Monthly Archives: June 2019

Weekend link dump for June 30

Posted on June 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Facebook content moderator is not a job you want. “How scout Noelle Needham and superstar Hayley Wickenheiser are smashing hockey‘s glass ceiling”. “Though the number of people who are ideologically opposed to vaccination is vanishingly small (1 to 2 percent, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 2 Comments

How many contested judicial primaries should we expect?

Posted on June 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We already know that we’re going to get primary challenges to at least one Democratic countywide officeholder, as County Attorney Vince Ryan has two challengers lining up against him, and DA Kim Ogg has at least one person who has … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The real goal of SB2

Posted on June 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s take a look at the quotes from the supporters of SB2, the new law that will impose revenue caps on all Texas cities, to see what they say about it. “They’re going to have to start looking at spending … Continue reading →

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Bankrolling the anti-vaxxers

Posted on June 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This is why we can’t have nice things. A wealthy Manhattan couple has emerged as significant financiers of the anti-vaccine movement, contributing more than $3 million in recent years to groups that stoke fears about immunizations online and at live … Continue reading →

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Next up for the Census lawsuit

Posted on June 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Before the Trump administration can take a second shot at SCOTUS with the Census citizenship question, the federal court in Maryland will be revisiting their case with some new data. [The SCOTUS] decision came two days after a federal appeals … Continue reading →

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The Straus PAC

Posted on June 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see what this does. Former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, a San Antonio Republican, announced Wednesday he was launching a new political action committee that he said will aim to help him continue to carry out “a thoughtful, responsible … Continue reading →

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More on stadium netting

Posted on June 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an update on that little girl who was hit by a foul ball at Minute Maid park recently. A 25-month-old girl who suffered a fractured skull when struck by a foul ball at an Astros game last month continues … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Census citizenship question stopped for now

Posted on June 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

“For now” being the key point. The Supreme Court on Thursday put on hold the Trump administration’s plan to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census form sent to every household, saying it had provided a “contrived” reason for … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

You are free to redistrict to your partisan heart’s content

Posted on June 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Your Supreme Court, ladies and gentlemen. In an effort to appear as though it hovers permanently above the partisan fray, the Supreme Court on Thursday delivered perhaps the most staggering win to the Republican Party since Bush v. Gore. In a pair of … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Still no more prosecutors

Posted on June 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I remain fascinated by this dynamic. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday rejected District Attorney Kim Ogg’s request for more staff to handle fallout from the Houston Police Department’s botched Pecan Park drug raid, the second time this year commissioners … Continue reading →

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

By the way, Commissioners Court updated the county’s nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. The Commissioners Court voted 3-2 along party lines to [add sexual orientation and gender identity to the county’s nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies]. County Judge Lina Hidalgo, along with Commissioners Rodney Ellis and Adrian Garcia — all Democrats — voted … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Metro and the Mayor’s race

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This went pretty much as one would expect. Delivering his fourth State of Mobility speech to Transportation Advocacy Group-Houston Chapter, Mayor Sylvester Turner echoed previous years, noting the region needs more options than solo driving if it is to handle … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

In defense of the I-45 expansion

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Jeff Balke rises in opposition to the anti-I-45-expansion clamor. We have seen comments on social media and rantings about how our city should be more bike friendly and pedestrian safe. How we need commuter rail, better bus service and rapid … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of June 24

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance does not want to be lied into any more wars as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Some county race updates

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

2020 is going to be a very different election year in Harris County, because for the first time in anyone’s memory all of the non-HCDE countywide offices are held by Democrats. If you’re a Democrat in Harris County and you … Continue reading →

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Appeals court upholds dismissal of term limits lawsuit

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Score one more for the city. A Texas appeals court on Tuesday upheld a lower court ruling that struck down a lawsuit seeking to invalidate a 2015 voter-approved referendum extending term limits for city officials. At issue in the suit … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

David Temple re-trial starts

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The beginning of the next chapter in a long story. For the second time in 12 years, a former Katy-area football coach is standing trial in the murder of his pregnant wife, seeking exoneration after prosecutorial misconduct caused his first … Continue reading →

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

If it weren’t for Latino population growth…

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Texas would have a lot less growth overall. The gap between Texas’ Hispanic and white populations continued to narrow last year when the state gained almost nine Hispanic residents for every additional white resident. With Hispanics expected to become the … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit planned over cable franchise fee bill

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I sure hope Houston gets involved in this. Fort Worth and cities across Texas stand to lose millions of dollars due to a new law that slashes fees telecom providers pay to them. But before the savings go into effect … Continue reading →

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See ya, Stickland

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Good riddance. State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, a firebrand conservative Republican from Bedford and one of the most vocal members of the Texas House, announced Monday he will not run for reelection in 2020. Stickland, first elected to represent House District … Continue reading →

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The battle for the Lege is gonna be lit

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Fasten your seat belts. While the Texas Senate appears safe for Republicans, Clinton’s comments underscored the emphasis that some Democrats — both in Texas and outside it — are already putting on the fight for the majority in the state … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What if we didn’t expand I-45?

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s an awful lot of money that comes with a ton of negative effects and which, if the I-10 expansion is any guide, will have short-lived positive effects. So maybe we should just, like, not do it? A massive remake … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

“I’m haunted by their eyes”

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

We should all be haunted, and outraged, by this. Immigrants held in a McAllen-area U.S. Customs and Border Patrol processing center for migrants — the largest such center in America — are living in overcrowded spaces and sometimes are forced … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Weekend link dump for June 23

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The day the music burned. “The widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies creates employment opportunities up and down the supply chain. Worldwide, the sector employed 11 million people at the end of 2018, according to this sixth edition of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 3 Comments

Royce again

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The “Royce West for Senate” thing is officially a thing. State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, met this week with U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as he nears a decision on whether to run for U.S. Senate — a … Continue reading →

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Appeals court rejects firefighters pension reform lawsuit

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This is not related to Prop B. I know, it’s hard to keep all of this straight. Texas’ 14th Court of Appeals on Thursday sided with the city of Houston in a lawsuit over Mayor Sylvester Turner’s pension reform plan, … Continue reading →

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The case for a second MLB team in the Metroplex

Posted on June 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

It’s an interesting argument, with a lot of aspects to it. [T]he 2019 Street & Smith Baseball Yearbook contains an article (“Where to Next?” by G. Scott Thomas) rating the top 20 metro areas [for potential MLB expansion]. More than … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The lamentations of Big John

Posted on June 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

You guys, he may finally lose a race. I’m serious! There is no ghostwritten Cornyn memoir. His ego does not seem to live and die on how many times he appears on Sunday morning talk shows. And he’s never launched … Continue reading →

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By the way, City Council passed the budget

Posted on June 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, this was pretty boring. Which is a good thing. Houston city council approved Mayor Sylvester Turner’s $5.1 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year with little commotion Wednesday, authorizing a spending plan that was scrambled at the … Continue reading →

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Happy (bike) trails to you

Posted on June 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Trails connecting to trails. It’s a beautiful thing. With roughly four miles of new trail in the neighborhood along Sims Bayou and a electric transmission route, officials in southern Houston’s Five Corners District as well as park advocates said they … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Biden talks big about Texas

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

And other states, too. Democratic front-runner Joe Biden said Monday he plans to campaign during the general election and win in South Carolina, Georgia and Texas, states that have consistently supported Republicans for about four decades. “We plan on campaigning … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Worrying about the expanded school marshal program

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This just seems like such a bad idea. Would a teacher who volunteered to do double duty as a school marshal in Texas act any braver [than a professional law enforcement officer]? Some might. Maybe most would. Would those who … Continue reading →

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

Here comes the driverless pizza delivery vehicle

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Gotta admit, this has me scratching my head. There goes another high schooler’s job: Domino’s Pizza Inc. plans to test unmanned pizza delivery in Houston later this year. The chain, known as a technology leader in the restaurant industry, is … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Will Ken Paxton ever be prosecuted?

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

At this point, I’d have to say it’s very unlikely. After mulling the question for nearly six months, the nine Republican judges on Texas’ highest criminal court will not reconsider their 2018 ruling that threatens to imperil the criminal case … Continue reading →

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