Tag Archives: Harris County

Is there any chance the GLO won’t screw Houston this time around?

Posted on May 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, maybe. Things can happen. I just wouldn’t count on it. Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday commended the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for ordering Texas to fix a Hurricane Harvey recovery plan that the federal agency … Continue reading →

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Hey look! Some info about mail ballots in the May election!

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not much, but I’ll take what I can get. For the second time in less than two weeks, Texans are heading back to the polls to decide on a host of statewide and local elections. Voters are deciding who … Continue reading →

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Tomorrow is Primary Runoff Day

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

You know the drill, this is your last chance to vote in the primary runoffs. We will finally have the 2022 lineup set for November and can concentrate all of our attention and attacks on the other guys. The map … Continue reading →

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Debtors’ court, part 2

Posted on May 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Also not good. One day last September, while trying to pay for groceries, Leslie Alvarez got the shock of her life. All the money in her bank account had disappeared. The Houston single mother called her bank. An employee told … Continue reading →

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So what did happen with the HD147 special election?

Posted on May 21, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I was alerted by a comment on an earlier post to this. Things are getting heated in the race to replace State Representative Garnet Coleman in District 147. Jolanda Jones narrowly won the race in Saturday’s special election with 202 … Continue reading →

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2022 primary runoff Day Five EV report: Yes, I have some info about mail ballots

Posted on May 21, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Early voting has concluded for the primary runoffs. Here’s the final EV report, and here are the final totals: Party Mail Early Total ============================== Dem 16,767 25,294 42,061 GOP 13,187 50,498 63,685 You can compare to Day Three. As is … Continue reading →

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On reporting election night results faster

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure about this. Ahead of next week’s primary runoff elections, Harris County officials are recruiting county staffers to help speed up the results by picking up ballots at polling locations and driving them to the county’s central count location. … Continue reading →

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2022 Kinder Houston Area Survey

Posted on May 19, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of optimism in here. Dr. Stephen Klineberg’s final survey of the Houston area leaves him with hope. Yes, residents are concerned about the economy and crime, and their mental health has not improved even as the COVID-19 pandemic has … Continue reading →

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2022 primary runoff Day Three EV report: Not quite as many mail ballots

Posted on May 19, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s get right to it. Here is the Day Three EV report for the primary runoffs. Here are the vote totals through Wednesday: Party Mail Early Total ============================== Dem 15,675 10,993 26,668 GOP 12,735 26,794 39,527 And as a reminder, … Continue reading →

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GLO prepares to screw Houston again on Harvey recovery funds

Posted on May 18, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Gird yourselves. Of the more than 300,000 homes in Texas damaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, none were in Coryell County. Located 220 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, this small agricultural county was not the place Congress had in … Continue reading →

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2022 primary runoff Day One EV report: Lots of mail ballots

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

No news story yet as I write this, so let’s just jump right in. Here is the Day One EV report for the primary runoffs. Note that there are only five days of early voting in the runoff – as … Continue reading →

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Primary checkup

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Let me start this post off by once again noting that I cannot find any reporting, like at all, about how many mail ballots were rejected for the May elections. Just nothing. It’s as if interest in the subject by … Continue reading →

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SCOTx ponders the questions the Fifth Circuit asked it about SB1

Posted on May 15, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like there’s not that much in dispute, but there’s always something. Texas Supreme Court justices questioned during oral argument if they should answer certified questions from a federal appeals court about challenges to an election law that created penalties … Continue reading →

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Early voting for the May 24 primary runoffs starts tomorrow

Posted on May 15, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

You know the drill. Primary runoffs are on, with early voting going on this week, Monday to Friday May 16 to May 20. Because it’s a runoff, you only get those five days. Voting happens from 7 AM to 7 … Continue reading →

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Yes, you can use toll road funds for non-road projects

Posted on May 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Who knew? Surplus revenues from Harris County’s toll road system for years have paid for improvements to nearby roads and infused funds into street rebuilds around the county. Now, the Harris County Toll Road Authority is about to go off-road. … Continue reading →

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The injury totals from AstroWorld

Posted on May 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

A lot of people were seriously hurt at that event. More than 700 people were seriously injured during November’s Astroworld Festival tragedy, according to new court documents filed in Harris County this week. Plaintiffs attorneys Jason Atkin, Richard Mithoff and … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Reruns

Posted on May 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron re-endorses Lesley Briones for Commissioners Court Precinct 4 in the Democratic primary runoff. The crowded Democratic race for Harris County Precinct 4 commissioner has narrowed, but the runoff remains competitive. Because of new precinct boundary lines, which include … Continue reading →

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Actually, May Election Day vote reporting was basically fine

Posted on May 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

This headline is correct, but it leaves out some relevant details. Even with help from constable’s offices, Harris County again was the last of the state’s largest counties to finish counting Saturday’s election results, turning its final tally to the … Continue reading →

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Missing In Harris County Day 2022

Posted on May 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: For those with missing loved ones and those who would advocate for them, an annual event May 14th in Houston is the place to be for resources, awareness, and more. May 14, 2022, is Missing in Harris … Continue reading →

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Oh yeah, Hotze knew all about the Aguirre attack

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Who could have ever guessed that a lifelong lying lair was lying to us? Two days before a private investigator looking into a voter fraud conspiracy theory smashed into an air conditioning repairman’s truck and pulled a gun on him, far-right activist Steven … Continue reading →

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Two judges sanctioned by Judicial Conduct Commission

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Not a good look, and really bad timing for one of them. A pair of Harris County civil court judges have been sanctioned for behavior in their courtrooms, with one judge allowing the shackling of attorneys and another erupting into … Continue reading →

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May 7 election results

Posted on May 8, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Very briefly… The two constitutional amendments passed overwhelmingly. I began writing this post at around 8 PM when all we had were early voting results, but statewide in early voting both propositions were over 85%. They were at 86% and … Continue reading →

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Tomorrow is May Election Day

Posted on May 6, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Vote if you haven’t, then get ready to vote again in the primary runoffs. Texas’ constitutional amendment election will take place on Saturday, May 7. There are local propositions on the ballot, too, which vary by region. But at the … Continue reading →

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May 2022 special election Day Nine EV report: I still have no idea what’s happening with mail ballots

Posted on May 5, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday was the last day for early voting in the May 7 special statewide election and other races. This Chron story rather belatedly gives an overview of the various contests on the ballot. You know what it doesn’t even mention … Continue reading →

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May 2022 special election Day Seven EV report: Hey, this thing is almost over

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

As of today, there are just two days of early voting left for the May 2022 election, whether regular or special depending on who you are and what you may have to vote for. Election Day is on Saturday, so … Continue reading →

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Debtors’ court

Posted on May 1, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

This is not good. In this court and others in Bexar County, debt collection lawsuits more than doubled from 2012 to 2020. “I’m trying to manage this behemoth, but there are some guidelines I have to follow as well,” said … Continue reading →

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May 2022 special election Day Four EV report: Checking in on the mail ballots

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

In my first look at early voting for the May special election, I noted the fairly large number of mail ballots that had been cast so far in Harris County and wondered if we would hear about mail ballot rejections … Continue reading →

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The New Orleans perspective on the Ike Dike

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. Kelly Burks-Copes braces herself against the wind and marches past the ruins of Fort San Jacinto, a strategic spot on a sandy, wave-battered point where Spain, France, the Republic of Texas, the Confederacy and the United States have … Continue reading →

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May 2022 special election Day One EV report: There were how many mail ballots?

Posted on April 27, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Hey, it’s early voting time for the May 2022 special election. You know what that means, so here’s your Day One EV report for it. And here’s a comparison for Day One with the two most recent countywide elections: Election … Continue reading →

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Where are the endorsements?

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, early voting has begun for the May 7 election, which includes two Constitutional amendments and the special election for HCC District 2. As of last night when I drafted this, I see no endorsements in any of … Continue reading →

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What is going on at CrimeStoppers?

Posted on April 25, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever it is, I’m not sure how to stop it. “Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.” That message, along with the promise of a reward, has appeared for decades at the end of news reports … Continue reading →

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Early voting for the May 7 elections begins tomorrow

Posted on April 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We all have at least one election to vote in, so get ready to get out there. On May 7, Texas voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on two proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, as well as … Continue reading →

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New bail bond rules survive initial court challenge

Posted on April 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

There are a couple of stories all rolled into this, so my apologies for any confusion. A ruling by a Harris County judge Friday will allow a recently-approved policy requiring bail bond agents to charge some defendants a 10 percent … Continue reading →

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State task force recommendations on AstroWorld

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. To avoid a repeat of the mayhem at last year’s deadly Astroworld Festival, Texas needs to standardize its event permitting process, establish “clearly outlined triggers” for stopping shows and ensure local public safety agencies are organized in a clear … Continue reading →

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