Monthly Archives: December 2016

Fighting the bathroom bill

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It will take all hands on deck. During a panel discussion hosted by the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, [Sen. Sylvia] Garcia suggested that lawmakers should concentrate on issues like education funding and the state’s ongoing child welfare crisis. “It’s a … Continue reading →

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

The new Sheriff in town

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sheriff-elect Ed Gonzalez has his work cut out for him. When newly elected Sheriff Ed Gonzalez takes office on Jan. 1, he will face a tangle of budget, staffing and jail inmate safety issues inherited from more than a decade … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Booker T for Mayor

Posted on December 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Well, this is different. Now that a WWE Hall of Famer is preparing to take the White House, a fellow honoree wants to take over Houston. Booker T., a wrestling legend and Houston native, said Saturday night that he’s in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Chief Acevedo’s priorities

Posted on December 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

They sound good to me. When Houston police officers shot and killed an armed man standing in a street intersection this summer, officers’ body cameras taped the incident – but the recordings didn’t start until after the man had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Chief Acevedo’s priorities

The religious objection to the “fetal remains” rule

Posted on December 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It may not be your religion, but who are we to tell people of sincere religious faith what to do? “The Satanic Temple believes burial rites are a well-established component of religious practice. In addition, members of The Satanic Temple … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for December 18

Posted on December 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

A practical guide for resisting the Trump agenda. Honestly, the fact that Pope Francis would use the term “coprophilia” in an analogy about fake news is almost enough to make me want to go to church again. Ten things you … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for December 18

Ogg does some housecleaning

Posted on December 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure there will be more of this to come. Harris County’s new district attorney made clear Friday that she will fire dozens of prosecutors in a massive shake-up when she takes office on Jan. 1. Kim Ogg, who was … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Galveston wants a bag ban

Posted on December 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck. Reacting to a groundswell of concern about the effect of plastic bags on the environment, Galveston is on the forefront of a statewide controversy over cities’ ability to ban plastic bags that are killing turtles, birds and fouling … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

It’s Santa season

Posted on December 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ho, ho, ho, y’all. For two months of the year, Houston aircraft mechanic Lance McLean trades in his coveralls at the end of the day for a red Santa suit. This year, McLean will don the suit 49 times, beginning … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on It’s Santa season

Saturday video break: Never Gonna Give You Up

Posted on December 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, you just got rickrolled: I suppose it doesn’t count if you know it’s coming. All that I can say is that if there’s a more 80s video than that, I don’t know what it is. Now for the song … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Who wants to be an HISD Trustee?

Posted on December 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s your chance, to fill in for Greg Meyers, whose resignation took effect on Friday. Board members plan to appoint a new trustee to fill the vacancy by its Jan. 12 meeting. To qualify, one must live within the boundaries … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2017 | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Who wants to be an HISD Trustee?

Who is paying for public education

Posted on December 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The state is paying less, while local districts are paying more. The state of Texas will spend a projected $40.5 billion on public education during the current 2016-17 budget period, and when state officials tell you they’re spending more on … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Who is paying for public education

The coming measles outbreak

Posted on December 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I hope we’re wrong about this. Peter Hotez used to worry mostly about vaccines for children in far-away places. An infectious diseases researcher at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, Hotez is developing shots against diseases in poorer countries … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math, The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The coming measles outbreak

Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 25

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

A little bit of Texas in this list. 1. Roadside Attractions – Marcia Ball 2. You And I – Margaret Glaspy 3. Black Magick – Marie Minerva 4. Love is Teasin’ – Marianne Faithful and The Chieftains 5. This Is … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Friday random ten: Ladies’ night, part 25

“Fetal remains” rule put on hold

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge has delayed Texas’ fetal remains burial rule until Jan. 6. Judge Sam Sparks ruled Thursday afternoon that the Texas Department of State Health Services would have to push back its start date for requiring health providers … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Paxton wants SEC’s documents on him

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

More twists and turns. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s attorneys have gone to court, seeking to force the Securities and Exchange Commission to produce notes of their interviews with the investors whose allegations form the basis of the civil case … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton wants SEC’s documents on him

Driverless Ubers arrive in San Francisco

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here they come, ready or not. Uber has always had a special relationship with this city. The ride-hailing company was founded and headquartered here. In its early days, one of the towns where Uber grew fastest was its hometown. On … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Driverless Ubers arrive in San Francisco

