Monthly Archives: December 2024

Expanding ETHAN

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Sounds like a good idea. The city may spin off the Houston Fire Department’s emergency telemedicine program to a local government corporation in hopes of generating enough funding to support the initiative and, perhaps, even turn a profit. The city’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Expanding ETHAN

Uplift Harris 2.0 still on hold

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Just part of the process at this point. Harris County’s second version of a guaranteed income program has been blocked as it awaits a final appeal after a recent court order stopped the county from distributing funds under the revamped … Continue reading →

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

Starbase City

Posted on December 16, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Elon Musk would like his own company town, please. SpaceX’s goal is to colonize Mars. But first, it wants to create an official city in Texas. Employees living on the site of SpaceX’s operations in South Texas are requesting a … Continue reading →

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

The leopards are going to be very busy

Posted on December 16, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This is a story about how the Trump administration is targeting Medicaid for cuts, mostly to finance its future tax giveaways to the wealthy, and how states like Texas could come in behind that and make even further cuts to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Weekend link dump for December 15

Posted on December 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

“I don’t know how to explain to somebody what it feels like when your own military that you volunteered to fight for your country doesn’t want you.” “It’s shark-infested waters to procure moms, to then procure their children, to then … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

We are again speculating about Judge Hidalgo’s re-election plans

Posted on December 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Well, Mayor Whitmire is speculating, anyway. County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she hasn’t decided whether to run for office in 2026 in response to a claim made Thursday by Mayor John Whitmire that she will not pursue another term as … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2026 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The birds and the trees and the religious liberties

Posted on December 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I really don’t know what to make of this, which is a story about an unusual religious liberties lawsuit that the city of San Antonio and the 2021 constitutional amendment that expanded religious freedom in Texas, stemming from a backlash … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The birds and the trees and the religious liberties

One more eVTOL in Houston

Posted on December 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I missed this story when it ran in September, but here it is now. It answered a few questions about how these things operate, which I liked. Lilium, a German aerospace company, debuted its electric vertical takeoff and landing jet … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on One more eVTOL in Houston

Paxton sues out of state abortion provider

Posted on December 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The thing about rot is that it has a tendency to spread. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit accusing a New York doctor of prescribing abortion drugs to a Texas resident in violation of state law. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton sues out of state abortion provider

The plea deals no one wants

Posted on December 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Things are going great in the waning days of Kim Ogg’s time as Harris County DA. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg has ordered prosecutors to make a plea recommendation of life without the possibility of parole in every pending … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dispatches from Dallas, December 14 edition

Posted on December 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This is a weekly feature produced by my friend Ginger. Let us know what you think. This week, in news from Dallas-Fort Worth: elections news; Dallas HERO’s connection with the incoming presidential administration; the State of the City in Dallas; … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Dispatches from Dallas, December 14 edition

Will Cornyn get MAGAed in the 2026 primary?

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

From The Downballot (scroll to the bottom of the “Senate” section). Republican Sen. John Cornyn has long been a loud and proud supporter of Donald Trump, but his occasional apostasies have drawn the ire of MAGA purists and could land … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2026 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

RIP, Cruise robotaxis

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Didn’t see that coming. General Motors said Tuesday it will retreat from the robotaxi business and stop funding its money-losing Cruise autonomous vehicle unit. Instead, the Detroit automaker will focus on development of partially automated driver-assist systems for personal vehicles … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on RIP, Cruise robotaxis

Trying to improve on ShotSpotter

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Meet Wytec, a new type of AI-powered gunshot-detection system. Wytec International Inc., a builder of 5G wireless networks, is working on artificial intelligence software to deploy on networks of sensors to pinpoint the location of gunshots or other campus problems … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The HISD Board doesn’t want to hear it

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Curious move. Houston ISD’s board of managers signaled early support Tuesday for limiting the public’s ability to speak freely about any topic during its monthly board meetings. Board members voted 8-1 to advance a policy proposal that would eliminate a … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Paxton versus 404Media

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. In October, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton subpoenaed 404 Media, demanding that we hand over confidential information about our reporting and an anonymous source to help the state of Texas in a wholly unrelated case it is pursuing … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton versus 404Media

Houston to get a pro volleyball team

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty cool. As far as professional volleyball goes, there isn’t much two-time Olympic medalist Micha Hancock hasn’t done. Hancock won gold with Team USA at the Tokyo Games and a silver medal at the Paris Games. She played professionally in Italy for … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Houston to get a pro volleyball team

