Monthly Archives: September 2016

Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 15

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

And on we go… 1. Criminal – Fiona Apple 2. Tusk – Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie) 3. Kiss With A Fist – Florence And The Machine (Florence Welch) 4. Prisoners Of Their Hairdos – Four Bitchin’ Babes (Patty … Continue reading →

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More on Republican turnout concerns

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a thing that is happening, though it’s hard to say to what extent. On Monday, one of the most prominent Republicans in Texas has a warning for supporters that Texas could go blue this election. Governor Greg Abbott is … Continue reading →

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Clean Power Plan’s day in the DC court

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see how it goes. Dozens of lawyers from the government, industry and public interest groups packed the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, to hear the divisive case that comes just weeks before a heated presidential election … Continue reading →

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More lawyers for the bail practices lawsuit

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I’m still not thrilled about this. Harris County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to add another law firm to the county’s court fight against bail reform, a group whose job will be representing 16 county criminal judges who were recently added … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Continuing a trend

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes their criminal district court endorsements, and in doing so they stick to a pattern. 174th Criminal District Court: Hazel B. Jones In this race to replace Judge Ruben Guerrero, voters should go with Democratic candidate Hazel B. … Continue reading →

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Taco the vote

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Now you’re talking. MI FAMILIA VOTA is accustomed to registering voters in unusual places, such as the food court at the UH Student Center where we caught up with Maria Villenas last month. Villenas is Houston’s civic engagement lead for … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Early eminent domain dispute for Texas Central

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It was over before it started. Lawyers for a proposed high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas withdrew their request for entry to a local landowner’s property, after opponents and the landowner opposed it in front of a Harris County … Continue reading →

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Commissioners Court approves Astrodome parking plan

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. Harris County commissioners approved the first piece of a $105 million plan to transform the stadium into part parking garage and part event space for things like concerts and trade shows. After years of indecision, advocates for … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of September 26

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes Tom “Smitty” Smith a happy and healthy retirement as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Judicial Q&A: Judge Mike Engelhart

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: I ran a series of judicial Q&As for Democratic candidates in contested primaries earlier this year. I am now doing the same for the candidates who were unopposed in March, which includes most of the sitting incumbent judges. As … Continue reading →

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It’s not just Precinct 4

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There are problems with evidence rooms in other Constable precincts as well. With Harris County’s Precinct 4 Constable’s Office mired in scandal over the improper destruction of 21,000 pieces of evidence, serious evidence cataloging and control problems also have been … Continue reading →

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

Coming back to the US90A rail extension

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of talk, and a case for action sooner rather than later. A Metro rail extension from southern Houston to Missouri City is gaining momentum, fueled by rare near-unanimous support from local, state and federal officials who represent the area. … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Sung in the special

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses Anne Sung in the HISD special election. Out of the four names on the ballot, Anne Sung is the only candidate who will be prepared to do a good job immediately. Sung, 38, a product of HISD … Continue reading →

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Voter registration way up statewide

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That’s a lot. Nearly 15 million people are now registered to vote in Texas, a state record. Texas currently has more than 14.8 million voters registered — over 1 million more than were registered in the 2012 presidential election, according … Continue reading →

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Rep. Dawnna Dukes to resign

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Our first special election for 2017 is now on the clock. State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, who is facing a criminal investigation over her use of state funds, will resign from her seat in the Texas House in January, according to … Continue reading →

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Back to court for the Clean Power Plan

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. One of the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s final acts on Earth may have been to doom it. Last February, on the final Tuesday of Scalia’s life, the Supreme Court handed down a 5–4 decision suspending the Obama … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Against recapture

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron recommends a No vote on the forthcoming HISD referendum to authorize recapture. Voters will face a test on Election Day, and whether they answer correctly will determine the future of the Houston Independent School District. It should be … Continue reading →

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Interview with Ben Rose

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

There are basically two interesting legislative races in the Houston area this November. The first is HD144, where former Rep. Mary Ann Perez should reclaim her seat against 2014 winner Rep. Gilbert Pena. I did an interview with Perez for … Continue reading →

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The Astrodome parking proposal is about to get real

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here it comes. Harris County commissioners are poised to make their largest investment yet in the Astrodome’s future next week. They are slated to vote on the first piece of a $105 million plan to raise the ground level two … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

The next abortion lawsuit should be on its way

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We were warned it would need to happen. Despite intense outcry from the medical community, reproductive rights advocates and funeral directors, Texas isn’t budging on a proposed rule to require the cremation or burial of fetal remains. Following an initial … Continue reading →

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McMullin will “appear” on the ballot

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

To the extent that a write-in candidate “appears” on the ballot, anyway. Texas voters will be able to vote for former CIA operative Evan McMullin for president in November. The Texas secretary of state’s office on Friday certified McMullin, who … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for September 25

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Density is easier said than done. Beware of ransomware, and know how to protect yourself. If you want to know how much time you’re going to spend watching TV this fall, this can tell you. You’re on your own for … Continue reading →

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Kinder Institute analyzes Mayor Turner’s pension reform plan

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Rice University’s Kinder Institute has done the preliminary math on Mayor Sylvester Turner’s historic pension reform plan and determined the numbers appear to add up if all of the components are implemented as envisioned. The institute is … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Internal report on Precinct 4 evidence destruction

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The more you look, the worse it appears. One of the first hints of anything awry in the Precinct 4 property room came in an email from evidence manager Christopher T. Hess. Harris County District Attorney “Investigator Kerry Gillie called … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

School district to join lawsuit over STAAR test

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. Ben Becker, the Houston father who helped organize a legal fight over last year’s STAAR exams, has repeatedly challenged superintendents over the last few months to join him in court to fight for their students. Becker describes his group … Continue reading →

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Rice prof wins MacArthur grant

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Awesome! Babies were dying in the Malawi hospital and there was little Rebecca Richards-Kortum could do about it. For Richards-Kortum, a bioengineering professor at Rice University, it was a heartbreaking realization, one that haunted her as she toured the modest … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Mele Kalikimaka

Posted on September 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

We’re going to have a little Christmas in September these next couple of weeks, starting with this oldie from Bing Crosby: I believe that’s the Andrews Sisters joining him as well. This is one of those songs, which were fairly … Continue reading →

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State files inevitable voter ID appeal to SCOTUS

Posted on September 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. Texas wants to take its voter identification battle to the U.S. Supreme Court. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday asked the justices to hear his arguments about why the state’s photo ID requirements for voting do not … Continue reading →

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Good riddance to a bad judge

Posted on September 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Meet federal district judge Walter Smith. Now say a long overdue goodbye to him. One of Texas’ strictest federal judges — serving a year’s ban from hearing cases after being slapped hard by a panel of appeals court judges last … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

ACLU intervenes in transgender health care suit

Posted on September 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. The ACLU and ACLU of Texas are getting involved in a lawsuit over a regulation in the Affordable Care Act. In August, Texas filed a lawsuit against federal regulations that prohibit healthcare discrimination against people who are … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Let your conscience be your guide

Posted on September 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That Ted Cruz sure does stay firm to his principles, doesn’t he? U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz endorsed Donald Trump on Friday after months of withholding his support from the Republican presidential nominee who defeated him in the primaries. “After many … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 14

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Girl groups of old and of new this week. 1. Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby – Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch 2. Pony (It’s OK) – Erin McCarley 3. I’d Rather Go Blind – Etta James 4. … Continue reading →

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UH Hobby School (Harris County only): Clinton 43, Trump 34

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I have many thoughts about this. Between September 1 and September 20, 2016, the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs conducted a telephone survey of 550 Harris County registered voters as part of a larger Hobby School study … Continue reading →

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More on the Precinct 4 evidence destruction scandal

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of cases have been compromised. District Attorney Devon Anderson’s office first learned in April that the mistaken destruction of evidence in Harris County’s Precinct 4 had likely compromised more than a thousand criminal cases, including more than 400 in … Continue reading →

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