Category Archives: Other punditry

Pour one out for the Houston Landing

Posted on May 17, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

CityCast Houston sends off the non-profit local news organization that deserved better. The Houston Landing made a huge splash when it launched as a local non-profit newsroom in 2023. But this week, it’s closing down. So, what went wrong? Host … Continue reading →

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RIP, Houston Landing

Posted on April 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Major bummer. The board of Houston Landing has voted to shut down the nonprofit newsroom in the face of financial challenges. Although Houston Landing launched with significant seed funding, it has been unable to build additional revenue streams to support … Continue reading →

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The Texas Observer lives again

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Now here’s some good news. The board of the Texas Democracy Foundation, the nonprofit parent organization of the Texas Observer,  on Wednesday voted unanimously to rescind its earlier plan to lay off the 68-year-old magazine’s entire staff and cease publication. “This is … Continue reading →

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RIP, Texas Observer (maybe?)

Posted on March 28, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

A real shame, and a real loss. The Texas Observer, the storied progressive publication known for its feisty, combative and often humorous investigative journalism, is shutting down and will lay off its 17-person staff, including 13 journalists, several members of … Continue reading →

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Chron editorial board wins another Pulitzer

Posted on May 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations! The Houston Chronicle Editorial Board on Monday won a 2022 Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing for a series on voter suppression in Texas. The prize, which is the nation’s most prestigious for journalists, was awarded to writers Lisa Falkenberg, … Continue reading →

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Beto’s “We can win” message

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Beto O’Rourke offers a blueprint for how Democrats can win in Texas. In 2020, Joe Biden lost by less than Hillary Clinton did in 2016; eleven of the twelve State House seats we won in 2018 were successfully defended, and … Continue reading →

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Houston Press ceases print operations

Posted on November 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

End of an era. Voice Media Group announced today that the Houston Press ceased print publication with its November 2 edition, capping a 28-year run as one of the nation’s leading alternative weekly newspapers and concluding a wild ride as … Continue reading →

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Weekend HERO reading

Posted on November 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Just a few links of interest on matters pertaining to HERO. Read ’em as you see fit. From Think Progress, a reminder that the past is never dead: Four decades ago, the Equal Rights Amendment — which would have required … Continue reading →

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Lisa Falkenberg wins Pulitzer for commentary

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Major congratulations. Houston Chronicle Columnist Lisa Falkenberg has won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, the Pulitzer board announced Monday. It was the first Pulitzer Prize awarded to the Chronicle in its 114-year history. The Chronicle has had finalists on … Continue reading →

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Saturday mini-link roundup

Posted on May 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Three stories you should read that I didn’t have time to devote a full post to: AusChron: Abbott’s abject CPRIT failures The scandal broke after letters between the agency’s chief science officer, Nobel laureate Dr. Alfred Gilman, and CPRIT’s Chief … Continue reading →

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Melanie Scruggs: Ways Houston can increase its recycling rate

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Note: From time to time, I solicit guest posts from various individuals on different topics. While I like to think I know a little something about a lot of things, I’m fortunate to be acquainted with a number of people … Continue reading →

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Guest post: Gun control realities and fallacies; is there a way forward?

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Note: The following is a guest post, written by regular reader Peter in Houston. I don’t necessarily agree with everything he says, but he makes some good and provocative points, and I’m a believer in having thorough discussions of complex … Continue reading →

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The Trib and the Chron get together

Posted on June 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

A peek at what to expect in the Sunday Chron: Coming Sunday: A Houston Chronicle and Texas Tribune investigation finds children living in residential treatment centers have been provoked to fight, been punched and choked, forced to strip down to … Continue reading →

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The Whites say goodbye

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Outgoing Mayor Bill White and First Lady Andrea White say goodbye and thank you to Houstonians as his term comes to an end. Needless to say, they won’t exactly be riding off into the sunset any time soon; with any … Continue reading →

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How green is your website?

Posted on December 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Here are two thoughtful and interesting posts about data centers and carbon neutrality from my friend and Trinity classmate Robert Nagle; a postscript with some added thoughts is here. I’m glad to see that my webhost does pretty well in … Continue reading →

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A view from inside the sausage factory

Posted on November 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Ever wonder what it is that lobbyists do? Jim Grace and Luke Ledbetter, respectively a partner and an associate with Baker Botts LLP who do lobbying work for the firm, give us the scoop about how they go about their … Continue reading →

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The Texas Trib and its polls

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been so immersed in the Houston elections that I forgot to give a warm welcome to the Texas Tribune, which made its debut on Tuesday. I really like the look of the site, I like their lineup of writers, … Continue reading →

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Help Equality Texas

Posted on September 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Equality Texas, which lobbies on behalf of equal rights for all Texans, had the misfortune of its office being vandalized over the weekend. The offices of Equality Texas were vandalized over the weekend sometime  Saturday night or on Sunday.  The … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: National Punctuation Day

Posted on September 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

What, you didn’t know that it was National Punctuation Day this past Thursday? Here, let Victor Borge explain to you what it’s all about: I remember him doing a version of this on “The Electric Company” when I was a … Continue reading →

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The Texas Tribune

Posted on July 17, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Very cool. The longtime editor of Texas Monthly magazine will team with an Austin venture capitalist to form a nonprofit news Web site devoted to government and politics in the Lone Star state. With a large bankroll, a staff at … Continue reading →

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The IR Guide to Parenting

Posted on June 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In honor of Father’s Day, I bring you this post by Stephen M. Walt on how parenting and international relations are basically the same thing. First off, modern realist theory focuses on the structure of the system and especially number … Continue reading →

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Falkenblog

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Welcome to the blogosphere, Lisa Falkenberg. I think you’ll find the medium gives you a lot of freedom as a writer – if nothing else, each entry needn’t be the same length. Experiment a little, engage some of us old … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Chronicle cuts

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Brutal day at 801 Texas yesterday, with more today. I confess, I don’t understand how getting rid of the people who create the content helps make the product more viable going forward, but what do I know? I’m sure they … Continue reading →

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Red, white, blue, and hopefully back

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’m glad to see that the KUHT political program The Connection: Red, White, and Blue is on its way back to the airwaves after an unplanned hiatus followed by a bit of a kerfuffle. It fills a very useful niche … Continue reading →

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Public Service Announcements department

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Just a couple of announcements that may be of interest to readers. The first is a press release from Women Professionals in Government: Women Professionals in Government Offers Scholarship Opportunity Women Professionals in Government proudly announces a $1,500 scholarship award … Continue reading →

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RIP, Terry Hayes

Posted on February 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Terry Hayes, an employee of the Houston Chronicle who wrote an award-winning blog that detailed her fight against terminal cancer, has died at the age of 42. Hayes spent five years as one of the newspaper’s essential support staffers, handling … Continue reading →

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RIP, Terry Hayes

Posted on February 15, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Terry Hayes, an employee of the Houston Chronicle who wrote an award-winning blog that detailed her fight against terminal cancer, has died at the age of 42. Hayes spent five years as one of the newspaper’s essential support staffers, handling … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The case for freight rail

Posted on January 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve seen this linked several places, and finally got around to reading Phillip Longman’s article on freight rail and the very strong case for investing in it as part of an economic stimulus package. It’s got something for everyone, including … Continue reading →

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Houston Tomorrow Distinguished Speaker Series Doubleheader

Posted on December 3, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

The following comes from Houston Tomorrow, which is the new name for the Gulf Coast Institute: Houston Tomorrow Distinguished Speaker Series Doubleheader Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 Neal Peirce, Syndicated columnist Topic: What does the Obama election mean for federal policy … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Don’t mess with Juanita

Posted on October 12, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

You go, girl. Read and enjoy. Continue reading →

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The new Examiner

Posted on July 24, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Check out the new look at the West U Examiner, which debuted this past week. It’s much slicker, with user comments in stories, and apparently will have more frequent updates – see, for example, this story about the ongoing Kirby … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Netroots Nation

Posted on July 16, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It occurs to me that I haven’t pimped my participation in Netroots Nation yet. I will be there, trying to attend as many concurrently-scheduled events as I can (where’s Hermione’s time-travel charm when you really need it?), and sitting on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Holiday weekend link dump

Posted on July 5, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Some links to get you through the weekend… A look back at a time when the US knew how to make the US look good. Don’t cut your kid’s hair. Pay for a real haircut, save yourself the angst. Look … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump

Posted on June 29, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Just some interesting links from other folks to check out… Deadspin has a new executive editor. To no one’s surprise, it’s not a woman. The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell says that James Dobson does not speak for him. The Top Ten … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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