Author Archives: Charles Kuffner

Federal court blocks Texas mid-decade gerrymander

Posted on November 19, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. Texas cannot use its new congressional map for the 2026 election and will instead need to stick with the lines passed in 2021, a three-judge panel ruled Tuesday. The decision is a major blow for Republicans, in Texas and … Continue reading →

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Another ruling against the Ten Commandments law

Posted on November 19, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Two for two so far. A federal judge sided with 15 Texas families suing public school districts — including Conroe ISD — to stop the Ten Commandments from being displayed in classrooms, saying the requirement interferes with their religious freedoms. … Continue reading →

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UT hasn’t decided on that protection racket yet

Posted on November 19, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Choose wisely. And quickly. The University of Texas at Austin hasn’t said whether it will sign an agreement with the Trump administration that would tie preferential access to federal funding to a series of campus policy changes, even as other … Continue reading →

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CD18 runoff set for January 31

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars. Gov. Greg Abbott has set Jan. 31 as the date of the special election runoff for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, meaning the Houston-based seat will remain vacant for over two more months. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee … Continue reading →

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Texas National Guard coming home from Chicago

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Hopefully in time for Thanksgiving. Texas National Guard troops are expected to soon return from Illinois amid legal challenges that halt their deployment to the Chicago area, several media outlets reported this weekend. In early October, Gov. Greg Abbott authorized the federal … Continue reading →

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The last penny has been minted

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

A moment of silence, please. The U.S. ended production of the penny Wednesday, abandoning the 1-cent coins that were embedded in American culture for more than 230 years but became nearly worthless. When it was introduced in 1793, a penny could buy … Continue reading →

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The clown show that is the pro-casino interests in Texas

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Just amazing stuff. After a string of legislative defeats in 2025, a test of the political power of those pushing to legalize gambling in Texas fell flat again in last week’s elections. Republican John Huffman, the former mayor of Southlake, … Continue reading →

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Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin?

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Someone’s pushing for it. Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin is garnering support to potentially be chosen by Harris County leadership as the new interim county attorney as they contend with a potential opening. Kamin has gathered a list of … Continue reading →

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The rainbow crosswalk ban comes for Buddy Holly

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. An order from Gov. Greg Abbott has made rainbow crosswalks celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride disappear across Texas. But Abbott’s directive also has one of Lubbock, Texas’ most famous residents catching strays. As part of Abbott and … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for November 16

Posted on November 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

“How a flock of Canadian ostriches became a favorite MAHA cause”. “My inland neighbors and Republicans across the county should take Prop 50 as a wake-up call. If voters want their ballots to count under fairly drawn maps, there’s a … Continue reading →

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There are four lawsuits against Camp Mystic

Posted on November 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Updating the count. The Houston family of 9-year-old Ellen Getten, who died when floodwaters overwhelmed Camp Mystic on July 4, is suing the private Christian girls’ summer camp, saying it and its operators are guilty of “gross negligence.” Their lawsuit, filed … Continue reading →

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Whooping cough hits a new high

Posted on November 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Thanks, anti-vaxxers! Couldn’t have done this without you. More than 3,500 cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, cases have been reported in Texas so far this year, already reaching a 11-year high even though two more highly infectious months are … Continue reading →

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The Rice Gateway Project

Posted on November 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Looks cool. Rice University is launching a massive $120 million project to renovate its historic Rice Stadium and to connect the west side of campus to Rice Village with a new pedestrian walkway. The so-called “Gateway Project” is expected to … Continue reading →

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Trump Justice Department joins lawsuit against California redistricting

Posted on November 15, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this was inevitable. The Justice Department on Thursday sued to block new congressional district boundaries approved by California voters last week, joining a court battle that could help determine which party wins control of the U.S. House in 2026. The complaint … Continue reading →

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Ron Nirenberg to run for Bexar County Judge

Posted on November 15, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has filed paperwork to run for Bexar County Judge, all but confirming the nature of a “big announcement” he plans to make this Saturday. Speculation has swirled in recent weeks that Nirenberg will challenge … Continue reading →

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Tesla robotaxis are coming to Houston

Posted on November 15, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Eventually. Real Soon Now. When Elon gets around to it. Tesla plans to bring its driverless robotaxi service to Houston, following CEO Elon Musk’s announcement that safety drivers will be phased out in Austin by the end of 2025. Musk … Continue reading →

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So now what for the hemp business?

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I can think of one thing they should do. As part of the spending deal to end the government shutdown, federal lawmakers approved a provision cracking down on hemp products containing THC, restoring a ban Texas Republicans sought to impose … Continue reading →

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Mike Collier to run for Lite Guv as an independent

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

What are you doing, Mike? Mike Collier, a two-time Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, announced on Thursday that he is again running to be the state’s second-in-command — but this time as an independent. Collier, an accountant and auditor, lost … Continue reading →

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Paxton sues Harris County over immigrant legal services

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This fucking guy, I swear. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Harris County for allocating county funds to programs that help undocumented people get access to legal support. The county, home to Houston, created the Immigrant Legal Services Fund … Continue reading →

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Texas sues Roblox

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is a new one on me. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the online gaming platform Roblox for allegedly exposing children to sexually explicit content and exploitation, the latest in a flurry of lawsuits from his office aimed … Continue reading →

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Chris Bell to run for Governor

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Chris Bell, former U.S. Congressman, launched his Texas Gubernatorial campaign Monday, November 10, 2025, at the Texas Capitol in Austin. Bell enters the Texas Governor’s race with years of public service experience and a successful record of … Continue reading →

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Paxton and Jolt sue each other

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Dude’s definitely running to win a primary. He’s thirstier than a marathon runner in Arizona. Jolt Initiative, a nonprofit that aims to increase civic participation among Latinos, is suing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to block his efforts to shut … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of November 10

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is feeling blue in the good way as it brings you this week’s roundup. Off the Kuff has some initial election analysis and some good news from the school board races. SocraticGadfly notes that the push … Continue reading →

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Two lawsuits filed against Camp Mystic

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is going to be rough. The families of six campers and two counselors who died in the July floods at Camp Mystic in Hunt, west of Kerrville, filed two separate lawsuits suing the the camp and members of the … Continue reading →

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A backdoor THC ban

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. Or maybe this was the plan all along. The Texas hemp industry, fresh from fending off an all-out ban by the state Legislature, is facing another extinction-level event — this time from Congress. The U.S. Senate on Monday night … Continue reading →

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Recall effort officially falls short

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

They were not close. A much-hyped effort to recall Houston Mayor John Whitmire from office — the subject of multiple news stories and social media posts over the past year — fell significantly short of its goal as the 30-day … Continue reading →

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Whitmire finally admits that HPD is cooperating with ICE

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Goddamn it. Houston Mayor John Whitmire acknowledged Saturday that the city is cooperating with federal immigration authorities after denying for months that Houston police would get involved with immigration enforcement. Whitmire was a guest speaker at a conference Saturday hosted by former Kemah Mayor Bill King, a fellow at Rice … Continue reading →

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Paxton sues Galveston ISD over Ten Commandments display

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

We need some real guidance here. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Galveston Independent School District on Friday for not following a new state law requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms while the legislation is challenged in … Continue reading →

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San Antonio and Dallas to fight the rainbow crosswalk ban

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them! San Antonio has formally asked the Texas Department of Transportation to approve an exemption allowing the city to keep its rainbow-colored crosswalks at North Main Avenue and East Evergreen Street, arguing that the intersection has become safer … Continue reading →

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Rep. Al Green to run in the new CD18

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. U.S. Rep. Al Green announced Friday that he plans to run in the redrawn 18th Congressional District, setting up a competitive primary between the longtime Houston Democrat and whichever candidate wins the upcoming special election runoff to decide … Continue reading →

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The Loving County Election 2022 rerun

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Loving County wraps up one of its ongoing story lines. It might have been the longest election campaign for the shortest office term in recent Texas history. Loving County Justice of the Peace Angela Medlin, County/District Clerk Mozelle Carr and Commissioner … Continue reading →

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Paxton targeted for mortgage fraud

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing is likely to ever come out of this, but pass the popcorn anyway. The Trump administration has used allegations of mortgage fraud as a cudgel against the president’s political enemies in New York and California. Now, a small-town official … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for November 9

Posted on November 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

“A Review of Grokipedia, Using Myself as Test Subject”. Spoiler alert, it’s not great. “Anti-Vax Facebook Groups Ushered in Our Current MAHA Nightmare”. “Big Tech may have outfoxed regulators and its workforce, but [Cory] Doctorow sees a reckoning coming. Absent … Continue reading →

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Another story about Taylor Rehmet

Posted on November 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This one has more numbers in it. Despite the district’s solid-red reputation, Democrat Taylor Rehmet won the most votes in a Tuesday special election for vacant Senate District 9. The district, represented by Kelly Hancock since 2013, encompasses northern Tarrant … Continue reading →

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