Monthly Archives: December 2013

Wilson sued over residency for HCC

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Dave Wilson and lawsuits go together like peanut butter and jelly. The Harris County attorney sued Houston Community College trustee-elect Dave Wilson on Thursday, alleging the small business owner and anti-gay activist was not a resident of District II when … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

If it can happen in Utah…

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. Just, wow. A federal judge struck down Utah’s same-sex marriage ban Friday in a decision that marks a drastic shift toward gay marriage in a conservative state where the Mormon church has long been against it. The decision set … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on If it can happen in Utah…

North Line opening today

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: ALL ABOARD FOR SATURDAY RAIL ROLL-OUT METRO is inviting the public to get on board for the Saturday, Dec. 21 grand opening of the new 5.3-mile North/Red Line! Riding the train will be free all day as part of the grand opening celebration taking … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Friday random ten: What makes the world go ’round

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Not love, but that other thing. 1. Easy Money – Billy Joel 2. Gimme Some Money – Brian Grosz 3. I Need Some Money – John Lee Hooker 4. Money – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings 5. Money (That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Friday random ten: What makes the world go ’round

More on the local GOP’s lawsuit against same sex spouse insurance benefits

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Family Court? What’s up with that? City Attorney Dave Feldman said Wednesday that the city of Houston and Mayor Annise Parker were not given notice before a family district court judge halted a recent policy change extending health and life … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The 12-candidate pileup in CD36

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Steve Stockman’s last-minute switch to the Senate race left a void in CD36 on the Republican side that is being filled by a dozen Stockman wannabes. The Republican primary ballot for the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman was … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The 12-candidate pileup in CD36

More reactions to the city’s settlement with the strip clubs

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Not everyone likes it. Bob Sanborn, CEO of the nonprofit organization Children at Risk, and other advocates against human trafficking said on Wednesday that they should have been consulted before a deal was struck. Mayor Annise Parker, who brokered the … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More reactions to the city’s settlement with the strip clubs

County to tighten regulations on game rooms

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s sort of a crackdown, but within limits. And something that’s regulated is something that’s legal, so there’s that. The regulations, made possible by a state law passed earlier this year by the Legislature, requires an establishment housing six or … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on County to tighten regulations on game rooms

Harris County GOP sues over same sex spouse benefits for city employees

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

When Mayor Parker announced that legally married same sex spouses would be eligible to be added to city employees’ health insurance plans, I was certain that there would be legal action taken against that decision. The Harris County GOP has … Continue reading →

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

Payday lending ordinance passes

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, it wasn’t close. The Houston City Council overwhelmingly passed restrictions on payday and auto title lenders Wednesday, avoiding rumored parliamentary maneuvers to delay the vote and calling on the state Legislature to follow suit. The vote was … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

County jail diversion program moving forward

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

News like this is always welcome. Harris County is moving forward with a much-anticipated jail diversion program aimed at reducing the soaring number – and the associated cost – of mentally ill residents who repeatedly cycle through the county lockup. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on County jail diversion program moving forward

Texas blog roundup for the week of December 16

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance calls on Congress to deal seriously with the plight of the long-term unemployed as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of December 16

Enforcing a new payday loan ordinance

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Parker’s proposed payday lending ordinance will be up before Council today, though it might wind up being delayed until the new Council is sworn in. It’s not clear yet how the vote might go, but in the meantime it’s … Continue reading →

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

Food deserts and booze bans

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s complicated. A city ordinance intended to keep alcohol sales at a distance from schools and churches could be relaxed for grocery stores in an effort to alleviate some of the so-called “food deserts” that plague poorer neighborhoods across Houston. … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Who enforces voter registration requirements?

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

My guess upon reading this is in effect nobody. A combination of lax enforcement in the state’s election code, a faulty voter registration system and lack of leadership by state election officials have led to the disenfranchisement of thousands of … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ashby plaintiffs score a win

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Most of them, anyway. A Harris County jury sided with residents of a neighborhood near Rice University and awarded some of them damages totaling close to $1.7 million in their fight to keep developers from building a 21-story high-rise in … Continue reading →

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

Yes, Council is short on women

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It is what it is. The Houston City Council will have its fewest women in 15 years this January, which political observers called a troublesome regression for one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. Just two women will … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

North Line opens this Saturday

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Exciting times. Two major transportation projects scheduled to open in Houston this week – perhaps on the same day – represent distinct and sometimes warring visions of regional mobility and growth. On Saturday, the Metropolitan Transit Authority will open its … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Consequences are for suckers

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

They’re not for former judge Elizabeth Coker, thank you very much. State District Judge Elizabeth E. Coker, who presided over Trinity, Polk and San Jacinto counties before resigning Dec. 6 under fire in a texting controversy, filed Monday to run … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Consequences are for suckers

Saving Rice Stadium

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Houston has another historic stadium in it that’s seen better days, but this one is still in use and has some hope of being restored to its former glory. As a place to watch a game, there are few better … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Is CM-elect Stardig term limited or not?

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I brought this up yesterday in my wrapup of the city and HCC runoffs, and I’m asking it again here in the hope that someone who can provide a definitive answer will offer one. The question I have is whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Once again, the cost of not expanding Medicaid

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We are paying for Medicaid expansion, regardless of what our “leaders” want. The only question is whether we get a benefit from it, or if it all goes to other states. If Texas keeps refusing to enlarge Medicaid under the … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Less drought

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. After near-normal rainfall during the spring and summer, this fall a number of drought-ending storm systems began to sweep across Texas, particularly the eastern half of the state. “Drought conditions have ended in most of East and Southeast … Continue reading →

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

Meet the Houston Dash

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

They’re Houston’s newest sports team. The Dynamo announced [Thursday] the launch of the Houston Dash, a women’s professional soccer team that will enter the National Women’s Soccer League as an expansion team for the 2014 season. Owned and operated by … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Weekend link dump for December 15

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

“Sniffing a colleague can be considered sexual harassment according to a recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.” That may sound silly, but the description of what was actually happening doesn’t sound silly at all, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for December 15

Runoff results: Rough day for incumbents

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I have no complaint about the results. With all precincts reporting, controversial first-term council incumbents Helena Brown, in northwest Houston’s District A, and Andrew C. Burks Jr., in At-Large Position 2, fell to their challengers, as did HCC trustees Yolanda … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Anthony Robinson named to crime lab LGC

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Excellent choice. The latest appointment to the city’s crime lab oversight board brings a unique perspective to the post. Anthony Robinson spent 10 years in prison for a rape he did not commit before being exonerated by the kind of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Anthony Robinson named to crime lab LGC

HISD approves change to nickname and mascot policy

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Three schools in the Houston Independent School District are likely to have new mascots that no longer reflect a connection to Native American culture or history after preliminary board approval Thursday night of a policy proposed by Superintendent Terry … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Karbach set to expand

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good for them. Fast-growing Karbach Brewing Co. intends next year to build a new brewery that will give it the capacity to make three times as much beer as it has made in 2013 and, eventually, several times that. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, glorious food | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Saturday video break: Santa Claus Is A Black Man

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

In honor of Megyn Kelly: If you listen closely, you can hear the heads exploding. Via The Slacktivist.

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Saturday video break: Santa Claus Is A Black Man

District I runoff overview

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s runoff and a rivalry, all in one. Saturday’s runoff in City Council District I, which covers downtown and the East End, pits the protégés of two pillars of Hispanic politics against each other in the sort of showdown political … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

HCC runoff overview

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A cursory look at the invisible races. In District 1, incumbent and former state representative Yolanda Navarro Flores faces political newcomer Zeph Capo. Capo, a 41-year-old former science educator, is a vice president of the Houston Federation of Teachers. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Hearing set for gay marriage lawsuit

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars. A San Antonio judge Tuesday scheduled a hearing in February to consider temporarily blocking Texas’ same-sex marriage ban. […] Federal District Judge Orlando Garcia set the Texas hearing for February 12 at 9:30 a.m. at the John … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Runoff Day today

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is it, kids, our last election for 2013. You can find your polling place here. There were two last overview stories yesterday in the Chron, both blogged above, so there’s nothing else to do but go vote if you … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment