Monthly Archives: February 2018

Investigating the Karolyis

I’m fine with this, but I feel like we’re overlooking something. Nearly a week after prominent USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to prison for the sexual assault of several female gymnasts, Gov. Greg Abbott has asked the Texas … Continue reading

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Endorsement watch: Chron for White

The Chron endorses Andrew White for Governor. Democrats need to choose the candidate who, quite simply, will appeal to the most voters in a contest against Abbott. We believe that candidate is Andrew White. White, 45, is a Houston entrepreneur … Continue reading

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Saturday video break: Spanish Eyes

Elvis! U2! Sorry I’ve been remiss in posting these. Life, ya know? I’ll try to be better going forward.

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The next frontier in criminal justice reform

We need to lock up fewer kids for bad reasons. Hundreds of juveniles are jailed in Harris County often for weeks at a time for infractions as minor as failing drugs tests, violating curfews, running away or failing to attend … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

Special election coming in HD13

We have an opening act for November. State Rep. Leighton Schubert, who previously said he wouldn’t seek re-election this year, has decided to resign early to take a job at a local junior college. The Caldwell Republican will step down … Continue reading

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Independent candidates’ day

Continuing with a theme, there are a lot of wannabe independent candidates for various offices, most of whom will never make it onto the ballot. Dallas billionaire Ross Perot did it in 1992 and 1996. Satirist Kinky Friedman and Comptroller … Continue reading

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Endorsement watch: Family courts

After nearly a week off, the Chron gets back to endorsing. Family District Judge, 246th Judicial District: Angela Graves-Harrington Angela Graves-Harrington earns our nod in this primary contest against a qualified opponent, Charles Collins. These two candidates graduated from the … Continue reading

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Friday random ten: Crazy talk

Let’s go crazy! 1. Crazy – Gnarls Barkley/Seal/Patsy Cline/Peter Wolf 2. Crazy ‘Cause I Love You – The Hot Club of Cowtown 3. Crazy For You – Madonna 4. Crazy Game – Indigo Girls 5. Crazy Life – Toad the … Continue reading

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Judicial Q&A: Harold Landreneau

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

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Trump’s lousy approval ratings in Texas

According to Gallup. President Donald Trump’s job approval rating averaged 38% throughout the U.S. in 2017, but at the state level it ranged from a high of 61% in West Virginia to a low of 26% in Vermont. Trump averaged … Continue reading

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Looking to hire more cops for Houston

We’ll see about this. The head of the Houston police union announced Wednesday that city leaders had pledged to grow the Houston Police Department ranks by 500 officers over the next five years, far fewer than the city’s police chief … Continue reading

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People who oppose the high speed rail line continue to oppose the high speed rail line

The DEIS hearings go as you’d expect them to. Meetings to discuss a proposed high-speed train between Houston and Dallas pulled into some of the areas most opposed to the project on Tuesday night, as federal environmental meetings continue to … Continue reading

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Interview with Penny Shaw

I have one more interview for County Commissioner in Precinct 4, where Jack Cagle has been the incumbent since being appointed to replace the scandal-riddled Jerry Eversole. This is the most Republican of the four Commissioner precincts, but as noted … Continue reading

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From Harvey to drought

If it’s not one thing, it’s another. The Texas Panhandle has become ground zero in a drought that has crept into much of the state just five months after Hurricane Harvey — including areas that suffered massive flooding during the … Continue reading

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Voter registration deadline is Monday

Check your registration status. Houston-area voters are registering to vote in record numbers just in time for the March 6 primaries, and the two major political parties are bracing for yet another wave of newcomers over the next few days. … Continue reading

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Texas blog roundup for the week of January 29

The Texas Progressive Alliance has submitted its application for Deep State Secret Society affiliation as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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