Monthly Archives: June 2022

SCOTx answers the Fifth Circuit’s questions

Posted on June 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Some late-breaking SB1 lawsuit news. The Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling Friday on the term “solicit” as it pertains to the state’s new election code. […] Of three main issues, one raised several questions pertaining to the definition of … Continue reading →

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HISD approves its budget

Posted on June 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

First one for the new Superintendent. Houston ISD trustees on Thursday unanimously approved a $2.2 billion budget that will give teacher raises some have called long overdue and fund the upcoming school year when the district is expected to begin … Continue reading →

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

Running the Sandy Hook playbook against the Uvalde gun manufacturer

Posted on June 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I sincerely hope it works. Will the attorney who won a $73 million settlement from Remington for nine Sandy Hook families use the same playbook in his legal dealings with the company that made the AR-15-style rifle used in the … Continue reading →

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

CURBS Houston

Posted on June 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

In my last post about the West 11th Street project, I’ve noted that opposition to the project has been featured in news stories about it, but I have not seen any mention of organized support from the neighborhood – BikeHouston … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Restraining order given in latest lawsuit to stop DFPS investigations

Posted on June 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Good. An Austin judge has temporarily stopped the state from investigating many parents who provide gender-affirming care to their transgender children. The state has ruled out allegations of child abuse against one family under investigation, but at least eight more … Continue reading →

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Uvalde’s police chief speaks

Posted on June 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll reserve judgment for now. Only a locked classroom door stood between Pete Arredondo and a chance to bring down the gunman. It was sturdily built with a steel jamb, impossible to kick in. He wanted a key. One goddamn … Continue reading →

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UH will officially join the Big XII in 2023

Posted on June 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

No use waiting around. The University of Houston will start play in the Big 12 in 2023 after the school came to an agreement on exit fees with the American Athletic Conference. The Cougars will pay the AAC $18 million … Continue reading →

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Long lost daughter of Tina Linn and Dean Clouse found

Posted on June 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Incredible. Absolutely incredible. Donna Casasanta got the call this week, a call she’s spent half of her life praying for. A call about Holly Marie. More than 40 years ago, her son, Harold Dean Clouse, moved to Texas from New … Continue reading →

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House passes Ike Dike bill

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Getting closer, but there’s still a big obstacle to overcome. The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday night voted 384-37 to approve the plan for the $31-billion “Ike Dike,” a massive project designed to protect the vulnerable region from storm surge. The plan … Continue reading →

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Justice Department starts its review of the Uvalde law enforcement response

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what they turn up. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wednesday that the Department of Justice’s investigation into the law enforcement response to the elementary school shooting in Uvalde won’t be criminal in nature. Garland described the federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

When we had more deaths than births in Texas

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like that would be a bad thing. In the midst of the nation’s deadliest pandemic, Texas recorded more births than deaths every month since 2016 — with one exception. Provisional data from the Texas Department of State Health Services … Continue reading →

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Texans to be added as defendants to some Watson lawsuits

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

On and on we go. Attorney Tony Buzbee said Wednesday that he plans to add the Texans as defendants in some of the 24 civil lawsuits women have filed against Deshaun Watson. Buzbee said the franchise facilitated the former quarterback’s … Continue reading →

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

New lawsuit filed to stop DFPS “investigation” of trans kids and their families

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and the ACLU of Texas, along with Texas-based law firm Baker Botts LLP, today filed a new lawsuit in Texas state court on behalf of PFLAG National and three Texas … Continue reading →

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The NYT takes a closer look at the Deshaun Watson situation

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

It’s even worse than it looks. It is time, Watson and his representatives say, for everyone to move on. Yet a New York Times examination of records, including depositions and evidence for civil lawsuits as well as interviews of some … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

So what’s going on in the CD34 special election?

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We started with this. Early voting continues for the June 14 special election for CD34 open (Lean R) through June 10. Candidates for that special election were required to file pre-special election reports today (Thurs.) if they meet the reporting … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of June 6

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance stands with the people of Ukraine and the people of Uvalde as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Get ready to start raking in the cash, UH

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Money, money, money. As the athletic director at Texas, Chris Del Conte is the CEO of one of the richest college athletic departments in the nation. He also knows what it’s like to have to make every penny count. At … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Is he Elon Musk’s lawyer now?