Texas AFL-CIO wants to be the defendant in the overtime case

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Because they don’t trust the feds post-January 20 to do the job for them. “We’re not saying that the Department of Labor and the Department of Justice haven’t forcefully defended the regulations [so far], but as for whether that will … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas AFL-CIO wants to be the defendant in the overtime case

Council approves Uber deal

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I’d forgotten about this. Uber will remain operating in Houston at least through the Super Bowl, after City Council approved changes to the city’s paid ride rules ironed out between the popular ride-hailing service and Mayor Sylvester Turner. Council members, … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Yale Street bridge reopening sooner than expected

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Hooray! Christmas 2017 is coming very early for Heights area commuters, now that transportation officials have confirmed that the new Yale Street bridge will open in early February – roughly 10 months ahead of the previous schedule. “They’re working fast,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Yale Street bridge reopening sooner than expected

Texas blog roundup for the week of December 12

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance can remember a time when Republicans thought Russian meddling into our affairs was a bad thing as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of December 12

On welcoming immigrants

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Turner puts out the welcome mat for a key part of Houston’s community. A press conference Monday morning to announce the unveiling of Houston’s Office of New Americans and Immigrant Communities evolved into a denunciation by city officials of … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Abbott says something about bathrooms

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Typically wishy-washy of him. Gov. Greg Abbott is adopting a wait-and-see approach about anticipated legislation that would prohibit transgender people in Texas from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. “I have not seen any proposed legislation yet,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Complete Transportation Guide To Super Bowl LI

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

For which the tl;dr version is don’t drive in or near downtown if you can at all help it. More than 1 million people are expected to converge on downtown Houston during the week leading up to Super Bowl LI … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Complete Transportation Guide To Super Bowl LI

Precinct analysis: Fort Bend State Rep districts

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Following on from yesterday’s post, here’s a look at the vote in Fort Bend from the perspective of the State Rep districts. Office Rep Dem Rep % Dem % =============================================== President 35,005 31,558 52.59% 47.41% CJ, 1st CofA 40,047 28,336 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Precinct analysis: Fort Bend State Rep districts

“Fetal remains” lawsuit filed

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. Today the Center for Reproductive Rights filed new litigation against the state of Texas over unconstitutional new regulations that mandate the burial or cremation of embryonic and fetal tissue that results from abortions, miscarriages, or ectopic pregnancy surgery … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Fifth Circuit agrees to expedited appeal of overtime injunction

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Good news and bad news. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted an expedited hearing for the Department of Labor in litigation over new overtime regulations. The Labor Department is seeking a hearing in its effort to … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Precinct analysis: Fort Bend Commissioners Court precincts

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I have not done Fort Bend precinct analyses in the past because I don’t get easily-worked-with CSV-format canvass reports from them after elections. However, it turns out that their election returns page for this year has a “Reports” button on … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

You can’t stop the faithless electors

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

So says Carolyn Shapiro, associate professor at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she is co-director of the Institute on the Supreme Court of the United States. Earlier this week, in a New York Times op-ed, Texas presidential elector Chris … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Luman will request recount

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

John Luman posted the following on Facebook yesterday: Talk about close races! As of last night’s “unofficial” results, only 27 votes separate Anne Sung and me. Given the tightness of the race, I feel compelled on behalf of all of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for December 11

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

“It would suit [hedge fund manager Whitney] Tilson just fine if voters who backed Trump because he promised to rein in Wall Street are furious now that he’s surrounding himself with bankers and billionaires.” Also, too, Steve Mnuchin, Donald Trump’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 2 Comments

Sung nips Luman in HISD runoff

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

By twenty-seven votes. Anne Sung narrowly defeated John Luman in a runoff election Saturday to take a seat on the Houston Independent School District board of trustees. Sung, who turns 38 Sunday, had the backing of the Houston Federation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

So now what for Julian Castro?

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever he wants to do, which probably doesn’t include anything in 2018. Just a few short months ago, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro appeared to stand a decent chance of becoming the next vice president. A few weeks … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on So now what for Julian Castro?

An awful lot of Texans could lose health insurance

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It sure will suck to be them. New public-health studies warn that hasty congressional action toward repealing the Affordable Care Act could have dire consequences for the poor and uninsured both in Texas and nationwide. The dismantlement of portions of … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on An awful lot of Texans could lose health insurance