Monthly Archives: September 2014

Weekend link dump for September 7

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Ten things college professors hate. I’m going to guess teachers at other levels don’t like most of those things, too. Some employers are still being jerks about contraceptive coverage. “If we want to write Ulysses, our generation may not be … Continue reading →

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Davis’ abortion disclosure

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I agree with PDiddie that this is the big story of the weekend, and likely most of the upcoming week, too. State Sen. Wendy Davis, the Democratic candidate for governor, reveals in her new book that she terminated two pregnancies … Continue reading →

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No gigafactory for Texas

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

They’re going to Nevada. Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval announced Thursday that Tesla Motors will build a massive battery factory in the state as long as legislators approve tax breaks and other incentives worth up to $1.3 billion over 20 years. … Continue reading →

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Petition forgery case (probably) resolved

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Hadn’t seen an update on this in awhile. An appeals court has ruled that forged signatures will keep a candidate off the November ballot, a decision the Pasadena justice of the peace hopeful said she will appeal, But unless Leonila … Continue reading →

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Two data points on e-cigarettes

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The World Health Organization wants them to be regulated more strongly. Governments should ban the use of electronic cigarettes indoors and in public places and outlaw tactics to lure young users, the World Health Organization said in a report released … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Crocodile Rock

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

You know what you need? A video of Elton John on “The Muppet Show”, singing “Crocodile Rock” backed by Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem and a chorus of crocodiles, that’s what. The singing begins at about 1:46: How awesome … Continue reading →

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Davis proposes minimum wage increase

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Chronicle buries the lede. Down in the polls and facing an opponent with a cash advantage, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis on Thursday took her campaign to the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she told supporters the … Continue reading →

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Louisiana breaks the streak

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

One in every crowd, I guess. A federal judge [in New Orleans] upheld the state’s ban on same-sex marriage on Wednesday, going against what had been a unanimous trend of federal court decisions striking down such bans since the Supreme … Continue reading →

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The Third Ward

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Good story about a great historic neighborhood. In 1872, four influential African-American ministers and businessmen pooled $800 to buy 10 acres of land along Dowling Street. That was the birth of Emancipation Park, a safe place to celebrate Juneteenth and … Continue reading →

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A bike lane to connect to bike trails

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Makes sense. Houston may get its first protected on-street bike route as early as October, as city officials prepare to convert a lane of Lamar Street downtown into a two-way cycling path connecting the popular Buffalo Bayou trails west of … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten – O rly?

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Names that start with vowels are more interesting than names that start with consonants. I believe they had a lively debate on that topic on one of William F. Buckley’s shows. 1. Don’t Look Back In Anger – Oasis 2. … Continue reading →

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Fifth Circuit will hear HB2 enforcement arguments next Friday

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The temporary reprieve will last at least one more week. Texas abortion providers’ next hurdle in their legal fight against strict abortion regulations is set for next week in a hearing scheduled for federal court. State attorneys and lawyers representing … Continue reading →

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Complaint filed against Whitmire

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I think this is more a political stunt than anything else, but we’ll see. A conservative group has filed a criminal complaint against state Sen. John Whitmire, accusing him of coercion in an exchange of text messages with University of … Continue reading →

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Paxton’s “poll”

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, please. State Sen. Ken Paxton‘s campaign is touting a double-digit lead over his Democratic opponent in the race for Texas attorney general, citing a poll commissioned for his campaign and released Tuesday. The poll was performed by Wilson Perkins … Continue reading →

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Body cameras for HPD

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I’ll be very interested to see how this goes. Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland is asking City Hall for $8 million to equip 3,500 police officers over three years with small body cameras to record encounters between law enforcement and … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Judicial Q&A – Tracy Good

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote. … Continue reading →

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All married city employees may continue to receive spousal benefits for now

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. Married same-sex couples will continue to receive health and life insurance benefits from the city of Houston, a federal judge ruled Friday, pending the outcome of an appeal in a separate lawsuit. […] [Mayor Annise] Parker’s policy change … Continue reading →

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Let there be an AG debate

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I can’t think of any good reason why there shouldn’t be a debate between Sam Houston and Ken Paxton. Democratic candidate for attorney general Sam Houston wants his opponent, state Sen. Ken Paxton, to agree to a debate ahead of … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of September 1

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes everyone had a good Labor Day as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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It’s about more than the Davis campaign

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Gromer Jeffers highlighted something recently that I think hasn’t gotten enough attention. In her race for Texas governor, Wendy Davis’ sisters have her back. I’m not talking about her biological family. Davis is getting support from a group of female … Continue reading →

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What next for school finance?

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

That depends on the Attorney General and the Supreme Court, but one way or the other it’s up to the Legislature. State lawmakers from both parties agreed the responsibility for funding public schools falls on them. But history suggests the … Continue reading →

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Abbott appeals HB2 ruling

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. As expected, Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott filed an appeal to the 5th Circuit Court Sunday to overturn a recent federal court ruling that found parts of Texas’ abortion law, House Bill 2, unconstitutional. Abortion providers filed suit … Continue reading →

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Abbott keeps moving the debate goal posts

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s like he’s afraid to directly engage on the issues or something. Four days after Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott backed out of a planned debate with Democrat Wendy Davis in Dallas, it was unclear Tuesday whether there would be … Continue reading →

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Interview with Kim Ogg

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s time to start the interview series for the fall elections. As you know, I did interviews with various Democratic primary candidates earlier this year. As a rule, I’m not going to re-interview candidates that made it to the fall … Continue reading →

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Abbott’s voter registration persecution

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Now this is what a partisan witch hunt looks like. On an overcast Monday afternoon, officers in bulletproof vests swept into a house on Houston’s north side. The armed deputies and agents served a search warrant. They carted away computers, … Continue reading →

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Voter ID trial starts today

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

As one trial ends, the next one begins. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos in Corpus Christi will begin hearing arguments Tuesday on one of the nation’s most stringent voter ID measures, which Republican Gov. Rick Perry signed into law … Continue reading →

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Second phase of redistricting trial over

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Much like the first phase, with some insults for one of the state’s key players thrown in for effect. Lawyers with the U.S. Justice Department and minority groups said in closing arguments in federal court Tuesday that state lawmakers illegally … Continue reading →

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Now how much would you pay for Rick Perry’s lawyers?

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The tab has gone up. Gov. Rick Perry has billed taxpayers $133,000 to hire several lawyers to defend him against public corruption allegations, his office confirmed Friday. That’s more lawyers and more state money spent than previously disclosed. After Perry … Continue reading →

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It’s a great time to be a construction worker

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

For most people, anyway. On a conference call earlier this month, the president of Houston-based developer Camden Property Trust described what it’s like building apartments in markets where construction is booming and skilled workers are in short supply. “It’s a … Continue reading →

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