Monthly Archives: May 2021

Hurricane season is (almost) upon us

Posted on May 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Are you ready? Be prepared for another busier-than-normal Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA warned Thursday. The agency is forecasting 13 to 20 named storms. Between six and 10 of those could become hurricanes and three to five could be major hurricanes … Continue reading →

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The 2022 primary target list

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

We’re likely to see a significant number of primary challenges in 2022, in all districted offices. That’s partly because 2022 is a post-redistricting year, and with boundaries being shuffled there are always new opportunities for people who find themselves in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Might permitless carry actually fail?

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t want to allow myself to hope, but there are some sticking points, and apparently some hard lines being drawn. Both the Texas House and Senate have agreed in large part to the concept of so-called “constitutional carry” legislation … Continue reading →

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How many times will we fail to fix our power grid?

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

By “we”, I mean our Legislature, and the PUC, and the Governor, and the Railroad Commission, and pretty much everyone else in charge of this state. Ten years ago, Texas power plants froze during a fast-moving winter storm, causing rolling … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit filed against Lubbock “abortion sanctuary city” ordinance

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like this kind of tactic will finally be tested in court. Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas sued the city of Lubbock on Monday over a voter-approved “sanctuary city for the unborn” ordinance that seeks … Continue reading →

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

Paxton and P Bush attempt to out-Trump each other

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Stop before you go blind, that’s my advice. Land Commissioner George P. Bush is sending strong signals that he’s preparing to launch a primary challenge against Attorney General Ken Paxton, hoping it can center on Paxton’s legal troubles and how … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Abbott signs massive anti-abortion bill

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see who sues who first. Gov. Greg Abbott signed into a law Wednesday a measure that would prohibit in Texas abortions as early as six weeks — before some women know they are pregnant — and open the door … Continue reading →

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Trying to make the sausage less bad

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

RG Ratcliffe walsk us through some bipartisan negotiations on HB6, the House version of the big Senate voter suppression bill, as three Democrats who want to make this bad bill slightly less bad work with a couple of Republicans who … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of May 17

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes India the tiger a safe and happy life as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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HISD has a Superintendent in mind

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

They will announce this person on Friday. After that, insert shrug emoji here. Houston ISD trustees expect to name a lone superintendent finalist Friday, three days earlier than initially planned, barring another last-minute intervention by the state. Trustees are expected … Continue reading →

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Oh Lord, we’re still talking about Matthew McConaughey

Posted on May 19, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Please make it stop. At least, please make it stop until and unless there is some actual thing that is worth talking about. Alright, alright, alright … he might, he might, he might. Matthew McConaughey has publicly said a run … Continue reading →

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

Threat level down

Posted on May 19, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Been waiting for this for some time. Harris County finally will downgrade from its highest COVID-19 threat level, County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Monday evening, after 47 weeks of urging residents to stay home. Hidalgo said the effectiveness of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Abbott ends mask mandates

Posted on May 19, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

This guy, I swear. Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that public schools can no longer require masks on their campuses starting June 5. The decision was part of a new executive order that bans governmental entities in Texas — like … Continue reading →

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Senate is right back on the anti-trans agenda

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

In case you were wondering. The Texas Senate on Monday quickly revived and advanced a bill banning gender-affirming health care for children under 18, days after a similar House bill failed to advance in the lower chamber. Under Senate Bill … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Of course business groups want Abbott to cut off unemployment payments

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Completely on brand. The Texas Association of Business and more than three dozen other business groups are pushing Gov. Greg Abbott to cut the additional $300 in federal benefits currently going to unemployed Texans. Nearly 1 million Texans remained unemployed … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Giving a hand to music venues

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

This is a good idea. Qualifying Texas music venues could get up to $100,000 each in tax rebates on alcohol sales under legislation that has passed the House and Senate and now is on its way to Gov. Greg Abbott … Continue reading →

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Here come the young people

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I’m just sitting here waiting for the Census data. Garima Vyas always wanted to live in a big city. She thought about New York, long the destination for 20-something strivers, but was wary of the cost and complicated subway lines. … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: State Senate districts 2020

