Author Archives: Charles Kuffner

Delving into the Paxton mysteries

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Will we see their divorce records? More than a year after Donald Miles and his ex-wife’s divorce became final after 24 years of marriage, Miles wanted to keep those records private. The Plano resident filed a motion last October to … Continue reading →

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Austin seeks waiver for its rainbow crosswalk

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

All the cool kids are doing it. The city of Austin is exploring a waiver that would allow its current street art to stay in place. In a message board post on Monday, Mayor Kirk Watson said the city plans … Continue reading →

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The indie bookstore comeback

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good to see. Hope it lasts. Barnes & Noble, the nationwide bookseller, almost went out of business a few years ago. Its return is being heralded as a case study and a corporate comeback. Once upon a time, Barnes & … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of October 20

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Wouldn’t you rather see the weekly Texas Progressive Alliance roundups announced at airports instead of those dreadful Homeland Security videos? Of course you would. Off the Kuff published interviews with Amanda Edwards,Isaiah Martin, Christian Menefee, and Jolanda Jones, candidates in … Continue reading →

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We could have asked!

Posted on October 22, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I am smacking my forehead so hard, you guys. The City of San Antonio will seek an exemption from the State of Texas in order to keep the city’s rainbow crosswalk. The decision comes after the state issued a mandate … Continue reading →

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Harris County joins amicus effort to block Texas National Guard deployment in Chicago

Posted on October 22, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee has joined a national coalition of more than 100 local government leaders in filing an amicus brief opposing the Trump administration’s unlawful federalization and deployment of Texas National Guard troops to … Continue reading →

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Eagle Eye Gun Detection

Posted on October 22, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a new AI-enhanced weapons detection system on the block. Eagle Eye Networks has launched its newest feature, Eagle Eye Gun Detection, an AI-enabled technology designed to detect visible firearms in real-time and alert first responders within seconds. The system … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit filed against app age verification law

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. A Texas student group and two high schoolers are suing to block a new state law that would require everyone — adults and minors alike — to verify their age before downloading … Continue reading →

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Early voting Day One: Looking back at 2017 and 2021

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

One day of early voting is in the books. I’m not going to follow the EV reports every day, as this is as off a year as we get in our election cycle, but I will check in a couple … Continue reading →

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Metro paints over the rainbow crosswalk

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. The Montrose rainbow crosswalk was gone Monday morning after protesters faced off with police as a construction crew started restriping the intersection overnight and some were were arrested, according to the Houston Police Department. As of 8:15 a.m., fresh … Continue reading →

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October 2025 campaign finance reports – Senate and Congress (Not CD18)

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I’m doing this one a little differently, for two reasons. One is that I want to include non-Democratic candidates in the CD18 special election, just so we’re all on the same page. And two, as of this past weekend when … Continue reading →

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Council votes to close Polk Street

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Welp. The City Council voted Wednesday to close Polk Street for the $2 billion expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center — an early step in a 15-year plan Houston First says will “redefine” downtown, and critics say will … Continue reading →

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Our flying taxi dreams will not come true in time for the World Cup

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Sadness. Two major transit modes won’t play a role in moving World Cup visitors around. Flying taxis, which Arlington Mayor Jim Ross hoped would be ready in time for the tournament, won’t be taking spectators to the stadium through the … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for October 19

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

“Political consultants who spoke to NOTUS said they’re using AI tools like ChatGPT for a wide array of purposes. Some use it for brainstorming, drafting campaign communications and summarizing complex policy memos. Others said they’ve used AI for transforming text … Continue reading →

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Early voting for the November 2025 election begins tomorrow

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The Harris County Clerk’s Office (HCCO) urges voters to take advantage of Early Voting, which starts Monday, October 20, and ends Friday, October 31. Ballot Items Include 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution 18th Congressional District Houston City Council At-Large Position … Continue reading →

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Fort Bend redistricts its Commissioners Court

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Was wondering when they were going to get around to this. The Fort Bend County Commissioners Court voted 3–2 Monday to adopt a new precinct map, replacing boundaries drawn in 2021 and reigniting debate over political representation in the county. … Continue reading →

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Ismaili Center to open in November

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Been a long time coming. The decades-long quest to bring the first-ever U.S. location of a massive religious center to Houston is almost complete. Ismaili Center Houston, a five-story, 11-acre religious center for Ismaili Muslims, is poised for a grand … Continue reading →

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Anti-campus protest law blocked

Posted on October 18, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge in Austin has temporarily blocked key parts of Texas’ new law limiting expression on campuses, halting the University of Texas System’s enforcement of a ban on overnight expression and limits on speakers, amplified sounds and drums … Continue reading →

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Punt!

Posted on October 18, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

That seems to be the Mayor’s plan for fixing our finances. Mayor John Whitmire and City Council members on Wednesday opted to keep Houston’s property tax rate flat as calls for more revenue reach an inflection point at City Hall. … Continue reading →

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

Endorsement watch: Cy-Fair ISD and the constitutional amendments

Posted on October 18, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron calls for sanity in Cy-Fair where its wingnut board members have been running wild. MAGA-on-MAGA mudslinging. Secret recordings. Anti-woke purges. We wish we were talking about the latest White House sideshow. Unfortunately, we’re talking about the board of trustees overseeing the … Continue reading →

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UH/Hobby poll of CD18: Menefee 27, Edwards 23, Jones 15

Posted on October 17, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I figured there’d be another poll of this race from them. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards are leading the crowded race to fill Texas’ 18 Congressional District seat, according to a new … Continue reading →

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Paxton sues the guy attempting the Loving County takeover

Posted on October 17, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday filed a lawsuit against the leader of a group of people that recently moved into a wealthy far West Texas county with the expressed intent to wrest political control from the current office holders. Paxton also … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Steady on at HCC

Posted on October 17, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron supports the incumbents for re-election to the HCC Board of Trustees. Fortunately, HCC’s fundamentals appear to be on the mend. Enrollment has nearly bounced back to pre-Covid levels thanks to booming suburban campuses. The board of trustees still has … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jolanda Jones

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

We come to the end of the line of my interviews for this cycle. I’ll be back in the saddle soon enough for the 2026 primaries, but today we are finishing off the interviews for CD18. In a race with … Continue reading →

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Rep. Gina Hinojosa officially enters the Governor’s race

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Texas Rep. Gina Hinojosa on Wednesday announced she is running for governor in 2026, setting up a potential clash between Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and one of the Legislature’s most strident critics of his school voucher program. “Our fight … Continue reading →

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There may be a lawsuit over the rainbow crosswalk

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A legion of Houston’s elected officials gathered at the Taft and Westheimer rainbow crosswalk Tuesday as a show of force against Gov. Greg Abbott’s call to remove it or risk the loss of state transportation funding, and some even … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of October 12

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance stands with the people of Portland and Chicago as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Christian Menefee

Posted on October 15, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Our next candidate for CD18 is another familiar name and the first person to formally announce their candidacy for this seat. Christian Menefee has been elected twice as Harris County Attorney – he had to resign to run for CD18 … Continue reading →

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Harris County sues over Solar For All funds

Posted on October 15, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee filed a lawsuit Monday contesting the Trump administration’s cancellation of more than $400 million in solar energy grants earmarked for Texas-based organizations. The federal funding, part of a $7 billion Biden-era program known as Solar for All, was meant … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: For some change in HISD

Posted on October 15, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes their endorsements in the three contested HISD trustee races. It’s an odd election. It could even seem pointless. Right now, elected HISD trustees have little power, no vote and just a few minutes prioritized at the start … Continue reading →

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Interview with Isaiah Martin

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Next up for the special election in CD18 is Isaiah Martin, who like Amanda Edwards had filed to run in the 2024 primary while then-Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was running for Houston Mayor, but then dropped out and endorsed Jackson … Continue reading →

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Why is HPD calling ICE so much more often now?

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

We deserve some answers. Houston police officers have called federal immigration agents on civilians over 100 times since President Donald Trump took office in January — a jump of more than 1,000% from any of the previous five years, according to public records obtained … Continue reading →

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A brief recap of the whole rainbow crosswalk situation

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Let me see if I’ve got this right: Greg Abbott gets his knickers in a twist over the recently-repainted rainbow crosswalk on Westheimer at Taft, after having been spun up about it by some online wingnuts. These crosswalks are no … Continue reading →

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Interview with Amanda Edwards

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This week we will focus on the election we’ve been waiting for the longest, the special election in CD18 to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Sylvester Turner. There’s a big field for this race but … Continue reading →

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