Author Archives: Charles Kuffner

30-day campaign finance reports: City Council At Large #4

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

We’re less than a month out from Election Day, and that means that the candidates in the special election for Houston City Council At Large #4 need to file 30 day finance reports. The July reports included reports from two … Continue reading →

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More indictments in the Maria Rojas case

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Paxton pushing paper. Eight people have been indicted on charges of practicing medicine without a license as part of the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s investigation into a Houston-area midwife accused of providing illegal abortions, the attorney general’s office announced Wednesday. … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for October 12

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

“One national survey of more than 1,800 higher education staff members conducted by consulting firm Tyton Partners earlier this year found that about 40% of administrators and 30% of instructions use generative AI daily or weekly — that’s up from … Continue reading →

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The latest UH/Hobby poll has some red flags for Republicans

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

First, the headline stories, which don’t interest me much. Ken Paxton and John Cornyn are effectively tied in the Republican primary race for U.S. Senate, with 34% of voters backing Paxton and 33% supporting Cornyn. 22% support Wesley Hunt. Jasmine … Continue reading →

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The latest Loving County shenanigans draws a response

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Are we sure this isn’t all just performance art? Local, state and federal officials have called for separate inquiries a week after a Houston Chronicle investigation detailed how a group of people from out-of-state was moving to wrest political control of … Continue reading →

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Dash for sale

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. Houston Dynamo and Dash Owner Ted Segal is in “advanced talks” to sell the Dash for $120 million to the RHC Group, according to Sportico. The Dynamo and Dash declined to comment on the story to the Houston … Continue reading →

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Three ridiculous voting and election stories

Posted on October 11, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

“Silly season” doesn’t begin to cover this stuff. Item 1: Paxton sides with Texas GOP, against secretary of state in lawsuit seeking to close primaries Last month, the Republican Party of Texas sued over a state law that allows anyone … Continue reading →

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Another Kerrville flooding lawsuit filed

Posted on October 11, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I wish them luck. The family of a man killed in the July 4 floods in Central Texas has sued the RV park where he and his wife were staying, alleging the campground’s owners knowingly placed its guests in an … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Chron for Menefee in CD18

Posted on October 11, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Special election endorsement #2 is in the books. Let’s get this out of the way: the 18th Congressional district is a storied district with a rich legacy of trailblazing Black Houston leaders from Barbara Jordan to Mickey Leland and Sheila … Continue reading →

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Interview with Robbie McDonough

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

At the end of my HISD interview cycle, I noted that I had reached out to District V candidate Robbie McDonough but had not heard back from him. That happens sometimes, campaign-related email addresses are not always reliable. Well, McDonough … Continue reading →

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Checking in on SD09

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Our attention here in Houston is focused on the long-overdue special election in CD18, but it’s not the only special election of consequence on the ballot. One could argue that the special election in SD09, which was called to fill … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Chron goes with Jordan Thomas

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes their recommendation for the City Council At Large #4 special election. Voters should try to find someone among the current crop of candidates who has the vision and knowledge to actually make something productive out of a … Continue reading →

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Interview with Al Lloyd

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

We wrap up our tour of the Houston City Council At Large #4 landscape today with Al Lloyd, who was one of the first candidates out of the gate when the seat became open. Lloyd is a Houston native and … Continue reading →

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The recall effort is out there collecting signatures

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck, you’re gonna need it. After more than a year of posting to social media and reaching out to news media, Ethan Hale stood alone — aside from a Houston Public Media journalist — at the Houston City College … Continue reading →

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HISD wants you to read its own coverage of itself

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, good lord. Houston ISD is looking to lessen its reliance on external news media and instead lean more on its own internal news team, according to the 2025-26 District Improvement Plan obtained by Chron. The shift comes amid mounting … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of October 6

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance never shuts down as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Dwight Boykins

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Next up for Houston City Council At Large #4 is a familiar name, Dwight Boykins. That name is familiar because Boykins served two terms on City Council, in District D, having been elected in 2013 and 2015. The amended terms … Continue reading →

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Tarrant County redistricting map gets cleared

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Can’t say I’m surprised. An effort to stop Tarrant County’s new commissioner precincts was shot down Thursday. Multiple groups suing the county over the maps asked Judge Megan Fahey to enact an injunction against the county’s new maps, claiming that the … Continue reading →

