Monthly Archives: February 2016

Endorsement watch: Stragglers

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron ran a list of all their primary endorsements last Monday, which included recommendations in a couple of race where they had not included an accompanying editorial. They have now closed that gap, at least on the Democratic side, … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for February 21

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Recommended English Names for Fungi 2014 also serves as an excellent band name generator. I’m claiming “Blushing Rosette” while I still can. (Hat tip.) “Around 50,000 years ago, anatomically modern humans shacked up with some Neanderthals—and the genetic consequences … Continue reading →

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Dan Wallach: 2016 Electric Power Usage Update

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Note: From time to time, I solicit guest posts from various individuals on different topics. While I like to think I know a little something about a lot of things, I’m fortunate to be acquainted with a number of people … Continue reading →

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Turner names interim HPD chief

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations, Chief Montalvo. Mayor Sylvester Turner has tapped 36-year Houston Police Department veteran Martha Montalvo to lead the department while his team conducts a nationwide search for a new permanent chief. Montalvo, 56, has served as chief of staff to … Continue reading →

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Questioning CM Le’s residency

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This sort of thing is practically a tradition in District F. Houston City Councilman Steve Le last month became the fourth man to represent District F in the last seven years, and the third to face questions over whether he … Continue reading →

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

One way to approach the feral hog problem

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

This has some promise. The Caldwell County Feral Hog Task Force, a volunteer group [Nick] Dornak started two years ago, is now at the forefront of the state’s patchwork effort to control the wild swine population boom that is hurting … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: I Wonder

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Two very different songs, from very different artists today. First is a cover of a song from Sleeping Beauty, by Yma Sumac: That of course is from the amazingly eclectic Stay Awake Disney music tribute album. Yma Sumac was known … Continue reading →

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Checking in on Battleground Texas

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

They’re still here. So where does [Lon] Burnam see Battleground Texas in his plan to be the first Texas Democrat elected to a statewide office since 1994? “No comment,” he said, before adding as he walked away, “In 20 years … Continue reading →

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HISD names an interim Superintendent

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s who we expected. The Houston school board’s search for a new superintendent took a step back Wednesday as trustees severed ties with the firm they selected two months ago and agreed to start fresh with another. The district likely … Continue reading →

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New parking meters coming

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

No more paper receipts to clutter up your dashboard. Some things about street parking in downtown Houston are unlikely to change: It will always require a keen eye for available spots and the courage and skill to wedge your car … Continue reading →

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What’s coming to the Yale Street post office location

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Some more news from my neighborhood. A Houston developer plans to replace a shuttered U.S. Postal Service building in the Heights with a two-story mixed-use development with space for offices, shops and restaurants. MFT Interests last month scooped up the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Friday random ten: Milestones

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

So I reached a round-number birthday today. See if you can guess which one. 1. Fifty Pounds – Eddie From Ohio 2. Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover – Paul Simon 3. Forty or Fifty – Spin Doctors 4. Animal … Continue reading →

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Day Three EV totals for 2016 primaries

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Three! Three days of early voting: Year Dem GOP ======================= 2008 28,464 12,092 2012 9,871 21,635 2016 18,398 25,954 For your reference, the 2016 totals are here, and the 2012 totals are here. I don’t have daily EVPA totals from … Continue reading →

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Layoffs are coming

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s gonna suck, though hopefully not as hard as last time. Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday that a still undetermined number of city employees will be laid off in the coming months, making his first formal acknowledgment that Houston’s projected … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

More kids in Texas have health insurance now

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Thanks, Obama! The number of uninsured children in Texas fell by almost 100,000 during the first year of full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, signalling a potential trend across all age groups, a new study by the Robert Wood … Continue reading →

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The effect of the law that was supposed to cripple the Public Integrity Unit

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Never tempt the weauxf gods. Or the Senate Republicans. Nearly a year after Texas Republicans cheered the passage of a law to strip the Travis County Public Integrity Unit’s power to investigate elected officials and state employees, the unit’s director … Continue reading →

