Tag Archives: Lina Hidalgo

Meet your new County Clerk

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Hello, Chris Hollins. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday appointed an attorney and Texas Democratic Party official as interim county clerk. Christopher Hollins, vice finance chairman for the state party, will serve until a new clerk can be elected in … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Could we get an elections administrator along with a new County Clerk?

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. A week after Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman announced she would resign due to health concerns, Commissioners Court on Tuesday plans to debate whether to appoint an independent administrator to run county elections. After Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

On picking a new County Clerk

Posted on May 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Stace has some thoughts. I’m of the opinion that the Democratic majority on the Commissioner’s Court should make a strong appointment of someone who will be the incumbent, making it clear that there is no need for a possible free-for-all … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman to resign

Posted on May 10, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This was unexpected, to say the least. Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman will resign May 31 due to health concerns, she said Saturday afternoon. Trautman, 70, steps down just 16 months into her first term. She defeated incumbent clerk Stan … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

What if it were Ed?

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The question to ask yourself in reading this story about Republicans bitching and moaning about Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is “How different would things actually be if Ed Emmett were still County Judge?” By the time Harris County Judge … Continue reading →

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Day One of reopening

Posted on May 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder, this is where we started. Texas reported 50 more COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, the most in any one day since the state reported its first deaths in mid-March. The state also reported it had added more than … Continue reading →

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Harris County preps for more mail ballots

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday voted to spend up to $12 million for an expected uptick in requests for mail-in ballots in the July primary runoff and November general election from voters concerned about contracting the novel coronavirus … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Reopening roundup

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Judge Hidalgo adjusts to the new status that has ben imposed on us from Austin. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Tuesday announced plans to significantly expand novel coronavirus case tracing, and maintain reserve hospital capacity, to prepare for a … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

The fight over sick leave has to be at the state level

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I get this, but it’s not going to work. The coronavirus outbreak is sparking a debate over paid sick leave in Houston, the largest U.S. city without a law requiring businesses to provide paid time off for workers who fall … Continue reading →

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

And so reopening begins

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I have questions. Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday that he will let the state’s stay-at-home order expire Thursday as scheduled and allow businesses to begin reopening in phases the next day, the latest ramp-up in his push to restart the … Continue reading →

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Hotze goes crying to the Supreme Court

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This effing guy, I swear. Houston conservative activist Steve Hotze on Monday filed a petition with the Texas Supreme Court seeking an emergency ruling on Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s mask order, which took effect this morning. Hotze originally filed … Continue reading →

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

The real problem is those uppity local officials

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

My God, the Republican playbook is so predictable these days. Local governments have gone too far in issuing emergency orders during the coronavirus pandemic and can expect to have those powers whittled down when the Texas Legislature meets again, key … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 36 Comments

Hotze sues Harris County again

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This is just what he does now, I suppose. Houston conservative power broker Steve Hotze filed a lawsuit against Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Thursday, alleging that her order requiring people to cover their faces in public violates the Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Mask up

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Time for the next step in virus mitigation. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Wednesday ordered residents to cover their faces in public, the latest effort by local governments to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The new rules, … Continue reading →

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Meet your recovery czars

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

For Harris County: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Monday named state Rep. Armando Walle the county’s COVID-19 recovery czar as local leaders determine how to eventually ease restrictions on public life meant to slow the spread of the disease. … Continue reading →

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The local plea to reopen

Posted on April 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I have a lot of sympathy, but I don’t think this is a great idea. A coalition of 350 local businesses is urging Mayor Sylvester Turner and County Judge Lina Hidalgo to begin May 1 to ease stay-at-home restrictions meant … Continue reading →

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Are we near the peak yet?

Posted on April 18, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We sure hope so, but it’s still a little soon to tell. After weeks of grim, ever-worsening statistics, Houston medical and public health leaders say the area has begun to flatten the COVID-19 curve, the rate at which the disease … Continue reading →

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Judges have to do their part

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Some could be doing better. Harris County’s largest association of criminal defense attorneys on Monday called on local judges to halt in-person court appearances to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. As the virus has swept across the nation, it … Continue reading →

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Ridiculous Hotze lawsuit now in district court

Posted on April 11, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We are all dumber by the mere existence of this. The Texas Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Harris County’s stay-at-home order, though the legal fight is set to continue in state district court. The Wednesday … Continue reading →

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

Coronavirus is taking its toll on the Census

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The timing of this pandemic really sucks. The nonprofit Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston had more than 15 tabling events planned over the next several weeks where volunteers were going to post up at festivals, fairs and other community gatherings … Continue reading →

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Another obstacle to releasing inmates

Posted on April 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

One step forward, one step back. As fear and COVID-19 crept though the Harris County Jail, felony judges halted the release of low-risk inmates on Friday, blocking the county chief executive’s order to free them to await trial. Sheriff Ed … Continue reading →

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

The state of inmate releases

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County judges are going to follow the federal bail lawsuit settlement agreement and not Greg Abbott. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has moved to restrict the release of people in jail during the coronavirus pandemic — but Harris County’s misdemeanor … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Harris County stay-at-home order extended

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Not a surprise. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Tuesday extended her stay-at-home order through April 30, as cases of novel coronavirus infections in the Houston area continue to rise, three county officials with knowledge of the plan said. Hidalgo … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

More on Abbott’s stay-in-jail order

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s that more detailed Chron story I referenced yesterday. I’m just going to quote the newer information about Greg Abbott’s executive order that attempts to basically stop most releases of inmates from the jail regardless of the coronavirus situation. The … Continue reading →

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

Steven Hotze’s death wish

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. A hardline conservative power broker and three area pastors filed a petition with the Texas Supreme Court Monday arguing that Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s stay-at-home order violates the Constitution by ordering … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Still trying to do something about the coronavirus risk in the jail

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Time is extremely limited for this. A federal judge Friday asked lawyers to hammer out a plan for releasing about 1,000 indigent inmates detained on bonds of $10,000 or less amid fear of a COVID-19 outbreak at the third largest … Continue reading →

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

The difference a week makes

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Imposing a stay-at-home order sooner rather than later ha a profound effect on how many people come down with coronavirus. The person-to-person spread of the coronavirus in the Houston region would peak in two weeks and burn out by mid-May … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Houston/Harris County stay-at-home order

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s hoping we won’t have to do this for too much longer. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a stay-at-home order Tuesday morning closing most businesses and directing residents to stay put except for groceries and errands in the latest … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Here come the shelter-in-place orders

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The shutdowns are getting shut-down-ier. Many of Texas’ biggest cities and counties are ordering residents to shelter in place whenever possible. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff on Monday evening ordered residents to stay in … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

The state of the state’s response

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, it’s something. Gov. Greg Abbott took multiple measures Sunday designed to expand hospital staffing and capacity in Texas, but declined to issue a statewide shelter-in-place order — even as calls for such an action increased as the new … Continue reading →

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

Does Houston have enough hospital capacity?

Posted on March 22, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

We sure hope so. Houston-area hospitals would not have enough resources to respond to a widespread outbreak of the coronavirus unless they take strong action to significantly increase capacity, according to new calculations released by Harvard University. Even in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 26 Comments

Another review of Judge Hidalgo’s first year

Posted on March 22, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Though, oddly enough in a story about Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s first year in office, most of the text is about outgoing Commissioner Steve Radack and the two-year-long temper tantrum he’s been throwing. For many years, the Harris County … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Reducing the coronavirus risk in jail

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This is an obvious step to take. More than 8,500 people are housed inside the Harris County jail, and thousands more move through the building and return to their communities each day to keep the criminal justice juggernaut running. Sheriff … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Statewide restrictions on public gatherings

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This was expected. Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday took sweeping action to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus across Texas, issuing an executive order that will close restaurants and schools, among other things. During a news conference at the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments