Tag Archives: Harris County

Let’s renegotiate that lease

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

How sweet it is, for the Texans. As county leaders and officials with Bob McNair’s nascent football team were closing in on a deal for a new football stadium in the early 2000s, the Texans landed a late concession that … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yet another part of the omnibus vote suppression law struck down

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

It’s taken awhile, but I can’t argue with the outcome. A federal judge in San Antonio has ruled that the state of Texas’ ID requirements for mail ballot applications are unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez on Thursday found that … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Pauline Road Fire

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is a little close for comfort. Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough declared a local state of disaster as a 2,000-acre wildfire in Sam Houston National Forest prompted over 900 home evacuations and school closures. The disaster declaration comes as … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eric Dick arrested on misdemeanor assault charge

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

In the news again. Well-known Houston lawyer and Harris County Department of Education Trustee Eric Dick faces a misdemeanor assault charge, adding to his legal and ethical troubles. The Houston Police Department arrested Dick on March 7 for hitting a … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Get rid of the delinquent tax collectors

Posted on March 15, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I’m glad Harris County is out of this business. Texas has the seventh-highest property taxes in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation, an unwelcome distinction state officials have for years tried to shed as they have repeatedly promised to … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Get rid of the delinquent tax collectors

Repair Cafés

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is very cool. The Harris County’s Katherine Tyra Branch Library [was] crowded with toolboxes, sewing machines and piles of spare parts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m on Saturday, as volunteer fixers help area residents mend everything from broken appliances to … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Repair Cafés

Bill to fix joint primary problem introduced

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Worth watching. What happened? Texas state senators Thursday held a public hearing on legislation crafted to update a 2023 law requiring certain counties to drastically increase the number of polling locations if they use vote centers for countywide voting. Last … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Bill to fix joint primary problem introduced

It’s been a rough flu season

Posted on March 2, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Turning our attention to a different infectious disease. The flu is inflicting more fever-coughing-aching misery across Houston and much of the U.S. than it has in years. While most people will recover, thousands have already died during the 2024-2025 flu … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on It’s been a rough flu season

Here’s the latest edition of the Eric Dick Chronicles

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Trouble sure does seem to find him. A U.S. District judge accused Houston attorney Eric Dick of falsifying the signature of a dead appraiser and threatened potential disbarment and charges of perjury and wire fraud. Dick, a trustee on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Multiple challengers line up for Fort Bend County Judge

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see if they’re competing for an open seat or not. Another Democrat has entered the race for Fort Bend County Judge in 2026. Eddie Sajjad, an entrepreneur and political consultant, announced his candidacy earlier this month. Former Precinct 3 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2026 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Multiple challengers line up for Fort Bend County Judge

SCOTx hears appeal of lawsuits over Winter Storm Uri deaths

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The question at issue is whether anyone can be sued, since at this point there are no defendants left. The Texas Supreme Court revisited the deadly mass outages of the 2021 freeze on its fourth anniversary during a Wednesday hearing, which … Continue reading →

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

If the Texans want a new stadium, they can build it themselves

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, no. When Texans owner Cal McNair named a new team president last month, the first thing he touted about Mike Tomon’s resume was his “extensive history in stadium development.” Tomon was previously an executive at Legends, a stadium operations … Continue reading →

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

Some background on the measles outbreak

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

NBC News did some reporting on the growing measles outbreak in West Texas. On Friday, the number of confirmed cases rose to 49, up from 24 earlier in the week, the state health department said. The majority of those cases are in … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Solar For All grants caught in a trap

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

They can’t get out, at least not at this time. More than $400 million in federal funding for Texas-based organizations to implement clean energy programs remains frozen, jeopardizing efforts to expand access to rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems in … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Solar For All grants caught in a trap

Yeah, still more measles

Posted on February 15, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The number keeps going up. As a West Texas measles outbreak continues to worsen, experts are concerned an increase in nonmedical vaccine exemptions among schoolchildren could make such outbreaks more common. Twenty-four cases of the highly contagious respiratory illness have … Continue reading →

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

RRC finds no fault in that Energy Transfer Pipeline explosion

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

What’s a giant fireball among friends, am I right? An investigation by Texas regulators into the massive pipeline explosion in Deer Park last fall has found no safety violations by the pipeline’s operator Energy Transfer Company – a determination drawing … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on RRC finds no fault in that Energy Transfer Pipeline explosion

2024 was a bad year for traffic deaths in Houston

Posted on February 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Not really a surprise, unfortunately. Asked amid a flurry of design changes and shifts in street policy whether he was abandoning Houston’s goal of eliminating vehicle deaths by 2030, Mayor John Whitmire in February 2024 said a goal for the future … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 2024 was a bad year for traffic deaths in Houston

