Author Archives: Charles Kuffner

Dispatches from Dallas, November 22 edition

Posted on November 22, 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 a grab bag: area election news; ongoing moving and shaking in Dallas’ city hall; Dallas … Continue reading →

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SBOE to support “Bible-infused curriculum”

Posted on November 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

What could possibly go wrong? A majority of the Texas State Board of Education signaled their support Tuesday for a state-authored curriculum under intense scrutiny in recent months for its heavy inclusion of biblical teachings. Ahead of an official vote … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

PUC to audit CenterPoint

Posted on November 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Missed this last week. The Public Utility Commission of Texas took a step toward an audit of CenterPoint Energy, fulfilling Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s directive issued in the wake of widespread criticism of the Houston-area electric utility’s handling of Hurricane … Continue reading →

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

The first Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission report

Posted on November 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

For your perusal. The Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission came out with its list of recommendations to improve the quality of life for Houston’s LGBTQIA+ community. The commission, created in June 2023 under the office of Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of November 18

Posted on November 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is getting back up off the mat to fight another day as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Do we really need an engineer at the head of Public Works?

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The engineers think so. The Mayor, not so much. Mayor John Whitmire received a written rebuke from a national engineering group over plans to change city ordinance to no longer require an engineer to head Houston Public Works, according to a letter … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Buzbee sued by unnamed celebrity for alleged extortion

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Okay then. Tony Buzbee, the prominent Houston attorney representing more than 100 people in a suit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, has been sued in California for allegedly extorting “high profile” individuals, according to court documents filed in Los Angeles County … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Texas A&M Space Institute

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. A grassy field next to NASA’s Johnson Space Center is getting an otherworldly makeover. Officials gathered Friday to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Texas A&M University Space Institute, which will re-create the moon and Mars to help develop rovers, … Continue reading →

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Can HISD pass the next bond?

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

It depends. After Houston ISD’s historic bond failure in November, several parents, teachers and community members are wondering if or when the state’s largest school district will go back to voters to place another measure on the ballot. […] Some … Continue reading →

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

Welcome to Daikin Park

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Out with the old sponsor, in with the new. Minute Maid Park’s time is up. Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and their Houston Astros teammates will play home games at the renamed Daikin Park when next season begins. The Astros on … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

New Sports Authority CEO hired

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

The changeover is complete. Ryan Walsh was hired Friday as the CEO of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, tasked with overseeing the city’s largest sports facilities and events, after a unanimous vote by the agency’s board of directors. The move … Continue reading →

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

Judicial undervotes 2024

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

One brief comment on this Houston Landing story about undervoting, and then I will have some numbers for you. Tens of thousands of Harris County residents stopped voting well short of the end of their Nov. 5 ballots, skipping dozens … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Nate Paul serves his contempt sentence

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Noted for the record, and for a couple of newsy bits at the end. Austin real estate investor Nate Paul reported to Travis County jail on Thursday night for a 10-day sentence for contempt of court, avoiding a possible media … Continue reading →

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Evolv

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting. In the 2022–23 school year news reports nationwide identified more than 1,150 guns brought to K-12 campuses that were seized before anyone fired them. That averages out to more than six guns per day, according to an investigation … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for November 17

Posted on November 17, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

“To obey a tyrant before you are compelled to do so teaches them what they will be able to get you to do, easily, without even needing to expend the resources and energy it takes to carry out that part … Continue reading →

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SCOTx lets Robert Roberson get another execution date

Posted on November 17, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

But thank God that separation of powers was preserved. The Texas Supreme Court on Friday ruled a House committee overstepped its authority when it effectively stalled Robert Roberson’s execution by issuing an eleventh-hour subpoena. The ruling clears the way for … Continue reading →

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HPD’s worsening response times

Posted on November 17, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Putting a pin in this for later. City leaders blamed an increased lag in police response times in 2024, in part, on the fallout from a scandal in which 264,000 cases were suspended citing a lack of personnel. Police leaders, … Continue reading →

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Time for another warfarin update

Posted on November 17, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Not much effect on the feral hog population yet, but it’s still early days. Nine months after the Texas Department of Agriculture approved a new toxicant to curb crop-destroying feral hogs, many farmers and ranchers are still leery or unaware … Continue reading →

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

Dems win another judicial race after final vote canvass in Harris County

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Some good Friday news. The result of a hotly contested race to replace a retiring Harris County judge has flipped from a narrow Republican win to a Democratic victory after the final set of ballots was reported. Official results published … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

A little self-reflection is good

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

It’s best if it’s accompanied by a sincere effort to change one’s actions. But it’s a start regardless. During much of its first year and a half of service, Houston ISD’s state-appointed school board has endured criticism for what some … Continue reading →

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More on how the Lottery odds were stacked

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Another fascinating deep dive into how a recent Lottery was won by an outfit that had bought a ticket foe every possible combination. In the year and a half since an anonymous player engineered a $95 million Texas lottery jackpot … Continue reading →

Posted in Jackpot! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The road ahead for Sean Teare

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

He definitely faces challenges. I believe he’s up to them. Sean Teare, Harris County’s district attorney-elect, is a longtime prosecutor who has tried armed robberies, visited the scenes of countless homicides and convicted a man of mass murder. But those … Continue reading →

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

Austin’s pitch to the WNBA

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. Fran Harris has a plan. The former Texas women’s basketball great has the financial backing, she insists. She’s got the support of the school administration and the city’s mayor and has had constructive conversations with the sports investment group … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dispatches from Dallas, November 15 edition

Posted on November 15, 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: election follow-up; various infrastructure stories; immigration news; Mercy Culture Church and Gateway Church; museum news; the Michelin … Continue reading →

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Republicans performed more or less at 2020 levels in Harris County

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Obviously, the Republicans did well in Harris County this year, better than I expected for sure. They won some judicial races – they’re probably kicking themselves for not contesting more of them – and in general came a lot closer … Continue reading →

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Two CenterPoint updates

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see about this. State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, filed legislation Tuesday that would create a process to refund Houstonians for charges associated with CenterPoint Energy’s $800 million lease of generators that went largely unused after Hurricane Beryl. King’s North Texas district … Continue reading →

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We have another plan for repurposing the Astrodome

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure what the version number is for this, but whatever it is, increment it by one. The Astrodome became the world’s first domed stadium upon opening its doors in 1965. Financed and developed primarily by then-mayor Roy Hofheinz, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Texas and Oklahoma peacefully settle their border dispute

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Well, at least one thing went well this past week. Texas just altered its border with Oklahoma. Well, a small sliver of it, anyway. And, no, Texas didn’t become any bigger. After years of dispute over how the boundary between … Continue reading →

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Six Houston restaurants get Michelin stars

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

And the crowd goes wild. After months of speculation, the Michelin Guide announced its inaugural Texas selection of restaurants at a private awards ceremony in Houston on Monday night. The respected guide from the French tire manufacturer doled out 15 one-star reviews … Continue reading →

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A brief HCC update

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

There’s not a lot of non-election news happening right now, but there was this. Houston Community College officials are working to integrate virtual reality and more digital advances into every classroom and program by next fall, one of several goals … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Three local marijuana decriminalization referenda passed last week

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Forgive me if my enthusiasm is modest. This General Election, Texans voted to decriminalize marijuana on ballot measures in Lockhart, Bastrop, and Dallas. According to The Dallas Morning News, about 67% of Dallas voters supported the proposition decriminalizing small amounts … Continue reading →

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

Time once again for another “future doctor shortage” post

Posted on November 12, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This continues to seem bad. Texas’ new abortion laws are stressing the state’s already beleaguered OB/GYN workforce, and threatening the pipeline of new doctors that would help provide relief, a new survey shows. More than 70% of practicing OB/GYNs in … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: In my neighborhood

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I won’t have access to a Harris County canvass for a couple of weeks, and I may or may not do some countywide comparisons, but I did wonder about how the vote went in my neighborhood. I do a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Paxton sues second doctor for providing gender affirming care to teens

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

From before the election. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing a second doctor for allegedly violating state law and providing gender-affirming medical care to minors. Dr. Hector Granados is an El Paso pediatric endocrinologist. Paxton accuses him in the … Continue reading →

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