Monthly Archives: August 2020

Hegar to get a boost

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced Tuesday that it will spend at least $1 million to help MJ Hegar in her challenge to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. The DSCC said it will be the first time the committee … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of August 3

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance will not be delaying the publication of this week’s roundup.

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When Houston is more like Austin

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

In a climate sense. Which is to say, drier because of climate change. A new study predicts that Texas’ climate is going to get drastically drier because of climate change. The journal Earth’s Future recently published the study looking at … Continue reading →

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Morning Consult: Biden 47, Trump 46

Posted on August 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Looks like maybe we’ll get a regular dose of these. Democrats enter the peak of the campaign season with advantages that make their path to regaining control of the Senate easier for strategists and handicappers to envision alongside a Joe … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020, The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

We still suck at COVID data

Posted on August 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure none of this is important. The government’s official data on the coronavirus outbreak is startling: More than 4.6 million cases in the U.S. More than 440,000 in Texas. More than 70,000 in Harris County. But those numbers don’t … Continue reading →

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Biden’s team in Texas

Posted on August 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Get to it, y’all. Joe Biden’s campaign is naming its first hires for the general election in Texas, where polls continue to show a close contest between the presumptive Democratic nominee and President Donald Trump. Biden’s state director will be … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Our vaccination rates are down, too

Posted on August 5, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I wish I had a snappy intro for this, but I just don’t. The summer months are typically the busiest of the year in Dr. Kenya Parks’ office, a steady flow of parents trotting in their little ones to receive … Continue reading →

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More on Abbott’s approval rating

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Further evidence of decline. Approval for Gov. Greg Abbott’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic continues to erode, according to a new poll from a consortium of universities. The survey, conducted through Sunday by Harvard, Northeastern, Rutgers and Northwestern universities, found … Continue reading →

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An analysis of that Paxton opinion about schools and county health authorities

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Short version: That’s just, like, his opinion, man. The law should mean what it says. Rule §97.6(h) of the Texas Administrative Code says: “The health authority is empowered to close any public or private child-care facility, school or other place … Continue reading →

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Enforcing the mask order

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Those of you who haven’t been wearing your mask when out in public, shame on you. And also, there may now be consequences for your dumb refusal to do the right thing. Houston law enforcement officials will begin issuing fines … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

How risky is music?

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I’m very interested in the answer to this. In any other time, under any other circumstance, the question would seem minor and technical. But today it has taken on both a global significance and pressing deadline: What happens to your … Continue reading →

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Interview with Sherrie Matula of Sisters United Alliance

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Sherrie Matula is a longtime Democratic activist (she was a founder of the BAAD Women club) and two-time candidate (for HD129 in 2008, and for HCDE in Precinct 2 in 2016, which she lost by 0.2 percentage points), but that’s … Continue reading →

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

SCOTX rejects multiple Hotze petitions

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news. The Texas Supreme Court has refused to hear several challenges by a Houston conservative power broker to emergency orders on coronavirus issued by Gov. Greg Abbott and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Without comment, the nine Republican … Continue reading →

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Recount requested in CD23 Republican runoff

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This race is still unsettled. Raul Reyes announced Friday night that he will seek a recount in the razor-thin Republican primary runoff to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, in his national battleground district. Reyes’ announcement came after the … Continue reading →

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Coronavirus and coins

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

If you’re not using cash, you’re not circulating any coins. Stores around the U.S. are struggling with an unexpected shortage. (No, not toilet paper — sorry, we’ve already made that joke.) They’re running low on coins. Supermarkets and gas stations … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for August 2

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The Space Force has a horse. Of course, of course. “An extraordinary new archaeological discovery has revealed that humans arrived in the Americas at least 11,000 years earlier than previously thought – rewriting the human story of the continent and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 2 Comments

Congressional Dems winning the money race in Texas

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The times, they have definitely changed. Early this election cycle, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn publicly worried about complacency within the Texas Republican political class — even after Democratic gains made in 2018. So in early 2019, the state’s senior senator … Continue reading →

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Revisiting the May elections

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I’m ambivalent about this. Most cities in Texas — from Galveston to Lubbock — moved their May elections to November under a pandemic-era decree by Gov. Greg Abbott. But the choices facing voters will remain limited to candidates who filed … Continue reading →

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The Renaissance Festival will go on

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I haven’t gone to RenFest in years, and I can’t say I was itching to go this year, but it will be there for those who want it. The 46th annual Texas Renaissance Festival will go on as scheduled this … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

Restaurants may get to use parking lot space for dining

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I like this idea. Restaurants in Houston, currently limited by 50% indoor capacity limits, may soon be able to serve diners in parking lots to accommodate more guests. Pending a vote by the Houston City Council, a “More Spaces” plan … Continue reading →

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A slightly less rosy view of Democratic prospects

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the latest race ratings from Texas Elects: Texas Election Source has updated 27 race ratings based on the latest polling, July campaign finance reports and primary runoff results. Twenty of those races moved one column toward the Democrats’ advantage. … Continue reading →

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Hey, remember District B?

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

This makes me so mad. For the last couple months, Tarsha Jackson has organized north Houston neighborhoods around criminal justice reform, helping to release a “Justice Can’t Wait” policy platform she said the city could enact immediately. Cynthia Bailey has … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2019, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

So we really were undercounting the COVID-19 death rate

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t say I’m surprised. After months of undercounting coronavirus deaths, Texas’ formal tally of COVID-19 fatalities grew by more than 600 on Monday after state health officials changed their method of reporting. The revised count indicates that more than 12% … Continue reading →

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Abbott finally speaks about schools

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Of course, he mostly says weasel words. Gov. Greg Abbott clarified Friday that Texas schools will be required to provide in-person instruction this fall, but that some districts may be eligible for extended waivers on a “case-by-case basis.” In a … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment