Monthly Archives: August 2015

Interview with CM Jack Christie

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We enter our final week of City Council interviews with a tour of the other contested At Large Council race, in At Large #5. CM Jack Christie is in his second term, having first been elected in a close-fought race … Continue reading →

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State asks for full Fifth Circuit review of voter ID ruling

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As you’d expect them to do. Continuing to protect a voter identification law that courts say discriminates against Hispanics and African Americans, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked a full federal appeals court to hear his arguments about why … Continue reading →

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Three Metro updates

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Metro board has its first meeting post-system reimagining, and gets some feedback on the new routes. At Metro’s first board meeting following the launch of the new network, officials heard about two hours of public comment from unhappy riders. … Continue reading →

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Does your JP still do marriages?

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Some do and some don’t. Last Wednesday, Judge Dale Gorczynski, a justice of the peace in Harris County, heard 19 eviction cases, sent 147 traffic and misdemeanor cases to trial and presided over five weddings: Three for same-sex couples and … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for August 30

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Scientists accidentally create an entirely new kind of glass. Of all the things they could have accidentally created, that doesn’t sound too bad. Can DraftKings be sued or not? Don’t get arrested on a reality TV show if you can … Continue reading →

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Wilson denied by Supreme Court

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Some good news that came in late Friday. Anti-gay activist Dave Wilson’s attempt to amend City Charter and bar men “who perceive or express themselves as women” from entering women’s restrooms will likely not appear on the November ballot after … Continue reading →

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Feds approve a preferred corridor for the high speed rail line

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One more step in the process. The Federal Railroad Administration announced this month that the general route preferred by the project developer of a high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston is indeed the best choice. Known as the “utility … Continue reading →

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Three views of traffic in Texas

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s getting worse. Houston-area leaders love to trumpet the region’s affordable cost of living and low taxes, but the costs of sitting in traffic are taking a record share of workers’ incomes, according to a comprehensive annual study. The average … Continue reading →

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Revisiting the Texas-Amazon sales tax deal

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Statesman looks back and concludes it was a pretty good deal all around. In 2012, the state rolled the dice on a controversial deal with e-commerce giant Amazon.com. To end a two-year battle, Texas said it would drop a … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Heart of Gold

Posted on August 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Neil Young sings what was then his new song, once he finds the right harmonica. That was from 1971. I’m getting old, too. Now here’s Johnny Cash and his cover version: I so wish he were still around to do … Continue reading →

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Hegar punts LBB veto issue to Paxton

Posted on August 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Duck! Describing the debate as one that “goes to the heart of separation of powers within Texas government,” Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced Wednesday that he will not authorize more than $200 million in funds approved by the Texas Legislature but … Continue reading →

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Special election set in HD118

Posted on August 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I wonder what the record for special elections in a county in a single year is. Gov. Greg Abbott has scheduled Nov. 3 as the date for a special election to fill former state Rep. Jose Farias’ seat in the … Continue reading →

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A brewpub comes back to Houston

Posted on August 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

In my ‘hood, no less. A new brewpub will open in the Heights with an accomplished veteran of the Texas craft-beer scene at the helm. Delicious Concepts Restaurant Group, which owns Lola, Shepherd Park Draught House, Witchcraft Tavern and seven … Continue reading →

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Ballot order drawn

Posted on August 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here is the official ballot order for City of Houston candidates this November, via Chron reporter Mike Morris on Twitter. You’re all familiar with my rant about ballot order by now – we have electronic voting machines, they should simply … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs list, part 10

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their list. 1. Rocket Man – Kate Bush (orig. Elton John, #245) 2. Stand! – Sly and the Family Stone (#244) 3. I Fall To Pieces – Patsy Cline (#241) 4. I Got A Woman – Ray Charles (#239) … Continue reading →

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Paxton’s first day in court

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It was a little weird. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday pleaded not guilty to violating state securities laws, while also telling the judge presiding over his felony case that he currently does not have an attorney. Joe Kendall, … Continue reading →

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Katrina, ten years after

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Hurricane Katrina made landfall ten years ago this weekend. The Chron looks at the role Houston played in the aftermath, and the changes that resulted. Before and after Katrina’s Aug. 29 landfall as a strong Category 3 storm, more than … Continue reading →

