Monthly Archives: July 2021

Who told Allen West it was a good idea for him to run for Governor?

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Lord help us. Texas GOP Chairman Allen West announced Sunday he is running for governor, challenging fellow Republican Greg Abbott. The announcement was made during at appearance by West at Sojourn Church in Carrollton, where the former Florida congressman played … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

The COVID death spike

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Another way to visualize the data. It’s bad no matter how you look at it. More than 51,000 Texans have died of COVID-19, according to the state’s latest tally. That is larger than the capacity of Minute Maid Park, though … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Weekend link dump for July 4

Posted on July 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 5 Comments

Let a thousand Justice Department probes of Texas voter suppression bloom

Posted on July 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Just don’t expect too much to happen. With Texas lawmakers poised to push for new voting restrictions in a special session next week, the state’s congressional Democrats are urging U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Texas’ existing voting laws. … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Superintendent House has arrived

Posted on July 4, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

He’s got a lot of work in front of him. When Millard House II officially [started] as the new superintendent of Houston ISD on Thursday, he [had] a stack of challenges awaiting his attention. Some students fell further behind during … Continue reading →

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

How will the Dems handle the special session?

Posted on July 3, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

They have some options, but honestly, there’s not that much they can do. Outnumbered and virtually powerless to block conservative priorities they oppose, Democrats in the Texas Legislature say they are keeping their options open as they prepare for a … Continue reading →

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

Again with the existential Constable question

Posted on July 3, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a long and detailed story in the Chron about the history and purpose of the Constable office in Harris County, where they are bigger and do more than anywhere else in the state. The lawsuit’s allegations were stunning: Harris … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Again with the existential Constable question

City victory in water rights lawsuit upheld

Posted on July 3, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news. A split Texas appeals court ruled Wednesday that a state law that would have stripped Houston of its interest in an unbuilt water reservoir was unconstitutionally retroactive, siding with a lower court that protected the city’s interests. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

SCOTUS takes another knife to the Voting Rights Act

Posted on July 2, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The red carpet for voter suppression has been rolled out. The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld two Arizona voting restrictions that a lower court had said discriminated against voters of color. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote the opinion in … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 34 Comments

The Harris County Administrator of Departments

Posted on July 2, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday created a new administrator position to oversee departments, which the three Democrats described as a wonky internal move to improve efficiency but the two Republicans decried … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Glaser removed as HCC Chair

Posted on July 2, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Appropriate. Houston Community College board of trustees member Robert Glaser was removed from his position as chair following allegations that he sexually harassed an instructor. The board voted on June 25 to replace Glaser with John P. Hansen as chair, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Here comes the Delta variant

Posted on July 2, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Be vaxxed or be vulnerable. Texas Medical Center hospitals are seeing an uptick in patients infected with the COVID-19 Delta variant, and infections are prevalent among young children and adults who have not been immunized. At Texas Children’s Hospital, fewer … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Chron story on Odus Evbagharu

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Some good stuff here. When Odus Evbagharu, a 28-year-old legislative staffer and campaign organizer, took the reins of the Harris County Democratic Party Sunday evening, he inherited a party that stands on some of its firmest footing in years, despite … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Chron story on Odus Evbagharu

James White to challenge Sid Miller

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Should be interesting. State Rep. James White, R-Hillister, announced Wednesday that he is running for agriculture commissioner, marking the first major primary opponent for incumbent Sid Miller. “The combination of my proven conservative record, experience on agriculture issues, and commitment … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2022 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on James White to challenge Sid Miller

Let’s try again to fix that flood bond deficit

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Hope this works. Harris County on Tuesday [unveiled] a new plan to address a funding gap for its flood bond program, which will rely more heavily on diverted toll road revenue instead of federal aid that may never arrive. The … Continue reading →

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

Texas blog roundup for the week of June 28

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes we are hearing the last breaths of the filibuster as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of June 28

Anti-gay Waco JP’s lawsuit tossed

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a bit of good news. A Travis County judge has thrown out McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley’s lawsuit against the state panel that sanctioned her in 2019 for refusing to perform same-sex weddings. Judge Jan Soifer … Continue reading →

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