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Someone please explain this to me. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Monday he is investigating Twitter over its reporting of how many accounts on the platform are from bots and fake users, saying the company may be misrepresenting the … Continue reading →

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

McConaughey opines for gun control

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Not bad. I believe that responsible, law-abiding Americans have a Second Amendment right, enshrined by our founders, to bear arms. I also believe we have a cultural obligation to take steps toward slowing down the senseless killing of our children. … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Complaint #24 filed against Deshaun Watson

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. A 24th civil lawsuit was filed against former Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson on Monday, as Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee referenced last week. The lawsuit details another woman’s account of Watson’s alleged predatory behavior during massage therapy sessions, … Continue reading →

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

Early voting is underway in the HCC2 runoff

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Apparently, I missed the start of it, which was on Monday. . 🚨 Polls are officially open for the June 18 Joint Runoff Election. 👉 Voters in HCCS District 2 and Nassau Bay are eligible to vote. 📍 View your … Continue reading →

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More on how abortion bans will be enforced

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all about the data. The Supreme Court is shortly expected to issue its decision on a challenge to Roe v. Wade that will—if a leaked draft version of the opinion holds—end federal protection for abortion access across the US. If that … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Here come the recounts

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. Progressive candidate Jessica Cisneros announced Monday she will request a recount in the hard-fought Democratic primary runoff against U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, after she finished 281 votes behind him. Another Democrat in a key South Texas congressional … Continue reading →

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Radack drops his redistricting lawsuit

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Former Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit he filed against Harris County Commissioners Court alleging Commissioners Court violated the Open Meetings Act during county redistricting. Below is a statement from Harris County Attorney Christian … Continue reading →

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I don’t really know what the White Oak Bike Trail extension is going to look like

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

There’s not a whole lot of change since the last update a month ago, at least in terms of how things look and what the final shape of the update might be. There are two particular areas of question for … Continue reading →

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

We’ve seen this movie before

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I appreciate the sentiment, but I know how this ends. Major Republican donors, including some that have contributed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaigns, joined other conservative Texans in signing an open letter supporting congressional action to increase gun restrictions in … Continue reading →

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I’m sure they’ll evaluate themselves objectively

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

What could possibly go wrong? In October, Colorado-based E3 Consulting offered a plan for how the Public Utility Commission should redesign Texas’ deregulated power market. It produced a 44-page proposal, paid for by energy giants NRG and Chicago-based Exelon. Now … Continue reading →

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

The limits of Vision Zero

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

A long read about a tough problem. Los Angeles was not the first U.S. city to sign on to Vision Zero: Chicago (2012), New York City (2014) and San Francisco (2014) had already adopted the Scandinavian-born safety movement. But L.A. moved quickly, revamping 18 corridors — including the Hollywood and … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for June 5

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

“Male TV presenters in Afghanistan are wearing face masks on screen to show solidarity after the Taliban issued an order that all women on news channels must cover their faces.” “What is now a push to eradicate exceptions for rape … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

If committees are all we’re going to get, then let’s get something from the committees

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Not too much to ask, I hope. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan on Friday announced the creation of a legislative committee to investigate the Uvalde shooting. “The fact we still do not have an accurate picture of what exactly happened … Continue reading →

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

Get ready for the Uvalde gun lawsuits

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see if they can get anywhere. A teacher at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde has filed paperwork indicating she intends to sue the gun manufacturer who made the assault-style rifle the gunman used to massacre 19 children and two teachers. Don Flanary, a lawyer … Continue reading →

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

Cuellar claims victory in CD28

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

He has a bigger lead now than he did on Election Night. With every vote counted in a fiercely contested South Texas Democratic primary runoff, longtime congressman Henry Cuellar was 281 votes ahead of progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros. Cuellar declared … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Afro-Latinos

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting. A Pew Research Center survey has found that 6 million adults in the United States identify as Afro-Latino, noting that this population experiences higher levels of discrimination than Hispanic people who do not identify as Afro-descendant. The nonpartisan … Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Social media monitoring is not a solution to school shootings

Posted on June 4, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

While current Republican “solutions” for gun violence include door control and arming teachers, one “solution” that has been in place for the past few years has been monitoring social media for signs of gun-related threats. That was in place in … Continue reading →

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