Monthly Archives: December 2019

Interview with Ben Rose

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Incumbent Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan has two opponents in the March primary, the first time he has had company in a March race. Ben Rose has an LL.M. in Environmental Law from Tulane University, where he wrote his doctorial … Continue reading →

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More flood tunnel studies

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Has some promise. With engineers working at a feverish pace to get more than 200 projects in its $2.5 billion bond program moving, much of the Flood Control District’s efforts are focused on nuts-and-bolts improvements — including widening bayous, digging … Continue reading →

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Interview with Vince Ryan

Posted on December 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This week we focus on the Harris County Attorney primary, one of several high-profile primaries in the county where a sitting incumbent faces serious challengers. Vince Ryan was first elected to the office of Harris County Attorney in 2008, part … Continue reading →

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Cy-Fair Dems Senate candidate forum

Posted on December 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

There are actually multiple clubs hosting this forum, but there’s only so much room in the headline: Event details can be found here. The forum will be held at the Green House International Church, 200 W Greens Rd, Houston, TX … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for December 29

Posted on December 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

“Baseball’s plan to kill off dozens of [minor league] affiliate teams is a clear act of collusion.” “Among millennials, fewer than half identify as Christians. More than 40 percent identify as nothing in particular.” “Netflix Reportedly Lost 1 Million Subscribers … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: 2019 HD148 special election

Posted on December 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I started this post while doing other precinct analysis stuff. Didn’t finish it with the others, but now that the legislative special election runoffs are next up on the calendar, I thought I’d finish it off. First, here’s how the … Continue reading →

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That’s a weird definition of “thriving”

Posted on December 29, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Surrounded by fellow Libertarians during a 2018 election night watch party at a rented Airbnb in Fort Worth, Eric Espinoza, who was running for state Rep. Jonathan Stickland’s seat, saw a Facebook … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Beto PAC

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

In case you were wondering what he’s up to now. Weeks after dropping out of the presidential race, Beto O’Rourke has launched a new political group to boost Texas Democrats in the 2020 election. In an email to supporters Friday … Continue reading →

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Flynn stays on GOP primary ballot for now

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

There’s still litigation to come, but I think he’s got a good case and will probably win. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has weighed in on a lawsuit accusing the Harris County Republican Party of improperly declaring a candidate for … Continue reading →

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Federal lawsuit filed against Precinct 2 Constable over campaign practices

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Hoo boy. Nearly a dozen former employees and high-ranking officials are suing Precinct 2 Constable Chris Diaz, alleging that the elected Harris County lawman required deputies and command staff to help with his reelection campaign and retaliated against them with … Continue reading →

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Bus service in new places

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This is a good first step, which I hope begets a second step. Harris County has extended bus service to Channelview, Cloverleaf and Sheldon, using $3.8 million in Hurricane Harvey disaster recovery money to jump-start the new routes. Service started … Continue reading →

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HD28 poll: Markowitz 42, Gates 42

Posted on December 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: With the crowded field now narrowed to two, a new internal poll shows Dr. Eliz Markowitz (D) in a dead heat — 42 to 42 —with her Republican challenger, perennial candidate Gary Gates, in the race to … Continue reading →

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City wins water rights lawsuit

Posted on December 26, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

A bit of pre-holiday good news. A Travis County state district judge on Friday tossed a state law that would force the city of Houston to sell its water rights in a proposed reservoir west of Simonton. The law, which breezed … Continue reading →

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I’ll have a Mel Torme Christmas, please

Posted on December 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

You know the story by now, my favorite Christmas story ever. If you know it, treat yourself and read it again. If you don’t know it, if you’re new here and you have no idea what I’m talking about, go … Continue reading →

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Tuesday video break: It’s Christmas Eve, y’all

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

And that can mean only one thing: Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good afternoon.

Posted in TV and movies | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Where have all the Christmas tree farmers gone?

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

They’re not growing them like they used to. Across the U.S., Christmas tree farmers are getting out of the business. Illinois lost dozens of farmers in recent years, dropping from 212 growers in 2012 to 182 farmers in 2017, according … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of December 23

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance wish all who celebrate a very Merry Christmas.

