Monthly Archives: February 2015

Measles

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We haven’t had an outbreak in Texas. Yet. Measles has replaced Ebola as the infectious disease threat of the moment, but the only recent case in Texas occurred in Fort Worth in mid-January and was unrelated to the current outbreak … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Measles

2015 Mayoral manifesto: Public safety

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Preliminaries Transportation When I first started thinking about this series a couple of months ago, this section was all going to be about the budget. We’ve covered this ground before – public safety is about 65% of the total city … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Abbott-style pre-k bill filed

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: State Representatives Eric Johnson (D-Dallas) and Marsha Farney (R-Georgetown) today filed a bill to provide incentive payments to school districts to provide full-day, quality pre-kindergarten. To receive the incentives, districts would be required to adopt best practices … Continue reading →

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

Now what do we do with those body cameras?

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

KPRC addresses an important question. HPD has been running a pilot program regarding body cameras for more than a year. 100 officers are currently wearing a body camera. The department has yet to finalize a policy on the use of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Now what do we do with those body cameras?

Texas blog roundup for the week of February 2

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance believes that our government should be open and available to all as it brings you this week’s roundup.

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged , | Comments Off on Texas blog roundup for the week of February 2

2015 Mayoral manifesto: Transportation

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Preliminaries Please note that I have called this part of my manifesto “Transportation” and not “Traffic”. I agree that traffic sucks and that the Mayoral candidates ought to have some ideas for how to deal with it. It’s my opinion … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mayor Parker testifies at HERO repeal petition trial

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Monday was Mayor Parker’s turn to take the stand at the trial over the validity of the HERO repeal petitions. You’d think this would be a momentous occasion of high drama, but since this whole thing is about technicalities and … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mayor Parker testifies at HERO repeal petition trial

Sticker reduction coming

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Harris County is gearing up for a new Texas Two Step. Beginning March 1, 2015, the state will no longer issue vehicle inspection stickers and will move to a “Two Steps, One Sticker” program. Under the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sticker reduction coming

New frontiers in residency requirements

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Michael Quinn Sullivan lives exactly where he says he lives, no more and no less. Empower Texans President Michael Quinn Sullivan and the Texas Ethics Commission are scheduled to tangle in state district court in Denton County for the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on New frontiers in residency requirements

2015 Mayoral manifesto: The preliminaries

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As you may have heard, we are electing a new Mayor this year. There’s already a large field of candidates in the race, and it is likely to grow before all is said and done. Each will have his own … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

On the seasonal return of term limits modification

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a fuller version of that earlier story about Council moving forward with a modified term limits proposal. You can almost set your watch by it. Mayor Annise Parker is in her third and final term, which means it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on On the seasonal return of term limits modification

Two more for At Large #4

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We know that At Large #1, one of two open At Large seats for this year, has already drawn a crowd. Now the other open seat, At Large #4, is drawing one as well. Laurie Robinson, Amanda Edwards and Larry … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

There’s more than one player in the Texas high speed rail game

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. A company that operates France’s national high-speed rail network is exploring possible involvement in Texas bullet trains. “We’re here to listen, learn and evaluate,” Alain Leray, president and chief executive of SNCF America Inc., said Monday during a visit … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on There’s more than one player in the Texas high speed rail game

Morrison’s challenge

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I often said last year that I wanted to get through the 2014 elections before worrying too much about the 2015 ones. I feel the same way this year, and thus don’t plan to spend much time writing about 2016 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Morrison’s challenge

First test for flex zones

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This is worth watching. Though many Acres Homes dwellings and shops are in disrepair, a community still thrives here. Churches and some well-kept homes anchor corners and dot small, residential streets, all of which dead-end or loop back to Sweetwater. … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on First test for flex zones

Small fix, big (we hope) effect

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This would be nice. Take the entrance ramp from Allen Parkway to southbound Interstate 45. Everyone from drivers to transportation officials knows it is a problem. “At this location there are entrance ramps from both Memorial Drive and from Allen … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Small fix, big (we hope) effect

Supreme Court to hear Renew Houston lawsuit

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Jeez, I’d forgotten this was still a thing. In a lawsuit filed after the election, three Houston property owners allege the ballot language was misleading. “You would have thought if you voted for this thing that it was a one-time, … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for February 1

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Have you checked to make sure all your balls are properly inflated? For those of you who insist on letting ugly facts kill off beautifully constructed Internet hoaxes. Magic secrets revealed by Teller of “Penn and Teller” fame. So long, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | Comments Off on Weekend link dump for February 1

Term limits change approved by Council committee

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One step closer to the ballot. Most council members are in favor of changing term limits from three two-year terms to two four-year terms. They will refer their recommendation to the mayor, who will then put it up for a … Continue reading →

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

Uptown BRT lurches forward

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One staggering step at a time. After some uncertainty, fears about rail development in Uptown appear less likely to delay a planned express bus project along Post Oak. Metropolitan Transit Authority’s board meets Thursday morning, and is scheduled to discuss … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Uptown BRT lurches forward

The Dave Wilson bill

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

A little too little and a little too late, if you ask me. Houston Community College Trustee Dave Wilson has made his way to Austin — in spirit, at least. A bill filed by state Rep. Harold Dutton of Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The Dave Wilson bill

The national fight against equality

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Once again, Texas leads the way in an undesirable category. In Georgia, where lawmakers are considering a bill that critics fear could allow businesses to discriminate against gay customers, the former head of the country’s largest Protestant denomination recently urged … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The national fight against equality