Monthly Archives: November 2021

Just a reminder, the COVID vaccine really will save your life

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Numbers don’t lie. New data from the Texas health department released Monday proves what health officials have been trying to tell vaccine-hesitant Texans for months: The COVID-19 vaccine dramatically prevents death and is the best tool to prevent transmission of … Continue reading →

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We wait on the Fifth Circuit

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

They have received briefs and held a hearing about whether to keep or lift their hold on the Biden COVID vaccine mandate for employers. A coalition of businesses argued in federal court Tuesday that they would suffer “irreparable harm” if … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Let’s have us a book burning!

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

That’s where we’re headed. Gov. Greg Abbott told the Texas Education Agency on Wednesday to investigate criminal activity related to “the availability of pornography” in public schools, saying that the agency should refer such instances “for prosecution to the fullest … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Special election set for District G

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Our first election of 2022. The special election to fill west Houston’s District G seat on City Council will be Tuesday, Jan. 25. City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to call the election. Candidates interested in the position have until Dec. … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of November 8

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is in the best shape of its life heading into candidate filing season as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Maybe there won’t be another freeze this winter

Posted on November 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Views differ. Love it or hate it — winter looks especially warm in Texas this year. Federal forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center said last week that much of the country is likely to see … Continue reading →

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People still support mask mandates

Posted on November 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

One more tidbit from the UT/Trib poll for October. A majority of Texas voters support requiring masks at schools and indoor public places and allowing businesses to require their employees to be vaccinated, according to a new University of Texas/Texas … Continue reading →

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Joy Diaz

Posted on November 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

A bit of “potential candidate” news is tucked into this story about the current state of the Democratic statewide slate. If Democrats had a mantra, it would probably be something like “diversity and inclusion.” So it’s kind of strange that … Continue reading →

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Sometimes, you really do have to hand it to Louie Gohmert

Posted on November 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Of all the Louie Gohmerts in the world, he’s the Louie Gohmertiest. U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, appears to be exploring a run for Texas attorney general, weighing a late entry into the already crowded primary to unseat GOP incumbent … Continue reading →

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How to help the AstroWorld victims

Posted on November 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Very straightforward. Houstonians hoping to help the victims can contribute to their verified GoFundMe accounts. The fundraising platform has created a hub for Astroworld victims with direct links to verified campaigns to help families cover funeral expenses and medical bills. “We prioritize balancing … Continue reading →

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Now is the autumn of our discontent

Posted on November 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody likes anything right now. Texas voters have a net disapproval for how state leaders have handled the reliability of the electricity grid, abortion and property taxes, according to a new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. In an October poll … Continue reading →

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Here come the AstroWorld lawsuits

Posted on November 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

As well they should. At least 34 Astroworld Festival attendees have sued or plan to sue the event promoter in what is expected to be a bevy of litigation related to the mayhem at NRG Park. At least eight people died and dozens more were injured Friday … Continue reading →

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

SCOTx hears Chick-Fil-A case

Posted on November 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this last week. The Supreme Court of Texas heard oral arguments Thursday in the now two-year-old case involving the exclusion of Chick-fil-A city contract in the San Antonio International Airport. […] San Antonio has always maintained that the law … Continue reading →

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The Huntsville bat warehouse

Posted on November 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I love stories like this, even when they leave me wanting more. Hundreds of thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats streamed out of the abandoned brick building on a recent weeknight, leaving behind the burned-out structure where they’ve stayed for many … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: The new State House map

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Like it or not, we have new State House districts. We may as well acquaint ourselves with them. The coverage we’ve had so far has focused on the 2020 election numbers to say whether a district will be red or … Continue reading →

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A timeline of the AstroWorld tragedy

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good reporting about a terrible event. For 37 minutes after Houston police and firefighters responded to a “mass casualty” event at a packed Astroworld rap concert where attendees were crushed against the stage Friday evening, Travis Scott continued performing. Police … Continue reading →

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There were settlement talks with Watson and his accusers

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

They did not succeed. The attorney representing 22 women suing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson says settlement talks between the two sides broke down before the NFL’s trade deadline because of language Watson’s legal team insisted they include in nondisclosure … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for November 7

Posted on November 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Five thousand Saturdays of the Grand Ole Opry. “Years ago, someone mistakenly put an image of me on a public domain site, and now apparently I am on products all around the world.” “The Defamation Suits That Could Help Put … Continue reading →

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The employer vaccine mandate is here (and on hold)

Posted on November 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Here are the details. Deadline is Jan. 4: The first rule, issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, covers companies with 100 or more employees, applying to an estimated 84 million workers. Companies must ensure that their workers are … Continue reading →

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The AstroWorld concert tragedy

Posted on November 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Just awful. At least eight people are dead and dozens more injured after a sold-out crowd of roughly 50,000 surged during rapper Travis Scott’s performance late Friday at the Astroworld Festival outside NRG Park, overwhelming security forces and resulting in one of the deadliest concerts in … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Runoffs will be on December 11

Posted on November 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

As is usually the case, the second Sunday in December for municipal and school board/community college runoffs. Runoff elections will be held Dec. 11, the Harris County Elections Department announced Friday. Four Houston ISD board seats, and individual council races … Continue reading →

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Justice Department sues Texas over the voter suppression law

Posted on November 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Specifically, they are challenging a couple of specific provisions of the law. The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday sued Texas over its new voting law, expanding its effort to challenge Republican-backed measures passed in state legislatures. The lawsuit, brought by … Continue reading →

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UT/Trib: Abbott 46, Beto 37

Posted on November 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Data point #2, arriving on schedule. Gov. Greg Abbott has a comfortable lead over potential Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke, according to a new poll from the University of Texas at Austin and The Texas Tribune. The survey of registered voters … Continue reading →

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An estimate of the Census undercount

Posted on November 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

It could have been worse. According to new analysis of the 2020 Census, Texas had the highest undercount of any US state in raw numbers. It’s estimated some 377,000 in the state weren’t included in the count. Nationally, the 2020 … Continue reading →

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Get ready to compost

Posted on November 6, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I hope this expands in the near future. The city launched a composting pilot program Wednesday, opening three sites where residents can drop off compost-friendly waste that otherwise would wind up in a landfill. The hope is the program will … Continue reading →

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So what happened with election night reporting this time?

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron turns its attention to how long it took for election results to get posted on Tuesday night. Since last year, Harris County has purchased a new fleet of voting machines, created a new elections administration office and hired … Continue reading →

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Sen. Powell sues over SD10

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Number six and counting. Tarrant County state Sen. Beverly Powell filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the state Senate redistricting plan, marking the latest court challenge to Texas’ Republican-drawn political maps that secure the GOP’s grip on power for the … Continue reading →

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Sen. Eddie Lucio will retire

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t say I’ll miss him. State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, announced Thursday that he is not seeking reelection after three decades in the upper chamber. He made the announcement during a news conference in Harlingen, saying he was retiring … Continue reading →

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The fight for free speech continues at Collin College

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

What awful leadership that place has. A year ago, Texas history professor Lora Burnett fired off an angry tweet from her private social media account about then-vice president Mike Pence. It landed during the vice presidential debate, prompting news coverage … Continue reading →

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More on the November 2021 election results

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the Chron story on the Tuesday election results. It is mostly a straight recording of the individual races, including those I covered yesterday and others that I didn’t. Of the most interest to me is this: Results were delayed … Continue reading →

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A redistricting lawsuit twofer from MALC

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

One federal, one state. The Mexican American Legislative Caucus in the Texas House has opened a second front in the legal war over the state’s new political maps. The caucus on Wednesday turned to the state courts to challenge the … Continue reading →

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More kids are getting their COVID shots

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

So good to see. The possibility of the parties, vacations and family gatherings energized six families who attended the COVID-19 vaccination event on Wednesday inside Memorial Hermann, the morning after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially expanded eligibility to kids … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of November 1

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is now looking ahead to candidate filing season as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Hotze’s first attempt at defending himself in the Lopez/Aguirre lawsuit fails

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a long way to go on this, but at least for now the courts aren’t having any of Steven Hotze’s bullshit. A petition for mandamus was denied by the 14th Court of Appeals today – an appeal brought by … Continue reading →

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