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The 2025 constitutional amendments

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a bunch of them, but not many I’d recommend. On Nov. 4, Texas voters will get the final say on 17 constitutional amendments — usually listed as statewide propositions at the top of the ballot — including billions of … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jordan Thomas

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

We continue our journey through Houston City Council At Large #4 with Jordan Thomas, who is a familiar presence on Twitter with the Houston urbanist community. Thomas served as Chief of Staff to now-former Council Members Amanda Edwards and Letitia … Continue reading →

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Wesley Hunt says he’s running for Senate

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Sure, why not? Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, entered the Republican primary for U.S. Senate on Monday, complicating an already contentious race between two of the biggest names in Texas Republican politics. Hunt, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has laid the groundwork for … Continue reading →

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Measles isn’t done with us yet

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas outbreak may be over, but there are other outbreaks out there. One of the largest measles outbreaks in the U.S. is now centered in bordering areas of southwestern Utah and Arizona. In Southwest Utah, all but one of … Continue reading →

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Interview with Alejandra Salinas

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

We move this week into Houston City Council At Large #4, one of two special elections on my ballot (and yours if you’re in CD18), to fill the seat left vacant by Letitia Plummer after she announced her candidacy for … Continue reading →

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Texas Victory Consulting poll of CD18

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is interesting on a couple of levels. As the community prepares to decide who will represent Congressional District 18, understanding current voter preferences is essential. This poll, fielded September 27 to October 2, 2025, conducted with 557 respondents between … Continue reading →

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Who asked for this task force?

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Other than Greg Abbott, anyway. State and Harris County law enforcement will join forces on a task force aimed at cracking down on repeat violent offenders, whom police leaders say are fueling much of the region’s crime problem, Gov. Greg … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for October 5

Posted on October 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

“In 1982, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches declared that Apartheid is a heresy. Not only that it was a bad policy, or a violation of human rights, or a denial of the fundamental principles of liberal democracy. Not even … Continue reading →

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A brief news roundup from the current redistricting trial

Posted on October 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

What the label says, three news stories I could find that had coverage of the redistricting trial. From the Trib. When Texas first proposed redrawing its congressional map earlier this summer, critics decried it as a political power-grab to appease … Continue reading →

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Paxton says he’s gonna enforce that Ten Commandment law so hard, you guys

Posted on October 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Attorney General Ken Paxton promised to “vigorously enforce” the state’s Ten Commandments display law in a legal advisory sent to Texas public school districts, his office announced Wednesday. Paxton said his office … Continue reading →

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UT considers accepting a protection racket

Posted on October 4, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Choose very carefully, y’all. The Trump administration has asked the University of Texas at Austin to agree to a “set of operating principles” — which reportedly include adopting a stricter definition of gender, a five-year tuition freeze and a cap … Continue reading →

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Buzbee sues NFL on behalf of other McNair son

Posted on October 4, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I didn’t know there was another McNair son. Houston attorney Tony Buzbee has sued the NFL in New York Supreme Court, claiming the league conspired to remove Cary McNair from the McNair family business interests, including the Texans. In a release issued Saturday, Buzbee’s law … Continue reading →

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Parker’s poll puts her in the lead

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: A poll recently conducted by LRP shows former Houston Mayor Annise Parker in strong position to win the March 2026 Democratic primary for Harris County Judge. Voters know and like Parker, which earns her majority support and … Continue reading →

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Ogg gets sued for “political targeting”

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I dunno, man. Two conservative Houston firebrands have joined together in a lawsuit accusing former District Attorney Kim Ogg of using her former office to target political opponents. Blogger Aubrey Taylor, the man once charged with injuring late U.S. Rep. … Continue reading →

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The state of mosquito research

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Really interesting stuff. Under a microscope, a mosquito can look stunning. Their blue-green iridescent scales, purple bands, and attractive spotted wings shimmer—dazzling enough to forget, for a moment, the insect lives to take a sip of your blood. Mosquitoes range … Continue reading →

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Talarico rakes it in

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Impressive. State Rep. James Talarico raised $6.2 million in the first three weeks of his bid for Senate, his campaign announced Wednesday, a massive haul that far outpaces the earliest fundraising numbers tallied by recent Democratic statewide hopefuls. The staggering … Continue reading →

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