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HERO ballot language set

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here we go. City Council on Wednesday approved the language that will appear on the November ballot for voters to decide the fate of Houston’s equal rights ordinance, one week after the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the original wording … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of August 24

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance liked it better when politicians wanted to kiss babies and not deport them as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Interview with Matt Murphy

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We conclude our tour of the At Large #4 candidates who seek to follow term-limited Council Member C. O. Bradford with Matt Murphy. A Navy veteran and former professional golfer, Murphy is now a certified fire protection engineering designer. He … Continue reading →

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The latest skeevy Ken Paxton story

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This guy. I swear. Tanner Hunt, son of Dallas oil billionaire Ray Hunt, texted the mother of his two young daughters in the fall of 2011 for a picture of the girls in their Halloween costumes. The next day, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Tweaking the Houston rideshare ordinance

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From KUHF: A task force looking into improvements to the city of Houston’s ordinance regulating vehicles for hire, including Uber and other ride-share companies, made recommendations to a city council committee Tuesday. A key proposal is to adjust the requirement … Continue reading →

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Divorce granted to same sex couple in Tarrant County

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

At some point, stories like this will cease to be news. It took two Tarrant County women nearly two years to legally end their failed marriage because of the tangle of state and federal law. But on Thursday, Brooke Powell … Continue reading →

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

Interview with Laurie Robinson

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Next up in my series of interviews with candidates seeking to succeed the term-limited Council Member C. O. Bradford in At Large #4 is Laurie Robinson. Robinson is the only repeat candidate in this group, having run for At Large … Continue reading →

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First anti-HERO radio ad airs

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here it comes. In the ad, a young woman talks about the perceived threat to public safety the ordinance presents. Critics have long asserted that the broad non-discrimination law, which includes protections for gay and transgender residents, would allow male … Continue reading →

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Paxton asks to be excused from contempt hearing

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

He promises he’s been a good boy, so can he please come out of time out now? Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office says he shouldn’t face a contempt hearing for failing to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage … Continue reading →

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91.7 FM will be sold again

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The radio station formerly known as KTRU will have another new home soon. Houston Public Media, which operates the University of Houston’s broadcasting properties, says it will sell the frequency and transmitter for KUHA (91.7 FM) while retaining the station’s … Continue reading →

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Interview with Amanda Edwards

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We continue in At Large #4, where multiple candidates compete to succeed the term-limited Council Member C. O. Bradford. Today’s interview is with Amanda Edwards, a native Houstonian and Eisenhower High graduate now practicing law with Bracewell & Giuliani. Edwards … Continue reading →

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Your official slate of candidates

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Yesterday was the filing deadline. Here’s the official list of candidates, modulo any challenges or subsequently invalidated applications. The highlights: – There are thirteen candidates for Mayor. The City Secretary might consider starting the ballot order draw now, this may … Continue reading →

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Poll suggests Republicans don’t support Paxton

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

That’s gotta sting. A poll of likely Republican voters in Texas found that 62 percent believe Attorney General Ken Paxton should resign in the wake of his indictment on alleged securities-law violations, the group that commissioned it said. The poll … Continue reading →

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Idiots protest at school

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Jeez. The kindergarten and pre-K students experienced an early civics lesson Monday morning when they entered Houston Independent School District’s new Arabic Immersion Magnet School for the first day of class. At least a dozen protestors, some wearing red, white … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jonathan Hansen

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We move on to At Large #4, the other open At Large seat on the ballot this year, currently held by Council Member C. O. Bradford. I have four candidate interviews for this race, and we begin with Jonathan Hansen. … Continue reading →

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Chron Mayoral profile: Chris Bell

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s “the first in a series of profiles on the top candidates running for mayor in Houston”. Friends and colleagues said it’s [Chris] Bell’s belief in good government and that streak of political ambition, even in the face of sometimes … Continue reading →

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DOJ asks to get voter ID remedy ASAP

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I concur. The Obama administration and several civil rights groups are urging a federal appeals court to fast track the process of temporarily fixing Texas’ voter ID law in time for the upcoming Nov. 3 elections. In court filings Thursday, … Continue reading →

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