Monthly Archives: May 2020

Another profile of Judge Hidalgo

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s good, and she deserves the attention she’s getting, but there’s something about this that bugs me a little, and I’m trying to put my finger on it. On March 1, before Harris County reported its first confirmed case of … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Coronavirus and the State Supreme Court

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder, nearly half of the State Supreme Court is up for election this November. You know, in case you had opinions about their recent opinions. Typically not top of mind for voters, the nine Republican justices of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Making a better severe storm warning

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. We’ve all heard them – the blaring alerts that activate our cellphones or television when a severe weather warning is issued. Perhaps our favorite weather app sent us a push notification, or we saw a television meteorologist pointing … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Fifth Circuit flips the switch

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

It’s what they do. A federal appeals court has temporarily put on hold a lower court’s sweeping ruling that would have allowed all Texas voters to qualify to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic. Siding with Texas Attorney General … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Meet your new County Clerk

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Hello, Chris Hollins. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday appointed an attorney and Texas Democratic Party official as interim county clerk. Christopher Hollins, vice finance chairman for the state party, will serve until a new clerk can be elected in … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

And now a few words from our city transportation planner

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Didn’t know we had one, did you? Well, we do, his name is David Fields, and he had a few things to say to Chron reporter Dug Begley in a recent Q&A: As you look at upcoming plans and projects … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of May 18

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance gives a virtual salute to the Class of 2020 as it brings you this week’s roundup. Off the Kuff has the latest developments in the state lawsuit over voting by mail. DosCentavos reminds us that Texans … Continue reading →

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Federal court issues order to allow voting by mail

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go again. A federal judge opened a path for a massive expansion in absentee voting in Texas by ordering Tuesday that all state voters, regardless of age, qualify for mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. Days after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

We still don’t know what the upcoming school year will look like

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of possibilities, no clear answer yet. Houston ISD officials are planning for the possibility that some — if not all — students will continue to take virtual classes at home to start the upcoming school year, Interim Superintendent Grenita … Continue reading →

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TxDOT hit with ransomware

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Not great. Texas’ transportation agency has become the second part of the state government to be hit by a ransomware attack in recent days. On Thursday, someone hacked into the Texas Department of Transportation’s network in a “ransomware event,” according … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

More reopening

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Onward we go, whether wise or not. Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday announced his next wave of reopenings designed to restart the Texas economy during the coronavirus pandemic, saying child care facilities can reopen immediately, bars can open Friday with … Continue reading →

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

Could we get an elections administrator along with a new County Clerk?

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. A week after Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman announced she would resign due to health concerns, Commissioners Court on Tuesday plans to debate whether to appoint an independent administrator to run county elections. After Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Council adopts recycling bin fee

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

From last week: Beginning in July, Houston residents will find a new $1.14 fee on their monthly water bills for leasing the city’s garbage and recycling bins. A divided city council voted 8-6, with three members absent, to pass the … Continue reading →

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

Biden campaign says it will compete in Texas

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

That is what we want to hear. Former vice president Joe Biden is planning to compete against President Trump in traditionally Republican states such as Arizona, Texas and Georgia as his campaign bulks up in size and turns to a … Continue reading →

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We don’t know enough about what’s happening at nursing homes

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve talked before about two of the main coronavirus hotspot types in Texas, prisons and meat processing plants. Now we’re going to talk about that third type, nursing homes. As the death toll grows at Texas nursing homes, so has the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 35 Comments

More runoff debates

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

In case you had not seen this, as I myself had not before Sunday. Watch Democratic Candidate Debates Here! Every Tuesday and Thursday in May, join us for our debate series: Debate Schedule: Tuesday, May 5 – Harris County Precinct … Continue reading →

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Arguments due this week in Astros sign stealing lawsuits

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. Attorneys will submit written arguments May 25 to a Harris County judge in the Astros’ attempt to dismiss a consolidated lawsuit filed by season ticket holders upset by the 2017-18 electronic sign-stealing scandal. State District Judge Robert … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for May 17

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

“In the midst of the constant up-and-down of coronavirus news, both from science and the markets, it’s easy to lose sight of the scariest scenario of them all: the one where there’s no magic bullet. In this entirely plausible situation, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

Primary precinct analysis: Where a man can still win

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

As previously discussed, female candidates in Democratic judicial primaries kicked a whole lot of ass this year. The four statewide races that featured one female candidates against one male candidate were shockingly not close – Amy Clark Meachum and Tina … Continue reading →

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

First federal vote by mail lawsuit hearing

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

One down, two to go. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery heard arguments Friday in a federal lawsuit seeking to give all voters the option to vote by mail due to fears of catching or spreading the coronavirus. […] During Friday’s … Continue reading →

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When is a strip club not a strip club?

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

When it’s a restaurant, with no strippers. What, did you think that was a trick question? A week after a temporary court order allowed a Houston strip club to resume operations, a federal judge has ruled that the club’s owner … Continue reading →

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Supreme Court sticks its nose in

Posted on May 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this was to be expected. The Texas Supreme Court on Friday temporarily put on hold an expansion of voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic. Siding with Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Supreme Court blocked a state appeals … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Emerson: Trump 47, Biden 41

Posted on May 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Next up. The latest Emerson College/Nexstar Media polls of Texas, California, and Ohio show President Donald Trump with a slight advantage in Ohio and Texas in the general election against presumptive Democratic nominee former Vice President Joe Biden. Trump also … Continue reading →

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Hegar and West to debate

Posted on May 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I know it hasn’t gotten much attention lately, but the primary runoffs are coming up, and the biggest choice you’ll have to make is in the Senate race. You’ll get to hear from the candidates in an online debate on … Continue reading →

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MLS has a plan to start its season

Posted on May 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

That’s Major League Soccer, and their plan may sound a bit familiar. With no indications of when it could resume the season in home markets, MLS has proposed placing all 26 teams in the Orlando area this summer and playing … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Appeals court upholds vote by mail order

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Second round goes to the plaintiffs. A state appeals court upheld a temporary order Thursday from a state district judge that could greatly expand the number of voters who qualify for mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic, rebuffing Attorney General … Continue reading →

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

SD14 special election field is set

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

There are six candidates in total, but really only two that matter. Six candidates, including some well-known Austin-area politicians, have filed to run for the July 14 special election to replace retired Democratic state Sen. Kirk Watson, according to the … Continue reading →

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

Ransomware attack on state court system

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Not great. Websites for the Texas court system were still down Monday after a ransomware attack late last week left the network temporarily disabled, according to the Office of Court Administration. Officials discovered the breach early Friday and quickly shut … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Mayor Turner and others test negative for COVID-19

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

They were tested following the news about CM Plummer’s infection. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and two of his top aides have tested negative for COVID-19, the mayor’s office announced Thursday. Turner was tested for the novel coronavirus Tuesday by Kelsey-Seybold, … Continue reading →

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

Paxton tries a Supreme shortcut

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

They sure are keeping busy. In a bit of judicial leapfrog, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking the Texas Supreme Court to weigh in on his interpretation of how voters can qualify for absentee ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. … Continue reading →

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

On picking a new County Clerk

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Stace has some thoughts. I’m of the opinion that the Democratic majority on the Commissioner’s Court should make a strong appointment of someone who will be the incumbent, making it clear that there is no need for a possible free-for-all … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Still not enough tests

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We know, we know. Don’t ask what we’re gonna do about it. The vast majority of even those Houston-area residents experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 are not getting tested, according to initial results of a Rice University survey, the latest … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of May 11

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This installment of the weekly Texas Progressive Alliance blog roundup has been done entirely by murder hornets.

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What the next CARES act could mean for Texas cities and counties

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Short answer, a lot. Cities and counties across Texas would get more than $29 billion from the $3 trillion coronavirus relief package House Democrats want to pass as soon as Friday. That includes more than $1.7 billion to Houston and … Continue reading →

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