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Day Two EV totals for 2016 primaries

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Here you go: Year Dem GOP ======================= 2008 19,578 8,654 2012 8,135 17,846 2016 14,001 19,376 For your reference, the 2016 totals are here, and the 2012 totals are here. I don’t have daily EVPA totals from the Harris County … Continue reading →

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Trib overview of SBOE races

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

As always, there’s a lot of action in these low profile races. Among the contenders in the races to replace Republican Thomas Ratliff of Mount Pleasant and Democrat Martha Dominguez of El Paso is a 68-year-old East Texas retiree who … Continue reading →

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Lone Star Rail setback

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Bummer. Union Pacific dealt a major blow to a proposal to connect San Antonio and Austin with passenger rail by pulling one of its tracks from a possible plan. UP ended its agreement with the Lone Star Rail District to … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of February 15

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance reminds you to get out and vote in the 2016 primary as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Day One Ev totals for 2016 primaries

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Day One of the 2016 primary election early voting is in the can. Woo hoo! How’d we do yesterday? Year Dem GOP ======================= 2008 10,049 4,130 2012 6,214 13,407 2016 9,636 12,720 For your reference, the 2016 totals are here, … Continue reading →

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Turner wants to rethink transportation

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

I like the way he’s thinking. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, in less than a month on the job, has hit the streets at full speed. First he tackled potholes. Last week he tackled a state transportation department that’s spent the … Continue reading →

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Term limits plaintiffs respond to dismissal motion

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s about what you’d expect. Last November Houston voters approved an amendment to the city charter that changed the length and maximum number of terms elected officials can serve. The lawsuit by Phillip Paul Bryant alleges the language on the … Continue reading →

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

Waller County landfill plan appears to be dead

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe. A Waller County commissioner on Wednesday declared victory in a years-long battle against an outside company’s proposal to develop a landfill there. “I am proud to say the landfill is dead,” Commissioner John Amsler said as the regular commissioners … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: George Barnstone

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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Early voting starts today

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Early voting for the Texas, March 1, Primary Elections begins Tuesday, Feb. 16 and continues through Friday, Feb. 26.  There will be 42 early voting locations where Harris County citizens seeking to vote a Republican or  Democratic … Continue reading →

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Once again with CD29

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all about the turnout. On a Gulfgate-area side street lined with union halls, Hillary Clinton’s Houston field office and U.S. Rep. Gene Green’s congressional re-election outfit sit mere doors apart, a coincidental marker of the anticipated link between their … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: RRC

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron endorses former State Rep. Lon Burnam in the Democratic primary for Railroad Commissioner. Our recommendation for the Democratic primary is former state Rep. Lon Burnam. Burnam, who served in the House for 18 years, including time spent on … Continue reading →

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Interview with Jarvis Johnson

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

When I first did interviews for candidates in the primary for HD139, I did not include former Council member Jarvis Johnson. The main reason for this was that I couldn’t find any online presence for him – the Google searches … Continue reading →

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Judicial Q&A: Daryl Moore

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in … Continue reading →

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The Scalia effect on current cases

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib highlights a few cases pending before the Supreme Court that could be affected by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Texas abortion law On March 2, the court will hear oral arguments in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Opting for Ogg

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron makes their choice in the Democratic primary for District Attorney. Democratic voters face a choice between two strong candidates for Harris County district attorney. But while Morris Overstreet can look back and reflect on a distinguished career, Kim … Continue reading →

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Weekend link dump for February 14

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

What Marcia Clark thinks of The People v. OJ Simpson. How Game of Thrones could have gone horribly wrong. “In a stunning trend with broad implications, the U.S. economy has grown significantly since 2007, while electricity consumption has been flat, … Continue reading →

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RIP, Antonin Scalia

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Wow. Associate Justice Antonin Scalia was found dead of apparent natural causes Saturday on a luxury resort in West Texas, federal officials said. Scalia, 79, was a guest at the Cibolo Creek Ranch, a resort in the Big Bend region … Continue reading →

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