Monthly Archives: April 2021

The economic effects of voter suppression

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

From Forbes magazine last week: The Texas economy could take a massive hit if the state enacts new voting restrictions—potentially costing the state’s economy tens of billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs—according to a study from the … Continue reading →

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When the vaccine problem becomes more about demand than supply

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Or to put it another way, what are we gonna do with the people who refuse to get vaccinated? Low vaccination rates in counties that are whiter and more conservative could be impairing Texas’ ability to quickly reach herd immunity … Continue reading →

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

It was worse in Harris County during the freeze

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting. Harris County residents were far more likely to have lost electricity and water during February’s winter storm and blackout crisis than residents of other Texas counties, a survey by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs … Continue reading →

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More on the poll watcher problem

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all right here. You just have to pay attention to what they’re saying. As Texas Republican lawmakers seek to expand the powers of partisan poll watchers — and Democrats warn doing so will lead to intimidation of minority voters … Continue reading →

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Bill to delay primaries passes Senate

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. The 2022 primary elections in Texas could be pushed back to April or May under a bill moving through the state Legislature. Because of delays in U.S. Census Bureau data needed to redraw the state’s congressional and legislative … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for April 11

Posted on April 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

“Biden’s Evangelical Foes Set Aside Satan Fears, Cash Aid Checks”. “No, Eric Greitens Was Never “Exonerated” of Sexual Misconduct”. “Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL) political career has been imploding for longer than we knew.” “But, in truth, Boehner’s I-Was-Just-a-Feather-in-the-Gales-of-Crazy act gets … Continue reading →

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DCCC starts with two targets in Texas

Posted on April 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Consider this to be written in chalk on the pavement, pending the new Congressional maps. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced Tuesday that it will target two Republican-held districts in Texas — the ones currently held by Reps. Tony Gonzales … Continue reading →

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Where are the stimulus funds for the schools?

Posted on April 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Ridiculous. For more than a year, the federal government has been pumping billions of dollars into school districts across the country to help them meet the demands of the pandemic. Most states have used that pot of stimulus funds as … Continue reading →

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

No more Greek letter-named hurricanes

Posted on April 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Later, Eta. Sororities and fraternities can keep their Greek letters — hurricanes will no longer use them. The World Meteorological Organization, which maintains the rotating list of hurricane names and retires storm names when appropriate, has decided to stop using … Continue reading →

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George P. Bush again talks about running for AG

Posted on April 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It would be entertaining, in the way that videos of people getting whacked in the nuts is entertaining. Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush said Thursday he is “seriously considering” running for attorney general in 2022 — and detailed how … Continue reading →

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Appellate court redistricting bill withdrawn

Posted on April 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I had a post all ready to go yesterday with more on the bill to redistrict the appellate courts, and then this happened on Thursday night: . #SB11 redistricting the Texas appellate courts from 14 to 7 has been withdrawn. … Continue reading →

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Where HISD stands today

Posted on April 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

In a holding pattern, waiting for direction. In the winter of 2019, two committees composed of Houston ISD employees, parents and advocates issued recommendations for how the district should tackle two of its thorniest issues: campus funding practices and access … Continue reading →

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Watson seeks names of accusers

Posted on April 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

This was going to happen sooner or later. Attorneys for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson on Thursday urged several state courts to require the disclosure of the names of the women accusing him of sexual assault and harassment — a move … Continue reading →

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

House committee passes its voter suppression bill

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I remain pessimistic about this, but we have no choice but to fight. A Texas House committee on Thursday advanced an elections bill that would make it a state jail felony for local election officials to distribute an application to … Continue reading →

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Where are we with Houston police reform?

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It feels like it’s been on the back burner for awhile, but we’re about to get some action this month. Houston officials are developing a system for residents to report police misconduct online and will announce changes later this month … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Our COVID numbers are staying down

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s keep this going. While the East Coast struggles with a fourth wave of rising COVID-19 infections, Texas experts say the state is doing “reasonably well” as case rates stabilize across the state. Case rates and hospitalizations have plateaued in … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Paxton sued by Twitter users

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe he should just get offline. A group of Texans and a free speech advocacy group are suing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in federal court, accusing him of unconstitutionally blocking nine people on Twitter for criticizing him or his … Continue reading →

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Harris County Attorney sues Juul

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee filed a lawsuit Thursday in California state court against e-cigarette company JUUL and several of its executives. Harris County is the first governmental entity in Texas to join the nationwide fight … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Show me your vaccine papers!

