Monthly Archives: September 2015

Chron Mayoral profile: Ben Hall

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This is the fourth in a series of profiles on the top candidates running for mayor in Houston. His dedication to accomplish whatever he sets out to do – regardless of public reaction – has jumped out for friend and … Continue reading →

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August ridership numbers for the new rail lines

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Again, don’t get too excited just yet. Use of Houston’s two newest rail lines increased in August, though it took a strong late showing and free rides to finally meet the ridership expectations Metro officials outlined in May. According to … Continue reading →

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Interview with Rhonda Skillern-Jones

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We move over to HISD Trustee races, which I’ll be running this week. There are four Trustee seats that are up for election this cycle, and I have interviews with a total of five candidates in them. First up is … Continue reading →

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Adios, Rick Perry

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I feel like I ought to say something about this. In many ways, Rick Perry might have been a victim of his own success. After 14 years in the governor’s mansion, riding a freewheeling Texas oil economy and a tea … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Paxton hires new attorneys

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s see if he can keep them. Facing a high-profile securities fraud trial that could cost him his job and land him in prison, Attorney General Ken Paxton has enlisted the help of two top defense lawyers known for their … Continue reading →

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Rep. Susan King not running for re-election

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Though she may run for Senate instead. State Rep. Susan King has decided against seeking re-election as she considers a run for the Texas Senate, the Abilene Republican announced Tuesday. King said she would announce by the end of the … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for September 13

Posted on September 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

How could Batman testify in court without jeopardizing his secret identity? “In short, Obama’s Iran policy is the anti–Iraq war.” Why don’t law enforcement agencies use ViCAP more? The kind of questions that the wife of a trans man gets … Continue reading →

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Time to guess the Chronicle’s endorsements

Posted on September 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We are a bit more than a month out from the start of early voting, and as such we are getting close to the start of Chronicle endorsement season. I know from doing candidate interviews that the Chron has been … Continue reading →

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HISD will begin process of renaming schools with Confederate ties

Posted on September 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Good. [HISD] trustees plan to start the process with a vote to revise the district’s policy to state explicitly that names should be non-discriminatory. The revised policy also details how the board can initiate renaming schools. Board president Rhonda Skillern-Jones … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

DA’s office responds to Temple case allegations

Posted on September 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Their view differs, to say the least. Three months after a judge ruled that a Katy man convicted of murdering his wife did not get a fair trial and excoriated the prosecutor who handled the case, saying she withheld evidence, … Continue reading →

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Carrizo cane and French wasps

Posted on September 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I love stories like this. They’ve burned it, bulldozed it, hacked it and poisoned it. Now they want to try wasps – imported from France, no less. The target is carrizo cane, a bamboo-like reed that’s a fearsome enemy of … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Heigh Ho

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Two very different takes on a Disney classic. First up, Tom Waits: That’s from the great album Stay Awake. Sure puts another spin on the Dwarfs’ day, doesn’t it? I didn’t really like this version when I first heard it … Continue reading →

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What next for HISD?

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The board ponders its options for Superintendent while they prepare to search for a successor to Dr. Terry Grier. The Houston Independent School District board is set to meet Tuesday morning to discuss the district’s next steps after Superintendent Terry … Continue reading →

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Mayoral debate #1

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Who watched? In the first televised debate in the Houston mayor’s race, three of the candidates jockeying to replace Mayor Annise Parker took aim at former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia and the agency’s allegedly low crime clearance rates. The … Continue reading →

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Paxton asks judge to block EPA water rules in Texas

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The basic story: Texas has asked a federal judge to block enforcement of a new rule that expands authority over which water bodies the U.S. government can regulate. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton made the request Tuesday in an 88-page … Continue reading →

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DPS seeks dismissal of Sandra Bland lawsuit

Posted on September 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The expected response by the defendants. The Texas Department of Public Safety and Trooper Brian Encinia filed motions Tuesday to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit in the death of Sandra Bland, five days after Waller County filed court papers rebutting … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs list, part 12

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their list. 1. Rehab – Amy Winehouse (#194) 2. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door – Warren Zevon (orig. Bob Dylan, #192) 3. Stayin’ Alive – Big Daddy (orig. Bee Gees, #191) 4. Who’ll Stop The Rain? – Creedence Clearwater Revival … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Grier to step down as HISD Superintendent

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This was sudden. Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier announced Thursday that he is stepping down effective on March 1. Grier became superintendent of Houston in 2009, leading the nation’s seventh largest school district to win the Broad Prize for Urban … Continue reading →

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CCA gets ready to deal with Rick Perry

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The action never stops. The next move in the felony case against Rick Perry belongs to the state’s highest criminal court, which will decide as early as mid-September whether to accept or reject two appeals in the case. The Court … Continue reading →

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Paxton still fighting same sex marriage

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Some things never change. Despite his recent pledge to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling, Attorney General Ken Paxton is already seeking to prevent the decision from being applied in an Austin estate case. Paxton’s office filed … Continue reading →

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One more chance for LaMarque ISD

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I hope they can take advantage of it. Headed into the new school year with La Marque Independent School District still facing an uncertain future, Superintendent Terri Watkins pledged to continue upward momentum in student achievement, keep a handle on … Continue reading →

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How much would you pay to prosecute Ken Paxton?

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever your answer, Collin County Commissioners Court wants to pay less. Collin County officials want to cap the cost of prosecuting Attorney General Ken Paxton at a fraction of the previously discussed price tag of $285,000, and are questioning whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Uber wants to add more drivers here

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

An Uber surge is coming. Eighteen months after launching in Houston, Uber, the popular ride-sharing service known for its conflicts with regulators, plans to add 5,000 drivers in the area over the next year. Uber leaders, staff of the nonprofit … Continue reading →

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

HISD bond concerns

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s always something. A key Houston ISD school board member called Sunday for audits of the district’s 2012 bond program amid estimates of a $211 million shortfall and concerns about breaking promises to voters. Juliet Stipeche, chair of HISD’s audit … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Texas blog roundup for the week of September 7

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance hopes everyone enjoyed the three day weekend provided by the labor movement as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Yet another report on pensions

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Yippie. Some city leaders have spent years standing in the town square, hollering themselves hoarse that Houston’s financial footing is unstable, that huge pension costs threaten the city’s future ability to police the streets, pick up trash and maintain parks. … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Chron Mayoral profile: Adrian Garcia

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the third in a series of profiles on the top candidates running for mayor in Houston, in this case on Adrian Garcia. The youngest of six children born to poor Mexican immigrants could soon occupy the mayor’s office of … Continue reading →

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The stakes in the voter ID appeal

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Rick Hasen lays it out. Don’t worry, Chief Justice John Roberts assured the American public in that 2013 case, Shelby County v. Holder. Although states with a history of racial discrimination would no longer be subject to federal “preclearance” of … Continue reading →

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

Lone Star Rail updates

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From last week, San Antonio City Council gets set to make a financial commitment to the Lone Star Rail line. San Antonio is expected to make its first financial commitment to building the Lone Star Rail line next week when … Continue reading →

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Yes, there are some people complaining about the new bus routes

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Houston Press talks to a few of them. The 87 still runs—just not right here. While the previous bus network had 89 routes, the new one has 79—and as a result, low-income communities like Hersey’s lost access to 12 … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Three I-45 updates

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From The Highwayman: Texas Transportation Commission members on Thursday approved a $3.6 million contract with Main Lane Industries, based in Houston, to replace the entrance ramp from Allen Parkway to southbound I-45. The ramp, which whips drivers through a steep … Continue reading →

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On cellphones and school zones

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I guess I need to talk about this. Six years ago, state lawmakers hoping to protect students banned drivers from texting and talking on hand-held cellphones in school zones. The ban, however, has never been enforced in Houston. City and … Continue reading →

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On the value of endorsements

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron asks what they’re good for. Houston mayoral candidate Sylvester Turner has the backing of the city’s three unions. Do you care? The C Club, a group of top conservative donors, supports former Kemah Mayor Bill King, and a … Continue reading →

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The local minimum wage fight

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Not quite on the radar here, but it could be. After years of failed proposals in the Texas Legislature to raise the minimum wage, organizers and advocates for higher hourly wages are going local. Leaders in two major Texas cities … Continue reading →

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