Still more measles

Posted on February 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Still nothing to freak out about! Right!? At least 10 cases of measles — eight of which are among school-aged children — have been reported in Gaines County in West Texas over the past two weeks, driving worries of an … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Still more measles

Hollins’ warning about the budget

Posted on February 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is where we are. Houston could face a $330 million deficit in the next fiscal year – up by approximately $100 million after the Texas Supreme Court denied the city’s motion to appeal a years-long court battle over street … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Hollins’ warning about the budget

Menefee gets the go ahead to fight against Trump executive orders

Posted on February 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Go get ’em. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee wants to go on the offense against President Donald Trump’s executive orders, which he argues would have lasting effects on Harris County. Harris County Commissioners approved the county attorney’s request to pursue litigation … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters, Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Remaining former Hidalgo staffer gets pre-trial intervention plea

Posted on February 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is basically a deferred dismissal of the charges. The former chief of staff for County Judge Lina Hidalgo accepted a pre-trial intervention deal Thursday on one charge linked to a controversial COVID-19 contract, ending a years-long political saga that … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Remaining former Hidalgo staffer gets pre-trial intervention plea

Hotze gets a pause on his civil trial

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Oh for crying out loud. The Texas Supreme Court stayed proceedings in a civil lawsuit filed against Republican activist Steven Hotze, amid his attempt to block claims over the alleged attack of a man targeted in a voter fraud conspiracy … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

There are bills to require backup power for nursing homes and assisted living facilities

Posted on February 4, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good, but it’s a long way from filing to passing. When a storm hits the Texas coast during the summer hurricane season, state Sen. Borris Miles knows among the first calls he’ll get is from a constituent letting him know … Continue reading →

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

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund analysis of the 2024 election

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund—a political action committee that is building and improving infrastructure to create conditions under which Democrats can win in Texas—released its preliminary breakdown of the 2024 election results. The data analysis, conducted in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

More measles

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing to see here! At least four cases of measles, including two involving school-aged children, have been reported in Texas in less than two weeks, putting state health agencies on alert. For some communities, this is the first case of … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on More measles

Driver who caused the Energy Transfer pipeline fire ruled to have died by suicide

Posted on January 31, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The report has not been published yet, so there are still questions to be answered. The driver who caused a massive pipeline explosion and fire in Deer Park last fall died by suicide, according to the Harris County medical examiner’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Driver who caused the Energy Transfer pipeline fire ruled to have died by suicide

Charges dismissed against two of Hidalgo’s former aides

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Well, well, well. Criminal cases against at least two of County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s former employees have been dismissed by the Office of the Attorney General, nearly two weeks since District Attorney Sean Teare recused himself of the prosecutions. Prosecutors under Attorney … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Charges dismissed against two of Hidalgo’s former aides

How deep is this funding freeze?

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The chaos is the point. Houston and Harris County on Tuesday were scrambling to figure out the potential impact of President Donald Trump’s pause on federal grants and aid, a move local officials said could hold up hundreds of millions … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

January 2025 campaign finance reports – Harris County offices

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

You know the drill here. Start of the year, we review all of the relevant campaign finance reports. Harris County races are the main event for 2026, at least at this time. I won’t mind if there are some other … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024, Election 2026 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

GLO contests the allegations on their Harvey screw job

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Going through the motions here, since we all know that Justice Department investigation will never happen. Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has penned a letter to federal law enforcement officials encouraging them to reject “unsubstantiated findings” submitted by the U.S. Department … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on GLO contests the allegations on their Harvey screw job

Precinct analysis: County races 2024 part 2

Posted on January 21, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

PREVIOUSLY: President Senate Railroad Commissioner District Attorney and County Attorney Last time we looked at the low-performing countywide races for Democrats. This time it’s the three races where Dems did the best. The starting place is exactly where you’d expect … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Precinct analysis: County races 2024 part 2

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Posted on January 19, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

We all have a role to play in slowing its spread. Communities in Texas are being urged to take action to slow the spread of bird flu in the avian population. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) offers suggestions … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

DA’s office recused from Hidalgo aides’ case

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Done and done. A judge signed off on Harris County prosecutors handing their case against three former employees for County Judge Lina Hidalgo to the Texas attorney general, effectively ridding District Attorney Sean Teare’s office of the politically fraught charges … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on DA’s office recused from Hidalgo aides’ case

Justice Department asked to investigate GLO’s screw job of Houston on Harvey funds

Posted on January 17, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure that late is actually better than never in this case, but here we are. A complaint stemming from the Texas General Land Office’s allocation of Harvey disaster recovery funds, which originally awarded no money to Houston or Harris … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments