Author Archives: Charles Kuffner

Justice Department drops Texas redistricting lawsuit

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t say I’m surprised. The U.S. Justice Department withdrew from a lawsuit alleging that Texas’ legislative and congressional district maps drawn after the 2020 U.S. census discriminated against Latino and Black voters by denying them an equal opportunity to participate … Continue reading →

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Of course some companies will make bank on school vouchers

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

That’s just how this works. In August 2024, the business magazine Inc. released its annual list of the top 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the United States. At 815th, a burgeoning upstart called ClassWallet cracked the list’s top 20 percent for the third straight … Continue reading →

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Dispatches from Dallas, March 14 edition

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is a weekly feature produced by my friend Ginger. Let us know what you think. This week, in news from Dallas-Fort Worth, we have updates around the May elections and moving them to November; Mayor Johnson turns up in … Continue reading →

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Once again, don’t bet on expanded gambling

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the safest wager out there. A dozen Texas House Republicans who replaced pro-gambling lawmakers said this week they would oppose “any attempt to expand gambling” this session — a setback for efforts to legalize casinos and sports betting in … Continue reading →

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Chron calls for Abbott to get on with it in CD18

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I doubt he’ll listen, but it can’t hurt to try. When the Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee died in July, the 18th Congressional District mourned the loss of a dedicated and longtime public servant. Fortunately, there was already a well-publicized election … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of March 10

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance stands with Rep. Al Green as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Texas measles case count up to 223

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Just a brief update this time. Texas’ measles outbreak has grown to 223 cases, the state reported Tuesday morning. The outbreak began in Gaines County, near the New Mexico border. The reported cases have not spread outside of West Texas and the Panhandle, according … Continue reading →

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Remembering Sylvester Turner

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

A fine sendoff for a dedicated public servant. Sylvester Turner represented Houston on a national stage for decades as a state representative, mayor and congressman, but on Tuesday he was “Uncle Sylvester.” Turner received one of Houston’s highest honors Tuesday … Continue reading →

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Repair Cafés

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is very cool. The Harris County’s Katherine Tyra Branch Library [was] crowded with toolboxes, sewing machines and piles of spare parts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m on Saturday, as volunteer fixers help area residents mend everything from broken appliances to … Continue reading →

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Rural Texas’ scramble to respond to the measles outbreak

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I have a lot of sympathy during these trying times, but there’s a reason for all this, and we should be clear about it. Five years ago, Melanie Richburg used a roll of duct tape, a HEPA filter and a … Continue reading →

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We’ve got tourists

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Yes we do. Houston continues to attract more visitors, setting records in 2024 for number of visitors, air passengers and hotel revenue. More than 54 million people visited the city last year, 6% more than the estimated 51 million in … Continue reading →

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Duckees responds to Buc-ee’s

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Time for a litigation update. It’s been nearly three months since Texas gas station giant Buc-ee’s, which has a rapidly growing presence and fanbase outside the state, accused another animal-faced brand of ripping it off. Now, the duck-centric competitor rivaling … Continue reading →

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Bill to fix joint primary problem introduced

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Worth watching. What happened? Texas state senators Thursday held a public hearing on legislation crafted to update a 2023 law requiring certain counties to drastically increase the number of polling locations if they use vote centers for countywide voting. Last … Continue reading →

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The GRB gets bigger

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Houston First head Michael Heckman on Thursday unveiled plans for a $2 billion overhaul of the George R. Brown Convention Center, a project they said would “transform” the city’s downtown and east side while … Continue reading →

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“A bigger threat to U.S. federal government information systems than China”

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Brian Krebs assesses the DOGE madness from a cybersecurity perspective. The Trump administration has fired at least 130 employees at the federal government’s foremost cybersecurity body  — the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Those dismissals reportedly included CISA staff dedicated to securing U.S. elections, … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for March 9

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

“Speaker Johnson, do you believe there should be a multi-story golden statue of Donald Trump in Gaza?” “A Study of Mint Plants. A Device to Stop Bleeding. This Is the Scientific Research Ted Cruz Calls “Woke.”” I assure you, the … Continue reading →

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Comptroller Hegar to be next A&M Chancellor

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Congrats, now try not to screw it up. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar will be the next chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, overseeing 11 universities that educate more than 157,000 students and eight state agencies, including the Texas Division … Continue reading →

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City to implement hiring freeze

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Houston Mayor John Whitmire is planning to implement a hiring freeze in the coming days that will impact all city departments except fire and police, a city spokesperson confirmed. While an exact … Continue reading →

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Shrinking Sugar Land

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. For years, Sugar Land has been a model for how a healthy suburb can develop alongside a booming metropolis in modern America. Situated just 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston, Sugar Land has grown from a small town of … Continue reading →

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Measles case count tops 200

Posted on March 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

And still going strong. The measles outbreak in West Texas has soared to 198 cases, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported Friday. In New Mexico, 30 cases have been reported in Lea County, which borders Gaines County, of as Friday. Twenty-three … Continue reading →

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Rep. Turner’s funeral schedule

Posted on March 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s what we know. Funeral services for U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, a former Houston mayor who died early Wednesday morning, will be held in Houston next week in Acres Homes, the community he called home and always treasured. Turner will lie in … Continue reading →

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Waymo robotaxis are now officially available in Austin

Posted on March 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

If that’s the sort of thing you’re into. Uber will shift into a new gear in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday when its ride-hailing service will begin dispatching self-driving cars to pick up passengers. The autonomous option is being provided through … Continue reading →

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Considering the CD18 special election question

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Press dives right in. Shortly after the news broke Wednesday morning of former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s death, speculation began about a special election for his U.S. Congressional seat — a post he’d held for just two months. Political … Continue reading →

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So how are all those schools doing now?

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I would like some answers, please. Overall, there have been 177 principal changes since the takeover began in June 2023. In most cases, the principal separated from the district voluntarily. Following that were transfers, to 27 other principal positions and … Continue reading →

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The wooly mouse

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Intermediate steps. A Texas company working to bring back the woolly mammoth has made an adorable breakthrough: the woolly mouse. Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences announced Tuesday that it has engineered mice with mammoth-like traits for living in cold climates. These mice, … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of March 3

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is a fan of Congressional town halls as it brings you this week’s roundup. Off the Kuff looked at January campaign finance reports for Houston-are state legislators. SocraticGadfly went one better than Court of Criminal Appeals … Continue reading →

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RIP, Rep. Sylvester Turner

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This came as a total shock yesterday morning. U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, a former Houston mayor, state legislator and institution in Houston Democratic politics, died early Wednesday morning. He was 70. Turner’s death comes two months into his first term … Continue reading →

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UST responds to re-accreditation concerns

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record. University of St. Thomas administrators announced that they are planning a faculty and staff town hall “to share important updates and discuss our plans” following widespread concerns about the Houston Catholic school’s re-accreditation. Interim President Fr. … Continue reading →

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Uvalde legislator files bill to improve police response to the next Uvalde situations

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. State Rep. Don McLaughlin, who was mayor of Uvalde when a gunman tore through the town’s peace and killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school, has filed a bill aimed at addressing some of the … Continue reading →

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Here comes the CDC

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good to know we still have one of those. A measles outbreak in Texas has grown to 159 cases, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is now on the ground in that state to respond. … Continue reading →

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The Texas abortion ban effect on Colorado

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is probably something I should have seen coming. Texas’ abortion ban didn’t just affect Texans — it squeezed Coloradans’ access to care, delaying procedures and spiking second-trimester abortions, a new JAMA Network Open study suggests. Why it matters: While much of the focus … Continue reading →

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What’s going on at the University of St. Thomas?

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

A whole lot of drama, it appears. The University of St. Thomas’ institutional accreditation is up for renewal as the school grapples with a shakeup in its administrative ranks and six consecutive years of financial losses. The evaluation is a test of … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit filed over still-blocked federal funds for refugee resettlement

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s get a quick win on this, please. Catholic Charities Fort Worth is accusing the federal government of unlawfully withholding more than $36 million in refugee resettlement funds, leading to staff layoffs and program cuts across Texas. The charity, which … Continue reading →

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If you get the chance to attend a Congressional town hall, do so

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Look at all the fun you can have. About two dozen demonstrators greeted 3rd District Congressman Keith Self at a town hall in the Collin College Conference Center in Wylie. “Do your job!” chanted the crowd carrying signs including “Dump … Continue reading →

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