Monthly Archives: November 2015

Obama appeals immigration order ruling to SCOTUS

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As expected. The Obama administration on Friday asked the United States Supreme Court to review a federal appellate court’s ruling that struck down the president’s controversial immigration program. The request comes exactly one year after the program, called Deferred Action … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mayor will seek texting-while-driving ban

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One more agenda item before it’s all over. It’s not the first time Houston officials have broached the issue; Mayor Annise Parker has long lobbied to impose a Texaswide texting-while-driving ban. But months after another legislative session with no action, … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Some power companies like the Clean Power Plan

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Not that you’d ever know it. Thad Hill, in a split with many fellow power company executives, flatly opposes the lawsuits that Texas and 25 others states have filed to block the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan. The plan, which … Continue reading →

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Transgender acceptance

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I have a question to ask about this. The trans civil rights movement began with stacked odds because it represents such a minority, less than 1 percent of the population, according to various studies. The movement is seen as the … Continue reading →

Posted in Society and cultcha | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Friday random eight: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs list, part 21

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their list. 1. Maybelline – Simon and Garfunkel (#18, orig. Chuck Berry) 2. I Want To Hold Your Hand – The Beatles (#16) 3. Blowin’ In The Wind (A Female Perspective) – The Chenille Sisters (#14, orig. Bob Dylan) … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: At Large #5

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Last but not least, At Large #5: Dist Batteau Christie Nassif Moses ======================================= A 1,034 8,302 1,895 2,876 B 2,784 3,157 2,374 6,849 C 1,782 13,555 10,866 4,592 D 5,108 4,098 3,138 7,231 E 1,247 15,479 2,664 3,355 F 811 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Lawsuit filed over term limits referendum

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As if on cue, the following hit my inbox on Wednesday afternoon, from Eric Dick: Phillip Paul Bryant is filing a lawsuit to invalidate Proposition 2 because the ballot language misled Houston voters. Annise Parker and the City of Houston … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

On Texas and refugees

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Greg Abbott does not speak for Texas. Tens of thousands of immigrants have come to Texas to escape persecution or political violence, and Texans have often offered their hearts, lands and money to the dispossessed. What has changed that makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Council approves body camera contract

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Moving forward. City Council approved a $3.4 million contract Wednesday to equip Houston Police Department officers with body-worn cameras despite some lingering concerns that key pieces of the city’s policy for the equipment have not been finalized. Councilmen Mike Laster, … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Precinct analysis: At Large #4

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

At Large #4 features a newcomer and a multi-time candidate in its runoff. Dist Edwards Hansen Blackmon Robinson Thompson Murphy Morales ==================================================================== A 3,707 572 662 2,378 2,565 1,844 2,702 B 10,732 306 1,296 2,109 1,160 327 1,477 C 11,309 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Perry’s day at the CCA

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Now we wait to see if he comes out of this a free man or a man still under one or more indictments. Lawyers for former Gov. Rick Perry fought Wednesday before the highest criminal court in Texas to finish … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Susan King suspends Senate campaign

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry to hear this. State Rep. Susan King has suspended her race for an open state Senate seat while she receives treatment for chronic depression, a condition she has battled “for some time,” her campaign announced Monday. King, R-Abilene, still … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of November 16

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance thinks maybe we should finish celebrating Thanksgiving before we begin the Christmas season as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Precinct analysis: At Large #3

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Only one candidate running for citywide office won outright in November. That candidate was first term CM Michael Kubosh in At Large #3. Here’s how he won: Dist Kubosh LaRue McElligott Peterson ========================================== A 8,782 1,042 835 3,152 B 8,988 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Endorsement watch: Bell for King

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As the headline notes, this came as a surprise to many. Former Congressman Chris Bell publicly backed fiscal conservative Bill King in the Houston mayoral runoff Tuesday, a move that could bolster King’s efforts to make inroads with progressive voters. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Ken Paxton says Ken Paxton’s arrest video can’t be released

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

How convenient. I looked into the unusual situation in which the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was asked to rule on its boss. Here’s what happened. Media organizations requested the video of Paxton’s recent booking into the Collin … Continue reading →

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What people use B-Cycle for

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From Rice University: A new report from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research finds that Sun Belt city residents are most likely to use bike-share programs for recreation, compared with users in the Midwest or Northeast, who regularly use … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: At Large #2

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

At Large #2 was one of two such races featuring an incumbent that will go to a runoff. Dist Robinson Rivera Dick Davis Burks ============================================== A 3,715 1,679 3,982 3,586 1,281 B 5,283 1,243 1,649 3,405 4,335 C 14,736 2,571 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Jon Buice granted parole

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This stirs up a lot of emotions. Jon Buice, serving 45 years in state prison for the 1991 gay-bashing murder of Houston banker Paul Broussard, has been granted parole. Buice, 42, was one of 10 youths from The Woodlands who … Continue reading →

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A new HERO will be up to the next Mayor

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As it should be, whether we like it or not. Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who championed the city’s ill-fated equal rights ordinance, HERO, said she no longer plans to try to revive it before leaving office at the end of … Continue reading →

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Everybody wants in on the rail action

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We’re like a magical land of opportunity for high-speed rail interests. For more than three years, Japanese-backed Texas Central Partners has drawn attention with its plans to develop a Dallas-Houston bullet train. While that project is furthest along, French and … Continue reading →

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Precinct analysis: At Large #1

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This week I’m going to look at the five At Large Council races, beginning with At Large #1. Before I get into the district breakdown, here’s a number to consider: In Harris County, there were 76,675 undervotes in this race. … Continue reading →

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

UT/TT primary poll: Hillary leads the Dems, Trump and Cruz lead the GOP

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

For those who care about this sort of thing. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and businessman Donald Trump are in a dead heat for the Republican presidential nomination in Texas, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. With four … Continue reading →

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Will someone sue over the term limits referendum?

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. Pre-election polling showed voters slightly favored the change, but not if they were told that it benefits sitting council members. Rice University political scientist Bob Stein conducted the News 88.7/KHOU 11 News election poll. “When we informed voters that … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Metro wants to know what you think of bus system reimagining

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This ought to be interesting. Starting Monday, Metro workers will be at bus stops and transit centers surveying riders about the changes, which took effect Aug. 16. The new system altered practically every bus trip in the Houston area, as … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for November 15

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Nancy Lieberman is awesome. Doing spec work for free is something most people are never asked to do. Another reason not to eat at Taco Bell, in case you needed one. Two words: Pyramid truthers. I need a drink. RIP, … Continue reading →

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Leave a new HERO to the next Mayor

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I hate having to say this. Opponents of Houston’s repealed equal rights ordinance haved placed 300,000 calls and will release a new TV ad next week warning about a possible City Council revival of the controversial non-discrimination law. All that … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2015 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Red lights on the Green line

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. Light rail is up and running along Harrisburg on the city’s east side, but Metro’s construction continues to be a sore spot with area residents because it seems at every turn the work is taking longer than promised. The … Continue reading →

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The struggle is real in The Woodlands

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One last opportunity – for this year, at least – to mock the flailing efforts at self-governance in Montgomery County. [Bruce] Tough believes the tea partiers are after “control’ and, in so doing, could stamp out independent thought. “I don’t … Continue reading →

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State to close La Marque ISD

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

They don’t know what they’re going to do with it, and that’s a problem. Galveston County’s La Marque ISD will officially be no more as of July 1, 2016, state education officials confirmed. On Thursday, Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS to hear HB2 appeal

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Gird your loins. Setting up what could be a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to take up a legal challenge to Texas’ 2013 abortion law, which could shut down about half of the state’s 19 remaining … Continue reading →

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Rep. Ruben Hinojosa to retire

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

A second open Congressional seat for 2016. First elected to Congress in 1996, Hinojosa has largely had a dormant campaign operation for most of this cycle, and he drew a Republican challenger this year in former Rio Grande City Mayor … Continue reading →

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The FRA releases its alignment analysis for the high speed rail line

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

There will be no downtown Houston station, that much is for sure. The area around U.S. 290 and Loop 610, anchored by Northwest Mall, is likely to be the end of the line for a proposed Houston-to-Dallas high speed passenger … Continue reading →

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

2016 Hall of Fame ballot

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The other election of importance going on right now. Under new voting rules established this summer by the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the annual Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot was released Monday on the earliest date in recent … Continue reading →

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