Monthly Archives: June 2021

Get ready for your first Universities Line BRT map

Posted on June 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Feel the excitement! No, seriously, we’ve waited a long time for this. The largest and most-sought segment of Metro’s planned bus rapid transit expansion in Houston is poised next week to officially move from being just lines on a map … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Weekend link dump for June 20

Posted on June 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

“The India that Silicon Valley once so loved has long given way to a different one: an increasingly authoritarian regime that wants even tighter control over information dissemination. It’s an India that’s not only willing to bully the very companies … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 2 Comments

Abbott follows through on veto of legislative funding

Posted on June 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

So here we go. Gov. Greg Abbott followed through Friday on a threat to veto a section of the state budget that funds the Texas Legislature, its staffers and legislative agencies. The governor’s move targeting lawmaker pay comes after House … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Why the push for casinos failed

Posted on June 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a long story with a detailed answer to what is honestly a straightforward and easy to understand question. In its effort to bring casinos to Texas, Las Vegas Sands — the gaming empire started by the late Republican megadonor … Continue reading →

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Supreme Court agrees that Texas Central is a railroad

Posted on June 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Or at least, they declined the opportunity to say otherwise. Texas Central Railroad, according to the Texas Supreme Court, is a railroad, ending a five-year legal battle over the controversial high-speed rail company’s right to use state eminent domain laws. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

The Texas Dem legislators and the push for federal voting rights legislation

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

We know this happened. Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday pointed to Texas Republicans’ push for sweeping new voting restrictions as a key illustration of the need to restore federal oversight of elections. While meeting at the White House with … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

HISD asks for virtual learning funds do-over

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I can understand this. Thirty school districts, including Houston ISD, and two associations signed a letter to urge Gov. Greg Abbott to add legislation funding virtual learning to any special session for other proposed laws. A bill that would have ensured districts … Continue reading →

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Kids still get COVID, too

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

And they need to get vaccinated if at all possible. Since the Food and Drug Administration approved emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine for 12 to15 year olds on May 10, more than 300,000 Texas adolescents and teenagers have received at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Texas Central signs construction deal

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Sure seems like they’re getting close to actually laying track. The developer of a long-planned — and controversial — high-speed rail line that would get passengers from Dallas to Houston in 90 minutes announced Tuesday that it signed a $16 … Continue reading →

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

SCOTUS upholds Obamacare again

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Another Ken Paxton failure, for which we should be grateful and also really pissed off. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas-led legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act on Thursday, saying the plaintiffs in the 2018 lawsuit are … Continue reading →

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

It’s just the next GoFundMe for “border security”, with more grifting and human rights abuses

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Have I made my opinion sufficiently clear, or do I need to spell it out for you? Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday said Texas will spend $250 million to begin building a wall along the Mexico border, picking up … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

En banc request granted for Paxton trial moving issue

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know if that headline makes sense, but it’s the natural next step after the special prosecutors in the Ken Paxton trial asked the First Court of Appeals to reconsider its ruling that would send the trial back to … Continue reading →

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Juneteenth

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Very cool. And a little bit surprising. But very cool. As soon as U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee heard that the U.S. Senate had passed legislation on Tuesday making Juneteenth a federal holiday, the Houston Democrat said she began pushing … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Methodist anti-vaxxers appeal lawsuit dismissal

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. A group of Houston Methodist employees who sued the hospital system over its COVID-19 vaccine requirement have appealed a ruling dismissing the case. Over the weekend, U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes tossed the lawsuit, calling it “reprehensible” … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

The HPD transparency portal

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

This is good. Traffic stops. Discipline. Use of force. Following widespread calls for police accountability, Houston residents now can use the city’s “Police Transparency Hub” to get far more detailed, accessible information about some of police’s most controversial topics than … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

There’s still a lot of investment in renewables in Texas

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good to know. Four months after the failure of the Texas electric grid sparked a backlash against clean power, investors and developers have decided just what the state needs: more renewable energy. Much more. Texas is on pace to have … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of June 14

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance has no idea hw any of these entries got into this week’s roundup but promises they will all be taken out for next week’s version.

