Monthly Archives: June 2025

Wisk gives a virtual demo

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I’d want to see the real thing, but I suppose that wasn’t practical under the circumstances. Saemi Poelma eagerly posed for a photo Tuesday inside a model autonomous air taxi, impressed by the possibility of a new way of traveling … Continue reading →

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Measles update: There’s nowhere to go but down

Posted on June 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

What a depressing headline. Amid a widespread decline in childhood measles vaccination rates since before the COVID-19 pandemic across the United States, a study published Monday found that coverage can vary substantially within a state. Looking at county-level data in 33 states, researchers at … Continue reading →

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Add Rep. Talarico to the “thinking about running for Senate” list

Posted on June 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Join the party, there’s plenty of room. State Rep. James Talarico, a former schoolteacher who often goes viral on social media for his feisty exchanges with Republicans, told Hearst Newspapers he is considering a bid for the U.S. Senate in … Continue reading →

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A change in when we vote early

Posted on June 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Very interesting. Texas will no longer have a three-day gap between the end of early voting and Election Day under a bill passed by the Texas Legislature that is heading to Gov. Greg Abbott. Currently, Texas ends in-person early voting … Continue reading →

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Texas DREAM Act suddenly killed by activist judge

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is some bullshit. Undocumented students in Texas are no longer eligible for in-state tuition after Texas agreed Wednesday with the federal government’s demand to stop the practice. The abrupt end to Texas’ 24-year-old law came hours after the U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Whitmire’s budget passes

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

On to the next thing. The City Council approved Mayor John Whitmire’s nearly $7 billion budget on Wednesday after months of strenuous efforts to cut costs and streamline services as officials contended with the largest deficit in Houston’s history. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rep. Jolanda Jones announces for CD18

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Not a surprise. State Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, on Monday jumped into the race for the congressional seat left open by the death of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, the former Houston mayor. “The simple fact is no one will fight … Continue reading →

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Tarrant county does mid-decade redistricting and gets sued over it

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

First there was this. The Tarrant County Commissioners Court could get a bigger conservative majority next year under a new map passed Tuesday. Republican Commissioners Manny Ramirez, Matt Krause and County Judge Tim O’Hare voted to adopt the map. Democratic … Continue reading →

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Why are we messing with pension reform?

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I do not understand this. The Texas Legislature, with Mayor John Whitmire’s support, is on the cusp of rolling back reforms to Houston’s police and firefighter pensions, worrying experts who call the changes premature, ill-considered, even “stupid.” The proposal comes … Continue reading →

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Abbott will be appointing a new Comptroller soon

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder. And that person will have a lot more influence than usual coming out of the gate. Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to choose a new state comptroller in the next few weeks, who will have an outsized … Continue reading →

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Texas blog roundup for the week of June 2

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

The Texas Progressive Alliance is always happy to hear sine die as it brings you this week’s roundup.

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Time to bury the 2025 Legislature

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good riddance. Texas lawmakers gaveled out of their 140-day legislative session on Monday after passing a raft of conservative policies, from private school vouchers to tighter bail laws, that furthered the state’s march to the right. The Legislature wrapped up … Continue reading →

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Still on the “what will Greg Abbott do with the THC ban” question

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

He’s going to take his sweet time, that much is for sure. Gov. Greg Abbott is facing intense political pressure over a bill that would ban products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, as hemp industry leaders mount a full-court press urging … Continue reading →

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Judge tells Ogg to zip it

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I mean, come on. A judge on Monday ordered former Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg to stop talking to the media about the men accused of killing 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray. District Judge Josh Hill tightened a gag order issued … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Two more years of Mike Miles

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Worst Groundhog Day ever. The state takeover of Houston ISD will continue for two more years before the Texas Education Agency announces the timeline for the transition back to elected board members overseeing the district. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Morath replaces half the Board of Managers

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

For reasons. The Texas Education Agency has removed and replaced four of the appointed members of Houston ISD’s Board of Managers two years into the state takeover. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath wrote that he removed board Vice President Audrey Momanaee, … Continue reading →

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The THC ban and hemp farmers

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Obviously bad for them. Six years ago, Texas lawmakers opened a door to a new lifeline for farmers: growing hemp. Farmers invested time, money and land into growing the drought-resistant crop and developing the state’s budding hemp industry. The same … Continue reading →

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SCOTx gives Paxton another crack at Annunciation House

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton can move forward with his efforts to gather records from El Paso’s Annunciation House to investigate his claims that the migrant shelter network was harboring undocumented immigrants, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday. “We … Continue reading →

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From the “Time has no meaning” department

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

This is so stupid. Texas lawmakers have disagreed for years over whether and how to abolish the unpopular semiannual clock change in the state, but a bill that is on its way to the governor will finally bring an end … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Rice seeks naming deal for Rice Stadium

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I dunno about this. Rice Stadium opened in 1950, once held a maximum capacity of 70,000, and has played host to a Super Bowl and presidential speech. It’s also one of the most direct and to the point names for any venue out there. … Continue reading →

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

Weekend link dump for June 1

Posted on June 1, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

“Even Where Abortion Is Still Legal, Many Brick-and-Mortar Clinics Are Closing“. “The options for paying tribute to the president, his kin, and the MAGA movement are now legion. There are even exciting new opportunities to protect your business by reaching … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog stuff | Tagged | 1 Comment

Yes, the omnibus voter suppression law suppressed voting by mail

Posted on June 1, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Cause, meet effect. Some county election officials across Texas say the number of people voting by mail has dropped since 2020, but they’re not sure why. New research suggests that the recent overhaul of state election laws could explain some … Continue reading →

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Two former Paxton lieutenants sued for sexual harassment

Posted on June 1, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Damn. Two of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s top deputies were forced to resign in 2023 over allegations of harassment, according to court filings included in a lawsuit Tuesday. Judd Stone, the former solicitor general, and Chris Hilton, an assistant … Continue reading →

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MLB buys equity stake in pro softball league

Posted on June 1, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Cool. Major League Baseball is purchasing an equity stake in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, partnering with the fledgling league that is preparing for its first four-team season and plans to expand in future years. With women’s sports revenues now … Continue reading →

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