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Morath’s big talk

Posted on December 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

But can he back it up? In his first public comments about plans to strip power from Houston ISD’s elected trustees, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said Tuesday that the district’s leaders have engaged in “chronic neglect” of children in … Continue reading →

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Trib profile of Sima Ladjevardian

Posted on December 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

CD02 gets a boost in profile. In the final hours before the filing deadline on Dec. 9, Sima Ladjevardian arrived at the Harris County Democratic Party office in Houston to make a little bit of news: She was running for … Continue reading →

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From South Texas to the moon

Posted on December 23, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the plan, anyway. SpaceX founder Elon Musk expects to one day launch people from South Texas to the moon, Mars or beyond — with an update late Saturday that confirmed the company’s long-term presence in a remote area outside … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for December 22

Posted on December 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Good call, Hallmark Channel. But really, you should have known better. The New England Patriots are here to remind you that when it comes to cheating, the Astros are a bunch of pikers. “The end result of their Christian faith … Continue reading →

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District B runoff lawsuit hearing set

Posted on December 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s hope for a quick verdict. The stalled runoff in Houston city council District B likely will have to wait until May, if not longer, leaving north Houston neighborhoods without a new representative for months after the council convenes in … Continue reading →

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On Republican female Congressional candidates

Posted on December 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The sub-head for this article should be “It’s easy to show large percentage gains when you start from a very low base”. Heavy recruiting of female candidates paid off for Texas Democrats in 2018, but it is Republican women who … Continue reading →

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Anti-gay Waco JP sues for the right to be an anti-gay JP

Posted on December 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. A Waco judge who received a public warning last month for refusing to officiate same-sex marriages filed a lawsuit against the state agency that issued the warning, claiming the governmental body violated state law by punishing her for actions … Continue reading →

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

Bonnen “likely violated” the law

Posted on December 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Well, isn’t that special? The House General Investigating Committee on Friday unanimously adopted a report from its legal advisers that said House Speaker Dennis Bonnen “likely violated” state law during a June meeting with a fellow member and a hardline … Continue reading →

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Will the Paxton case move back to Collin County?

Posted on December 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Team Paxton is asking for that to happen. A Harris County judge said Tuesday he will rule by the end of next month on Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to move his felony securities fraud case back to his home … Continue reading →

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Maybe try updating your pop culture references?

Posted on December 21, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Allow me to say something very obvious but often overlooked about this. Gov. Greg Abbott revived a debate Saturday about a controversial line from a decades-old Pace Picante ad: “Get a rope.” Abbott tweeted the reference after a follower jokingly … Continue reading →

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After-deadline filing review: The Lege

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Now we come to the State House, which is where most of the action will be in 2020. In 2018, much of the energy and focus was on Congressional races, to the point where some hand-wringing articles were written about … Continue reading →

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Flynn to “challenge” GOP decision to boot him from HD138 ballot

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Still more filing finagling. Texas House candidate Josh Flynn is challenging a decision by the Harris County Republican Party to rule him ineligible for the House District 138 primary because he did not “properly” submit his resignation from the county … Continue reading →

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HISD attempt to stop TEA takeover denied

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Possibly only a temporary setback, however. A federal judge on Wednesday denied Houston ISD’s request for a preliminary injunction and dismissed its lawsuit aimed at stopping the Texas Education Agency from replacing the district’s elected board, delivering a temporary victory … Continue reading →

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Interview with Chrysta Castañeda

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

As you may have noticed, there are a lot of contested Democratic primaries, and not a whole lot of time between now and early voting. In an ideal world, I’d have time to talk to candidates in all of the … Continue reading →

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Trib overview of State House races

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s get the 2020 State House conversation started. For the first time in years, Republicans and Democrats are acknowledging that the GOP could lose its grip on the Texas House — a turning point that would mark the state’s biggest … Continue reading →

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Army Corps held liable for Harvey reservoir flooding

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

A big deal. Thousands of Houston area residents and property owners landed a historic win against the U.S. government on Tuesday when a federal judge found that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is liable for damage caused when it … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of December 16

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance applauds the House of Representatives for doing their Constitutional duty as it brings you this week’s roundup. Off the Kuff took a closer look at the Democratic filings for Congress and state offices. SocraticGadfly offers a … Continue reading →

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