Texas blog roundup for the week of December 9

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is holding space for its weekly roundup right here, where you can see it.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of December 9

We’re still talking about “Enron”

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still trying to figure out who the joke is supposed to be on. The newly-revived Enron Corporation revealed its CEO Monday, along with a promise to unveil the “most revolutionary technology” the energy sector has ever seen, according to … Continue reading →

Posted in Enronarama | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on We’re still talking about “Enron”

Jay-Z added to Buzbee’s lawsuit against Sean Combs

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. After Houston attorney Tony Buzbee vowed to bring more than 100 lawsuits in multiple states on behalf of alleged sexual assault victims claiming they were sexually abused or exploited by media mogul Sean Combs, a federal lawsuit was refiled … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Jay-Z added to Buzbee’s lawsuit against Sean Combs

621 set to roll out

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Our newest area code will soon debut. Houston’s newest area code, 621, will officially launch on Jan. 23, 2025. The 621 will be the fifth area code associated with the Houston region, joining the quartet of 281, 346, 713, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 621 set to roll out

A different perspective on turnout

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

From the December 3 New York Times daily newsletter: If you’ve been reading post-election coverage, you’ve probably seen one of the big takeaways from the returns so far: In counties across the country, Kamala Harris won many fewer votes than … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Metro to help fund HPD traffic enforcement

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

A modest revision to an originally large plan. Metro Police Department will spend almost $50 million of its budget to partially fund the city’s traffic enforcement and street light operations in 2025, but that extra funding won’t have much impact … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Classic Era Committee adds Dave Parker and Dick Allen to the MLB Hall of Fame

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to them. Sluggers Dick Allen and Dave Parker earned election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday in voting from the Classic Baseball Era Committee. The announcement was made from the Winter Meetings in Dallas. Needing at … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Sandie Haverlah of the Texas Consumer Association

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

You might have noticed that CenterPoint has been in the news a lot lately. There’s the various audits of its performance during Beryl and the derecho, proposed legislation to make it refund the money it spent (and charged to customers) … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Sandie Haverlah of the Texas Consumer Association

Gina Ortiz Jones joins the crowded field for San Antonio Mayor

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record. Former U.S. Air Force Under Secretary Gina Ortiz Jones, who has long been rumored as a potential 2025 mayoral contender, launched a campaign website this week. Jones served as Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force under the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2025 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Look for driverless cars to get fast-tracked

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Something to keep an eye on. President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team plans to create a federal framework for fully self-driving vehicles, Bloomberg reported citing sources. Should new regulations permit vehicles without human controls, it could provide a significant benefit to … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Look for driverless cars to get fast-tracked

Weekend link dump for December 8

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

“It’s not like we were designing it to reflect reality, but we happen to be making a show about violent authoritarians who present as celebrities. Then suddenly, the world changed to reflect the show, not just in the States – … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for December 8

Dan Patrick wants to ban all THC products

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

No hemp for you! Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced Wednesday that lawmakers in the state Senate would move to ban all forms of consumable tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, in Texas. Patrick, who presides over the Senate and largely controls the flow … Continue reading →

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

Reviving Texas’ uranium mines

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. In the old ranchlands of South Texas, dormant uranium mines are coming back online. A collection of new ones hope to start production soon, extracting radioactive fuel from the region’s shallow aquifers. Many more may follow. These mines are … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Reviving Texas’ uranium mines

Where to go to hail a flying taxi

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

To the vertiport, of course. Wisk Aero, an Advanced Air Mobility company and Boeing subsidiary aiming to bring self-flying air taxis to Southeast Texas by the end of the decade, has designed its potential initial routes for its service. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Phelan withdraws his Speaker bid

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Palace intrigue time. House Speaker Dade Phelan on Friday announced he is dropping his bid for another term leading the lower chamber, ending a bruising, monthslong intraparty push to remove him from power. Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, had previously insisted … Continue reading →

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

The homeowners’ insurance is too damn high

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Texas isn’t such a cheap place to live when you factor in insurance costs. When Maryann McGregor retired in 2020, she and her husband considered downsizing and selling their four-bedroom home in Clear Lake to their adult son. The couple … Continue reading →

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

HISD may do more school name changes

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Fine by me. Much has changed in Houston ISD in the 70 years since the U.S. Supreme Court declared racial segregation in schools illegal. The district went through a years-long process to desegregate its campuses and, in recent decades, has … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments