nomination for president, capping a nearly yearlong bid during which he distinguished himself as a progressive crusader but never found the polling or fundraising support to … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interview with Christian Menefee

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Our third candidate in my series of interviews for Harris County Attorney is Christian Menefee, who was the first candidate to declare for the race. A native Houstonian, Menefee is a former intern in the Harris County Public Defender’s office, … Continue reading →

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

Abbott and refugees

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The moral choice is clear. It’s also clear for a variety of other reasons. I don’t expect Greg Abbott to make it, because he’s Greg Abbott. For years, more refugees have resettled in Houston and Texas than any other city … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Christmas tree recycling 2019

Posted on January 1, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

For your last act of Christmas 2019, here’s how to dispose of your tree. Twenty-five recycling centers in the Houston area will take your Christmas trees. All city recycling facilities will take trees through Jan. 25. All you have to … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment