Author Archives: Charles Kuffner

The election to nominate a candidate in CD18 has been set

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Per an email that I got yesterday from the HCDP, the Executive Committee meeting of CD18 precinct chairs to fill the vacancy on the November ballot will be next Tuesday, August 13, at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, with the meeting … Continue reading →

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HPD has a new Chief

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Meet the new guy. Months of searching for Houston’s next full-time police chief ended with Mayor John Whitmire naming J. Noe Diaz, leader of the less than 100-person Katy Police Department, as Troy Finner’s replacement in charge of the nation’s … Continue reading →

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The lost Harvey recovery funds

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Good job on the audit front. Now let’s see what we can learn from this. Houston lost at least $8.5 million in potential reimbursements for a federally funded Hurricane Harvey home repair program due to missed deadlines and filing errors, … Continue reading →

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The House gets its turn to yell at CenterPoint

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

They mostly focused on tree maintenance, which seems reasonable enough. House lawmakers on Wednesday questioned CenterPoint Energy’s tree maintenance ahead of Hurricane Beryl, in which tens of thousands of trees knocked out power lines, shutting off electricity to 2.3 million … Continue reading →

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HPD releases a dropped cases report

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Kudos for the serious review, but boy did this go on for a long time without anyone doing anything about it. Between 2016 and 2024, Houston Police Department leaders had multiple opportunities to question — and potentially stop — the … Continue reading →

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The JRR is now the JJR

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: The Harris County Democratic Party (HCDP) will announce today that it has chosen to honor the legacy and dedication to the Democratic Party of the late congresswoman, Sheila Jackson Lee by renaming its premiere annual gala in … Continue reading →

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Who’s going to pay for derecho damage?

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Well, CenterPoint would like for that to be us. CenterPoint Energy expects to incur as much as $1.8 billion in costs from its efforts to restore power after May’s severe storms and July’s Hurricane Beryl, company executives said during a … Continue reading →

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

Leave the protesters alone

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t agree with this. Mayor John Whitmire is proposing a ban on the targeted picketing of any residential dwelling in Houston after months of pro-Palestininian protests in front of his own house. Protesting in front of public officials’ homes … Continue reading →

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

The principal shuffle

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Seems like a lot. Since Mike Miles was appointed as HISD superintendent in June 2023, there has been widespread principal turnover across the district. The Houston Chronicle has been tracking the leadership changes at HISD campuses through a series of … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of July 29

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance stands with the childless cat ladies as it brings you this week’s roundups.

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So about those generators CenterPoint bought…

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I’m fine with all of this, but it shouldn’t be the endpoint of the conversation. It’s not even the main point. A state lawmaker said Monday he was considering pushing legislation to recoup some of the $800 million CenterPoint Energy … Continue reading →

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Meta settles lawsuit with Texas over facial recognition usage

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Wasn’t following this closely. Facebook’s parent company Meta will pay Texas $1.4 billion to settle a lawsuit that accused the company of using personal biometric data without users’ authorization. The 2022 lawsuit, filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in … Continue reading →

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Our West Nile summer

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of rain = lots of mosquitoes. Local health authorities worry the post-Beryl explosion of the blood-sucking insects could become more than a nuisance, raising the risk of infections of West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses. At least 496 mosquito … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit over San Marcos marijuana decriminalization ordinance tossed

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

For now. A Hays County judge dismissed a lawsuit filed against the City of San Marcos in response to a proposition decriminalizing low-level marijuana possession. Judge Sherri Tibbe dropped Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s suit against San Marcos on Monday. … Continue reading →

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More on Judge Kelli Johnson

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Not great. Top judicial leaders in Houston have effectively removed hundreds of pending cases from state district Judge Kelli Johnson and assigned them to other jurists in the wake of two recent DWI stops — one on June 25 that … Continue reading →

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More on Ken Paxton’s ethicslessness

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, that’s a word. It’s also a good description of the state of our Attorney General. Three decades following its inception, the [Texas Ethics C]ommission is toothless. Compliance of Texas’ ethics laws is largely voluntary. That’s because the agency relies … Continue reading →

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July 2024 campaign finance reports – State offices

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

PREVIOUSLY: Senate and Congress For the first time in awhile that I can remember, there’s not really a state or statewide legislative race generating much interest in Harris County. The candidates and incumbents for the Court of Appeals benches have … Continue reading →

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On rooftop solar

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

There are a couple of things to consider as you read this. Texas ranks third in the country in electricity generation from small-scale solar, including rooftop solar, trailing California and Arizona, according to the Energy Information Administration. (The federal office … Continue reading →

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Third complaint over Ted Cruz’s podcast payments

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Three strikes and…well, nothing really. They’re just complaints and even if they’re found to be meritorious we’re a long way away from anything happening. But since I’m following this story, I’ll keep on it. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, remains … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for July 28

Posted on July 28, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

“Polling shows that two-thirds of Americans support term limits for Supreme Court justices. The same goes for judicial ethics reforms. The commissioners pointed out, as we all know, that “the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are the only members … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

The potential candidates so far for CD18

Posted on July 28, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron lists a few, but I can and will tell you there are others. The campaign to replace the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in Congress is playing out behind the scenes, with potential candidates calling precinct chairs … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

CenterPoint gets its first grilling

Posted on July 28, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure there will be more of this to come. But we need action, not just talk. Texas utility regulators grilled CenterPoint Energy executives Thursday over their performance in the days following Hurricane Beryl, when millions of Houston-area residents lost … Continue reading →

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More on the I-10 project and “No Higher No Wider”

Posted on July 28, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This story is primarily about the effect of the proposed I-10 widening/elevating would have on the Cottage Grove neighborhood, which was previously split in two by the highway’s construction in 1968. That’s all worth reading, but I’m focusing on a … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit over self-induced abortion charges can proceed

Posted on July 27, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A Texas woman who was jailed and charged with murder after self-managing an abortion in 2022 can move forward with her lawsuit against the local sheriff and prosecutors over the case that drew national outrage before the charges were … Continue reading →

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Mayor Whitmire names a new fire chief

Posted on July 27, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Fired or retired, depends on the source. Sam Peña is out as Houston’s Fire Chief, Mayor John Whitmire said Friday. The news was first reported by KPRC. “(Peña) plans to retire,” Mayor John Whitmire told the TV station. “I thank … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Memorial service information for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

Posted on July 27, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

From the Chronicle. Monday: Jackson Lee will lie in state from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Houston City Hall, making the late congresswoman the second person to receive this honor. The first was Dr. Michael DeBakey, a heart surgeon, … Continue reading →

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There’s a coordinated statewide campaign? We can do that?

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Who knew? U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and the Texas Democratic Party are launching a coordinated campaign to consolidate resources for races up and down the ticket, the party and Allred campaign announced Wednesday morning. The initiative, dubbed “Texas Offense,” will … Continue reading →

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Another Paxton attempt to harass a migrant shelter halted by a judge

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

How much do you have to hate migrants to keep doing this? Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton cannot depose the leader of a McAllen migrant shelter, a Hidalgo County judge ruled Wednesday. District Judge Bobby Flores’ decision shuts down attempts … Continue reading →

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Council approves Prop A rules

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Finally. On Wednesday, [Houston City Council] approved, in a 13-2 vote, a set of rules offering members two mechanisms to push forward their policy proposals. Under the new rules, members can still directly request the administration place their proposals on … Continue reading →

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Dispatches from Dallas, July 26 edition

Posted on July 26, 2024 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 Texans who are probably not going to be the VP candidate; the Dallas County Juvenile … Continue reading →

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Former Chief Finner says city is trying to bury HPD dropped cases issue

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Explosive stuff, with a strong pushback from the Mayor. Ever since Troy Finner suddenly retired in May, he has kept a low profile. The former Houston police chief has declined to speak with most members of the media and, aside … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Class action lawsuit #3 filed against CenterPoint

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Once, twice, three times a Beryl-related class action lawsuit related to CenterPoint’s failure to get the power back in a timely fashion. A firm representing 19 medical professionals and other business owners in Harris County filed a class action claim … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Could Montgomery County replace CenterPoint?

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see. I’m very skeptical, but I consider this to be an interesting test case of the proposition that CenterPoint’s service area could be reduced. After Beryl wiped out power in the [Creekside Park] neighborhood and the county, officials within … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Texas blog roundup for the week of July 22

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance mourns the passing of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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