Monthly Archives: August 2021

The nursing home vaccination mandate

Posted on August 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

This just seems obvious to me. President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that he is directing all nursing homes to require their staff be vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to continue receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding. Biden said he is directing the Department … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Spring Branch ISD lawsuit

Posted on August 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I’m late to this, but better late than never/ A former candidate for the Spring Branch ISD school board has filed a lawsuit alleging the district’s election policies are in violation of national laws against voting discrimination. In her complaint, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Weekend link dump for August 22

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

“I cannot emphasize enough what an emergency this is. Public servants, health care workers, ordinary citizens–the very fabric of our society and our democracy–are under attack by crazed conspiracy theorists and bad actors looking to make a buck on division … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 3 Comments

The mask rebellion

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Sweet, sweet music to the ears. The local mask rebellion, coupled with the fresh threat of legal action from President Joe Biden’s administration, poses the most serious challenge yet to [Gov. Greg] Abbott’s emergency powers, which he has wielded in … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Back to college, COVID-style

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Not the return anyone was hoping for. Texas A&M University’s new president M. Katherine Banks said this spring that she anticipated a “fall [semester] of joy” when the university reopens after 15 months of lockdowns and remote learning. She wasn’t … Continue reading →

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Texas gets its Medicaid 1115 waiver back

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Hrmph. A federal district judge on Friday temporarily reinstated a 10-year extension of a federal health care program that Texas uses to help pay for health care for uninsured Texans and is worth billions of dollars annually. The agreement was … Continue reading →

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Yes, the wastewater is also pointing to a COVID surge

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

In case you were wondering. There is more COVID-19 in the city’s wastewater system now than at any time in the pandemic, city officials said Wednesday, the latest warning that the virus is spreading at an unprecedented rate. Dr. David … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

I don’t know what to make of these Spectrum/Ipsos polls about COVID and mask mandates

Posted on August 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I’m going to present to you three Spectrum News stories about a poll they commissioned regarding COVID issues, and then I’m going to tell you what I think about them. (Spoiler alert: The post title more or less sums it … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Is it really a quorum?

Posted on August 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It is if no one is counting too closely. Texas House Republicans finally got their long-sought quorum Thursday — by the skin of their teeth. There were 99 members registered as present Thursday evening, the exact number needed to end … Continue reading →

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A few words from the CEO of the Medical Center

Posted on August 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

From an interview he did with Lisa Gray. What we’re seeing, sadly, is more of the same, only with more intense numbers. The number of people who are testing positive in our community continues to escalate month over month. The … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

FBI involved in Deshaun Watson case

Posted on August 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Never a good sign, though there might be a wrinkle in this one. The FBI is looking into sexual assault allegations against Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, according to opposing legal parties in the player’s civil court cases. The extent of … Continue reading →

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

We have a quorum

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Welp. For the first time in nearly six weeks, enough lawmakers were present in the Texas House on Thursday for the chamber to conduct business — opening the door for the passage of the GOP priority elections bill that prompted … Continue reading →

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

The feds prepare to enter the mask mandate fight

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott may soon be fighting a war on two fronts — with local officials and the federal government — to stave off mandatory COVID-19 prevention efforts after the Biden administration announced Wednesday it was going after … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SCOTx demurs

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting: . Important context here > — Jasper Scherer (@jaspscherer) 6:55 PM – 19 August 2021 . The Texas Supreme Court has left in place a Travis County judge’s TRO (that blocked @GovAbbott’s ban on mask mandates in Austin), … Continue reading →

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

Astros reach settlement with the family of the girl hit by the foul ball

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Some closure to a tough story. The family of a girl struck by a foul ball at Minute Maid Park during the 2019 season has reached a confidential settlement with the Astros, the family’s attorney said Friday afternoon. Because the … Continue reading →

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

Federal lawsuit filed against Abbott’s mask mandate ban

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting. Disability Rights Texas filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Abbott and Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath over Abbott’s executive order preventing school districts from enacting their own mask-wearing requirements. Abbott’s order, the group alleges in the suit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Still no Dems arrested yet

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Finally, a story that points out the same thing I’ve been saying about those arrest warrants. More than a week after Republicans in the Texas House voted to authorize arrests of their quorum-busting Democratic colleagues, no such roundup has come … Continue reading →

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

Using the dress code to skirt the ban on mask mandates

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Brilliant! The Paris school district found a loophole in Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order preventing mask mandates across the state. Paris ISD’s board of trustees voted to alter the district’s dress code to include masks, according to its website. The school district, which is located … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of August 16

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance stands with its on the lam members of the State House as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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We still have half of hurricane season to go

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t get distracted. Don’t be lulled by the quiet start to this year’s hurricane season in Texas. NOAA is maintaining its forecast for an above-average year and has upped the number of storms it’s expecting. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

SCOTx confirms quorum-busting Dems can be arrested

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I thought this had been settled already, but I guess not. Texas House Democrats who refuse to show up to the state Capitol in their bid to prevent Republican lawmakers from passing a voting restrictions bill can be arrested and … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Abbott tests positive for COVID

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I’m going to be succinct about this. Gov. Greg Abbott tested positive Tuesday for COVID-19, according to his office. Abbott, who is fully vaccinated, is not experiencing any symptoms and is isolating at the Governor’s Mansion, spokesperson Mark Miner said … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

HISD warns of “consequences” for not complying with their mask mandate

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Consequences are, well, a natural consequence of non-compliance. Houston ISD students and employees who refuse to wear masks when the school year begins could face discipline and be forced to temporarily learn online under new guidelines released by the district. … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Fired Methodist employees file another lawsuit

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

In state court this time, in what should be one of the friendliest venues available to them. A new lawsuit filed Monday in Montgomery County against Houston Methodist claims the hospital wrongfully terminated 62 employees over their COVID-19 vaccine requirement. The suit, filed … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

There actually is still a court order that allows for mask mandates in place

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, remember that other lawsuit filed against Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates, by the Southern Center for Child Advocacy? I noted it in passing in this post, and then like you I forgot about it. And then on Sunday … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Bexar County mask mandate back on

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

And in an update to the original mask mandate lawsuit story, the district court that issues the temporary restraining order that was later stayed by the Supreme Court has now issued a temporary injunction, barring the state from forbidding San … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The abortion ban chaos is coming

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s already ugly. The National Abortion Federation has told doctors in Texas it will stop referring patients and sending money to clinics that offer abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. In North Texas, the Texas Equal Action Fund will … Continue reading →

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

July 2021 campaign finance reports: HCC

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

PREVIOUSLY: Congress, Harris County, Houston, HISD Last but not least, we have the HCC Trustees, three of whom are on this year’s ballot. HCC trustees serve six-year terms, so one-third of them are up each time around. Monica Flores Richart … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2021 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

SCOTx does what SCOTx does

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Room service, as always. The Texas Supreme Court on Sunday temporarily blocked mask mandates in Dallas and Bexar counties, marking a pivotal moment in the showdown between state and local government as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations surge in Texas. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Abbott’s migrant roundup order still blocked

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge in El Paso on Friday extended her order blocking Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive to state troopers to pull over drivers transporting migrants “who pose a risk of carrying COVID-19.” U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone lengthened her … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for August 15

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

“So it goes for many media companies, at a loss for revenue and drooling over the profit potential in sports betting. As gambling swallows up sports media, anyone pausing to consider editorial conflicts (or, in the case of bets based … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

And it’s off to SCOTx for the mandate stuff

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It’s where it was always headed. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is taking the mask mandate battle to the state Supreme Court after the state was defeated in its attempts to overturn such mandates in San Antonio and other municipalities. … Continue reading →

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

State follows through on Abbott’s attack on trans kids

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Revolting, though fortunately not particularly consequential. For now, at least. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has responded to Gov. Greg Abbott’s request for an interpretation of state law sent last Friday, agreeing that some gender confirmation surgeries … Continue reading →

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It’s a bad time to go to a rural hospital

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Only gonna get worse, too, at least in the short term. For the past week, Brooke Hale has been told “no” about 80 times a day. The executive assistant at Altus Lumberton Hospital has spent her shifts on the phone … Continue reading →

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