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Harris County’s COVID situation continues to improve

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Keep it up. Harris County’s 14-day average test positivity rate for COVID-19 has fallen below 5 percent for the first time since the start of the pandemic, County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced this week. Despite the positivity rate and vaccination … Continue reading →

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Interview with Odus Evbagharu

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, the Harris County Democratic Party will be electing a new Chair following the resignation of Lillie Schecter, who has served (quite ably) as Chair since 2017. I am on the record supporting Odus Evbagharu as the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2021 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

State Rep. James White not running for re-election

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. State Rep. James White, R-Hillister, has decided not to seek reelection, he told East Texas TV station KLTV in a roundtable with lawmakers. And he hinted to another news station that he’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

HCC Trustee accused of sexual harassment

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. A Houston Community College instructor who accused a college board of trustees member of sexual harassment said HCC executives, including the college’s chancellor, were aware of the misconduct but did nothing to stop it. Documents obtained by the Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Millard House officially approved as HISD Superintendent

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome aboard. Millard House II will become Houston ISD’s new superintendent on July 1, following the district’s school board unanimously vote Monday to make his selection official. The pro forma vote follows the naming of House as HISD’s lone superintendent … Continue reading →

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Sure is a good thing the Lege fixed all those power grid problems

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Otherwise, who knows what could happen? Texas’ main power grid struggled to keep up with the demand for electricity Monday, prompting the operator to ask Texans to conserve power until Friday. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas said in a … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Guzman to run for AG

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Certainly makes that primary more interesting. Eva Guzman, the former justice on the Texas Supreme Court, has filed paperwork to run for state attorney general. On Friday, Guzman, a Republican, filed what is known as a campaign treasurer appointment form … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Lawsuit over Methodist Hospital vaccination mandate tossed

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

That was quick. A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit against Houston Methodist over its policy to terminate workers who refuse to get the COVID vaccine, calling it “reprehensible” that plaintiffs compared the requirement to those made under Nazi Germany. … Continue reading →

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

Beto’s still doing his thing

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still hoping it will turn into another thing. More than just the Houston heat fired up the crowd at voting rights rally Sunday, where former Congressman Beto O’Rourke urged action against a restrictive bills being championed by Republicans. “I … Continue reading →

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

Precinct analysis: The median districts

Posted on June 14, 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 →

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

We need to talk about Sid

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I know, I don’t want to and you don’t want to talk about it, but Sid Miller might run for Governor, so we’re gonna have to talk about it. Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller doesn’t believe Texas Governor Greg Abbott … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Study claims Uber has reduced drunk driving in Houston

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. Paid rides have saved lives and lessened drunk driving convictions in Houston, according to a new study released Wednesday by local researchers that claimed a direct link between more folks hailing an Uber and fewer wheeled into emergency … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Weekend link dump for June 13

Posted on June 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

“A pandemic upside: The flu virus became less diverse, simplifying the task of making flu shots”. “Take a closer look at Walt Disney’s 1961 animated One Hundred and One Dalmatians film, and you may notice its animation style looks a … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 5 Comments

Harris County and Houston appeal to HUD for flood funds

Posted on June 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Hope this helps. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Friday asked U.S. Housing Secretary Marcia Fudge to set a 30-day deadline for the Texas General Land Office to formally request $750 million in federal flood … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Betsy Price to run for Tarrant County Judge

Posted on June 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t usually pay much attention to county races outside the Houston area, but there are some points of interest to discuss about this. Outgoing Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price is running for Tarrant County judge in 2022, attempting a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Flood Control District director to resign

Posted on June 13, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. Harris County Flood Control District Executive Director Russ Poppe submitted a letter of resignation to Commissioners Court on Friday, saying he plans to step down July 2. Poppe, 45, said the demands of the job, which have grown significantly … Continue reading →

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From the “Oops, how did that get in there?” department

Posted on June 12, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Remember how the final version of SB7, the one that emerged from behind closed doors in conference committee, had a provision in it that would have made it a lot easier to overturn the result of an election via legal … Continue reading →

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