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Wiat, wrong papers. Forget I just said that. Gov. Greg Abbot issued an executive order early Tuesday banning state agencies from requiring “vaccine passports” to enter public spaces or receive public services. The passports, either digital or printed, would verify … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , | 23 Comments

The infrastructure bill and the Hobby Airport light rail extension

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

More good thing we could get from the eventual Infrastructure Bill. Houston was made and marketed by the slogan “where 17 railroads meet the sea.” Local elected officials now think its short-term future, and the local success of a proposed … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of April 5

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance bids “bon voyage” to the Ever Given as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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A Watson accuser has come forward

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Listen to what she says. The first of 22 women to file a sexual assault and harassment lawsuit against Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson spoke out on Tuesday, coming forward publicly in response to the defense team’s questions over the accusers’ … Continue reading →

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

Mike Collier gearing up again

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I was hoping he’d be back. Mike Collier, the 2018 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor who lost to Dan Patrick by 5 percentage points, is gearing up for another run. Collier is launching an exploratory committee to challenge Patrick again … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Charter amendment petitions are in

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I need a simpler name for this thing, so that Future Me will have an easier time searching for relevant posts. Houston voters likely will get to decide in November whether City Council members should have the power to place … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2021 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

More local pushback against SB7 and HB6

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Mayor Sylvester Turner invited a diverse group of elected officials, community leaders, and business executives to stand in solidarity against voter suppression bills in the Texas Legislature. More than 50 individuals and organizations have vowed to fight … Continue reading →

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Why lawsuits?

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

If you’ve wondered why the women who have accused Deshaun Watson of sexual harassment and assault have filed lawsuits against him instead of police reports, this Chron story offers some reasons. The 22 women suing Deshaun Watson for allegedly sexually … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Parents sue Katy ISD over its mask mandate

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Someday, these dumb stories will stop happening. Others will replace them, to be sure, but this type of dumb story will eventually fade away. A group of parents are suing the Katy Independent School District, calling its continued requirement for … Continue reading →

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

Sery Kim

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Poor baby. A Texas congressional candidate on Monday sued The Texas Tribune for defamation, claiming that the newspaper wrongly identified her as a “racist.” In an article, Texas Tribune political reporter Patrick Svitek reported on comments made by Sery Kim, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2021, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Leave me out of the ballgame

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

What a snowflake. Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday announced he would not throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Texas Rangers’ home opening game and would boycott any other Major League Baseball events, citing the league’s decision to pull … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Why North Texas?

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib reprints a WaPo story about a cluster of Capitol insurrectionists in the Dallas suburbs, and it’s something. Hope for Trump’s return is fervent in Frisco and across the northern Dallas suburbs, an area of rapid growth and rapidly increasing diversity. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Chron analysis puts freeze death total at 194

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Sobering, to say the least. The deaths of nearly 200 people are linked to February’s cold snap and blackouts, a Houston Chronicle analysis reveals, making the natural disaster one of the worst in Texas this past century. The tally, which … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The infrastructure bill and the Ike Dike

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

This is encouraging. President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan sure seems to be considering building the Ike Dike. His $2 trillion plan includes improving and strengthening infrastructure in coastal areas most vulnerable during hurricane season. Biden pitched part of the American … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for April 4

Posted on April 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

“For many cities and counties, the American Rescue Plan’s (ARP) state and local funds are not just a $350 billion lifeline; they represent the largest positive fiscal jolt to their budgets in decades. Now, a scramble is underway to determine … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

Is Beto running for Governor or not?

Posted on April 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing has changed. Please back away from any ledges you may be approaching. Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke has not ruled out a run for governor after all. Earlier Friday, The Dallas Morning News published remarks O’Rourke made on an upcoming morning … Continue reading →

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