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Introduction Congressional districts State Rep districts Commissioners Court/JP precincts Comparing 2012 and 2016 Statewide judicial Other jurisdictions Appellate courts, Part 1 Appellate courts, Part 2 Judicial averages Other cities District Attorney County Attorney Sheriff Tax Assessor County Clerk HCDE Fort … Continue reading →

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Not sure where we are with the anti-trans bills

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

In limbo, to be honest. A controversial bill that would ban gender-affirming health care for transgender children missed a key deadline Thursday for consideration in the Texas House. But a similar Senate bill still has time to be approved by … Continue reading →

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

Former MLB pitcher re-files lawsuit against Astros

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the second attempt to sue them for damages over the sign stealing scheme from 2017. Continuing to maintain that the Astros’ 2017 sign stealing cost him a job in the major leagues, former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Mike Bolsinger … Continue reading →

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

The tiger is back in custody

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

What a world. After a weeklong search, Houston’s missing tiger, India, is now on his way to his new home at an animal sanctuary in Murchison, about three hours north of Houston. Noelle Almrud, senior director for the Cleveland Amory … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for May 16

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

“A look at how TV and film productions are faking big crowds these days”. “The end of the emergency phase of the pandemic is in sight in the United States, at least for now. But as the weight of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

There’s lots of room to improve sexual harassment training at the Lege

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

They’re starting from a really low point. You could miss both questions about sexual harassment and still pass the preventative training required every two years for Texas House staffers. The online training, a roughly 15-minute lecture on sexual harassment sandwiched … Continue reading →

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Once again, bills to allow more gambling in Texas are dead

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Same as it ever was. A high-profile push by the gaming empire Las Vegas Sands to bring casinos to Texas appears doomed at the state Capitol as this year’s legislative session begins to wind down. Monday was the deadline for … Continue reading →

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

Reopening schools and the COVID rate

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Reopening schools led to more COVID cases. I mean, this is not a surprise, right? When Texas schools returned to in-person education last fall, the spread of the coronavirus “gradually but substantially accelerated,” leading to at least 43,000 additional cases … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

You can lose the mask if you’re fully vaxxed

Posted on May 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Do your part, reap the reward. Federal health officials reversed course Thursday and advised that people who are fully vaccinated can stop wearing masks and observing social distancing in most indoor and outdoor settings. It’s welcome news for many who … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Paxton sues over revocation of Medicaid 1115 waiver

Posted on May 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Someone please explain to me if this has any merit. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Biden administration Friday to reinstate an eight-year extension to a federal health care funding agreement, worth billions of dollars annually and set to … Continue reading →

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

How hot will summer be?

Posted on May 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Depends on how dependable the electricity providers are. ERCOT sought to reassure worried Texans that the state’s electricity grid will have enough power to meet record-breaking demand this summer, less than three months after a catastrophic power failure left millions … Continue reading →

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House rejects Senate changes to permitless carry bill

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Off to conference committee they go. The Texas House on Wednesday rejected changes the Senate made to a Republican-backed proposal to allow Texans to carry handguns without a license, sending the bill behind closed doors for further negotiations. Before the … Continue reading →

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Massive anti-abortion bill heads to Abbott

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

And from there to the courts, in one form or another. Legislation that would ban abortions after as early as six weeks — before many women know they are pregnant — and let virtually any private citizen sue abortion providers … Continue reading →

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Dragging Dutton

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Richly deserved. Houston area political action groups, activists, and unions gathered outside the office of Democratic state Rep. Harold Dutton Jr. on Tuesday to call for his resignation. “It’s better if he goes now than in the next election,” said … Continue reading →

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Twitter lawsuit against Paxton dismissed

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

That’s not quite the end of it, though. A federal judge in California on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by Twitter against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose legal efforts to investigate the social media platform after it suspended President … Continue reading →

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

More than one way to fund the Ike Dike

Posted on May 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

As long as it gets funded, that’s what matters. When President Joe Biden proposed a nearly $2 trillion infrastructure bill, some Texas officials had high hopes that it might include funding for the long-awaited “Ike Dike” project to protect the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Texas cannabis industry sure is optimistic

Posted on May 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I remain more skeptical, at least of their short-term capacity. “I suspect if you grabbed a random person on the street and asked them if cannabis was legal in Texas, they would probably look at you like you’re crazy and … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments