Monthly Archives: January 2022

Interviews and judicial Q&As through January 14

Posted on January 16, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Updating from last week. This is to put all of the interviews and judicial Q&As in a single post for your convenience, in case you missed something. This past week was Commissioners Court Precinct 4. Starting Monday will be the … Continue reading →

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Paxton accused of violating open records law

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Put it on his tab. The Travis County district attorney has determined that Attorney General Ken Paxton violated the state’s open records law by not turning over his communications from last January, when he appeared at the pro-Trump rally that … Continue reading →

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HCC seeks a new Board member

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a vacancy to fill now. The Board of Trustees publicly and formally invites qualified members of the public to apply to be considered for appointment to the position of HCC Trustee District II. The Texas Education Code requires that … Continue reading →

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Former Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton sues a blogger

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Obviously, a story like this is going to attract my attention. A former Texas oil and gas regulator has accused a blogger of helping derail his 2020 reelection campaign by falsely claiming he had an extramarital affair. In a lawsuit filed last month … Continue reading →

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The cities and the freeze

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Well, at least some government entities are trying to learn from the February disaster, even if they’re having a rough go of it. Ten months after the freeze, Texas cities have made some headway on storm preparedness, an oft-neglected area … Continue reading →

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Interview with Clarence Miller

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

One last interview for Harris County Commissioners Court, Precinct 4. Next week I will have interviews for other county offices, and after that will visit with some more legislative and Congressional races. Today we speak with Clarence Miller, whom I … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Judge Michael Newman

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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On the campaign trail again

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

It’s good to be back. In the 2020 election cycle, many campaigns in Texas went fully virtual as the coronavirus pandemic, then a new and uncertain threat, bore down on the state. They held virtual rallies, phone banks and fundraisers, … Continue reading →

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Beto for legalizing weed

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I do think this is a winning campaign theme. At a crowded rally in downtown Austin, Beto O’Rourke ticked off his usual laundry list of campaign promises: stabilizing the power grid, rolling back the state’s new permitless carry law and … Continue reading →

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Interview with Lesley Briones

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Next up for Harris County Commissioner Precinct 4 is Lesley Briones. Briones was appointed to be the Judge of County Civil Court at Law #4 in 2019 following the Bill McLeod accidental resignation saga; while she resigned her bench upon … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Judge Andrew Wright

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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We are so screwed if there’s a real cold front

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

[bangs head on desk]. During Texas’ first strong cold front of the winter this past weekend, natural gas production in the state’s top energy-producing region dropped by about 25%, according to a report from S&P Global. And while the lights … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of January 10

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance would like to see a whole lot more people get held accountable for January 6 as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Why your recycling hasn’t been picked up yet

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Short answer: Staffing shortages, exacerbated by COVID. A staffing shortage in Houston’s solid waste management department is causing delayed and missed recycling pickups across the city, the agency confirmed. The Solid Waste Management Department is trying to fill 45 vacancies … Continue reading →

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Interview with Gina Calanni

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

As I’ve noted before, there are several current or recent elected officials in this primary for Harris County Commissioners Court, Precinct 4. One of them is Gina Calanni, who won an upset victory for HD132 in 2018. Unfortunately, the 2020 … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Judge Chris Morton

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Supreme Court rejects mandamus over Commissioners Court redistricting

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The primary will proceed as scheduled, but the issue could be revisited sometime after the 2022 election. The Texas Supreme Court rejected an effort by Republican commissioners and voters to block Harris County’s recent redistricting plan on Friday, suggesting another … Continue reading →

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An email from Erica Davis

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox, sent to Democratic precinct chairs: You elected me to serve as your Trustee for the Harris County Department of Education and I am very proud of what we have accomplished. I too believe in elevating voices, educating … Continue reading →

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Interview with Ann Williams

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We continue with our series of interviews for the Harris County Commissioner Precinct 4 primary race. Today’s candidate is Ann Williams, who has served on the Alief ISD Board of Trustees since 2007 and is currently serving as that Board’s … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Judge Kelley Andrews

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Feds halt Harvey relief funds over GLO error

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The continuing saga. The Department of Housing and Urban Development on Friday halted the distribution of $1.95 billion in aid awarded to Texas after Hurricane Harvey because it said the state has failed to send the federal agency required paperwork … Continue reading →

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Back to Code Red

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Hopefully not for too long. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Monday moved the county again to its highest COVID-19 threat level, her office said. The announcement should be old hat for Hidalgo, who has moved to Level Red each … Continue reading →

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Interview with Ben Chou

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

This week I will focus on what may be the most important local race, for Commissioners Court in Precinct 4. As you know, in the new Commissioners Court map, Precinct 4 was redrawn as Democratic-leaning, which gives Dems the opportunity … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Teresa Waldrop

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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The hospitals are getting slammed again

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Take precautions, y’all. Pandemic forecasters in Texas say the state’s current surge of omicron infections and hospitalizations is likely to get much worse before it gets better, with hospitalizations expected to continue climbing for at least three weeks if social behaviors don’t change … Continue reading →

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Mike Fields

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been wondering when someone will write a story about Mike Fields, who had been a respected Republican criminal court judge in Harris County before losing in the 2018 sweep and is now running for Attorney General as a Democrat. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | 4 Comments

Weekend link dump for January 9

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

“Did a John Denver song get Billy Martin fired?” “It’s worse than that, really; the ethic of Jesus has gotten in the way of successfully prosecuting the culture wars against the left. If the ethic of Jesus encourages sensibilities that … Continue reading →

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Paxton asks Supreme Court to toss that pesky whistleblower lawsuit

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Same argument, different court. Either Ken Paxton can be held accountable, or he gets a free pass to do whatever he wants. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the Texas Supreme Court to toss out a whistleblower lawsuit by … Continue reading →

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It would seem that the San Marcos Police Department has some major problems

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Geez. The city of San Marcos admits in new court documents to text exchanges among its police officers about the Joe Biden bus incident in October 2020. But it denies what it calls a “characterization” of the exchanges by the … Continue reading →

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Early voting starts tomorrow for the District G special election

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, it’s time again for an election. . Sample Ballots for the Jan. 25 City of Houston, District G Election are now available. Clock face seven oclock Early Voting: Jan. 10-21. Round pushpin Location List: http://harrisvotes.com/locations Ballot box with ballot … Continue reading →

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Interviews and judicial Q&As through January 7

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Putting these in one place for your convenience and mine. I’ll try to do this on a weekly basis so you don’t have to hunt for the previous engagements I’ve had with candidates. It’s going to be pretty much wall-to-wall … Continue reading →

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Fifth Circuit gets set to put the final nail in SB8 legal challenges

Posted on January 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The fix was always in. In a contentious hearing Friday, a federal appeals court indicated it is likely to send Texas’ restrictive abortion law to the state supreme court, a move that could add months or longer before the case … Continue reading →

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Third Court of Appeals upholds Harris County mask mandate

Posted on January 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Savor the win, for it’s off to SCOTx next. A state appeals court on Thursday upheld a lower-court injunction that allowed Harris County to impose mask requirements despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order banning such mandates. The Austin-based 3rd Court … Continue reading →

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Back to school

Posted on January 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Sort of. Roughly one-quarter of Houston ISD students were absent Monday, the first day back following the district’s winter break, according to the district. District officials released figures Tuesday that showed 45,515 students were absent on Monday and 26,259 on … Continue reading →

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