Monthly Archives: February 2023

Wendy Davis’ lawsuit against SB8 dismissed

Posted on February 18, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. A federal judge has dismissed a narrow challenge to Texas’ ban on abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. The lawsuit was brought by former State Sen. Wendy Davis, best known for her 13-hour filibuster of a 2013 abortion … Continue reading →

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Tesla autopilot crash mystery solved

Posted on February 18, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

It wasn’t on autopilot after all. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board apparently have solved the mystery of why no one was found behind the steering wheel of a Tesla that crashed near The Woodlands two years ago, killing … Continue reading →

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Last chance to file Winter Storm Uri lawsuits

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The two year anniversary of the big freeze of 2021 is upon us, and the statute of limitations for civil actions in this sort of thing is two years, so you know what that means. When Cherrilyn Nedd left her … Continue reading →

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Harris County votes to sue Hegar again

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Phony Defunding Claims II: Electric Boogaloo. Harris County Commissioners Court on Thursday voted to sue Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar‘s office in response to his comments accusing the county of defunding law enforcement. Hegar’s claim is a repeat of a fight that already played out between the … Continue reading →

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AG argues for separating that San Antonio criminal justice reform proposition into multiple questions

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Not a surprise, but an aggressive position to take. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office is urging the Texas Supreme Court to side with opponents of a proposed charter amendment that seeks to decriminalize marijuana and abortion, as well as enact … Continue reading →

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Dispatches from Dallas, February 17 edition

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Note: this is the second edition of the Dallas-area news roundup conducted by my friend Ginger. Issue 1 was last Friday. We got a lot of positive response to that and I definitely like it, so on we go. The … Continue reading →

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Where we are on the agenda

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Greg Abbott targets transgender college sports ban. Gov. Greg Abbott wants to ban transgender college students from competing on sports teams that align with their gender identity, adding momentum to a Republican proposal that’s condemned by LGBTQ advocates and progressive … Continue reading →

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Fairfield Lake State Park is officially closing

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

At the end of the month. A popular state park southeast of Dallas is poised to become an exclusive community with multimillion-dollar homes and a private golf course. Fairfield Lake State Park will close Feb. 28 after months of negotiations … Continue reading →

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Judge in True the Vote lawsuit recuses himself

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

This is a surprise. A Reagan-appointed federal judge on Monday recused himself from a case involving a Houston-based conservative group that promotes election conspiracy theories after the group’s lawyers accused him of failing to be impartial. Election management software company … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of February 13

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance extends their sympathy to everyone who made ill-advised prop bets during the Super Bowl as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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The furniture guy files a lawsuit

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Spare me. Houston furniture magnate Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale has filed a lawsuit against the Harris County Elections Administrator’s office accusing it of refusing to turn over public records related to the November 2022 election, adding to an array of GOP litigation aimed … Continue reading →

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More on the state of B-Cycle

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I think they will come out of this in better shape, but change is always hard. In a sense, Maya Ford is just trying to get Houston Bike Share back in gear in the hope that it has a long … Continue reading →

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HCC public hearing on redistricting today

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox, sorry for the short notice. HCC Final Redistricting Public Hearing Your voice is still needed regarding HCC proposed redistricting maps for District IV which includes Third Ward and other surrounding communities. Join us, February 15th, in person (3100 Main … Continue reading →

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The last thing we need is more people in the jail

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

This is a rare place where Democrats have leverage. Make good use of it. With an eye on Harris County, Texas lawmakers are considering new measures aimed at keeping more defendants accused of violent and sexual crimes behind bars as … Continue reading →

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San Antonio marijuana decriminalization referendum already facing a legal challenge

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t think this one will work, but after that who knows. Opponents of the so-called Justice Charter have filed an emergency petition asking the Texas Supreme Court to require separate votes for each of its provisions, including decriminalizing marijuana and … Continue reading →

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Big XII now looking to expand

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Probably a good idea to try, as a defensive measure if nothing else. The Big 12’s next step is clear after the early exit of Texas and Oklahoma was agreed upon Thursday night. The conference now plans to aggressively pursue expansion in some … Continue reading →

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You can help Democrats being sued by election losers

Posted on February 13, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox, sent to me by former HD133 candidate Sandra Moore: Below is a list of the judges and electeds being sued by the Republicans. These are nuisance suits but the Judges and Lina have had to hire attorneys … Continue reading →

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Here we go again with the “defunding” baloney

Posted on February 13, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I was all set to have a peaceful weekend when I came across a press release from Commissioner Ellis’ office on Friday afternoon about this. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on Friday accused Harris County of defunding law enforcement, rekindling a feud from … Continue reading →

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Families of Santa Fe shooting victims reach settlement with online ammo sellers

Posted on February 13, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting. Two companies that sold and shipped ammunition to the accused Santa Fe High School shooter have reached a settlement with the families of victims of the May 2018 massacre. Online ammunition seller Luckygunner LLC and a related company, Red Stag Fulfillment LLC, in … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for February 12

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

“I’d argue that a number of important fissures define the current House congressional GOP — and the embrace of Trump and Trumpism is just one of them. Voting records, ties to the establishment and caucus membership, for instance, all played … Continue reading →

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The big voter suppression law is even worse than you thought

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Such a lovely little surprise tucked in there. When state lawmakers passed a sweeping and controversial new election law in 2021, they quietly included a provision that drew little notice or debate. But election administration experts say the measure is … Continue reading →

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Marijuana decriminalization and other police reform proposals get closer to the ballot in San Antonio

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

This will be the most interesting election on the May ballot. A proposed City Charter amendment that seeks to ban police from using no-knock warrants and chokeholds, as well as expand the city’s cite-and-release policy for low-level, nonviolent crimes, has … Continue reading →

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Mammoths and dodos

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

How you feel about this will likely depend on how strongly you identify with that Ian Malcolm quote from Jurassic Park. The Texas entrepreneur working to bring back the woolly mammoth has added a new species to his revival list: … Continue reading →

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Paxton settles with whistleblowers

Posted on February 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Meh. Attorney General Ken Paxton and four of his former top deputies who said he improperly fired them after they accused him of crimes have reached a tentative agreement to end a whistleblower lawsuit that would pay those employees $3.3 … Continue reading →

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DCAD’s ransomware experience

Posted on February 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

A story of great interest to me. On Election Day 2022, Dallas County Chief Appraiser Ken Nolan and his staff showed up for work, but there was an unexpected problem. Nothing worked. The Dallas Central Appraisal District’s desktop computers, all … Continue reading →

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Actually, UT and OU will join the SEC in 2024

Posted on February 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Reports of their not-early departure were greatly exaggerated. Texas and Oklahoma have reached an agreement in principle to leave the Big 12 after the 2023-24 athletic year, the league announced Thursday, allowing the schools to join the Southeastern Conference one … Continue reading →

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CM Gallegos enters the Mayor’s race

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I wish him well. Councilmember Robert Gallegos, the lone Hispanic member of Houston’s City Council, has entered the mayoral race. Gallegos filed a form Thursday with the secretary’s office to start raising money for a mayoral bid, and he told the Chronicle … Continue reading →

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Still more Uvalde bills from Sen. Gutierrez

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

At least one of these might have a chance to pass. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez wants the Texas Department of Public Safety to create robust mass shooting response training for all public safety entities after the chaotic response to the … Continue reading →

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The 988 hotline has been very busy lately

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t suppose this is a surprise. Calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline have surged in Texas and the U.S. since its launch last summer, highlighting the demand for mental health services in the wake of the pandemic … Continue reading →

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Dallas-area news roundup, inaugural edition

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Hello, Off the Kuff readers! I’m Ginger and I’ve been friends with our host for nigh onto thirty years. Back in the early 2000s, when they called it “warblogging”, I had a blog, but I’ve long since retired it. I’ve … Continue reading →

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January 2023 campaign finance reports: HCC

Posted on February 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Previously: City of Houston, Harris County, HISD As with HISD, I last checked in on HCC Trustee campaign finance reports was last January. Three of these people will be on the ballot if they all run again, but we’ll see … Continue reading →

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Abbott tells state agencies and universities to hire more white people

Posted on February 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, let’s be honest, that’s what this is about. Gov. Greg Abbott’s office is warning state agency and public university leaders this week that the use of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives — policies that support groups who have … Continue reading →

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RIP, Jeff Blackburn

Posted on February 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a guy who made a difference. In the summer of 1999, police in the tiny town of Tulia carried out one of the largest drug stings in West Texas history. Nearly 50 people were arrested, almost all of them … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of February 6

Posted on February 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes everyone has their power back by now as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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